Use of Special Purpose Entities and Variable Interest Entities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended					1 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012		Feb. 29, 2012 WFMLT Series 2012-RR1		Feb. 29, 2012 WFMLT Series 2012-RR1 Senior-support certificates		Feb. 28, 2011 CSMC Series 2011-1R		Feb. 28, 2011 CSMC Series 2011-1R Senior-support certificates		Jun. 30, 2011 CSMC Series 2011-7R		Jun. 30, 2011 CSMC Series 2011-7R Senior-support certificates		Oct. 31, 2010 Deutsche Mortgage Securities, Inc. Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit Trust, Series 2010-RS2		Oct. 31, 2010 Deutsche Mortgage Securities, Inc. Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit Trust, Series 2010-RS2 Senior-support certificates
Special purpose entities and variable interest entities
Principal value of Non-Agency MBS sold						$ 433,347				$ 1,319,969				$ 1,283,422				$ 985,228	[1]
Face amount of Senior Bonds issued by the VIE and purchased by 3rd party investors						186,691				488,389				474,866				246,307	[1]
Outstanding amount of Senior Bonds	443,748	[2]		646,816	[2]	118,545				172,930				152,274				0	[1]
Pass-through rate for Senior Bonds issued (as a percent)						2.85%
Pass-through rate for Senior Bonds issued										One-month LIBOR				One-month LIBOR				One-month LIBOR
Interest rate added to base rate (as a percent)										1.00%				1.25%				1.25%
Face amount of Senior Support Certificates received by the Company								246,656	[3]			831,580	[3]			808,556	[3]			738,921	[1],[3]
Cash received	0		186,691			186,691				488,389				474,866				246,307	[1]
Notional amount acquired of non-rated, interest only senior certificates						186,691				488,389				474,866				246,307	[1]
Expenses incurred						1,814	[4]			3,527	[4]			3,230	[4]			3,562	[1],[4]
Non-Agency MBS transferred to consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs)	$ 2,438,235	[5]		$ 2,620,159	[5]

[1] The principal balance for the DMSI 2010-RS2 Senior Bond was paid off during the quarter ended June 30, 2013.

[2] Securitized Debt represents third-party liabilities of consolidated VIEs and excludes liabilities of the VIEs acquired by the Company that eliminate in consolidation. The third-party beneficial interest holders in the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of the Company. (See Notes 10 and 15 for further discussion.)

[3] Provides credit support for the sequential Senior Non-Agency MBS sold to third-party investors in resecuritization transactions (“Senior Bonds”).

[4] Amortized to interest expense based upon the actual repayments of the associated beneficial interests.

[5] Non-Agency MBS transferred to consolidated VIEs represent assets of the consolidated VIEs that can be used only to settle the obligations of each respective VIE.