Asset acquisitions and dispositions (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Mar. 30, 2016 USD ($) state loan	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) loan property	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) loan property	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) loan property	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) loan property
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties directly acquired \| loan	590
Number of states properties acquired \| state	5
Investment in real estate	$ 64,800			$ 104,260	$ 0
Acquisition fees and costs	600	$ 1,523	$ 513	$ 3,104	$ 877
Acquired-in-place leases	$ 700
Weighted average useful life	7 months
Number of real estate properties sold \| property		910	321	1,596	575
Net realized gain on real estate		$ 39,125	$ 12,404	$ 68,526	$ 23,012
Net realized gain on mortgage loans		$ 8,180	19,272	$ 20,912	34,654
Number of loans sold \| loan		895		1,973
Net realized gain on mortgage loans held for sale		$ 15,950	$ 254	$ 50,147	405
Transfer of mortgage loans to real estate owned, net				$ 119,804	$ 268,682
Residential mortgage \| Loans receivable
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties acquired through foreclosure \| loan		308	687	668	1,411
Transfer of mortgage loans to real estate owned, net		$ 59,400	$ 133,900	$ 124,300	$ 268,700
Unrealized gain (loss) from conversion of mortgage loans to real estate		12,500	24,200	24,100	51,300
Due diligence costs		$ 400	$ 300	$ 600	$ 400
Nonperforming financing receivable \| Residential mortgage \| Loans receivable
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of mortgage loans liquidated \| loan		122	270	291	420
One-by-one acquisition program
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties directly acquired \| loan		291		404
Investment in real estate		$ 30,000		$ 40,100

Professional expenses involved with doing your due diligence, as in consulting with attorneys, realtors, etc.

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Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Number of Loans Sold

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Number Of States Properties Acquired

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Number of real estate properties directly acquired

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Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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This element represents the amount of value allocated by a lessor (acquirer) to lease agreements which exist at acquisition of a leased property. Such amount may include the value assigned to existing tenant relationships and excludes the market adjustment component of the value assigned for above or below-market leases acquired.

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The net realized gain (loss) on investments sold during the period, not including gains (losses) on securities separately or otherwise categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity, which, for cash flow reporting, is a component of proceeds from investing activities.

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The net realized gains or losses on investments during the period, not including gains or losses on securities separately or otherwise categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity.

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Value transferred from mortgage loans to real estate owned (REO) in noncash transactions.

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