| 
           FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $) 
        In Thousands, unless otherwise specified  | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2013 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2012 
         | 
      ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Instruments | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Real estate securities, available-for-sale | $ 984,263 | [1] | $ 1,691,575 | [1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Real estate related loans, held-for-sale, net | 437,530 | 843,132 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residential mortgage loans, held-for-investment, net | 255,450 | 292,461 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residential mortgage loans, held-for-sale, net | 2,185 | 2,471 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Subprime mortgage loans subject to call option | 406,217 | 405,814 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted Cash | 5,889 | 2,064 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | 74,133 | 231,898 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Non-hedge derivative assets | 43,662 | 165 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Investments in senior housing real estate, net | 1,362,900 | 162,801 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Investments in other real estate | 266,170 | 6,672 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Intangibles | 199,725 | 19,086 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other investments | 25,468 | 24,907 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Receivables and other assets | 141,887 | 17,362 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Assets of discontinued operations | 690,746 | 245,069 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Assets | 4,852,563 | 3,945,312 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Financial Instruments | ||||||||||||||||||||
| CDO bonds payable | 544,525 | 1,091,354 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other bonds and notes payable | 230,279 | 183,390 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchase agreements | 556,347 | 929,435 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage notes payable | 1,076,828 | 120,525 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Credit facilities, golf | 152,498 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Financing of subprime mortgage loans subject to call option (B) | 406,217 | 405,814 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Junior subordinated notes payable | 51,237 | 51,243 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities of discontinued operations | 295,267 | 480 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities | 3,626,439 | 2,872,252 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 
           Total Mortgage Notes Payable 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Yield/Funding Cost | 4.75% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Maturity (Years) | 6 years 9 months 18 days | |||||||||||||||||||
| 
           Media and Golf Credit Facilities 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Yield/Funding Cost | 5.19% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Maturity (Years) | 4 years | |||||||||||||||||||
| 
           Junior Subordinated Debt 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Yield/Funding Cost | 7.39% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Maturity (Years) | 21 years 3 months 18 days | |||||||||||||||||||
| 
           CDO Bonds Payable 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Yield/Funding Cost | 2.26% | [2] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Maturity (Years) | 1 year 10 months 24 days | [2] | ||||||||||||||||||
| 
           Other Bonds and Notes Payable 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Yield/Funding Cost | 3.50% | [2] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Maturity (Years) | 3 years 1 month 6 days | [2] | ||||||||||||||||||
| 
           Repurchase Agreements 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Yield/Funding Cost | 0.52% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Maturity (Years) | 0 years 1 month 6 days | |||||||||||||||||||
| 
           Financing on Subprime Mortgage Loans subject to Call Options 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Yield/Funding Cost | 9.09% | [3] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Maturity (Years) | (B) | [3] | ||||||||||||||||||
| 
           Interest Rate Swap Agreements 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Yield/Funding Cost | N/A | [4],[5] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Maturity (Years) | (C) | [4],[5] | ||||||||||||||||||
| 
           Non-Hedge Derivative Liabilities 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Yield/Funding Cost | N/A | [4],[6] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Maturity (Years) | (D) | [4],[6] | ||||||||||||||||||
| 
           Real Estate Related and Other Loans Held For Sale 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Yield/Funding Cost | 13.92% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Maturity (Years) | 1 year 1 month 6 days | |||||||||||||||||||
| 
           Residential Mortgage Loans Held For Investment 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Yield/Funding Cost | 8.50% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Maturity (Years) | 5 years 4 months 24 days | |||||||||||||||||||
| 
           Residential Mortgage Loans Held For Sale 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Yield/Funding Cost | 19.34% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Maturity (Years) | 4 years 4 months 24 days | |||||||||||||||||||
| 
           Subprime Mortgage Loans Subject to Call 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Yield/Funding Cost | 9.09% | [3] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Maturity (Years) | (B) | [3] | ||||||||||||||||||
| 
           Real Estate Securities Available For Sale 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Yield/Funding Cost | 5.44% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Maturity (Years) | 2 years 10 months 24 days | |||||||||||||||||||
| 
           Non-Hedge Derivative Assets 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Yield/Funding Cost | N/A | [4],[6],[7] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Maturity (Years) | (D) | [4],[6],[7] | ||||||||||||||||||
| 
           Principal Balance 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial Instruments | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Real estate securities, available-for-sale | 1,170,905 | [7] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Real estate related loans, held-for-sale, net | 567,829 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Residential mortgage loans, held-for-investment, net | 277,624 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Residential mortgage loans, held-for-sale, net | 3,129 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Subprime mortgage loans subject to call option | 406,217 | [3] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Non-hedge derivative assets | 116,806 | [4],[6],[7] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Financial Instruments | ||||||||||||||||||||
| CDO bonds payable | 543,516 | [2] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other bonds and notes payable | 243,745 | [2] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchase agreements | 556,347 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage notes payable | 1,077,163 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Credit facilities, golf | 152,498 | [8] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Financing of subprime mortgage loans subject to call option (B) | 406,217 | [3] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Junior subordinated notes payable | 51,004 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps, treated as hedges | 105,031 | [4],[5],[7] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Non-hedge derivatives | 185,871 | [4],[6],[7] | ||||||||||||||||||
| 
           Carrying Amount 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial Instruments | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Real estate securities, available-for-sale | 984,263 | [7] | 1,691,575 | [7] | ||||||||||||||||
| Real estate related loans, held-for-sale, net | 437,530 | 843,132 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residential mortgage loans, held-for-investment, net | 255,450 | 292,461 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residential mortgage loans, held-for-sale, net | 2,185 | 2,471 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Subprime mortgage loans subject to call option | 406,217 | [3] | 405,814 | [3] | ||||||||||||||||
| Restricted Cash | 5,889 | [7] | 2,064 | [7] | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | 74,133 | [7] | 231,898 | [7] | ||||||||||||||||
| Non-hedge derivative assets | 43,662 | [4],[6],[7] | 165 | [4],[6],[7] | ||||||||||||||||
| Investments in senior housing real estate, net | 1,362,900 | 162,801 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Investments in other real estate | 266,170 | 6,672 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Intangibles | 199,725 | 19,086 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other investments | 25,468 | 24,907 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Receivables and other assets | 98,225 | 17,197 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Assets of discontinued operations | 690,746 | 245,069 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Assets | 4,852,563 | 3,945,312 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Financial Instruments | ||||||||||||||||||||
| CDO bonds payable | 544,525 | [2] | 1,091,354 | [2] | ||||||||||||||||
| Other bonds and notes payable | 230,279 | [2] | 183,390 | [2] | ||||||||||||||||
| Repurchase agreements | 556,347 | 929,435 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage notes payable | 1,076,828 | 120,525 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Credit facilities, golf | 152,498 | [8] | [8] | |||||||||||||||||
| Financing of subprime mortgage loans subject to call option (B) | 406,217 | [3] | 405,814 | [3] | ||||||||||||||||
| Junior subordinated notes payable | 51,237 | 51,243 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps, treated as hedges | 6,203 | [4],[5],[7] | 12,175 | [4],[5],[7] | ||||||||||||||||
| Non-hedge derivatives | 7,592 | [4],[6],[7] | 19,401 | [4],[6],[7] | ||||||||||||||||
| Dividends payable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities | 299,446 | 58,435 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities of discontinued operations | 295,267 | 480 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities | 3,626,439 | 2,872,252 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 
           Estimated Fair Value 
         | 
        ||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial Instruments | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Real estate securities, available-for-sale | 984,263 | [7] | 1,691,575 | [7] | ||||||||||||||||
| Real estate related loans, held-for-sale, net | 456,535 | 853,102 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residential mortgage loans, held-for-investment, net | 252,039 | 297,030 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residential mortgage loans, held-for-sale, net | 2,185 | 2,471 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Subprime mortgage loans subject to call option | 406,217 | [3] | 405,814 | [3] | ||||||||||||||||
| Restricted Cash | 5,889 | [7] | 2,064 | [7] | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | 74,133 | [7] | 231,898 | [7] | ||||||||||||||||
| Non-hedge derivative assets | 43,662 | [4],[6],[7] | 165 | [4],[6],[7] | ||||||||||||||||
| Financial Instruments | ||||||||||||||||||||
| CDO bonds payable | 395,689 | [2] | 781,856 | [2] | ||||||||||||||||
| Other bonds and notes payable | 235,464 | [2] | 190,302 | [2] | ||||||||||||||||
| Repurchase agreements | 556,347 | 929,435 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage notes payable | 1,075,390 | 120,525 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Credit facilities, golf | 152,498 | [8] | [8] | |||||||||||||||||
| Financing of subprime mortgage loans subject to call option (B) | 406,217 | [3] | 405,814 | [3] | ||||||||||||||||
| Junior subordinated notes payable | 35,479 | 31,545 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps, treated as hedges | 6,203 | [4],[5],[7] | 12,175 | [4],[5],[7] | ||||||||||||||||
| Non-hedge derivatives | $ 7,592 | [4],[6],[7] | $ 19,401 | [4],[6],[7] | ||||||||||||||||
          
  | 
      ||||||||||||||||||||