CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Total IMH Financial Corporation Stockholders’ Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Beginning Balances at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 48,175	$ 172	$ (5,948)	$ 722,764	$ (671,178)	$ 45,810	$ 2,365
Beginning Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		17,166,997	1,629,818
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(7,717)				(7,600)	(7,600)	(117)
Increase in noncontrolling interest due to VIE consolidation (Note 5)	0
Decrease in noncontrolling interest due to profit participation	676						676
Distribution to non-controlling interest	(611)						(611)
Cash dividends on redeemable convertible preferred stock	(2,146)			(2,146)		(2,146)
Deemed dividend on redeemable convertible preferred stock	(2,505)			(2,505)		(2,505)
Stock-based compensation	802	$ 4		798		802
Stock-Based Compensation (in shares)		385,142
Ending Balances at Dec. 31, 2016	36,674	$ 176	$ (5,948)	718,911	(678,778)	34,361	2,313
Ending Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		17,552,139	1,629,818
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(1,555)				(757)	(757)	(798)
Increase in noncontrolling interest due to VIE consolidation (Note 5)	6,509						6,509
Increase in noncontrolling interest due to contributions	725						725
Decrease in noncontrolling interest due to profit participation	(1,537)						(1,537)
Decrease in noncontrolling interest due to Lakeside JV member loans	(650)						(650)
Cash dividends on redeemable convertible preferred stock	(2,140)			(2,140)		(2,140)
Deemed dividend on redeemable convertible preferred stock	(2,716)			(2,716)		(2,716)
Stock-based compensation	723	$ 5		718		723
Stock-Based Compensation (in shares)		527,383
Treasury Stock (in shares)			196,278
Treasury stock	(222)		$ (338)	116		(222)
Ending Balances at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 35,811	$ 181	$ (6,286)	$ 714,889	$ (679,535)	$ 29,249	$ 6,562
Ending Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		18,079,522	1,826,096