Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

REAL ESTATE RELATED LOANS, RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOANS AND SUBPRIME MORTGAGE LOANS - Schedule of Loans (Details)

v2.4.1.9
REAL ESTATE RELATED LOANS, RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOANS AND SUBPRIME MORTGAGE LOANS - Schedule of Loans (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Loans
Mezzanine Loans [Member]  
Outstanding face amount $ 92,668us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoansMember
Carrying value 65,862us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoansMember 		[1]
Loan Count 6nct_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfLoans1
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoansMember
Weighted Average Yield 8.56%nct_YieldWeightedAverage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoansMember
Weighted Average Coupon 7.26%us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoansMember
Weighted Average Life (Years) 1 year 2 months 12 days [2]
Floating Rate Loans as a % of Face Amount 60.60%nct_RELoansFloatingRateLoansPercentageFace
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoansMember
Delinquent face amount 12,000us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstatePrincipalAmountOfDelinquentLoans
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoansMember 		[3]
Corporate Bank Loans [Member]  
Outstanding face amount 179,464us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_BankLoanObligationsMember
Carrying value 112,459us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_BankLoanObligationsMember 		[1]
Loan Count 5nct_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfLoans1
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_BankLoanObligationsMember
Weighted Average Yield 22.02%nct_YieldWeightedAverage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_BankLoanObligationsMember
Weighted Average Coupon 13.25%us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_BankLoanObligationsMember
Weighted Average Life (Years) 1 year 6 months [2]
Floating Rate Loans as a % of Face Amount 0.50%nct_RELoansFloatingRateLoansPercentageFace
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_BankLoanObligationsMember
B-Notes [Member]  
Outstanding face amount 21,621us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_NotesReceivableMember
Carrying value 18,891us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_NotesReceivableMember 		[1]
Loan Count 1nct_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfLoans1
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_NotesReceivableMember
Weighted Average Yield 12.00%nct_YieldWeightedAverage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_NotesReceivableMember
Weighted Average Coupon 7.32%us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_NotesReceivableMember
Weighted Average Life (Years) 3 years 4 months 24 days [2]
Floating Rate Loans as a % of Face Amount 0.00%nct_RELoansFloatingRateLoansPercentageFace
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_NotesReceivableMember
Whole Loans [Member]  
Outstanding face amount 39us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_WholeLoansMember
Carrying value 39us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_WholeLoansMember 		[1]
Loan Count 1nct_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfLoans1
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_WholeLoansMember
Weighted Average Yield 7.48%nct_YieldWeightedAverage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_WholeLoansMember
Weighted Average Coupon 7.48%us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_WholeLoansMember
Weighted Average Life (Years) 1 month 6 days [2]
Floating Rate Loans as a % of Face Amount 0.00%nct_RELoansFloatingRateLoansPercentageFace
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_WholeLoansMember
Total Real Estate Related and Other Loans Held-for-Sale, Net [Member]  
Outstanding face amount 293,792us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_RealEstateRelatedAndOtherLoansHeldForSaleMember
Carrying value 197,251us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_RealEstateRelatedAndOtherLoansHeldForSaleMember 		[1]
Loan Count 13nct_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfLoans1
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_RealEstateRelatedAndOtherLoansHeldForSaleMember
Weighted Average Yield 16.56%nct_YieldWeightedAverage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_RealEstateRelatedAndOtherLoansHeldForSaleMember
Weighted Average Coupon 10.92%us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_RealEstateRelatedAndOtherLoansHeldForSaleMember
Weighted Average Life (Years) 1 year 6 months [2]
Floating Rate Loans as a % of Face Amount 19.40%nct_RELoansFloatingRateLoansPercentageFace
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_RealEstateRelatedAndOtherLoansHeldForSaleMember
Delinquent face amount 12,000us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstatePrincipalAmountOfDelinquentLoans
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_RealEstateRelatedAndOtherLoansHeldForSaleMember 		[3],[4]
Residential Loans [Member]  
Outstanding face amount 4,259us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialLoansMember 		[5]
Carrying value 3,735us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialLoansMember 		[1],[5]
Loan Count 6nct_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfLoans1
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialLoansMember 		[5]
Weighted Average Yield 12.98%nct_YieldWeightedAverage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialLoansMember
Weighted Average Coupon 1.91%us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialLoansMember 		[5]
Weighted Average Life (Years) 1 year 1 month 6 days [2]
Floating Rate Loans as a % of Face Amount 100.00%nct_RELoansFloatingRateLoansPercentageFace
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialLoansMember 		[5]
Delinquent face amount 766us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstatePrincipalAmountOfDelinquentLoans
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialLoansMember 		[3],[5]
Total Residential Mortgage Loans Held-For-Sale [Member]  
Outstanding face amount 4,259us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialMortgageLoansHeldForSaleMember
Carrying value 3,735us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialMortgageLoansHeldForSaleMember 		[1]
Loan Count 6nct_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfLoans1
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialMortgageLoansHeldForSaleMember
Weighted Average Yield 12.98%nct_YieldWeightedAverage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialMortgageLoansHeldForSaleMember
Weighted Average Coupon 1.91%us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialMortgageLoansHeldForSaleMember
Weighted Average Life (Years) 1 year 1 month 6 days [2]
Floating Rate Loans as a % of Face Amount 100.00%nct_RELoansFloatingRateLoansPercentageFace
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialMortgageLoansHeldForSaleMember 		[5]
Delinquent face amount 766us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstatePrincipalAmountOfDelinquentLoans
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialMortgageLoansHeldForSaleMember 		[3]
Subprime Mortgage Loans Subject to Call [Member]  
Outstanding face amount 406,217us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_SubprimeMortgageLoansSubjectToCallMember
Carrying value $ 406,217us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_SubprimeMortgageLoansSubjectToCallMember 		[1]
[1] Carrying value includes negligible interest receivable for the residential housing loans.
[2] The weighted average life is based on the timing of expected principal reduction on the assets.
[3] Includes loans that are 60 or more days past due (including loans that are in foreclosure, or borrower's in bankruptcy) or considered real estate owned ("REO"). As of March 31, 2015, $76.4 million face amount of real estate related and other loans was on non-accrual status.
[4] Includes loans that are non-performing, in foreclosure, or under bankruptcy.
[5] Loans acquired at a discount for credit quality.