Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended											1 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 Acquisition Partnerships	Dec. 31, 2011 Acquisition Partnerships	Dec. 31, 2012 Acquisition Partnerships Domestic	Dec. 31, 2011 Acquisition Partnerships Domestic	Dec. 31, 2012 Acquisition Partnerships Latin America	Dec. 31, 2011 Acquisition Partnerships Latin America	Dec. 31, 2011 Acquisition Partnerships Europe	Dec. 31, 2012 Combined Varde Acquisition Partnerships Domestic	Dec. 31, 2011 Combined Varde Acquisition Partnerships Domestic	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Acquisition Partnerships Domestic	Dec. 31, 2011 Other Acquisition Partnerships Domestic	Dec. 31, 2012 Servicing and operating entities	Dec. 31, 2011 Servicing and operating entities	Dec. 31, 2012 Servicing entities Latin America	Dec. 31, 2011 Servicing entities Latin America	Jun. 30, 2012 Servicing entities Europe	Dec. 31, 2012 Servicing entities Europe	Dec. 31, 2011 Servicing entities Europe	Dec. 31, 2012 Operating entities Domestic	Dec. 31, 2011 Operating entities Domestic	Dec. 31, 2012 Other operating entities Domestic	Dec. 31, 2011 Other operating entities Domestic	Dec. 31, 2012 MCS et Associes (servicing entity) Europe	Dec. 31, 2011 MCS et Associes (servicing entity) Europe	Dec. 31, 2012 Other servicing entities Europe	Dec. 31, 2011 Other servicing entities Europe	Dec. 31, 2012 FC Crestone Oak LLC (operating entity) Domestic	Dec. 31, 2011 FC Crestone Oak LLC (operating entity) Domestic
Condensed Combined Balance Sheets
Assets	$ 482,852,000				$ 613,836,000				$ 482,852,000	$ 613,836,000	$ 437,176,000	$ 450,189,000	$ 352,123,000	$ 349,529,000	$ 85,053,000	$ 100,660,000						$ 45,676,000	$ 163,647,000	$ 2,057,000	$ 1,857,000		$ 3,088,000	$ 108,534,000	$ 40,531,000	$ 53,256,000
Liabilities	37,601,000				125,670,000				37,601,000	125,670,000	14,783,000	39,401,000										22,818,000	86,269,000
Net equity	445,251,000				488,166,000				445,251,000	488,166,000	422,393,000	410,788,000	344,045,000	325,557,000	78,348,000	85,231,000						22,858,000	77,378,000	828,000	763,000		2,519,000	56,100,000	19,511,000	20,515,000
Total liabilities and equity	482,852,000				613,836,000				482,852,000	613,836,000	437,176,000	450,189,000										45,676,000	163,647,000
Equity investments	77,466,000				109,393,000				77,466,000	109,393,000	60,581,000	59,952,000	57,802,000	55,612,000	2,779,000	4,340,000						16,885,000	49,441,000	3,008,000	2,758,000		678,000	34,175,000	13,199,000	12,508,000
Non-cash decrease to investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries																										6,100,000
Condensed Combined Summary of Operations
Revenues									188,007,000	162,846,000	90,716,000	58,722,000			15,134,000	18,907,000	291,000	74,955,000	39,150,000	627,000	374,000	97,291,000	104,124,000	9,887,000	10,533,000						26,934,000	28,529,000	39,466,000	49,225,000	4,380,000	4,810,000	16,624,000	11,027,000
Costs and expenses											52,179,000	61,539,000										75,338,000	86,257,000
Net earnings (loss)									60,490,000	15,050,000	38,537,000	(2,817,000)			(861,000)	(22,240,000)	36,000	40,502,000	20,152,000	(1,104,000)	(765,000)	21,953,000	17,867,000	1,122,000	1,373,000						1,283,000	(870,000)	7,565,000	10,008,000	202,000	499,000	11,781,000	6,857,000
Equity income from unconsolidated subsidiaries	4,447,000	4,249,000	2,081,000	4,467,000	(5,700,000)	2,777,000	3,283,000	1,871,000	15,244,000	2,231,000	4,788,000	(6,460,000)			(829,000)	(10,153,000)	29,000	6,132,000	4,004,000	(515,000)	(340,000)	10,456,000	8,691,000	561,000	686,000						513,000	(505,000)	3,559,000	5,028,000	50,000	122,000	5,773,000	3,360,000
Impairment charge																7,400,000
Carrying value of loans accounted for under non-accrual methods of accounting											$ 350,300,000	$ 377,700,000

FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORP 10-K