Interest Rate Swaps - Narrative (Detail)	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
The weighted average pay rate on the Company's interest rate swaps	1.81%	2.08%
The weighted average receive rate on the Company's interest rate swaps	0.22%	0.29%

As of the reporting date, the weighted average rate (based on notional amount) the entity is contractually entitled to receive from counterparties under interest rate swap agreements.

No definition available.

Name:	cim_InterestRateSwapWeightedAverageReceiveRate
Namespace Prefix:	cim_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant