| FAIR VALUE - Loan Valuation (Details 7) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2013 | ||||
| Real estate related loans and other loans, held-for-sale, net | $ 224,992 | $ 224,992 | $ 437,530 | |||||
| Residential mortgage loans, held-for-sale, net | 4,036 | 4,036 | 2,185 | |||||
| Valuation allowance (reversal) on loans | (4,015) | (12,998) | (1,243) | (11,473) | ||||
| Mezzanine Loans [Member] | ||||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 132,053 | 132,053 | ||||||
| Real estate related loans and other loans, held-for-sale, net | 99,666 | 99,666 | ||||||
| Fair Value | 102,512 | 102,512 | ||||||
| Valuation allowance (reversal) on loans | (31) | |||||||
| Discount Rate | 7.20% | |||||||
| Loss Severity | 22.50% | |||||||
| Mezzanine Loans [Member] | Lower Range [Member] | ||||||||
| Discount Rate | 5.00% | |||||||
| Loss Severity | 0.00% | |||||||
| Mezzanine Loans [Member] | Upper Range [Member] | ||||||||
| Discount Rate | 9.00% | |||||||
| Loss Severity | 100.00% | |||||||
| Corporate Bank Loans [Member] | ||||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 169,659 | 169,659 | ||||||
| Real estate related loans and other loans, held-for-sale, net | 106,296 | 106,296 | ||||||
| Fair Value | 118,156 | 118,156 | ||||||
| Valuation allowance (reversal) on loans | 1,299 | |||||||
| Discount Rate | 21.80% | |||||||
| Loss Severity | 27.10% | |||||||
| Corporate Bank Loans [Member] | Lower Range [Member] | ||||||||
| Discount Rate | 15.00% | |||||||
| Loss Severity | 0.00% | |||||||
| Corporate Bank Loans [Member] | Upper Range [Member] | ||||||||
| Discount Rate | 35.90% | |||||||
| Loss Severity | 100.00% | |||||||
| B-Notes [Member] | ||||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 22,067 | 22,067 | ||||||
| Real estate related loans and other loans, held-for-sale, net | 18,761 | 18,761 | ||||||
| Fair Value | 18,761 | 18,761 | ||||||
| Valuation allowance (reversal) on loans | (3,454) | |||||||
| Discount Rate | 12.00% | |||||||
| Loss Severity | 0.00% | |||||||
| Whole Loans [Member] | ||||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 269 | 269 | ||||||
| Real estate related loans and other loans, held-for-sale, net | 269 | 269 | ||||||
| Fair Value | 272 | 272 | ||||||
| Discount Rate | 4.00% | |||||||
| Loss Severity | 0.00% | |||||||
| Total Real Estate Related and Other Loans Held-for-Sale, Net [Member] | ||||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 324,048 | 324,048 | ||||||
| Real estate related loans and other loans, held-for-sale, net | 224,992 | 224,992 | ||||||
| Fair Value | 239,701 | 239,701 | ||||||
| Valuation allowance (reversal) on loans | (2,186) | |||||||
| Residential Loans [Member] | ||||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 4,686 | 4,686 | ||||||
| Residential mortgage loans, held-for-sale, net | 4,036 | 4,036 | ||||||
| Fair Value | 4,317 | 4,317 | ||||||
| Valuation allowance (reversal) on loans | 527 | [1] | ||||||
| Discount Rate | 7.70% | |||||||
| Prepayment Speed | 0.20% | |||||||
| Cumulative Default Rate | 23.80% | |||||||
| Loss Severity | 5.10% | |||||||
| Total Residential Mortgage Loans Held-for-Sale, Net [Member] | ||||||||
| Outstanding Face Amount | 4,686 | 4,686 | ||||||
| Residential mortgage loans, held-for-sale, net | 4,036 | 4,036 | ||||||
| Fair Value | 4,317 | 4,317 | ||||||
| Valuation allowance (reversal) on loans | $ 527 | [1] | ||||||
| 
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