Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Loan Valuation (Details 5)

v2.4.1.9
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Loan Valuation (Details 5) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Carrying value $ 230,200us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount  
Mezzanine Loans [Member]    
Carrying value 103,582us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoansMember 		[1] 139,720us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoansMember
Fair Value 106,459us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoansMember 		 
Discount Rate 7.80%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoansMember 		 
Loss Severity 22.60%us-gaap_FairValueInputsLossSeverity
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoansMember 		 
Mezzanine Loans [Member] | Lower Range    
Discount Rate 5.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoansMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember 		 
Loss Severity 0.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsLossSeverity
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoansMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember 		 
Mezzanine Loans [Member] | Upper Range    
Discount Rate 20.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoansMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember 		 
Loss Severity 100.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsLossSeverity
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoansMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember 		 
Corporate Bank Loans [Member]    
Carrying value 107,715us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_BankLoanObligationsMember 		[1] 166,710us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_BankLoanObligationsMember
Fair Value 121,315us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_BankLoanObligationsMember 		 
Discount Rate 22.10%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_BankLoanObligationsMember 		 
Loss Severity 26.30%us-gaap_FairValueInputsLossSeverity
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_BankLoanObligationsMember 		 
Corporate Bank Loans [Member] | Lower Range    
Discount Rate 15.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_BankLoanObligationsMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember 		 
Loss Severity 0.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsLossSeverity
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_BankLoanObligationsMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember 		 
Corporate Bank Loans [Member] | Upper Range    
Discount Rate 43.70%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_BankLoanObligationsMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember 		 
Loss Severity 100.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsLossSeverity
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_BankLoanObligationsMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember 		 
B-Notes [Member]    
Carrying value 18,748us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_NotesReceivableMember 		[1] 101,385us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_NotesReceivableMember
Fair Value 18,748us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_NotesReceivableMember 		 
Discount Rate 12.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_NotesReceivableMember 		 
Loss Severity 0.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsLossSeverity
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_NotesReceivableMember 		 
Whole Loans [Member]    
Carrying value 155us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_WholeLoansMember 		[1] 29,715us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_WholeLoansMember
Fair Value 156us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_WholeLoansMember 		 
Discount Rate 4.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_WholeLoansMember 		 
Loss Severity 0.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsLossSeverity
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_WholeLoansMember 		 
Total Real Estate Related and Other Loans Held-for-Sale, Net [Member]    
Carrying value 230,200us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_RealEstateRelatedAndOtherLoansHeldForSaleMember 		[1] 437,530us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_RealEstateRelatedAndOtherLoansHeldForSaleMember 		[2]
Fair Value 246,678us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_RealEstateRelatedAndOtherLoansHeldForSaleMember 		 
Residential Loans [Member]    
Carrying value 3,854us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialLoansMember 		[1],[3] 35,409us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialLoansMember
Fair Value 4,076us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialLoansMember 		 
Discount Rate 23.50%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialLoansMember 		 
Loss Severity 3.90%us-gaap_FairValueInputsLossSeverity
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialLoansMember 		 
Prepayment Speed 0.20%us-gaap_FairValueInputsPrepaymentRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialLoansMember 		 
Constant Default Rate 18.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsProbabilityOfDefault
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialLoansMember 		 
Total Residential Mortgage Loans Held-For-Sale [Member]    
Carrying value 3,854us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialMortgageLoansHeldForSaleMember 		2,185us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialMortgageLoansHeldForSaleMember 		[4]
Fair Value $ 4,076us-gaap_LoansReceivableFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialMortgageLoansHeldForSaleMember 		 
[1] The aggregate United States federal income tax basis for such assets at December 31, 2014 was approximately $253.5 million (unaudited), excluding the securitized subprime mortgage loans, which are fully consolidated for tax purposes. Carrying value includes negligible interest receivable for the residential housing loans.
[2] Loans which are more than 3% of the total current carrying value (or $13.1 million) at December 31, 2013 are as follows: (See Schedule of large loans)
[3] Carrying value includes negligible interest receivable for the residential housing loans.
[4] Loans acquired at a discount for credit quality.