CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 68,374,000	$ 52,027,000	$ 87,145,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,937,000
Impairment charges			2,280,000
Provision for credit losses	3,058,000	4,265,000	20,148,000
Unrealized loss (gain) on trading securities	210,000
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(4,199,000)	(5,389,000)	(4,083,000)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	6,759,000
Gain on sale of leases and loans	(12,000)
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings		214,000	74,000
Gain on sale of investment securities, net	(1,850,000)
Gain on sale of assets	(445,000)
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries			(54,542,000)
Deferred income tax provision	5,388,000
Equity-based compensation expense	2,003,000
Trading securities purchases and sales, net	1,588,000
Loss from discontinued operations	0	2,000	44,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	(5,547,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	127,836,000	(109,627,000)	17,484,000
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(430,000)
Principal payments received on real estate loans and real estate	25,000
Investments in unconsolidated real estate entities	(1,709,000)
Principal payments on leases and loans	22,000
Principal payments and proceeds from sales received by consolidated VIE - RSO	858,751,000
Proceeds from sale of loans and investments	796,000
(Decrease) increase in restricted cash of consolidated VIE - RSO	(23,568,000)
Other investing activity of consolidated VIE - RSO	(24,082,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(399,128,000)	486,256,000	89,641,000
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase in borrowings	2,520,000
Principal payments on borrowings	(2,929,000)
Net borrowings (repayments) of debt by consolidated VIE - RSO	207,604,000
Dividends paid	(4,272,000)
Dividends paid on common stock by consolidated VIE - RSO	(101,936,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	15,584,000
Repurchases of common stock	(10,591,000)
Increase in restricted cash	(154,000)	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	278,981,000	(368,304,000)	(106,752,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Operating activities	0	(371,000)	(1,277,000)
Net cash used in discontinued operations	0	(371,000)	(1,277,000)
Increase (decrease) in cash	7,689,000	7,954,000	(904,000)
Cash, beginning of year	19,853,000	11,899,000	12,803,000
Cash, end of year	27,542,000	19,853,000	11,899,000
RAI [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,937,000	2,140,000	2,338,000
Impairment charges	0	0	2,280,000
Provision for credit losses	3,058,000	4,265,000	20,148,000
Unrealized loss (gain) on trading securities	210,000	(1,054,000)	(1,272,000)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(4,199,000)	(5,389,000)	(4,083,000)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	6,759,000	4,647,000	3,311,000
Gain on sale of leases and loans	(12,000)	0	0
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	0	214,000	74,000
Gain on sale of investment securities, net	(1,850,000)	(6,293,000)	(1,221,000)
Gain on sale of assets	(445,000)	(1,734,000)	(915,000)
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries	0	0	(54,542,000)
Deferred income tax provision	5,388,000	25,000	11,836,000
Equity-based compensation expense	2,003,000	1,257,000	993,000
Trading securities purchases and sales, net	1,588,000	10,287,000	(2,876,000)
Loss from discontinued operations	0	2,000	44,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	(5,547,000)	2,840,000	(4,983,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(430,000)	(2,730,000)	(196,000)
Principal payments received on real estate loans and real estate	25,000	2,049,000	888,000
Investments in unconsolidated real estate entities	(1,709,000)	(1,545,000)	(2,493,000)
Principal payments on leases and loans	22,000	17,000	15,000
Purchase of loans and investments	(8,222,000)	(3,213,000)	(2,597,000)
Proceeds from sale of loans and investments	796,000	0	0
Net proceeds from sale of Apidos and cash divested on deconsolidation	0	0	17,860,000
Proceeds from sale of loans and investments	0	0	55,000
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase in borrowings	2,520,000	2,001,000	0
Principal payments on borrowings	(2,929,000)	(2,486,000)	(5,715,000)
Dividends paid	(4,272,000)	(1,988,000)	(2,334,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	15,584,000	1,252,000	2,131,000
Repurchases of common stock	(10,591,000)	(4,607,000)	(2,463,000)
Other	0	67,000	(203,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Cash, beginning of year	19,853,000
Cash, end of year	27,542,000	19,853,000
RSO [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net income of VIE - RSO to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	50,572,000	(174,969,000)	(40,793,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	50,572,000
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of loans and investments	(1,200,711,000)	(861,939,000)	(769,762,000)
Principal payments and proceeds from sales received by consolidated VIE - RSO	858,751,000	1,367,346,000	797,011,000
(Decrease) increase in restricted cash of consolidated VIE - RSO	(23,568,000)	22,248,000	50,756,000
Other investing activity of consolidated VIE - RSO	(24,082,000)	(35,977,000)	(1,896,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net borrowings (repayments) of debt by consolidated VIE - RSO	207,604,000	(420,107,000)	(192,783,000)
Dividends paid on common stock by consolidated VIE - RSO	(101,936,000)	(91,255,000)	(71,876,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	196,198,000	189,991,000	171,056,000
Other	$ (23,043,000)	$ (41,172,000)	$ (4,565,000)