BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND LIQUIDITY (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) hotel	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Business, Basis of Presentation and Liquidity [Line Items]
Number of hotels operated | hotel		2
Accumulated deficit	$ 671,178	$ 680,397
Long-term Debt, Gross	95,482	96,785
Cash and cash equivalents	7,603	9,541	$ 9,806	$ 1,915
Restricted cash	3,541	2,107
Mortgages loans held-for-sale	11,147	362
Total	152,867	155,725
Proceeds from Mortgage Payoffs		7,632	$ 0
Proceeds from sale of certain loans and REO assets		6,300
IMH Gabella [Member]
Business, Basis of Presentation and Liquidity [Line Items]
Minimum required liquidity balance		7,500
Real Estate Held For Sale [Member]
Business, Basis of Presentation and Liquidity [Line Items]
Total	5,346	50,460
SRE Revolver [Member]
Business, Basis of Presentation and Liquidity [Line Items]
Proceeds from lines of credit	2,500
Borrowing capacity	$ 4,000
Hotel Assets [Member]
Business, Basis of Presentation and Liquidity [Line Items]
Minimum required liquidity balance		$ 5,000