CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Consolidating Statements of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
REVENUES:
Revenues from external customers	$ 40,677	$ 41,504	$ 128,862	$ 126,455
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
General and administrative	4,053	2,426	11,531	8,309
Provision for credit losses	(400)	559	278	3,342
Depreciation and amortization	504	453	1,476	1,369
COSTS AND EXPENSES:	32,100	27,704	140,849	84,926
Expenses of consolidated VIE - RSO	15,994
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	8,577	13,800	(11,987)	41,529
Impairment on investments in unconsolidated entities	(151)		(4,497)
Interest expense	(450)	(467)	(1,326)	(1,447)
Other income (expense), net	5,163	3,821	32,298	17,819
Total other revenue (expense)	4,562	3,423	26,475	16,811
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes	13,139	17,223	14,488	58,340
Income tax provision (benefit)	(441)	1,504	6,425	4,324
Net income (loss)	13,580	15,719	8,063	54,016
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	(1,100)	1,516	(2,417)	5,224
Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
REVENUES:
Revenues from external customers	(3,697)
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
COSTS AND EXPENSES:	(3,077)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
REVENUES:
Revenues from external customers	(3,697)	(4,136)	(12,074)	(10,056)
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
COSTS AND EXPENSES:	(3,077)	(3,502)	(9,813)	(9,374)
Total other revenue (expense)		11	15	29
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
REVENUES:
Revenues from external customers	(3,697)	(4,136)	(12,074)	(10,056)
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
General and administrative	0	0	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
COSTS AND EXPENSES:	(3,077)	(3,502)	(9,813)	(9,374)
Expenses of consolidated VIE - RSO	0
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	(620)	(634)	(2,261)	(682)
Impairment on investments in unconsolidated entities	0		0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Other income (expense), net	(438)	(561)	(1,359)	(1,687)
Total other revenue (expense)	(438)	(561)	(1,359)	(1,687)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes	(1,058)	(1,195)	(3,620)	(2,369)
Income tax provision (benefit)	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(1,058)	(1,195)	(3,620)	(2,369)
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	(7,757)	(8,406)	10,800	(38,756)
RAI [Member]
REVENUES:
Real estate	16,195	14,289	54,277	41,012
Financial fund management	4,408	5,557	14,326	20,773
Commercial finance	66	(17)	66	(158)
Revenues from external customers	20,669	19,829	68,669	61,627
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Real estate	11,223	9,384	34,804	27,364
Financial fund management	3,369	2,812	9,513	9,980
Commercial finance	434	125	1,471	351
General and administrative	4,053	2,426	11,531	8,309
Provision for credit losses	(400)	559	278	3,342
Depreciation and amortization	504	453	1,476	1,369
COSTS AND EXPENSES:	19,183	15,759	59,073	50,715
Impairment on investments in unconsolidated entities	(151)	0	(4,497)	0
Gain (loss) on sale of investment securities, net	0	69	0	439
Interest expense	(450)	(467)	(1,326)	(1,447)
Other income (expense), net	(52)	80	15	263
Income tax provision (benefit)	1,355	1,741	3,456	4,991
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(37)	11	(92)	(33)
RAI [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
REVENUES:
Real estate	16,195	14,289	54,277	41,012
Financial fund management	4,408	5,557	14,326	20,773
Commercial finance	66	(17)		(158)
Revenues from external customers	20,669	19,829	68,669	61,627
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Real estate	11,223	9,384	34,804	27,364
Financial fund management	3,369	2,812	9,513	9,980
Commercial finance	434	125	1,471	351
General and administrative	4,053	2,426	11,531	8,309
Provision for credit losses	(400)	559	278	3,342
Depreciation and amortization	504	453	1,476	1,369
COSTS AND EXPENSES:	19,183	15,759	59,073	50,715
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	1,486	4,070	9,596	10,912
Impairment on investments in unconsolidated entities	(151)		(4,497)
Gain (loss) on sale of investment securities, net		69		439
Interest expense	(450)	(467)	(1,326)	(1,447)
Other income (expense), net	386	652	1,389	1,979
Total other revenue (expense)	(215)	254	(4,434)	971
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes	1,271	4,324	5,162	11,883
Income tax provision (benefit)	1,355	1,741	3,456	4,991
Net income (loss)	(84)	2,583	1,706	6,892
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(37)	11	(92)	(33)
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	(121)	2,594	1,614	6,859
RAI [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Interest expense		0
Other income (expense), net	(438)	(572)	(1,374)	(1,716)
RSO [Member]
REVENUES:
Real estate	2,422	2,643	7,925	7,628
Financial fund management	1,372	1,525	4,260	2,485
Revenues from external customers	23,705	25,811	72,267	74,884
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
General and administrative	4,372	3,716	13,222	11,305
Depreciation and amortization	628	562	1,814	2,158
COSTS AND EXPENSES:	15,994	15,447	91,589	43,585
Expenses of consolidated VIE - RSO	15,994	15,447	91,589	43,585
Impairment on investments in unconsolidated entities			(59)	0
Interest expense	(16,906)	(11,508)	(47,611)	(31,746)
Other income (expense), net	5,215	3,730	32,268	17,527
Total other revenue (expense)	5,215	3,730	32,268	17,527
Income tax provision (benefit)	(1,796)	(237)	2,969	(667)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(14,214)
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	14,722	14,331	9,977	49,493
RSO [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
REVENUES:
Revenues from external customers	23,705	25,811	72,267	74,884
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
General and administrative	0	0	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
COSTS AND EXPENSES:	15,994	15,447	91,589	43,585
Expenses of consolidated VIE - RSO	15,994		91,589	43,585
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	7,711	10,364	(19,322)	31,299
Impairment on investments in unconsolidated entities	0		0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Other income (expense), net	5,215	3,730	32,268	17,527
Total other revenue (expense)	5,215	3,730	32,268	17,527
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes	12,926	14,094	12,946	48,826
Income tax provision (benefit)	(1,796)	(237)	2,969	(667)
Net income (loss)	14,722	14,331	9,977	49,493
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(7,003)
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	6,778	7,328	(14,831)	37,121
RSO [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
REVENUES:
Revenues from external customers	(3,697)	(4,136)	(12,074)	(10,056)
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
COSTS AND EXPENSES:	(3,077)	(3,502)	(9,813)	(9,374)
RSO [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
COSTS AND EXPENSES:		0
Expenses of consolidated VIE - RSO			0	0
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(7,211)
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(14,643)	$ (14,214)	(10,388)	(48,759)
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,944)		(24,808)	(12,372)
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	$ (6,699)		$ 14,420	$ (36,387)