-- None. No documentation exists for this element. --

No definition available.

Name:	mfa_CollateralPositionsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	mfa_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, represents investments in debt and equity securities, categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, which are acquired from a consolidated variable interest entity and eliminated on the entity's consolidated balance sheet.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mfa_NonAgencyMortgageBackedSecuritiesAcquiredFromConsolidatedVariableInterestEntity
Namespace Prefix:	mfa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the non-agency MBS pledged as collateral in connection with contemporaneous repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements entered into with a single counterparty.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mfa_NonAgencyMortgageBackedSecuritiesPledgedAsCollateralWithSingleCounterparty
Namespace Prefix:	mfa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount, as of the date of the latest financial statement presented, of all assets that are pledged as collateral for the payment of the related debt obligation primarily arising from secured borrowings, repurchase agreements or other current or potential obligations, where the secured party does not have the right by contract or custom to sell or re-pledge the collateral and therefore are not reclassified and separately reported in the statement of financial position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (b)(1)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=55761124&loc=SL6224234-111729

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PledgedAssetsNotSeparatelyReportedOnStatementOfFinancialPosition
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount (fair value) as of the balance sheet date of securities held that had been pledged by counterparties under financing and lending arrangements, pursuant to which the entity has the right by agreement or custom to sell or re-pledge such securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49124121&loc=d3e5086-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SecuritiesHeldAsCollateralAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_CashMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=mfa_LegacyNonAgencyMBSMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesOtherMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByPrivateEnterprisesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_USGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_LoansReceivableMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_FederalHomeLoanBankAdvancesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=mfa_ReverseRepurchaseAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: