Name:	mfa_InterestExpenseMortgageBackedSecuritiesUnderlyingLinkedTransactions
Namespace Prefix:	mfa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Represents unrealized net (losses)/gains and net interest income from linked transactions of the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	mfa_UnrealizedNetGainsLossesAndNetInterestIncomeFromLinkedTransactions
Namespace Prefix:	mfa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

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.

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of operating interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts, on securitized, pass-through debt securities collateralized by real estate mortgage loans.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Mortgage-Backed Securities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6517959

Name:	us-gaap_InterestIncomeSecuritiesMortgageBacked
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

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.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585