CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
REVENUES:
Revenues	$ 43,025,000	$ 47,889,000	$ 119,837,000	$ 123,696,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Restructuring expenses				365,000
General and administrative	2,505,000	2,530,000	6,807,000	7,564,000
Impairment charges		2,280,000		2,280,000
Provision for credit losses	1,808,000	6,336,000	3,793,000	14,996,000
Depreciation and amortization	413,000	529,000	1,318,000	1,592,000
Costs and expenses	30,219,000	31,651,000	82,034,000	88,170,000
OPERATING INCOME	12,806,000	16,238,000	37,803,000	35,526,000
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
(Loss) gain on deconsolidation and sale of subsidiaries		(140,000)		54,542,000
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments			(214,000)	(74,000)
Interest expense	(530,000)	(544,000)	(1,525,000)	(1,767,000)
Other income, net	16,897,000	63,000	17,231,000	5,571,000
Other income (expense), net	16,367,000	(621,000)	15,492,000	58,272,000
Income from continuing operations before taxes	29,173,000	15,617,000	53,295,000	93,798,000
Income tax provision (benefit)		(5,000)	(396,000)	20,336,000
Income from continuing operations	27,190,000	15,622,000	49,470,000	73,462,000
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(8,000)	(2,000)	(38,000)
Net income	27,190,000	15,614,000	49,468,000	73,424,000
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	3,442,000	(2,267,000)	5,051,000	25,562,000
Amounts attributable to common shareholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	3,442,000	(2,259,000)	5,053,000	25,600,000
Discontinued operations	0	(8,000)	(2,000)	(38,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	3,442,000	(2,267,000)	5,051,000	25,562,000
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ (0.11)	$ 0.25	$ 1.29
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ (0.11)	$ 0.25	$ 1.29
Weighted average shares outstanding	20,342	20,102	20,255	19,786
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ (0.11)	$ 0.23	$ 1.23
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ (0.11)	$ 0.23	$ 1.23
Weighted average shares outstanding	21,872	20,102	21,931	20,845
Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member]
REVENUES:
Real estate (includes revenues of $4,701, $2,446, $9,794 and $9,169 related to RSO)	15,950,000	11,292,000	39,443,000	31,929,000
Financial fund management (includes revenues of $450, $2,508, $720 and $4,902 related to RSO)	8,502,000	6,083,000	15,234,000	15,378,000
Commercial finance	(30,000)	(167,000)	(243,000)	(1,535,000)
Revenues	24,422,000	17,208,000	54,434,000	45,772,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Real estate	11,178,000	7,684,000	29,514,000	22,477,000
Financial fund management	3,547,000	3,909,000	7,769,000	11,282,000
Commercial finance	75,000	103,000	(99,000)	451,000
Restructuring expenses	0	0	0	365,000
General and administrative	2,505,000	2,530,000	6,807,000	7,564,000
Impairment charges	0	2,280,000	0	2,280,000
Provision for credit losses	1,808,000	6,336,000	3,793,000	14,996,000
Depreciation and amortization	413,000	529,000	1,318,000	1,592,000
Costs and expenses	19,526,000	23,371,000	49,102,000	61,007,000
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
(Loss) gain on deconsolidation and sale of subsidiaries	0	(140,000)	0	54,542,000
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments	0	0	(214,000)	(74,000)
Interest expense	(530,000)	(544,000)	(1,525,000)	(1,767,000)
Other income, net	128,000	29,000	400,000	6,000
Other income (expense), net	(402,000)	(655,000)	(1,339,000)	52,707,000
Income tax provision (benefit)	1,261,000	(3,984,000)	(396,000)	13,358,000
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax			(2,000)	(38,000)
Net income			49,468,000	73,424,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(40,000)	36,000	(23,000)	30,000
VIE - RSO [Member]
REVENUES:
Real estate (includes revenues of $4,701, $2,446, $9,794 and $9,169 related to RSO)	4,701,000	2,446,000	9,794,000	9,169,000
Financial fund management (includes revenues of $450, $2,508, $720 and $4,902 related to RSO)	450,000	2,508,000	720,000	4,902,000
Revenues	23,786,000	35,669,000	76,011,000	90,657,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Expense from consolidated VIE - RSO	15,554,000	13,230,000	43,110,000	39,752,000
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Other income (expense), net	16,607,000	0	16,607,000	5,464,000
Income tax provision (benefit)	722,000	3,979,000	4,221,000	6,978,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(23,708,000)	(17,917,000)	(44,394,000)	(47,892,000)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
REVENUES:
Revenues	(5,183,000)	(4,988,000)	(10,608,000)	(12,733,000)
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Costs and expenses	(4,861,000)	(4,950,000)	(10,178,000)	(12,589,000)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Other income (expense), net	$ 162,000	$ 34,000	$ 224,000	$ 101,000