Expected Losses to be Paid (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Estimated Benefit From Recoveries From Breaches of R and W Net of Reinsurance [Roll Forward]
R&W development and accretion of discount during period	$ 86		$ 12		$ 294		$ 109
R&W recovered during period					(476)
Gross R&W amounts recovered	159		99		794		410
U.S. RMBS
Estimated Benefit From Recoveries From Breaches of R and W Net of Reinsurance [Roll Forward]
Future net R&W benefit at the beginning of the period	964	[1]	1,454	[1]	1,370		1,650
R&W development and accretion of discount during period	86		12		294		109
R&W recovered during period	(155)	[2]	(95)	[2]	(769)	[3]	(388)	[3]
Future net R&W benefit at the end of the period	895	[1]	1,371	[1]	895	[1]	1,371	[1]
Total first lien
Estimated Benefit From Recoveries From Breaches of R and W Net of Reinsurance [Roll Forward]
Future net R&W benefit at the beginning of the period	753	[1]	1,195	[1]	1,082		1,236
R&W development and accretion of discount during period	83		4		235		103
R&W recovered during period	(96)	[2]	(84)	[2]	(577)	[3]	(224)	[3]
Future net R&W benefit at the end of the period	740	[1]	1,115	[1]	740	[1]	1,115	[1]
Prime first lien
Estimated Benefit From Recoveries From Breaches of R and W Net of Reinsurance [Roll Forward]
Future net R&W benefit at the beginning of the period	4	[1]	4	[1]	4		3
R&W development and accretion of discount during period	(1)		0		(1)		1
R&W recovered during period	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[3]	0	[3]
Future net R&W benefit at the end of the period	3	[1]	4	[1]	3	[1]	4	[1]
Alt-A first lien
Estimated Benefit From Recoveries From Breaches of R and W Net of Reinsurance [Roll Forward]
Future net R&W benefit at the beginning of the period	348	[1]	387	[1]	378		407
R&W development and accretion of discount during period	37		0		24		44
R&W recovered during period	(16)	[2]	(3)	[2]	(33)	[3]	(67)	[3]
Future net R&W benefit at the end of the period	369	[1]	384	[1]	369	[1]	384	[1]
Option ARM
Estimated Benefit From Recoveries From Breaches of R and W Net of Reinsurance [Roll Forward]
Future net R&W benefit at the beginning of the period	293	[1]	711	[1]	591		725
R&W development and accretion of discount during period	40		(7)		206		55
R&W recovered during period	(80)	[2]	(81)	[2]	(544)	[3]	(157)	[3]
Future net R&W benefit at the end of the period	253	[1]	623	[1]	253	[1]	623	[1]
First mortgage, subprime
Estimated Benefit From Recoveries From Breaches of R and W Net of Reinsurance [Roll Forward]
Future net R&W benefit at the beginning of the period	108	[1]	93	[1]	109		101
R&W development and accretion of discount during period	7		11		6		3
R&W recovered during period	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[3]	0	[3]
Future net R&W benefit at the end of the period	115	[1]	104	[1]	115	[1]	104	[1]
Second lien
Estimated Benefit From Recoveries From Breaches of R and W Net of Reinsurance [Roll Forward]
Future net R&W benefit at the beginning of the period	211	[1]	259	[1]	288		414
R&W development and accretion of discount during period	3		8		59		6
R&W recovered during period	(59)	[2]	(11)	[2]	(192)	[3]	(164)	[3]
Future net R&W benefit at the end of the period	155	[1]	256	[1]	155	[1]	256	[1]
Closed end second lien and HELOCs
Estimated Benefit From Recoveries From Breaches of R and W Net of Reinsurance [Roll Forward]
Future net R&W benefit at the beginning of the period	102	[1]	137	[1]	138		224
R&W development and accretion of discount during period	1		2		(11)		0
R&W recovered during period	(3)	[2]	(3)	[2]	(27)	[3]	(88)	[3]
Future net R&W benefit at the end of the period	100	[1]	136	[1]	100	[1]	136	[1]
HELOCs
Estimated Benefit From Recoveries From Breaches of R and W Net of Reinsurance [Roll Forward]
Future net R&W benefit at the beginning of the period	109	[1]	122	[1]	150		190
R&W development and accretion of discount during period	2		6		70		6
R&W recovered during period	(56)	[2]	(8)	[2]	(165)	[3]	(76)	[3]
Future net R&W benefit at the end of the period	$ 55	[1]	$ 120	[1]	$ 55	[1]	$ 120	[1]

[1] Includes excess spread that the Company will receive as salvage as a result of a settlement agreement with an R&W provider.

[2] Gross amounts recovered were $159 million and $99 million for Third Quarter 2013 and 2012, respectively.

[3] Gross amounts recovered were $794 million and $410 million for Nine Months 2013 and 2012, respectively.