Note 7 - Use of Special Purpose Entities and Variable Interest Entities (Details) - Key Details of Financing VIEs (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]    
Carrying Value at $ 304,964 $ 117,591
Multi-Family Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
    
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]    
Original Face amount of Notes issued by the VIE and purchased by 3rd party investors 35,000 [1]  
Principal Amount at 34,508 [1] 35,000 [1]
Carrying Value at 27,240 [1],[2],[3] 26,891 [1],[2],[4]
Pass-through rate of Notes issued 5.35% [1]  
Collateralized Recourse Financing [Member]
    
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]    
Original Face amount of Notes issued by the VIE and purchased by 3rd party investors 107,853 [5]  
Principal Amount at 107,853 [5] 52,000 [5]
Carrying Value at 107,853 [2],[5],[6] 52,000 [2],[5],[7]
Pass-through rate of Notes issued One-month LIBOR plus 5.25% - 6.50% [5]  
Residential Distressed Mortgage Loan Securitization [Member]
    
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]    
Original Face amount of Notes issued by the VIE and purchased by 3rd party investors 176,970 [8]  
Principal Amount at 169,871 [8] 38,700 [8]
Carrying Value at $ 169,871 [2],[8] $ 38,700 [2],[8]
Pass-through rate of Notes issued 4.25% - 4.85% [8]  
[1] The Company engaged in the re-securitization transaction primarily for the purpose of obtaining non-recourse financing on a portion of its multi-family CMBS portfolio. As a result of engaging in this transaction, the Company remains economically exposed to the first loss position on the underlying multi-family CMBS transferred to the Consolidated VIE. The holders of the Note have no recourse to the general credit of the Company, but the Company does have the obligation, under certain circumstances, to repurchase assets upon the breach of certain representations and warranties. The Company will receive all remaining cash flow, if any, through its retained ownership.
[2] Classified as securitized debt in the liability section of the Company's accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
[3] The Company classified the multi-family CMBS issued by two K-Series securitizations and held by this Financing VIE as available for sale securities as the purpose is not to trade these securities. The Financing VIE consolidated one K-Series securitization that issued certain of the multi-family CMBS owned by the Company, including its assets, liabilities, income and expenses, in its financial statements, as based on a number of factors, the Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary and has a controlling financial interest in this particular K-Series securitization (see Note 6).
[4] The Company classified the multi-family CMBS issued by two K-Series securitizations and held by the Financing VIE as available for sale securities as the purpose is not to trade these securities. The Financing VIE consolidated one K-Series securitization that issued certain of the multi-family CMBS owned by the Company, including its assets, liabilities, income and expenses, in its financial statements, as based on a number of factors, the Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary and has a controlling financial interest in this particular K-Series securitization (see Note 6).
[5] The Company entered into CMBS Master Repurchase Agreements with a three-year term for the purpose of financing a portion of its multi-family CMBS portfolio. In connection with these transactions, the Company agreed to guarantee the due and punctual payment of its wholly-owned subsidiary's obligations under the CMBS Master Repurchase Agreements.
[6] The multi-family CMBS serving as collateral under the collateralized recourse financings are comprised of securities issued from seven separate Freddie Mac-sponsored multi-family K-Series securitizations. The Financing VIE classified the multi-family CMBS issued by the two K-Series securitizations and held by the Financing VIE as available for sale securities as the purpose is not to trade these securities. The Financing VIE consolidated five of the K-Series securitizations, including their assets, liabilities, income and expenses, in its financial statements as based on a number of factors, the Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary and has a controlling financial interest in such K-Series securitizations (see Note 6).
[7] The multi-family CMBS serving as collateral under the collateralized recourse financing are comprised of securities issued from four separate Freddie Mac-sponsored multifamily K-Series securitizations. The Financing VIE classified the multi-family CMBS issued by two K-Series securitizations and held by the Financing VIE as available for sale securities as the purpose is not to trade these securities. The Financing VIE consolidated two of the K-Series securitizations, including their assets, liabilities, income and expenses, in its financial statements as based on a number of factors, the Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary and has a controlling financial interest in such K-Series securitizations (see Note 6).
[8] The Company engaged in these transactions for the purpose of financing distressed residential mortgage loans acquired by the Company. The distressed residential mortgage loans serving as collateral for the financings are comprised of performing, re-performing and to a lesser extent non-performing, fixed and adjustable-rate, fully-amortizing, interest only and balloon, seasoned mortgage loans secured by first liens on one to four family properties. Two of the four securitization transactions provide for a revolving period of one to two years from the date of the respective financing ("Revolving Period") where no principal payments will be made on the note. All cash proceeds generated by the distressed residential mortgage loans and received by the respective securitization trust during the Revolving Period, after payment of interest on the note, reserve amounts and certain other transaction expenses, will be available for the purchase by the trust of additional mortgage loans that satisfy certain eligibility criteria.