DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	10 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 17, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 29, 2016
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Less: Carrying value (1)					$ 77,121
Gain on disposition of assets held for sale (Note 8)			$ 0	$ 0	5,151	$ 0
Assets held for sale
Assets held for sale, net		$ 22,062		0	22,062
Liabilities of assets held for sale
Total liabilities associated with assets held for sale		$ 10,252		0	$ 10,252
Commercial real estate loan with variable rate
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Interest rate on secured borrowing on commercial real estate loan		9.77%			9.77%
Lending division
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Proceeds received		$ 84,928		27,587
Less: Carrying value (1)	$ 77,121	77,121		27,587
Gain on sale before transaction costs		7,807		0
Transaction costs (2)		(2,656)		0
Gain on disposition of assets held for sale (Note 8)		5,151		0
Unamortized acquisition discounts		15,951		1,951	$ 15,951
Assets held for sale
Commercial real estate loans, net				52,822
Loans receivable, net		20,338			20,338
Cash and cash equivalents		1,471		821	1,471
Restricted cash				1,076
Accounts receivable, net		253		684	253
Other assets				23
Assets held for sale, net		22,062		55,426	22,062
Liabilities of assets held for sale
Debt		10,000		25,941	10,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		230		503	230
Other liabilities		22		1,395	22
Total liabilities associated with assets held for sale		10,252		27,839	10,252
Carrying value				27,587			$ 27,587
Lending division | Held for sale
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Transaction costs from sales				$ 6	$ 675	$ 473
Lending division | CIM SBA
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Reimbursement of costs		(1,638)
Lending division | Commercial mortgage loans | Discontinued operations, disposed of by sale
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Gain on disposition of assets held for sale (Note 8)		$ 5,151