CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Cash flow from operating activities
Net income	$ 244,443	$ 311,522	$ 336,980
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Amortization, impairment and change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights, mortgage servicing liabilities and excess servicing spread	245,889	273,238	300,275
Net gains on mortgage loans held for sale at fair value	(249,022)	(391,804)	(531,780)
Capitalization of interest on mortgage loans held for sale at fair value	(79,317)	(44,922)	(29,234)
Amortization of net (premiums) and debt issuance costs	(29,170)	6,348	11,052
Carried Interest from Investment Funds	365	1,040	(980)
Results of real estate acquired in settlement of loans	(589)	(94)	82
Stock based compensation expense	25,251	20,697	16,198
Provision for servicing advance losses	40,306	43,249	35,503
Depreciation and amortization	12,925	8,395	5,849
Loss from disposition of fixed assets and impairment of capitalized software		1,336
Originations of mortgage loans held for sale	(5,531,858)	(5,557,244)	(6,491,107)
Purchase of mortgage loans from Ginnie Mae securities and early buyout investors for modification and subsequent sale	(4,036,147)	(3,957,384)	(2,168,685)
Sale and principal payments of mortgage loans held for sale to non-affiliates	44,557,560	50,235,245	49,633,909
Repurchase of mortgage loans subject to representations and warranties	(26,021)	(20,324)	(19,248)
Collection of repurchase agreement derivative	31,907
Increase in servicing advances	(33,415)	(15,675)	(85,955)
Sale of real estate acquired in settlement of loans	4,037	4,655
Decrease in deferred tax asset			18,668
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(7,791)	16,092	(19,294)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses	32,750	(59,378)	23,005
Increase in income taxes payable	25,313	29,901	25,570
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	572,396	(883,412)	(938,325)
Cash flow from investing activities
Decrease (increase) in short-term investments	52,256	(84,116)	(39,645)
Net change in assets purchased from PMT under agreement to resell	13,103	5,872
Net settlement of derivative financial instruments used for hedging	(122,227)	(36,618)	(27,315)
Purchase of mortgage servicing rights	(227,664)	(178,531)	(146)
Purchase of furniture, fixtures, equipment and leasehold improvements	(13,421)	(6,791)	(21,852)
Acquisition of capitalized software	(17,444)	(16,992)	(8,537)
(Increase) decrease in margin deposits	(7,214)	(22,055)	62,756
Net cash used in investing activities	(322,611)	(339,231)	(34,739)
Cash flow from financing activities
Sale of assets under agreements to repurchase	41,375,177	35,698,381	45,925,047
Repurchase of assets sold under agreements to repurchase	(41,820,843)	(35,054,437)	(45,355,531)
Issuance of mortgage loan participation certificates	25,284,270	23,011,607	32,336,793
Repayment of mortgage loan participation certificates	(25,279,510)	(23,155,463)	(31,900,130)
Advances on notes payable	1,300,000	935,000	122,920
Repayments of notes payable	(900,000)	(186,935)	(33,661)
Advances of obligations under capital lease		10,298	16,952
Repayments of obligations under capital lease	(14,366)	(12,751)	(7,107)
Settlement of excess servicing spread financing			(59,045)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(19,982)	(22,201)	(11,747)
Acceptance of mortgage servicing liability			10,139
Payment of dividend to Class A common stockholders	(10,054)
Distributions to Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC members			(7,631)
Issuance of common stock pursuant to exercise of stock options	5,317	1,254	149
Repurchase of common stock	(5,293)	(8,599)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(132,034)	1,161,174	967,156
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash	117,751	(61,469)	(5,908)
Cash and restricted cash at beginning of year	38,173	99,642	105,550
Cash and restricted cash at end of year	155,924	38,173	99,642
Cash	155,289	37,725	99,367
Restricted cash included in Other assets	635	448	275
Investment Funds
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Accrual of servicing rebate payable to Investment Funds		129	306
Carried Interest from Investment Funds	365	1,040	(980)
Collection of Carried Interest	8,187	61,314
PMT
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Amortization, impairment and change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights, mortgage servicing liabilities and excess servicing spread	8,500	(19,350)	(23,923)
Accrual of interest on excess servicing spread financing	15,138	16,951	22,601
Change in fair value of investment in common shares of PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust	(192)	23	(83)
Purchase of mortgage loans held for sale from PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust	(37,967,724)	(42,624,288)	(42,051,505)
Sale of mortgage loans held for sale to Penny Mac Mortgage Investment Trust	3,343,028	904,097	21,541
(Increase) decrease in receivable from affiliates	(9,672)	(11,475)	2,969
(Decrease) increase in payable to affiliate	(34,472)	(34,076)	5,589
Cash flow from financing activities
Repayment of excess servicing spread financing	(46,750)	(54,980)	(69,992)
Exchanged Unit Holders
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Repricing of payable to exchanged Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC unitholders under tax receivable agreement	$ (1,126)	(32,940)	$ (551)
Payments to exchanged Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC unitholders under tax receivable agreement		$ (6,726)