CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 46,069	$ 75,056	$ 61,457
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Amortization of premiums, discounts, and debt issuance costs, net	33,550	14,409	15,470
Provision for (recovery of) loan losses	34,726	3,684	1,701
Impairment loss on real estate, held for sale	3,520	1,317	1,086
Change in repair and denial reserve	4,378	(345)	(163)
Net settlement of derivative instruments	(10,014)	(6,219)	4,272
Purchase of loans, held for sale, at fair value		(9,149)	(17,481)
Origination of loans, held for sale, at fair value	(5,076,936)	(2,621,324)	(2,407,492)
Proceeds from disposition and principal payments of loans, held for sale, at fair value	5,152,861	2,628,521	2,586,724
Realized (gains) losses, net	(263,332)	(101,794)	(88,890)
Unrealized (gains) losses, net	52,244	18,790	(4,853)
Gain on bargain purchase		(30,728)
Net loss (income) of unconsolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	(1,893)	(5,716)	1,047
Foreign currency (gain) loss. net	(4,139)
Payoff of purchased future receivables, net of originations	14,188	(8,807)
Allowance for doubtful accounts on purchased future receivables	11,769	5,082
Net changes in operating assets and liabilities
Assets of consolidated VIEs (excluding loans, net), accrued interest and due from servicers	11,859	(21,265)	(12,088)
Receivable from third parties	(10)	7,556	(2,132)
Other assets	16,675	(26,286)	1,448
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	43,378	24,821	191
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	68,893	(52,397)	140,297
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Origination of loans	(774,581)	(1,307,143)	(934,607)
Purchase of loans	(242,532)	(739,002)	(369,418)
Purchase of mortgage backed securities, at fair value	(14,216)	(9,593)	(73,305)
Purchase of real estate	(329)	(117)	(1,570)
Funding of unconsolidated joint ventures	(23,707)	(26,655)
Purchase of servicing rights		(894)	(362)
Proceeds on unconsolidated joint venture in excess of earnings recognized	4,941	15,578	20,884
Payment of liability under participation agreements, net of proceeds received			(555)
Proceeds from disposition and principal payment of loans	961,235	826,702	746,162
Proceeds from sale and principal payment of mortgage backed securities, at fair value	12,486	14,354	30,381
Proceeds from sale of real estate	17,261	18,983	1,631
Cash paid in connection with Knight Merger, net of cash acquired		(15,827)
Cash acquired in connection with the ORM Merger		10,822
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(59,442)	(1,212,792)	(580,759)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from secured borrowings	6,870,576	5,398,657	3,603,933
Payment of secured borrowings	(6,692,145)	(5,087,424)	(3,406,779)
Proceeds from issuance of securitized debt obligations of consolidated VIEs	495,220	1,395,518	607,837
Payment of securitized debt obligations of consolidated VIEs	(441,212)	(477,205)	(297,774)
Proceeds from note offerings	(50)	104,687	91,328
Payment of guaranteed loan financing	(102,155)	(34,704)	(74,980)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(12,820)	(28,207)	(18,831)
Equity issuance, net of offering costs	13,410	91,390	86
Payment of contingent consideration		(1,207)	(8,967)
Distributions from non-controlling interests, net	(250)	20	45
Sale of subsidiary interest to noncontrolling interests	(122)
Dividend payments	(56,885)	(63,326)	(51,317)
Redemption of preferred stock			(103)
Shares repurchase program	(10,516)
Net cash provided by (used in) provided by financing activities	63,051	1,298,199	444,478
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	72,502	33,010	4,016
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period	127,980	94,970	90,954
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	200,482	127,980	94,970
Supplemental disclosure of operating cash flow
Cash paid for interest	156,262	126,188	95,946
Cash paid (received) for income taxes	(8,482)	(2,661)	898
Stock-based compensation	5,299	1,476	447
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities
Loans transferred from loans, held for sale, at fair value to loans, net	714	1,262	644
Loans transferred from loans, net to loans, held for sale, at fair value			1,147
Consolidation of assets in securitization trusts		463,177
Loans transferred to real estate owned	11,339
Deconsolidation of assets in securitization trusts		177,815
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities
Dividends paid in stock	17,395
Consolidation of assets in securitization trusts		463,177
Deconsolidation of borrowings in securitization trusts		177,815
Share-based component of incentive fees	1,806	233	338
Cash and restricted cash reconciliation
Cash and cash equivalents	138,975	67,928	54,406
Restricted cash	47,697	51,728	28,921
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash in Assets of consolidated VIEs	13,810	8,324	11,643
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	$ 200,482	$ 127,980	$ 94,970