Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

REAL ESTATE RELATED LOANS, RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOANS AND SUBPRIME MORTGAGE LOANS - Large Loans (Details 1)

v2.4.1.9
REAL ESTATE RELATED LOANS, RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOANS AND SUBPRIME MORTGAGE LOANS - Large Loans (Details 1) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Loans
Outstanding face amount $ 328,101us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
Carrying value 230,200us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
Loan Count 14nct_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfLoans1
Weighted Average Yield 14.82%nct_YieldWeightedAverage [1],[2]
Weighted Average Coupon 10.39%us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate [1],[2]
Weighted Average Life (Years) 1 year 7 months 6 days
Individual Bank Loan 1 [Member]  
Outstanding face amount 116,048us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_BankLoanObligations1Member 		[1]
Carrying value 99,976us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_BankLoanObligations1Member 		[1]
Prior Liens 627,615nct_RELoansPriorLiens
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_BankLoanObligations1Member
Loan Count 1nct_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfLoans1
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_BankLoanObligations1Member
Weighted Average Yield 22.50%nct_YieldWeightedAverage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_BankLoanObligations1Member 		[1],[2]
Weighted Average Coupon 15.55%us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_BankLoanObligations1Member 		[1],[2]
Weighted Average Life (Years) 2 years 1 month 6 days [1]
Individual Mezzanine Loan 1 [Member]  
Outstanding face amount 35,859us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans1Member 		[3]
Carrying value 34,246us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans1Member 		[3]
Prior Liens 738,782nct_RELoansPriorLiens
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans1Member
Loan Count 1nct_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfLoans1
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans1Member 		[3]
Weighted Average Yield 7.00%nct_YieldWeightedAverage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans1Member 		[2],[3]
Weighted Average Coupon 7.00%us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans1Member 		[2],[3]
Weighted Average Life (Years) 1 year 2 months 12 days [3]
Individual Mezzanine Loan 2 [Member]  
Outstanding face amount 28,939us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans2Member 		[1]
Carrying value 28,939us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans2Member 		[1]
Prior Liens 169,933nct_RELoansPriorLiens
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans2Member
Loan Count 1nct_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfLoans1
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans2Member
Weighted Average Yield 7.00%nct_YieldWeightedAverage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans2Member 		[1],[2]
Weighted Average Coupon 8.00%us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans2Member 		[1],[2]
Weighted Average Life (Years) 1 month 6 days [1]
Individual Mezzanine Loan 3 [Member]  
Outstanding face amount 24,294us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans3Member 		[1]
Carrying value 24,294us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans3Member
Prior Liens 299,770nct_RELoansPriorLiens
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans3Member
Loan Count 1nct_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfLoans1
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans3Member
Weighted Average Yield 9.00%nct_YieldWeightedAverage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans3Member 		[1],[2]
Weighted Average Coupon 9.00%us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans3Member 		[1],[2]
Weighted Average Life (Years) 2 years 3 months 19 days
Individual B-Note Loan [Member]  
Outstanding face amount 21,865us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_NotesReceivable1Member 		[1]
Carrying value 18,748us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_NotesReceivable1Member 		[1]
Prior Liens 124,548nct_RELoansPriorLiens
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_NotesReceivable1Member
Loan Count 1nct_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfLoans1
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_NotesReceivable1Member
Weighted Average Yield 12.00%nct_YieldWeightedAverage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_NotesReceivable1Member 		[1],[2]
Weighted Average Coupon 7.32%us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_NotesReceivable1Member 		[1],[2]
Weighted Average Life (Years) 4 years [1]
Individual Mezzanine Loan 4 [Member]  
Outstanding face amount 12,691us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans4Member 		[1]
Carrying value 11,716us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans4Member 		[1]
Prior Liens 175,000nct_RELoansPriorLiens
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans4Member
Loan Count 1nct_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfLoans1
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans4Member
Weighted Average Yield 5.00%nct_YieldWeightedAverage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans4Member 		[1],[2]
Weighted Average Coupon 5.15%us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_MezzanineLoans4Member 		[1],[2]
Weighted Average Life (Years) 3 years 7 months 6 days [1]
Individual Bank Loan 2 [Member]  
Outstanding face amount 11,798us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_BankLoanObligations2Member 		[1]
Carrying value 7,291us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_BankLoanObligations2Member
Loan Count 1nct_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfLoans1
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_BankLoanObligations2Member
Weighted Average Yield 15.00%nct_YieldWeightedAverage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_BankLoanObligations2Member 		[1],[2]
Weighted Average Coupon 15.00%us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_BankLoanObligations2Member 		[1],[2]
Weighted Average Life (Years) 4 years 2 months 12 days
Others [Member]  
Outstanding face amount 76,607us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_FinanceReceivablesMember 		[4]
Carrying value $ 4,990us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_FinanceReceivablesMember 		[4]
Loan Count 7nct_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfLoans1
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_FinanceReceivablesMember
Weighted Average Yield 21.64%nct_YieldWeightedAverage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_FinanceReceivablesMember 		[2],[4]
Weighted Average Coupon 6.55%us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_FinanceReceivablesMember 		[2],[4]
Weighted Average Life (Years) 2 months 12 days [4]
[1] Interest only payments over life to maturity and balloon principal payment upon maturity.
[2] For others, represents weighted average yield and weighted average coupon.
[3] Interest accrued to principal balance over life to maturity with a discounted payoff option prior to April 2015. Following a public offering by the debt issuer in January 2014, Newcastle received cash of $83.3 million, which reduced the face of the loan to $99.4 million.
[4] Various terms of payment. This represents $46.7 million, $29.8 million and $0.1 million of bank loans, mezzanine loans and whole loans, respectively. Each of the seven loans had a carrying value of less than $6.9 million at December 31, 2014.