Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012
Net increase (decrease) in shareholders' equity resulting from operations
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 11,705		$ 10,768		$ 52,451		$ 42,823
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	105		0		516		0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	11,600		10,768		51,935		42,823
Net increase in shareholders' equity resulting from operations - common shares	11,404		10,518		51,003		41,830
Net increase in shareholders' equity resulting from operations - LTIP units	196		250		932		993
Dividends Paid(1):
Common shareholders	(19,567)	[1]	(11,513)	[1]	(50,581)	[1]	(18,092)	[1]
LTIP unit holders	(306)	[1]	(274)	[1]	(910)	[1]	(430)	[1]
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Noncontrolling Interest	(163)	[1]	0	[1]	(485)	[1]	0	[1]
Total dividends paid to common shareholders, LTIP unit holders, and non-controlling interest	(20,036)	[1]	(11,787)	[1]	(51,976)	[1],[2]	(18,522)	[1],[2]
Undistributed earnings:
Common shareholders	(8,163)		(995)		422		23,738
LTIP Unit holders	(110)		(24)		22		563
Non-controlling interest	(58)		0		31		0
Total undistributed earnings attributable to common shareholders, LTIP unit holders, and non-controlling interest	$ (8,331)		$ (1,019)		$ 475		$ 24,301
Weighted average shares outstanding (basic and diluted):
Weighted average common shares outstanding	23,046,550		16,447,651		21,724,721		16,447,651
Weighted average participating LTIP units	397,096		390,500		397,096		390,500
efc_WeightedAverageParticipatingNonControllingInterestUnits	212,000		0		212,000		0
Basic earnings per common share:
Distributed (in usd per share)	$ 0.77		$ 0.70		$ 2.29		$ 1.10
Undistributed (in usd per share)	$ (0.28)		$ (0.06)		$ 0.06		$ 1.44
Basic earnings per common share (in usd per share)	$ 0.49		$ 0.64		$ 2.35		$ 2.54
Diluted earnings per common share:
Distributed (in usd per share)	$ 0.77		$ 0.70		$ 2.29		$ 1.10
Undistributed (in usd per share)	$ (0.28)		$ (0.06)		$ 0.06		$ 1.44
Diluted earnings per common share (in usd per share)	$ 0.49		$ 0.64		$ 2.35		$ 2.54

[1] The Company pays quarterly dividends in arrears, so a portion of the dividends paid in each calendar year relate to the prior year's earnings.

[2] For the six month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, dividends totaling $2.29 and $1.10, respectively, per common share and convertible unit outstanding were declared and paid.