INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE AND OTHER SECURITIES - Summary of Real Estate Securities (Details) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) security bond	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Sales
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 27,043,910
Carrying Value	$ 6,144,236		$ 19,477,728
Weighted Average Life (Years)	1 year 2 months 12 days
Investments	$ 17,314,600
Bonds
Sales
Carrying Value	$ 992,000
Number of bonds which New Residential was unable to obtain rating information | bond	374
Residual Bonds
Sales
Investments	$ 26,800
Non-Agency Bonds
Sales
Investments	4,300
Agency RMBS
Purchases
Face	10,862,600	$ 12,817,100
Purchase price	11,149,500	13,089,100
Sales
Face	17,395,000	11,825,100
Amortized Cost Basis	17,679,300	12,105,600
Sale price	17,869,100	12,198,600
Gain (loss) on sale	189,800	93,000
Outstanding Face Amount	4,023,936
Amortized Cost Basis	4,161,318
Gross Unrealized Gains	43,942
Gross Unrealized Losses	0
Carrying Value	$ 4,205,260		11,519,943
Number of Securities | security	33
Weighted Average Rating	AAA
Weighted Average Coupon	2.53%
Weighted Average Yield	1.86%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	6 years
Agency RMBS | Fixed Rate Securities
Sales
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 4,000,000
Agency RMBS
Sales
Outstanding Face Amount	301,350
Amortized Cost Basis	303,173
Gross Unrealized Gains	20,231
Gross Unrealized Losses	0
Carrying Value	$ 323,404		11,519,943
Number of Securities | security	26
Weighted Average Rating	AAA
Weighted Average Coupon	2.95%
Weighted Average Yield	2.78%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	6 years 4 months 24 days
Agency RMBS at FVO
Sales
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 3,722,586
Amortized Cost Basis	3,858,145
Gross Unrealized Gains	23,711
Gross Unrealized Losses	0
Carrying Value	$ 3,881,856		0
Number of Securities | security	7
Weighted Average Rating	AAA
Weighted Average Coupon	2.50%
Weighted Average Yield	1.78%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	5 years 10 months 24 days
Non-Agency
Purchases
Face	$ 5,083,100	4,574,200
Purchase price	575,000	917,900
Sales
Face	7,487,800	837,500
Amortized Cost Basis	5,557,200	738,600
Sale price	4,624,600	752,000
Gain (loss) on sale	(932,600)	$ 13,400
Outstanding Face Amount	23,019,974
Amortized Cost Basis	1,965,450
Gross Unrealized Gains	85,061
Gross Unrealized Losses	(111,535)
Carrying Value	$ 1,938,976		7,957,785
Number of Securities | security	613
Weighted Average Rating	AA-
Weighted Average Coupon	3.08%
Weighted Average Yield	5.36%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	7 years 9 months 18 days
Weighted Average Principal Subordination	13.10%
Non-Agency | Fixed Rate Securities
Sales
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 13,600,000
Residual and interest - only notional amount	12,400,000
Non-Agency | Floating Rate Securities
Sales
Outstanding Face Amount	9,400,000
Residual and interest - only notional amount	8,300,000
Investments in Real Estate Securities
Sales
Outstanding Face Amount	27,043,910
Amortized Cost Basis	6,126,768
Gross Unrealized Gains	129,003
Gross Unrealized Losses	(111,535)
Carrying Value	$ 6,144,236		$ 19,477,728
Number of Securities | security	646
Weighted Average Rating	AA+
Weighted Average Coupon	1.12%
Weighted Average Yield	2.98%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	6 years 6 months
Corporate debt
Sales
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 10,250
Amortized Cost Basis	10,250
Gross Unrealized Gains	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	(102)
Carrying Value	$ 10,148
Number of Securities | security	1
Weighted Average Rating	B-
Weighted Average Coupon	8.25%
Weighted Average Yield	8.25%
Consumer loan bonds
Sales
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 16,430
Amortized Cost Basis	11,171
Gross Unrealized Gains	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	0
Carrying Value	$ 11,171
Number of Securities | security	6
Interest-only securities
Sales
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 11,253,401
Amortized Cost Basis	292,045
Gross Unrealized Gains	19,962
Gross Unrealized Losses	(28,697)
Carrying Value	$ 283,310
Number of Securities | security	131
Weighted Average Rating	AA
Weighted Average Coupon	1.31%
Weighted Average Yield	13.20%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	2 years 8 months 12 days
Servicing strips
Sales
Outstanding Face Amount	$ 5,635,802
Amortized Cost Basis	58,150
Gross Unrealized Gains	2,205
Gross Unrealized Losses	(7,525)
Carrying Value	$ 52,830
Number of Securities | security	59
Weighted Average Coupon	0.63%
Weighted Average Yield	9.61%
Weighted Average Life (Years)	4 years 6 months