Fair value of financial instruments - Fair value inputs, quantitative information (Details) (Loans receivable [Member], Residential mortgage [Member], Fair value, inputs, level 3 [Member], USD $)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Fair value inputs, assets, quantitative information [Line Items]
Discount rate	15.00%
Minimum [Member]
Fair value inputs, assets, quantitative information [Line Items]
Gross monthly rental rate	$ 480
Home pricing index range	(1.80%)
Loan resolution probabilities - modification	0.00%
Loan resolution probabilities - rental	0.00%
Loan resolution probabilities - liquidation	0.00%
Loan resolution timelines	1 month
Maximum [Member]
Fair value inputs, assets, quantitative information [Line Items]
Gross monthly rental rate	$ 5,030
Home pricing index range	4.60%
Loan resolution probabilities - modification	22.30%
Loan resolution probabilities - rental	100.00%
Loan resolution probabilities - liquidation	100.00%
Loan resolution timelines	67 months

Gross monthly rental rates used as a fair value input.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	aamc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair Value Inputs, Loan Resolution Probability, Liquidation

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	aamc_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair Value Inputs, Loan Resolution Probability, Modifications

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aamc_FairValueInputsLoanResolutionProbabilityModifications
Namespace Prefix:	aamc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair Value Inputs, Loan Resolution Probability, Rental Rate

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	aamc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair Value Inputs, Pricing Index

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aamc_FairValueInputsPricingIndex
Namespace Prefix:	aamc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period the instrument, asset or liability is expected to be outstanding, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest rate used to find the present value of an amount to be paid or received in the future as an input to measure fair value. For example, but not limited to, weighted average cost of capital (WACC), cost of capital, cost of equity and cost of debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (bbb)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration