Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 27,046	$ 120,779
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization of deferred financing costs, premiums and discounts on secured financing agreements	3,974	3,510
Amortization of convertible debt discount and deferred costs	5,277	5,363
Accretion of net discount on investment securities	(3,373)	(10,603)
Accretion of net deferred loan fees and discounts	(8,696)	(10,179)
Amortization of net discount from secured borrowings on transferred loans		4
Share-based compensation	7,067	7,491
Share-based component of incentive fees	10,923	9,445
Change in fair value of fair value option investment securities	(753)	499
Change in fair value of consolidated VIEs	54,038	(5,657)
Change in fair value of servicing rights	6,739	1,542
Change in fair value of loans held-for-sale	(6,891)	(21,131)
Change in fair value of derivatives	23,557	(26,724)
Foreign currency loss, net	402	30,416
Gain on sale of investments and other assets	(245)	(17,198)
Loan loss allowance, net	(761)	317
Depreciation and amortization	16,759	3,692
Earnings from unconsolidated entities	(4,065)	(6,090)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities	5,729	7,030
Loss on extinguishment of debt		5,292
Originations of loans held-for-sale, net of principal collections	(200,433)	(413,027)
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale	256,964	482,009
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Related-party payable, net	(16,965)	(13,078)
Accrued and capitalized interest receivable, less purchased interest	(23,350)	(17,341)
Other assets	8,779	1,067
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(30,593)	(23,282)
Net cash provided by operating activities	131,129	114,146
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Origination and purchase of loans held-for-investment	(472,237)	(649,886)
Proceeds from principal collections on loans	192,813	285,741
Proceeds from loans sold	97,882	85,121
Purchase of investment securities	(84,337)	(67,247)
Proceeds from sales of investment securities		4,713
Proceeds from principal collections on investment securities	22,344	11,737
Deposit on property acquisition		(18,178)
Real estate business combinations, net of cash acquired	(73,639)
Proceeds from sale of properties		33,056
Purchase of other assets	(2,846)	(435)
Investment in unconsolidated entities	(11)	(28,041)
Distribution of capital from unconsolidated entities	914	11,296
Payments for purchase or termination of derivatives	(12,611)	(6,117)
Proceeds from termination of derivatives	7,910	6,988
Return of investment basis in purchased derivative asset	69	90
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash, net	(24,930)	5,326
Net cash used in investing activities	(348,679)	(325,836)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Borrowings under financing agreements	991,192	1,320,732
Principal repayments on and repurchases of borrowings	(626,462)	(847,288)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(5,969)	(1,263)
Proceeds from common stock issuances	82	55
Payment of dividends	(114,624)	(108,189)
Contributions from non-controlling interests	6,584
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(582)	(359)
Purchase of treasury stock	(19,723)
Issuance of debt of consolidated VIEs	596	6,763
Repayment of debt of consolidated VIEs	(55,729)	(51,538)
Distributions of cash from consolidated VIEs	7,545	3,790
Net cash provided by financing activities	182,910	322,703
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(34,640)	111,013
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	368,815	255,187
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	1,044	(5,480)
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	335,219	360,720
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	50,254	48,448
Income taxes paid	922	2,903
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Fair value of assets acquired, net of cash	221,125
Fair value of liabilities assumed	147,486
Net assets acquired from consolidated VIEs	42,513
Dividends declared, but not yet paid	114,572	108,435
Consolidation of VIEs (VIE asset/liability additions)	15,103,275	4,413,608
Deconsolidation of VIEs (VIE asset/liability reductions)	$ 2,591,268	$ 17,841