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The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that were settled during the reporting period.

No definition available.

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The weighted average fair value as of the grant date of equity-based award plans other than stock (unit) option plans that were settled during the reporting period.

No definition available.

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The weighted average fair value as of the beginning of the year pertaining to an equity-based payment instrument, excluding stock (or unit) options that are outstanding under the plan.

No definition available.

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Represents the weighted average fair value pertaining to an equity-based payment instrument, excluding stock (or unit) options, that are vested as of the end of the year.

No definition available.

Name:	mfa_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueVested
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Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

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Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that were forfeited during the reporting period.

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Weighted average fair value as of the grant date of equity-based award plans other than stock (unit) option plans that were not exercised or put into effect as a result of the occurrence of a terminating event.

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The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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The number of non-vested equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

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The weighted average fair value of nonvested awards on equity-based plans excluding option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, revenue or profit achievement stock award plan) for which the employer is contingently obligated to issue equity instruments or transfer assets to an employee who has not yet satisfied service or performance criteria necessary to gain title to proceeds from the sale of the award or underlying shares or units.

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The estimated dividend rate (a percentage of the share price) to be paid (expected dividends) to holders of the underlying shares over the option's term.

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Period Type:	duration

The risk-free interest rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares.

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Weighted average expected volatility rate of share-based compensation awards.

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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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.

No definition available.

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Number of equity instruments other than options outstanding, including both vested and non-vested instruments.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109197908&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109197908&loc=d3e5070-113901

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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

No definition available.

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Price of a single share of a number of saleable stocks of a company.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
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Expected term of share-based compensation awards, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109197908&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 14.D.2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115993241&loc=d3e301413-122809

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