EQUITY AND EARNINGS PER SHARE - Narrative (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands								1 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2016 shares	Jan. 01, 2015 shares	Dec. 05, 2014 shares	Oct. 17, 2014 shares	May. 07, 2014 $ / shares shares	Jan. 01, 2014 shares	May. 15, 2013 shares	Jul. 31, 2015 $ / shares shares	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) employee $ / shares shares	Apr. 30, 2015 USD ($) employee $ / shares shares	Oct. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2014 $ / shares shares	Apr. 30, 2014 USD ($) employee $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) shares	Jan. 19, 2016 USD ($)	May. 14, 2013 shares	May. 06, 2013 shares
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)														2,000,000,000	2,000,000,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares														$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)														100,000,000.0
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares														$ 0.01
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)				141,400,000										230,471,202	141,434,905				126,512,823
Reverse stock split				0.5							0.5
Common stock outstanding, prior to stock split (in shares)				282,800,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock | $									$ 442,600	$ 436,100			$ 163,800	$ 882,166	$ 173,507	$ 0
Risk-free interest rate									2.61%	2.02%			2.87%
Dividend yield									7.81%	6.71%			12.584%
Volatility									23.73%	24.04%			25.66%
Term									10 years	10 years			10 years
Option exercise (in shares)														6,734,525	648,573
Reserved shares of common stock for issuance (in shares)														15,000,000
Stock option plan term														10 years
Yearly increase in number of shares available for options														10.00%
Number of additional shares authorized (in shares)		1,437,500				0
Threshold percentage for options that may be issued to the Manager														10.00%
Stock options outstanding (in shares)														12,380,107
Number of days to determine average closing price							5 days
Options granted to non-employee directors upon joining the board (in shares)														8,543,539	1,437,500
Share price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares														$ 12.16
Dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)														2,167,796	3,092,844	2,145,104
Awards outstanding (in shares)														12,380,107.000	10,737,093.000	10,365,229		0
Subsequent Event [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Common stock repurchase amount authorized | $																	$ 200,000
Number of additional shares authorized (in shares)	8,543,539
Executive Officer [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Number of employees | employee									1	1			1
Employee of Manager [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Option exercise (in shares)					107,500
Exercise price of options exercised (in dollars per share) | $ / shares					$ 5.61
Employees of Manager and New Residential Director [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Option exercise (in shares)												498,500
Exercise price of options exercised (in dollars per share) | $ / shares												$ 5.62
Former Employee of Manager [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Option exercise (in shares)								37,500							42,566
Exercise price of options exercised (in dollars per share) | $ / shares								$ 7.19							$ 7.19
Fortress [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)														2,400,000
Awards outstanding (in shares)														10,900,000
Independent Directors [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Stock options outstanding (in shares)														4,000	5,000
Independent Directors [Member] | Equity Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Stock options outstanding (in shares)														4,000
Options granted to non-employee directors upon joining the board (in shares)														4,000
Total Affiliates [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Stock options outstanding (in shares)							10,700,000.0							12,380,107	10,737,093
Common Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)									27,900,000.0	29,213,020			13,875,000
Share price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares									$ 15.88	$ 15.25			$ 12.20
Options granted to Manager (in shares)									2,800,000.0	5,750,000			1,437,500
Fair value of options granted to Manager | $									$ 3,700	$ 8,900			$ 1,400
Option exercise (in shares)									6,700,000
Aggregate shares in cashless exercise (in shares)									3,600,000
Issuance of common stock (in shares)					107,500							276,037
Common Stock [Member] | Executive Officer [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)									9,100	250,000			500,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock | $													$ 6,100
Common Stock [Member] | Former Employee of Manager [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			42,566					20,227
Newcastle [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Spin-off distribution ratio (in shares)																			1