RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOAN SECURITIZATION TRUSTS - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($)		Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets
Residential mortgage loans held in securitization trusts	[1]	$ 1,149,888,917	$ 1,222,905,433
Total assets	[1]	2,643,682,747	2,299,601,203
Liabilities and Equity
Residential securitized debt obligations	[1]	1,128,773,402	1,204,583,678
Total liabilities	[1]	2,493,144,083	2,157,134,338
Equity	[1]	150,538,664	142,466,865
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	[1]	2,643,682,747	2,299,601,203
Residential mortgage loans
Assets
Residential mortgage loans held in securitization trusts		125,403,499	141,126,720
Receivables		412,456	471,146
Total assets		125,815,955	141,597,866
Liabilities and Equity
Residential securitized debt obligations		119,882,464	134,846,348
Payables		332,344	376,697
Total liabilities		120,214,808	135,223,045
Equity		5,601,147	6,374,821
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$ 125,815,955	$ 141,597,866

[1] Our consolidated balance sheets include assets and liabilities of consolidated variable interest entities ("VIEs") as the Company is the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, assets of consolidated VIEs totaled $1,280,093,874 and $1,369,120,941 respectively, and the liabilities of consolidated VIEs totaled $1,253,353,428 and $1,344,404,080 respectively