INVESTMENTS IN RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOANS - Loans Held-for-sale (Details) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Loans Held-for-sale, Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Transfer of loans to real estate owned	$ (52,771)
Loans Held-for-sale
Loans Held-for-sale, Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, loans held-for-sale	1,725,534
Purchases	2,402,258
Transfer of loans from held-for-investment	25,493
Sales	(2,024,996)
Transfer of loans to other assets	(4,138)
Transfer of loans to real estate owned	(28,571)
Proceeds from repayments	(79,142)
Valuation (provision) reversal on loans	4,881
Ending balance, loans held-for-sale	2,021,319
Provision for loans held-for-sale	$ 11,100

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

No definition available.

Name:	nrz_LoansHeldforsaleReconciliationRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	nrz_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Provision for Loans Held-For-Sale

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nrz_ProvisionforLoansHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix:	nrz_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Transfer from Loans to Government Contract Receivables

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nrz_TransferfromLoanstoGovernmentContractReceivables
Namespace Prefix:	nrz_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82891408&loc=d3e4428-111522

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansReceivableHeldForSaleAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate cash outflow used to purchase all loans that are held with the intention to resell in the near future.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 230
-Section 55
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109127227&loc=d3e60097-112785

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 17
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3367-108585

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 21
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3461-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToPurchaseLoansHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 16
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3337-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 21
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3461-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromCollectionOfLoansHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from securitizing loans held with the intention to resell in the near future.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 21
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3461-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 16
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3337-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSecuritizationsOfLoansHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.11)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873765&loc=SL114874048-224260

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11B
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=SL6953423-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProvisionForLoanAndLeaseLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Value of loans and leases held in the entity's portfolio transferred to loans and leases held-for-sale in noncash transactions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4304-108586

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4332-108586

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4313-108586

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TransferOfPortfolioLoansAndLeasesToHeldForSale1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4313-108586

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4304-108586

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4332-108586

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TransferToOtherRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleByAssetTypeAxis=nrz_LoansHeldforsaleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: