| Schedule of intangible assets | The following table summarizes Newcastle’s intangible assets related to its senior housing real estate and golf business: 
    |  |  
    |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
    |   | September 30, 2014 |   | December 31, 2013 |  
    |   | Gross Carrying Amount |   | Accumulated Amortization |   | Net Carrying Value |   | Gross Carrying Amount |   | Accumulated Amortization |   | Net Carrying Value |  
    | Senior Housing |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |  
    |    In-place resident lease intangibles | $ | 165,651 | 
 |   | $ | (62,003 | ) |   | $ | 103,648 | 
 |   | $ | 112,267 | 
 |   | $ | (21,902 | ) |   | $ | 90,365 | 
 |  
    |    Above market lease intangibles | 2,567 | 
 |   | (87 | ) |   | 2,480 | 
 |   | 1,546 | 
 |   | (2 | ) |   | 1,544 | 
 |  
    |    Other intangibles | 9,242 | 
 |   | (848 | ) |   | 8,394 | 
 |   | 9,298 | 
 |   | (348 | ) |   | 8,950 | 
 |  
    | Total Senior Housing | 177,460 | 
 |   | (62,938 | ) |   | 114,522 | 
 |   | 123,111 | 
 |   | (22,252 | ) |   | 100,859 | 
 |  
    | Golf |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |  
    |    Trade name | 700 | 
 |   | (17 | ) |   | 683 | 
 |   | 700 | 
 |   | — | 
 |   | 700 | 
 |  
    |    Leasehold intangibles | 50,275 | 
 |   | (3,903 | ) |   | 46,372 | 
 |   | 50,275 | 
 |   | — | 
 |   | 50,275 | 
 |  
    |    Management contracts | 37,650 | 
 |   | (3,500 | ) |   | 34,150 | 
 |   | 37,659 | 
 |   | — | 
 |   | 37,659 | 
 |  
    |    Internally-developed software | 800 | 
 |   | (120 | ) |   | 680 | 
 |   | 800 | 
 |   | — | 
 |   | 800 | 
 |  
    |    Membership base | 5,214 | 
 |   | (562 | ) |   | 4,652 | 
 |   | 5,214 | 
 |   | — | 
 |   | 5,214 | 
 |  
    |    Nonamortizable liquor license | 850 | 
 |   | 
 |   | 850 | 
 |   | 900 | 
 |   | — | 
 |   | 900 | 
 |  
    | Total Golf | 95,489 | 
 |   | (8,102 | ) |   | 87,387 | 
 |   | 95,548 | 
 |   | — | 
 |   | 95,548 | 
 |  
    |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |  
    | Total Intangibles | $ | 272,949 | 
 |   | $ | (71,040 | ) |   | $ | 201,909 | 
 |   | $ | 218,659 | 
 |   | $ | (22,252 | ) |   | $ | 196,407 | 
 |    |