INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE AND OTHER SECURITIES - Summary of Real Estate Securities (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) security bond	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) security
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 14,822,986	$ 8,788,957
Amortized Cost Basis	7,704,765	4,948,327
Carrying Value	$ 8,071,140	5,073,858
Weighted Average Life (Years)	1 year 2 months 2 days
Investments	$ 19,748,888	15,780,680
Bonds
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Carrying Value	$ 380,500
Number of bonds which New Residential was unable to obtain rating information | bond	204
Residual Bonds
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Investments	$ 186,000
Non-Agency Bonds
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Investments	0
Treasury
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	862,000
Amortized Cost Basis	858,028
Gross Unrealized Gains	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	(5,294)
Carrying Value	$ 852,734
Number of Securities | security	3
Weighted Average Rating	AAA
Weighted Average Coupon	2.21%
Weighted Average Yield	2.27%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	8 years 1 month 2 days
Agency
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 1,203,629	1,486,739
Amortized Cost Basis	1,247,093	1,532,421
Gross Unrealized Gains	1,176	1,803
Gross Unrealized Losses	(4,652)	(3,926)
Carrying Value	$ 1,243,617	$ 1,530,298
Number of Securities | security	98	57
Weighted Average Rating	AAA	AAA
Weighted Average Coupon	3.49%	3.45%
Weighted Average Yield	2.83%	2.94%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	7 years 15 days	9 years 1 month 6 days
Agency | Fixed Rate Residential Mortgage
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 1,100,000	$ 1,300,000
Agency | Adjustable Rate Residential Mortgage
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	100,000	200,000
Non-Agency
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	12,757,357	7,302,218
Amortized Cost Basis	5,599,644	3,415,906
Gross Unrealized Gains	423,504	147,206
Gross Unrealized Losses	(48,359)	(19,552)
Carrying Value	$ 5,974,789	$ 3,543,560
Number of Securities | security	751	536
Weighted Average Rating	CCC-	CCC-
Weighted Average Coupon	2.27%	1.59%
Weighted Average Yield	5.66%	5.88%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	7 years 8 months 3 days	7 years 10 months 24 days
Weighted Average Principal Subordination	8.50%	8.80%
Non-Agency | Fixed Rate Residential Mortgage
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 1,300,000	$ 1,200,000
Residual and interest - only notional amount	700,000	800,000
Non-Agency | Adjustable Rate Residential Mortgage
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	11,500,000	6,100,000
Residual and interest - only notional amount	4,500,000	2,100,000
Total/Weighted Average
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	14,822,986	8,788,957
Amortized Cost Basis	7,704,765	4,948,327
Gross Unrealized Gains	424,680	149,009
Gross Unrealized Losses	(58,305)	(23,478)
Carrying Value	$ 8,071,140	$ 5,073,858
Number of Securities | security	852.000	593
Weighted Average Rating	B+	BB-
Weighted Average Coupon	2.44%	2.16%
Weighted Average Yield	4.83%	4.97%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	7 years 7 months 13 days	8 years 3 months 18 days
Consumer loan bonds
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 29,690
Amortized Cost Basis	29,780
Gross Unrealized Gains	971
Gross Unrealized Losses	(528)
Carrying Value	$ 30,223
Number of Securities | security	3
Weighted Average Rating	N/A
Weighted Average Yield	17.17%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	1 year 5 months 19 days
Interest-only Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 4,475,794	$ 2,062,647
Amortized Cost Basis	205,740	113,342
Gross Unrealized Gains	10,407	5,270
Gross Unrealized Losses	(9,887)	(6,555)
Carrying Value	$ 206,260	$ 112,057
Number of Securities | security	49	28
Weighted Average Rating	AA-	AA+
Weighted Average Coupon	1.51%	1.85%
Weighted Average Yield	5.33%	5.30%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	3 years 2 months 19 days	2 years 10 months 10 days
Servicing Strips
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 450,974	$ 456,629
Amortized Cost Basis	4,958	5,613
Gross Unrealized Gains	1,613	311
Gross Unrealized Losses	(225)	(1)
Carrying Value	$ 6,346	$ 5,923
Number of Securities | security	20	11
Weighted Average Rating	N/A	NA
Weighted Average Coupon	0.27%	0.27%
Weighted Average Yield	21.62%	21.74%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	6 years 8 months 5 days	6 years 2 months 3 days
Servicer Advance Bonds
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount		$ 100,000
Amortized Cost Basis		99,838
Gross Unrealized Gains		310
Gross Unrealized Losses		0
Carrying Value		$ 100,148
Number of Securities | security		1
Weighted Average Rating		AAA
Weighted Average Coupon		3.21%
Weighted Average Yield		3.10%
Weighted Average Life (Years)		8 months 28 days