Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND AFFILIATED ENTITIES (Details Narrative)

v2.4.1.9
TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND AFFILIATED ENTITIES (Details Narrative) (USD $)
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2011
Apr. 30, 2010
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Manager Advisory Fee     1.50%nct_ManagementAdvisoryFee               1.50%nct_ManagementAdvisoryFee    
Incentive compensation percentage     $ 0.25nct_IncentiveCompensationPercentage               $ 0.25nct_IncentiveCompensationPercentage    
Simple interest rate in incentive calculation     10.00%nct_SimpleInterestRateInIncentiveCalculation               10.00%nct_SimpleInterestRateInIncentiveCalculation    
Shares held by Fortress and affiliates in Newcastle     1,100,000nct_FortressDirectIndirectSharesNewcastle       6,400,000nct_FortressDirectIndirectSharesNewcastle       1,100,000nct_FortressDirectIndirectSharesNewcastle 6,400,000nct_FortressDirectIndirectSharesNewcastle  
Stock Options outstanding     5,500,599us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfOutstandingOptions       5,090,427us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfOutstandingOptions       5,500,599us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfOutstandingOptions 5,090,427us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfOutstandingOptions  
Cash investments made in affiliates or related companies $ 47,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesAtFairValueGrossAdditions $ 75,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesAtFairValueGrossAdditions                      
Expected yield   22.00%nct_ExpectedYield                      
Origination fee 2.00%nct_OriginationFee                        
Real estate securities     231,754us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities       432,993us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities       231,754us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities 432,993us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities  
Interest income     23,738us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating [1] 27,544us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating [2] 29,893us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating [2] 46,452us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating [2],[3] 42,072us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating 47,484us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating [3] 62,824us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating [3] 61,332us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating [3] 127,627us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating 213,712us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating 282,951us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating
Subprime Portfolio I [Member]                          
Servicing fee percentage     0.50%nct_ServicingFeePercentage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_SubprimePortfolioIMember 		              0.50%nct_ServicingFeePercentage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_SubprimePortfolioIMember 		   
Subprime Portfolio II [Member]                          
Servicing fee percentage     0.50%nct_ServicingFeePercentage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_SubprimePortfolioIIMember 		              0.50%nct_ServicingFeePercentage
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= nct_SubprimePortfolioIIMember 		   
Affiliates [Member]                          
Stock Options outstanding     4,991,752us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfOutstandingOptions
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_AffiliatedEntityMember 		              4,991,752us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfOutstandingOptions
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_AffiliatedEntityMember 		   
Real estate securities     116,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_AffiliatedEntityMember 		              116,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_AffiliatedEntityMember 		   
Interest income                     20,000us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_AffiliatedEntityMember 		36,500us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_AffiliatedEntityMember 		25,800us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_AffiliatedEntityMember
Principal of Manager [Member]                          
Aircraft charter expense                     200us-gaap_AircraftRental
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_PrincipalOwnerMember 		   
Principal of Manager [Member] | Less than                          
Aircraft charter expense                       $ 100us-gaap_AircraftRental
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= nct_Minimum1Member
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_PrincipalOwnerMember 		 
[1] The options outstanding were excluded from the diluted share calculation as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.
[2] Including equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries.
[3] The Income Available for Common Stockholders shown agrees with Newcastle's quarterly report(s) on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. However, individual line items may vary from such report(s) due to the operations of properties sold, or classified as held for sale, during subsequent periods being retroactively reclassified to Income for Discontinued Operations for all periods presented (Note 3).