Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 139,117	$ 238,419
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization of deferred financing costs, premiums and discounts on secured financing agreements	8,212	7,159
Amortization of convertible debt discount and deferred costs	10,628	10,503
Accretion of net discount on investment securities	(7,349)	(16,314)
Accretion of net deferred loan fees and discounts	(23,362)	(18,139)
Amortization of net discount from secured borrowings on transferred loans		4
Share-based compensation	14,660	17,882
Share-based component of incentive fees	13,223	12,739
Change in fair value of fair value option investment securities	(2,072)	(947)
Change in fair value of consolidated VIEs	45,899	3,663
Change in fair value of servicing rights	18,930	4,194
Change in fair value of loans held-for-sale	(20,126)	(31,962)
Change in fair value of derivatives	2,332	(8,782)
Foreign currency loss, net	17,169	9,659
Gain on sale of investments and other assets	(155)	(17,407)
Loan loss allowance, net	1,268	2,978
Depreciation and amortization	34,664	9,079
Earnings from unconsolidated entities	(8,544)	(15,041)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities	9,817	14,752
Bargain purchase gain	(8,406)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		5,921
Originations of loans held-for-sale, net of principal collections	(488,448)	(889,413)
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale	475,333	1,033,644
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Related-party payable, net	(20,749)	(16,192)
Accrued and capitalized interest receivable, less purchased interest	(41,151)	(32,185)
Other assets	6,715	(11,452)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(29,055)	(17,810)
Net cash provided by operating activities	148,550	294,952
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Origination and purchase of loans held-for-investment	(997,421)	(1,256,784)
Proceeds from principal collections on loans	1,193,643	698,901
Proceeds from loans sold	121,276	378,576
Purchase of investment securities	(350,642)	(147,423)
Proceeds from sales of investment securities	1,269	5,098
Proceeds from principal collections on investment securities	47,544	247,774
Real estate business combinations, net of cash acquired	(91,186)	(95,891)
Proceeds from sale of properties		33,056
Purchase of other assets	(5,521)
Investment in unconsolidated entities	(3,854)	(32,065)
Distribution of capital from unconsolidated entities	1,244	22,127
Payments for purchase or termination of derivatives	(15,144)	(13,894)
Proceeds from termination of derivatives	27,447	24,782
Return of investment basis in purchased derivative asset	137	177
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash, net	(17,840)	16,090
Net cash used in investing activities	(89,048)	(119,476)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Borrowings under financing agreements	2,059,599	2,464,018
Principal repayments on and repurchases of borrowings	(1,711,117)	(2,445,916)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(6,437)	(7,054)
Proceeds from common stock issuances	177	326,296
Payment of equity offering costs		(892)
Payment of dividends	(229,151)	(216,623)
Contributions from non-controlling interests	10,417
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(2,350)	(792)
Purchase of treasury stock	(19,723)	(2,268)
Issuance of debt of consolidated VIEs	596	7,513
Repayment of debt of consolidated VIEs	(147,523)	(120,529)
Distributions of cash from consolidated VIEs	22,986	14,584
Net cash provided by financing activities	(22,526)	18,337
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	36,976	193,813
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	368,815	255,187
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(971)	(2,522)
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	404,820	446,478
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	91,961	81,208
Income taxes paid	2,177	17,663
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Fair value of assets acquired, net of cash	270,021	393,774
Fair value of liabilities assumed	170,429	297,883
Net assets acquired from consolidated VIEs	102,976	31,309
Unsettled common stock repurchased		6,561
Dividends declared, but not yet paid	115,013	115,575
Consolidation of VIEs (VIE asset/liability additions)	16,850,221	5,657,627
Deconsolidation of VIEs (VIE asset/liability reductions)	$ 5,126,980	$ 3,481,363