CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 348,411	$ 203,163	$ 159,974
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(2,834)	43,612	42,673
Net income from continuing operations	351,245	159,551	117,301
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities:
Amortization of premiums, discounts, and debt issuance costs, net	66,526	2,433	(23,932)
Stock-based compensation	7,550	7,495	6,920
Provision for loan losses	7,230	34,442	8,049
Impairment loss on real estate owned, held for sale	8,638	4,033	2,293
Repair and denial reserve	(3,872)	(8,879)	10,168
Provision for loan losses on purchased future receivables	8,989	3,357	1,296
Loans, held for sale, net	18,062	192,094	(83,632)
Net income (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	2,933	(9,328)	561
Realized (gains) losses, net	(66,357)	(52,283)	(68,881)
Unrealized (gains) losses, net	(8,867)	(23,484)	(23,166)
Gain on bargain purchase	(207,972)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Purchased future receivables, net	(10,226)	(3,731)	8,140
Derivative instruments	12,369	56,898	(63,430)
Assets of consolidated VIEs (excluding loans, net), accrued interest and due from servicers	(28,027)	(32,056)	6,182
Receivable from third parties	(21,313)	14,106	9,729
Other assets	(91,891)	(3,409)	(1,161)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	55,840	(56,504)	3,661
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities from continuing operations	100,857	284,735	(89,902)
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities from discontinued operations	(49,727)	74,413	55,461
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	51,130	359,148	(34,441)
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Origination of loans	(1,005,137)	(3,303,318)	(3,826,182)
Purchase of loans		(669,137)	(137,182)
Proceeds from disposition and principal payment of loans	1,779,990	1,471,118	973,111
Origination of Paycheck Protection Program loans			(2,129,830)
Purchase of Paycheck Protection Program loans			(3,866)
Proceeds from disposition and principal payment of Paycheck Protection Program loans	160,996	734,211	1,401,330
Funding of investments held to maturity	(140)	(5,848)
Proceeds from principal payments of investments held to maturity		27,006
Proceeds from sale and principal payment of mortgage-backed securities	8,059	61,504	2,015,907
Funding of real estate, held for sale	(12,463)	(10,972)
Proceeds from sale of real estate, held for sale	78,001	7,519	41,746
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(25,186)	(122,391)	(59,714)
Distributions in excess of cumulative earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures	7,573	154,226	18,307
Payment of liabilities under participation agreements, net of proceeds received	(9,051)	(19,015)
Net cash provided by (used for) business acquisitions	38,710	123,566	(11,536)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities from continuing operations	1,021,352	(1,551,531)	(1,717,909)
Net cash used for investing activities from discontinued operations	(1,908)	(4,897)	(496)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	1,019,444	(1,556,428)	(1,718,405)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from secured borrowings	4,127,416	7,770,435	7,756,474
Repayment of secured borrowings	(4,692,079)	(7,413,701)	(8,310,369)
Proceeds from the Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility borrowings			2,299,167
Repayment of the Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility borrowings	(164,975)	(740,494)	(1,433,938)
Proceeds from issuance of securitized debt obligations of consolidated VIEs	1,120,815	2,387,288	1,993,111
Repayment of securitized debt obligations of consolidated VIEs	(976,790)	(675,843)	(673,069)
Proceeds from corporate debt		220,146	303,511
Repayment of corporate debt			(50,000)
Proceeds from senior secured note			350,000
Repayment of senior secured note			(180,294)
Repayment of convertible note	(115,000)
Repayment of guaranteed loan financing	(154,441)	(109,279)	(70,388)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(32,210)	(43,937)	(46,938)
Payment of contingent consideration	(9,000)	(9,000)
Proceeds from issuance of equity, net of issuance costs	108	123,490	165,050
Preferred stock redemption			(98,241)
Common stock repurchased	(18,108)	(36,969)
Settlement of share-based awards in satisfaction of withholding tax requirements	(3,948)	(5,817)	(1,293)
Dividend payments	(215,089)	(187,832)	(111,924)
Tender offer of preferred shares			(11,133)
Distributions to non-controlling interests, net	(6)	(14,317)	59,172
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities from continuing operations	(1,133,307)	1,264,170	1,938,898
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities from discontinued operations	48,220	(93,191)	(63,206)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(1,085,087)	1,170,979	1,875,692
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	(11,098)	(2,626)	131,087
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash beginning balance	273,604	276,230	145,143
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash ending balance	262,506	273,604	276,230
Supplemental disclosures:
Cash paid for interest	661,169	355,230	186,095
Cash paid for income taxes	2,008	29,164	13,375
Supplemental disclosure: Non-cash investing activities
Loans transferred from loans, held for sale to loans, net	68,661	3,987
Loans transferred from loans, net to loans, held for sale	3,641	3,093
Paid-in-kind accrued interest	42,148
Consolidation of assets in securitization trusts	689,079
Loans transferred to real estate owned, held for sale	56,900	1,598	9,015
Investments held to maturity transferred to real estate owned		29,904
Contingent consideration in connection with acquisitions		25,000	12,400
Supplemental disclosure: Non-cash financing activities
Shares and OP units issued in connection with merger transactions	637,229	458,056	239,537
Retirement of OP units		$ 2,000
Consolidation of borrowings in securitization trusts	689,079
Share-based component of incentive fees			1,386
Conversion of OP units to common stock	$ 2,842		$ 13,207