INVESTMENTS IN RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOANS - Carrying Value of Mortgage Loans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Movement in Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Roll Forward]
Accretion and other amortization	$ 1,031,384	$ 747,932	$ 525,298
Transfer of loans to real estate owned	(124,013)	(81,940)
PCD Loans
Movement in Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	190,761	290,654
Purchases/additional fundings	58,884	190,761
Proceeds from repayments	(32,455)	(8,897)
Accretion and other amortization	20,217	8,295
(Allowance) reversal for loan losses	(1,488)
Sales	0	0
Transfer of loans to held-for-sale	(23,080)	(282,469)
Transfer of loans to real estate owned	(29,299)	(7,583)
Balance, ending	183,540	190,761	290,654
Residential Portfolio Segment \| Reverse Mortgage Loans
Movement in Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	0	19,560
Purchases/additional fundings	0	319
Proceeds from repayments	0	(1,352)
Accretion and other amortization	0	2,002
Provision for loan losses	0	(73)
Transfer of loans to other assets	0	(4,203)
Sales		(1,795)
Transfer of loans to held-for-sale		(14,458)
Transfer of loans to real estate owned	0
Balance, ending	0	0	19,560
Residential Portfolio Segment \| Performing Loans
Movement in Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	0	19,964
Purchases/additional fundings	550,742	0
Proceeds from repayments	(50,562)	(811)
Accretion and other amortization	8,101	123
Provision for loan losses	(646)	(4)
Transfer of loans to other assets	0	0
Sales		0
Transfer of loans to held-for-sale		(19,272)
Transfer of loans to real estate owned	(20)
Balance, ending	$ 507,615	$ 0	$ 19,964

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Sales

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- Definition

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Transfer of Loans to Other Assets

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Transfer to Loans Held-for-Sale

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The sum of the periodic adjustments of the differences between securities' face values and purchase prices that are charged against earnings. This is called accretion if the security was purchased at a discount and amortization if it was purchased at premium. As a noncash item, this element is an adjustment to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
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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 carrying amount of the outstanding balance due under the mortgage loan.

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- Definition

The amount of principal collected on mortgage loans on real estate during the reporting period.

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- Definition

Total amount of new mortgage loans on real estate during the reporting period.

+ References

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- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of expense related to estimated loss from loan and lease transactions.

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-SubTopic 225
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- Definition

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

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