Number Of Real Estate Properties Transferred During Period

No definition available.

Name:	mfa_NumberOfRealEstatePropertiesTransferredDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	mfa_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of Real Estate Properties Sold During Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mfa_NumberofRealEstatePropertiesSoldDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	mfa_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net gain (loss) resulting from sales and other disposals of other real estate owned, increases (decreases) in the valuation allowance for foreclosed real estate, and write-downs of other real estate owned after acquisition or physical possession.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.14(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873765&loc=SL114874048-224260

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfOtherRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Recorded investment of consumer mortgage loan receivables secured by residential real estate properties for which formal foreclosure proceedings are in process.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 35
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=SL49126937-111524

+ Details

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

- Definition

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Cash received for the sale of real estate that is not part of an investing activity during the current period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of land and buildings obtained through foreclosure proceedings or defeasance in full or partial satisfaction of a debt arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=d3e5162-111524

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82891408&loc=d3e4437-111522

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of real estate investments, net of accumulated depreciation, which may include the following: (1) land available-for-sale; (2) land available-for-development; (3) investments in building and building improvements; (4) tenant allowances; (5) developments in-process; (6) rental properties; (7) other real estate investments; (8) real estate joint ventures; and (9) unconsolidated real estate and other joint ventures not separately presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of the valuation allowance for real estate owned that was applied in the period against the carrying amount of real estate owned that was sold, written down or written off.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10(4))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateOwnedValuationAllowanceAmountsApplied
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Value transferred from mortgage loans to real estate owned (REO) in noncash transactions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4313-108586

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4304-108586

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4332-108586

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TransferToOtherRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Other Assets (Real Estate Owned) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Other Assets (Real Estate Owned) (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) property	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) property	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) property	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) property	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) property	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of real estate owned properties \| property	979		979			709
Real estate owned	$ 223,105	$ 137,979	$ 223,105	$ 137,979	$ 192,162	$ 152,356	$ 104,443	$ 80,503
Number of real estate properties reclassified to REO during period \| property	240	174	795	521
Mortgage loans reclassified to REO	$ 58,051	$ 38,944	$ 161,572	$ 97,388
Residential Whole Loans acquired through foreclosure ordered in lieu	$ 214,400		$ 214,400
Number of REO properties sold during period \| property	157	139	537	368
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned	$ 29,900	$ 18,400	$ 96,000	$ 53,000
Gains/(losses) on sales of real estate owned	2,000	805	6,582	2,844
Adjustments to record at lower of cost or fair value	4,056	3,129	11,592	7,306
Estimated Fair Value
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Mortgage loans reclassified to REO	58,100	$ 38,900	161,600	$ 97,400
Mortgage loans in process of foreclosure	720,100		720,100
Carrying Value
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Mortgage loans in process of foreclosure	$ 48,700		$ 48,700