Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details Narrative)

v3.4.0.3
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details Narrative)
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
USD ($)
contract
Feb. 28, 2011
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2016
USD ($)
contract
Mar. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Derivative [Line Items]          
Acquisition of servicing rights   $ 2,200,000      
Amortization of servicing rights     $ 100,000 $ 100,000  
(MSR) impairment (recovery)     0 0  
Servicing assets $ 600,000   $ 600,000   $ 700,000
Refundable term for initiation fees     30 years    
Expected life of active golf membership     7 years    
Ownership in equity investment 23.00%   23.00%    
Other investments $ 20,965,000   $ 20,965,000   20,595,000
CDO bonds payable 0   0   92,933,000
Other bonds and notes payable 11,575,000   11,575,000   16,162,000
Reclassification of net realized gain on deconsolidation of CDO VI     20,682,000 $ 0  
Outstanding Face Amount $ 867,411,000   $ 867,411,000    
Other Contract | Not designated as hedging instrument | Short          
Derivative [Line Items]          
Derivative, number of instruments held | contract 5   5    
Notional amount $ 713,000,000   $ 713,000,000    
Other Contract | Not designated as hedging instrument | Long          
Derivative [Line Items]          
Derivative, number of instruments held | contract 3   3    
Notional amount $ 350,000,000   $ 350,000,000    
Lower Range          
Derivative [Line Items]          
Operating lease term     10 years    
Upper Range          
Derivative [Line Items]          
Operating lease term     20 years    
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary          
Derivative [Line Items]          
CDO bonds payable 0   $ 0   92,933,000
Other bonds and notes payable 0   0   4,672,000
CDO V | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary          
Derivative [Line Items]          
Carrying value of Newcastle's investment 9,791,000   9,791,000    
Outstanding Face Amount 44,600,000   44,600,000    
CDO VI | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary          
Derivative [Line Items]          
Carrying value of Newcastle's investment 0   0    
Reclassification of net realized gain on deconsolidation of CDO VI 20,700,000        
Gain on extinguishment of debt, net 82,100,000        
Outstanding Face Amount 75,500,000   75,500,000    
NCT 2013-VI Class I-MM-2          
Derivative [Line Items]          
Face amount of securities sold $ 11,000,000        
Debt instrument, redemption price, percentage of principal amount redeemed 93.00%        
Available-for-sale Securities | CDO VI | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary          
Derivative [Line Items]          
Carrying value of Newcastle's investment $ 43,900,000   43,900,000    
CDO Bonds Payable | CDO VI | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary          
Derivative [Line Items]          
CDO bonds payable 93,100,000   93,100,000    
Other Bonds Payable | CDO VI | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary          
Derivative [Line Items]          
Other bonds and notes payable 12,400,000   12,400,000    
Forward Contracts | Other Contract | Not designated as hedging instrument | Short          
Derivative [Line Items]          
Margin deposit assets $ 100,000   $ 100,000   $ 1,000,000