Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

DEBT OBLIGATIONS - Debt Obligations (Details)

v3.6.0.2
DEBT OBLIGATIONS - Debt Obligations (Details) - USD ($)
 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Oct. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Aug. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Outstanding Face Amount   $ 19,400,000 $ 770,572,000 $ 971,270,000  
Carrying Value     $ 767,465,000 970,842,000  
Weighted Average Coupon - Basis for Variable Rate     LIBOR    
Subtotal debt obligation          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Outstanding Face Amount     $ 770,572,000 590,464,000  
Carrying Value     $ 767,465,000 590,036,000  
Weighted Average Funding Cost     2.17%    
Weighted Average Life (Years)     1 year 8 months 6 days    
Face Amount of Floating Rate Debt     $ 153,204,000    
CDO Bonds Payable          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Outstanding Face Amount     0 92,933,000  
Carrying Value     $ 0 92,933,000  
Weighted Average Funding Cost     0.00%    
Weighted Average Life (Years)     0 years    
Face Amount of Floating Rate Debt     $ 0    
CDO VI          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Outstanding Face Amount     0 92,933,000  
Carrying Value     $ 0 92,933,000  
Weighted Average Funding Cost     0.00%    
Weighted Average Life (Years)     0 years    
Face Amount of Floating Rate Debt     $ 0    
Other Bonds & Notes Payable          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Outstanding Face Amount     0 16,644,000  
Carrying Value     $ 0 16,162,000  
Weighted Average Funding Cost     0.00%    
Weighted Average Life (Years)     0 years    
Face Amount of Floating Rate Debt     $ 0    
NCT 2013-VI IMM-1          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Outstanding Face Amount     0 4,984,000  
Carrying Value     $ 0 4,672,000  
Weighted Average Funding Cost     0.00%    
Weighted Average Life (Years)     0 years    
Face Amount of Floating Rate Debt     $ 0    
Mezzanine Note Payable          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Outstanding Face Amount   $ 11,700,000 0 11,660,000  
Carrying Value     $ 0 11,490,000  
Weighted Average Coupon - Spread on Basis for Variable Rate (as percent)   3.00%      
Weighted Average Funding Cost     0.00%    
Weighted Average Life (Years)     0 years    
Face Amount of Floating Rate Debt     $ 0    
Repurchase Agreements          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Outstanding Face Amount     600,964,000 418,625,000  
Carrying Value     $ 600,964,000 418,458,000  
Weighted Average Funding Cost     0.00%    
Weighted Average Life (Years)     6 days    
Face Amount of Floating Rate Debt     $ 0    
FNMA/FHLMC securities          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Outstanding Face Amount     600,964,000 348,625,000  
Carrying Value     $ 600,964,000 348,625,000  
Weighted Average Coupon - Rate     1.03%    
Weighted Average Funding Cost     1.03%    
Weighted Average Life (Years)     1 month    
Face Amount of Floating Rate Debt     $ 0    
Golf Loans          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Outstanding Face Amount $ 102,000,000.0   0 70,000,000  
Carrying Value     $ 0 69,833,000  
Weighted Average Coupon - Basis for Variable Rate     LIBOR    
Weighted Average Funding Cost     0.00%    
Weighted Average Life (Years)     6 days    
Face Amount of Floating Rate Debt     $ 0    
Golf Loans | LIBOR          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Weighted Average Coupon - Spread on Basis for Variable Rate (as percent) 4.70%   4.70%    
Golf Credit Facilities          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Outstanding Face Amount     $ 118,604,000 11,258,000  
Carrying Value     $ 115,284,000 11,258,000  
Weighted Average Funding Cost     7.72%    
Weighted Average Life (Years)     2 years 9 months 6 days    
Face Amount of Floating Rate Debt     $ 102,200,000    
Golf Term Loan          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Outstanding Face Amount     102,000,000 0 $ 105,600,000
Carrying Value     $ 98,680,000 0  
Weighted Average Funding Cost     7.92%    
Weighted Average Life (Years)     2 years 6 months    
Face Amount of Floating Rate Debt     $ 102,000,000    
Vineyard II          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Outstanding Face Amount     200,000.0 200,000  
Carrying Value     $ 200,000 200,000  
Weighted Average Coupon - Rate     2.20%    
Weighted Average Funding Cost     2.20%    
Weighted Average Life (Years)     26 years 11 months 6 days    
Face Amount of Floating Rate Debt     $ 200,000    
Capital Leases (Equipment)          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Outstanding Face Amount     16,404,000 11,058,000  
Carrying Value     $ 16,404,000 11,058,000  
Weighted Average Funding Cost     6.56%    
Weighted Average Life (Years)     4 years 1 month 6 days    
Face Amount of Floating Rate Debt     $ 0    
Capital Leases (Equipment) | Lower Range          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Weighted Average Coupon - Rate     3.00%    
Capital Leases (Equipment) | Upper Range          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Weighted Average Coupon - Rate     16.16%    
Corporate          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Outstanding Face Amount     $ 51,004,000 51,004,000  
Carrying Value     $ 51,217,000 51,225,000  
Weighted Average Funding Cost     3.11%    
Weighted Average Life (Years)     18 years 3 months 1 day    
Face Amount of Floating Rate Debt     $ 51,004,000    
Junior subordinated notes payable          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Outstanding Face Amount     51,004,000 51,004,000  
Carrying Value     $ 51,217,000 51,225,000  
Weighted Average Funding Cost     3.11%    
Weighted Average Life (Years)     18 years 3 months 1 day    
Face Amount of Floating Rate Debt     $ 51,004,000    
Junior subordinated notes payable | LIBOR          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Weighted Average Coupon - Spread on Basis for Variable Rate (as percent)     2.25%    
Financing on subprime mortgage loans subject to call option          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Outstanding Face Amount     $ 0 380,806,000  
Carrying Value     $ 0 $ 380,806,000