Fair Value Measurement (Financial Disclosures About Fair Value Of Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets		$ 107,701	$ 102,375
Carrying Amount [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		270,933	198,905
Restricted cash		58,388	59,365
Loans receivable including loans held for sale, net		34,218	55,389
Notes receivable, net		417,820	415,598
Receivable-backed notes payable		414,096	403,912
Notes and mortgage notes payable and other borrowings		112,753	120,994
Junior subordinated debentures		151,532	150,485
Shares subject to mandatory redemption		13,303	13,098
Carrying Amount [Member] | Preferred Shareholders [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets	[1]	5,000	5,063
Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		270,933	198,905
Restricted cash		58,388	59,365
Loans receivable including loans held for sale, net		44,067	63,668
Notes receivable, net		530,000	495,000
Receivable-backed notes payable		419,900	406,600
Notes and mortgage notes payable and other borrowings		116,992	124,456
Junior subordinated debentures		106,500	116,500
Shares subject to mandatory redemption		11,900	11,900
Fair Value [Member] | Preferred Shareholders [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets	[1]	4,500	4,500
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		270,933	198,905
Restricted cash		58,388	59,365
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans receivable including loans held for sale, net		44,067	63,668
Notes receivable, net		530,000	495,000
Receivable-backed notes payable		419,900	406,600
Notes and mortgage notes payable and other borrowings		116,992	124,456
Junior subordinated debentures		106,500	116,500
Shares subject to mandatory redemption		11,900	11,900
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Preferred Shareholders [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets	[1]	$ 4,500	$ 4,500

[1] Notes receivable from preferred shareholders is included in other assets on BFC's condensed consolidated statements of financial condition as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.