Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

ORGANIZATION - Common Stock Issued (Details)

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ORGANIZATION - Common Stock Issued (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended 115 Months Ended 151 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2014
Shares issued 7,848,926us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesIssuedForCash 29,821,308us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesIssuedForCash 11,224,106us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesIssuedForCash 17,530,168us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesIssuedForCash 66,424,508us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesIssuedForCash
Equity Issuance, Per Share Amount $ 25.92us-gaap_EquityIssuancePerShareAmount [1],[2]        
Common stock issuance, total proceeds $ 197,900nct_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStockNet $ 1,262,600nct_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStockNet $ 434,900nct_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStockNet    
Lower Range          
Equity Issuance, Per Share Amount   $ 29.82us-gaap_EquityIssuancePerShareAmount
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember 		[1],[2] $ 37.32us-gaap_EquityIssuancePerShareAmount
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember 		[1],[2]    
Upper Range          
Equity Issuance, Per Share Amount   $ 62.88us-gaap_EquityIssuancePerShareAmount
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember 		[1],[2] $ 40.26us-gaap_EquityIssuancePerShareAmount
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember 		[1],[2]    
[1] Excludes prices of shares issued pursuant to the exercise of options and of shares issued to our independent directors.
[2] On May 15, 2013, Newcastle completed the spin-off of New Residential. The May 15, 2013 closing price of Newcastle's common stock on the NYSE was $73.98, and the opening price of Newcastle's common stock on May 16, 2013 was $34.74. On February 13, 2014, Newcastle completed the spin-off of New Media. The February 13, 2014 closing price of Newcastle's common stock was $34.50, and the opening price of Newcastle's common stock on February 14, 2014 was $29.88. On November 6, 2014, Newcastle completed the spin-off of New Senior, the November 6, 2014 closing price of Newcastle's common stock on the NYSE was $23.53, and the opening price of Newcastle's common stock on November 7, 2014 was $4.00.