INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE AND OTHER SECURITIES - Summary of Real Estate Securities (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) security bond	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) security
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 22,152,845	$ 14,822,986
Amortized Cost Basis	11,212,428	7,704,765
Carrying Value	$ 11,636,581	8,071,140
Weighted Average Life (Years)	10 months 29 days
Investments	$ 23,318,701	19,748,888
Bonds
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Carrying Value	$ 722,100
Number of bonds which New Residential was unable to obtain rating information | bond	252
Residual Bonds
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Investments	$ 299,700
Non-Agency Bonds
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Investments	1,900
Treasury
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [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		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
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	2,613,395	$ 1,203,629
Amortized Cost Basis	2,657,917	1,247,093
Gross Unrealized Gains	7,744	1,176
Gross Unrealized Losses	(43)	(4,652)
Carrying Value	$ 2,665,618	$ 1,243,617
Number of Securities	31	98
Weighted Average Rating	AAA	AAA
Weighted Average Coupon	4.01%	3.49%
Weighted Average Yield	3.70%	2.83%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	8 years 29 days	7 years 15 days
Agency | Fixed Rate Securities
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 2,600,000	$ 1,100,000
Agency | Floating Rate Securities
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	0	100,000
Non-Agency
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	19,539,450	12,757,357
Amortized Cost Basis	8,554,511	5,599,644
Gross Unrealized Gains	517,861	423,504
Gross Unrealized Losses	(101,409)	(48,359)
Carrying Value	$ 8,970,963	$ 5,974,789
Number of Securities	897	751
Weighted Average Rating	B+	CCC-
Weighted Average Coupon	3.40%	2.27%
Weighted Average Yield	5.63%	5.66%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	6 years 10 months 26 days	7 years 8 months 3 days
Weighted Average Principal Subordination	12.40%	8.50%
Non-Agency | Fixed Rate Securities
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 3,800,000	$ 1,300,000
Residual and interest - only notional amount	1,500,000	700,000
Non-Agency | Floating Rate Securities
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	15,700,000	11,500,000
Residual and interest - only notional amount	7,400,000	4,500,000
Total/Weighted Average
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	22,152,845	14,822,986
Amortized Cost Basis	11,212,428	7,704,765
Gross Unrealized Gains	525,605	424,680
Gross Unrealized Losses	(101,452)	(58,305)
Carrying Value	$ 11,636,581	$ 8,071,140
Number of Securities | security	928.000	852.000
Weighted Average Rating	BB+	B+
Weighted Average Coupon	3.53%	2.44%
Weighted Average Yield	5.17%	4.83%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	7 years 2 months 6 days	7 years 7 months 13 days
Corporate bond
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 85,000
Amortized Cost Basis	85,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	(12,325)
Carrying Value	$ 72,675
Number of Securities | security	1
Weighted Average Rating	B-
Weighted Average Coupon	8.25%
Weighted Average Yield	8.25%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	6 years 3 months 16 days
Consumer loan bonds
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 56,846	$ 29,690
Amortized Cost Basis	57,480	29,780
Gross Unrealized Gains	33	971
Gross Unrealized Losses	(7,075)	(528)
Carrying Value	$ 50,438	$ 30,223
Number of Securities | security	6	3
Weighted Average Rating	B	N/A
Weighted Average Coupon	5.50%
Weighted Average Yield	20.26%	17.17%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	1 year 7 months 12 days	1 year 5 months 19 days
MSR bond
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 228,000
Amortized Cost Basis	228,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	(400)
Carrying Value	$ 227,600
Number of Securities | security	2
Weighted Average Rating	BBB-
Weighted Average Coupon	5.24%
Weighted Average Yield	4.89%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	8 years 9 months 23 days
Interest-only Securities
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 6,832,353	$ 4,475,794
Amortized Cost Basis	259,725	205,740
Gross Unrealized Gains	23,694	10,407
Gross Unrealized Losses	(13,025)	(9,887)
Carrying Value	$ 270,394	$ 206,260
Number of Securities | security	79	49
Weighted Average Rating	AA+	AA-
Weighted Average Coupon	1.38%	1.51%
Weighted Average Yield	6.58%	5.33%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	2 years 11 months 21 days	3 years 2 months 19 days
Servicing Strips
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 975,048	$ 450,974
Amortized Cost Basis	8,588	4,958
Gross Unrealized Gains	1,720	1,613
Gross Unrealized Losses	(198)	(225)
Carrying Value	$ 10,110	$ 6,346
Number of Securities | security	31	20
Weighted Average Rating	N/A	N/A
Weighted Average Coupon	0.21%	0.27%
Weighted Average Yield	13.23%	21.62%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	5 years 11 months 30 days	6 years 8 months 5 days