Goodwill and Intangibles - Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2013
Summary of activity within intangible assets
Balance as of beginning of period	$ 201,570	$ 144,152
Impact of ASU 2015-02 Adoption	(17,467)
Contribution of European servicing and advisory business	(989)
Amortization	(33,898)	(18,880)
Foreign exchange (loss) gain	(1,499)	(1,344)
Impairment	(728)
Changes in fair value due to changes in inputs and assumptions	(47,149)	(12,605)
Balance as of end of period	219,248	201,570
Future amortization expense for the European servicing rights, in-place lease intangible assets and favorable lease intangible assets
2017	30,069
2018	26,532
2019	20,186
2020	15,189
2021	12,816
Thereafter	59,374
Total	164,166
Medical Office Portfolio
Summary of activity within intangible assets
Acquisition of finite-lived intangibles	85,596
Unfavorable lease liability	$ 4,800
Amortization period of unfavorable lease liability	9 years 8 months 12 days
Ireland Portfolio
Summary of activity within intangible assets
Acquisition of finite-lived intangibles		59,529
Woodstar Portfolio
Summary of activity within intangible assets
Acquisition of finite-lived intangibles	$ 8,174	11,337
REO Portfolio
Summary of activity within intangible assets
Acquisition of finite-lived intangibles	25,638	19,381
LNR
Summary of activity within intangible assets
Unfavorable lease liability	8,400	10,200	$ 15,300
Amortization period of unfavorable lease liability			5 years
Amortization of intangible unfavorable lease liability per year	1,900
European servicing rights
Summary of activity within intangible assets
Balance as of beginning of period	2,626	11,849
Contribution of European servicing and advisory business	(989)
Amortization	(1,337)	(8,893)
Foreign exchange (loss) gain	(300)	(330)
Balance as of end of period		2,626
In-place lease
Summary of activity within intangible assets
Balance as of beginning of period	66,085
Amortization	(30,227)	(9,027)
Foreign exchange (loss) gain	(933)	(834)
Impairment	(654)
Balance as of end of period	136,877	66,085
In-place lease | Medical Office Portfolio
Summary of activity within intangible assets
Acquisition of finite-lived intangibles	71,486
In-place lease | Ireland Portfolio
Summary of activity within intangible assets
Acquisition of finite-lived intangibles		47,999
In-place lease | Woodstar Portfolio
Summary of activity within intangible assets
Acquisition of finite-lived intangibles	8,174	11,337
In-place lease | REO Portfolio
Summary of activity within intangible assets
Acquisition of finite-lived intangibles	22,946	16,610
Favorable lease
Summary of activity within intangible assets
Balance as of beginning of period	13,161
Amortization	(2,334)	(960)
Foreign exchange (loss) gain	(266)	(180)
Impairment	(74)
Balance as of end of period	27,289	13,161
Favorable lease | Medical Office Portfolio
Summary of activity within intangible assets
Acquisition of finite-lived intangibles	14,110
Favorable lease | Ireland Portfolio
Summary of activity within intangible assets
Acquisition of finite-lived intangibles		11,530
Favorable lease | REO Portfolio
Summary of activity within intangible assets
Acquisition of finite-lived intangibles	2,692	2,771
Domestic servicing rights
Summary of activity within intangible assets
Balance as of beginning of period	119,698	132,303
Impact of ASU 2015-02 Adoption	(17,467)
Changes in fair value due to changes in inputs and assumptions	(47,149)	(12,605)
Balance as of end of period	$ 55,082	$ 119,698