Name:	imh_FeesAndCommissionsMortgageBankingNet
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Period Type:	duration

Represents the gain on sale of mortgage loans held-for-sale.

No definition available.

Name:	imh_GainOnSaleOfMortgageLoansHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix:	imh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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The amount of increase (decrease) during the period relating to provision for repurchases.

No definition available.

Name:	imh_IncreaseDecreaseInProvisionForRepurchases
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Adjustment to the amount at which loans held-for-sale could be bought or sold in a current transaction between willing parties, that is, other than in a forced or liquidation sale.

No definition available.

Name:	imh_MortgageLoansHeldForSaleFairValueAdjustment
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Premium from servicing retained loan sales

No definition available.

Name:	imh_PremiumFromServicingRetainedLoanSales
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

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Amount of increase (decrease) in the fair value of derivatives recognized in the income statement.

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This item represents the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance of loans and long-term receivables (other than securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale or held-to-maturity) that have contractual principal amounts and for which the fair value option has been elected.

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Amount of financing receivable on nonaccrual status.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
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The gains (losses) included in earnings that represent the difference between the sale price and the carrying value of loans made to finance real estate acquisitions. This element refers to the gain (loss) and not to the cash proceeds of the sale. This element is a noncash adjustment to net income when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
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Amount of unpaid principal balance of impaired financing receivables with related allowance for credit losses and without related allowance for credit losses.

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Amount, after allowance for bad debt, of loan receivables held-for-sale that are not part of a disposal group. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements and loans classified as debt securities.

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ReceivablesHeldForSaleAbstract
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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The net change in the difference between the fair value and the carrying value, or in the comparative fair values, of derivative instruments, including options, swaps, futures, and forward contracts, held at each balance sheet date, that was included in earnings for the period.

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Name:	us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnDerivatives
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=us-gaap_GovernmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=us-gaap_ConventionalLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=imh_OtherLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleByAssetTypeAxis=imh_MortgageLoansHeldForSaleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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