Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)			0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 ClearPoint item	Sep. 30, 2013 ClearPoint	Sep. 30, 2013 ClearPoint	Dec. 31, 2012 ClearPoint	Sep. 30, 2013 ClearPoint Homeward item	Feb. 14, 2013 ClearPoint Homeward Indemnification guaranties	Sep. 30, 2013 Other employees	Sep. 30, 2013 Other employees	Sep. 30, 2013 Employment Agreements - Company's General Counsel and Secretary and its Controller General Counsel and Controller	Sep. 30, 2013 Settlement	Oct. 17, 2013 Settlement Former employee Gleacher Securities	Aug. 31, 2012 Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan item	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan Former Chief Executive Officer and Former Chief Operating Officer	Aug. 31, 2012 Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan Change in control	Sep. 17, 2013 Arbitration - Thomas Hughes and John Griff Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer	Sep. 30, 2013 Arbitration - Thomas Hughes and John Griff Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer	May 24, 2013 Arbitration - Thomas Hughes and John Griff Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan Change in control Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer	Sep. 30, 2013 Arbitration - Thomas Hughes and John Griff Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan Change in control Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer
Commitments and contingencies
Number of executive officers participating in agreement														4
Cash payment to be made to executive officers on termination of employment, in connection with a Change in Control (as defined)																			$ 7,000,000	$ 0
Period before change in control within which the cash payment is made following an involuntary termination of employment under certain circumstances																6 months			6 months
Period after change in control within which the cash payment is made following an involuntary termination of employment under certain circumstances																2 years
Money damages sought																	7,900,000
Severance payment															750,000
Restricted stock held by Mr. Griff which may vest under Restricted Stock Award Agreement															20,833
Employee-related Liabilities	3,003,000	34,199,000																0
Amount agreed to be paid													2,900,000
Legal costs reimbursable													600,000
Settlement charge												3,200,000
Settlement liability												3,500,000
Bonus guarantees to certain officers											3,550,000
Bonus guarantees to other employees										800,000
Compensation charge	400,000										1,400,000
Escrow Deposit								5,000,000
Period following the closing date for escrow account								3 years
Maximum amount of guarantee provided								7,500,000
Amount payable by Parent under the guaranty only in limited circumstances								5,000,000
Number of loans requested to be repurchased			3				2
Loans requested to be repurchased			800,000	800,000	800,000		600,000
Reserve for loan repurchases and indemnification claims			300,000	300,000	300,000	400,000
Loans requested to be repurchased during the period					1,000,000
Losses on loans requested to be repurchased				100,000	100,000
Other Compensation Matters
Compensation charge									$ 300,000	$ 500,000