INVESTMENTS IN RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOANS - Loans Held-for-sale (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Loans Held-for-sale, Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Transfer of loans to real estate owned	$ (91,414)
Loans Held-for-sale
Loans Held-for-sale, Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, loans held-for-sale	696,665
Purchases	4,146,740
Transfer of loans from held-for-investment to held-for sale	23,080
Sales	(3,267,595)
Transfer of loans to other assets	(13,976)
Transfer of loans to real estate owned	(53,254)
Proceeds from repayments	(85,746)
Valuation provision on loans	(19,163)
Ending balance, loans held-for-sale	1,426,751
Provision for loans held-for-sale	$ 21,600

Loans Held-for-sale, Reconciliation [Roll Forward]

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- Definition

Loans Receivable Held-for-Sale, Transferred From Held-for-Investment

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Provision for Loans Held-For-Sale

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Transfer from Loans to Government Contract Receivables

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- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the value of loans or securitized loans that are held with the intention to sell in the near future.

+ References

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- Definition

The face amount of loans that will be sold to other entities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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The aggregate cash outflow used to purchase all loans that are held with the intention to resell in the near future.

+ References

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The cash inflow from collection of repayments from borrowers on loans that are held with the intention to resell in the near future; includes mortgages and other types of loans.

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The cash inflow resulting from the sale of loans classified as held-for-sale, including proceeds from loans sold through mortgage securitization.

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

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