Valuation (Schedule of Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]	$ 1,502,049	$ 1,459,465
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]	113,474	127,046
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		198,023	132,518
Investments sold short, at fair value-		(163,832)	(209,203)
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		(38,520)	(54,198)
Other secured borrowings, at fair value	[1]	(1,404,567)	(1,539,881)
Senior notes, at fair value		189,735	191,835
Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Amount		29,653	8,108
Loan commitments, at fair value		3,752	3,060
HMBS-related obligations, at fair value		(8,181,922)	(7,787,155)
Level 3 | Non-Agency RMBS
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total assets		170,225	132,502
Level 3 | CMBS
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total assets		13,412	12,649
Level 3 | CLOs
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total assets		15,870	24,598
Level 3 | Asset-backed securities, backed by consumer loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total assets		81,809
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total assets		13,770,118	13,357,204
Total liabilities		(9,978,576)	(9,782,272)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Investments Sold Short | Corporate equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investments sold short, at fair value-		(188)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Investments Sold Short | Government debt
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investments sold short, at fair value-		(163,644)	(209,203)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		(8,891)	(1,513)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Credit default swaps on corporate bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		(268)	(259)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		(33)	(33)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Interest rate swaps
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		(28,463)	(50,290)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | TBA securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		(683)	(2,007)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Futures
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		(163)	(96)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Forwards
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		(19)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Other secured borrowings, at fair value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		(1,404,567)	(1,539,881)
Senior notes, at fair value		189,735	191,835
HMBS-related obligations, at fair value		(8,181,922)	(7,787,155)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Securities | Agency RMBS
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		964,286	968,263
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Securities | Non-Agency RMBS
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		309,812	262,178
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Securities | CMBS
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		20,587	18,253
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Securities | CLOs
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		29,950	31,061
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Securities | Asset-backed securities, backed by consumer loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		80,524	73,644
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Securities | Corporate debt securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		10,292	7,533
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Securities | Corporate equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		10,935	11,111
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Securities | U.S. Treasury securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		74,378	87,422
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Securities | Other asset-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		1,285
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Loans | Residential mortgage loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		2,987,515	3,115,518
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Loans | Commercial mortgage loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		290,944	404,324
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Loans | Consumer loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		2,408	4,843
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Loans | Corporate loan [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		6,623	4,086
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Loans | Reverse mortgage loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		8,633,382	8,097,237
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		76	76
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		2,298	83
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		3,574	3,366
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Interest rate swaps
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		177,288	117,022
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Financial Derivatives - Assets | TBA securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		6,826	7,985
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Futures
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		6,165	2,772
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Forwards
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		263	77
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Total return swaps
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		16
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Warrants
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		1,517	1,137
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Investment in unconsolidated entities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		113,474	127,046
Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Amount		29,653	8,108
Servicing related asset		2,295	999
Loan commitments, at fair value		3,752	3,060
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total assets		6,807	2,772
Total liabilities		(351)	(96)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Investments Sold Short | Corporate equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investments sold short, at fair value-		(188)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Investments Sold Short | Government debt
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investments sold short, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Credit default swaps on corporate bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Interest rate swaps
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | TBA securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Futures
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		(163)	(96)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Forwards
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Other secured borrowings, at fair value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		0	0
Senior notes, at fair value		0	0
HMBS-related obligations, at fair value		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Securities | Agency RMBS
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Securities | Non-Agency RMBS
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Securities | CMBS
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Securities | CLOs
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Securities | Asset-backed securities, backed by consumer loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Securities | Corporate debt securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Securities | Corporate equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		642	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Securities | U.S. Treasury securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Securities | Other asset-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Loans | Residential mortgage loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Loans | Commercial mortgage loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Loans | Consumer loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Loans | Corporate loan [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Loans | Reverse mortgage loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Interest rate swaps
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | TBA securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Futures
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		6,165	2,772
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Forwards
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Total return swaps
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Warrants
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1 | Investment in unconsolidated entities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		0	0
Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Amount		0	0
Servicing related asset		0	0
Loan commitments, at fair value		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total assets		1,387,206	1,320,071
Total liabilities		(202,001)	(263,305)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Investments Sold Short | Corporate equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investments sold short, at fair value-		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Investments Sold Short | Government debt
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investments sold short, at fair value-		(163,644)	(209,203)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		(8,891)	(1,513)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Credit default swaps on corporate bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		(268)	(259)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		(33)	(33)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Interest rate swaps
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		(28,463)	(50,290)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | TBA securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		(683)	(2,007)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Futures
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Forwards
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		(19)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Other secured borrowings, at fair value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		0	0
Senior notes, at fair value		0	0
HMBS-related obligations, at fair value		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Securities | Agency RMBS
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		960,220	961,236
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Securities | Non-Agency RMBS
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		139,587	129,676
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Securities | CMBS
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		7,175	5,604
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Securities | CLOs
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		14,080	6,463
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Securities | Asset-backed securities, backed by consumer loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Securities | Corporate debt securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Securities | Corporate equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Securities | U.S. Treasury securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		74,378	87,422
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Securities | Other asset-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Loans | Residential mortgage loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Loans | Commercial mortgage loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Loans | Consumer loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Loans | Corporate loan [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Loans | Reverse mortgage loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		2,298	83
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		3,574	3,366
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Interest rate swaps
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		177,288	117,022
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | TBA securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		6,826	7,985
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Futures
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Forwards
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		263	77
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Total return swaps
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Warrants
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		1,517	1,137
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2 | Investment in unconsolidated entities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		0	0
Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Amount		0	0
Servicing related asset		0	0
Loan commitments, at fair value		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total assets		12,376,105	12,034,361
Total liabilities		(9,776,224)	(9,518,871)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Investments Sold Short | Corporate equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investments sold short, at fair value-		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Investments Sold Short | Government debt
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investments sold short, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Credit default swaps on corporate bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Interest rate swaps
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | TBA securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Futures
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | Forwards
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value-		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Other secured borrowings, at fair value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		(1,404,567)	(1,539,881)
Senior notes, at fair value		189,735	191,835
HMBS-related obligations, at fair value		(8,181,922)	(7,787,155)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Securities | Agency RMBS
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		4,066	7,027
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Securities | Non-Agency RMBS
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		170,225	132,502
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Securities | CMBS
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		13,412	12,649
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Securities | CLOs
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		15,870	24,598
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Securities | Asset-backed securities, backed by consumer loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		80,524	73,644
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Securities | Corporate debt securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		10,292	7,533
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Securities | Corporate equity securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		10,293	11,111
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Securities | U.S. Treasury securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Securities | Other asset-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		1,285
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Loans | Residential mortgage loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		2,987,515	3,115,518
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Loans | Commercial mortgage loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		290,944	404,324
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Loans | Consumer loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		2,408	4,843
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Loans | Corporate loan [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		6,623	4,086
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Loans | Reverse mortgage loans
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value		8,633,382	8,097,237
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		76	76
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Interest rate swaps
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | TBA securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Futures
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Forwards
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Total return swaps
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		16
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Financial Derivatives - Assets | Warrants
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Investment in unconsolidated entities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		113,474	127,046
Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Amount		29,653	8,108
Servicing related asset		2,295	999
Loan commitments, at fair value		$ 3,752	$ 3,060

[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include assets and liabilities of variable interest entities it has consolidated. See Note 11 for additional details on Ellington Financial Inc.'s consolidated variable interest entities.

[2] Includes assets pledged as collateral to counterparties. See Note 13 for additional details on the Company's borrowings and related collateral.