FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Schedule of Financial Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis using Level 3 Inputs (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in gain on settlement of investments, net	$ 14,767		$ 4,357
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	4,774,850
Transfers from Level 3	0	[1]
Transfers to Level 3	0	[1]
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	0	[1]
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in other-than-temporary impairment (''OTTI'') on securities	(1,071)	[2]
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	(1,761)	[2]
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees	4,921	[2]
Included in change in fair value of investments in servicer advances	(7,669)
Included in gain on settlement of investments, net	3,808
Included in other income	730	[2]
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, net of tax	(481)	[3]
Interest income	65,836
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
Purchases	2,013,875
Proceeds from sales	(389,719)
Proceeds from repayments	(1,890,600)
De-linked transactions	0	[1]
Balance, ending	4,657,149
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Linked Transactions [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	32,402
Transfers from Level 3	0	[1]
Transfers to Level 3	0	[1]
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	0	[1]
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in other-than-temporary impairment (''OTTI'') on securities	0	[2]
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	0	[2]
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees	0	[2]
Included in change in fair value of investments in servicer advances	0
Included in gain on settlement of investments, net	0
Included in other income	0	[2]
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, net of tax	0	[3]
Interest income	0
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
Purchases	0
Proceeds from sales	0
Proceeds from repayments	0
De-linked transactions	0	[1]
Balance, ending	0
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Non-Agency RMBS [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	723,000
Transfers from Level 3	0	[1]
Transfers to Level 3	0	[1]
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	0	[1]
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in other-than-temporary impairment (''OTTI'') on securities	(1,071)	[2]
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	0	[2]
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees	0	[2]
Included in change in fair value of investments in servicer advances	0
Included in gain on settlement of investments, net	3,808
Included in other income	0	[2]
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, net of tax	(481)	[3]
Interest income	8,450
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
Purchases	222,102
Proceeds from sales	(389,719)
Proceeds from repayments	(23,002)
De-linked transactions	0	[1]
Balance, ending	659,919
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Servicer Advances [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	3,270,839
Transfers from Level 3	0	[1]
Transfers to Level 3	0	[1]
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	0	[1]
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in other-than-temporary impairment (''OTTI'') on securities	0	[2]
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	0	[2]
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees	0	[2]
Included in change in fair value of investments in servicer advances	(7,669)
Included in gain on settlement of investments, net	0
Included in other income	0	[2]
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, net of tax	0	[3]
Interest income	42,349
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
Purchases	1,765,294
Proceeds from sales	0
Proceeds from repayments	(1,825,356)
De-linked transactions	0	[1]
Balance, ending	3,245,457
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | MSRs Agency [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	217,519	[4]
Transfers from Level 3	0	[1],[4]
Transfers to Level 3	0	[1],[4]
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	0	[1],[4]
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in other-than-temporary impairment (''OTTI'') on securities	0	[2],[4]
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	(234)	[2],[4]
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees	0	[2],[4]
Included in change in fair value of investments in servicer advances	0	[4]
Included in gain on settlement of investments, net	0	[4]
Included in other income	730	[2],[4]
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, net of tax	0	[3],[4]
Interest income	6,458	[4]
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
Purchases	26,479	[4]
Proceeds from sales	0	[4]
Proceeds from repayments	(11,973)	[4]
De-linked transactions	0	[1],[4]
Balance, ending	238,979	[4]
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | MSRs Agency [Member] | Excess MSRs Investees [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	232,618	[4],[5]
Transfers from Level 3	0	[1],[4],[5]
Transfers to Level 3	0	[1],[4],[5]
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	0	[1],[4],[5]
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in other-than-temporary impairment (''OTTI'') on securities	0	[2],[4],[5]
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	0	[2],[4],[5]
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees	4,921	[2],[4],[5]
Included in change in fair value of investments in servicer advances	0	[4],[5]
Included in gain on settlement of investments, net	0	[4],[5]
Included in other income	0	[2],[4],[5]
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, net of tax	0	[3],[4],[5]
Interest income	0	[4],[5]
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
Purchases	0	[4],[5]
Proceeds from sales	0	[4],[5]
Proceeds from repayments	(12,428)	[4],[5]
De-linked transactions	0	[1],[4],[5]
Balance, ending	225,111	[4],[5]
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | MSRs Non-Agency [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	200,214	[4]
Transfers from Level 3	0	[1],[4]
Transfers to Level 3	0	[1],[4]
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	98,258	[1],[4]
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in other-than-temporary impairment (''OTTI'') on securities	0	[2],[4]
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	(1,527)	[2],[4]
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees	0	[2],[4]
Included in change in fair value of investments in servicer advances	0	[4]
Included in gain on settlement of investments, net	0	[4]
Included in other income	0	[2],[4]
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, net of tax	0	[3],[4]
Interest income	8,579	[4]
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
Purchases	0	[4]
Proceeds from sales	0	[4]
Proceeds from repayments	(17,841)	[4]
De-linked transactions	98,258	[1],[4]
Balance, ending	287,683	[4]
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | MSRs Non-Agency [Member] | Excess MSRs Investees [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	98,258	[4],[5]
Transfers from Level 3	0	[1],[4],[5]
Transfers to Level 3	0	[1],[4],[5]
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	(98,258)	[1],[4],[5]
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in other-than-temporary impairment (''OTTI'') on securities	0	[2],[4],[5]
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	0	[2],[4],[5]
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees	0	[2],[4],[5]
Included in change in fair value of investments in servicer advances	0	[4],[5]
Included in gain on settlement of investments, net	0	[4],[5]
Included in other income	0	[2],[4],[5]
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, net of tax	0	[3],[4],[5]
Interest income	0	[4],[5]
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
Purchases	0	[4],[5]
Proceeds from sales	0	[4],[5]
Proceeds from repayments	0	[4],[5]
De-linked transactions	(98,258)	[1],[4],[5]
Balance, ending	0	[4],[5]
Accounting Standards Update 2014-11 [Member] | Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	84,430	[6]
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
De-linked transactions	84,430	[6]
Accounting Standards Update 2014-11 [Member] | Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Linked Transactions [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	(32,402)	[6]
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
De-linked transactions	(32,402)	[6]
Accounting Standards Update 2014-11 [Member] | Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Non-Agency RMBS [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	116,832	[6]
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
De-linked transactions	116,832	[6]
Accounting Standards Update 2014-11 [Member] | Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Servicer Advances [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	0	[6]
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
De-linked transactions	0	[6]
Accounting Standards Update 2014-11 [Member] | Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | MSRs Agency [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	0	[4],[6]
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
De-linked transactions	0	[4],[6]
Accounting Standards Update 2014-11 [Member] | Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | MSRs Agency [Member] | Excess MSRs Investees [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	0	[4],[5],[6]
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
De-linked transactions	0	[4],[5],[6]
Accounting Standards Update 2014-11 [Member] | Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | MSRs Non-Agency [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	0	[4],[6]
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
De-linked transactions	0	[4],[6]
Accounting Standards Update 2014-11 [Member] | Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | MSRs Non-Agency [Member] | Excess MSRs Investees [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	0	[4],[5],[6]
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
De-linked transactions	$ 0	[4],[5],[6]

[1] Transfers are assumed to occur at the beginning of each respective period.

[2] The gains (losses) recorded in earnings during the period are attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to Level 3 assets still held at the reporting dates.

[3] These gains (losses) were included in net unrealized gain (loss) on securities in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

[4] Includes the Recapture Agreement for each respective pool.

[5] Amounts represent New Residential’s portion of the Excess MSRs held by the respective joint ventures in which New Residential has a 50% interest.

[6] See Note 10 for a discussion of transactions formerly accounted for as linked transactions.