Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues
Capital markets services revenue	$ 249,460	$ 136,837	$ 72,234
Interest on mortgage notes receivable	3,237	2,087	3,458
Other	1,982	1,048	1,784
Total revenues	254,679	139,972	77,476
Expenses
Cost of services	143,979	80,050	47,923
Personnel	23,375	16,103	7,144
Occupancy	7,012	7,054	7,573
Travel and entertainment	6,247	3,837	2,841
Supplies, research, and printing	4,452	3,117	2,162
Insurance	1,643	1,776	1,850
Professional fees	3,849	4,088	3,662
Depreciation and amortization	4,627	3,655	3,523
Interest on warehouse line of credit	2,062	1,333	1,979
Other operating	4,061	3,594	2,733
Total expenses	201,307	124,607	81,390
Operating income (loss)	53,372	15,365	(3,914)
Interest and other income, net	14,968	9,487	6,431
Interest expense	(29)	(64)	(419)
(Increase) decrease in payable under the tax receivable agreement	(3,890)	813	1,889
Income before taxes	64,421	25,601	3,987
Income tax expense	22,371	8,612	2,208
Net income	42,050	16,989	1,779
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,031	6,098	2,531
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	$ 40,019	$ 10,891	$ (752)
Earnings per share - Basic and Diluted
Income (loss) available to HFF, Inc. common stockholders - Basic	$ 1.12	$ 0.40	$ (0.05)
Weighted average shares outstanding - Basic	35,867,610	26,900,261	16,637,216
Income (loss) available to HFF, Inc. common stockholders --Diluted	$ 1.11	$ 0.40	$ (0.05)
Weighted average shares outstanding - Diluted	36,125,173	27,085,646	16,637,967