CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Interest income:
Residential mortgage investments	$ 59,445	$ 58,468
Other	61	112
Interest income	59,506	58,580
Interest expense:
Repurchase arrangements and similar borrowings	(15,407)	(18,468)
Unsecured borrowings	(2,122)	(2,187)
Interest expense	(17,529)	(20,655)
Net interest income (expense)	41,977	37,925
Other revenue (expense):
Salaries and benefits	(1,132)	(1,001)
Annual incentive compensation	(540)	(554)
Long term incentive compensation	(626)	(406)
Other general and administrative expense	(1,203)	(1,081)
Miscellaneous other revenue (expense)	(85)	(30)
Operating expenses	(3,586)	(3,072)
Income before equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	38,391	34,853
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	0	65
Net income	38,391	34,918
Net income available to common stockholders:
Net income	38,391	34,918
Less dividends on preferred shares	(3,238)	(5,270)
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders, basic, total	$ 35,153	$ 29,648
Net income per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.31
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.31
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in dollars per share)	95,349	95,020
Diluted (in dollars per share)	95,538	95,450
Cash dividends declared per share:
Common (in dollars per share)	$ 0.34	$ 0.31
Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A [Member]
Cash dividends declared per share:
Preferred stock Dividend (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0.40
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B [Member]
Cash dividends declared per share:
Preferred stock Dividend (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0.32
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series E [Member]
Cash dividends declared per share:
Preferred stock Dividend (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0