Financial Highlights (Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Financial Highlights [Abstract]
Market based total return	11.30%	(16.54%)	44.75%	(14.99%)

Total return for the period based upon the closing prices as reported by the New York Stock Exchange. Calculation of market based total return assumes the reinvestment of dividends at the closing price as reported by the New York Stock Exchange as of the ex-date.

No definition available.

Name:	efc_MarketBasedTotalReturn
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration