Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Gain (Loss) on Loans at Fair Value

No definition available.

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- Definition

Residential whole loans arising from the Company’s 100% equity interest in certificates issued by certain trusts established to acquire the loans.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Residential whole loans at fair value outstanding principal balance

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Fair value at acquisition of acquired loans not accounted for as debt securities with evidence of deterioration of credit quality.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 30

-Section 15

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27045933&loc=d3e13503-111538

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379141&loc=d3e15032-111544

+ Details

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- Definition

The recorded balance, net of any applicable reductions (for example, unamortized accretable yield and allowance for loan losses). This relates to loans not accounted for debt securities with evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination that were acquired by completion of a transfer for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the investor will be unable to collect all contractually required payments receivable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 30

-Section 15

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27045933&loc=d3e13503-111538

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-Section 50

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-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379141&loc=d3e15032-111544

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- Definition

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Indicates the number of mortgages under each classification.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule IV)

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29.3)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph c

-Subparagraph Schedule IV

-Article 5

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 29

-Paragraph 3

-Article 12

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- Definition

Amount of expense related to estimated loss from loan and lease transactions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (a)

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=SL6953423-111524

+ Details

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- Details

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Residential Whole Loans - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
Residential Whole Loans - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014 loan
Residential Whole Loans [Line Items]
Residential Whole Loans	$ 351,400,000mfa_ResidentialWholeLoans			351,400,000mfa_ResidentialWholeLoans
Equity interest in certificates (percent)	100.00%			100.00%
Residential whole loans at carrying value	207,923,000	0		207,923,000
Residential whole loans at fair value aggregate outstanding principal balance	182,600,000			182,600,000
Residential whole loans, at fair value	143,472,000	0		143,472,000
Gain on residential whole loans held at fair value	447,000	0	0
Carrying value
Residential Whole Loans [Line Items]
Provision for loan losses	$ 137,000
Fair value
Residential Whole Loans [Line Items]
Number of residential whole loans				885