Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating activities
Net loss	$ (529,158)	$ (263,190)	$ (110,328)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Net fair value gains on reverse loans and related HMBS obligations	(59,022)	(98,265)	(109,972)
Amortization of servicing rights	21,801	26,827	43,101
Change in fair value of servicing rights	480,476	401,992	273,502
Change in fair value of servicing rights related liabilities	(13,518)	(1,587)	(2,114)
Change in fair value of charged-off loans	(20,716)	(18,475)	(7,598)
Other net fair value (gains) losses	11,087	1,682	(8,530)
Accretion of discounts on residential loans and advances	(3,652)	(7,130)	(15,744)
Accretion of discounts on debt and amortization of deferred debt issuance costs	33,413	31,412	33,783
Provision for uncollectible advances	64,729	52,679	75,704
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment and intangible assets	59,426	69,128	72,721
Benefit for deferred income taxes	(193,326)	(196,326)	(35,408)
Share-based compensation	6,568	20,937	14,533
Purchases and originations of residential loans held for sale	(21,054,053)	(25,942,841)	(18,878,305)
Proceeds from sales of and payments on residential loans held for sale	21,410,118	25,896,204	19,042,387
Net gains on sales of loans	(409,448)	(453,840)	(462,172)
Goodwill and intangible assets impairment	326,286	207,557	82,269
Proceeds from sale of trading security	0	70,390	0
Gain on sale of trading security	0	(10,296)	0
Gain on sale of investments	0	(8,959)	0
Other	4,999	(3,188)	1,104
Changes in assets and liabilities
Decrease (increase) in receivables	(81,695)	(4,196)	67,416
Decrease (increase) in servicer and protective advances	380,298	135,831	(289,464)
Decrease (increase) in other assets	16,434	29,793	(17,332)
Increase (decrease) in payables and accrued liabilities	(24,429)	5,936	67,018
Increase (decrease) in servicer payables, net of change in restricted cash	25,332	9,832	(40,841)
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities	451,950	(48,093)	(204,270)
Investing activities
Purchases and originations of reverse loans held for investment	(896,879)	(1,471,275)	(1,505,215)
Principal payments received on reverse loans held for investment	1,122,267	871,832	548,660
Principal payments received on mortgage loans held for investment	92,619	114,906	162,257
Payments received on charged-off loans held for investment	23,060	26,385	14,929
Payments received on receivables related to Non-Residual Trusts	8,110	7,481	9,471
Proceeds from sales of real estate owned, net	111,091	76,703	55,306
Purchases of premises and equipment	(32,866)	(27,761)	(21,573)
Decrease in restricted cash and cash equivalents	8,946	9,219	11,333
Payments for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(3,066)	(5,095)	(197,061)
Acquisitions of servicing rights, net	(9,794)	(264,743)	(268,618)
Proceeds from sales of servicing rights, net	280,970	0	0
Proceeds from sale of residual interests in Residual Trusts	0	189,513	0
Proceeds from sale of investment	0	14,376	0
Acquisitions of charged-off loans held for investment	0	0	(64,548)
Other	(4,649)	3,511	10,948
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities	699,809	(454,948)	(1,244,111)
Financing activities
Payments on corporate debt	(480)	(12,901)	(17,220)
Extinguishments and settlement of debt	(31,037)	(79,877)	0
Proceeds from securitizations of reverse loans	960,157	1,622,481	1,617,399
Payments on HMBS related obligations	(1,371,375)	(1,025,458)	(637,272)
Issuances of servicing advance liabilities	2,179,488	2,073,227	2,299,930
Payments on servicing advance liabilities	(2,625,476)	(2,206,965)	(1,905,331)
Net change in warehouse borrowings related to mortgage loans	(151,172)	207,305	75,726
Net change in warehouse borrowings related to reverse loans	14,139	(43,873)	15,667
Proceeds from sales of excess servicing spreads and servicing rights	34,307	55,698	75,426
Payments on servicing rights related liabilities	(22,092)	(12,317)	(6,822)
Payments on mortgage-backed debt	(107,598)	(136,493)	(181,155)
Other debt issuance costs paid	(11,039)	(13,949)	(17,281)
Repurchase of shares under stock repurchase plan	0	(28,065)	0
Other	2,189	(13,119)	(42,396)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities	(1,129,989)	385,694	1,276,671
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	21,770	(117,347)	(171,710)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year	202,828	320,175	491,885
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year	$ 224,598	$ 202,828	$ 320,175