CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
REVENUES:
Total revenues	$ 43,935,000	$ 39,374,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
General and administrative	2,228,000	2,896,000
Gain on sale of leases and loans		(37,000)
Provision for credit losses	5,152,000	2,250,000
Depreciation and amortization	492,000	2,061,000
Costs and expenses	36,174,000	35,389,000
OPERATING INCOME	7,761,000	3,985,000
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Gain on deconsolidation and sale of subsidiary		8,749,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(2,190,000)
Gain on sale of investment securities, net		58,000
Interest expense	(522,000)	(2,974,000)
Other income (expense), net	13,871,000	(577,000)
Other income (expense)	13,349,000	3,697,000
Income from continuing operations before taxes	21,110,000	7,682,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations	13,727,000	(239,000)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(6,000)	(20,000)
Net income (loss)	13,721,000	(259,000)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders	(1,534,000)	(433,000)
Amounts attributable to common shareholders:
Loss from continuing operations	(1,528,000)	(413,000)
Discontinued operations	(6,000)	(20,000)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders	(1,534,000)	(433,000)
Basic and Diluted loss per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.02)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.02)
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	20,077	19,641
Diluted (loss) earnings per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.02)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.02)
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	20,077	19,641
Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE) [Member]
REVENUES:
Real estate (includes revenues of $4,787 and $1,498 related to RSO)	13,154,000	8,666,000
Financial fund management (includes revenues of $(8) and $2,522 related to RSO)	2,675,000	6,579,000
Commercial finance	(124,000)	3,419,000
Total revenues	15,705,000	18,664,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Real estate	7,998,000	7,192,000
Financial fund management	1,017,000	5,804,000
Commercial finance	(49,000)	1,963,000
General and administrative	2,228,000	2,896,000
Gain on sale of leases and loans	0	(37,000)
Provision for credit losses	5,152,000	2,250,000
Depreciation and amortization	492,000	2,061,000
Costs and expenses	16,838,000	22,129,000
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Gain on deconsolidation and sale of subsidiary	0	8,749,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	(2,190,000)
Gain on sale of investment securities, net	0	58,000
Interest expense	(522,000)	(2,974,000)
Other income (expense), net	106,000	(72,000)
Other income (expense)	(416,000)	3,571,000
Income tax provision - RSO	(241,000)	154,000
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(6,000)	(20,000)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(587,000)	193,000
VIE-RSO [Member]
REVENUES:
Real estate (includes revenues of $4,787 and $1,498 related to RSO)	4,787,000	1,498,000
Financial fund management (includes revenues of $(8) and $2,522 related to RSO)	(8,000)	2,522,000
Total revenues	33,041,000	25,211,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Costs and expenses	24,098,000	17,031,000
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Other income (expense)	13,733,000	0
Income tax provision - RSO	7,624,000	7,767,000
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(14,668,000)	(367,000)
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
REVENUES:
Total revenues	(4,811,000)	(4,501,000)
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Costs and expenses	(4,762,000)	(3,771,000)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Other income (expense)	$ 32,000	$ 126,000