Allowance for Loan Losses Rollforward by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Allowance for Loan Losses [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (13,232)	$ (18,734)	$ (14,203)	$ (19,084)
Benefit (provision) for loan losses	1,212	1,270	1,846	1,212
Charge-offs	562	732	943	1,201
Recoveries	(17)	(64)	(62)	(124)
Other	(7)	(16)	(6)	(17)
Ending balance	(11,482)	(16,812)	(11,482)	(16,812)
Single-family [Member]
Allowance for Loan Losses [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(12,985)	(18,523)	(13,969)	(18,849)
Benefit (provision) for loan losses	1,239	1,270	1,886	1,192
Charge-offs	558	731	939	1,196
Recoveries	(15)	(64)	(60)	(124)
Other	(7)	(16)	(6)	(17)
Ending balance	(11,210)	(16,602)	(11,210)	(16,602)
Multifamily [Member]
Allowance for Loan Losses [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(247)	(211)	(234)	(235)
Benefit (provision) for loan losses	(27)	0	(40)	20
Charge-offs	4	1	4	5
Recoveries	(2)	0	(2)	0
Ending balance	$ (272)	$ (210)	$ (272)	$ (210)

Amount of recovery of loans and lease receivables which had previously been fully or partially written-off as bad debts.

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

- Definition

Amount of other addition (reduction) in allowance reserve for credit loss.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=d3e5212-111524

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

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

- Definition

The reserve to cover probable credit losses related to specifically identified fixed maturity real estate loans as well as probable credit losses inherent in the remainder of that loan portfolio.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 310
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82921503&loc=d3e21338-158488

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of loans and leases that have been written off from both loan receivables and allowance reserve for credit loss.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11B
-Subparagraph (c)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=SL6953423-111524

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of expense related to loss from loan transactions.

+ References

Reference 1: 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

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=srt_SingleFamilyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=srt_MultifamilyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: