Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

DEBT OBLIGATIONS (Details Narrative 1)

v2.4.1.9
DEBT OBLIGATIONS (Details Narrative 1) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 24 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Sep. 12, 2012
Jun. 30, 2013
CDO Bonds Payable                  
Gain on extinguishment of debt     $ (3,410)us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt $ 4,565us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt $ 24,085us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt        
Proceeds from sale of investments 53,400us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities   798,580us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities 46,536us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities 127,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities        
Gain on sale of investments   224,300us-gaap_GainOnSaleOfInvestments              
Comprehensive income     21,852us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest 202,964us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest 603,474us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest        
Debt paid off       35,900us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebt 39,300us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebt 188,900us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebt 787,800us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebt    
Repurchase agreements 441,176us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase   441,176us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase 556,347us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase 929,435us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase        
Other Bonds Payable                  
Debt Face Amount 1,318,167us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount   1,318,167us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount 1,953,327us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount [1] 2,786,059us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount        
Total CDO Bonds Payable [Member]                  
CDO Bonds Payable                  
Gain on extinguishment of debt       4,600us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_BondsPayableMember 		23,200us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_BondsPayableMember 		65,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_BondsPayableMember 		     
CDO X [Member]                  
CDO Bonds Payable                  
Proceeds from sale of investments               130,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOXDivestitureMember 		 
Percentage divestiture of CDO               100.00%nct_PercentageDivestitureOfCdo
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOXDivestitureMember 		 
Subordinated debt sold               89,750us-gaap_SecuritiesReceivedAsCollateralAmountRepledgedAndSold
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOXDivestitureMember 		 
Decrease in gross assets               (1,100,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingAssets
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOXDivestitureMember 		 
Decrease in liabilities               (1,200,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingLiabilities
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOXDivestitureMember 		 
Comprehensive income               (25,500)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOXDivestitureMember 		 
Purchase of securities - face amount               101,000nct_SecuritiesPurchasedFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOXDivestitureMember 		 
Purchase of securities - pay amount               50,000nct_SecuritiesPurchaseAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOXDivestitureMember 		 
Percentage of par of securities               49.40%nct_CDOXPercentageParSecuritiesPurchased
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOXDivestitureMember 		 
CDO IV Divestiture [Member]                  
CDO Bonds Payable                  
Proceeds from sale of investments                 145,200us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOIVDivestitureMember
Gain on sale of investments                 4,200us-gaap_GainOnSaleOfInvestments
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOIVDivestitureMember
Percentage divestiture of CDO                 100.00%nct_PercentageDivestitureOfCdo
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOIVDivestitureMember
Subordinated debt sold                 153,400us-gaap_SecuritiesReceivedAsCollateralAmountRepledgedAndSold
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOIVDivestitureMember
Comprehensive income                 (600)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOIVDivestitureMember
Percentage of par of CDO IV sale                 95.00%nct_PercentageParCDOIV
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOIVDivestitureMember
Debt paid off                 71,900us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOIVDivestitureMember
Net proceeds from sale of assets                 73,100nct_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOIVDivestitureMember
Amount from sale of CDO IV received in CDO VIII                 5,300nct_AmountFromSaleOfCdoIvReceivedInCdoViii
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOIVDivestitureMember
Par recovery                 59,500nct_CDOIVParRecovery
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOIVDivestitureMember
Percentage of Par previously repurchased at                 52.00%nct_CDOIVPercentageOfParPreviouslyRepurchasedAt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOIVDivestitureMember
Proceeds on subordinated interests                 8,000nct_CDOIVProceedsOnSubordinatedInterests
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOIVDivestitureMember
Gain on hedge termination                 800nct_GainOnHedgeTermination
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOIVDivestitureMember
CDO VIII Bonds Payable [Member]                  
CDO Bonds Payable                  
Purchase of securities - face amount                 116,800nct_SecuritiesPurchasedFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOVIIIMember
Purchase of securities - pay amount                 103,100nct_SecuritiesPurchaseAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOVIIIMember
Percentage of par of securities                 88.30%nct_CDOXPercentageParSecuritiesPurchased
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOVIIIMember
Repurchase agreements                 60,000us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOVIIIMember
Variable rate description                 one-month LIBOR
Variable interest rate spread                 1.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOVIIIMember
Other Bonds Payable                  
Debt Face Amount $ 71,813us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOVIIIMember 		  $ 71,813us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOVIIIMember 		$ 264,733us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= nct_CDOVIIIMember 		[1]          
[1] This CDO was not in compliance with its applicable over collateralization tests as of December 31, 2014. Newcastle is not receiving cash flows from this CDO (other than senior management fees and cash flows on senior classes of bonds that were repurchased), since net interest is being used to repay debt, and expects this CDO to remain out of compliance for the forseeable future.