Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	AOCI	Retained Earnings	Noncontrolling Interests	Total
Balances at the beginning of the period at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 295	$ 215,384	$ 191	$ 272,030	$ 4,449	$ 492,349
Balance at the beginning of the period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	29,466
Change in Stockholders' Equity
Walker and Dunlop net income				113,897		113,897
Net income (loss) from noncontrolling interests					414	414
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(84)			(84)
Stock-based compensation - equity classified		17,616				17,616
Issuance of common stock in connection with equity compensation plans	$ 6	3,759				3,765
Issuance of common stock in connection with equity compensation plans (in shares)	645
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	$ (5)	(8,112)		(4,776)		(12,893)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (in shares)	(560)
Other					(5)	(5)
Balances at the end of the period at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 296	228,782	107	381,031	4,858	615,074
Balance at the end of the period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	29,551
Change in Stockholders' Equity
Cumulative effect from change in accounting for stock compensation		135		(120)		15
Walker and Dunlop net income				211,127		211,127
Net income (loss) from noncontrolling interests					707	707
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(14)			(14)
Stock-based compensation - equity classified		19,973				19,973
Issuance of common stock in connection with equity compensation plans	$ 12	3,001				3,013
Issuance of common stock in connection with equity compensation plans (in shares)	1,272
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	$ (8)	(22,676)		(12,215)		(34,899)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (in shares)	(807)
Balances at the end of the period at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 300	229,080	93	579,943	5,565	$ 814,981
Balance at the end of the period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	30,016					30,016
Change in Stockholders' Equity
Walker and Dunlop net income				161,439		$ 161,439
Net income (loss) from noncontrolling interests					(497)	(497)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(168)			(168)
Stock-based compensation - equity classified		22,765				22,765
Issuance of common stock in connection with equity compensation plans	$ 10	8,939				8,949
Issuance of common stock in connection with equity compensation plans (in shares)	958
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	$ (15)	(25,632)		(43,185)		(68,832)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (in shares)	(1,477)
Cash dividends paid				(31,445)		(31,445)
Balances at the end of the period at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 295	$ 235,152	$ (75)	$ 666,752	$ 5,068	$ 907,192
Balance at the end of the period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	29,497					29,497