| 
           REAL ESTATE RELATED LOANS, RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOANS AND SUBPRIME MORTGAGE LOANS - Geographic Distribution (Details 6) (USD $) 
        In Thousands, unless otherwise specified  | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2013 
         | 
      |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 
           Total Real Estate Related and Other Loans Held for Sale 
         | 
        ||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | $ 567,829 | [1] | ||||
| Subtotal prior to bank loans not secured by assets | 315,659 | |||||
| Percentage of loans | 100.00% | |||||
| 
           Total Real Estate Related and Other Loans Held for Sale | Western US 
         | 
        ||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 94,204 | |||||
| Percentage of loans | 29.90% | |||||
| 
           Total Real Estate Related and Other Loans Held for Sale | Northeastern US 
         | 
        ||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 34,847 | |||||
| Percentage of loans | 11.00% | |||||
| 
           Total Real Estate Related and Other Loans Held for Sale | Southeastern US 
         | 
        ||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 52,178 | |||||
| Percentage of loans | 16.50% | |||||
| 
           Total Real Estate Related and Other Loans Held for Sale | Midwestern US 
         | 
        ||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 11,296 | |||||
| Percentage of loans | 3.60% | |||||
| 
           Total Real Estate Related and Other Loans Held for Sale | Southwestern US 
         | 
        ||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 32,005 | |||||
| Percentage of loans | 10.10% | |||||
| 
           Total Real Estate Related and Other Loans Held for Sale | Foreign Locations 
         | 
        ||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 91,129 | |||||
| Percentage of loans | 28.90% | |||||
| 
           Total Real Estate Related and Other Loans Held for Sale | Other Locations 
         | 
        ||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 252,170 | [2] | ||||
| 
           Total Residential Mortgage Loans 
         | 
        ||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 280,753 | |||||
| Percentage of loans | 100.00% | |||||
| 
           Total Residential Mortgage Loans | Western US 
         | 
        ||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 168,132 | |||||
| Percentage of loans | 59.90% | |||||
| 
           Total Residential Mortgage Loans | Northeastern US 
         | 
        ||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 9,014 | |||||
| Percentage of loans | 3.20% | |||||
| 
           Total Residential Mortgage Loans | Southeastern US 
         | 
        ||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 61,646 | |||||
| Percentage of loans | 22.00% | |||||
| 
           Total Residential Mortgage Loans | Midwestern US 
         | 
        ||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 10,490 | |||||
| Percentage of loans | 3.70% | |||||
| 
           Total Residential Mortgage Loans | Southwestern US 
         | 
        ||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 31,424 | |||||
| Percentage of loans | 11.20% | |||||
| 
           Total Residential Mortgage Loans | Foreign Locations 
         | 
        ||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | $ 47 | |||||
| Percentage of loans | 0.00% | |||||
          
  | 
      ||||||