Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets
Cash	$ 12,808,368	$ 19,061,110
Restricted cash	9,860,556	3,768,151
Real estate securities, at fair value - $354,448,161 and $133,538,998 pledged as collateral, respectively	455,928,473	170,671,683
Mortgage loans, at fair value	10,839,809
Derivative assets, at fair value	436,876
Other assets	1,870,572	1,345,665
Receivable for real estate securities sold		6,801,398
Total assets	491,744,654	201,648,007
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	295,609,039	116,080,467
Derivative liabilities, at fair value	1,086,340	1,144,744
Accounts payable and other liabilities	3,576,335	1,820,581
Accrued interest payable	204,154	74,966
Common stock repurchase liability		11,190,687
Payable for real estate securities purchased		6,195,767
Total liabilities	300,475,868	136,507,212
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Stockholders' equity
12.5% Series A cumulative non-voting preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; zero shares and 133 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
Common stock $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 7,970,886 shares issued and 7,970,886 shares outstanding, and 2,586,131, shares issued and 2,071,096 shares outstanding, respectively	798	207
Additional paid-in capital	164,401,707	39,759,770
Retained earnings	6,941,163	5,281,941
Total ZAIS Financial Corp. stockholders' equity	171,343,668	45,041,918
Non-controlling interests in Operating Partnership	19,925,118	20,098,877
Total stockholders' equity	191,268,786	65,140,795
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 491,744,654	$ 201,648,007