DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Probable loss						$ 1,600,000
Revenue and net income (loss) of discontinued operations
Gain from sale of discontinued operations		7,752,000	24,313,000	7,752,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	4,112,000	16,721,000	49,058,000	(16,077,000)
Intangible impairment				29,250,000
Restructuring charges	(48,000)	498,000	(109,000)	990,000
Assets and liabilities of facilities reported as discontinued operations
Current assets	479,000		479,000		232,425,000
Non-current assets	236,000		236,000		10,947,000
Current liabilities	31,784,000		31,784,000		250,030,000
Non-current liabilities	331,000		331,000		1,032,000
Real estate businesses
Revenue and net income (loss) of discontinued operations
Revenue	2,000	515,000	77,000	3,633,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	(282,000)	(637,000)	(442,000)	(16,936,000)
Gain from sale of discontinued operations		7,752,000		7,752,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(282,000)	7,115,000	(442,000)	(9,184,000)
Goodwill disposal charges				8,000,000
Intangible impairment				4,100,000
Restructuring charges				2,500,000
Assets and liabilities of facilities reported as discontinued operations
Current assets					33,000
Current liabilities	390,000		390,000		702,000
Non-current liabilities					54,000
Net liabilities	(390,000)		(390,000)		(723,000)
LendingTree Loans
Revenue and net income (loss) of discontinued operations
Revenue	5,943,000	37,094,000	87,338,000	81,726,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	4,470,000	9,606,000	27,660,000	(6,893,000)
Income tax provision	(76,000)		(2,473,000)
Gain from sale of discontinued operations			24,313,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	4,394,000	9,606,000	49,500,000	(6,893,000)
Tax effect on gain from sale of discontinued operations			1,267,000	0
Intangible impairment			1,400,000
Restructuring charges				4,000,000
Assets and liabilities of facilities reported as discontinued operations
Loans held for sale					217,467,000
Other current assets	479,000		479,000		14,925,000
Current assets	479,000		479,000		232,392,000
Property and equipment					4,181,000
Goodwill					5,579,000
Other non-current assets	236,000		236,000		1,187,000
Non-current assets	236,000		236,000		10,947,000
Warehouse lines of credit					197,659,000
Other current liabilities	31,394,000		31,394,000		56,383,000
Current liabilities	31,394,000		31,394,000		254,042,000
Non-current liabilities	331,000		331,000		978,000
Net liabilities	$ (31,010,000)		$ (31,010,000)		$ (11,681,000)