Fair Value Nonrecurring Changes (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value	$ 0
Mortgage loans held for investment	0
Total assets at fair value	95,727
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value	280
Mortgage loans held for investment	2,441,818
Total assets at fair value	2,566,436
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value	187
Mortgage loans held for investment	523,752
Total assets at fair value	554,289
Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value	467		325
Mortgage loans held for investment	2,965,570		2,947,021
Total assets at fair value	3,200,100		3,220,344
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value	0
Other assets	0
Total assets at fair value	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value	94
Other assets	0
Total assets at fair value	94
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value	120
Other assets	303
Total assets at fair value	27,320
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value	214
Other assets	303
Total assets at fair value	27,414
Fannie Mae [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	0
Fannie Mae [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	36,665
Fannie Mae [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	230,096
Fannie Mae [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	266,761		294,996
Consolidated Trusts [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	5,231		3,611
Consolidated Trusts [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	0
Consolidated Trusts [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	2,405,153
Consolidated Trusts [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	293,656
Consolidated Trusts [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	2,698,809		2,652,025
Single-Family [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Acquired property, net	0
Single-Family [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Acquired property, net	0
Single-Family [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Acquired property, net	3,381
Single-Family [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Acquired property, net	3,381
Single-Family [Member] | Fannie Mae [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	0	[1]
Single-Family [Member] | Fannie Mae [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	0	[1]
Single-Family [Member] | Fannie Mae [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	21,808	[1]
Single-Family [Member] | Fannie Mae [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	21,808	[1]
Single-Family [Member] | Consolidated Trusts [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	0	[1]
Single-Family [Member] | Consolidated Trusts [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	0	[1]
Single-Family [Member] | Consolidated Trusts [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	240	[1]
Single-Family [Member] | Consolidated Trusts [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	240	[1]
Multifamily [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Acquired property, net	0
Multifamily [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Acquired property, net	0
Multifamily [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Acquired property, net	88
Multifamily [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Acquired property, net	88
Multifamily [Member] | Fannie Mae [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	0
Multifamily [Member] | Fannie Mae [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	0
Multifamily [Member] | Fannie Mae [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	1,380
Multifamily [Member] | Fannie Mae [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Mortgage loans held for investment	$ 1,380

[1] Excludes estimated recoveries from mortgage insurance proceeds