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		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in gain on settlement of investments, net		$ (16,409)	$ 938	$ (441)	$ 57,834
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
Transfers to Level 3				0
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights				0
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in other-than-temporary impairment (''OTTI'') on securities	[1]			(3,294)
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	[1]			(274)
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees	[1]			16,443
Included in change in fair value of investments in servicer advances				(1,845)
Included in gain on settlement of investments, net				3,808
Included in other income	[1]			1,172
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, net of tax	[2]			(717)
Interest income				383,136
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
Purchases				17,575,263
Proceeds from sales				(389,719)
Proceeds from repayments				(12,091,026)
De-linked transactions				0
Balance, ending		10,352,227		10,352,227
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-11 [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	[3]			84,430
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
De-linked transactions	[3]			84,430
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	[4]			0
Transfers to Level 3	[4]			0
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	[4]			0
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in other-than-temporary impairment (''OTTI'') on securities	[1]			0
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	[1]			0
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees	[1]			0
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	[1]			0
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, net of tax	[2]			0
Interest income				0
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
Purchases				0
Proceeds from sales				0
Proceeds from repayments				0
De-linked transactions	[4]			0
Balance, ending		0		0
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Linked Transactions [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-11 [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	[3]			(32,402)
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
De-linked transactions	[3]			(32,402)
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	[4]			0
Transfers to Level 3	[4]			0
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	[4]			0
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in other-than-temporary impairment (''OTTI'') on securities	[1]			(3,294)
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	[1]			0
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees	[1]			0
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	[1]			(1,074)
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, net of tax	[2]			(717)
Interest income				39,217
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
Purchases				778,085
Proceeds from sales				(389,719)
Proceeds from repayments				(86,694)
De-linked transactions	[4]			0
Balance, ending		1,179,444		1,179,444
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Non-Agency RMBS [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-11 [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	[3]			116,832
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
De-linked transactions	[3]			116,832
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	[4]			0
Transfers to Level 3	[4]			0
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	[4]			0
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in other-than-temporary impairment (''OTTI'') on securities	[1]			0
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	[1]			0
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees	[1]			0
Included in change in fair value of investments in servicer advances				(1,845)
Included in gain on settlement of investments, net				0
Included in other income	[1]			0
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, net of tax	[2]			0
Interest income				256,045
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
Purchases				15,746,159
Proceeds from sales				0
Proceeds from repayments				(11,771,423)
De-linked transactions	[4]			0
Balance, ending		7,499,775		7,499,775
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Servicer Advances [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-11 [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	[3]			0
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
De-linked transactions	[3]			0
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | MSRs Agency [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	[5]			217,519
Transfers from Level 3	[4],[5]			0
Transfers to Level 3	[4],[5]			0
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	[4],[5]			0
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in other-than-temporary impairment (''OTTI'') on securities	[1],[5]			0
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	[1],[5]			1,985
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees	[1],[5]			0
Included in change in fair value of investments in servicer advances	[5]			0
Included in gain on settlement of investments, net	[5]			0
Included in other income	[1],[5]			2,246
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, net of tax	[2],[5]			0
Interest income	[5]			22,114
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
Purchases	[5]			131,488
Proceeds from sales	[5]			0
Proceeds from repayments	[5]			(43,277)
De-linked transactions	[4],[5]			0
Balance, ending	[5]	332,075		332,075
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | MSRs Agency [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-11 [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	[3],[5]			0
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
De-linked transactions	[3],[5]			0
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	[5],[6]			232,618
Transfers from Level 3	[4],[5],[6]			0
Transfers to Level 3	[4],[5],[6]			0
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	[4],[5],[6]			0
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in other-than-temporary impairment (''OTTI'') on securities	[1],[5],[6]			0
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	[1],[5],[6]			0
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees	[1],[5],[6]			16,443
Included in change in fair value of investments in servicer advances	[5],[6]			0
Included in gain on settlement of investments, net	[5],[6]			0
Included in other income	[1],[5],[6]			0
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, net of tax	[2],[5],[6]			0
Interest income	[5],[6]			0
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
Purchases	[5],[6]			0
Proceeds from sales	[5],[6]			0
Proceeds from repayments	[5],[6]			(35,743)
De-linked transactions	[4],[5],[6]			0
Balance, ending	[5],[6]	213,318		213,318
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | MSRs Agency [Member] | Excess MSRs Investees [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-11 [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	[3],[5],[6]			0
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
De-linked transactions	[3],[5],[6]			0
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	[5]			200,214
Transfers from Level 3	[4],[5]			0
Transfers to Level 3	[4],[5]			0
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	[4],[5]			98,258
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in other-than-temporary impairment (''OTTI'') on securities	[1],[5]			0
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	[1],[5]			(2,259)
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees	[1],[5]			0
Included in change in fair value of investments in servicer advances	[5]			0
Included in gain on settlement of investments, net	[5]			0
Included in other income	[1],[5]			0
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, net of tax	[2],[5]			0
Interest income	[5]			65,760
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
Purchases	[5]			919,531
Proceeds from sales	[5]			0
Proceeds from repayments	[5]			(153,889)
De-linked transactions	[4],[5]			98,258
Balance, ending	[5]	1,127,615		1,127,615
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | MSRs Non-Agency [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-11 [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	[3],[5]			0
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
De-linked transactions	[3],[5]			0
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	[5],[6]			98,258
Transfers from Level 3	[4],[5],[6]			0
Transfers to Level 3	[4],[5],[6]			0
Transfers from investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees, to investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	[4],[5],[6]			(98,258)
Gains (losses) included in net income
Included in other-than-temporary impairment (''OTTI'') on securities	[1],[5],[6]			0
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights	[1],[5],[6]			0
Included in change in fair value of investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, equity method investees	[1],[5],[6]			0
Included in change in fair value of investments in servicer advances	[5],[6]			0
Included in gain on settlement of investments, net	[5],[6]			0
Included in other income	[1],[5],[6]			0
Gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, net of tax	[2],[5],[6]			0
Interest income	[5],[6]			0
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
Purchases	[5],[6]			0
Proceeds from sales	[5],[6]			0
Proceeds from repayments	[5],[6]			0
De-linked transactions	[4],[5],[6]			(98,258)
Balance, ending	[5],[6]	$ 0		0
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | MSRs Non-Agency [Member] | Excess MSRs Investees [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-11 [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	[3],[5],[6]			0
Purchases, sales, repayments and transfers
De-linked transactions	[3],[5],[6]			$ 0

[1] 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 and realized gains (losses) recorded during the period.

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

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

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

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

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