INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE AND OTHER SECURITIES - Summary of Real Estate Securities in an Unrealized Loss Position (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) bond security	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 20,633,278
Other Than Temporary Impairment - Amortized Cost Basis	(46,165)	$ (23,821)
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 11,170,089
Weighted Average Life (Years)	1 year 8 days
Less than 12 Months
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 4,844,162
Before Impairment - Amortized Cost Basis	3,096,895
Other Than Temporary Impairment - Amortized Cost Basis	(3,530)
Amortized Cost Basis	3,093,365
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than Twelve Months	(44,043)
Carrying Value - Less than Twelve Months	$ 3,049,322
Number of Securities - Less than Twelve Months | security	224
Weighted Average Rating	BB+
Weighted Average Coupon	3.44%
Weighted Average Yield	4.58%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	7 years 8 months 23 days
Number of bonds which New Residential was unable to obtain rating information | bond	65
12 or More Months
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 1,230,875
Before Impairment - Amortized Cost Basis	457,146
Other Than Temporary Impairment - Amortized Cost Basis	(359)
Amortized Cost Basis	456,787
Gross Unrealized Losses - Twelve or More Months	(25,700)
Carrying Value - Twelve or More Months	$ 431,087
Number of Securities - Twelve or More Months | security	77
Weighted Average Rating	BB-
Weighted Average Coupon	1.80%
Weighted Average Yield	6.42%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	5 years 11 months 19 days
Number of bonds which New Residential was unable to obtain rating information | bond	14
Total/Weighted Average
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 6,075,037
Before Impairment - Amortized Cost Basis	3,554,041
Other Than Temporary Impairment - Amortized Cost Basis	(3,889)
Amortized Cost Basis	3,550,152
Gross Unrealized Losses - Total	(69,743)
Carrying Value - Total	$ 3,480,409
Number of Securities - Total | security	301
Weighted Average Rating	BB+
Weighted Average Coupon	3.23%
Weighted Average Yield	4.81%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	7 years 6 months 1 day