INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE SECURITIES - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Purchase of Non-Agency RMBS	$ 26,649,000	$ 1,038,721,000
Other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) losses	1,100,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
Real estate securities acquired during the period with credit quality deterioration, face amount	36,400,000
Real estate securities acquired during the period with credit quality deterioration, expected cash flows	45,500,000
Real estate securities acquired during the period with credit quality deterioration, fair value	21,900,000
Non-Agency RMBS [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Face amount of securities purchased	257,800,000
Purchase of Non-Agency RMBS	222,100,000
Face amount of securities sold	441,100,000
Amortized cost basis of securities sold	385,900,000
Proceeds from sale of real estate securities	389,700,000
Gain (loss) on sale of debt investments	3,800,000
Agency RMBS [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Face amount of securities purchased	979,800,000
Purchase of Non-Agency RMBS	1,000,000,000
Face amount of securities sold	1,000,000,000.0
Amortized cost basis of securities sold	1,040,000,000
Proceeds from sale of real estate securities	1,060,000,000
Gain (loss) on sale of debt investments	$ 20,900,000

The face value of securities purchased during the period.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The face value of securities sold during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The cash outflow to acquire debt and equity securities not classified as either held-to-maturity securities or trading securities which would be classified as available-for-sale securities and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in a separate component of shareholders' equity.

+ References

No definition available.

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The face value, as of the balance sheet date, of real estate securities with credit quality deterioration purchased during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Fair value at acquisition of acquired loans accounted for as debt securities with evidence of deterioration of credit quality.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 30

-Section 15

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27045933&loc=d3e13503-111538

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

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- Definition

Amount of cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition of acquired loans accounted for as debt securities with evidence of deterioration of credit quality.

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- Definition

The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of debt securities, not separately or otherwise categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity. This element refers to the gain (loss) included in earnings and not to the cash proceeds of the sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.13(h))

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-Topic 944

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.3(a))

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The amount by which the fair value of an investment is less than the amortized cost basis or carrying amount of that investment at the balance sheet date and the decline in fair value is deemed to be other than temporary, before considering whether or not such amount is recognized in earnings or other comprehensive income.

+ References

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- Definition

The carrying amount of mortgage loans on real estate that were sold during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule IV)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 29

-Article 12

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph c

-Subparagraph Schedule IV

-Article 5

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-Topic 948

-SubTopic 310

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29.6)

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- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the sale of debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

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-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

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-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (a),(b)

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