DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Details 6) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 loan request	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 segment loan request	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 request
Loan Loss Obligations
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	$ 26,018,000		$ 26,018,000		$ 29,414,000
Lending Tree Loans | Discontinued operations
Loan Loss Obligations
Number of investors to whom loans are guaranteed			2
Loan loss obligations | Lending Tree Loans | Discontinued operations
Loan Loss Obligations
Number of segments			4
Weighted percentage for estimation of range of remaining loan losses in revised analysis			50.00%
Weighted percentage for estimation of range of remaining loan losses on other factor			25.00%
Loss Contingency Accrual, at Carrying Value	28,713,000	26,589,000	28,713,000	26,589,000
Estimated range of remaining possible losses due to loan losses, minimum	18,000,000		18,000,000
Estimated range of remaining possible losses due to loan losses, maximum	37,000,000		37,000,000
Original principal balance	39,400,000,000		39,400,000,000
Loss Contingencies, Number of Loans Sold with Losses	498		498
Number of loans sold	235,900		235,900
Original principal balance of loans with losses	68,100,000		68,100,000
Amount of aggregate losses	29,100,000		29,100,000
Number of requests for loan repurchases and indemnifications considered in determining the appropriate reserve amount	440		440		398
Original principal balance for loans pending	87,600,000		87,600,000
Percentage of full documentation first liens of original principal amount of loans related to indemnification	74.00%		74.00%
Percentage of full documentation second liens of original principal amount of loans related to indemnification	2.00%		2.00%
Percentage of limited documentation first liens of original principal amount of loans related to indemnification	21.00%		21.00%
Percentage of limited documentation second liens of original principal amount of loans related to indemnification	3.00%		3.00%
Activity related to loss reserves on previously sold loans
Balance, beginning of period	28,675,000	33,096,000	27,182,000	31,512,000
Provisions (recoveries)	38,000	(6,493,000)	1,531,000	(109,000)
Charge offs to reserves		(14,000)		(4,814,000)
Balance, end of period	28,713,000	26,589,000	28,713,000	26,589,000
Loan loss obligations | Lending Tree Loans | Discontinued operations | 2013
Loan Loss Obligations
Original principal balance	0		0
Loss Contingencies, Number of Loans Sold with Losses	0		0
Number of loans sold	0		0
Original principal balance of loans with losses	0		0
Amount of aggregate losses	0		0
Loan loss obligations | Lending Tree Loans | Discontinued operations | 2012
Loan Loss Obligations
Original principal balance	1,900,000,000		1,900,000,000
Loss Contingencies, Number of Loans Sold with Losses	0		0
Number of loans sold	9,200		9,200
Original principal balance of loans with losses	0		0
Amount of aggregate losses	0		0
Loan loss obligations | Lending Tree Loans | Discontinued operations | 2011
Loan Loss Obligations
Original principal balance	2,700,000,000		2,700,000,000
Loss Contingencies, Number of Loans Sold with Losses	1		1
Number of loans sold	12,500		12,500
Original principal balance of loans with losses	300,000		300,000
Amount of aggregate losses	100,000		100,000
Loan loss obligations | Lending Tree Loans | Discontinued operations | 2010
Loan Loss Obligations
Original principal balance	2,800,000,000		2,800,000,000
Loss Contingencies, Number of Loans Sold with Losses	4		4
Number of loans sold	12,400		12,400
Original principal balance of loans with losses	1,100,000		1,100,000
Amount of aggregate losses	100,000		100,000
Loan loss obligations | Lending Tree Loans | Discontinued operations | 2009
Loan Loss Obligations
Original principal balance	2,800,000,000		2,800,000,000
Loss Contingencies, Number of Loans Sold with Losses	4		4
Number of loans sold	12,800		12,800
Original principal balance of loans with losses	900,000		900,000
Amount of aggregate losses	100,000		100,000
Loan loss obligations | Lending Tree Loans | Discontinued operations | 2008
Loan Loss Obligations
Original principal balance	2,200,000,000		2,200,000,000
Loss Contingencies, Number of Loans Sold with Losses	33		33
Number of loans sold	11,000		11,000
Original principal balance of loans with losses	6,900,000		6,900,000
Amount of aggregate losses	2,200,000		2,200,000
Loan loss obligations | Lending Tree Loans | Discontinued operations | 2007
Loan Loss Obligations
Original principal balance	6,100,000,000		6,100,000,000
Loss Contingencies, Number of Loans Sold with Losses	160		160
Number of loans sold	36,300		36,300
Original principal balance of loans with losses	22,100,000		22,100,000
Amount of aggregate losses	8,200,000		8,200,000
Loan loss obligations | Lending Tree Loans | Discontinued operations | 2006
Loan Loss Obligations
Original principal balance	7,900,000,000		7,900,000,000
Loss Contingencies, Number of Loans Sold with Losses	207		207
Number of loans sold	55,000		55,000
Original principal balance of loans with losses	24,500,000		24,500,000
Amount of aggregate losses	13,400,000		13,400,000
Loan loss obligations | Lending Tree Loans | Discontinued operations | 2005 and prior years
Loan Loss Obligations
Original principal balance	13,000,000,000		13,000,000,000
Loss Contingencies, Number of Loans Sold with Losses	89		89
Number of loans sold	86,700		86,700
Original principal balance of loans with losses	12,300,000		12,300,000
Amount of aggregate losses	5,000,000		5,000,000
Cash in escrow for sale of LendingTree Loans
Loan Loss Obligations
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	$ 18,117,000		$ 18,117,000		$ 17,077,000