Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Narrative) (Details)

v3.6.0.2
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Narrative) (Details)
 1 Months Ended 4 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2016
USD ($)
security
Mar. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2011
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
derivative_instrument
contract
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
derivative_instrument
contract
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
derivative_instrument
contract
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Derivative [Line Items]                
Consolidation percentage (as percent)       50.00% 50.00% 50.00%    
Equity method investment       $ 19,300,000 $ 19,300,000 $ 19,300,000 $ 20,600,000  
Refundable term for initiation fees           30 years    
Number of days past due           90 days    
Ownership in equity investment (as percent)       23.00% 23.00% 23.00%    
Other than temporary impairment           $ 2,900,000 7,500,000 $ 0
Acquisition of servicing rights     $ 2,200,000          
Amortization of servicing rights           300,000 300,000 300,000
Mortgage servicing rights (MSR) impairment           0 0 0
Servicing assets       $ 400,000 $ 400,000 400,000 700,000  
Proceeds from sale of investments           2,777,808,000 1,425,480,000 798,580,000
CDO bonds payable       0 0 0 92,933,000  
Other bonds and notes payable       0 0 0 16,162,000  
Reclassification of net realized gain on deconsolidation of CDO VI           20,682,000 0 $ 0
VIE assets       0 0 0    
VIE liabilities       0 0 0    
Allowances for uncollectable amounts       1,100,000 1,100,000 1,100,000 1,000,000  
Allowance for Bad Debts                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Allowances for uncollectable amounts       $ 100,000 $ 100,000 $ 100,000 90,000  
VIEs                
Derivative [Line Items]                
CDO bonds payable             92,933,000  
Other bonds and notes payable             4,672,000  
CDO VI | VIEs                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Interest in VIE (as percent)         0.00%      
Reclassification of net realized gain on deconsolidation of CDO VI   $ 20,700,000            
Gain on sale of securities   82,100,000            
CDO VI | VIEs | Real Estate Securities                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Carrying amount of VIE   43,900,000            
CDO VI | VIEs | CDO Bonds Payable                
Derivative [Line Items]                
CDO bonds payable   93,100,000            
CDO VI | VIEs | Other Bonds Payable                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Other bonds and notes payable   12,400,000            
Non-consolidated CDO Securities                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Face amount of securities sold $ 14,800,000.0              
Number of securities sold | security 2              
Proceeds from sale of investments $ 9,900,000              
Interest in VIE (as percent)       0.00%        
NCT 2013-VI Class I-MM-2                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Face amount of securities sold   $ 11,000,000            
Redemption price as percentage of principal amount redeemed (as percent)   93.00%            
Hedging derivative                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Number of instruments held | derivative_instrument       0 0 0    
Not designated as hedging instrument | Interest rate cap                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Number of instruments held | derivative_instrument       1 1 1    
Fair value of derivative instrument       $ 500,000 $ 500,000 $ 500,000    
Not designated as hedging instrument | TBAs | Short                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Number of instruments held | contract       3 3 3    
Notional amount       $ 619,500,000 $ 619,500,000 $ 619,500,000    
Not designated as hedging instrument | TBAs | Forward Contracts | Short                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Margin calls       0 0 $ 0 $ 1,000,000  
Lower Range                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Operating lease term           10 years    
Upper Range                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Operating lease term           20 years    
Golf | Lower Range                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Operating lease term           10 years    
Golf | Upper Range                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Operating lease term           20 years    
Membership base | Golf                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Amortization period           7 years    
Real Estate Investment with a Non-Controlling Interest                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Equity method investment       $ 0 $ 0 $ 0