Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

REAL ESTATE RELATED LOANS, RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOANS AND SUBPRIME MORTGAGE LOANS - Loss Allowance Rollforward (Details 3)

v2.4.1.9
REAL ESTATE RELATED LOANS, RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOANS AND SUBPRIME MORTGAGE LOANS - Loss Allowance Rollforward (Details 3) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Valuation (allowance) reversal on loans $ 357us-gaap_ProvisionForLoanLeaseAndOtherLosses $ 1,246us-gaap_ProvisionForLoanLeaseAndOtherLosses
Real Estate Related and Other Loans Held For Sale [Member]    
Beginning balance (75,926)us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_RealEstateLoansHFSMember
 
Valuation (allowance) reversal on loans (289)us-gaap_ProvisionForLoanLeaseAndOtherLosses
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_RealEstateLoansHFSMember
 
Ending balance (76,215)us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_RealEstateLoansHFSMember
 
Residential Mortgage Loans Held For Sale [Member]    
Beginning balance (154)us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialMortgageLoansHFSMember
 
Valuation (allowance) reversal on loans (68)us-gaap_ProvisionForLoanLeaseAndOtherLosses
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialMortgageLoansHFSMember
 
Ending balance $ (222)us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_ResidentialMortgageLoansHFSMember