Other Assets and Liabilities - Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Accrued interest payable		$ 34,225	$ 60,655
Payable to minority partner		17,492	13,189
Accrued compensation		17,127	33,888
Lease liability		15,123	13,443
Deferred consideration		14,442	0
Guarantee obligations		11,264	14,009
Current accounts payable		8,717	5,468
Residential loan and MSR repurchase reserve		8,565	4,268
Residential bridge loan holdbacks		6,350	10,682
Deferred tax liabilities		5,152	5,152
Accrued operating expenses		3,922	4,358
Contingent consideration		0	28,484
Other		13,610	13,297
Total Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities	[1]	$ 155,989	$ 206,893

[1] Our consolidated balance sheets include assets of consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) that can only be used to settle obligations of these VIEs and liabilities of consolidated VIEs for which creditors do not have recourse to Redwood Trust, Inc. or its affiliates. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, assets of consolidated VIEs totaled $8,197,095 and $11,931,869, respectively. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, liabilities of consolidated VIEs totaled $7,238,047 and $10,717,072, respectively. See Note 4 for further discussion.