INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE AND OTHER SECURITIES - Summary of Real Estate Securities in an Unrealized Loss Position (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) bond security	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 14,822,986	$ 8,788,957
Other Than Temporary Impairment - Amortized Cost Basis	(23,821)	(15,495)	$ (6,239)
Amortized Cost Basis	7,704,765	4,948,327
Carrying Value - Total/Weighted Average	$ 8,071,140	$ 5,073,858
Weighted Average Life (Years)	1 year 2 months 2 days
Less than 12 Months
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 4,446,684
Before Impairment - Amortized Cost Basis	2,234,124
Other Than Temporary Impairment - Amortized Cost Basis	(1,307)
Amortized Cost Basis	2,232,817
Gross Unrealized Losses - Less than Twelve Months	(44,537)
Carrying Value - Less than Twelve Months	$ 2,188,280
Number of Securities - Less than Twelve Months | security	155
Weighted Average Rating	CCC+
Weighted Average Coupon	2.22%
Weighted Average Yield	3.83%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	7 years 7 months 19 days
Number of bonds which New Residential was unable to obtain rating information | bond	29
12 or More Months
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 916,578
Before Impairment - Amortized Cost Basis	235,064
Other Than Temporary Impairment - Amortized Cost Basis	(291)
Amortized Cost Basis	234,773
Gross Unrealized Losses - Twelve or More Months	(13,768)
Carrying Value - Twelve or More Months	$ 221,005
Number of Securities - Twelve or More Months | security	86
Weighted Average Rating	BBB
Weighted Average Coupon	2.54%
Weighted Average Yield	4.10%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	4 years 6 months 13 days
Number of bonds which New Residential was unable to obtain rating information | bond	40
Total/Weighted Average
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 5,363,262
Before Impairment - Amortized Cost Basis	2,469,188
Other Than Temporary Impairment - Amortized Cost Basis	(1,598)
Amortized Cost Basis	2,467,590
Gross Unrealized Losses - Total/Weighted Average	(58,305)
Carrying Value - Total/Weighted Average	$ 2,409,285
Number of Securities - Total/Weighted Average | security	241
Weighted Average Rating	B
Weighted Average Coupon	2.25%
Weighted Average Yield	3.85%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	7 years 4 months 2 days