| 
           RECENT ACTIVITIES (Details Narrative) (USD $) 
        In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified  | 
        12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 
           Dec. 31, 2013 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2012 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2010 
         | 
        
           Jan. 31, 2014
 
          FNMA/FHLMC Securities 
         | 
        
           Jan. 31, 2014
 
          Senior Housing Purchased Subsequent to Period End
 
          Housing 
         | 
        
           Jan. 31, 2014
 
          Repurchase Agreements 
         | 
        
           Feb. 13, 2014
 
          New Media 
         | 
        
           Jan. 31, 2014
 
          Intrawest 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2013
 
          Intrawest 
         | 
        
           Jan. 31, 2014
 
          Intrawest
 
          Primary Offering 
         | 
        
           Jan. 31, 2014
 
          Intrawest
 
          Secondary Offering 
         | 
      |
| Spin-off distribution ratio | 0.0722 | ||||||||||
| Number of housing assets/facilities | 2 | ||||||||||
| Acquisition Purchase Price | $ 23,000 | ||||||||||
| Face amount of securities sold | 503,000 | ||||||||||
| Average price percentage | 105.82% | ||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of securities | 46,536 | 127,000 | 532,200 | ||||||||
| Repayments of repurchase agreements | 516,100 | ||||||||||
| Gain on sale of securities | 1,900 | ||||||||||
| Value of stock sold | 37,500 | 150,000 | |||||||||
| Cash repaid from debt investment | 83,300 | ||||||||||
| Investment in debt | 99,400 | 185,600 | |||||||||
| Repurchase of CDO Bonds Payable - Face | 35,900 | 34,100 | 257,000 | 50,000 | |||||||
| Repurchase agreement | $ 30,800 | ||||||||||
| Variable rate description | LIBOR | ||||||||||
| Variable Interest Rate Spread | 1.65% | ||||||||||
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The average price at which securities were sold, depicted as a percentage of the original purchase price. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The number of senior housing assets or facilities acquired. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Number of shares of New Media common stock issued to shareholders for each share of Newcastle common stock in the spin-off transaction. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as trading securities nor held-to-maturity securities and intended be sold or mature one year or operating cycle, if longer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          This item represents the difference between the gross realized gains and losses realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. Additionally, this item would include any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments in debt and equity securities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The reference rate for the variable rate of the debt instrument, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Face (par) amount of the original debt instrument that was repurchased. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Cost of the investment. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Secured financing other than securities sold under agreements to repurchase and securities loaned. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The net cash paid (received) associated with the acquisition or disposal of all investments, including securities and other assets. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The cash flow from investments sold under the agreement to repurchase such investment. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The cash inflow associated with the sale of debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Equity impact of the value of new stock issued during the period. Includes shares issued in an initial public offering or a secondary public offering. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  |