| Schedule of investments in real estate | The following table summarizes Newcastle’s investments in real estate: 
    |  |  
    |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
    |   | September 30, 2014 |   | December 31, 2013 |  
    |   | Gross Carrying Amount |   | Accumulated Depreciation |   | Net Carrying Value |   | Gross Carrying Amount |   | Accumulated Depreciation |   | Net Carrying Value |  
    | Senior Housing |   | 
 |   |   | 
 |   |   | 
 |   |   | 
 |   |   | 
 |   |   | 
 |  
    | Land | $ | 137,720 | 
 |   | $ | — | 
 |   | $ | 137,720 | 
 |   | $ | 102,235 | 
 |   | $ | — | 
 |   | $ | 102,235 | 
 |  
    | Buildings, improvements and other | 1,489,208 | 
 |   | (44,451 | ) |   | 1,444,757 | 
 |   | 1,271,087 | 
 |   | (10,422 | ) |   | 1,260,665 | 
 |  
    | Investments in Senior Housing Real Estate | $ | 1,626,928 | 
 |   | $ | (44,451 | ) |   | $ | 1,582,477 | 
 |   | $ | 1,373,322 | 
 |   | $ | (10,422 | ) |   | $ | 1,362,900 | 
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    |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
    |   | September 30, 2014 |   | December 31, 2013 |  
    |   | Gross Carrying Amount |   | Accumulated Depreciation |   | Net Carrying Value |   | Gross Carrying Amount |   | Accumulated Depreciation |   | Net Carrying Value |  
    | Golf |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |  
    | Land | $ | 90,324 | 
 |   | $ | — | 
 |   | $ | 90,324 | 
 |   | $ | 90,324 | 
 |   | $ | — | 
 |   | $ | 90,324 | 
 |  
    | Buildings | 49,188 | 
 |   | (3,005 | ) |   | 46,183 | 
 |   | 48,878 | 
 |   | — | 
 |   | 48,878 | 
 |  
    | Building improvements | 89,383 | 
 |   | (8,682 | ) |   | 80,701 | 
 |   | 87,623 | 
 |   | — | 
 |   | 87,623 | 
 |  
    | Furniture, fixtures and equipment | 18,601 | 
 |   | (3,516 | ) |   | 15,085 | 
 |   | 17,723 | 
 |   | — | 
 |   | 17,723 | 
 |  
    | Capital leases - equipment | 5,162 | 
 |   | (219 | ) |   | 4,943 | 
 |   | — | 
 |   | — | 
 |   | — | 
 |  
    | Construction in progress | 8,274 | 
 |   | — | 
 |   | 8,274 | 
 |   | 5,660 | 
 |   | — | 
 |   | 5,660 | 
 |  
    | Investments in Other Real Estate | $ | 260,932 | 
 |   | $ | (15,422 | ) |   | $ | 245,510 | 
 |   | $ | 250,208 | 
 |   | $ | — | 
 |   | $ | 250,208 | 
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