Deconsolidation of Residential Mortgage Loans Securitization Trusts (Details) (Deconsolidated residential mortgage securitization trusts, USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2009 trust
Deconsolidated residential mortgage securitization trusts
Assets and liabilities removed from the Company's consolidated balance sheet as a result of the deconsolidation
Number of residential mortgage securitization trusts that were deconsolidated		6
Maximum exposure to loss	$ 74,400,000
Assets
Residential mortgage loans, at estimated fair value		2,023,333,000
Real estate owned (recorded within other assets on the consolidated balance sheets)		11,439,000
Interest receivable		4,529,000
Total assets		2,039,301,000
Estimated fair value of the Company's RMBS which were issued by Residential Mortgage Loan Securitization Trusts		74,400,000
Liabilities
Residential mortgage-backed securities issued, at estimated fair value		2,034,772,000
Accrued interest payable		4,529,000
Total liabilities		$ 2,039,301,000