Counterparty Risk (Components Of Receivable For Securities Sold And Payable For Securities Purchased) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Counterparty Risk [Abstract]
Trades pending settlement - receivable	$ 494,842	$ 533,708
Securities failed to deliver	29,690	0
Total receivables	524,533	533,708
Trades pending settlement - payable	(149,085)	(127,517)
Securities failed to receive	(29,368)	0
Total payables	$ (178,453)	$ (127,517)

The amount of payables owed for securities purchased prior to period end where the transactions have not yet settled.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of receivables due from securities sold prior to period end where the transactions have not yet settled.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Includes receivables due from securities sold prior to period end where the transactions have not yet settled as well as receivables due from securities failed to deliver.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount recorded when the Company sells securities but does not deliver the securities on settlement date. The amount recorded is the selling price including any accrued interest. This asset is collected upon delivery of the securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The Company purchases securities but does not receive the securities by the agreed settlement date records the price of the securities and any accrued interest as a liability. The liability is paid when the securities are received by the purchasing party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate amounts payable to broker-dealers and clearing organizations include amounts payable for securities failed to receive, certain deposits received for securities loaned, amounts payable to clearing organizations on open transactions, and floor-brokerage payables. In addition, the net receivable or payable arising from unsettled trades would be reflected in those captions. A broker-dealer that purchases securities, either for its own account or for a customer's account, but does not receive the securities on the settlement date records the amount of money representing the purchase price of the securities, including any accrued interest, as a liability to the selling broker-dealer. This liability is paid when the securities are received by the purchasing broker-dealer.

+ References

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

-Number AAG-BRD

-Paragraph 80

-Subparagraph Exhibit 4-8, 4

-IssueDate 2006-05-01

-Chapter 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

-Number AAG-BRD

-Paragraph 24, 25

-IssueDate 2006-05-01

-Chapter 7

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

-Number AAG-BRD

-Paragraph 24-31, 35

-IssueDate 2006-05-01

-Chapter 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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