CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Convertible Preferred Stock [Member] Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Convertible Preferred Stock [Member] Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member] Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series E [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member] Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series E [Member]
Residential mortgage investments	$ 13,123,757	$ 13,453,159
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	100,000	100,000
Preferred stock, dividend rate (in dollars per share)			$ 1.60	$ 1.60	$ 1.26	$ 1.26
Preferred stock, dividend rate (in hundredths)							7.50%
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)			0	186	0	16,493	6,861	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)			0	186	0	16,493	6,861	0
Preferred stock, aggregate liquidation preference							$ 171,521	$ 0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	250,000	250,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	95,807	96,229
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	95,807	96,229