FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Schedule of Carrying Values and Fair Values of Financial Assets Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Investments in:
Excess mortgage servicing rights, at fair value	$ 417,733		$ 324,151
Real estate securities, available-for-sale	2,463,163		1,973,189
Non-hedge derivatives	32,597		35,926
Restricted cash	29,418		33,338
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	3,149,090		1,620,711
Notes payable	2,913,209		2,488,618
Derivative liabilities	14,220		18
Recurring Basis [Member]
Investments in:
Excess mortgage servicing rights, at fair value	102,481,758	[1]
Excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, at fair value	146,257,821	[1]
Servicer advances	3,102,492
Real estate securities, available-for-sale	3,542,511
Residential mortgage loans, held for investment	69,581
Residential mortgage loans, held for sale	1,364,216
Non-hedge derivatives	399,625	[2]
Cash and cash equivalents	212,985
Restricted cash	29,418
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	3,149,090
Notes payable	2,913,209
Derivative liabilities	2,341,000
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Investments in:
Excess mortgage servicing rights, at fair value	0	[1]
Excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, at fair value	0	[1]
Servicer advances	0
Real estate securities, available-for-sale	0
Residential mortgage loans, held for investment	0
Residential mortgage loans, held for sale	0
Non-hedge derivatives	0	[2]
Cash and cash equivalents	212,985
Restricted cash	29,418
Assets, fair value	242,403
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	0
Notes payable	0
Derivative liabilities	0
Liabilities, fair value	0
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Investments in:
Excess mortgage servicing rights, at fair value	0	[1]
Excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, at fair value	0	[1]
Servicer advances	0
Real estate securities, available-for-sale	1,740,163
Residential mortgage loans, held for investment	0
Residential mortgage loans, held for sale	0
Non-hedge derivatives	195	[2]
Cash and cash equivalents	0
Restricted cash	0
Assets, fair value	1,740,358
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	2,246,651
Notes payable	822,587
Derivative liabilities	14,220
Liabilities, fair value	3,083,458
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Investments in:
Excess mortgage servicing rights, at fair value	417,733	[1]
Excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, at fair value	330,876	[1]
Servicer advances	3,270,839
Real estate securities, available-for-sale	723,000
Residential mortgage loans, held for investment	47,913
Residential mortgage loans, held for sale	1,140,070
Non-hedge derivatives	32,402	[2]
Cash and cash equivalents	0
Restricted cash	0
Assets, fair value	5,962,833
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	902,439
Notes payable	2,092,814
Derivative liabilities	0
Liabilities, fair value	2,995,253
Recurring Basis [Member] | Carrying Value [Member]
Investments in:
Excess mortgage servicing rights, at fair value	417,733	[1]
Excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, at fair value	330,876	[1]
Servicer advances	3,270,839
Real estate securities, available-for-sale	2,463,163
Residential mortgage loans, held for investment	47,838
Residential mortgage loans, held for sale	1,126,439
Non-hedge derivatives	32,597	[2]
Cash and cash equivalents	212,985
Restricted cash	29,418
Assets, fair value	7,931,888
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	3,149,090
Notes payable	2,913,209
Derivative liabilities	14,220
Liabilities, fair value	6,076,519
Recurring Basis [Member] | Fair Value [Member]
Investments in:
Excess mortgage servicing rights, at fair value	417,733	[1]
Excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, at fair value	330,876	[1]
Servicer advances	3,270,839
Real estate securities, available-for-sale	2,463,163
Residential mortgage loans, held for investment	47,913
Residential mortgage loans, held for sale	1,140,070
Non-hedge derivatives	32,597	[2]
Cash and cash equivalents	212,985
Restricted cash	29,418
Assets, fair value	7,945,594
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	3,149,090
Notes payable	2,915,401
Derivative liabilities	14,220
Liabilities, fair value	$ 6,078,711

[1] The notional amount represents the total unpaid principal balance of the mortgage loans underlying the Excess MSRs. New Residential does not receive an excess mortgage servicing amount on non-performing loans in Agency portfolios.

[2] The notional amount for linked transactions consists of the aggregate UPB amounts of the loans and securities that comprise the asset portion of the linked transaction.