INVESTMENTS IN RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOANS - Summary of Activities Related to the Carrying Value of Reverse Mortgage Loans and Performing Loans and PCI Loans Held for Investment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Reverse Mortgage Loans [Member]
Movement in Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	$ 24,965
Purchases/additional fundings	340
Proceeds from repayments	0
Accretion of loan discount (premium) and other amortization	1,274
Provision for loan losses	(202)
Transfer of loans to other assets	(2,720)
Transfer of loans to real estate owned	(363)
Transfer of loans to held-for-sale	0
Reversal of valuation provision on loans transferred to other assets	0
Balance, ending	23,294
Performing Loans [Member]
Movement in Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	22,873
Purchases/additional fundings	0
Proceeds from repayments	(854)
Accretion of loan discount (premium) and other amortization	(228)
Provision for loan losses	(118)
Transfer of loans to other assets	0
Transfer of loans to real estate owned	0
Transfer of loans to held-for-sale	0
Reversal of valuation provision on loans transferred to other assets	0
Balance, ending	$ 21,673

INVESTMENTS IN RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOANS - Summary of Activities Related to the Carrying Value of Reverse Mortgage Loans and Performing Loans and PCI Loans Held for Investment (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Movement in Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Roll Forward]

Balance, beginning

$ 24,965us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCarryingAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= nrz_ReverseMortgageLoansMember

Purchases/additional fundings

340us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNewMortgageLoans
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= nrz_ReverseMortgageLoansMember

Proceeds from repayments

0us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCollectionsOfPrincipal
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= nrz_ReverseMortgageLoansMember

Accretion of loan discount (premium) and other amortization

1,274us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateAmortizationOfPremium
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= nrz_ReverseMortgageLoansMember

Provision for loan losses

(202)us-gaap_ProvisionForLoanAndLeaseLosses
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= nrz_ReverseMortgageLoansMember

Transfer of loans to other assets

(2,720)nrz_Loanstransfer
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= nrz_ReverseMortgageLoansMember

Transfer of loans to real estate owned

(363)us-gaap_TransferToOtherRealEstate
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= nrz_ReverseMortgageLoansMember

Transfer of loans to held-for-sale

0us-gaap_TransferOfLoansHeldForSaleToPortfolioLoans1
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= nrz_ReverseMortgageLoansMember

Reversal of valuation provision on loans transferred to other assets

0us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateOtherDeductions
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= nrz_ReverseMortgageLoansMember

Balance, ending

23,294us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCarryingAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= nrz_ReverseMortgageLoansMember

Performing Loans [Member]

Movement in Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Roll Forward]

Balance, beginning

22,873us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCarryingAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformingFinancingReceivableMember

Purchases/additional fundings

0us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNewMortgageLoans
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformingFinancingReceivableMember

Proceeds from repayments

(854)us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCollectionsOfPrincipal
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformingFinancingReceivableMember

Accretion of loan discount (premium) and other amortization

(228)us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateAmortizationOfPremium
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformingFinancingReceivableMember

Provision for loan losses

(118)us-gaap_ProvisionForLoanAndLeaseLosses
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformingFinancingReceivableMember

Transfer of loans to other assets

0nrz_Loanstransfer
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformingFinancingReceivableMember

Transfer of loans to real estate owned

0us-gaap_TransferToOtherRealEstate
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformingFinancingReceivableMember

Transfer of loans to held-for-sale

0us-gaap_TransferOfLoansHeldForSaleToPortfolioLoans1
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformingFinancingReceivableMember

Reversal of valuation provision on loans transferred to other assets

0us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateOtherDeductions
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformingFinancingReceivableMember

Balance, ending

$ 21,673us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCarryingAmountOfMortgages
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformingFinancingReceivableMember

- Definition

Loans transfer

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nrz_Loanstransfer
Namespace Prefix:	nrz_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of premium on mortgage loans on real estate amortized during the reporting period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule IV)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 29

-Article 12

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph c

-Subparagraph Schedule IV

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 948

-SubTopic 310

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29.6)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6589523&loc=d3e617274-123014

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateAmortizationOfPremium
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount of the outstanding balance due under the mortgage loan.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule IV)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 29

-Article 12

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph c

-Subparagraph Schedule IV

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 948

-SubTopic 310

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6589523&loc=d3e617274-123014

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCarryingAmountOfMortgages
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of principal collected on mortgage loans on real estate during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCollectionsOfPrincipal
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total amount of new mortgage loans on real estate during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNewMortgageLoans
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of reductions in principal on mortgage loans other than foreclosures, costs of mortgages sold, and amortization of premium during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateOtherDeductions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Definition

Amount of expense related to estimated loss from loan and lease transactions.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 11

-Article 9

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.11)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-Subparagraph (c)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=SL6953423-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProvisionForLoanAndLeaseLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Value of loans held-for-sale transferred to loans held in the entity's portfolio in noncash transactions.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4313-108586

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TransferOfLoansHeldForSaleToPortfolioLoans1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TransferToOtherRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis=nrz_ReverseMortgageLoansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateLoanTypeAxis=us-gaap_PerformingFinancingReceivableMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: