Commitments and Contingencies (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended					6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2012 Unsecured debt		Jun. 30, 2012 Unsecured Notes 9.0% senior notes	Dec. 31, 2011 Unsecured Notes 9.0% senior notes	Jun. 30, 2012 Secured Debt
Business Risks and Uncertainties
Carrying Value	$ 5,661,964,000	[1]	$ 5,874,183,000			$ 2,528,866,000	[1]	$ 275,000,000	$ 0	$ 3,133,098,000	[1]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)								9.00%
Long-term debt maturing in remainder of fiscal year						970,900,000				699,900,000
Restricted cash company's intent	463,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents	243,843,000		356,826,000	388,946,000	504,865,000
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash available for repayment of indebtedness	706,900,000
Current debt	469,200,000
Debt maturities						501,700,000
Total unencumbered assets	2,400,000,000
Legal settlement payment	$ 2,000,000

[1] All of the Company's non-accrual loans are considered impaired and included in the table above. In addition, as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, certain loans modified through troubled debt restructurings with a recorded investment of $205.5 million and $255.3 million, respectively, are also included as impaired loans in accordance with GAAP although they are performing and on accrual status.