Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $)	Total	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	(Accumulated Deficit) / Retained Earnings [Member]	Total ZAIS Financial Corp. Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Non-controlling Interests in Operating Partnership [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 55,317,874		$ 302	$ 60,452,038	$ (5,134,466)	$ 55,317,874
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011			3,022,617
Net proceeds from offering of preferred stock	115,499			115,499		115,499
Net proceeds from offering of preferred stock, shares		133
Net proceeds from offering of OP units	20,393,704						20,393,704
Net proceeds from offering of common stock	4,757,470		24	4,757,446		4,757,470
Net proceeds from offering of common stock, shares			232,039
Dividends on OP units	(1,117,280)						(1,117,280)
Dividends on common stock	(9,471,442)				(9,471,442)	(9,471,442)
Repurchase of shares	(14,181,259)		(67)	(14,181,192)		(14,181,259)
Repurchase of shares, shares			(668,525)
Common stock repurchase liability/Reversal of Common stock repurchase liability	(10,923,944)		(52)	(10,923,892)		(10,923,944)
Common stock repurchase liability/Reversal of Common stock repurchase liability, shares			(515,035)
Rebalancing of ownership percentage between the Company and Operating Partnership				(460,129)		(460,129)	460,129
Net income	20,250,173				19,887,849	19,887,849	362,324
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	65,140,795		207	39,759,770	5,281,941	45,041,918	20,098,877
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012		133	2,071,096
Net proceeds from offering of common stock	118,862,500		566	118,861,934		118,862,500
Net proceeds from offering of common stock, shares			5,650,000
Repurchase of shares	(133,000)			(133,000)		(133,000)
Repurchase of shares, shares		(133)
Common stock repurchase liability/Reversal of Common stock repurchase liability	5,440,175		25	5,440,150		5,440,175
Common stock repurchase liability/Reversal of Common stock repurchase liability, shares			249,790
Rebalancing of ownership percentage between the Company and Operating Partnership				472,853		472,853	(472,853)
Net income	1,958,316				1,659,222	1,659,222	299,094
Balance at Mar. 31, 2013	$ 191,268,786		$ 798	$ 164,401,707	$ 6,941,163	$ 171,343,668	$ 19,925,118
Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2013			7,970,886