Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital Restricted Shares	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	Noncontrolling Interests	Restricted Shares	Total
Balance at the beginning of the period at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 336		$ 236,823	$ 116,017			$ 353,176
Balance at the beginning of the period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	33,568
Change in Stockholders' Equity
Walker & Dunlop net income				41,530			41,530
Stock-based compensation			8,764				8,764
Issuance of common stock in connection with equity compensation plans	$ 6		1,133				1,139
Issuance of common stock in connection with equity compensation plans (in shares)	593
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	$ (2)		(3,023)				(3,025)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (in shares)	(161)
Tax benefit from vesting of restricted shares			1,257				1,257
Balance at the end of the period at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 340		244,954	157,547			402,841
Balance at the end of the period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	34,000
Change in Stockholders' Equity
Walker & Dunlop net income				51,422			51,422
Stock-based compensation			9,063				9,063
Issuance of common stock in connection with equity compensation plans	$ 4		1,832				1,836
Issuance of common stock in connection with equity compensation plans (in shares)	403
Issuance of unvested restricted common stock in connection with acquisitions		$ 5,920				$ 5,920
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	$ (26)		(37,567)				(37,593)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (in shares)	(2,581)
Tax benefit from vesting of restricted shares			(38)				(38)
Balance at the end of the period at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 318		224,164	208,969			$ 433,451
Balance at the end of the period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	31,822						31,822
Change in Stockholders' Equity
Walker & Dunlop net income				82,128			$ 82,128
Net income from noncontrolling interests					$ 467		467
Stock-based compensation			13,428				13,428
Issuance of common stock in connection with equity compensation plans	$ 8		5,653				5,661
Issuance of common stock in connection with equity compensation plans (in shares)	815
Issuance of unvested restricted common stock in connection with acquisitions		$ 1,892				$ 1,892
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	$ (31)		(31,163)	(19,067)			(50,261)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (in shares)	(3,171)
Tax benefit from vesting of restricted shares			1,410				1,410
Noncontrolling interest acquired					4,339		4,339
Other			191		(357)		(166)
Balance at the end of the period at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 295		$ 215,575	$ 272,030	$ 4,449		$ 492,349
Balance at the end of the period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	29,466						29,466