VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES - LOANS HELD FOR INVESTMENT (Summary of Loans) (Details) RSO (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses	$ (16,990,000)	$ (36,243,000)	$ (32,628,000)
RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Gross	1,940,406,000	1,390,844,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(9,813,000)	(7,511,000)
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	1,930,593,000	1,383,333,000
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses	(4,613,000)	(13,807,000)	(17,691,000)
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross, allowance for loan loss	0	0
Carrying value, allowance for loan loss	(4,613,000)	(13,807,000)
Loans and receivables	1,935,793,000	1,377,037,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, net	(9,813,000)	(7,511,000)
Net carrying value of loans held for investment	1,925,980,000	1,369,526,000
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	111,736,000	21,916,000
Financing Receivable, Net and Loans Receivable Held-for-sale	2,047,529,000	1,398,953,000
Net Carrying Value of Loans Held for Investment and Loans Held for Sale	2,037,716,000	1,391,442,000
Deferred amendment fees	88,000	216,000
Residential Mortgage Loans [Member] \| RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	111,454,000	15,066,000
Whole Loans [Member] \| RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Gross	1,271,121,000	749,083,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(7,529,000)	(3,294,000)
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	1,263,592,000	745,789,000
Loans and receivables	1,263,592,000	745,789,000
B Notes [Member] \| RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Gross	16,120,000	16,288,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(48,000)	(83,000)
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	16,072,000	16,205,000
Loans and receivables	16,072,000	16,205,000
Mezzanine Loans [Member] \| RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Gross	67,446,000	64,417,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(80,000)	(100,000)
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	67,366,000	64,317,000
Loans and receivables	67,366,000	64,317,000
Commercial Real Estate Loans [Member] \| RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Gross	1,354,687,000	829,788,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(7,657,000)	(3,477,000)
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	1,347,030,000	826,311,000
Loan origination fees	7,600,000	3,300,000
Extension and exit fees	0	73,000
Bank Loans [Member] \| RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Gross	332,058,000	519,343,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(1,410,000)	(3,950,000)
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	330,648,000	515,393,000
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses	(570,000)	(3,391,000)	(9,705,000)
Loans and receivables	330,930,000	517,770,000
Deferred upfront fee	82,000	141,000
Middle-market Loans [Member] \| RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Gross	250,859,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	(746,000)
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	250,113,000
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses	0	0	0
Loans and receivables	250,113,000	44,253,000
Residential Mortgage [Member] \| RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Gross	2,802,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross	0
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment	2,802,000
Agency-Conforming [Member] \| RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	28,900,000	15,100,000
Jumbo Mortgage Loans [Member] \| RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	82,600,000	0
Residential Mortgage Loans [Member] \| RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Gross		1,849,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross		0
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment		1,849,000
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	111,454,000	15,066,000
Middle-market Loans [Member] \| RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Gross		39,864,000
Unamortized (discount) premium, gross		(84,000)
Gross carrying value of loans held for investment		39,780,000
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount		4,473,000
Bank Loans [Member] \| RSO [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans Receivable Held-for-sale, Amount	$ 282,000	$ 2,377,000

The allowance for loan loss on loans held for investment.

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Deferred amendment fees amortized over the life of the loan.

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The deferred upfront fees related to loans held for investment.

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The extension and exit fees related to loans held for investment.

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Financing Receivable, Net and Loans Receivable Held-for-sale

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The gross carrying value of loans held for investment.

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The origination fees related to loans held for investment.

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The net carrying value of loans held for investment.

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No definition available.

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Net Carrying Value of Loans Held for Investment and Loans Held for Sale

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- Definition

Disclosure of the gross unamortized amount of the (discount) premium on the note or receivable which is added (subtracted) to the face amount of the loan. The discount or premium is defined as the difference between the present value and the face amount.

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A valuation allowance for the gross unamortized (discount) premium.

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No definition available.

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Disclosure of the net unamortized amount of the (discount) premium on the note or receivable which is added (subtracted) to the face amount of the loan. The discount or premium is defined as the difference between the present value and the face amount.

+ References

No definition available.

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A valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

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- Definition

The face amount of loans that will be sold to other entities.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

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Amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the note. The note also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. Excludes amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Net amount of the investment in a contractual right to receive money on demand or on fixed or determinable dates that is recognized as an asset in the creditor's statement of financial position. Examples include, but are not limited to, credit card receivables, notes receivable and receivables relating to lessor's rights to payments from leases other than operating leases that have been recorded as assets. Excludes trade accounts receivable with contractual maturity of one year or less and arose from the sale of goods or services.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3)

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-Section 02

-Paragraph 3

-Article 5

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