CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) RSO (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ (1,534)	$ (433)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net realized gain on sales of investment securities available-for-sale and loans		(58)
Equity in losses/(earnings) of unconsolidated subsidiaries	(1,201)	(557)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Decrease in cash	(7,494)	(11,652)
Cash, beginning of period	19,393	24,455
Cash, end of period	11,899	12,803
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE:
Interest expense paid in cash	432	2,341
Income taxes paid in cash	61	118
Resource Capital Corp [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	15,052	413
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Provision for loan losses	9,017	5,979
Depreciation of investments in real estate and other	574	335
Amortization of intangible assets	1,338	1,419
Amortization of term facilities	247	140
Depreciation on operating leases
Accretion of net discounts on loans held for investment	(7,079)	(4,066)
Accretion of net discounts on securities available-for-sale	(733)	(851)
Amortization of discount on notes of CDOs	1,433	234
Amortization of debt issuance costs on notes of CDOs	1,370	1,012
Amortization of stock-based compensation	1,224	1,127
Amortization of terminated derivative instruments	58	76
Accretion of interest-only available-for-sales securities	(256)	0
Distribution to subordinated debt holder	(1,979)	0
Deferred income tax benefits	3,644	(399)
Purchase of securities, trading	0	(5,258)
Principal payments on securities, trading	46	316
Net realized and unrealized gain on investment securities, trading	915	581
Net realized gain on sales of investment securities available-for-sale and loans	(1,958)	1,800
Gain on early extinguishment of debt	(11,235)	0
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	0	2,249
Gain on consolidation	(2,498)	0
Linked Transactions fair value adjustments	(168)	0
Equity in losses/(earnings) of unconsolidated subsidiaries	1,240	(819)
Adjust for impact of imputed interest on VIE accounting	1,879	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	(26,953)	7,908
Subtotal- consolidated VIE - RSO operating activities	(29,874)	11,783
Change in consolidated VIE - RSO cash for the period	27,454	(14,219)
Change in cash attributable to operations of consolidated VIE - RSO	(1,972)	(2,053)
Non-cash incentive compensation	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities (1)	(14,168)	12,196
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of loans	(170,811)	(454,156)
Investment in loans - related parties	0	(3,100)
Purchase of securities available-for-sale	(49,125)	(25,750)
Purchase of investments	219,936	483,006
Principal payments received on loans	213,410	78,223
Principal payments on securities available-for-sale	10,919	2,029
Proceeds from sale of securities available-for-sale	21,933	0
Principal payments received on loans – related parties	792	10,097
Proceeds from sale of loans	33,670	84,232
Principal payments and proceeds from sales received by consolidated VIE - RSO	280,724	174,581
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	(34,657)	8,680
Other investing activity of consolidated VIE - RSO	1,696	5,392
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	24,418	(305,170)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repurchase agreements	37,301	17,924
Proceeds from Issuance of Secured Debt	0	317,244
Collateralized debt obligations	(100,916)	(27,550)
Retirement of debt	(15,515)	0
Net (repayments) borrowings of debt by consolidated VIE - RSO	(79,130)	307,618
Dividends paid	(19,285)	(18,526)
Net proceeds from dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan (net of offering costs of $19 and $11)	22,620	17,462
Net proceeds from issuance of equity shares of consolidated VIE - RSO	48,719	17,462
Payment of debt issuance costs	0	(5,844)
Payment of equity to third party sub-note holders	(1,320)	0
Distributions paid on preferred stock	(520)	0
Proceeds from CDO retained notes	14,366	7,114
Other financing activity of consolidated VIE - RSO	12,526	1,270
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(37,704)	307,193
Decrease in cash	(27,454)	14,219
Cash, beginning of period	112,732	28,897
Cash, end of period	85,278	43,116
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE:
Interest expense paid in cash	17,160	7,967
Income taxes paid in cash	2,987	0
Resource Capital Corp [Member] | Redeemable Preferred Stock Series B [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of 8.25% Series B redeemable preferred shares (net of offering costs of $1,201 and $0)	26,099	0
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Resource Capital Corp [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	(2,420)	(2,436)
Non-cash incentive compensation	654	0
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Investment in unconsolidated entity	1,199	(4,860)
Proceeds from sale of real estate held-for-sale	0	1,464
Purchase of investments in real estate	0	(970)
Minority interest equity	114	0
Improvements in investments in real estate	(3,026)	0
Investments in real estate assets	0	(689)
Proceeds from sale of real estate	0	(370)
Other investing activity of consolidated VIE - RSO	1,713	5,425
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Dividends paid	(19,819)	(19,157)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net realized gain on sales of investment securities available-for-sale and loans		0
Equity in losses/(earnings) of unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Resource Capital Corp [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	448	383
Non-cash incentive compensation	(654)	0
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Other investing activity of consolidated VIE - RSO	(17)	(33)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Dividends paid	$ 534	$ 631