RESTATEMENT (Restatement - Cash Flow) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011 Scenario, Previously Reported Prior to Adjustments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Scenario, Previously Reported Prior to Adjustments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 As Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 As Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 VIE - RSO [Member] Restatement Adjustments - RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member] As Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member] As Previously Reported [Member]
Net income	$ 49,468,000	$ 73,424,000	$ 563,000	$ 26,182,000	$ 25,619,000	$ 26,182,000	$ 49,391,000	$ 49,468,000	$ 73,424,000	$ 25,619,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			3,087,000	4,875,000	1,788,000			1,462,000	1,788,000	1,788,000
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments	214,000	74,000	0	74,000	74,000			214,000	74,000	74,000	74,000
Impairment charges		2,280,000	0	2,280,000	2,280,000			0	2,280,000	2,280,000	2,280,000
Provision for credit losses	3,793,000	14,996,000	2,250,000	17,246,000	14,996,000			3,793,000	14,996,000	14,996,000	17,246,000
Unrealized gain on trading securities	(774,000)	(1,108,000)	0	(1,108,000)	(1,108,000)			(774,000)	(1,108,000)	(1,108,000)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(2,528,000)	(2,882,000)	(557,000)	(3,439,000)	(2,882,000)			(2,528,000)	(2,882,000)	(2,882,000)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities			1,163,000	3,463,000	2,300,000			3,099,000	2,300,000	2,300,000
Gain on sale of leases and loans			(37,000)	(37,000)	0				0	0	(37,000)
Gain on sale of loans and investment securities, net			(58,000)	(972,000)	(914,000)			(4,551,000)	(914,000)	(914,000)
Gain on sale of assets			0	(84,000)	(84,000)			(1,632,000)	(84,000)	(84,000)
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries		(54,542,000)	(8,749,000)	(63,291,000)	(54,542,000)			0	(54,542,000)	(54,542,000)	(63,291,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt			2,190,000	2,190,000	0				0	0	2,190,000
Deferred income tax (benefit) provision			154,000	13,393,000	13,239,000			(254,000)	13,239,000	13,239,000
Equity-based compensation issued			498,000	1,286,000	788,000		814,000	942,000	788,000	788,000
Equity-based compensation received			0	(153,000)	(153,000)				0	(153,000)
Trading securities purchases and sales, net			0	(1,048,000)	(1,048,000)			6,445,000	(1,048,000)	(1,048,000)
Loss from discontinued operations	2,000	38,000		58,000	38,000	58,000		2,000	38,000	38,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			(1,412,000)	(2,911,000)	(1,479,000)			1,465,000	(1,479,000)	(1,479,000)
Changes in cash attributable to operations of consolidated VIE- RSO							(66,749,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	18,736,000	(19,218,000)	(908,000)	(1,996,000)	(1,088,000)		(16,544,000)			(1,088,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures			(106,000)	(222,000)	(116,000)			(1,035,000)	(116,000)	(116,000)
Payments received on real estate loans and real estate			1,550,000	1,726,000	176,000			2,049,000	176,000	176,000
Investments in real estate and unconsolidated real estate entities			(127,000)	(1,608,000)	(1,481,000)			(2,058,000)	(1,481,000)	(1,481,000)
Purchase of commercial finance assets			(18,483,000)	(18,483,000)	0
Principal payments received on leases and loans			9,031,000	9,043,000	12,000			8,000	12,000	12,000
Cash divested on deconsolidation of LEAF			(2,284,000)	(2,284,000)	0
Proceeds from sale of Apidos, net of transaction costs and cash divested on deconsolidation			0	17,860,000	17,860,000			0	17,860,000	17,860,000
Purchase of loans and investments			(600,000)	(1,874,000)	(1,274,000)		(549,826,000)	(2,024,000)	(1,274,000)	(1,274,000)
Principal payments and proceeds from sales received by consolidated VIE - RSO							540,117,000
Proceeds from sale of loans and investments			207,000	262,000	55,000			0	55,000	55,000
Increase in restricted cash - consolidated VIE RSO							85,413,000
Other - consolidated VIE - RSO							3,592,000
Net cash provided by investing activities	206,967,000	94,571,000	(10,812,000)	4,420,000	15,232,000		79,296,000			15,232,000
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase in borrowings			128,845,000	128,845,000	0			2,000,000	0
Principal payments on borrowings			(123,823,000)	(129,416,000)	(5,593,000)			(2,354,000)	(5,593,000)	(5,593,000)
Net repayments of debt by consolidated VIE - RSO							(128,019,000)
Dividends paid			(569,000)	(2,310,000)	(1,741,000)		(54,231,000)	(1,194,000)	(1,741,000)	(1,741,000)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock by consolidated VIE - RSO							122,337,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			0	2,131,000	2,131,000			1,253,000	2,131,000	2,131,000
Repurchase of common stock		(1,385,000)	(939,000)	(2,324,000)	(1,385,000)			(1,601,000)	(1,385,000)	(1,385,000)
Decrease in restricted cash			(633,000)	(664,000)	0
Preferred stock dividends paid by LEAF to RSO			(188,000)	(188,000)	0
Other			(2,250,000)	(2,275,000)	(56,000)		(2,839,000)	81,000	(56,000)	(56,000)
Net cash used in financing activities	(217,792,000)	(67,853,000)	443,000	(6,201,000)	(6,644,000)		(62,752,000)			(6,644,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Operating activities	(371,000)	(910,000)	(375,000)	(1,285,000)	(910,000)					(910,000)
Net cash used in discontinued operations	(371,000)	(910,000)	(375,000)	(1,285,000)	(910,000)					(910,000)
Increase in cash	7,540,000	6,590,000	(11,652,000)	(5,062,000)	6,590,000					6,590,000
Cash, beginning of year	11,899,000	12,803,000	24,455,000	24,455,000	12,803,000			11,899,000		12,803,000
Cash, end of period	$ 19,439,000	$ 19,393,000	$ 12,803,000	$ 19,393,000	$ 19,393,000	$ 19,393,000		$ 19,439,000		$ 19,393,000	$ 19,393,000