10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2012

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from             to            

Commission File Number 001-13709

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

MARYLAND	52-2059785
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1299 Ocean Avenue, Second Floor, Santa Monica, California	90401
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (310) 255-4493

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large Accelerated Filer	x	Accelerated Filer	¨
Non-Accelerated Filer	¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller Reporting Company	¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

At May 7, 2012, the registrant had 137,191,232 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q

INDEX

			Page
Part I.		FINANCIAL INFORMATION		1
	Item 1.	Financial Statements		1
		Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2012 (unaudited) and December 31, 2011		1
		Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (unaudited)		2
		Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (unaudited)		3
		Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2012 (unaudited)		4
		Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (unaudited)		5
		Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements		6
	Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		22
	Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		31
	Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		34
Part II.		OTHER INFORMATION		36
	Item 1.	Legal Proceedings		36
	Item 1A.	Risk Factors		36
	Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		36
	Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities		36
	Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures		36
	Item 5.	Other Information		36
	Item 6.	Exhibits		36
		Signatures		40

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION

BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(unaudited)
ASSETS
Agency MBS:
Agency MBS pledged to counterparties at fair value	$	8,087,281		$	8,068,829
Agency MBS at fair value		904,002			644,694
Paydowns receivable		47,248			48,371
		9,038,531			8,761,894
Non-Agency MBS:
Non-Agency MBS at fair value		1,008			1,585
Cash and cash equivalents		5,143			8,877
Interest and dividends receivable		27,455			28,085
Derivative instruments at fair value		1,164			0
Prepaid expenses and other		14,703			13,328
Total Assets	$	9,088,004		$	8,813,769
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities:
Accrued interest payable	$	20,297		$	23,788
Repurchase agreements		7,600,000			7,595,000
Junior subordinated notes		37,380			37,380
Derivative instruments at fair value		91,870			96,808
Dividends payable on Series A Preferred Stock		1,011			1,011
Dividends payable on Series B Preferred Stock		450			450
Dividends payable on common stock		28,575			28,083
Payable for securities purchased		255,708			20,679
Accrued expenses and other		1,032			1,044
Total Liabilities	$	8,036,323		$	7,804,243
Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock: par value $0.01 per share; liquidating preference $25.00 per share ($28,789 and $28,789, respectively); 1,152 and 1,152 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	$	27,239		$	27,239
Stockholders’ Equity:
Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock: par value $0.01 per share; liquidating preference $25.00 per share ($46,888 and $46,888, respectively); 1,876 and 1,876 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	$	45,397		$	45,397
Common Stock: par value $0.01 per share; authorized 200,000 shares, 136,073 and 134,115 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively		1,361			1,341
Additional paid-in capital		1,158,295			1,145,733
Accumulated other comprehensive income consisting of unrealized losses and gains		80,711			50,223
Accumulated deficit		(261,322	)		(260,407	)
Total Stockholders’ Equity	$	1,024,442		$	982,287
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	9,088,004		$	8,813,769

See accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements.

1

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION

STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2012			2011
Interest income:
Interest on Agency MBS	$	53,225		$	56,901
Interest on Non-Agency MBS		24			45
Other income		14			11
		53,263			56,957
Interest expense:
Interest expense on repurchase agreements		20,574			22,112
Interest expense on junior subordinated notes		345			319
		20,919			22,431
Net interest income		32,344			34,526
Recoveries on Non-Agency MBS		623			218
Expenses:
Management fee		(2,821	)		0
Compensation, incentive compensation and benefits		0			(2,861	)
Other expenses		(1,024	)		(723	)
Total expenses		(3,845	)		(3,584	)
Net income		29,122			31,160
Dividend on Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock		(1,011	)		(1,011	)
Dividend on Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock		(450	)		(492	)
Net income to common stockholders	$	27,661		$	29,657
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.20		$	0.24
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.20		$	0.24
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding		135,064			121,914
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding		139,292			126,205

See accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements.

2

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION

STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2012			2011
Net income	$	29,122		$	31,160
Available-for-sale Agency MBS, fair value adjustment		24,899			(1,074	)
Available-for-sale Non-Agency MBS, fair value adjustment		(577	)		79
Unrealized (losses) gains on cash flow hedges		(7,830	)		2,484
Reclassification adjustment for interest expense included in net income		13,995			17,437
Other comprehensive income		30,487			18,926
Comprehensive income	$	59,609		$	50,086

See accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements.

3

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION

STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

	Series A Preferred Stock Shares		Common Stock Shares		Series A Preferred Stock Par Value		Common Stock Par Value		Additional Paid-In Capital		Accum. Other Comp. Income Agency MBS		Accum. Other Comp. Income Non-Agency MBS			Accum. Other Comp. (Loss) Derivatives			Accum. (Deficit)			Total
Balance, December 31, 2011		1,876		134,115	$	45,397	$	1,341	$	1,145,733	$	145,663	$	1,585		$	(97,025	)	$	(260,407	)	$	982,287
Issuance of common stock				1,958				20		12,492													12,512
Other comprehensive income (loss), fair value adjustments and reclassifications												24,899		(577	)		6,165						30,487
Net income																				29,122			29,122
Amortization of restricted stock										70													70
Dividend declared—$0.539063 per Series A preferred share																				(1,011	)		(1,011	)
Dividend declared—$0.390625 per Series B preferred share																				(450	)		(450	)
Dividend declared—$0.21 per common share																				(28,575	)		(28,575	)
Balance, March 31, 2012		1,876		136,073	$	45,397	$	1,361	$	1,158,295	$	170,562	$	1,008		$	(90,860	)	$	(261,321	)	$	1,024,442

See accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements.

4

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2012			2011
Operating Activities:
Net income	$	29,122		$	31,160
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Amortization of premium and discounts (Agency MBS)		15,850			12,213
Amortization of restricted stock		70			70
Recovery on Non-Agency MBS		(623	)		(218	)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in interest receivable		630			(1,157	)
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other		(1,375	)		905
(Decrease) in accrued interest payable		(3,427	)		(863	)
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses and payables for securities purchased		235,017			(170,425	)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	275,264		$	(128,315	)
Investing Activities:
Available-for-sale Agency MBS:
Purchases	$	(827,453	)	$	(862,433	)
Principal payments		559,865			441,082
Available-for-sale Non-Agency MBS:
Principal payments		623			701
Net cash (used in) investing activities	$	(266,965	)	$	(420,650	)
Financing Activities:
Borrowings from repurchase agreements	$	9,699,775		$	8,749,000
Repayments on repurchase agreements		(9,694,775	)		(8,204,000	)
Proceeds from common stock issued, net		12,511			21,901
Proceeds from Series B Preferred stock issued, net		0			3,765
Series A Preferred stock dividends paid		(1,011	)		(1,011	)
Series B Preferred stock dividends paid		(450	)		(430	)
Common stock dividends paid		(28,083	)		(26,574	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	$	(12,033	)	$	542,651
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	$	(3,734	)	$	(6,314	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		8,877			10,621
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	5,143		$	4,307
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid for interest	$	24,345		$	23,294

See accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements.

5

ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION

NOTES TO UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” and “Anworth” refer to Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation.

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

We were incorporated in Maryland on October 20, 1997 and we commenced operations on March 17, 1998. We are in the business of investing primarily in United States, or U.S., agency mortgage-backed securities, or Agency MBS. Agency MBS are securities representing obligations guaranteed by the U.S. government, such as Ginnie Mae, or guaranteed by federally sponsored enterprises, such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Our principal business objective is to generate net income for distribution to our stockholders based upon the spread between the interest income on our mortgage assets and the costs of borrowing to finance our acquisition of those assets.

We have elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Code. As a REIT, we routinely distribute substantially all of the taxable income generated from our operations to our stockholders. As long as we retain our REIT status, we generally will not be subject to federal or state taxes on our income to the extent that we distribute our taxable net income to our stockholders.

At our annual stockholders meeting on May 25, 2011, our stockholders approved the entry by us into a management agreement, or the Management Agreement, between us and Anworth Management, LLC, or the Manager. We entered into the Management Agreement effective as of December 31, 2011, pursuant to which our day-to-day operations are now being conducted by the Manager. The Manager is supervised and directed by our board of directors and is responsible for (i) the selection, purchase and sale of our investment portfolio; (ii) our financing and hedging activities; and (iii) providing us with management services. The Manager will also perform such other services and activities relating to our assets and operations as may be appropriate. In exchange for these services, the Manager receives a management fee paid monthly in arrears in an amount equal to one-twelfth of 1.20% of our Equity (as defined in the Management Agreement).

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles utilized in the United States of America, or GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Material estimates that are susceptible to change relate to the determination of the fair value of securities, amortization of security premiums and accretion of security discounts and accounting for derivatives and hedging activities. Actual results could materially differ from these estimates. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the calendar year. The interim financial information in the accompanying unaudited financial statements and the notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

The following is a summary of our significant accounting policies:

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. The carrying amount of cash equivalents approximates their fair value.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

We use securities purchased under agreements to resell, or reverse repurchase agreements, as a means of investing excess cash. Although legally structured as a purchase and subsequent resale, reverse repurchase agreements are treated as financing instruments under which the counterparty pledges securities (principally U.S. treasury securities) and accrued interest as collateral to secure a loan. The difference between the purchase price that we pay and the resale price that we receive represents interest paid to us and is included in “Other income” on our unaudited statements of income. It is our policy to generally take possession of securities purchased under reverse repurchase agreements at the time such agreements are made.

6

Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS)

Agency MBS are securities that are obligations (including principal and interest) guaranteed by the U.S. government, such as Ginnie Mae, or guaranteed by federally sponsored enterprises, such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Our investment-grade Agency MBS portfolio is invested primarily in fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage-backed pass-through certificates and hybrid adjustable-rate MBS. Hybrid adjustable-rate MBS have an initial interest rate that is fixed for a certain period, usually three to five years (but may also include interest rates that are fixed for up to seven years), and then adjusts annually for the remainder of the term of the asset. We structure our investment portfolio to be diversified with a variety of prepayment characteristics, investing in mortgage assets with prepayment penalties, investing in certain mortgage security structures that have prepayment protections and purchasing mortgage-related assets at a premium and at a discount.

Non-Agency MBS are securities issued by other companies that are not government-sponsored enterprises and are secured primarily by first-lien residential mortgage loans.

We classify our MBS as either trading investments, available-for-sale investments or held-to-maturity investments. Our management determines the appropriate classification of the securities at the time they are acquired and evaluates the appropriateness of such classifications at each balance sheet date. We currently classify all of our MBS as available-for-sale. All assets that are classified as available-for-sale are carried at fair value and unrealized gains or losses are generally included in “Other comprehensive income (loss)” as a component of stockholders’ equity. Losses that are credit-related on securities classified as available-for-sale, which are determined by management to be other-than-temporary in nature, are reclassified from “Other comprehensive income” to income (loss).

The most significant source of our revenue is derived from our investments in MBS. Interest income on Agency MBS and Non-Agency MBS is accrued based on the actual coupon rate and the outstanding principal amount of the underlying mortgages. Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted into interest income over the estimated lives of the securities using the effective interest yield method, adjusted for the effects of actual prepayments based on the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 320-10. Our policy for estimating prepayment speeds for calculating the effective yield is to evaluate historical performance, street consensus prepayment speeds and current market conditions. If our estimate of prepayments is materially incorrect, as compared to the aforementioned references, we may be required to make an adjustment to the amortization or accretion of premiums and discounts that would have an impact on future income, which could be material and adverse.

Securities are recorded on the date the securities are purchased or sold. Realized gains or losses from securities transactions are determined based on the specific identified cost of the securities.

The following table shows our investments’ gross unrealized losses and fair value of those individual securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, aggregated by investment category and length of time (dollar amounts in thousands):

March 31, 2012

	Less Than 12 Months							12 Months or More							Total
Description of Securities	Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses
Agency MBS		46	$	824,664	$	(2,434	)		278	$	470,330	$	(6,562	)		324	$	1,294,994	$	(8,996	)

December 31, 2011

	Less Than 12 Months							12 Months or More							Total
Description of Securities	Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses
Agency MBS		44	$	832,151	$	(3,358	)		304	$	589,363	$	(9,544	)		348	$	1,421,514	$	(12,902	)

7

We do not consider those Agency MBS that have been in a continuous loss position for 12 months or more to be other-than-temporarily impaired. The unrealized losses on our investments in Agency MBS were caused by fluctuations in interest rates. We purchased the Agency MBS primarily at a premium relative to their face value and the contractual cash flows of those investments are guaranteed by the U.S. government or government-sponsored agencies. Since September 2008, the government-sponsored agencies have been in the conservatorship of the U.S. government. We do not expect to sell the Agency MBS at a price less than the amortized cost basis of our investments. Because the decline in market value of the Agency MBS is attributable to changes in interest rates and not the credit quality of the Agency MBS in our portfolio, and because we do not have the intent to sell these investments nor is it more likely than not that we will be required to sell these investments before recovery of their amortized cost basis, which may be at maturity, we do not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2012.

Repurchase Agreements

We finance the acquisition of MBS primarily through the use of repurchase agreements. Under these repurchase agreements, we sell securities to a lender and agree to repurchase the same securities in the future for a price that is higher than the original sales price. The difference between the sale price that we receive and the repurchase price that we pay represents interest paid to the lender. Although structured as a sale and repurchase obligation, a repurchase agreement operates as a financing under which we pledge our securities and accrued interest as collateral to secure a loan which is equal in value to a specified percentage of the estimated fair value of the pledged collateral. We retain beneficial ownership of the pledged collateral. Upon the maturity of a repurchase agreement, we are required to repay the loan and concurrently receive back our pledged collateral from the lender or, with the consent of the lender, we may renew such agreement at the then-prevailing financing rate. These repurchase agreements may require us to pledge additional assets to the lender in the event the estimated fair value of the existing pledged collateral declines.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Interest Rate Risk Management

We primarily use short-term (less than or equal to 12 months) repurchase agreements to finance the purchase of MBS. These obligations expose us to variability in interest payments due to changes in interest rates. We continuously monitor changes in interest rate exposures and evaluate hedging opportunities.

Our objective is to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows. We achieve this by entering into interest rate swap agreements, which effectively convert a percentage of our repurchase agreements to fixed-rate obligations over a period of up to five years. Under interest rate swap contracts, we agree to pay an amount equal to a specified fixed rate of interest times a notional principal amount and to receive in return an amount equal to a specified variable-rate of interest times a notional amount, generally based on the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR. The notional amounts are not exchanged. We account for these swap agreements as cash flow hedges in accordance with ASC 815-10. We do not issue or hold derivative contracts for speculative purposes.

We are exposed to credit losses in the event of non-performance by counterparties to interest rate swap agreements. In order to limit credit risk associated with swap agreements, our current practice is to only enter into swap agreements with large financial institution counterparties who are market makers for these types of instruments, limit our exposure on each swap agreement to a single counterparty under our defined guidelines and either pay or receive collateral to or from each counterparty on a periodic basis to cover the net fair market value position of the swap agreements held with that counterparty.

Accounting for Derivatives and Hedging Activities

In accordance with ASC 815-10, a derivative that is designated as a hedge is recognized as an asset/liability and measured at estimated fair value. In order for our interest rate swap agreements to qualify for hedge accounting, upon entering into the swap agreement, we must anticipate that the hedge will be highly “effective” as defined by ASC 815-10.

On the date we enter into a derivative contract, we designate the derivative as a hedge of the variability of cash flows that are to be received or paid in connection with a recognized asset or liability (a “cash flow” hedge). Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective and that is designated and qualifies as a cash flow hedge, to the extent that the hedge is effective, are recorded in “Other comprehensive income” and reclassified to income when the forecasted transaction affects income (e.g., when periodic settlement interest payments are due on repurchase agreements). The swap agreements are carried on our balance sheets at their fair value, based on values obtained from large financial institutions who are market makers for these types of instruments. Hedge ineffectiveness, if any, is recorded in current-period income.

We formally assess, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions have been highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of hedged items and whether those derivatives may be expected to remain highly effective in future periods. If it is determined that a derivative is not (or has ceased to be) highly effective as a hedge, we discontinue hedge accounting.

8

When we discontinue hedge accounting, the gain or loss on the derivative remains in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” and is reclassified into income when the forecasted transaction affects income. In all situations in which hedge accounting is discontinued and the derivative remains outstanding, we will carry the derivative at its fair value on our balance sheet, recognizing changes in the fair value in current-period income.

For purposes of the cash flow statement, cash flows from derivative instruments are classified with the cash flows from the hedged item.

For more details on the amounts and other qualitative information on our swap agreements, see Note 12. For more information on the fair value of our swap agreements, see Note 6.

Credit Risk

At March 31, 2012, we have attempted to limit our exposure to credit losses on our MBS by purchasing securities primarily through Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The payment of principal and interest on the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae MBS are guaranteed by those respective enterprises. In September 2008, both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were placed in the conservatorship of the U.S. government. While it is the intent that the conservatorship will help stabilize Freddie Mac’s and Fannie Mae’s losses and overall financial position, there can be no assurance that it will succeed or that, if necessary, Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae will be able to satisfy its guarantees of Agency MBS. In August 2011, Standard & Poor’s downgraded each of U.S. sovereign debt and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from AAA to AA+. We do not know what effect this will ultimately have on the U.S. economy, the value of our securities or the ability of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to satisfy its guarantees of Agency MBS if necessary.

Our adjustable-rate MBS are subject to periodic and lifetime interest rate caps. Periodic caps can limit the amount an interest rate can increase during any given period. Some adjustable-rate MBS subject to periodic payment caps may result in a portion of the interest being deferred and added to the principal outstanding.

Other-than-temporary losses on our available-for-sale MBS, as measured by the amount of decline in estimated fair value attributable to credit losses that are considered to be other-than-temporary, are charged against income, resulting in an adjustment of the cost basis of such securities. Based on the criteria in ASC-320-10, the determination of whether a security is other-than-temporarily impaired, or OTTI, involves judgments and assumptions based on both subjective and objective factors. When a security is impaired, an OTTI is considered to have occurred if (i) we intend to sell the security, (ii) it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis or (iii) we do not expect to recover its amortized cost basis (i.e., there is a credit-related loss). The following are among, but not all of, the factors considered in determining whether and to what extent an OTTI exists and the portion that is related to credit loss: (i) the expected cash flow from the investment; (ii) whether there has been an other-than-temporary deterioration of the credit quality of the underlying mortgages; (iii) the credit protection available to the related mortgage pool for MBS; (iv) any other market information available, including analysts’ assessments and statements, public statements and filings made by the debtor or counterparty; (v) management’s internal analysis of the security, considering all known relevant information at the time of assessment; and (vi) the magnitude and duration of historical decline in market prices. Because management’s assessments are based on factual information as well as subjective information available at the time of assessment, the determination as to whether an other-than-temporary decline exists and, if so, the amount considered impaired, is also subjective and therefore constitutes material estimates that are susceptible to significant change.

Income Taxes

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT and to comply with the provisions of the Code with respect thereto. Accordingly, we will not be subject to federal income tax to the extent that our distributions to our stockholders satisfy the REIT requirements and that certain asset, income and stock ownership tests are met.

We have no unrecognized tax benefits and do not anticipate any increase in unrecognized benefits during 2012 relative to any tax positions taken prior to January 1, 2012. Should the accrual of any interest or penalties relative to unrecognized tax benefits be necessary, it is our policy to record such accruals in our income taxes accounts; and no such accruals existed at March 31, 2012. We file REIT U.S. federal and California income tax returns. These returns are generally open to examination by the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board for all years after 2007 and 2006, respectively.

9

Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock

We classify our Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, or Series B Preferred Stock, on our balance sheets using the guidance in ASC 480-10-S99. The Series B Preferred Stock contains certain fundamental change provisions that allow the holder to redeem the preferred stock for cash only if certain events occur, such as a change in control. As redemption under these circumstances is not solely within our control, we have classified the Series B Preferred Stock as temporary equity.

We have analyzed whether the conversion features in the Series B Preferred Stock should be bifurcated under the guidance in ASC 815-10 and have determined that bifurcation is not necessary.

Stock-Based Expense

In accordance with ASC 718-10, any expense relating to share-based payment transactions is recognized in the unaudited financial statements.

Restricted stock is expensed over the vesting period (see Note 11).

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share, or EPS, is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS assumes the conversion, exercise or issuance of all potential common stock equivalents (which includes stock options and convertible preferred stock) and the adding back of the Series B Preferred Stock dividends unless the effect is to reduce a loss or increase the income per share.

The computation of EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 is as follows (amounts in thousands, except per share data):

	Net Income Available to Common Stockholders		Average Shares		Earnings per Share
For the three months ended March 31, 2012
Basic EPS	$	27,661		135,064	$	0.20
Effect of dilutive securities		450		4,228		0.00
Diluted EPS	$	28,111		139,292	$	0.20
For the three months ended March 31, 2011
Basic EPS	$	29,657		121,914	$	0.24
Effect of dilutive securities		492		4,291		0.00
Diluted EPS	$	30,149		126,205	$	0.24

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

In accordance with ASC 220-10-55-2, total comprehensive income is divided into net income and other comprehensive income, which includes unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities classified as available-for-sale, and unrealized gains and losses on derivative financial instruments that qualify for cash flow hedge accounting under ASC 815-10.

USE OF ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In April 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2011-03, “Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements.” One of the relevant considerations for assessing effective control was the transferor’s ability to repurchase or redeem financial assets before maturity. Under this criterion, an entity must consider whether there is an exchange of collateral in sufficient amount so as to reasonably assure the arrangement’s completion on substantially the agreed terms. In this ASU, the FASB determined that the criterion pertaining to an exchange of collateral should not be a determining factor in assessing effective control and removed this criterion from the consideration of effective control. The FASB

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concluded that the assessment of effective control should focus on a transferor’s contractual rights and obligations with respect to transferred financial assets, not on whether the transferor has the practical ability to perform in accordance with those rights or obligations. This ASU became effective for our financial statements beginning with the first quarter of 2012. We have adopted this ASU and it did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.” ASU 2011-04 supersedes most of the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820 (formerly FASB Statement No. 157), although many of the changes are clarifications of existing guidance or wording changes to align with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, 13. Additionally, this ASU requires (i) disclosure of any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; (ii) disclosure when the highest and best use of a non-financial asset differs from its current use; (iii) disclosure of fair value by level for each class of assets and liabilities not measured at fair value in the statement of financial position but for which the fair value is disclosed; and (iv) disclosure of information about measurement uncertainty in the form of a sensitivity analysis for recurring fair value measurements categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy unless another ASC topic specifies that such disclosure is not required. This ASU became effective for our financial statements beginning with the first quarter of 2012. We have adopted this ASU and it did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income.” ASU 2011-05 supersedes some of the guidance in ASC Topic 220. The main provisions of this ASU provide that an entity that reports items of other comprehensive income has the option to present comprehensive income in either one or two consecutive financial statements: (i) in a single statement where an entity must present the components of net income and total net income, the components of other comprehensive income and total other comprehensive income, and a total for comprehensive income; or (ii) in a two-statement approach where an entity must present the components of net income and total net income in the first statement with that first statement being immediately followed by a financial statement that presents the components of other comprehensive income, a total for other comprehensive income, and a total for comprehensive income. The previous option in GAAP that permitted the presentation of other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in equity has been eliminated. This ASU became effective for our financial statements beginning with the first quarter of 2012. We have adopted this ASU and it did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, “Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities”. This ASU requires the disclosure in tabular format in a footnote of the gross amounts subject to rights of set-off, the gross amounts of any set-off and the net amounts shown on the balance sheet. This ASU also requires the disclosure of any agreements subject to such netting arrangements. This ASU will affect all financial instruments such as securities lending agreements repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and derivatives instruments. As there are differences in the offsetting requirements between GAAP and IFRS, the objective of this disclosure is to facilitate comparison between companies that prepare their financial statements according to those different reporting requirements. As the disclosures are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013 and for all interim periods within those annual periods, this ASU will become effective for our financial statements beginning with the quarter ending March 31, 2013. We do not believe that this ASU will have a material impact on our financial statements.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, “Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05”. Among the provisions in ASU 2011-05 was a requirement to present reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income, or AOCI, by components in both the statement in which net income is presented and the statement in which other comprehensive income, or OCI, is presented (for both interim and annual financial statements). This requirement was indefinitely deferred by ASU 2011-12 and will be further deliberated by the FASB at a later date. ASU 2011-12 does not defer the other requirements of ASU 2011-05. ASU 2011-12 became effective on the same effective date as ASU 2011-5. We have adopted this ASU and it did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

NOTE 2. REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

At March 31, 2012, we did not have any reverse repurchase agreements outstanding. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the maximum amount of reverse repurchase agreements outstanding was $73 million and the average amount outstanding was $3.8 million. These investments are used as a means of investing excess cash. The collateral for these loans was U.S. Treasury securities with an aggregate fair value equal to the amount of the loans. At December 31, 2011, there were no reverse repurchase agreements outstanding.

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NOTE 3. MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (MBS)

The following tables summarize our Agency MBS and Non-Agency MBS, classified as available-for-sale, at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, which are carried at their fair value (amounts in thousands):

March 31, 2012

Agency MBS (By Agency)	Ginnie Mae			Freddie Mac			Fannie Mae			Total Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	16,981		$	2,642,472		$	6,161,267		$	8,820,720
Paydowns receivable(1)		0			47,248			0			47,248
Unrealized gains		5			53,227			126,327			179,559
Unrealized losses		(198	)		(3,250	)		(5,548	)		(8,996	)
Fair value	$	16,788		$	2,739,697		$	6,282,046		$	9,038,531

Agency MBS (By Security Type)	ARMs			Hybrid ARMs			15-Year Fixed-Rate			30-Year Fixed-Rate			Floating- Rate CMOs			Total Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	2,007,742		$	5,226,056		$	1,146,948		$	437,083		$	2,891		$	8,820,720
Paydowns receivable(1)		6,578			40,670			0			0			0			47,248
Unrealized gains		61,396			63,795			17,181			37,182			5			179,559
Unrealized losses		(3,870	)		(4,777	)		(345	)		(3	)		(1	)		(8,996	)
Fair value	$	2,071,846		$	5,325,744		$	1,163,784		$	474,262		$	2,895		$	9,038,531

(1) Paydowns receivable are generated when the Company receives notice from Freddie Mac of prepayments but does not receive the actual cash with respect to such prepayments until the 15^th day of the following month.

Non-Agency MBS	Total Non- Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	0
Unrealized gains		1,008
Fair value	$	1,008

At March 31, 2012, our Non-Agency MBS portfolio consisted of floating-rate collateralized mortgage obligations, or CMOs, (option-adjusted ARMs based on one-month LIBOR) with an average coupon of 0.49%, which were acquired at par value.

The fair value of our Non-Agency MBS portfolio declined to approximately $1.0 million at March 31, 2012 from a fair value of approximately $1.6 million at December 31, 2011. The details of this decline are set forth in Note 6.

At March 31, 2012, two securities representing the principal balance of our Non-Agency MBS portfolio were rated C by Moody’s Investor Service and rated D by Standard & Poor’s.

December 31, 2011

Agency MBS (By Agency)	Ginnie Mae			Freddie Mac			Fannie Mae			Total Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	17,392		$	2,645,045		$	5,905,423		$	8,567,860
Paydowns receivable		0			48,371			0			48,371
Unrealized gains		2			48,740			109,823			158,565
Unrealized losses		(293	)		(6,314	)		(6,295	)		(12,902	)
Fair value	$	17,101		$	2,735,842		$	6,008,951		$	8,761,894

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Agency MBS (By Security Type)	ARMs			Hybrid ARMs			15-Year Fixed-Rate			30-Year Fixed-Rate			Floating- Rate CMOs		Total Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	2,010,934		$	4,976,389		$	1,106,919		$	470,493		$	3,125	$	8,567,860
Paydowns receivable		4,927			43,444			0			0			0		48,371
Unrealized gains		51,030			54,574			15,017			37,939			5		158,565
Unrealized losses		(4,812	)		(7,651	)		(436	)		(3	)		0		(12,902	)
Fair value	$	2,062,079		$	5,066,756		$	1,121,500		$	508,429		$	3,130	$	8,761,894

Non-Agency MBS	Total Non- Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	0
Unrealized gains		1,585
Fair value	$	1,585

At December 31, 2011, our Non-Agency MBS portfolio consisted of floating-rate CMOs (option-adjusted ARMs based on one-month LIBOR) with an average coupon of 0.54%, which were acquired at par value.

At December 31, 2011, two securities representing the principal balance of our Non-Agency MBS portfolio were rated C by Standard & Poor’s and rated D by Moody’s Investor Service.

NOTE 4. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

We have entered into repurchase agreements with large financial institutions to finance most of our Agency MBS. The repurchase agreements are short-term borrowings that are secured by the market value of our MBS and bear fixed interest rates that have historically been based upon LIBOR.

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the repurchase agreements had the following balances (in thousands), weighted average interest rates and remaining weighted average maturities:

	March 31, 2012						December 31, 2011
	Balance			Weighted Average Interest Rate			Balance			Weighted Average Interest Rate
Overnight	$	0			0.00	%	$	0			0.00	%
Less than 30 days		3,980,000			0.32			3,630,000			0.33
30 days to 90 days		3,620,000			0.34			3,965,000			0.38
Over 90 days to less than 1 year		0			0.00			0			0.00
1 year to 2 years		0			0.00			0			0.00
Demand		0			0.00			0			0.00
	$	7,600,000			0.33	%	$	7,595,000			0.36	%
Weighted average maturity		34 days						38 days
Weighted average term to maturity (after adjusting for interest rate swap transactions)		445 days						436 days
Weighted average borrowing rate (after adjusting for interest rate swap transactions)		1.05	%					1.18	%
Agency MBS pledged as collateral under the repurchase agreements and swap agreements	$	8,087,281					$	8,068,829

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NOTE 5. JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

On March 15, 2005, we issued $37,380,000 of junior subordinated notes to a newly-formed statutory trust, Anworth Capital Trust I, organized by us under Delaware law. The trust issued $36,250,000 in trust preferred securities to unrelated third party investors. Both the notes and the trust preferred securities require quarterly payments and bear interest at the prevailing three-month LIBOR rate plus 3.10%, reset quarterly. The first interest payments were made on June 30, 2005. Both the notes and the trust preferred securities will mature in 2035 and are currently redeemable, at our option, in whole or in part, without penalty. We used the net proceeds of this private placement to invest in Agency MBS. We have reviewed the structure of the transaction under ASC 810-10 and concluded that Anworth Capital Trust I does not meet the requirements for consolidation. On September 26, 2005, the notes, the trust preferred securities and the related agreements were amended. The only material change was that one of the class holders requested that interest payments be made quarterly on January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 instead of at the end of each calendar quarter. This became effective with the quarterly payments after September 30, 2005. As of the date of this filing, we have not redeemed any of the notes or trust preferred securities.

NOTE 6. FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

As defined in ASC 820-10, fair value is the price that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid to transfer or settle a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal (or most advantageous) market for the asset or liability. ASC 820-10 establishes a fair value hierarchy that ranks the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the three following categories:

Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. This includes those financial instruments that are valued using models or other valuation methodologies where substantially all of the assumptions are observable in the marketplace, can be derived from observable market data or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace. We consider the inputs utilized to fair value our Agency MBS to be Level 2. Management bases the fair value for these investments primarily on third party bid price indications provided by dealers who make markets in these instruments. The Agency MBS market is primarily an over-the-counter market. As such, there are no standard, public market quotations or published trading data for individual MBS securities. As our portfolio consists of hundreds of similar, but distinct, securities that have each been traded with only one broker counterparty, we generally seek to have each Agency MBS security priced by one broker. The prices received are non-binding offers to trade, but are indicative quotations of the market value of our securities as of the market close on the last day of each quarter. The brokers receive trading data from several traders that participate in the active markets for these securities and directly observe numerous trades of securities similar to the securities owned by us. Given the volume of market activity for Agency MBS, it is our belief that the broker pricing accurately reflects market information for actual, contemporaneous transactions. We do not adjust quotes or prices we obtain from brokers and pricing services. In the limited instances where valuations are received on a security from multiple brokers, we use the median value of the prices received to determine fair value. To validate the prices we obtain, to ensure our fair value determinations are consistent with ASC 820, and to ensure that we properly classify these securities in the fair value hierarchy, we evaluate the pricing information we receive taking into account factors such as coupon, prepayment experience, fixed/adjustable rate, coupon index, time to reset and issuing agency, among other factors. Based on these factors, broker prices are compared to prices of similar securities provided by other brokers. If we determine (based on such a comparison and our market knowledge and expertise) that a security is priced significantly differently than similar securities, the broker is contacted and requested to revisit their valuation of the security. If a broker refuses to reconsider its valuation, we will request pricing from another broker and use the median value of the prices received to determine fair value. If we are unable to receive a valuation from another broker, the price received from an independent third party pricing service will be used, if it is determined (based on our market knowledge and expertise) to be more reliable than the broker pricing. However, the fair value reported may not be indicative of the amounts that could be realized in an actual market exchange.

Our derivative assets and derivative liabilities are comprised of swap agreements, in which we pay a fixed rate of interest and receive a variable rate of interest that is based on LIBOR. The fair value of these instruments is reported to us independently from dealers who are large financial institutions and are market makers for these types of instruments. The LIBOR swap rate is observable at commonly quoted intervals over the full term of the swap agreements and therefore is considered a Level 2 item. The fair value of the derivative instruments’ assets and liabilities are the estimated amounts the Company would either receive or pay to terminate these agreements at the reporting date, taking into account current interest rates and the Company’s credit worthiness. For more information on our swap agreements, see Note 1 and Note 12.

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Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data. This is comprised of financial instruments whose fair value is estimated based on internally developed models or methodologies utilizing significant inputs that are generally less readily observable from objective sources. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we considered the inputs utilized to fair value the Non-Agency MBS to be Level 3. Historically (prior to December 31, 2008), we had received non-binding indications of value from brokers who make markets in Non-Agency MBS and we also observed market activity in our Non-Agency MBS as well as other similar securities. As the market for Non-Agency MBS became more volatile and less liquid, we received fewer indications of value on these securities. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we were unable to get any brokers who made markets in these securities to provide valuation information on our Non-Agency MBS. Instead, we obtained valuations at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 for our Non-Agency MBS from an experienced independent third party pricing service, whose methodologies are based on broker provided pricing information, as well as indirect observation of market activity. Although we continue to monitor market activity for the Non-Agency MBS in our portfolio, as well as for other similar securities, given the lack of trading activity that we are able to observe, we place more weight on the third party pricing service valuations, as they are both independent and specifically determined. As a result of the lack of valuation information from brokers and our own observation of market activity, we determined that the market for our Non-Agency MBS was inactive. We also believe that the valuations obtained from the independent third party pricing service already take into account the illiquidity of the market for Non-Agency MBS and therefore we do not apply our own liquidity discount when determining their fair value. Based on this information, we consider the fair value measurement of the Non-Agency MBS a Level 3 input at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

In determining the appropriate levels, we perform a detailed analysis of the assets and liabilities that are subject to ASC 820-10. At each reporting period, all assets and liabilities for which the fair value measurement is based on significant unobservable inputs are classified as Level 3.

At March 31, 2012, fair value measurements were as follows (in thousands):

	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Agency MBS(1)	$	0	$	9,038,531	$	0	$	9,038,531
Non-Agency MBS(2)	$	0	$	0	$	1,008	$	1,008
Derivative instruments(3)	$	0	$	1,164	$	0	$	1,164
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments(3)	$	0	$	91,870	$	0	$	91,870

(1) For more detail about the fair value of our Agency MBS by agency and type of security, see Note 3.

(2) For more detail about the fair value of our Non-Agency MBS, see Note 3.

(3) Derivative instruments are hedging instruments under ASC 815-10. For more detail about our derivative instruments, see Notes 1 and 12.

Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, interest receivable, repurchase agreements and interest payable are reflected in our unaudited financial statements at their costs, which approximate their fair value because of the nature and short term of these instruments.

Junior subordinated notes are variable-rate debt and, as we believe the spread would be consistent with the expectations of market participants as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the carrying value approximates fair value.

A reconciliation of the Level 3 Non-Agency MBS fair value measurements is as follows (in thousands):

	Amount
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	1,585
Principal paydowns		(623	)
Recoveries		623
Decrease in unrealized gains		(577	)
Balance at March 31, 2012	$	1,008

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NOTE 7. INCOME TAXES

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT and to comply with the provisions of the Code with respect thereto. Accordingly, we will not be subject to federal or state income taxes to the extent that our distributions to stockholders satisfy the REIT requirements and certain asset, gross income and stock ownership tests are met. We believe we currently meet all REIT requirements regarding the ownership of our common stock and the distribution of our taxable net income. Therefore, we believe that we continue to qualify as a REIT under the provisions of the Code.

NOTE 8. SERIES B CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

Our Series B Preferred Stock has a par value of $0.01 per share and a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared). The holders of our Series B Preferred Stock must receive dividends at a rate of 6.25% per year on the $25.00 liquidation preference before holders of our common stock are entitled to receive any dividends. Our Series B Preferred Stock is senior to our common stock and on parity with our 8.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, or Series A Preferred Stock, with respect to the payment of distributions and amounts, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. So long as any shares of our Series B Preferred Stock remain outstanding, we will not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of our Series B Preferred Stock outstanding at the time, authorize or create, or increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of capital stock ranking senior to our Series B Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Our Series B Preferred Stock has no maturity date, is not redeemable and is convertible at the then-current conversion rate into shares of our common stock per $25.00 liquidation preference. The conversion rate is adjusted in any fiscal quarter in which the cash dividends paid to common stockholders results in an annualized common stock dividend yield that is greater than 6.25%. The conversion ratio is also subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain specific events such as a change in control. Our Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of our common stock at the option of the holder(s) of Series B Preferred Stock at any time at the then-prevailing conversion rate. On or after January 25, 2012, we may, at our option, under certain circumstances, convert each share of Series B Preferred Stock into a number of shares of our common stock at the then-prevailing conversion rate. We may exercise this conversion option only if our common stock price equals or exceeds 130% of the then-prevailing conversion price of our Series B Preferred Stock for at least twenty (20) trading days in a period of thirty (30) consecutive trading days (including the last trading day of such period) ending on the trading day immediately prior to our issuance of a press release announcing the exercise of the conversion option. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we have not, at our option, converted any shares of Series B Preferred Stock. Our Series B Preferred Stock contains certain fundamental change provisions that allow the holder to redeem our Series B Preferred Stock for cash if certain events occur, such as a change in control. Our Series B Preferred Stock generally does not have voting rights, except if dividends on our Series B Preferred Stock are in arrears for six or more quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive). Under such circumstances, the holders of Series B Preferred Stock, together with the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, would be entitled to elect two additional directors to our board of directors to serve until all unpaid dividends have been paid or declared and set aside for payment. In addition, certain material and adverse changes to the terms of our Series B Preferred Stock may not be taken without the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock and Series A Preferred Stock voting together as a single class. Through March 31, 2012, we have declared and set aside for payment the required dividends for our Series B Preferred Stock.

NOTE 9. PUBLIC OFFERINGS AND CAPITAL STOCK

At March 31, 2012, our authorized capital included 200,000,000 shares of common stock, of which 136,072,545 shares were issued and outstanding.

At March 31, 2012, our authorized capital included 20,000,000 shares of $0.01 par value preferred stock, of which 5,150,000 shares had been designated 8.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock (liquidation preference $25.00 per share) and 3,150,000 shares had been designated 6.25% Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (liquidation preference $25.00 per share). The undesignated shares of preferred stock may be issued in one or more classes or series, with such distinctive designations, rights and preferences as determined by our board of directors. At March 31, 2012, there were 1,875,500 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding and 1,151,560 shares of Series B Preferred Stock issued and outstanding.

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On May 27, 2011, we entered into a Controlled Equity Offering Sales Agreement, or the 2011 Sales Agreement, with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., or Cantor, to sell up to 20,000,000 shares of our common stock, 1,000,000 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock and 1,000,000 shares of our Series B Preferred Stock. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we did not sell any shares of common stock, our Series A Preferred Stock or our Series B Preferred Stock under the 2011 Sales Agreement. At March 31, 2012, there were 19,409,400 shares of common stock, 1,000,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and 960,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, respectively, available for sale and issuance under the 2011 Sales Agreement.

Our Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan allows stockholders and non-stockholders to purchase shares of our common stock and to reinvest dividends therefrom to acquire additional shares of our common stock. On December 28, 2009, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC, offering up to 20,000,000 shares of our common stock for our 2009 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, or the 2009 Plan. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we issued an aggregate of 1,957,318 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $6.40 per share under the 2009 Plan, resulting in proceeds to us of approximately $12.526 million. On March 14, 2012, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC, offering up to 27,000,000 shares of our common stock for our 2012 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, or the 2012 Plan. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we did not issue any shares of common stock under the 2012 Plan. Effective March 31, 2012, the 2009 Plan was terminated and all subsequent issuances of shares of common stock will be under the 2012 Plan.

On December 28, 2009, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC, and on February 26, 2010 we filed a pre-effective amendment thereto with the SEC, offering up to $600 million of our capital stock. The registration statement was declared effective on March 26, 2010. At March 31, 2012, approximately $547.5 million of our capital stock was available for issuance under the registration statement.

On November 7, 2005, we filed a registration statement on Form S-8 with the SEC to register an aggregate of up to 3,500,000 shares of our common stock to be issued pursuant to the Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2004 Equity Compensation Plan, or the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan. To date, we have issued 2,820,000 shares of common stock under the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan. This amount includes 917,000 shares of unexercised stock options and restricted stock.

NOTE 10. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management Agreement and Externalization

At our annual stockholders meeting on May 25, 2011, our stockholders approved the entry by us into a management agreement, or the Management Agreement, between us and Anworth Management, LLC, or the Manager. We entered into the Management Agreement effective as of December 31, 2011, pursuant to which our day-to-day operations are now being conducted by the Manager. The Manager is supervised and directed by our board of directors and is responsible for (i) the selection, purchase and sale of our investment portfolio; (ii) our financing and hedging activities; and (iii) providing us with management services. The Manager will also perform such other services and activities relating to our assets and operations as may be appropriate. In exchange for these services, the Manager receives a management fee paid monthly in arrears in an amount equal to one-twelfth of 1.20% of our Equity (as defined in the Management Agreement).

On the effective date of the Management Agreement, the employment agreements with our executives terminated, our employees became employees of the Manager, and we took such other actions as we believed were reasonably necessary to implement the Management Agreement and the externalization of our management function, or the Externalization.

A trust controlled by Lloyd McAdams, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Heather U. Baines, our Executive Vice President, beneficially owns 50% of the outstanding membership interests in the Manager; Joseph E. McAdams, our Chief Investment Officer, beneficially owns 45% of the outstanding membership interests; and Thad M. Brown, our Chief Financial Officer, owns 5% of the outstanding membership interests.

Nothing in the Management Agreement prevents the Manager or any of its affiliates from engaging in other businesses or from rendering services of any kind to any other person or entity, including investment in or advisory service to others investing in any type of real estate investment, other than advising other REITs that invest more than 75% of their assets in U.S. agency residential mortgage-backed securities. Directors, officers and employees of the Manager may serve as our directors and officers.

The terms of the Management Agreement, including the management fee payable, were not negotiated on an arm’s-length basis, and its terms may not be as favorable to us as if it was negotiated with an unaffiliated party. The management fee that we pay to the Manager is not tied to our performance. The management fee is paid regardless of our performance and it may not provide sufficient incentive to the Manager to seek to achieve risk-adjusted returns for our investment portfolio.

The Management Agreement may only be terminated without cause, as defined in the agreement, after the completion of its initial term on December 31, 2013, or the expiration of each annual renewal term. We are required to provide 180-days prior notice of non-renewal of the Management Agreement and must pay a termination fee on the last day of the initial term or any automatic renewal term, equal to three times the average annual management fee earned by the Manger during the prior 24-month period immediately preceding the most recently completed month prior to the effective date of termination. We may only not renew the Management Agreement with or without cause with the consent of the majority of our independent directors. These provisions make it difficult to terminate the Management Agreement and increase the effective cost to us of not renewing the Management Agreement.

Certain of our officers were previously granted restricted stock and other equity awards (see Note 11), including dividend equivalent rights, in connection with their service to us, and certain of our officers had agreements under which they would receive payments if the Company is subject to a change in control (discussed later in this Note 10). In connection with the Externalization, certain of the agreements under which our officers were granted equity awards and would be paid payments in the event of a change in control were modified so that such agreements will continue with respect to our officers and employees after they became officers and employees of the Manager. In addition, as officers of our Company and employees of the Manager, they will continue to be eligible to receive equity incentive awards under equity incentive plans in effect now or in the future.

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Change in Control and Arbitration Agreements

On June 27, 2006, we entered into Change in Control and Arbitration Agreements with each of Mr. Thad M. Brown, our Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Charles J. Siegel, our Senior Vice President-Finance, Ms. Bistra Pashamova, our Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager, and Mr. Evangelos Karagiannis, our Vice President and Portfolio Manager, as well as certain of our other officers. In connection with the Externalization, we amended these agreements to provide that should a change in control (as defined in the amended agreements) occur, each of these officers will receive certain severance and other benefits valued as of December 31, 2011. Under the amended agreements, in the event that a change in control occurs, each of these officers will receive a lump sum payment equal to (i) 12 months annual base salary in effect on December 31, 2011, plus (ii) the average annual incentive compensation received for the two complete fiscal years prior December 31, 2011, plus (iii) the average annual bonus received for the two complete fiscal years prior to December 31, 2011, as well as other benefits. The amended Change in Control and Arbitration Agreements also provide for accelerated vesting of equity awards granted to these officers upon a change in control.

Agreements with Pacific Income Advisers, Inc.

On June 13, 2002, we entered into a sublease agreement with Pacific Income Advisers, Inc., or PIA, a company owned by trusts controlled by certain of our officers. Under the sublease agreement, as amended on July 8, 2003, we lease, on a pass-through basis, 5,500 square feet of office space from PIA and pay rent at an annual rate equal to PIA’s obligation, currently $57.46 per square foot. The sublease agreement runs through June 30, 2012 unless earlier terminated pursuant to the master lease. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we paid $85 thousand in rent and other operating expenses to PIA under the sublease agreement, which is included in “Other expenses” on the unaudited statements of income. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, we paid $83 thousand in rent and related expenses to PIA under the sublease agreement.

On January 26, 2012, we entered into a sublease agreement with PIA that becomes effective on July 1, 2012. Under the new sublease agreement, we will lease, on a pass-through basis, 7,300 square feet of office space from PIA at the same location and pay rent at an annual rate equal to PIA’s obligation. The base monthly rental for us will be $35,367.80, which will be increased by 3% per annum beginning on July 1, 2013. The new sublease agreement runs through June 30, 2022 unless earlier terminated pursuant to the master lease.

At March 31, 2012, the future minimum lease commitment is as follows (in whole dollars):

Year	2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		Thereafter		Total Commitment
Commitment	$	291,213	$	430,766	$	443,669	$	456,987	$	470,720	$	2,851,003	$	4,944,358

On July 25, 2008, we entered into an administrative services agreement with PIA, which was amended and restated on August 20, 2010. Under this agreement, PIA provides administrative services and equipment to us including human resources, operational support and information technology, and we pay an annual fee of 5 basis points on the first $225 million of stockholders’ equity and 1.25 basis points thereafter (paid quarterly in arrears) for those services. The administrative services agreement had an initial term of one year and renews for successive one-year terms thereafter unless either party gives notice of termination no less than 30 days before the expiration of the then-current annual term. We may also terminate the administrative services agreement upon 30 days prior written notice for any reason and immediately if there is a material breach by PIA. Included in “Other expenses” on the unaudited statements of income are fees of $51 thousand paid to PIA in connection with this agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2012. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, we paid fees of $48 thousand to PIA in connection with this agreement.

NOTE 11. EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

2004 Equity Compensation Plan

At our May 27, 2004 annual stockholders’ meeting, our stockholders adopted the Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2004 Equity Compensation Plan, or the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan, which amended and restated our 1997 Stock Option and Awards Plan. The 2004 Equity Compensation Plan authorized the grant of stock options and other stock-based awards, as of December 31, 2005, for an aggregate of up to 3,500,000 shares of our registered common stock. The 2004 Equity Compensation Plan authorizes our board of directors, or a committee of our Board, to

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grant incentive stock options, as defined under section 422 of the Code, options not so qualified, restricted stock, dividend equivalent rights, or DERs, phantom shares, stock-based awards that qualify as performance-based awards under Section 162(m) of the Code and other stock-based awards. The exercise price for any option granted under the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the shares of common stock at the time the option is granted. At March 31, 2012, 676,414 shares remained available for future issuance under the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan through any combination of stock options or other awards. The 2004 Equity Compensation Plan does not provide for automatic annual increases in the aggregate share reserve or the number of shares remaining available for grant. We filed a registration statement on Form S-8 on November 7, 2005 to register up to an aggregate of 3,500,000 shares of common stock to be issued pursuant to the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan.

In October 2005, our board of directors approved the grant of an aggregate of 200,780 shares of restricted stock to various officers under the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan. The stock price on the grant date was $7.72. The restricted stock vests 10% per year on each anniversary date for a ten-year period and shall also vest immediately upon the death of the grantee or upon the grantee reaching age 65. Each grantee shall have the right to sell 40% of the restricted stock any time after such shares have vested. The remaining 60% of such vested restricted stock may not be sold until after termination of employment with us. We amortize the restricted stock over the vesting period, which is the lesser of ten years or the remaining number of years to age 65.

In October 2006, our board of directors approved a grant of an aggregate of 197,362 shares of performance-based restricted stock to various officers under the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan. Such grant was made effective on October 18, 2006. The closing stock price on the effective date of the grant was $9.12. The shares vest in equal annual installments over a three-year period provided that the annually compounded rate of return on our common stock, including dividends, exceeds 12% measured on an annual basis as of the anniversary date of the grant. If the annually compounded rate of return does not exceed 12%, then the shares will vest on the anniversary date thereafter when the annually compounded rate of return exceeds 12%. If the annually compounded rate of return does not exceed 12% within ten years after the effective date of the grant, then the shares will be forfeited. The shares will fully vest within the ten-year period upon the death of a grantee. Upon vesting, each grantee shall have the right to sell 40% of the restricted stock any time after such shares have vested. The remaining 60% of such vested restricted stock may not be sold, transferred or pledged until after termination of employment with us or upon the tenth anniversary of the effective date.

We recognize the expense related to restricted stock over the ten-year vesting period. During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we expensed approximately $51 thousand and $51 thousand, respectively, related to these restricted stock grants.

At our May 24, 2007 annual meeting of stockholders, our stockholders adopted the Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2007 Dividend Equivalent Rights Plan, or the 2007 Dividend Equivalent Rights Plan. A dividend equivalent right, or DER, is a right to receive amounts equal in value to the dividend distributions paid on a share of our common stock. DERs are paid in either cash or shares of our common stock, whichever is specified by our Compensation Committee at the time of grant, at such times as dividends are paid on shares of our common stock during the period between the date a DER is issued and the date the DER expires or earlier terminates. The Compensation Committee may impose such other conditions to the grant of DERs as it may deem appropriate. The maximum term for DERs under the 2007 Dividend Equivalent Rights Plan is ten years from the date of grant. Prior to January 1, 2012, an aggregate of 582,000 DERs were issued to our officers under the 2007 Dividend Equivalent Rights Plan. These DERs are not attached to any stock and only have the right to receive the same cash distribution per common share distributed to our common stockholders during the term of the grant. All of these grants have a five-year term from the date of the grant. During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we paid or accrued $116 thousand and $140 thousand, respectively, related to DERs granted.

Certain of our officers have previously been granted restricted stock and other equity incentive awards, including dividend equivalent rights, in connection with their service to us. In connection with the Externalization, certain of the agreements under which our officers have been granted equity awards were modified so that such agreements will continue with respect to our officers after they became officers and employees of the Manager. In addition, as officers of the Company and employees of the Manager, they will continue to be eligible to receive equity incentive awards under equity incentive plans in effect now or in the future. In accordance with the Externalization effective as of December 31, 2011, the DERs previously granted to all of our officers, with the exception of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, were terminated under the 2007 Dividend Equivalent Rights Plan and were reissued under the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan with the same amounts, terms and conditions.

NOTE 12. HEDGING INSTRUMENTS

At March 31, 2012, we were a counterparty to interest rate swap agreements, which are derivative instruments as defined by ASC 815-10, with an aggregate notional amount of $3.08 billion and a weighted average maturity of 2.9 years. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, two swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $150 million matured. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we entered into four new swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $200 million and terms of up to five years. We utilize swap agreements to manage interest rate risk relating to our repurchase

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agreements (the hedged item) and do not anticipate entering into derivative transactions for speculative or trading purposes. In accordance with the swap agreements, we will pay a fixed-rate of interest during the term of the swap agreements (ranging from 0.99625% to 5.4940%) and receive a payment that varies with the three-month LIBOR rate.

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, our swap agreements had the following notional amounts (in thousands), weighted average interest rates and remaining terms (in months):

	March 31, 2012							December 31, 2011
	Notional Amount		Weighted Average Interest Rate			Remaining Term in Months		Notional Amount		Weighted Average Interest Rate			Remaining Term in Months
Less than 12 months	$	695,000		3.41	%		7	$	520,000		3.92	%		5
1 year to 2 years		200,000		2.85			20		375,000		3.32			14
2 years to 3 years		410,000		2.00			30		410,000		2.07			28
3 years to 4 years		730,000		2.06			42		680,000		2.07			42
Over 4 years		1,045,000		1.81			53		1,045,000		1.98			54
	$	3,080,000		2.32	%		35	$	3,030,000		2.51	%		34

Swap Agreements by Counterparty

	March 31, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(in thousands)
Deutsche Bank Securities	$	700,000	$	700,000
JPMorgan Securities		500,000		500,000
RBS Greenwich Capital		485,000		485,000
Nomura Securities International		450,000		450,000
Credit Suisse		345,000		395,000
Citigroup		200,000		200,000
Morgan Stanley		150,000		150,000
Bank of New York		100,000		100,000
ING Financial		100,000		0
LBBW Securities, LLC		50,000		50,000
	$	3,080,000	$	3,030,000

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, there was a decrease in unrealized losses of approximately $6.2 million, from approximately $97 million in unrealized losses at December 31, 2011 to $90.9 million in unrealized losses, on our swap agreements included in “Other comprehensive income” (this decrease in unrealized losses consisted of unrealized losses on cash flow hedges of $7.8 million and a reclassification adjustment for interest expense included in net income of $14 million).

At March 31, 2012, we had asset derivatives and liability derivatives (shown on our unaudited balance sheets) of approximately $1.2 million and approximately $91.9 million, respectively.

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, there was no gain or loss recognized in earnings due to hedge ineffectiveness. We have determined that our hedges are still considered “highly effective.” There were no components of the derivative instruments’ gain or loss excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. The maximum length of our swap agreements is five years. We do not anticipate any discontinuance of the swap agreements and thus do not expect to recognize any gain or loss into earnings because of this. On September 18, 2008, we terminated all of our interest rate swap agreements with Lehman Brothers Special Finance, or LBSF, as the counterparty. The notional balance of these swap agreements was $240 million. The fair value of these swap agreements at termination was approximately $(1.5) million, reflecting a realized loss. This loss is being amortized into interest expense over the remaining term of the related hedged borrowings. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the amount amortized into interest expense was approximately $65 thousand and the remaining amount at March 31, 2012 to be amortized was approximately $184 thousand. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the amount amortized into interest expense was approximately $64 thousand.

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For more information on our accounting policies, the objectives and risk exposures relating to derivatives and hedging agreements, see the section on “Derivative Financial Instruments” in Note 1. For more information on the fair value of our swap agreements, see Note 6.

NOTE 13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Lease Commitment and Administrative Services Commitment—We sublease office space and use administrative services from PIA, as more fully described in Note 10.

NOTE 14. OTHER EXPENSES

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2012		2011
	(in thousands)
Legal and accounting fees	$	164	$	125
Printing and stockholder communications		35		22
Directors and Officers insurance		108		110
DERs expense(1)		116		0
Amortization of restricted stock(2)		51		0
Software implementation and maintenance		67		65
Administrative service fees		51		48
Rent		85		83
Stock exchange and filing fees		58		59
Custodian fees		33		33
Sarbanes-Oxley consulting fees		28		0
Board of directors fees and expenses		98		80
Securities data services		30		27
Other		100		71
Total of other expenses:	$	1,024	$	723

(1) For the three months ended March 31, 2011, “DERs expense” of $140 thousand was included in “Compensation expense”.

(2) For the three months ended March 31, 2011, “Amortization of restricted stock” of $51 thousand was included in “Compensation expense”.

NOTE 15. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

When we pay any cash dividend during any quarterly fiscal period to all or substantially all of our common stockholders in an amount that results in an annualized common stock dividend yield that is greater than 6.25% (the dividend yield on our Series B Preferred Stock), the conversion rate on our Series B Preferred Stock is adjusted based on a formula specified in the Articles Supplementary Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of the Series B Preferred Stock. This conversion rate increased on April 11, 2012 from 3.6714 shares of our common stock to 3.7329 shares of our common stock using the following information: (1) the average of the closing price of our common stock for the ten (10) consecutive trading day period was $6.59 and (2) the annualized common stock dividend yield was 12.7389%.

From April 1, 2012 through May 7, 2012, we entered into one new swap agreement with a notional amount of $50 million and terms of up to five years.

From April 1, 2012 through May 7, 2012, we issued an aggregate of 1,118,687 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $6.53 per share under the 2012 Plan, resulting in proceeds to us of approximately $7.3 million.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

As used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” and “Anworth” refer to Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation.

You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with the unaudited financial statements and related notes thereto contained in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The information contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is not a complete description of our business or the risks associated with an investment in our stock. We urge you to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our other reports filed with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

Forward Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the 1933 Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, as such, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are those that predict or describe future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. You can generally identify forward-looking statements as statements containing the words “may,” “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “assume,” or other similar expressions. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are subject to assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond our control. Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, some of which are listed under the section “Risk Factors,” Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, may be forward-looking: changes in interest rates and the market value of our mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”); risks associated with investing in mortgage assets; changes in the yield curve; the availability of MBS for purchase; changes in the prepayment rates on the mortgage loans securing our MBS; our ability to borrow to finance our assets and, if available, the terms of any financing; implementation of or changes in government regulations or programs affecting our business; changes in business conditions and the general economy, including the consequences of actions by the U.S. government and other foreign governments to address the global financial crisis; our ability to maintain our qualification as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for federal income tax purposes; our ability to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and our ability to manage our growth. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. New risks and uncertainties arise over time and it is not possible to predict those events or how they may affect us. Except as required by law, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

General

The Company

We were formed in October 1997 and we commenced operations on March 17, 1998. We are in the business of investing primarily in U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities, or Agency MBS, which are obligations guaranteed by the U.S. government, such as Ginnie Mae, or federally sponsored enterprises, such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Our principal business objective is to generate net income for distribution to stockholders based upon the spread between the interest income on our mortgage assets and the costs of borrowing to finance our acquisition of these assets.

We are organized for tax purposes as a real estate investment trust, or REIT. Accordingly, we generally distribute substantially all of our taxable earnings to stockholders without paying federal or state income tax at the corporate level on the distributed earnings. At March 31, 2012, our qualified REIT assets (real estate assets, as defined under the Code, cash and cash items and government securities) were greater than 99% of our total assets, as compared to the Code requirement that at least 75% of our total assets must be qualified REIT assets. Greater than 99% of our 2010 revenue qualified for both the 75% source of income test and the 95% source of income test under the REIT rules. At March 31, 2012, we believe we met all REIT requirements regarding the ownership of our common stock and the distributions of our taxable net income. Therefore, we believe that we continue to qualify as a REIT under the provisions of the Code.

At our annual stockholders meeting held on May 25, 2011 our stockholders approved the entry by us into a management agreement, or the Management Agreement, between us and Anworth Management, LLC, or the Manager. We entered into the Management Agreement effective as of December 31, 2011, pursuant to which our day-to-day operations are now being conducted by the Manager. The Manager is supervised and directed by our board of directors and is responsible for (i) the selection, purchase and sale of our investment

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portfolio; (ii) our financing and hedging activities; and (iii) providing us with management services. The Manager will also perform such other services and activities relating to our assets and operations as may be appropriate. In exchange for these services, the Manager receives a management fee paid monthly in arrears in an amount equal to one-twelfth of 1.20% of our Equity (as defined in the Management Agreement). The term of the Management Agreement expires on December 31, 2013 and will automatically renew for successive one-year renewal terms unless either party elects not to renew. If we terminate the Management Agreement, or elect not to renew without cause, then we will be required to pay a termination fee equal to three times the average annual management fee earned during the prior 24-month period.

Although the U.S. government and other foreign governments have taken various actions (including placing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in conservatorship) intended to protect financial institutions, their respective economies and their respective housing and mortgage markets, we continue to operate under very difficult market conditions. There can be no assurance that these various actions will have a beneficial impact on the global financial markets and, more specifically, the market for the securities we currently own in our portfolio. We cannot predict what, if any, impact these actions or future actions by either the U.S. government or foreign governments could have on our business, results of operations and financial condition. These events may impact the availability of financing generally in the marketplace and also may impact the market value of MBS generally, including the securities we currently own in our portfolio.

In August 2011, Standard & Poor’s downgraded each of U.S. sovereign debt and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from AAA to AA+. We do not know what effect this will ultimately have on the U.S. economy, the value of our securities and the ability of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to satisfy its guarantees of Agency MBS if necessary. A failure by the U.S. government to meet the conditions of the August 2011 debt ceiling agreement or to reduce its budget deficit or a further downgrade of U.S. sovereign debt and government-sponsored agency debt could have a material adverse effect on the U.S economy and on the global economy. These events could have a material adverse effect on our borrowing costs, the availability of financing and the liquidity and valuation of securities in general and particularly the securities in our portfolio.

Our Portfolio

Our operations consist of the following portfolios: agency mortgage-backed securities, or Agency MBS, and non-agency mortgage-backed securities, or Non-Agency MBS. Essentially our entire total portfolio is Agency MBS.

	March 31, 2012
Total assets	$	9.09 billion
Fair value of Agency MBS	$	9.04 billion
Adjustable-rate Agency MBS (less than 1 year reset)		23	%
Adjustable-rate Agency MBS (1-2 year reset)		3	%
Adjustable-rate Agency MBS (2-5 year reset)		54	%
Adjustable-rate Agency MBS (5-7 year reset)		2	%
15-year fixed-rate Agency MBS		13	%
30-year fixed-rate Agency MBS		5	%
		100	%

Stockholders’ equity available to common stockholders at March 31, 2012 was approximately $976 million, or $7.17 per share. The $976 million equals total stockholders’ equity of $1.024 billion less the Series A Preferred Stock liquidating value of approximately $46.9 million and less the difference between the Series B Preferred Stock liquidating value of $28.8 million and the proceeds from its sale of $27.2 million.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared to March 31, 2011

For the three months ended March 31, 2012, our net income was $29.1 million. Our net income available to common stockholders was $27.7 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, based on a weighted average of 139.3 million fully diluted shares outstanding. This includes net income of $29.1 million minus the payment of preferred dividends of $1.5 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, our net income was $31.2 million. Our net income available to common stockholders was $29.7 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, based on a weighted average of 126.2 million fully diluted shares outstanding. This included net income of $31.2 million minus the payment of preferred dividends of $1.5 million.

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Net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 totaled $32.3 million, or 46.8% of gross income, compared to $34.5 million, or 49.9% of gross income, for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Net interest income is comprised of the interest income earned on mortgage investments (net of premium amortization expense) less interest expense from borrowings. Interest income (net of premium amortization expense) for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $53.3 million, compared to $57 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, a decrease of 6.5%, due primarily to an increase in premium amortization of approximately $3.6 million. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $20.9 million, compared to $22.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, a decrease of 6.74%, which resulted primarily from a decline in weighted average interest rates after the effect of the swap agreements (from 1.38% at March 31, 2011 to 1.08% at March 31, 2012) and partially offset by an increase in the average borrowings outstanding, from $6.50 billion at March 31, 2011 to $7.63 billion at March 31, 2012 and by the increase in interest expense resulting from one additional day during the three months ended March 31, 2012 (because of the leap year) versus the three months ended March 31, 2011.

The results of our operations are affected by a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, and primarily depend on, among other things, the level of our net interest income, the market value of our MBS, the supply of, and demand for, MBS in the marketplace, and the terms and availability of financing. Our net interest income varies primarily as a result of changes in interest rates, the slope of the yield curve (the differential between long-term and short-term interest rates), borrowing costs (our interest expense) and prepayment speeds on our MBS portfolios, the behavior of which involves various risks and uncertainties. Interest rates and prepayment speeds, as measured by the constant prepayment rate, or CPR, vary according to the type of investment, conditions in the financial markets, competition and other factors, none of which can be predicted with any certainty. With respect to our business operations, increases in interest rates, in general, may, over time, cause: (i) the interest expense associated with our borrowings, which are primarily comprised of repurchase agreements, to increase; (ii) the value of our MBS portfolios and, correspondingly, our stockholders’ equity to decline; (iii) coupons on our MBS to reset, although on a delayed basis, to higher interest rates; (iv) prepayments on our MBS portfolios to slow, thereby slowing the amortization of our MBS purchase premiums; and (v) the value of our interest rate swap agreements and, correspondingly, our stockholders’ equity to increase. Conversely, decreases in interest rates, in general, may, over time, cause: (i) prepayments on our MBS portfolios to increase, thereby accelerating the amortization of our MBS purchase premiums; (ii) the interest expense associated with our borrowings to decrease; (iii) the value of our MBS portfolios and, correspondingly, our stockholders’ equity to increase; (iv) the value of our interest rate swap agreements and, correspondingly, our stockholders’ equity to decrease; and (v) coupons on our MBS to reset, although on a delayed basis, to lower interest rates. In addition, our borrowing costs and credit lines are further affected by the type of collateral pledged and general conditions in the credit markets.

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, premium amortization expense increased $3.6 million, or 29.8%, from $12.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2011 to $15.8 million, due primarily to the increase in the amortization of unearned premium on securities acquired in 2011 and 2012 at higher premiums.

The following table shows the approximate CPR of our Agency MBS and Non-Agency MBS for each of the following quarters:

Portfolio	First Quarter 2012			First Quarter 2011
Agency MBS and Non-Agency MBS		22	%		21	%

During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, there was no gain or loss recognized in earnings due to hedge ineffectiveness. We have determined that our hedges are still considered “highly effective.” There were no components of the derivative instruments’ gain or loss excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, there were recoveries of approximately $623 thousand related to a previous write-down on our Non-Agency MBS as compared to recoveries of approximately $218 thousand related to a previous write-down on our Non-Agency MBS for the three months ended March 31, 2011.

Total expenses were $3.85 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $3.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, we incurred management fees of approximately $2.8 million. The management fee is based on a percentage of equity. From March 31, 2011 to March 31, 2012, we had raised capital of approximately $82 million. This had the effect of an increase in the management fee of approximately $246 thousand (see Note 10 to the accompanying unaudited financial statements). Due to the Externalization, we no longer incur compensation costs compared with compensation and related costs of approximately $2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. “Other expenses” increased $301 thousand (as detailed in Note 14 to the accompanying unaudited financial statements).

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Financial Condition

Agency MBS Portfolio

At March 31, 2012, we held agency mortgage assets which had an amortized cost of approximately $8.82 billion, consisting primarily of approximately $7.23 billion of adjustable-rate Agency MBS, approximately $1.58 billion of fixed-rate Agency MBS and approximately $3 million of floating-rate CMOs. This amount represents an approximately 3.0% increase from the $8.57 billion held at December 31, 2011. Of the adjustable-rate Agency MBS owned by us, 28% were adjustable-rate pass-through certificates which had coupons that reset within one year. The remaining 72% consisted of hybrid adjustable-rate Agency MBS which had coupons that will reset between one year and seven years. Hybrid adjustable-rate Agency MBS have an initial interest rate that is fixed for a certain period, usually three to seven years, and thereafter adjust annually for the remainder of the term of the asset.

The following table presents a schedule of the fair value of our Agency MBS owned at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, classified by type of issuer (dollar amounts in thousands):

	March 31, 2012					December 31, 2011
Agency	Fair Value		Portfolio Percentage			Fair Value		Portfolio Percentage
Fannie Mae (FNM)	$	6,282,046		69.5	%	$	6,008,951		68.6	%
Freddie Mac (FHLMC)		2,739,697		30.3			2,735,842		31.2
Ginnie Mae (GNMA)		16,788		0.2			17,101		0.2
Total Agency MBS:	$	9,038,531		100.0	%	$	8,761,894		100.0	%

The following table classifies the fair value of our Agency MBS owned at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 by type of interest rate index (dollar amounts in thousands):

	March 31, 2012					December 31, 2011
Index	Fair Value		Portfolio Percentage			Fair Value		Portfolio Percentage
One-month LIBOR	$	2,895		0.0	%	$	3,130		0.0	%
Six-month LIBOR		71,596		0.8			73,345		0.8
One-year LIBOR		6,981,156		77.3			6,699,300		76.5
Six-month certificate of deposit		1,170		0.0			1,177		0.0
Six-month constant maturity treasury		355		0.0			360		0.0
One-year constant maturity treasury		318,939		3.5			329,685		3.8
Cost of Funds Index		24,374		0.3			24,968		0.3
15-year fixed-rate		1,163,784		12.9			1,121,500		12.8
30-year fixed-rate		474,262		5.2			508,429		5.8
Total Agency MBS:	$	9,038,531		100.0	%	$	8,761,894		100.0	%

The fair values indicated do not include interest earned but not yet paid. With respect to our hybrid adjustable-rate Agency MBS, the fair value of these securities appears on the line associated with the index based on which the security will eventually reset once the initial fixed interest rate period has expired. The fair value of our Agency MBS is reported to us independently from dealers who are major financial institutions and are considered to be market makers for these types of instruments. For more detail on the fair value of our Agency MBS, see Note 6 to the accompanying unaudited financial statements.

The weighted average coupons and average amortized costs of our Agency MBS at March 31, 2012, December 31, 2011, September 30, 2011, and June 30, 2011 were as follows:

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	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011			September 30, 2011			June 30, 2011
Weighted Average Coupon:
Adjustable-rate Agency MBS		3.22	%		3.27	%		3.36	%		3.63	%
Hybrid adjustable-rate Agency MBS		3.09			3.22			3.40			3.53
15-year fixed-rate Agency MBS		3.65			3.66			3.68			3.71
30-year fixed-rate Agency MBS		5.55			5.55			5.54			5.54
CMOs		1.05			1.09			1.02			0.99
Total Agency MBS:		3.31	%		3.42	%		3.56	%		3.71	%
Average Amortized Cost:
Adjustable-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate Agency MBS		102.86	%		102.83	%		102.78	%		102.66	%
15-year fixed-rate Agency MBS		103.36			103.29			103.22			103.13
30-year fixed-rate Agency MBS		100.83			100.82			102.59			100.77
Total Agency MBS:		102.82	%		102.78	%		102.72	%		102.59	%
Current yield (weighted average coupon divided by average amortized cost)		3.22	%		3.33	%		3.47	%		3.62	%

The following information pertains to our repurchase agreement borrowings at March 31, 2012, December 31, 2011, September 30, 2011 and June 30, 2011:

	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011			September 30, 2011			June 30, 2011
	(dollar amounts in thousands)
Repurchase agreements outstanding	$	7,600,000		$	7,595,000		$	7,435,000		$	7,245,000
Average repurchase agreements outstanding		7,629,890			7,509,746			7,296,587			7,078,743
Average interest rate on outstanding repurchase agreements		0.33	%		0.36	%		0.26	%		0.23	%
Average days to maturity		34 days			38 days			38 days			38 days
Average interest rate on outstanding repurchase agreements after adjusting for interest rate swap transactions		1.05	%		1.18	%		1.15	%		1.13	%
Weighted average term to next rate adjustment after adjusting for interest rate swap transactions		445 days			436 days			452 days			467 days
Weighted average haircuts(1)		4.81	%		4.82	%		4.82	%		4.85	%

(1) A haircut represents the reduction of value to securities used as collateral in a lending arrangement so as to provide the lender with a cushion in case the market value of the securities decreases.

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the unamortized net premium paid for our Agency MBS was approximately $240.1 million and $231.5 million, respectively.

At March 31, 2012, the current yield declined to 3.22% from 3.33 % at December 31, 2011. This was due primarily to the decline in the weighted average coupon. As portions of our portfolio reset, and as older assets mature or payoff and are replaced with newer lower-yielding assets, the weighted average coupon will continue to decline. As noted in the trend above, the weighted average coupon has declined by an average of approximately 13 basis points per quarter. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the weighted average coupon for our total Agency MBS declined by 11 basis points. One of the factors that impact the reported yield on our MBS portfolio is the actual prepayment rate on the underlying mortgages. We analyze our MBS and the extent to which prepayments impact the yield. When the rate of prepayments exceeds expectations, we amortize the premiums paid on mortgage assets over a shorter time period, resulting in a reduced yield to maturity on our mortgage assets. Conversely, if actual prepayments are less than the assumed CPR, the premium would be amortized over a longer time period, resulting in a higher yield to maturity.

The average interest rate on outstanding repurchase agreements after adjusting for interest rate swap transactions declined from 1.18% at December 31, 2011 to 1.05% at March 31, 2012. Although a small portion of the decline was due to a decrease in the average interest rate of repurchase agreements outstanding, from 0.36% at December 31, 2011 to 0.33% at March 31, 2012, the majority of the decline was due to a decrease in interest rates we paid on our interest rate swap agreements. Please see the discussion on this in the section entitled “Hedging” which follows below.

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Non-Agency MBS Portfolio

Non-Agency MBS are securities not issued by the government or government-sponsored enterprises and that are secured primarily by first-lien residential mortgage loans. At March 31, 2012, our Non-Agency MBS portfolio consisted of a fair value of $1.0 million of floating-rate CMOs with an average coupon of 0.49%, which were acquired at par value. At December 31, 2011, our Non-Agency MBS portfolio consisted of a fair value of $1.6 million of floating-rate CMOs with an average coupon of 0.54%, which were acquired at par value. The decrease was due primarily to a decrease in an unrealized gain of approximately $577 thousand.

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the amortized cost of our Non-Agency MBS was zero and zero, respectively.

At March 31, 2012, two securities representing the principal balance of our Non-Agency MBS portfolio were rated C by Moody’s Investor Service and rated D by Standard & Poor’s.

We received valuations at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 for the Non-Agency MBS from an independent third party pricing service whose methodologies are based on broker-provided pricing as well as indirect observation of market activity and we consider the fair value measurement a Level 3 input at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. For more detail on the fair value of our Non-Agency MBS, see Note 6 to the accompanying unaudited financial statements.

At March 31, 2012, the fair value of our Non-Agency MBS portfolio was approximately $1.0 million, the principal balance was approximately $16 million and the original principal balance was approximately $60 million. At December 31, 2011, the fair value of our Non-Agency MBS portfolio was approximately $1.6 million, the principal balance was approximately $22.3 million and the original principal balance was approximately $60 million.

At March 31, 2012, and in connection with the subordination levels of Non-Agency MBS securitizations, the average securitization principal subordinate to Anworth-owned tranches was 0.13%, the average securitization principal of Anworth-owned tranches was 10.35% and the average securitization principal senior to Anworth-owned trances was 89.52%. At December 31, 2011, the average securitization principal subordinate to Anworth-owned tranches was 0.12%, the average securitization principal of Anworth-owned tranches was 12.21% and the average securitization principal senior to Anworth-owned trances was 87.67%.

Hedging

We periodically enter into derivative transactions, in the form of forward purchase commitments and interest rate swap agreements, which are intended to hedge our exposure to rising interest rates on funds borrowed to finance our investments in securities. We designate interest rate swap transactions as cash flow hedges. We also periodically enter into derivative transactions, in the form of forward purchase commitments, which are not designated as hedges. To the extent that we enter into hedging transactions to reduce our interest rate risk on indebtedness incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets, any income or gain from the disposition of those hedging transactions should be qualifying income under the REIT rules for purposes of the 95% gross income test and 75% gross income test. To qualify for this exclusion, the hedging transaction must be clearly identified as such before the close of the day on which it was acquired, originated or entered into. The transaction also must hedge indebtedness incurred or to be incurred by us to acquire or carry real estate assets.

As part of our asset/liability management policy, we may enter into hedging agreements such as interest rate caps, floors or swaps. These agreements are entered into to try to reduce interest rate risk and are designed to provide us with income and capital appreciation in the event of certain changes in interest rates. We review the need for hedging agreements on a regular basis consistent with our capital investment policy. Swap agreements are derivative instruments as defined by ASC 815-10. We do not anticipate entering into derivative transactions for speculative or trading purposes. In accordance with the swap agreements, we pay a fixed rate of interest during the term of the swap agreements and receive a payment that varies with the three-month LIBOR rate.

The following table pertains to our interest rate swap agreements at March 31, 2012, December 31, 2011, September 30, 2011 and June 30, 2011, respectively:

	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011			September 30, 2011			June 30, 2011
Aggregate notional amount of swap agreements	$	3.08 billion		$	3.03 billion		$	2.93 billion		$	2.78 billion
Average maturity of swap agreements		2.9 years			2.9 years			3.0 years			3.2 years
Weighted average interest rate paid on swap agreements		2.32	%		2.51	%		2.55	%		2.62	%
Swap agreements as a percentage of outstanding repurchase agreements		41	%		40	%		40	%		38	%

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The decrease in the weighted average interest rate that we paid on our swap agreements during the three months ended March 31, 2012 was due primarily to the maturity of swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $150 million with a weighted average interest rate of 4.72% and the addition of swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $200 million with a weighted average interest rate of 1.22%. At March 31, 2012, there were unrealized losses of approximately $90.9 million on our swap agreements.

For more information on the amounts, policies, objectives and other qualitative data on our hedge agreements, see Notes 1, 6 and 12 to the accompanying unaudited financial statements.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Agency MBS and Non-Agency MBS Portfolios

Our primary source of funds consists of repurchase agreements which totaled approximately $7.6 billion at March 31, 2012. As collateral for these repurchase agreements, we pledged approximately $8.09 billion in Agency MBS. Our other significant source of funds for the three months ended March 31, 2012 consisted of payments of principal from our Agency MBS portfolio in the amount of approximately $560 million.

For the three months ended March 31, 2012, there was a net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of approximately $3.7 million. This consisted of the following components:

• Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was approximately $275.3 million. This is comprised of net income of $29.1 million and adding back the following non-cash items: the amortization of premiums and discounts of approximately $15.8 million and the amortization of restricted stock of $70 thousand, partially offset by recoveries on Non-Agency MBS of approximately $623 thousand. Net cash provided by operating activities also included an increase in accrued expenses of approximately $235 million (due primarily to an increase in payables for securities purchased), a decrease in interest receivable of approximately $630 thousand, partially offset by an increase in prepaid expenses and other assets of approximately $1.4 million, and a decrease in accrued interest payable of approximately $3.4 million;

• Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was approximately $267 million, which consisted of purchases of Agency MBS of approximately $827 million, partially offset by $560 million from principal payments on Agency MBS and payments on Non-Agency MBS of approximately $623 thousand; and

• Net cash used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was approximately $12 million. This consisted of borrowings on repurchase agreements of approximately $9.7 billion, partially offset by repayments on repurchase agreements of approximately $9.695 billion. This also included net proceeds from common stock issued of approximately $12.5 million, less dividends paid of $28.1 million on common stock and dividends paid of approximately $1.5 million on preferred stock.

Relative to our Agency MBS portfolio at March 31, 2012, all of our repurchase agreements were fixed-rate term repurchase agreements with original maturities ranging from 20 days to three months. At March 31, 2012, we had borrowed funds under repurchase agreements with 22 different financial institutions. As the repurchase agreements mature, we enter into new repurchase agreements to take their place. Because we borrow money based on the fair value of our MBS and because increases in short-term interest rates or increasing market concern about the liquidity or value of our MBS can negatively impact the valuation of MBS, our borrowing ability could be reduced and lenders may initiate margin calls in the event short-term interest rates increase or the value of our MBS declines for other reasons. Typically, most margin calls by lenders arise each month due to prepayments. The value of the MBS pledged is reduced by an amount equal to any prepaid principal in order to reestablish the required ratio of borrowing to collateral value. The pledging of additional collateral is usually done on the same day or the following day. We had adequate cash flow, liquid assets and unpledged collateral with which to meet our margin requirements during the three months ended March 31, 2012, but there can be no assurance we will have adequate cash flow, liquid assets and unpledged collateral with which to meet our margin requirements in the future.

Our leverage on capital (including all preferred stock and junior subordinated notes) decreased from 7.25x at December 31, 2011 to 6.98x at March 31, 2012. The decrease in leverage was due primarily to an increase in total stockholders’ equity of approximately $42 million, resulting primarily from an increase in accumulated other comprehensive income of approximately $30 million and an increase in additional paid-in capital of approximately $12 million.

In the future, we expect that our primary sources of funds will continue to consist of borrowed funds under repurchase agreement transactions and monthly payments of principal and interest on our MBS portfolio. Our liquid assets generally consist of unpledged MBS, cash and cash equivalents. A large negative change in the market value of our MBS might reduce our liquidity, requiring us to sell assets with the likely result of realized losses upon sale.

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During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we raised approximately $12.526 million in capital under our 2009 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we did not raise any capital under our 2012 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. All future sales and issuances under our Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan will be done under our 2012 Plan.

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we did not issue any shares of common stock, Series A Preferred Stock or Series B Preferred Stock under our 2011 Sales Agreement with Cantor (as described in Note 9 to the accompanying unaudited financial statements). At March 31, 2012, there were 19,409,400 shares of common stock, 1,000,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and 960,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, respectively, available for sale and future issuance under the 2011 Sales Agreement.

Disclosure of Contractual Obligations

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the company entered into a new sublease agreement with PIA as previously described in Note 10 to the accompanying unaudited financial statements.

Stockholders’ Equity

We use available-for-sale treatment for our Agency MBS and Non-Agency MBS, which are carried on our balance sheets at fair value rather than historical cost. Based upon this treatment, our total equity base at March 31, 2012 was $1.024 billion. Common stockholders’ equity was approximately $976 million or a book value of $7.17 per share.

Under our available-for-sale accounting treatment, unrealized fluctuations in fair values of assets are assessed to determine whether they are other-than-temporary. To the extent we determine that these unrealized fluctuations are temporary, they do not impact GAAP income or taxable income but rather are reflected on our balance sheets by changing the carrying value of the assets and reflecting the change in stockholders’ equity under “Accumulated other comprehensive income, unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities.”

As a result of this mark-to-market accounting treatment, our book value and book value per share are likely to fluctuate far more than if we used historical amortized cost accounting on all of our assets. As a result, comparisons with some companies that use historical cost accounting for all of their balance sheets may not be meaningful.

Unrealized changes in the fair value of MBS have one significant and direct effect on our potential earnings and dividends: positive mark-to-market changes will increase our equity base and allow us to increase our borrowing capacity, while negative changes will tend to reduce borrowing capacity under our capital investment policy. A very large negative change in the net market value of our MBS might reduce our liquidity, requiring us to sell assets with the likely result of realized losses upon sale. “Accumulative other comprehensive income, unrealized gain” on available-for-sale Agency MBS was approximately $170.6 million, or 1.93% of the amortized cost of our Agency MBS, at March 31, 2012. This, along with “Accumulative other comprehensive loss, derivatives” of approximately $90.9 million and “Accumulated other comprehensive gain, Non-Agency MBS” of $1.0 million, constitutes the total “Accumulative other comprehensive income” of approximately $80.7 million.

Critical Accounting Policies

Management has the obligation to ensure that its policies and methodologies are in accordance with GAAP. Management has reviewed and evaluated its critical accounting policies and believes them to be appropriate.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported in the accompanying unaudited financial statements. In preparing these unaudited financial statements, management has made its best estimates and judgments on the basis of information then readily available to it of certain amounts included in the unaudited financial statements, giving due consideration to materiality. Application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ materially and adversely from these estimates.

Our accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the accompanying unaudited financial statements. Management believes the more significant of our accounting policies are the following:

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Revenue Recognition

The most significant source of our revenue is derived from our investments in MBS. We reflect income using the effective yield method which, through amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts at an effective yield, recognizes periodic income over the estimated life of the investment on a constant yield basis, as adjusted for actual prepayment activity. Management believes our revenue recognition policies are appropriate to reflect the substance of the underlying transactions.

Interest income on our MBS is accrued based on the actual coupon rate and the outstanding principal amounts of the underlying mortgages. Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted into interest income over the expected lives of the securities using the effective interest yield method, adjusted for the effects of actual prepayments and estimated prepayments based on ASC 320-10. Our policy for estimating prepayment speeds for calculating the effective yield is to evaluate historical performance, street consensus prepayment speeds and current market conditions. If our estimate of prepayments is incorrect, we may be required to make an adjustment to the amortization or accretion of premiums and discounts that would have an impact on future income, which could be material and adverse.

Valuation and Classification of Investment Securities

We carry our investment securities on our balance sheet at fair value. The fair values of our Agency MBS are generally based on third party bid price indications provided by certain dealers who make markets in such securities. The fair value of our Non-Agency MBS are obtained from an independent third party pricing service whose methodologies are based on broker-provided pricing as well as indirect observation of market activity. If, in the opinion of management, one or more securities prices reported to us are not reliable or unavailable, management reviews the fair value based on characteristics of the security it receives from the issuer and available market information. The fair values reported reflect estimates and may not necessarily be indicative of the amounts we could realize in a current market exchange. We review various factors (i.e., expected cash flows, changes in interest rates, credit protection, etc.) in determining whether and to what extent an other-than-temporary impairment exists. To the extent that unrealized losses on our Agency MBS and Non-Agency MBS are attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality, and because we do not have the intent to sell these investments nor is it not more likely than not that we will be required to sell these investments before recovery of their amortized cost bases, which may be at maturity, we do not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired. Losses (that are related to credit quality) on securities classified as available-for-sale, which are determined by management to be other-than-temporary in nature, are reclassified from “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” to current-period income (loss). For more detail on the fair value of our securities, see Note 6 to the accompanying unaudited financial statements.

Accounting for Derivatives and Hedging Activities

In accordance with ASC 815-10, a derivative that is designated as a hedge is recognized as an asset/liability and measured at estimated fair value. In order for our interest rate swap agreements to qualify for hedge accounting, upon entering into the swap agreement, we must anticipate that the hedge will be highly “effective,” as defined by ASC 815-10.

On the date we enter into a derivative contract, we designate the derivative as a hedge of the variability of cash flows that are to be received or paid in connection with a recognized asset or liability (a “cash flow” hedge). Changes in the fair value of a derivative that are highly effective and that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, to the extent that the hedge is effective, are recorded in “Other comprehensive income” and reclassified to income when the forecasted transaction affects income (e.g., when periodic settlement interest payments are due on repurchase agreements). The swap agreements are carried on our balance sheets at their fair value based on values obtained from large financial institutions, who are market makers for these types of instruments. Hedge ineffectiveness, if any, is recorded in current-period income.

We formally assess, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions have been highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of hedged items and whether those derivatives may be expected to remain highly effective in future periods. If it is determined that a derivative is not (or has ceased to be) highly effective as a hedge, we discontinue hedge accounting.

When we discontinue hedge accounting, the gain or loss on the derivative remains in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” and is reclassified into income when the forecasted transaction affects income. In all situations in which hedge accounting is discontinued and the derivative remains outstanding, we will carry the derivative at its fair value on the balance sheet, recognizing changes in the fair value in current-period income.

For purposes of the cash flow statement, cash flows from derivative instruments are classified with the cash flows from the hedged item. For more detail on our derivative instruments, see Notes 1, 6 and 12 to the accompanying unaudited financial statements.

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Income Taxes

Our financial results do not reflect provisions for current or deferred income taxes. Management believes that we have and intend to continue to operate in a manner that will allow us to be taxed as a REIT and, as a result, management does not expect to pay substantial, if any, corporate level taxes. Many of these requirements, however, are highly technical and complex. If we were to fail to meet these requirements, we would be subject to federal income tax.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

A description of recent accounting pronouncements, the date adoption is required and the impact on our unaudited financial statements is contained in Note 1 to the accompanying unaudited financial statements.

Subsequent Events

When we pay any cash dividend during any quarterly fiscal period to all or substantially all of our common stockholders in an amount that results in an annualized common stock dividend yield that is greater than 6.25% (the dividend yield on our Series B Preferred Stock), the conversion rate on our Series B Preferred Stock is adjusted based on a formula specified in the Articles Supplementary Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of the Series B Preferred Stock. This conversion rate increased on April 11, 2012 from 3.6714 shares of our common stock to 3.7329 shares of our common stock using the following information: (1) the average of the closing price of our common stock for the ten (10) consecutive trading day period was $6.59 and (2) the annualized common stock dividend yield was 12.7389%.

From April 1, 2012 through May 7, 2012, we entered into one new swap agreement with a notional amount of $50 million and terms of up to five years.

From April 1, 2012 through May 7, 2012, we issued an aggregate of 1,118,687 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $6.53 per share under the 2012 Plan, resulting in proceeds to us of approximately $7.3 million.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We seek to manage the interest rate, market value, liquidity, prepayment and credit risks inherent in all financial instruments in a prudent manner designed to insure our longevity while, at the same time, seeking to provide an opportunity for stockholders to realize attractive total rates of return through ownership of our common stock. While we do not seek to avoid risk completely, we do seek, to the best of our ability, to assume risk that can be quantified from historical experience, to actively manage that risk, to earn sufficient returns to justify taking those risks and to maintain capital levels consistent with the risks we undertake.

Interest Rate Risk

We primarily invest in adjustable-rate, hybrid adjustable-rate and fixed-rate mortgage assets. Hybrid mortgages are ARMs that have a fixed interest rate for an initial period of time (typically three years or greater) and then convert to an adjustable-rate for the remaining loan term. Our debt obligations are generally repurchase agreements of limited duration that are periodically refinanced at current market rates.

ARMs are typically subject to periodic and lifetime interest rate caps that limit the amount an ARMs interest rate can change during any given period. ARMs are also typically subject to a minimum interest rate payable. Our borrowings are not subject to similar restrictions. Hence, in a period of increasing interest rates, interest rates on our borrowings could increase without limitation, while the interest rates on our mortgage assets could be limited. This problem would be magnified to the extent we acquire mortgage assets that are not fully indexed. Further, some ARMs assets may be subject to periodic payment caps that result in some portion of the interest being deferred and added to the principal outstanding. These factors could lower our net interest income or cause a net loss during periods of rising interest rates, which would negatively impact our liquidity, net income and our ability to make distributions to stockholders.

We fund the purchase of a substantial portion of our ARMs assets with borrowings that have interest rates based on indices and repricing terms similar to, but of shorter maturities than, the interest rate indices and repricing terms of our mortgage assets. Thus, we anticipate that in most cases the interest rate indices and repricing terms of our mortgage assets and our funding sources will not be identical, thereby creating an interest rate mismatch between assets and liabilities. During periods of changing interest rates, such interest rate mismatches could negatively impact our net interest income, dividend yield and the market price of our common stock.

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Most of our adjustable-rate assets are based on the one-year constant maturity treasury rate and the one-year LIBOR rate and our debt obligations are generally based on LIBOR. These indices generally move in the same direction, but there can be no assurance that this will continue to occur.

Our ARMs assets and borrowings reset at various different dates for the specific asset or obligation. In general, the repricing of our debt obligations occurs more quickly than on our assets. Therefore, on average, our cost of funds may rise or fall more quickly than does our earnings rate on the assets.

Further, our net income may vary somewhat as the spread between one-month interest rates and six- and twelve-month interest rates varies.

At March 31, 2012, our Agency MBS and Non-Agency MBS and the related borrowings will prospectively reprice based on the following time frames (dollar amounts in thousands):

	Investments(1)(2)					Borrowings
	Amount		Percentage of Total Investments			Amount		Percentage of Total Borrowings
Investment Type/Rate Reset Dates:
15-year fixed-rate investments	$	1,163,784		12.9	%	$	0		0.0	%
30-year fixed-rate investments		474,262		5.2			0		0.0
Adjustable-Rate Investments/Obligations:
Less than 3 months		632,148		7.0			7,600,000		100.0
Greater than 3 months and less than 1 year		1,443,601		16.0			0		0.0
Greater than 1 year and less than 2 years		231,674		2.6			0		0.0
Greater than 2 years and less than 3 years		433,180		4.8			0		0.0
Greater than 3 years and less than 5 years		4,469,052		49.4			0		0.0
Greater than 5 years and less than 7 years		191,838		2.1			0		0.0
Total:	$	9,039,539		100.0	%	$	7,600,000		100.0	%

(1) Based on when they contractually reprice and does not consider the effect of any prepayments.

(2) We assume that if the repricing of the investment is beyond 3 months but less than 4 months, it is included in the “3 months or less” category.

At December 31, 2011, our Agency MBS and Non-Agency MBS and the related borrowings will prospectively reprice based on the following time frames (dollar amounts in thousands):

	Investments(1)(2)					Borrowings
	Amount		Percentage of Total Investments			Amount		Percentage of Total Borrowings
Investment Type/Rate Reset Dates:
15-year fixed-rate investments	$	1,121,500		12.8	%	$	0		0.0	%
30-year fixed-rate investments		508,429		5.8			0		0.0
Adjustable-Rate Investments/Obligations:
Less than 3 months		488,771		5.6			7,595,000		100.0
Greater than 3 months and less than 1 year		1,578,023		18.0			0		0.0
Greater than 1 year and less than 2 years		352,885		4.0			0		0.0
Greater than 2 years and less than 3 years		265,832		3.0			0		0.0
Greater than 3 years and less than 5 years		4,232,101		48.3			0		0.0
Greater than 5 years and less than 7 years		215,938		2.5			0		0.0
Total:	$	8,763,479		100.0	%	$	7,595,000		100.0	%

(1) Based on when they contractually reprice and does not consider the effect of any prepayments.

(2) We assume that if the repricing of the investment is beyond 3 months but less than 4 months, it is included in the “3 months or less” category.

32

Market Value Risk

All of our MBS are classified as available-for-sale assets. As such, they are reflected at fair value (i.e., market value) with the periodic adjustment to fair value (that is not considered to be an other-than-temporary impairment) reflected as part of “Accumulated other comprehensive income” that is included in the equity section of our balance sheet. The market value of our assets can fluctuate due to changes in interest rates and other factors.

Liquidity Risk

Our primary liquidity risk arises from financing long-maturity MBS with short-term debt. The interest rates on our borrowings generally adjust more frequently than the interest rates on our adjustable-rate MBS. For example, at March 31, 2012, our Agency MBS and Non-Agency adjustable-rate MBS had a weighted average term to next rate adjustment of approximately 35 months while our borrowings had a weighted average term to next rate adjustment of 34 days. After adjusting for interest rate swap transactions, the weighted average term to next rate adjustment was 445 days. Accordingly, in a period of rising interest rates, our borrowing costs will usually increase faster than our interest earnings from MBS. As a result, we could experience a decrease in net income or a net loss during these periods. Our assets that are pledged to secure short-term borrowings are high-quality liquid assets. As a result, we have been able to roll over our short-term borrowings as they mature. There can be no assurance that we will always be able to roll over our short-term debt.

During the past few years, there have been continuing liquidity and credit concerns surrounding the mortgage markets and the general global economy. While the U.S. government and other foreign governments have taken various actions to address these concerns, there are also concerns about the ability of the U.S. government to meet the obligations of the August 2011 debt ceiling agreement and to reduce its budget deficit and about possible future rating downgrades of U.S. sovereign debt and government-sponsored agency debt. As a result, there continues to be concerns about the potential impact on product availability, liquidity, interest rates and changes in the yield curve. While we have been able to meet all of our liquidity needs to date, there are still concerns in the mortgage sector about the availability of financing generally.

At March 31, 2012, we had unrestricted cash of $5.1 million and $905 million in unpledged Agency MBS and Non-Agency MBS available to meet margin calls on short-term borrowings that could be caused by asset value declines or changes in lender collateralization requirements.

Prepayment Risk

Prepayments are the full or partial repayment of principal prior to the original term to maturity of a mortgage loan and typically occur due to refinancing of mortgage loans. Prepayment rates on mortgage securities and mortgage loans vary from time to time and may cause changes in the amount of our net interest income. Prepayments of ARM loans usually can be expected to increase when mortgage interest rates fall below the then-current interest rates on such loans and decrease when mortgage interest rates exceed the then-current interest rate on such loans, although such effects are not entirely predictable. Prepayment rates may also be affected by the conditions in the housing and financial markets, general economic conditions and the relative interest rates on fixed-rate loans and ARM loans underlying MBS. The purchase prices of MBS are generally based upon assumptions regarding the expected amounts and rates of prepayments. Where slow prepayment assumptions are made, we may pay a premium for MBS. To the extent such assumptions differ from the actual amounts of prepayments, we could experience reduced earnings or losses. The total prepayment of any MBS purchased at a premium by us would result in the immediate write-off of any remaining capitalized premium amount and a reduction of our net interest income by such amount. In addition, in the event that we are unable to acquire new MBS to replace the prepaid MBS, our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations could be harmed.

We often purchase mortgage-related assets that have a higher interest rate than the market interest rate at the time. In exchange for this higher interest rate, we must pay a premium over par value to acquire these assets. In accordance with accounting rules, we amortize this premium over the term of the MBS. As we receive repayments of mortgage principal, we amortize the premium balances as a reduction to our income. If the mortgage loans underlying MBS were prepaid at a faster rate than we anticipate, we would amortize the premium at a faster rate. This would reduce our income.

General

Many assumptions are made to present the information in the tables below and, as such, there can be no assurance that assumed events will occur, or that other events that could affect the outcomes will not occur; therefore, the tables below and all related disclosures constitute forward-looking statements.

33

The analyses presented utilize assumptions and estimates based on management’s judgment and experience. Furthermore, future sales, acquisitions and restructuring could materially change the interest rate risk profile for us. The tables quantify the potential changes in net income and portfolio value should interest rates immediately change (are “shocked”) and remain at the new level for the next twelve months. The results of interest rate shocks of plus and minus 100 and 200 basis points are presented. The cash flows from our portfolio of mortgage assets for each rate shock scenario are projected, based on a variety of assumptions including prepayment speeds, time until coupon reset, yield on future acquisitions, slope of the yield curve and size of the portfolio. Assumptions made on the interest rate-sensitive liabilities, which are repurchase agreements, include anticipated interest rates (no negative rates are utilized), collateral requirements as a percent of the repurchase agreement and amount of borrowing. Assumptions made in calculating the impact on net asset value of interest rate shocks include projected changes in U.S. Treasury interest rates, prepayment rates and the yield spread of mortgage assets relative to prevailing U.S. Treasury interest rates.

Tabular Presentation

The information presented in the table below projects the impact of instantaneous parallel shifts in interest rates on our annual projected net income (relative to the unchanged interest rate scenario), and the impact of the same instantaneous parallel shifts on our projected portfolio value (the value of our assets, including the value of any derivative instruments or hedges, such as interest rate swap agreements). These projections are based on investments in place at March 31, 2012 and include all of our interest rate sensitive assets, liabilities and hedges, such as interest rate swap agreements.

Change in Interest Rates	Percentage Change in Projected Net Interest Income	Percentage Change in Projected Portfolio Value
–2%	–84.8%		–2.2	%
–1%	–42.9%		–0.6	%
0%	0%		0	%
1%	–13.6%		–1.7	%
2%	–43.8%		–4.2	%

The information presented in the table below projects the impact of the same sudden changes in interest rates on our annual projected net income and projected portfolio value compared to the base case used in the table above, and the only difference is that it excludes the effect of the interest rate swap agreements on both net interest income and portfolio value. As of March 31, 2012, the aggregate notional amount of the interest rate swap agreements was $3.08 billion and the weighted average maturity was 2.9 years.

Change in Interest Rates	Percentage Change in Projected Net Interest Income	Percentage Change in Projected Portfolio Value
–2%	–27.1%	–0.2%
–1%	14.8%	0.4%
0%	0%	0%
1%	4.1%	–2.6%
2%	–52.2%	–6.1%

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules, regulations and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

34

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness in design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in the timely and accurate recording, processing, summarizing and reporting of information required to be disclosed by us in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules, regulations and forms. Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are also effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

35

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

We are currently not a party to any material pending legal proceedings.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

There have been no material changes with regard to the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information.

(a) Additional Disclosures. None.

(b) Stockholder Nominations. There have been no material changes to the procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to our board of directors during the quarter ended March 31, 2012. Please see the discussion of our procedures in our most recent proxy statement filed with the SEC on March 28, 2012 on Form DEF 14A.

Item 6. Exhibits.

The following exhibits are either filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference:

Exhibit Number	Description
1.1	Controlled Equity Offering Sales Agreement dated May 27, 2011 between Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 27, 2011)
3.1	Amended Articles of Incorporation of Anworth (incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-11, Registration No. 333-38641, which became effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended on March 12, 1998)
3.2	Amended Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 13, 2009)
3.3	Articles of Amendment to Amended Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference from our Definitive Proxy Statement filed pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with the SEC on May 14, 2003)
3.4	Articles Supplementary for Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 3, 2004)
3.5	Articles Supplementary for Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 21, 2005)

36

Exhibit Number	Description
3.6	Articles Supplementary for Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 30, 2007)
3.7	Articles Supplementary for Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 21, 2007)
3.8	Articles of Amendment to Amended Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 28, 2008)
4.1	Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-11, Registration No. 333-38641, which became effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on March 12, 1998)
4.2	Specimen Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 3, 2004)
4.3	Specimen Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 30, 2007)
4.4	Specimen Anworth Capital Trust I Floating Rate Preferred Stock Certificate (liquidation amount $1,000 per Preferred Security) (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 16, 2005)
4.5	Specimen Anworth Capital Trust I Floating Rate Common Stock Certificate (liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security) (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 16, 2005)
4.6	Specimen Anworth Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Note Due 2035 (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 16, 2005)
4.7	Junior Subordinated Indenture dated as of March 15, 2005, between Anworth and JPMorgan Chase Bank (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 16, 2005)
10.1*	2004 Equity Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference from our Definitive Proxy Statement filed pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with the SEC on April 26, 2004)
10.2*	2007 Dividend Equivalent Rights Plan (incorporated by reference from our Definitive Proxy Statement filed pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with the SEC on April 26, 2007)
10.3*	2009 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-164047, which became effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on December 28, 2009)
10.4*	2012 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-180093, which became effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on March 14, 2012)
10.5	Termination Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2011, between Anworth and Lloyd McAdams, with respect to the Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2002, between Anworth and Lloyd McAdams, as amended (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 3, 2012)
10.6	Termination Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2011, between Anworth and Heather U. Baines, with respect to the Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2002, between Anworth and Heather U. Baines, as amended (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 3, 2012)
10.7	Termination Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2011, between Anworth and Joseph E. McAdams, with respect to the Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2002, between Anworth and Joseph E. McAdams, as amended (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 3, 2012)

37

Exhibit Number	Description
10.8	Sublease dated June 13, 2002, between Anworth and PIA (incorporated by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, as filed with the SEC on August 14, 2002) as amended by Amendment to Sublease dated July 8, 2003 (incorporated by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, as filed with the SEC on August 8, 2003)
10.9	Purchase Agreement dated as of March 15, 2005, by and among Anworth, Anworth Capital Trust I, TABERNA Preferred Funding I, Ltd., and Merrill Lynch International (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 16, 2005)
10.10	Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated as of September 26, 2005 by and among Anworth, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Chase Bank USA, National Association, Lloyd McAdams, Joseph McAdams, Thad Brown and the several Holders, as defined therein. (incorporated by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, as filed with the SEC on March 16, 2006)
10.11*	Change in Control and Arbitration Agreement, dated June 27, 2006, between Anworth and Thad M. Brown (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 28, 2006), as amended by Amendment to Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation Change in Control and Arbitration Agreement, effective December 31, 2011, between Anworth and Thad M. Brown (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 3, 2012)
10.12*	Change in Control and Arbitration Agreement dated June 27, 2006, between Anworth and Charles J. Siegel (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 28, 2006), as amended by Amendment to Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation Change in Control and Arbitration Agreement, effective December 31, 2011, between Anworth and Charles J. Siegel (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 3, 2012)
10.13*	Change in Control and Arbitration Agreement dated June 27, 2006, between Anworth and Evangelos Karagiannis (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 28, 2006), as amended by Amendment to Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation Change in Control and Arbitration Agreement, effective December 31, 2011, between Anworth and Evangelos Karagiannis (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 3, 2012)
10.14*	Change in Control and Arbitration Agreement dated June 27, 2006, between Anworth and Bistra Pashamova (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 28, 2006), as amended by Amendment to Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation Change in Control and Arbitration Agreement, effective December 31, 2011, between Anworth and Bistra Pashamova (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 3, 2012)
10.15	Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement dated August 20, 2010, between Anworth and PIA (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 20, 2010)
10.16	Management Agreement by and between Anworth and Anworth Management, LLC (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 3, 2012)
31.1	Certification of the Principal Executive Officer, as required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
31.2	Certification of the Principal Financial Officer, as required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
32.1	Certifications of the Principal Executive Officer provided pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2	Certifications of the Principal Financial Officer provided pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101**	XBRL Instance Document

38

Exhibit Number	Description
101**	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101**	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101**	XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document
101**	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
101**	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

* Represents a management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement in which any director or any of the named executives participates.

** XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Section 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

39

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORPORATION
Dated: May 7, 2012	/S/    JOSEPH LLOYD MCADAMS
	Joseph Lloyd McAdams
	Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
	(Chief Executive Officer)

Dated: May 7, 2012	/S/    THAD M. BROWN
	Thad M. Brown
	Chief Financial Officer
	(Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

40

EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I, Joseph Lloyd McAdams, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting;

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Dated: May 7, 2012	/S/    JOSEPH LLOYD MCADAMS
	Joseph Lloyd McAdams
	Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer (Chief Executive Officer)

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

I, Thad M. Brown, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting;

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Dated: May 7, 2012	/S/    THAD M. BROWN
	Thad M. Brown
	Chief Financial Officer (Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

EX-32.1

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the quarterly report of Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 2012 (the “Report”), I, Joseph Lloyd McAdams, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer (Chief Executive Officer) of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

By:	/S/    JOSEPH LLOYD MCADAMS
	Joseph Lloyd McAdams Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer May 7, 2012

EX-32.2

EXHIBIT 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the quarterly report of Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 2012 (the “Report”), I, Thad M. Brown, Chief Financial Officer (Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

By:	/S/    THAD M. BROWN
	Thad M. Brown Chief Financial Officer May 7, 2012

XML

JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)			12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 Anworth Capital Trust I	Mar. 15, 2005 Anworth Capital Trust I	Dec. 31, 2011 Unrelated Third Party Investors	Mar. 15, 2005 Unrelated Third Party Investors
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items]
Junior subordinated notes	$ 37,380,000	$ 37,380,000		$ 37,380,000
Trust preferred securities						$ 36,250,000
Interest rate above prevailing three-month LIBOR rate			3.10%		3.10%
Maturity date			2035		2035

XML

Notional Amounts, Remaining Term and Weighted Average Interest Rates of Swap Agreements (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 3,080,000	$ 3,030,000
Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.32%	2.51%
Remaining Term in Months	35 months	34 months
Less than 12 months
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	695,000	520,000
Weighted Average Interest Rate	3.41%	3.92%
Remaining Term in Months	7 months	5 months
1 year to 2 years
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	200,000	375,000
Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.85%	3.32%
Remaining Term in Months	20 months	14 months
2 years to 3 years
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	410,000	410,000
Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.00%	2.07%
Remaining Term in Months	30 months	28 months
3 years to 4 years
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	730,000	680,000
Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.06%	2.07%
Remaining Term in Months	42 months	42 months
Over 4 years
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 1,045,000	$ 1,045,000
Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.81%	1.98%
Remaining Term in Months	53 months	54 months

XML

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2006 Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2004 Equity Compensation Plan	Oct. 31, 2005 Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2004 Equity Compensation Plan	Mar. 31, 2012 Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2004 Equity Compensation Plan	Mar. 31, 2011 Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2004 Equity Compensation Plan	Dec. 31, 2005 Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2004 Equity Compensation Plan	Oct. 31, 2006 Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2004 Equity Compensation Plan Grantee under limitation	Oct. 31, 2005 Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2004 Equity Compensation Plan Grantee under limitation	Oct. 31, 2006 Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2004 Equity Compensation Plan Minimum	Mar. 31, 2012 Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2004 Equity Compensation Plan Minimum	Mar. 31, 2012 Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2007 Dividend Equivalent Rights Plan	Mar. 31, 2011 Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2007 Dividend Equivalent Rights Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2007 Dividend Equivalent Rights Plan	May 24, 2007 Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2007 Dividend Equivalent Rights Plan Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Maximum authorized shares of common stock under grant of stock options and other stock-based awards					3,500,000
Minimum exercise price for option granted of the fair market value of the shares of common stock at granted, percentage									100.00%
Shares remained available for future issuance			676,414
Grant of restricted stock	197,362	200,780
Stock price on grant date	$ 9.12	$ 7.72
Percentage of restricted stock vests per year		10.00%
Terms of stock vest		The restricted stock vests 10% per year on each anniversary date for a ten-year period and shall also vest immediately upon the death of the grantee or upon the grantee reaching age 65.
Percentage of restricted stock vested that grantee have right to sell anytime	40.00%	40.00%
Percentage of restricted stock vested that may not be sold until after termination of employment						60.00%	60.00%
Vesting range of restricted stock		We amortize the restricted stock over the vesting period, which is the lesser of ten years or the remaining number of years to age 65.
Effective date for grant of restricted stock	Oct. 18, 2006
Vesting period of restricted stock	3 years		10 years
Annually compounded rate of return on our common stock, including dividends, anniversary date of the grant								12.00%
Stock expense related to grants to Officers			$ 51	$ 51
Term of DER from the date of grant												5 years	10 years
Dividend equivalent right issued												582,000
Paid or accrued compensation related to DERs granted										$ 116	$ 140

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Investments' Gross Unrealized Losses and Fair Value of Securities in Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregated by Investment Category and Length of Time (Detail) (Agency MBS, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012 Investment	Dec. 31, 2011 Investment
Agency MBS
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
Less Than 12 Months Number of Securities	46	44
Less Than 12 Months Fair Value	$ 824,664	$ 832,151
Less Than 12 Months Unrealized Losses	(2,434)	(3,358)
12 Months or More Number of Securities	278	304
12 Months or More Fair Value	470,330	589,363
12 Months or More Unrealized Losses	(6,562)	(9,544)
Total Number of Securities	324	348
Total Fair Value	1,294,994	1,421,514
Total Unrealized Losses	$ (8,996)	$ (12,902)

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ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Investments' Gross Unrealized Losses and Fair Value of Securities in Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregated by Investment Category and Length of Time

The following table shows our investments’ gross unrealized losses and fair value of those individual securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, aggregated by investment category and length of time (dollar amounts in thousands):

March 31, 2012

	Less Than 12 Months							12 Months or More							Total
Description of Securities	Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses
Agency MBS		46	$	824,664	$	(2,434	)		278	$	470,330	$	(6,562	)		324	$	1,294,994	$	(8,996	)

December 31, 2011

	Less Than 12 Months							12 Months or More							Total
Description of Securities	Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses
Agency MBS		44	$	832,151	$	(3,358	)		304	$	589,363	$	(9,544	)		348	$	1,421,514	$	(12,902	)

Computation of Earnings Per Share

The computation of EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 is as follows (amounts in thousands, except per share data):

	Net Income Available to Common Stockholders		Average Shares		Earnings per Share
For the three months ended March 31, 2012
Basic EPS	$	27,661		135,064	$	0.20
Effect of dilutive securities		450		4,228		0.00
Diluted EPS	$	28,111		139,292	$	0.20
For the three months ended March 31, 2011
Basic EPS	$	29,657		121,914	$	0.24
Effect of dilutive securities		492		4,291		0.00
Diluted EPS	$	30,149		126,205	$	0.24

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Other Expenses (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011
Component of Other Expense, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Legal and accounting fees	$ 164		$ 125
Printing and stockholder communications	35		22
Directors and Officers insurance	108		110
DERs expense	116	[1]	0	[1]
Amortization of restricted stock	51	[2]	0	[2]
Software implementation and maintenance	67		65
Administrative service fees	51		48
Rent	85		83
Stock exchange and filing fees	58		59
Custodian fees	33		33
Sarbanes-Oxley consulting fees	28		0
Board of directors fees and expenses	98		80
Securities data services	30		27
Other	100		71
Total of other expenses:	$ 1,024		$ 723

[1] For the three months ended March 31, 2011, "DERs expense" of $140 thousand was included in "Compensation expense".

[2] For the three months ended March 31, 2011, "Amortization of restricted stock" of $51 thousand was included in "Compensation expense".

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SERIES B CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)				3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 Minimum	Mar. 31, 2012 Series B Preferred Stock	Mar. 31, 2012 Series B Preferred Stock Minimum	Mar. 31, 2012 Series A Preferred Stock
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]
Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock: par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock: liquidating preference per share	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Stock, dividend rate				6.25%		8.625%
Preferred Stock, conversion start date				Jan. 25, 2012
Number of trading days in a period of 30 consecutive trading days that will cause the preferred stock to be converted					20 days
Number of consecutive trading days used in conversion analysis				30 days
Percentage of common stock price to the then-prevailing conversion price in order to exercise the conversion option					130.00%
Annualized common stock dividend rate for preferred stock conversion rate to be adjusted			6.25%

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MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (MBS) - Additional Information (Detail) (Non-Agency MBS, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Non-Agency MBS collateralized mortgage obligations, floating-rate	0.49%	0.54%
Fair value of portfolio	$ 1.0	$ 1.6
Moody's, C Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Number of securities	2
Standard & Poor's, D Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Number of securities	2
Moody's, D Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Number of securities		2
Standard & Poor's, C Rating
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Number of securities		2

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SUBSEQUENT EVENTS - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)							1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 Series B Preferred Stock	Apr. 11, 2012 Dividend Paid	Apr. 11, 2012 Dividend Paid Series B Preferred Stock	Apr. 11, 2012 Dividend Paid Series B Preferred Stock Minimum	May 07, 2012 Interest Rate Swap Derivative	May 07, 2012 Stock Issued Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase 2012 Plan
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividend yield on preferred stock						6.25%
Conversion rate			$ 3.6714		$ 3.7329
Average closing price of common stock				$ 6.59
Annualized common stock dividend yield				12.7389%
Number of new swap agreements							1
Notional amount of swap agreements entered during the period	$ 200,000,000						$ 50,000,000
Swap agreements, maximum maturity	5 years						5 years
Common Stock, issued	136,073,000	134,115,000						1,118,687
Common stock issued, weighted average price per share								$ 6.53
Proceeds from Common stock public offering								$ 7,300,000

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HEDGING INSTRUMENTS - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 Year Derivative	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2008 Lehman Brothers Special Financing	Mar. 31, 2012 Lehman Brothers Special Financing	Mar. 31, 2011 Lehman Brothers Special Financing	Sep. 18, 2008 Lehman Brothers Special Financing
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest rate swap agreements, aggregate notional amount	$ 3,080,000,000		$ 3,030,000,000
Swap agreements, weighted average maturity (in years)	2.9
Notional balance of matured interest rate swap agreements	150,000,000
Number of interest swaps matured	2
Number of new swap agreements	4
Notional amount of swap agreements entered during the period	200,000,000
Swap agreements, maximum maturity term	5 years
Fixed interest rate during the term of swap agreements, lower range	0.99625%
Fixed interest rate during the term of swap agreements, higher range	5.494%
Decrease in unrealized losses of swap agreements included in other comprehensive income	(6,200,000)
Unrealized losses of swap agreements included in other comprehensive income	(90,900,000)		(97,000,000)
Unrealized (losses) on cash flow hedges	(7,830,000)	2,484,000
Reclassification adjustment for interest expense included in net income	13,995,000	17,437,000
Asset derivative instruments	1,164,000		0
Liability derivative instruments	91,870,000		96,808,000
Notional balance of terminated interest rate swap agreements				240,000,000
Realized loss of fair value of swap agreements at termination							(1,500,000)
Realized loss, amount of terminated swap agreements amortized into interest expense					65,000	64,000
Remaining amount of terminated swap agreements to be amortized into interest expense					$ 184,000

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ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

We were incorporated in Maryland on October 20, 1997 and we commenced operations on March 17, 1998. We are in the business of investing primarily in United States, or U.S., agency mortgage-backed securities, or Agency MBS. Agency MBS are securities representing obligations guaranteed by the U.S. government, such as Ginnie Mae, or guaranteed by federally sponsored enterprises, such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Our principal business objective is to generate net income for distribution to our stockholders based upon the spread between the interest income on our mortgage assets and the costs of borrowing to finance our acquisition of those assets.

We have elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Code. As a REIT, we routinely distribute substantially all of the taxable income generated from our operations to our stockholders. As long as we retain our REIT status, we generally will not be subject to federal or state taxes on our income to the extent that we distribute our taxable net income to our stockholders.

At our annual stockholders meeting on May 25, 2011, our stockholders approved the entry by us into a management agreement, or the Management Agreement, between us and Anworth Management, LLC, or the Manager. We entered into the Management Agreement effective as of December 31, 2011, pursuant to which our day-to-day operations are now being conducted by the Manager. The Manager is supervised and directed by our board of directors and is responsible for (i) the selection, purchase and sale of our investment portfolio; (ii) our financing and hedging activities; and (iii) providing us with management services. The Manager will also perform such other services and activities relating to our assets and operations as may be appropriate. In exchange for these services, the Manager receives a management fee paid monthly in arrears in an amount equal to one-twelfth of 1.20% of our Equity (as defined in the Management Agreement).

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles utilized in the United States of America, or GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Material estimates that are susceptible to change relate to the determination of the fair value of securities, amortization of security premiums and accretion of security discounts and accounting for derivatives and hedging activities. Actual results could materially differ from these estimates. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the calendar year. The interim financial information in the accompanying unaudited financial statements and the notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

The following is a summary of our significant accounting policies:

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. The carrying amount of cash equivalents approximates their fair value.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

We use securities purchased under agreements to resell, or reverse repurchase agreements, as a means of investing excess cash. Although legally structured as a purchase and subsequent resale, reverse repurchase agreements are treated as financing instruments under which the counterparty pledges securities (principally U.S. treasury securities) and accrued interest as collateral to secure a loan. The difference between the purchase price that we pay and the resale price that we receive represents interest paid to us and is included in “Other income” on our unaudited statements of income. It is our policy to generally take possession of securities purchased under reverse repurchase agreements at the time such agreements are made.

Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS)

Agency MBS are securities that are obligations (including principal and interest) guaranteed by the U.S. government, such as Ginnie Mae, or guaranteed by federally sponsored enterprises, such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Our investment-grade Agency MBS portfolio is invested primarily in fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage-backed pass-through certificates and hybrid adjustable-rate MBS. Hybrid adjustable-rate MBS have an initial interest rate that is fixed for a certain period, usually three to five years (but may also include interest rates that are fixed for up to seven years), and then adjusts annually for the remainder of the term of the asset. We structure our investment portfolio to be diversified with a variety of prepayment characteristics, investing in mortgage assets with prepayment penalties, investing in certain mortgage security structures that have prepayment protections and purchasing mortgage-related assets at a premium and at a discount.

Non-Agency MBS are securities issued by other companies that are not government-sponsored enterprises and are secured primarily by first-lien residential mortgage loans.

We classify our MBS as either trading investments, available-for-sale investments or held-to-maturity investments. Our management determines the appropriate classification of the securities at the time they are acquired and evaluates the appropriateness of such classifications at each balance sheet date. We currently classify all of our MBS as available-for-sale. All assets that are classified as available-for-sale are carried at fair value and unrealized gains or losses are generally included in “Other comprehensive income (loss)” as a component of stockholders’ equity. Losses that are credit-related on securities classified as available-for-sale, which are determined by management to be other-than-temporary in nature, are reclassified from “Other comprehensive income” to income (loss).

The most significant source of our revenue is derived from our investments in MBS. Interest income on Agency MBS and Non-Agency MBS is accrued based on the actual coupon rate and the outstanding principal amount of the underlying mortgages. Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted into interest income over the estimated lives of the securities using the effective interest yield method, adjusted for the effects of actual prepayments based on the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 320-10. Our policy for estimating prepayment speeds for calculating the effective yield is to evaluate historical performance, street consensus prepayment speeds and current market conditions. If our estimate of prepayments is materially incorrect, as compared to the aforementioned references, we may be required to make an adjustment to the amortization or accretion of premiums and discounts that would have an impact on future income, which could be material and adverse.

Securities are recorded on the date the securities are purchased or sold. Realized gains or losses from securities transactions are determined based on the specific identified cost of the securities.

The following table shows our investments’ gross unrealized losses and fair value of those individual securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, aggregated by investment category and length of time (dollar amounts in thousands):

March 31, 2012

	Less Than 12 Months							12 Months or More							Total
Description of Securities	Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses
Agency MBS		46	$	824,664	$	(2,434	)		278	$	470,330	$	(6,562	)		324	$	1,294,994	$	(8,996	)

December 31, 2011

	Less Than 12 Months							12 Months or More							Total
Description of Securities	Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses
Agency MBS		44	$	832,151	$	(3,358	)		304	$	589,363	$	(9,544	)		348	$	1,421,514	$	(12,902	)

We do not consider those Agency MBS that have been in a continuous loss position for 12 months or more to be other-than-temporarily impaired. The unrealized losses on our investments in Agency MBS were caused by fluctuations in interest rates. We purchased the Agency MBS primarily at a premium relative to their face value and the contractual cash flows of those investments are guaranteed by the U.S. government or government-sponsored agencies. Since September 2008, the government-sponsored agencies have been in the conservatorship of the U.S. government. We do not expect to sell the Agency MBS at a price less than the amortized cost basis of our investments. Because the decline in market value of the Agency MBS is attributable to changes in interest rates and not the credit quality of the Agency MBS in our portfolio, and because we do not have the intent to sell these investments nor is it more likely than not that we will be required to sell these investments before recovery of their amortized cost basis, which may be at maturity, we do not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2012.

Repurchase Agreements

We finance the acquisition of MBS primarily through the use of repurchase agreements. Under these repurchase agreements, we sell securities to a lender and agree to repurchase the same securities in the future for a price that is higher than the original sales price. The difference between the sale price that we receive and the repurchase price that we pay represents interest paid to the lender. Although structured as a sale and repurchase obligation, a repurchase agreement operates as a financing under which we pledge our securities and accrued interest as collateral to secure a loan which is equal in value to a specified percentage of the estimated fair value of the pledged collateral. We retain beneficial ownership of the pledged collateral. Upon the maturity of a repurchase agreement, we are required to repay the loan and concurrently receive back our pledged collateral from the lender or, with the consent of the lender, we may renew such agreement at the then-prevailing financing rate. These repurchase agreements may require us to pledge additional assets to the lender in the event the estimated fair value of the existing pledged collateral declines.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Interest Rate Risk Management

We primarily use short-term (less than or equal to 12 months) repurchase agreements to finance the purchase of MBS. These obligations expose us to variability in interest payments due to changes in interest rates. We continuously monitor changes in interest rate exposures and evaluate hedging opportunities.

Our objective is to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows. We achieve this by entering into interest rate swap agreements, which effectively convert a percentage of our repurchase agreements to fixed-rate obligations over a period of up to five years. Under interest rate swap contracts, we agree to pay an amount equal to a specified fixed rate of interest times a notional principal amount and to receive in return an amount equal to a specified variable-rate of interest times a notional amount, generally based on the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR. The notional amounts are not exchanged. We account for these swap agreements as cash flow hedges in accordance with ASC 815-10. We do not issue or hold derivative contracts for speculative purposes.

We are exposed to credit losses in the event of non-performance by counterparties to interest rate swap agreements. In order to limit credit risk associated with swap agreements, our current practice is to only enter into swap agreements with large financial institution counterparties who are market makers for these types of instruments, limit our exposure on each swap agreement to a single counterparty under our defined guidelines and either pay or receive collateral to or from each counterparty on a periodic basis to cover the net fair market value position of the swap agreements held with that counterparty.

Accounting for Derivatives and Hedging Activities

In accordance with ASC 815-10, a derivative that is designated as a hedge is recognized as an asset/liability and measured at estimated fair value. In order for our interest rate swap agreements to qualify for hedge accounting, upon entering into the swap agreement, we must anticipate that the hedge will be highly “effective” as defined by ASC 815-10.

On the date we enter into a derivative contract, we designate the derivative as a hedge of the variability of cash flows that are to be received or paid in connection with a recognized asset or liability (a “cash flow” hedge). Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective and that is designated and qualifies as a cash flow hedge, to the extent that the hedge is effective, are recorded in “Other comprehensive income” and reclassified to income when the forecasted transaction affects income (e.g., when periodic settlement interest payments are due on repurchase agreements). The swap agreements are carried on our balance sheets at their fair value, based on values obtained from large financial institutions who are market makers for these types of instruments. Hedge ineffectiveness, if any, is recorded in current-period income.

We formally assess, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions have been highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of hedged items and whether those derivatives may be expected to remain highly effective in future periods. If it is determined that a derivative is not (or has ceased to be) highly effective as a hedge, we discontinue hedge accounting.

When we discontinue hedge accounting, the gain or loss on the derivative remains in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” and is reclassified into income when the forecasted transaction affects income. In all situations in which hedge accounting is discontinued and the derivative remains outstanding, we will carry the derivative at its fair value on our balance sheet, recognizing changes in the fair value in current-period income.

For purposes of the cash flow statement, cash flows from derivative instruments are classified with the cash flows from the hedged item.

For more details on the amounts and other qualitative information on our swap agreements, see Note 12. For more information on the fair value of our swap agreements, see Note 6.

Credit Risk

At March 31, 2012, we have attempted to limit our exposure to credit losses on our MBS by purchasing securities primarily through Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The payment of principal and interest on the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae MBS are guaranteed by those respective enterprises. In September 2008, both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were placed in the conservatorship of the U.S. government. While it is the intent that the conservatorship will help stabilize Freddie Mac’s and Fannie Mae’s losses and overall financial position, there can be no assurance that it will succeed or that, if necessary, Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae will be able to satisfy its guarantees of Agency MBS. In August 2011, Standard & Poor’s downgraded each of U.S. sovereign debt and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from AAA to AA+. We do not know what effect this will ultimately have on the U.S. economy, the value of our securities or the ability of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to satisfy its guarantees of Agency MBS if necessary.

Our adjustable-rate MBS are subject to periodic and lifetime interest rate caps. Periodic caps can limit the amount an interest rate can increase during any given period. Some adjustable-rate MBS subject to periodic payment caps may result in a portion of the interest being deferred and added to the principal outstanding.

Other-than-temporary losses on our available-for-sale MBS, as measured by the amount of decline in estimated fair value attributable to credit losses that are considered to be other-than-temporary, are charged against income, resulting in an adjustment of the cost basis of such securities. Based on the criteria in ASC-320-10, the determination of whether a security is other-than-temporarily impaired, or OTTI, involves judgments and assumptions based on both subjective and objective factors. When a security is impaired, an OTTI is considered to have occurred if (i) we intend to sell the security, (ii) it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis or (iii) we do not expect to recover its amortized cost basis (i.e., there is a credit-related loss). The following are among, but not all of, the factors considered in determining whether and to what extent an OTTI exists and the portion that is related to credit loss: (i) the expected cash flow from the investment; (ii) whether there has been an other-than-temporary deterioration of the credit quality of the underlying mortgages; (iii) the credit protection available to the related mortgage pool for MBS; (iv) any other market information available, including analysts’ assessments and statements, public statements and filings made by the debtor or counterparty; (v) management’s internal analysis of the security, considering all known relevant information at the time of assessment; and (vi) the magnitude and duration of historical decline in market prices. Because management’s assessments are based on factual information as well as subjective information available at the time of assessment, the determination as to whether an other-than-temporary decline exists and, if so, the amount considered impaired, is also subjective and therefore constitutes material estimates that are susceptible to significant change.

Income Taxes

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT and to comply with the provisions of the Code with respect thereto. Accordingly, we will not be subject to federal income tax to the extent that our distributions to our stockholders satisfy the REIT requirements and that certain asset, income and stock ownership tests are met.

We have no unrecognized tax benefits and do not anticipate any increase in unrecognized benefits during 2012 relative to any tax positions taken prior to January 1, 2012. Should the accrual of any interest or penalties relative to unrecognized tax benefits be necessary, it is our policy to record such accruals in our income taxes accounts; and no such accruals existed at March 31, 2012. We file REIT U.S. federal and California income tax returns. These returns are generally open to examination by the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board for all years after 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock

We classify our Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, or Series B Preferred Stock, on our balance sheets using the guidance in ASC 480-10-S99. The Series B Preferred Stock contains certain fundamental change provisions that allow the holder to redeem the preferred stock for cash only if certain events occur, such as a change in control. As redemption under these circumstances is not solely within our control, we have classified the Series B Preferred Stock as temporary equity.

We have analyzed whether the conversion features in the Series B Preferred Stock should be bifurcated under the guidance in ASC 815-10 and have determined that bifurcation is not necessary.

Stock-Based Expense

In accordance with ASC 718-10, any expense relating to share-based payment transactions is recognized in the unaudited financial statements.

Restricted stock is expensed over the vesting period (see Note 11).

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share, or EPS, is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS assumes the conversion, exercise or issuance of all potential common stock equivalents (which includes stock options and convertible preferred stock) and the adding back of the Series B Preferred Stock dividends unless the effect is to reduce a loss or increase the income per share.

The computation of EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 is as follows (amounts in thousands, except per share data):

	Net Income Available to Common Stockholders		Average Shares		Earnings per Share
For the three months ended March 31, 2012
Basic EPS	$	27,661		135,064	$	0.20
Effect of dilutive securities		450		4,228		0.00
Diluted EPS	$	28,111		139,292	$	0.20
For the three months ended March 31, 2011
Basic EPS	$	29,657		121,914	$	0.24
Effect of dilutive securities		492		4,291		0.00
Diluted EPS	$	30,149		126,205	$	0.24

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

In accordance with ASC 220-10-55-2, total comprehensive income is divided into net income and other comprehensive income, which includes unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities classified as available-for-sale, and unrealized gains and losses on derivative financial instruments that qualify for cash flow hedge accounting under ASC 815-10.

USE OF ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In April 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2011-03, “Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements.” One of the relevant considerations for assessing effective control was the transferor’s ability to repurchase or redeem financial assets before maturity. Under this criterion, an entity must consider whether there is an exchange of collateral in sufficient amount so as to reasonably assure the arrangement’s completion on substantially the agreed terms. In this ASU, the FASB determined that the criterion pertaining to an exchange of collateral should not be a determining factor in assessing effective control and removed this criterion from the consideration of effective control. The FASB concluded that the assessment of effective control should focus on a transferor’s contractual rights and obligations with respect to transferred financial assets, not on whether the transferor has the practical ability to perform in accordance with those rights or obligations. This ASU became effective for our financial statements beginning with the first quarter of 2012. We have adopted this ASU and it did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.” ASU 2011-04 supersedes most of the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820 (formerly FASB Statement No. 157), although many of the changes are clarifications of existing guidance or wording changes to align with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, 13. Additionally, this ASU requires (i) disclosure of any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; (ii) disclosure when the highest and best use of a non-financial asset differs from its current use; (iii) disclosure of fair value by level for each class of assets and liabilities not measured at fair value in the statement of financial position but for which the fair value is disclosed; and (iv) disclosure of information about measurement uncertainty in the form of a sensitivity analysis for recurring fair value measurements categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy unless another ASC topic specifies that such disclosure is not required. This ASU became effective for our financial statements beginning with the first quarter of 2012. We have adopted this ASU and it did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income.” ASU 2011-05 supersedes some of the guidance in ASC Topic 220. The main provisions of this ASU provide that an entity that reports items of other comprehensive income has the option to present comprehensive income in either one or two consecutive financial statements: (i) in a single statement where an entity must present the components of net income and total net income, the components of other comprehensive income and total other comprehensive income, and a total for comprehensive income; or (ii) in a two-statement approach where an entity must present the components of net income and total net income in the first statement with that first statement being immediately followed by a financial statement that presents the components of other comprehensive income, a total for other comprehensive income, and a total for comprehensive income. The previous option in GAAP that permitted the presentation of other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in equity has been eliminated. This ASU became effective for our financial statements beginning with the first quarter of 2012. We have adopted this ASU and it did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, “Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities”. This ASU requires the disclosure in tabular format in a footnote of the gross amounts subject to rights of set-off, the gross amounts of any set-off and the net amounts shown on the balance sheet. This ASU also requires the disclosure of any agreements subject to such netting arrangements. This ASU will affect all financial instruments such as securities lending agreements repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and derivatives instruments. As there are differences in the offsetting requirements between GAAP and IFRS, the objective of this disclosure is to facilitate comparison between companies that prepare their financial statements according to those different reporting requirements. As the disclosures are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013 and for all interim periods within those annual periods, this ASU will become effective for our financial statements beginning with the quarter ending March 31, 2013. We do not believe that this ASU will have a material impact on our financial statements.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, “Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05”. Among the provisions in ASU 2011-05 was a requirement to present reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income, or AOCI, by components in both the statement in which net income is presented and the statement in which other comprehensive income, or OCI, is presented (for both interim and annual financial statements). This requirement was indefinitely deferred by ASU 2011-12 and will be further deliberated by the FASB at a later date. ASU 2011-12 does not defer the other requirements of ASU 2011-05. ASU 2011-12 became effective on the same effective date as ASU 2011-5. We have adopted this ASU and it did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

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PUBLIC OFFERINGS AND CAPITAL STOCK - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 26, 2010 Maximum	Mar. 31, 2012 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase 2009 Plan	Dec. 28, 2009 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase 2009 Plan Maximum	Mar. 14, 2012 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase 2012 Plan Maximum	Mar. 31, 2012 Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2004 Equity Compensation Plan	Dec. 31, 2005 Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2004 Equity Compensation Plan	Mar. 31, 2012 Series A Preferred Stock	Mar. 31, 2012 Series A Preferred Stock Controlled Equity Offering Sales Agreement	May 27, 2011 Series A Preferred Stock Maximum Controlled Equity Offering Sales Agreement	Mar. 31, 2012 Series B Preferred Stock	Mar. 31, 2012 Series B Preferred Stock Controlled Equity Offering Sales Agreement	May 27, 2011 Series B Preferred Stock Maximum Controlled Equity Offering Sales Agreement	Mar. 31, 2012 Common Stock Controlled Equity Offering Sales Agreement	May 27, 2011 Common Stock Maximum Controlled Equity Offering Sales Agreement
Capital Unit [Line Items]
Common Stock, authorized	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common Stock, issued	136,073,000	134,115,000		1,957,318			2,820,000
Common Stock, outstanding	136,073,000	134,115,000
Preferred stock, authorized	20,000,000								5,150,000			3,150,000
Preferred stock, Par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, liquidation preference	$ 25.00	$ 25.00							$ 25.00			$ 25.00
Preferred stock, issued	1,876,000	1,876,000							1,875,500			1,151,560
Preferred stock, outstanding	1,876,000	1,876,000							1,875,500			1,151,560
Agreement to sell shares											1,000,000			1,000,000		20,000,000
Common Stock, available for issuance															19,409,400
Preferred stock, available for sale and issuance										1,000,000			960,000
Public offering number of common stocks					20,000,000	27,000,000
Common stock issued, weighted average price per share				$ 6.40
Proceeds from Common stock public offering				$ 12,526,000
Common stock, public offering			600,000,000
Common stock remaining for issuance under the registration statement	$ 547,500,000
Maximum authorized shares of common stock under grant of stock options and other stock-based awards								3,500,000
Unexercised stock options and restricted stock							917,000

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TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Future Minimum Lease Commitment

At March 31, 2012, the future minimum lease commitment is as follows (in whole dollars):

Year	2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		Thereafter		Total Commitment
Commitment	$	291,213	$	430,766	$	443,669	$	456,987	$	470,720	$	2,851,003	$	4,944,358

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FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Fair Value Measurement for Assets and Liabilities

At March 31, 2012, fair value measurements were as follows (in thousands):

	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Agency MBS(1)	$	0	$	9,038,531	$	0	$	9,038,531
Non-Agency MBS(2)	$	0	$	0	$	1,008	$	1,008
Derivative instruments(3)	$	0	$	1,164	$	0	$	1,164
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments(3)	$	0	$	91,870	$	0	$	91,870

(1) For more detail about the fair value of our Agency MBS by agency and type of security, see Note 3.

(2) For more detail about the fair value of our Non-Agency MBS, see Note 3.

(3) Derivative instruments are hedging instruments under ASC 815-10. For more detail about our derivative instruments, see Notes 1 and 12.

Reconciliation of Level 3 Non-Agency MBS Fair Value Measurements

A reconciliation of the Level 3 Non-Agency MBS fair value measurements is as follows (in thousands):

	Amount
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	1,585
Principal paydowns		(623	)
Recoveries		623
Decrease in unrealized gains		(577	)
Balance at March 31, 2012	$	1,008

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TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2012 sqft	May 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 sqft	Mar. 31, 2011
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Description of Management fee		The Manager will also perform such other services and activities relating to our assets and operations as may be appropriate. In exchange for these services, the Manager receives a management fee paid monthly in arrears in an amount equal to one-twelfth of 1.20% of our Equity (as defined in the Management Agreement).
Monthly management fee payment in arrears, 1/12 of percentage of the Equity		1.20%
Rent paid for leased office space per square foot			57.46
Sublease agreement, sq. ft. leased	7,300		5,500
Sublease agreement, expiration date	2022-06-30		2012-06-30
Rent			$ 85,000	$ 83,000
New sublease agreement, base monthly rent	35,367.80
Sublease agreement, base monthly rent percentage increase starting July 1, 2013	3.00%
Fees paid for administrative services			On July 25, 2008, we entered into an administrative services agreement with PIA, which was amended and restated on August 20, 2010. Under this agreement, PIA provides administrative services and equipment to us including human resources, operational support and information technology, and we pay an annual fee of 5 basis points on the first $225 million of stockholders’ equity and 1.25 basis points thereafter (paid quarterly in arrears) for those services. The administrative services agreement had an initial term of one year and renews for successive one-year terms thereafter unless either party gives notice of termination no less than 30 days before the expiration of the then-current annual term.
Basis points on equity for the annual fee			5 basis points on the first $225 million of stockholders' equity and 1.25 basis points thereafter (paid quarterly in arrears)
Prior written notice to terminate administrative agreement			30 days
Administrative service fees			$ 51,000	$ 48,000
Lloyd McAdams
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Outstanding membership interests			50.00%
Joseph E. McAdams
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Outstanding membership interests			45.00%
Thad M. Brown
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Outstanding membership interests			5.00%
First $225 million of stockholders' equity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Basis points on equity for the annual fee			0.05%
Above $225 million of stockholders' equity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Basis points on equity for the annual fee			0.0125%

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HEDGING INSTRUMENTS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Swap Agreement Notional Amounts, Remaining Term and Weighted Average Interest Rates

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, our swap agreements had the following notional amounts (in thousands), weighted average interest rates and remaining terms (in months):

	March 31, 2012							December 31, 2011
	Notional Amount		Weighted Average Interest Rate			Remaining Term in Months		Notional Amount		Weighted Average Interest Rate			Remaining Term in Months
Less than 12 months	$	695,000		3.41	%		7	$	520,000		3.92	%		5
1 year to 2 years		200,000		2.85			20		375,000		3.32			14
2 years to 3 years		410,000		2.00			30		410,000		2.07			28
3 years to 4 years		730,000		2.06			42		680,000		2.07			42
Over 4 years		1,045,000		1.81			53		1,045,000		1.98			54
	$	3,080,000		2.32	%		35	$	3,030,000		2.51	%		34

Swap Agreements by Counterparty

Swap Agreements by Counterparty

	March 31, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(in thousands)
Deutsche Bank Securities	$	700,000	$	700,000
JPMorgan Securities		500,000		500,000
RBS Greenwich Capital		485,000		485,000
Nomura Securities International		450,000		450,000
Credit Suisse		345,000		395,000
Citigroup		200,000		200,000
Morgan Stanley		150,000		150,000
Bank of New York		100,000		100,000
ING Financial		100,000		0
LBBW Securities, LLC		50,000		50,000
	$	3,080,000	$	3,030,000

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OTHER EXPENSES (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

OTHER EXPENSES

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2012		2011
	(in thousands)
Legal and accounting fees	$	164	$	125
Printing and stockholder communications		35		22
Directors and Officers insurance		108		110
DERs expense(1)		116		0
Amortization of restricted stock(2)		51		0
Software implementation and maintenance		67		65
Administrative service fees		51		48
Rent		85		83
Stock exchange and filing fees		58		59
Custodian fees		33		33
Sarbanes-Oxley consulting fees		28		0
Board of directors fees and expenses		98		80
Securities data services		30		27
Other		100		71
Total of other expenses:	$	1,024	$	723

(1) For the three months ended March 31, 2011, “DERs expense” of $140 thousand was included in “Compensation expense”.

(2) For the three months ended March 31, 2011, “Amortization of restricted stock” of $51 thousand was included in “Compensation expense”.

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STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 29,122	$ 31,160
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Amortization of premium and discounts (Agency MBS)	15,850	12,213
Amortization of restricted stock	70	70
Recovery on Non-Agency MBS	(623)	(218)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in interest receivable	630	(1,157)
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other	(1,375)	905
(Decrease) in accrued interest payable	(3,427)	(863)
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses and payables for securities purchased	235,017	(170,425)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	275,264	(128,315)
Available-for-sale Agency MBS:
Purchases	(827,453)	(862,433)
Principal payments	559,865	441,082
Available-for-sale Non-Agency MBS:
Principal payments	623	701
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(266,965)	(420,650)
Financing Activities:
Borrowings from repurchase agreements	9,699,775	8,749,000
Repayments on repurchase agreements	(9,694,775)	(8,204,000)
Proceeds from common stock issued, net	12,511	21,901
Proceeds from Series B Preferred stock issued, net	0	3,765
Series A Preferred stock dividends paid	(1,011)	(1,011)
Series B Preferred stock dividends paid	(450)	(430)
Common stock dividends paid	(28,083)	(26,574)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(12,033)	542,651
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(3,734)	(6,314)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	8,877	10,621
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	5,143	4,307
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid for interest	$ 24,345	$ 23,294

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ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended
	May 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Description of Management fee	The Manager will also perform such other services and activities relating to our assets and operations as may be appropriate. In exchange for these services, the Manager receives a management fee paid monthly in arrears in an amount equal to one-twelfth of 1.20% of our Equity (as defined in the Management Agreement).
Monthly management fee payment in arrears, 1/12 of percentage of the Equity	1.20%
MBS initial fixed interest rate required, period		Three to five years (but may also include interest rates that are fixed for up to seven years)
Maximum
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Derivative, fixed rate obligation period		5

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Fair Value Measurements (Detail) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012
Agency MBS
Assets:
Asset fair value measurement	$ 9,038,531	[1]
Non-Agency MBS
Assets:
Asset fair value measurement	1,008	[2]
Derivative instruments, assets
Assets:
Asset fair value measurement	1,164	[3]
Derivative instruments, liabilities
Liabilities:
Liabilities fair value measurement	91,870	[3]
Level 1 | Agency MBS
Assets:
Asset fair value measurement	0	[1]
Level 1 | Non-Agency MBS
Assets:
Asset fair value measurement	0	[2]
Level 1 | Derivative instruments, assets
Assets:
Asset fair value measurement	0	[3]
Level 1 | Derivative instruments, liabilities
Liabilities:
Liabilities fair value measurement	0	[3]
Level 2 | Agency MBS
Assets:
Asset fair value measurement	9,038,531	[1]
Level 2 | Non-Agency MBS
Assets:
Asset fair value measurement	0	[2]
Level 2 | Derivative instruments, assets
Assets:
Asset fair value measurement	1,164	[3]
Level 2 | Derivative instruments, liabilities
Liabilities:
Liabilities fair value measurement	91,870	[3]
Level 3 | Agency MBS
Assets:
Asset fair value measurement	0	[1]
Level 3 | Non-Agency MBS
Assets:
Asset fair value measurement	1,008	[2]
Level 3 | Derivative instruments, assets
Assets:
Asset fair value measurement	0	[3]
Level 3 | Derivative instruments, liabilities
Liabilities:
Liabilities fair value measurement	$ 0	[3]

[1] For more detail about the fair value of our Agency MBS by agency and type of security, see Note 3.

[2] For more detail about the fair value of our Non-Agency MBS, see Note 3.

[3] Derivative instruments are hedging instruments under ASC 815-10. For more detail about our derivative instruments, see Notes 1 and 12.

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BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Agency MBS:
Agency MBS pledged to counterparties at fair value	$ 8,087,281	$ 8,068,829
Agency MBS at fair value	904,002	644,694
Paydowns receivable	47,248	48,371
Available-for-sale Securities, Total	9,038,531	8,761,894
Non-Agency MBS:
Non-Agency MBS at fair value	1,008	1,585
Cash and cash equivalents	5,143	8,877
Interest and dividends receivable	27,455	28,085
Derivative instruments at fair value	1,164	0
Prepaid expenses and other	14,703	13,328
Total Assets:	9,088,004	8,813,769
Liabilities:
Accrued interest payable	20,297	23,788
Repurchase agreements	7,600,000	7,595,000
Junior subordinated notes	37,380	37,380
Derivative instruments at fair value	91,870	96,808
Dividends payable on Series A Preferred Stock	1,011	1,011
Dividends payable on Series B Preferred Stock	450	450
Dividends payable on common stock	28,575	28,083
Payable for securities purchased	255,708	20,679
Accrued expenses and other	1,032	1,044
Total Liabilities:	8,036,323	7,804,243
Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock: par value $0.01 per share; liquidating preference $25.00 per share ($28,789 and $28,789, respectively); 1,152 and 1,152 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	27,239	27,239
Stockholders' Equity:
Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock: par value $0.01 per share; liquidating preference $25.00 per share ($46,888 and $46,888, respectively); 1,876 and 1,876 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	45,397	45,397
Common Stock: par value $0.01 per share; authorized 200,000 shares, 136,073 and 134,115 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	1,361	1,341
Additional paid-in capital	1,158,295	1,145,733
Accumulated other comprehensive income consisting of unrealized losses and gains	80,711	50,223
Accumulated deficit	(261,322)	(260,407)
Total Stockholders' Equity:	1,024,442	982,287
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:	$ 9,088,004	$ 8,813,769

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Future Minimum Lease Commitment (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2012
Leases Disclosure [Line Items]
2012	$ 291,213
2013	430,766
2014	443,669
2015	456,987
2016	470,720
Thereafter	2,851,003
Total Commitment	$ 4,944,358

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STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands	Total	Series A Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accum. Other Comp. Income Agency MBS	Accum. Other Comp. Income Non-Agency MBS	Accum. Other Comp. (Loss) Derivatives	Accum. (Deficit)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 982,287	$ 45,397	$ 1,341	$ 1,145,733	$ 145,663	$ 1,585	$ (97,025)	$ (260,407)
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		1,876	134,115
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			1,958
Issuance of common stock	12,512		20	12,492
Other comprehensive income (loss), fair value adjustments and reclassifications	30,487				24,899	(577)	6,165
Net income	29,122							29,122
Amortization of restricted stock	70			70
Dividend declared-$0.539063 per Series A preferred share	(1,011)							(1,011)
Dividend declared-$0.390625 per Series B preferred share	(450)							(450)
Dividend declared-$0.21 per common share	(28,575)							(28,575)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2012	$ 1,024,442	$ 45,397	$ 1,361	$ 1,158,295	$ 170,562	$ 1,008	$ (90,860)	$ (261,321)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2012		1,876	136,073

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Reverse Repurchase Agreements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012
Maximum
Repurchase Agreement Counterparty [Line Items]
Reverse repurchase agreements	$ 73.0
Average amount outstanding
Repurchase Agreement Counterparty [Line Items]
Reverse repurchase agreements	$ 3.8

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OTHER EXPENSES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

OTHER EXPENSES

NOTE 14. OTHER EXPENSES

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2012		2011
	(in thousands)
Legal and accounting fees	$	164	$	125
Printing and stockholder communications		35		22
Directors and Officers insurance		108		110
DERs expense(1)		116		0
Amortization of restricted stock(2)		51		0
Software implementation and maintenance		67		65
Administrative service fees		51		48
Rent		85		83
Stock exchange and filing fees		58		59
Custodian fees		33		33
Sarbanes-Oxley consulting fees		28		0
Board of directors fees and expenses		98		80
Securities data services		30		27
Other		100		71
Total of other expenses:	$	1,024	$	723

(1) For the three months ended March 31, 2011, “DERs expense” of $140 thousand was included in “Compensation expense”.

(2) For the three months ended March 31, 2011, “Amortization of restricted stock” of $51 thousand was included in “Compensation expense”.

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Agency MBS and Non-Agency MBS, Classified as Available-for-Sale which are Carried at Fair Value (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Paydowns receivable	$ 47,248		$ 48,371
Agency MBS
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized cost	8,820,720		8,567,860
Paydowns receivable	47,248	[1]	48,371
Unrealized gains	179,559		158,565
Unrealized losses	(8,996)		(12,902)
Fair value	9,038,531		8,761,894
Agency MBS | Ginnie Mae
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized cost	16,981		17,392
Paydowns receivable	0	[1]	0
Unrealized gains	5		2
Unrealized losses	(198)		(293)
Fair value	16,788		17,101
Agency MBS | Freddie Mac
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized cost	2,642,472		2,645,045
Paydowns receivable	47,248	[1]	48,371
Unrealized gains	53,227		48,740
Unrealized losses	(3,250)		(6,314)
Fair value	2,739,697		2,735,842
Agency MBS | Fannie Mae
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized cost	6,161,267		5,905,423
Paydowns receivable	0	[1]	0
Unrealized gains	126,327		109,823
Unrealized losses	(5,548)		(6,295)
Fair value	6,282,046		6,008,951
Agency MBS | ARMs
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized cost	2,007,742		2,010,934
Paydowns receivable	6,578	[1]	4,927
Unrealized gains	61,396		51,030
Unrealized losses	(3,870)		(4,812)
Fair value	2,071,846		2,062,079
Agency MBS | Hybrid ARMs
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized cost	5,226,056		4,976,389
Paydowns receivable	40,670	[1]	43,444
Unrealized gains	63,795		54,574
Unrealized losses	(4,777)		(7,651)
Fair value	5,325,744		5,066,756
Agency MBS | 15-Year Fixed-Rate
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized cost	1,146,948		1,106,919
Paydowns receivable	0	[1]	0
Unrealized gains	17,181		15,017
Unrealized losses	(345)		(436)
Fair value	1,163,784		1,121,500
Agency MBS | 30-Year Fixed-Rate
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized cost	437,083		470,493
Paydowns receivable	0	[1]	0
Unrealized gains	37,182		37,939
Unrealized losses	(3)		(3)
Fair value	474,262		508,429
Agency MBS | Floating-Rate CMOs
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized cost	2,891		3,125
Paydowns receivable	0	[1]	0
Unrealized gains	5		5
Unrealized losses	(1)		0
Fair value	2,895		3,130
Non-Agency MBS
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized cost	0		0
Unrealized gains	1,008		1,585
Fair value	$ 1,008		$ 1,585

[1] Paydowns receivable are generated when the Company receives notice from Freddie Mac of prepayments but does not receive the actual cash with respect to such prepayments until the 15th day of the following month.

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ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. The carrying amount of cash equivalents approximates their fair value.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

We use securities purchased under agreements to resell, or reverse repurchase agreements, as a means of investing excess cash. Although legally structured as a purchase and subsequent resale, reverse repurchase agreements are treated as financing instruments under which the counterparty pledges securities (principally U.S. treasury securities) and accrued interest as collateral to secure a loan. The difference between the purchase price that we pay and the resale price that we receive represents interest paid to us and is included in “Other income” on our unaudited statements of income. It is our policy to generally take possession of securities purchased under reverse repurchase agreements at the time such agreements are made.

Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS)

Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS)

Agency MBS are securities that are obligations (including principal and interest) guaranteed by the U.S. government, such as Ginnie Mae, or guaranteed by federally sponsored enterprises, such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Our investment-grade Agency MBS portfolio is invested primarily in fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage-backed pass-through certificates and hybrid adjustable-rate MBS. Hybrid adjustable-rate MBS have an initial interest rate that is fixed for a certain period, usually three to five years (but may also include interest rates that are fixed for up to seven years), and then adjusts annually for the remainder of the term of the asset. We structure our investment portfolio to be diversified with a variety of prepayment characteristics, investing in mortgage assets with prepayment penalties, investing in certain mortgage security structures that have prepayment protections and purchasing mortgage-related assets at a premium and at a discount.

Non-Agency MBS are securities issued by other companies that are not government-sponsored enterprises and are secured primarily by first-lien residential mortgage loans.

We classify our MBS as either trading investments, available-for-sale investments or held-to-maturity investments. Our management determines the appropriate classification of the securities at the time they are acquired and evaluates the appropriateness of such classifications at each balance sheet date. We currently classify all of our MBS as available-for-sale. All assets that are classified as available-for-sale are carried at fair value and unrealized gains or losses are generally included in “Other comprehensive income (loss)” as a component of stockholders’ equity. Losses that are credit-related on securities classified as available-for-sale, which are determined by management to be other-than-temporary in nature, are reclassified from “Other comprehensive income” to income (loss).

The most significant source of our revenue is derived from our investments in MBS. Interest income on Agency MBS and Non-Agency MBS is accrued based on the actual coupon rate and the outstanding principal amount of the underlying mortgages. Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted into interest income over the estimated lives of the securities using the effective interest yield method, adjusted for the effects of actual prepayments based on the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 320-10. Our policy for estimating prepayment speeds for calculating the effective yield is to evaluate historical performance, street consensus prepayment speeds and current market conditions. If our estimate of prepayments is materially incorrect, as compared to the aforementioned references, we may be required to make an adjustment to the amortization or accretion of premiums and discounts that would have an impact on future income, which could be material and adverse.

Securities are recorded on the date the securities are purchased or sold. Realized gains or losses from securities transactions are determined based on the specific identified cost of the securities.

The following table shows our investments’ gross unrealized losses and fair value of those individual securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, aggregated by investment category and length of time (dollar amounts in thousands):

March 31, 2012

	Less Than 12 Months							12 Months or More							Total
Description of Securities	Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses
Agency MBS		46	$	824,664	$	(2,434	)		278	$	470,330	$	(6,562	)		324	$	1,294,994	$	(8,996	)

December 31, 2011

	Less Than 12 Months							12 Months or More							Total
Description of Securities	Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Number of Securities		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses
Agency MBS		44	$	832,151	$	(3,358	)		304	$	589,363	$	(9,544	)		348	$	1,421,514	$	(12,902	)

We do not consider those Agency MBS that have been in a continuous loss position for 12 months or more to be other-than-temporarily impaired. The unrealized losses on our investments in Agency MBS were caused by fluctuations in interest rates. We purchased the Agency MBS primarily at a premium relative to their face value and the contractual cash flows of those investments are guaranteed by the U.S. government or government-sponsored agencies. Since September 2008, the government-sponsored agencies have been in the conservatorship of the U.S. government. We do not expect to sell the Agency MBS at a price less than the amortized cost basis of our investments. Because the decline in market value of the Agency MBS is attributable to changes in interest rates and not the credit quality of the Agency MBS in our portfolio, and because we do not have the intent to sell these investments nor is it more likely than not that we will be required to sell these investments before recovery of their amortized cost basis, which may be at maturity, we do not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2012.

Repurchase Agreements

Repurchase Agreements

We finance the acquisition of MBS primarily through the use of repurchase agreements. Under these repurchase agreements, we sell securities to a lender and agree to repurchase the same securities in the future for a price that is higher than the original sales price. The difference between the sale price that we receive and the repurchase price that we pay represents interest paid to the lender. Although structured as a sale and repurchase obligation, a repurchase agreement operates as a financing under which we pledge our securities and accrued interest as collateral to secure a loan which is equal in value to a specified percentage of the estimated fair value of the pledged collateral. We retain beneficial ownership of the pledged collateral. Upon the maturity of a repurchase agreement, we are required to repay the loan and concurrently receive back our pledged collateral from the lender or, with the consent of the lender, we may renew such agreement at the then-prevailing financing rate. These repurchase agreements may require us to pledge additional assets to the lender in the event the estimated fair value of the existing pledged collateral declines.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments

Interest Rate Risk Management

We primarily use short-term (less than or equal to 12 months) repurchase agreements to finance the purchase of MBS. These obligations expose us to variability in interest payments due to changes in interest rates. We continuously monitor changes in interest rate exposures and evaluate hedging opportunities.

Our objective is to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows. We achieve this by entering into interest rate swap agreements, which effectively convert a percentage of our repurchase agreements to fixed-rate obligations over a period of up to five years. Under interest rate swap contracts, we agree to pay an amount equal to a specified fixed rate of interest times a notional principal amount and to receive in return an amount equal to a specified variable-rate of interest times a notional amount, generally based on the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR. The notional amounts are not exchanged. We account for these swap agreements as cash flow hedges in accordance with ASC 815-10. We do not issue or hold derivative contracts for speculative purposes.

We are exposed to credit losses in the event of non-performance by counterparties to interest rate swap agreements. In order to limit credit risk associated with swap agreements, our current practice is to only enter into swap agreements with large financial institution counterparties who are market makers for these types of instruments, limit our exposure on each swap agreement to a single counterparty under our defined guidelines and either pay or receive collateral to or from each counterparty on a periodic basis to cover the net fair market value position of the swap agreements held with that counterparty.

Accounting for Derivatives and Hedging Activities

In accordance with ASC 815-10, a derivative that is designated as a hedge is recognized as an asset/liability and measured at estimated fair value. In order for our interest rate swap agreements to qualify for hedge accounting, upon entering into the swap agreement, we must anticipate that the hedge will be highly “effective” as defined by ASC 815-10.

On the date we enter into a derivative contract, we designate the derivative as a hedge of the variability of cash flows that are to be received or paid in connection with a recognized asset or liability (a “cash flow” hedge). Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective and that is designated and qualifies as a cash flow hedge, to the extent that the hedge is effective, are recorded in “Other comprehensive income” and reclassified to income when the forecasted transaction affects income (e.g., when periodic settlement interest payments are due on repurchase agreements). The swap agreements are carried on our balance sheets at their fair value, based on values obtained from large financial institutions who are market makers for these types of instruments. Hedge ineffectiveness, if any, is recorded in current-period income.

We formally assess, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions have been highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of hedged items and whether those derivatives may be expected to remain highly effective in future periods. If it is determined that a derivative is not (or has ceased to be) highly effective as a hedge, we discontinue hedge accounting.

When we discontinue hedge accounting, the gain or loss on the derivative remains in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” and is reclassified into income when the forecasted transaction affects income. In all situations in which hedge accounting is discontinued and the derivative remains outstanding, we will carry the derivative at its fair value on our balance sheet, recognizing changes in the fair value in current-period income.

For purposes of the cash flow statement, cash flows from derivative instruments are classified with the cash flows from the hedged item.

For more details on the amounts and other qualitative information on our swap agreements, see Note 12. For more information on the fair value of our swap agreements, see Note 6.

Credit Risk

Credit Risk

At March 31, 2012, we have attempted to limit our exposure to credit losses on our MBS by purchasing securities primarily through Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The payment of principal and interest on the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae MBS are guaranteed by those respective enterprises. In September 2008, both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were placed in the conservatorship of the U.S. government. While it is the intent that the conservatorship will help stabilize Freddie Mac’s and Fannie Mae’s losses and overall financial position, there can be no assurance that it will succeed or that, if necessary, Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae will be able to satisfy its guarantees of Agency MBS. In August 2011, Standard & Poor’s downgraded each of U.S. sovereign debt and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from AAA to AA+. We do not know what effect this will ultimately have on the U.S. economy, the value of our securities or the ability of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to satisfy its guarantees of Agency MBS if necessary.

Our adjustable-rate MBS are subject to periodic and lifetime interest rate caps. Periodic caps can limit the amount an interest rate can increase during any given period. Some adjustable-rate MBS subject to periodic payment caps may result in a portion of the interest being deferred and added to the principal outstanding.

Other-than-temporary losses on our available-for-sale MBS, as measured by the amount of decline in estimated fair value attributable to credit losses that are considered to be other-than-temporary, are charged against income, resulting in an adjustment of the cost basis of such securities. Based on the criteria in ASC-320-10, the determination of whether a security is other-than-temporarily impaired, or OTTI, involves judgments and assumptions based on both subjective and objective factors. When a security is impaired, an OTTI is considered to have occurred if (i) we intend to sell the security, (ii) it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis or (iii) we do not expect to recover its amortized cost basis (i.e., there is a credit-related loss). The following are among, but not all of, the factors considered in determining whether and to what extent an OTTI exists and the portion that is related to credit loss: (i) the expected cash flow from the investment; (ii) whether there has been an other-than-temporary deterioration of the credit quality of the underlying mortgages; (iii) the credit protection available to the related mortgage pool for MBS; (iv) any other market information available, including analysts’ assessments and statements, public statements and filings made by the debtor or counterparty; (v) management’s internal analysis of the security, considering all known relevant information at the time of assessment; and (vi) the magnitude and duration of historical decline in market prices. Because management’s assessments are based on factual information as well as subjective information available at the time of assessment, the determination as to whether an other-than-temporary decline exists and, if so, the amount considered impaired, is also subjective and therefore constitutes material estimates that are susceptible to significant change.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT and to comply with the provisions of the Code with respect thereto. Accordingly, we will not be subject to federal income tax to the extent that our distributions to our stockholders satisfy the REIT requirements and that certain asset, income and stock ownership tests are met.

We have no unrecognized tax benefits and do not anticipate any increase in unrecognized benefits during 2012 relative to any tax positions taken prior to January 1, 2012. Should the accrual of any interest or penalties relative to unrecognized tax benefits be necessary, it is our policy to record such accruals in our income taxes accounts; and no such accruals existed at March 31, 2012. We file REIT U.S. federal and California income tax returns. These returns are generally open to examination by the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board for all years after 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock

Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock

We classify our Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, or Series B Preferred Stock, on our balance sheets using the guidance in ASC 480-10-S99. The Series B Preferred Stock contains certain fundamental change provisions that allow the holder to redeem the preferred stock for cash only if certain events occur, such as a change in control. As redemption under these circumstances is not solely within our control, we have classified the Series B Preferred Stock as temporary equity.

We have analyzed whether the conversion features in the Series B Preferred Stock should be bifurcated under the guidance in ASC 815-10 and have determined that bifurcation is not necessary.

Stock-Based Expense

Stock-Based Expense

In accordance with ASC 718-10, any expense relating to share-based payment transactions is recognized in the unaudited financial statements.

Restricted stock is expensed over the vesting period (see Note 11).

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share, or EPS, is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS assumes the conversion, exercise or issuance of all potential common stock equivalents (which includes stock options and convertible preferred stock) and the adding back of the Series B Preferred Stock dividends unless the effect is to reduce a loss or increase the income per share.

The computation of EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 is as follows (amounts in thousands, except per share data):

	Net Income Available to Common Stockholders		Average Shares		Earnings per Share
For the three months ended March 31, 2012
Basic EPS	$	27,661		135,064	$	0.20
Effect of dilutive securities		450		4,228		0.00
Diluted EPS	$	28,111		139,292	$	0.20
For the three months ended March 31, 2011
Basic EPS	$	29,657		121,914	$	0.24
Effect of dilutive securities		492		4,291		0.00
Diluted EPS	$	30,149		126,205	$	0.24

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

In accordance with ASC 220-10-55-2, total comprehensive income is divided into net income and other comprehensive income, which includes unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities classified as available-for-sale, and unrealized gains and losses on derivative financial instruments that qualify for cash flow hedge accounting under ASC 815-10.

USE OF ESTIMATES

USE OF ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In April 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2011-03, “Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements.” One of the relevant considerations for assessing effective control was the transferor’s ability to repurchase or redeem financial assets before maturity. Under this criterion, an entity must consider whether there is an exchange of collateral in sufficient amount so as to reasonably assure the arrangement’s completion on substantially the agreed terms. In this ASU, the FASB determined that the criterion pertaining to an exchange of collateral should not be a determining factor in assessing effective control and removed this criterion from the consideration of effective control. The FASB concluded that the assessment of effective control should focus on a transferor’s contractual rights and obligations with respect to transferred financial assets, not on whether the transferor has the practical ability to perform in accordance with those rights or obligations. This ASU became effective for our financial statements beginning with the first quarter of 2012. We have adopted this ASU and it did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.” ASU 2011-04 supersedes most of the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820 (formerly FASB Statement No. 157), although many of the changes are clarifications of existing guidance or wording changes to align with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, 13. Additionally, this ASU requires (i) disclosure of any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; (ii) disclosure when the highest and best use of a non-financial asset differs from its current use; (iii) disclosure of fair value by level for each class of assets and liabilities not measured at fair value in the statement of financial position but for which the fair value is disclosed; and (iv) disclosure of information about measurement uncertainty in the form of a sensitivity analysis for recurring fair value measurements categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy unless another ASC topic specifies that such disclosure is not required. This ASU became effective for our financial statements beginning with the first quarter of 2012. We have adopted this ASU and it did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income.” ASU 2011-05 supersedes some of the guidance in ASC Topic 220. The main provisions of this ASU provide that an entity that reports items of other comprehensive income has the option to present comprehensive income in either one or two consecutive financial statements: (i) in a single statement where an entity must present the components of net income and total net income, the components of other comprehensive income and total other comprehensive income, and a total for comprehensive income; or (ii) in a two-statement approach where an entity must present the components of net income and total net income in the first statement with that first statement being immediately followed by a financial statement that presents the components of other comprehensive income, a total for other comprehensive income, and a total for comprehensive income. The previous option in GAAP that permitted the presentation of other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in equity has been eliminated. This ASU became effective for our financial statements beginning with the first quarter of 2012. We have adopted this ASU and it did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, “Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities”. This ASU requires the disclosure in tabular format in a footnote of the gross amounts subject to rights of set-off, the gross amounts of any set-off and the net amounts shown on the balance sheet. This ASU also requires the disclosure of any agreements subject to such netting arrangements. This ASU will affect all financial instruments such as securities lending agreements repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and derivatives instruments. As there are differences in the offsetting requirements between GAAP and IFRS, the objective of this disclosure is to facilitate comparison between companies that prepare their financial statements according to those different reporting requirements. As the disclosures are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013 and for all interim periods within those annual periods, this ASU will become effective for our financial statements beginning with the quarter ending March 31, 2013. We do not believe that this ASU will have a material impact on our financial statements.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, “Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05”. Among the provisions in ASU 2011-05 was a requirement to present reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income, or AOCI, by components in both the statement in which net income is presented and the statement in which other comprehensive income, or OCI, is presented (for both interim and annual financial statements). This requirement was indefinitely deferred by ASU 2011-12 and will be further deliberated by the FASB at a later date. ASU 2011-12 does not defer the other requirements of ASU 2011-05. ASU 2011-12 became effective on the same effective date as ASU 2011-5. We have adopted this ASU and it did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

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STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012
Dividend declared, per common share	$ 0.21
Series A Preferred Stock
Dividend declared, per preferred share	$ 0.539063
Series B Preferred Stock
Dividend declared, per preferred share	$ 0.390625

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BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock: par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock: liquidating preference per share	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock: liquidating preference	$ 28,789	$ 28,789
Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock: Shares Issued	1,152	1,152
Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock: shares outstanding	1,152	1,152
Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock: par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock: liquidating preference per share	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock: liquidating preference	$ 46,888	$ 46,888
Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock: shares issued	1,876	1,876
Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock: shares outstanding	1,876	1,876
Common Stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, authorized	200,000	200,000
Common Stock, issued	136,073	134,115
Common Stock, outstanding	136,073	134,115

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PUBLIC OFFERINGS AND CAPITAL STOCK

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

PUBLIC OFFERINGS AND CAPITAL STOCK

NOTE 9. PUBLIC OFFERINGS AND CAPITAL STOCK

At March 31, 2012, our authorized capital included 200,000,000 shares of common stock, of which 136,072,545 shares were issued and outstanding.

At March 31, 2012, our authorized capital included 20,000,000 shares of $0.01 par value preferred stock, of which 5,150,000 shares had been designated 8.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock (liquidation preference $25.00 per share) and 3,150,000 shares had been designated 6.25% Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (liquidation preference $25.00 per share). The undesignated shares of preferred stock may be issued in one or more classes or series, with such distinctive designations, rights and preferences as determined by our board of directors. At March 31, 2012, there were 1,875,500 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding and 1,151,560 shares of Series B Preferred Stock issued and outstanding.

On May 27, 2011, we entered into a Controlled Equity Offering Sales Agreement, or the 2011 Sales Agreement, with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., or Cantor, to sell up to 20,000,000 shares of our common stock, 1,000,000 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock and 1,000,000 shares of our Series B Preferred Stock. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we did not sell any shares of common stock, our Series A Preferred Stock or our Series B Preferred Stock under the 2011 Sales Agreement. At March 31, 2012, there were 19,409,400 shares of common stock, 1,000,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and 960,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, respectively, available for sale and issuance under the 2011 Sales Agreement.

Our Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan allows stockholders and non-stockholders to purchase shares of our common stock and to reinvest dividends therefrom to acquire additional shares of our common stock. On December 28, 2009, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC, offering up to 20,000,000 shares of our common stock for our 2009 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, or the 2009 Plan. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we issued an aggregate of 1,957,318 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $6.40 per share under the 2009 Plan, resulting in proceeds to us of approximately $12.526 million. On March 14, 2012, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC, offering up to 27,000,000 shares of our common stock for our 2012 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, or the 2012 Plan. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we did not issue any shares of common stock under the 2012 Plan. Effective March 31, 2012, the 2009 Plan was terminated and all subsequent issuances of shares of common stock will be under the 2012 Plan.

On December 28, 2009, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC, and on February 26, 2010 we filed a pre-effective amendment thereto with the SEC, offering up to $600 million of our capital stock. The registration statement was declared effective on March 26, 2010. At March 31, 2012, approximately $547.5 million of our capital stock was available for issuance under the registration statement.

On November 7, 2005, we filed a registration statement on Form S-8 with the SEC to register an aggregate of up to 3,500,000 shares of our common stock to be issued pursuant to the Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2004 Equity Compensation Plan, or the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan. To date, we have issued 2,820,000 shares of common stock under the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan. This amount includes 917,000 shares of unexercised stock options and restricted stock.

XML

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	May 07, 2012
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	ANH
Entity Registrant Name	ANWORTH MORTGAGE ASSET CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0001047884
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		137,191,232

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TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

NOTE 10. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management Agreement and Externalization

At our annual stockholders meeting on May 25, 2011, our stockholders approved the entry by us into a management agreement, or the Management Agreement, between us and Anworth Management, LLC, or the Manager. We entered into the Management Agreement effective as of December 31, 2011, pursuant to which our day-to-day operations are now being conducted by the Manager. The Manager is supervised and directed by our board of directors and is responsible for (i) the selection, purchase and sale of our investment portfolio; (ii) our financing and hedging activities; and (iii) providing us with management services. The Manager will also perform such other services and activities relating to our assets and operations as may be appropriate. In exchange for these services, the Manager receives a management fee paid monthly in arrears in an amount equal to one-twelfth of 1.20% of our Equity (as defined in the Management Agreement).

On the effective date of the Management Agreement, the employment agreements with our executives terminated, our employees became employees of the Manager, and we took such other actions as we believed were reasonably necessary to implement the Management Agreement and the externalization of our management function, or the Externalization.

A trust controlled by Lloyd McAdams, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Heather U. Baines, our Executive Vice President, beneficially owns 50% of the outstanding membership interests in the Manager; Joseph E. McAdams, our Chief Investment Officer, beneficially owns 45% of the outstanding membership interests; and Thad M. Brown, our Chief Financial Officer, owns 5% of the outstanding membership interests.

Nothing in the Management Agreement prevents the Manager or any of its affiliates from engaging in other businesses or from rendering services of any kind to any other person or entity, including investment in or advisory service to others investing in any type of real estate investment, other than advising other REITs that invest more than 75% of their assets in U.S. agency residential mortgage-backed securities. Directors, officers and employees of the Manager may serve as our directors and officers.

The terms of the Management Agreement, including the management fee payable, were not negotiated on an arm’s-length basis, and its terms may not be as favorable to us as if it was negotiated with an unaffiliated party. The management fee that we pay to the Manager is not tied to our performance. The management fee is paid regardless of our performance and it may not provide sufficient incentive to the Manager to seek to achieve risk-adjusted returns for our investment portfolio.

The Management Agreement may only be terminated without cause, as defined in the agreement, after the completion of its initial term on December 31, 2013, or the expiration of each annual renewal term. We are required to provide 180-days prior notice of non-renewal of the Management Agreement and must pay a termination fee on the last day of the initial term or any automatic renewal term, equal to three times the average annual management fee earned by the Manger during the prior 24-month period immediately preceding the most recently completed month prior to the effective date of termination. We may only not renew the Management Agreement with or without cause with the consent of the majority of our independent directors. These provisions make it difficult to terminate the Management Agreement and increase the effective cost to us of not renewing the Management Agreement.

Certain of our officers were previously granted restricted stock and other equity awards (see Note 11), including dividend equivalent rights, in connection with their service to us, and certain of our officers had agreements under which they would receive payments if the Company is subject to a change in control (discussed later in this Note 10). In connection with the Externalization, certain of the agreements under which our officers were granted equity awards and would be paid payments in the event of a change in control were modified so that such agreements will continue with respect to our officers and employees after they became officers and employees of the Manager. In addition, as officers of our Company and employees of the Manager, they will continue to be eligible to receive equity incentive awards under equity incentive plans in effect now or in the future.

Change in Control and Arbitration Agreements

On June 27, 2006, we entered into Change in Control and Arbitration Agreements with each of Mr. Thad M. Brown, our Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Charles J. Siegel, our Senior Vice President-Finance, Ms. Bistra Pashamova, our Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager, and Mr. Evangelos Karagiannis, our Vice President and Portfolio Manager, as well as certain of our other officers. In connection with the Externalization, we amended these agreements to provide that should a change in control (as defined in the amended agreements) occur, each of these officers will receive certain severance and other benefits valued as of December 31, 2011. Under the amended agreements, in the event that a change in control occurs, each of these officers will receive a lump sum payment equal to (i) 12 months annual base salary in effect on December 31, 2011, plus (ii) the average annual incentive compensation received for the two complete fiscal years prior December 31, 2011, plus (iii) the average annual bonus received for the two complete fiscal years prior to December 31, 2011, as well as other benefits. The amended Change in Control and Arbitration Agreements also provide for accelerated vesting of equity awards granted to these officers upon a change in control.

Agreements with Pacific Income Advisers, Inc.

On June 13, 2002, we entered into a sublease agreement with Pacific Income Advisers, Inc., or PIA, a company owned by trusts controlled by certain of our officers. Under the sublease agreement, as amended on July 8, 2003, we lease, on a pass-through basis, 5,500 square feet of office space from PIA and pay rent at an annual rate equal to PIA’s obligation, currently $57.46 per square foot. The sublease agreement runs through June 30, 2012 unless earlier terminated pursuant to the master lease. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we paid $85 thousand in rent and other operating expenses to PIA under the sublease agreement, which is included in “Other expenses” on the unaudited statements of income. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, we paid $83 thousand in rent and related expenses to PIA under the sublease agreement.

On January 26, 2012, we entered into a sublease agreement with PIA that becomes effective on July 1, 2012. Under the new sublease agreement, we will lease, on a pass-through basis, 7,300 square feet of office space from PIA at the same location and pay rent at an annual rate equal to PIA’s obligation. The base monthly rental for us will be $35,367.80, which will be increased by 3% per annum beginning on July 1, 2013. The new sublease agreement runs through June 30, 2022 unless earlier terminated pursuant to the master lease.

At March 31, 2012, the future minimum lease commitment is as follows (in whole dollars):

Year	2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		Thereafter		Total Commitment
Commitment	$	291,213	$	430,766	$	443,669	$	456,987	$	470,720	$	2,851,003	$	4,944,358

On July 25, 2008, we entered into an administrative services agreement with PIA, which was amended and restated on August 20, 2010. Under this agreement, PIA provides administrative services and equipment to us including human resources, operational support and information technology, and we pay an annual fee of 5 basis points on the first $225 million of stockholders’ equity and 1.25 basis points thereafter (paid quarterly in arrears) for those services. The administrative services agreement had an initial term of one year and renews for successive one-year terms thereafter unless either party gives notice of termination no less than 30 days before the expiration of the then-current annual term. We may also terminate the administrative services agreement upon 30 days prior written notice for any reason and immediately if there is a material breach by PIA. Included in “Other expenses” on the unaudited statements of income are fees of $51 thousand paid to PIA in connection with this agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2012. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, we paid fees of $48 thousand to PIA in connection with this agreement.

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STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Interest income:
Interest on Agency MBS	$ 53,225	$ 56,901
Interest on Non-Agency MBS	24	45
Other income	14	11
Interest and Dividend Income, Operating, Total	53,263	56,957
Interest expense:
Interest expense on repurchase agreements	20,574	22,112
Interest expense on junior subordinated notes	345	319
Interest Expense, Total	20,919	22,431
Net interest income	32,344	34,526
Recoveries on Non-Agency MBS	623	218
Expenses:
Management fee	(2,821)	0
Compensation, incentive compensation and benefits	0	(2,861)
Other expenses	(1,024)	(723)
Total expenses	(3,845)	(3,584)
Net income	29,122	31,160
Dividend on Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock	(1,011)	(1,011)
Dividend on Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock	(450)	(492)
Net income to common stockholders	$ 27,661	$ 29,657
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.20	$ 0.24
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.20	$ 0.24
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding	135,064	121,914
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding	139,292	126,205

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REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

NOTE 4. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

We have entered into repurchase agreements with large financial institutions to finance most of our Agency MBS. The repurchase agreements are short-term borrowings that are secured by the market value of our MBS and bear fixed interest rates that have historically been based upon LIBOR.

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the repurchase agreements had the following balances (in thousands), weighted average interest rates and remaining weighted average maturities:

	March 31, 2012						December 31, 2011
	Balance			Weighted Average Interest Rate			Balance			Weighted Average Interest Rate
Overnight	$	0			0.00	%	$	0			0.00	%
Less than 30 days		3,980,000			0.32			3,630,000			0.33
30 days to 90 days		3,620,000			0.34			3,965,000			0.38
Over 90 days to less than 1 year		0			0.00			0			0.00
1 year to 2 years		0			0.00			0			0.00
Demand		0			0.00			0			0.00
	$	7,600,000			0.33	%	$	7,595,000			0.36	%
Weighted average maturity		34 days						38 days
Weighted average term to maturity (after adjusting for interest rate swap transactions)		445 days						436 days
Weighted average borrowing rate (after adjusting for interest rate swap transactions)		1.05	%					1.18	%
Agency MBS pledged as collateral under the repurchase agreements and swap agreements	$	8,087,281					$	8,068,829

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MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (MBS)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (MBS)

NOTE 3. MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (MBS)

The following tables summarize our Agency MBS and Non-Agency MBS, classified as available-for-sale, at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, which are carried at their fair value (amounts in thousands):

March 31, 2012

Agency MBS (By Agency)	Ginnie Mae			Freddie Mac			Fannie Mae			Total Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	16,981		$	2,642,472		$	6,161,267		$	8,820,720
Paydowns receivable(1)		0			47,248			0			47,248
Unrealized gains		5			53,227			126,327			179,559
Unrealized losses		(198	)		(3,250	)		(5,548	)		(8,996	)
Fair value	$	16,788		$	2,739,697		$	6,282,046		$	9,038,531

Agency MBS (By Security Type)	ARMs			Hybrid ARMs			15-Year Fixed-Rate			30-Year Fixed-Rate			Floating- Rate CMOs			Total Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	2,007,742		$	5,226,056		$	1,146,948		$	437,083		$	2,891		$	8,820,720
Paydowns receivable(1)		6,578			40,670			0			0			0			47,248
Unrealized gains		61,396			63,795			17,181			37,182			5			179,559
Unrealized losses		(3,870	)		(4,777	)		(345	)		(3	)		(1	)		(8,996	)
Fair value	$	2,071,846		$	5,325,744		$	1,163,784		$	474,262		$	2,895		$	9,038,531

(1) Paydowns receivable are generated when the Company receives notice from Freddie Mac of prepayments but does not receive the actual cash with respect to such prepayments until the 15^th day of the following month.

Non-Agency MBS	Total Non- Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	0
Unrealized gains		1,008
Fair value	$	1,008

At March 31, 2012, our Non-Agency MBS portfolio consisted of floating-rate collateralized mortgage obligations, or CMOs, (option-adjusted ARMs based on one-month LIBOR) with an average coupon of 0.49%, which were acquired at par value.

The fair value of our Non-Agency MBS portfolio declined to approximately $1.0 million at March 31, 2012 from a fair value of approximately $1.6 million at December 31, 2011. The details of this decline are set forth in Note 6.

At March 31, 2012, two securities representing the principal balance of our Non-Agency MBS portfolio were rated C by Moody’s Investor Service and rated D by Standard & Poor’s.

December 31, 2011

Agency MBS (By Agency)	Ginnie Mae			Freddie Mac			Fannie Mae			Total Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	17,392		$	2,645,045		$	5,905,423		$	8,567,860
Paydowns receivable		0			48,371			0			48,371
Unrealized gains		2			48,740			109,823			158,565
Unrealized losses		(293	)		(6,314	)		(6,295	)		(12,902	)
Fair value	$	17,101		$	2,735,842		$	6,008,951		$	8,761,894

Agency MBS (By Security Type)	ARMs			Hybrid ARMs			15-Year Fixed-Rate			30-Year Fixed-Rate			Floating- Rate CMOs		Total Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	2,010,934		$	4,976,389		$	1,106,919		$	470,493		$	3,125	$	8,567,860
Paydowns receivable		4,927			43,444			0			0			0		48,371
Unrealized gains		51,030			54,574			15,017			37,939			5		158,565
Unrealized losses		(4,812	)		(7,651	)		(436	)		(3	)		0		(12,902	)
Fair value	$	2,062,079		$	5,066,756		$	1,121,500		$	508,429		$	3,130	$	8,761,894

Non-Agency MBS	Total Non- Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	0
Unrealized gains		1,585
Fair value	$	1,585

At December 31, 2011, our Non-Agency MBS portfolio consisted of floating-rate CMOs (option-adjusted ARMs based on one-month LIBOR) with an average coupon of 0.54%, which were acquired at par value.

At December 31, 2011, two securities representing the principal balance of our Non-Agency MBS portfolio were rated C by Standard & Poor’s and rated D by Moody’s Investor Service.

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SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

NOTE 15. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

When we pay any cash dividend during any quarterly fiscal period to all or substantially all of our common stockholders in an amount that results in an annualized common stock dividend yield that is greater than 6.25% (the dividend yield on our Series B Preferred Stock), the conversion rate on our Series B Preferred Stock is adjusted based on a formula specified in the Articles Supplementary Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of the Series B Preferred Stock. This conversion rate increased on April 11, 2012 from 3.6714 shares of our common stock to 3.7329 shares of our common stock using the following information: (1) the average of the closing price of our common stock for the ten (10) consecutive trading day period was $6.59 and (2) the annualized common stock dividend yield was 12.7389%.

From April 1, 2012 through May 7, 2012, we entered into one new swap agreement with a notional amount of $50 million and terms of up to five years.

From April 1, 2012 through May 7, 2012, we issued an aggregate of 1,118,687 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $6.53 per share under the 2012 Plan, resulting in proceeds to us of approximately $7.3 million.

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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

NOTE 11. EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

2004 Equity Compensation Plan

At our May 27, 2004 annual stockholders’ meeting, our stockholders adopted the Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2004 Equity Compensation Plan, or the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan, which amended and restated our 1997 Stock Option and Awards Plan. The 2004 Equity Compensation Plan authorized the grant of stock options and other stock-based awards, as of December 31, 2005, for an aggregate of up to 3,500,000 shares of our registered common stock. The 2004 Equity Compensation Plan authorizes our board of directors, or a committee of our Board, to grant incentive stock options, as defined under section 422 of the Code, options not so qualified, restricted stock, dividend equivalent rights, or DERs, phantom shares, stock-based awards that qualify as performance-based awards under Section 162(m) of the Code and other stock-based awards. The exercise price for any option granted under the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the shares of common stock at the time the option is granted. At March 31, 2012, 676,414 shares remained available for future issuance under the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan through any combination of stock options or other awards. The 2004 Equity Compensation Plan does not provide for automatic annual increases in the aggregate share reserve or the number of shares remaining available for grant. We filed a registration statement on Form S-8 on November 7, 2005 to register up to an aggregate of 3,500,000 shares of common stock to be issued pursuant to the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan.

In October 2005, our board of directors approved the grant of an aggregate of 200,780 shares of restricted stock to various officers under the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan. The stock price on the grant date was $7.72. The restricted stock vests 10% per year on each anniversary date for a ten-year period and shall also vest immediately upon the death of the grantee or upon the grantee reaching age 65. Each grantee shall have the right to sell 40% of the restricted stock any time after such shares have vested. The remaining 60% of such vested restricted stock may not be sold until after termination of employment with us. We amortize the restricted stock over the vesting period, which is the lesser of ten years or the remaining number of years to age 65.

In October 2006, our board of directors approved a grant of an aggregate of 197,362 shares of performance-based restricted stock to various officers under the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan. Such grant was made effective on October 18, 2006. The closing stock price on the effective date of the grant was $9.12. The shares vest in equal annual installments over a three-year period provided that the annually compounded rate of return on our common stock, including dividends, exceeds 12% measured on an annual basis as of the anniversary date of the grant. If the annually compounded rate of return does not exceed 12%, then the shares will vest on the anniversary date thereafter when the annually compounded rate of return exceeds 12%. If the annually compounded rate of return does not exceed 12% within ten years after the effective date of the grant, then the shares will be forfeited. The shares will fully vest within the ten-year period upon the death of a grantee. Upon vesting, each grantee shall have the right to sell 40% of the restricted stock any time after such shares have vested. The remaining 60% of such vested restricted stock may not be sold, transferred or pledged until after termination of employment with us or upon the tenth anniversary of the effective date.

We recognize the expense related to restricted stock over the ten-year vesting period. During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we expensed approximately $51 thousand and $51 thousand, respectively, related to these restricted stock grants.

At our May 24, 2007 annual meeting of stockholders, our stockholders adopted the Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2007 Dividend Equivalent Rights Plan, or the 2007 Dividend Equivalent Rights Plan. A dividend equivalent right, or DER, is a right to receive amounts equal in value to the dividend distributions paid on a share of our common stock. DERs are paid in either cash or shares of our common stock, whichever is specified by our Compensation Committee at the time of grant, at such times as dividends are paid on shares of our common stock during the period between the date a DER is issued and the date the DER expires or earlier terminates. The Compensation Committee may impose such other conditions to the grant of DERs as it may deem appropriate. The maximum term for DERs under the 2007 Dividend Equivalent Rights Plan is ten years from the date of grant. Prior to January 1, 2012, an aggregate of 582,000 DERs were issued to our officers under the 2007 Dividend Equivalent Rights Plan. These DERs are not attached to any stock and only have the right to receive the same cash distribution per common share distributed to our common stockholders during the term of the grant. All of these grants have a five-year term from the date of the grant. During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we paid or accrued $116 thousand and $140 thousand, respectively, related to DERs granted.

Certain of our officers have previously been granted restricted stock and other equity incentive awards, including dividend equivalent rights, in connection with their service to us. In connection with the Externalization, certain of the agreements under which our officers have been granted equity awards were modified so that such agreements will continue with respect to our officers after they became officers and employees of the Manager. In addition, as officers of the Company and employees of the Manager, they will continue to be eligible to receive equity incentive awards under equity incentive plans in effect now or in the future. In accordance with the Externalization effective as of December 31, 2011, the DERs previously granted to all of our officers, with the exception of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, were terminated under the 2007 Dividend Equivalent Rights Plan and were reissued under the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan with the same amounts, terms and conditions.

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INCOME TAXES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

INCOME TAXES

NOTE 7. INCOME TAXES

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT and to comply with the provisions of the Code with respect thereto. Accordingly, we will not be subject to federal or state income taxes to the extent that our distributions to stockholders satisfy the REIT requirements and certain asset, gross income and stock ownership tests are met. We believe we currently meet all REIT requirements regarding the ownership of our common stock and the distribution of our taxable net income. Therefore, we believe that we continue to qualify as a REIT under the provisions of the Code.

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JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

NOTE 5. JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

On March 15, 2005, we issued $37,380,000 of junior subordinated notes to a newly-formed statutory trust, Anworth Capital Trust I, organized by us under Delaware law. The trust issued $36,250,000 in trust preferred securities to unrelated third party investors. Both the notes and the trust preferred securities require quarterly payments and bear interest at the prevailing three-month LIBOR rate plus 3.10%, reset quarterly. The first interest payments were made on June 30, 2005. Both the notes and the trust preferred securities will mature in 2035 and are currently redeemable, at our option, in whole or in part, without penalty. We used the net proceeds of this private placement to invest in Agency MBS. We have reviewed the structure of the transaction under ASC 810-10 and concluded that Anworth Capital Trust I does not meet the requirements for consolidation. On September 26, 2005, the notes, the trust preferred securities and the related agreements were amended. The only material change was that one of the class holders requested that interest payments be made quarterly on January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 instead of at the end of each calendar quarter. This became effective with the quarterly payments after September 30, 2005. As of the date of this filing, we have not redeemed any of the notes or trust preferred securities.

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FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

NOTE 6. FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

As defined in ASC 820-10, fair value is the price that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid to transfer or settle a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal (or most advantageous) market for the asset or liability. ASC 820-10 establishes a fair value hierarchy that ranks the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the three following categories:

Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. This includes those financial instruments that are valued using models or other valuation methodologies where substantially all of the assumptions are observable in the marketplace, can be derived from observable market data or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace. We consider the inputs utilized to fair value our Agency MBS to be Level 2. Management bases the fair value for these investments primarily on third party bid price indications provided by dealers who make markets in these instruments. The Agency MBS market is primarily an over-the-counter market. As such, there are no standard, public market quotations or published trading data for individual MBS securities. As our portfolio consists of hundreds of similar, but distinct, securities that have each been traded with only one broker counterparty, we generally seek to have each Agency MBS security priced by one broker. The prices received are non-binding offers to trade, but are indicative quotations of the market value of our securities as of the market close on the last day of each quarter. The brokers receive trading data from several traders that participate in the active markets for these securities and directly observe numerous trades of securities similar to the securities owned by us. Given the volume of market activity for Agency MBS, it is our belief that the broker pricing accurately reflects market information for actual, contemporaneous transactions. We do not adjust quotes or prices we obtain from brokers and pricing services. In the limited instances where valuations are received on a security from multiple brokers, we use the median value of the prices received to determine fair value. To validate the prices we obtain, to ensure our fair value determinations are consistent with ASC 820, and to ensure that we properly classify these securities in the fair value hierarchy, we evaluate the pricing information we receive taking into account factors such as coupon, prepayment experience, fixed/adjustable rate, coupon index, time to reset and issuing agency, among other factors. Based on these factors, broker prices are compared to prices of similar securities provided by other brokers. If we determine (based on such a comparison and our market knowledge and expertise) that a security is priced significantly differently than similar securities, the broker is contacted and requested to revisit their valuation of the security. If a broker refuses to reconsider its valuation, we will request pricing from another broker and use the median value of the prices received to determine fair value. If we are unable to receive a valuation from another broker, the price received from an independent third party pricing service will be used, if it is determined (based on our market knowledge and expertise) to be more reliable than the broker pricing. However, the fair value reported may not be indicative of the amounts that could be realized in an actual market exchange.

Our derivative assets and derivative liabilities are comprised of swap agreements, in which we pay a fixed rate of interest and receive a variable rate of interest that is based on LIBOR. The fair value of these instruments is reported to us independently from dealers who are large financial institutions and are market makers for these types of instruments. The LIBOR swap rate is observable at commonly quoted intervals over the full term of the swap agreements and therefore is considered a Level 2 item. The fair value of the derivative instruments’ assets and liabilities are the estimated amounts the Company would either receive or pay to terminate these agreements at the reporting date, taking into account current interest rates and the Company’s credit worthiness. For more information on our swap agreements, see Note 1 and Note 12.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data. This is comprised of financial instruments whose fair value is estimated based on internally developed models or methodologies utilizing significant inputs that are generally less readily observable from objective sources. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we considered the inputs utilized to fair value the Non-Agency MBS to be Level 3. Historically (prior to December 31, 2008), we had received non-binding indications of value from brokers who make markets in Non-Agency MBS and we also observed market activity in our Non-Agency MBS as well as other similar securities. As the market for Non-Agency MBS became more volatile and less liquid, we received fewer indications of value on these securities. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we were unable to get any brokers who made markets in these securities to provide valuation information on our Non-Agency MBS. Instead, we obtained valuations at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 for our Non-Agency MBS from an experienced independent third party pricing service, whose methodologies are based on broker provided pricing information, as well as indirect observation of market activity. Although we continue to monitor market activity for the Non-Agency MBS in our portfolio, as well as for other similar securities, given the lack of trading activity that we are able to observe, we place more weight on the third party pricing service valuations, as they are both independent and specifically determined. As a result of the lack of valuation information from brokers and our own observation of market activity, we determined that the market for our Non-Agency MBS was inactive. We also believe that the valuations obtained from the independent third party pricing service already take into account the illiquidity of the market for Non-Agency MBS and therefore we do not apply our own liquidity discount when determining their fair value. Based on this information, we consider the fair value measurement of the Non-Agency MBS a Level 3 input at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

In determining the appropriate levels, we perform a detailed analysis of the assets and liabilities that are subject to ASC 820-10. At each reporting period, all assets and liabilities for which the fair value measurement is based on significant unobservable inputs are classified as Level 3.

At March 31, 2012, fair value measurements were as follows (in thousands):

	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Agency MBS(1)	$	0	$	9,038,531	$	0	$	9,038,531
Non-Agency MBS(2)	$	0	$	0	$	1,008	$	1,008
Derivative instruments(3)	$	0	$	1,164	$	0	$	1,164
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments(3)	$	0	$	91,870	$	0	$	91,870

(1) For more detail about the fair value of our Agency MBS by agency and type of security, see Note 3.

(2) For more detail about the fair value of our Non-Agency MBS, see Note 3.

(3) Derivative instruments are hedging instruments under ASC 815-10. For more detail about our derivative instruments, see Notes 1 and 12.

Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, interest receivable, repurchase agreements and interest payable are reflected in our unaudited financial statements at their costs, which approximate their fair value because of the nature and short term of these instruments.

Junior subordinated notes are variable-rate debt and, as we believe the spread would be consistent with the expectations of market participants as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the carrying value approximates fair value.

A reconciliation of the Level 3 Non-Agency MBS fair value measurements is as follows (in thousands):

	Amount
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	1,585
Principal paydowns		(623	)
Recoveries		623
Decrease in unrealized gains		(577	)
Balance at March 31, 2012	$	1,008

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SERIES B CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

SERIES B CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

NOTE 8. SERIES B CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

Our Series B Preferred Stock has a par value of $0.01 per share and a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared). The holders of our Series B Preferred Stock must receive dividends at a rate of 6.25% per year on the $25.00 liquidation preference before holders of our common stock are entitled to receive any dividends. Our Series B Preferred Stock is senior to our common stock and on parity with our 8.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, or Series A Preferred Stock, with respect to the payment of distributions and amounts, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. So long as any shares of our Series B Preferred Stock remain outstanding, we will not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of our Series B Preferred Stock outstanding at the time, authorize or create, or increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of capital stock ranking senior to our Series B Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Our Series B Preferred Stock has no maturity date, is not redeemable and is convertible at the then-current conversion rate into shares of our common stock per $25.00 liquidation preference. The conversion rate is adjusted in any fiscal quarter in which the cash dividends paid to common stockholders results in an annualized common stock dividend yield that is greater than 6.25%. The conversion ratio is also subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain specific events such as a change in control. Our Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of our common stock at the option of the holder(s) of Series B Preferred Stock at any time at the then-prevailing conversion rate. On or after January 25, 2012, we may, at our option, under certain circumstances, convert each share of Series B Preferred Stock into a number of shares of our common stock at the then-prevailing conversion rate. We may exercise this conversion option only if our common stock price equals or exceeds 130% of the then-prevailing conversion price of our Series B Preferred Stock for at least twenty (20) trading days in a period of thirty (30) consecutive trading days (including the last trading day of such period) ending on the trading day immediately prior to our issuance of a press release announcing the exercise of the conversion option. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we have not, at our option, converted any shares of Series B Preferred Stock. Our Series B Preferred Stock contains certain fundamental change provisions that allow the holder to redeem our Series B Preferred Stock for cash if certain events occur, such as a change in control. Our Series B Preferred Stock generally does not have voting rights, except if dividends on our Series B Preferred Stock are in arrears for six or more quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive). Under such circumstances, the holders of Series B Preferred Stock, together with the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, would be entitled to elect two additional directors to our board of directors to serve until all unpaid dividends have been paid or declared and set aside for payment. In addition, certain material and adverse changes to the terms of our Series B Preferred Stock may not be taken without the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock and Series A Preferred Stock voting together as a single class. Through March 31, 2012, we have declared and set aside for payment the required dividends for our Series B Preferred Stock.

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Computation of Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders, Basic EPS	$ 27,661	$ 29,657
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders, Effect of dilutive securities	450	492
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders, Diluted EPS	$ 28,111	$ 30,149
Average Shares, Basic EPS	135,064	121,914
Average Shares, Effect of dilutive securities	4,228	4,291
Average Shares, Diluted EPS	139,292	126,205
Basic EPS	$ 0.20	$ 0.24
Effect of dilutive securities	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Diluted EPS	$ 0.20	$ 0.24

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Other Expenses (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2007 Dividend Equivalent Rights Plan
Component of Other Expense, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Paid or accrued expense related to DERs granted	$ 116	$ 140
Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation 2004 Equity Compensation Plan
Component of Other Expense, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Stock expense related to grants to Officers	$ 51	$ 51

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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Lease Commitment and Administrative Services Commitment—We sublease office space and use administrative services from PIA, as more fully described in Note 10.

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MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (MBS) (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Agency MBS and Non-Agency MBS, Classified as Available-for-Sale which are Carried at Fair Value

The following tables summarize our Agency MBS and Non-Agency MBS, classified as available-for-sale, at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, which are carried at their fair value (amounts in thousands):

March 31, 2012

Agency MBS (By Agency)	Ginnie Mae			Freddie Mac			Fannie Mae			Total Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	16,981		$	2,642,472		$	6,161,267		$	8,820,720
Paydowns receivable(1)		0			47,248			0			47,248
Unrealized gains		5			53,227			126,327			179,559
Unrealized losses		(198	)		(3,250	)		(5,548	)		(8,996	)
Fair value	$	16,788		$	2,739,697		$	6,282,046		$	9,038,531

Agency MBS (By Security Type)	ARMs			Hybrid ARMs			15-Year Fixed-Rate			30-Year Fixed-Rate			Floating- Rate CMOs			Total Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	2,007,742		$	5,226,056		$	1,146,948		$	437,083		$	2,891		$	8,820,720
Paydowns receivable(1)		6,578			40,670			0			0			0			47,248
Unrealized gains		61,396			63,795			17,181			37,182			5			179,559
Unrealized losses		(3,870	)		(4,777	)		(345	)		(3	)		(1	)		(8,996	)
Fair value	$	2,071,846		$	5,325,744		$	1,163,784		$	474,262		$	2,895		$	9,038,531

(1) Paydowns receivable are generated when the Company receives notice from Freddie Mac of prepayments but does not receive the actual cash with respect to such prepayments until the 15^th day of the following month.

Non-Agency MBS	Total Non- Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	0
Unrealized gains		1,008
Fair value	$	1,008

At March 31, 2012, our Non-Agency MBS portfolio consisted of floating-rate collateralized mortgage obligations, or CMOs, (option-adjusted ARMs based on one-month LIBOR) with an average coupon of 0.49%, which were acquired at par value.

The fair value of our Non-Agency MBS portfolio declined to approximately $1.0 million at March 31, 2012 from a fair value of approximately $1.6 million at December 31, 2011. The details of this decline are set forth in Note 6.

At March 31, 2012, two securities representing the principal balance of our Non-Agency MBS portfolio were rated C by Moody’s Investor Service and rated D by Standard & Poor’s.

December 31, 2011

Agency MBS (By Agency)	Ginnie Mae			Freddie Mac			Fannie Mae			Total Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	17,392		$	2,645,045		$	5,905,423		$	8,567,860
Paydowns receivable		0			48,371			0			48,371
Unrealized gains		2			48,740			109,823			158,565
Unrealized losses		(293	)		(6,314	)		(6,295	)		(12,902	)
Fair value	$	17,101		$	2,735,842		$	6,008,951		$	8,761,894

Agency MBS (By Security Type)	ARMs			Hybrid ARMs			15-Year Fixed-Rate			30-Year Fixed-Rate			Floating- Rate CMOs		Total Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	2,010,934		$	4,976,389		$	1,106,919		$	470,493		$	3,125	$	8,567,860
Paydowns receivable		4,927			43,444			0			0			0		48,371
Unrealized gains		51,030			54,574			15,017			37,939			5		158,565
Unrealized losses		(4,812	)		(7,651	)		(436	)		(3	)		0		(12,902	)
Fair value	$	2,062,079		$	5,066,756		$	1,121,500		$	508,429		$	3,130	$	8,761,894

Non-Agency MBS	Total Non- Agency MBS
Amortized cost	$	0
Unrealized gains		1,585
Fair value	$	1,585

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Swap Agreements by Counterparty (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 3,080,000	$ 3,030,000
Deutsche Bank Securities
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	700,000	700,000
JPMorgan Securities
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	500,000	500,000
RBS Greenwich Capital
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	485,000	485,000
Nomura Securities International
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	450,000	450,000
Credit Suisse
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	345,000	395,000
Citigroup
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	200,000	200,000
Morgan Stanley
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	150,000	150,000
Bank of New York
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	100,000	100,000
ING Financial
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	100,000	0
LBBW Securities, LLC
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 50,000	$ 50,000

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Reconciliation of Level 3 Non-Agency MBS Fair Value Measurements (Detail) (Level 3, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012
Level 3
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$ 1,585
Principal paydowns	(623)
Recoveries	623
Decrease in unrealized gains	(577)
Ending Balance	$ 1,008

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STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Net income	$ 29,122	$ 31,160
Available-for-sale Agency MBS, fair value adjustment	24,899	(1,074)
Available-for-sale Non-Agency MBS, fair value adjustment	(577)	79
Unrealized (losses) gains on cash flow hedges	(7,830)	2,484
Reclassification adjustment for interest expense included in net income	13,995	17,437
Other comprehensive income	30,487	18,926
Comprehensive income	$ 59,609	$ 50,086

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REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

NOTE 2. REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

At March 31, 2012, we did not have any reverse repurchase agreements outstanding. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the maximum amount of reverse repurchase agreements outstanding was $73 million and the average amount outstanding was $3.8 million. These investments are used as a means of investing excess cash. The collateral for these loans was U.S. Treasury securities with an aggregate fair value equal to the amount of the loans. At December 31, 2011, there were no reverse repurchase agreements outstanding.

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REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Repurchase Agreements Balances, Weighted Average Interest Rates and Weighted Average Maturities

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the repurchase agreements had the following balances (in thousands), weighted average interest rates and remaining weighted average maturities:

	March 31, 2012						December 31, 2011
	Balance			Weighted Average Interest Rate			Balance			Weighted Average Interest Rate
Overnight	$	0			0.00	%	$	0			0.00	%
Less than 30 days		3,980,000			0.32			3,630,000			0.33
30 days to 90 days		3,620,000			0.34			3,965,000			0.38
Over 90 days to less than 1 year		0			0.00			0			0.00
1 year to 2 years		0			0.00			0			0.00
Demand		0			0.00			0			0.00
	$	7,600,000			0.33	%	$	7,595,000			0.36	%
Weighted average maturity		34 days						38 days
Weighted average term to maturity (after adjusting for interest rate swap transactions)		445 days						436 days
Weighted average borrowing rate (after adjusting for interest rate swap transactions)		1.05	%					1.18	%
Agency MBS pledged as collateral under the repurchase agreements and swap agreements	$	8,087,281					$	8,068,829

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Repurchase Agreements Balances, Weighted Average Interest Rates and Weighted Average Maturities (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012 Day	Dec. 31, 2011 Day
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements	$ 7,600,000	$ 7,595,000
Agency MBS pledged as collateral under the repurchase agreements and swap agreements	8,087,281	8,068,829
Weighted average interest rate	0.33%	0.36%
Weighted average borrowing rate (after adjusting for interest rate swap transactions)	1.05%	1.18%
Weighted average maturity, days	34 days	38 days
Weighted average term to maturity (after adjusting for interest rate swap transactions)	445	436
Overnight
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements	0	0
Weighted average interest rate	0.00%	0.00%
Less than 30 days
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements	3,980,000	3,630,000
Weighted average interest rate	0.32%	0.33%
30 days to 90 days
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements	3,620,000	3,965,000
Weighted average interest rate	0.34%	0.38%
Over 90 days to less than 1 year
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements	0	0
Weighted average interest rate	0.00%	0.00%
1 year to 2 years
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements	0	0
Weighted average interest rate	0.00%	0.00%
Demand
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Line Items]
Repurchase agreements	$ 0	$ 0
Weighted average interest rate	0.00%	0.00%

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HEDGING INSTRUMENTS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

HEDGING INSTRUMENTS

NOTE 12. HEDGING INSTRUMENTS

At March 31, 2012, we were a counterparty to interest rate swap agreements, which are derivative instruments as defined by ASC 815-10, with an aggregate notional amount of $3.08 billion and a weighted average maturity of 2.9 years. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, two swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $150 million matured. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we entered into four new swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $200 million and terms of up to five years. We utilize swap agreements to manage interest rate risk relating to our repurchase agreements (the hedged item) and do not anticipate entering into derivative transactions for speculative or trading purposes. In accordance with the swap agreements, we will pay a fixed-rate of interest during the term of the swap agreements (ranging from 0.99625% to 5.4940%) and receive a payment that varies with the three-month LIBOR rate.

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, our swap agreements had the following notional amounts (in thousands), weighted average interest rates and remaining terms (in months):

	March 31, 2012							December 31, 2011
	Notional Amount		Weighted Average Interest Rate			Remaining Term in Months		Notional Amount		Weighted Average Interest Rate			Remaining Term in Months
Less than 12 months	$	695,000		3.41	%		7	$	520,000		3.92	%		5
1 year to 2 years		200,000		2.85			20		375,000		3.32			14
2 years to 3 years		410,000		2.00			30		410,000		2.07			28
3 years to 4 years		730,000		2.06			42		680,000		2.07			42
Over 4 years		1,045,000		1.81			53		1,045,000		1.98			54
	$	3,080,000		2.32	%		35	$	3,030,000		2.51	%		34

Swap Agreements by Counterparty

	March 31, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(in thousands)
Deutsche Bank Securities	$	700,000	$	700,000
JPMorgan Securities		500,000		500,000
RBS Greenwich Capital		485,000		485,000
Nomura Securities International		450,000		450,000
Credit Suisse		345,000		395,000
Citigroup		200,000		200,000
Morgan Stanley		150,000		150,000
Bank of New York		100,000		100,000
ING Financial		100,000		0
LBBW Securities, LLC		50,000		50,000
	$	3,080,000	$	3,030,000

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, there was a decrease in unrealized losses of approximately $6.2 million, from approximately $97 million in unrealized losses at December 31, 2011 to $90.9 million in unrealized losses, on our swap agreements included in “Other comprehensive income” (this decrease in unrealized losses consisted of unrealized losses on cash flow hedges of $7.8 million and a reclassification adjustment for interest expense included in net income of $14 million).

At March 31, 2012, we had asset derivatives and liability derivatives (shown on our unaudited balance sheets) of approximately $1.2 million and approximately $91.9 million, respectively.

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, there was no gain or loss recognized in earnings due to hedge ineffectiveness. We have determined that our hedges are still considered “highly effective.” There were no components of the derivative instruments’ gain or loss excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. The maximum length of our swap agreements is five years. We do not anticipate any discontinuance of the swap agreements and thus do not expect to recognize any gain or loss into earnings because of this. On September 18, 2008, we terminated all of our interest rate swap agreements with Lehman Brothers Special Finance, or LBSF, as the counterparty. The notional balance of these swap agreements was $240 million. The fair value of these swap agreements at termination was approximately $(1.5) million, reflecting a realized loss. This loss is being amortized into interest expense over the remaining term of the related hedged borrowings. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the amount amortized into interest expense was approximately $65 thousand and the remaining amount at March 31, 2012 to be amortized was approximately $184 thousand. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the amount amortized into interest expense was approximately $64 thousand.

For more information on our accounting policies, the objectives and risk exposures relating to derivatives and hedging agreements, see the section on “Derivative Financial Instruments” in Note 1. For more information on the fair value of our swap agreements, see Note 6.