CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Net (loss) income	$ 13,721	$ (259)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Provision for credit losses	5,152	2,250
Unrealized gain on trading securities	(164)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(1,201)	(557)
Gain on sale of leases and loans		(37)
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries		(8,749)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		2,190
Loss from discontinued operations	6	20
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	9,355	(3,783)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	22,735	(315,949)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(39,217)	308,455
CASH FLOWS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Operating activities	(367)	(375)
Net cash used in discontinued operations	(367)	(375)
Decrease in cash	(7,494)	(11,652)
Cash, beginning of period	19,393	24,455
Cash, end of period	11,899	12,803
Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE) [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	550	3,087
Provision for credit losses	5,152	2,250
Unrealized gain on trading securities	(164)	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(1,201)	(557)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	1,011	1,163
Gain on sale of leases and loans	0	(37)
Gain on sale of investment securities, net	(307)	(58)
Gain on sale of assets	(831)	0
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries	0	(8,749)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	2,190
Deferred income tax (benefit) provision	(277)	154
Equity-based compensation issued	205	498
Trading securities purchases and sales, net	(1,828)	0
Loss from discontinued operations	6	20
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	(4,710)	(1,432)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(80)	(106)
Payments received on real estate loans and real estate	712	1,550
Investments in real estate and unconsolidated real estate entities	(1,012)	(127)
Purchase of commercial finance assets	0	(18,483)
Principal payments received on leases and loans	3	9,031
Purchase of investments	(1,323)	(600)
Proceeds from sale of loans and investments	0	207
Cash divested on deconsolidation of LEAF	0	(2,284)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase in borrowings	0	128,845
Principal payments on borrowings	(229)	(123,823)
Dividends paid	(593)	(569)
Repurchase of common stock	(1,078)	(939)
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	3	(633)
Other	(150)	(2,250)
CASH FLOWS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Cash, beginning of period	19,393
Cash, end of period	11,899
VIE-RSO [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Change in cash attributable to operations of consolidated VIE - RSO	(1,972)	(2,053)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of investments	(219,936)	(483,006)
Principal payments and proceeds from sales received by consolidated VIE - RSO	280,724	174,581
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash - consolidated VIE - RSO	(34,657)	8,680
Other investing activity of consolidated VIE - RSO	(1,696)	(5,392)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net (repayments) borrowings of debt by consolidated VIE - RSO	(79,130)	307,618
Dividends paid	(19,285)	(18,526)
Net proceeds from issuance of equity shares of consolidated VIE - RSO	48,719	17,462
Other	$ 12,526	$ 1,270