INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE SECURITIES - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016		Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) on securities	$ 2,426	[1]	$ 1,765	$ 2,819	$ 3,254	$ 2,494	$ 1,574	$ 649	$ 1,071	$ 10,264	$ 5,788	$ 1,391
Real estate securities acquired during the period with credit quality deterioration, face amount										2,510,300	583,600
Real estate securities acquired during the period with credit quality deterioration, expected cash flows	2,490,700					502,300				2,490,700	502,300
Real estate securities acquired during the period with credit quality deterioration, fair value	1,538,500					$ 329,500				1,538,500	$ 329,500
Non-Agency RMBS [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Face amount of securities purchased, unsettled	4,300									4,300
Purchase of real estate securities, unsettled	2,800									2,800
Agency RMBS [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Face amount of securities sold	1,600,000									1,600,000
Face amount of securities purchased, unsettled	1,300,000									1,300,000
Sale price of securities sold	1,700,000									1,700,000
Purchase of real estate securities, unsettled	$ 1,400,000									$ 1,400,000

[1] New Residential completed significant transactions in the fourth quarter of 2016, as described in Notes 5, 8 and 9, as well as certain financings included in Note 11.