Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (2,286,000)	$ 3,538,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
Gain from sale of real estate	(20,000)	(1,223,000)
Gain on extinguishment of debt	0	16,670,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	(4,788,000)
Remeasurement gain	6,348,000	2,108,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,828,000	1,197,000
Provision for deferred income taxes	(2,200,000)	6,752,000
Amortization of deferred loan costs	549,000	190,000
Amortization of beneficial conversion of convertible subordinated debt	0	168,000
Amortization of discount and premium on issuance of the senior notes payable	28,000	0
Equity in joint venture income	(7,229,000)	(5,162,000)
Accretion of interest income on loan pool participations and notes receivable	(5,762,000)	(6,353,000)
Stock based compensation	3,761,000	5,976,000
Change in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	190,000	(1,318,000)
Accounts receivable—related parties	(3,534,000)	(2,954,000)
Income tax receivable	0	6,848,000
Operating distributions from joint ventures	2,640,000	4,242,000
Operating distributions from loan pool participation	1,198,000	0
Other assets	(3,487,000)	(730,000)
Accounts payable	(1,238,000)	(260,000)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	13,148,000	(365,000)
Accrued salaries and benefits	(5,707,000)	2,477,000
Net cash used in operating activities	(14,469,000)	(967,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to notes receivable	(5,644,000)	(27,190,000)
Settlements of notes receivable	559,000	70,000
Additions to notes receivable—related parties	(23,322,000)	(3,975,000)
Settlements of notes receivable—related parties	4,867,000	8,721,000
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	416,000	3,639,000
Purchases of and additions to real estate	(1,930,000)	(18,578,000)
Investment in marketable equity securities	(7,382,000)	0
Distributions from joint ventures	18,507,000	4,461,000
Contributions to joint ventures	(95,492,000)	(66,833,000)
Contributions to loan pool participations	(2,901,000)	(9,612,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(112,322,000)	(109,297,000)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Issuance of senior notes payable	249,344,000	0
Borrowings under notes payable	0	4,250,000
Repayment of notes payable	(24,783,000)	(4,200,000)
Borrowings under lines of credit	19,000,000	37,250,000
Repayment of lines of credit	(46,750,000)	(25,500,000)
Borrowings under mortgage loans payable	17,077,000	20,016,000
Repayment of mortgage loans payable	(30,109,000)	(19,763,000)
Repayment of convertible subordinated debt	0	(32,550,000)
Debt issue costs	(7,486,000)	(645,000)
Issuance of preferred stock	0	132,294,000
Issuance of common stock	51,360,000	0
Repurchase of common stock	(36,000)	(10,180,000)
Repurchase of warrants	(2,434,000)	(8,584,000)
Dividends paid	(7,874,000)	(2,508,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	2,259,000	6,952,000
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(696,000)	(2,096,000)
Net cash provided by financing activities	218,872,000	94,736,000
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	8,365,000	8,457,000
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	100,446,000	(7,071,000)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period	46,968,000	57,784,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period	147,414,000	50,713,000
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities:
Unrealized loss on marketable security, net of tax of $3,063,000 and $8,000	4,592,000
Decrease in notes receivable due to foreclosure	9,496,000
Increase in real estate due to foreclosures	$ 9,496,000