RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOAN SECURITIZATION TRUSTS - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets
Residential mortgage loans held in securitization trusts	[1]	$ 1,130,874,274		$ 1,222,905,433
Total assets	[1]	2,612,541,116		2,299,601,203
Liabilities and Equity
Residential securitized debt obligations	[1]	1,109,204,743		1,204,583,678
Total liabilities	[1]	2,466,749,839		2,157,134,338
Equity		145,791,277	[1]	142,466,865	[1]	$ 177,494,528	$ 212,798,130
Total liabilities and equity	[1]	2,612,541,116		2,299,601,203
Residential mortgage loans
Assets
Residential mortgage loans held in securitization trusts		119,756,455		141,126,720
Receivables		396,000		471,146
Total assets		120,152,455		141,597,866
Liabilities and Equity
Residential securitized debt obligations		114,418,318		134,846,348
Payables		320,417		376,697
Total liabilities		114,738,735		135,223,045
Equity		5,413,720		6,374,821
Total liabilities and equity		$ 120,152,455		$ 141,597,866

[1] Our consolidated balance sheets include assets and liabilities of consolidated variable interest entities (“VIE's) as the Company is the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. As of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, assets of consolidated VIEs totaled $1,255,404,335 and $1,369,120,941, respectively, and the liabilities of consolidated VIEs totaled $1,228,295,517 and $1,344,404,080, respectively