CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Interest income:
Residential mortgage investments	$ 57,092	$ 51,572	$ 116,537	$ 110,040
Other	77	107	138	219
Interest income	57,169	51,679	116,675	110,259
Interest expense:
Repurchase arrangements and similar borrowings	(15,542)	(16,749)	(30,949)	(35,217)
Unsecured borrowings	(2,122)	(2,187)	(4,244)	(4,374)
Interest expense	(17,664)	(18,936)	(35,193)	(39,591)
Net interest income (expense)	39,505	32,743	81,482	70,668
Other revenue (expense):
Salaries and benefits	(985)	(886)	(2,117)	(1,887)
Annual incentive compensation	(397)	(326)	(937)	(880)
Long term incentive compensation	(624)	(469)	(1,250)	(875)
Other general and administrative expense	(967)	(1,098)	(2,170)	(2,179)
Miscellaneous other revenue (expense)	32	(135)	(53)	(165)
Operating expenses	(2,941)	(2,914)	(6,527)	(5,986)
Income before equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	36,564	29,829	74,955	64,682
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	0	65	0	130
Net income	36,564	29,894	74,955	64,812
Net income available to common stockholders:
Net income	36,564	29,894	74,955	64,812
Less dividends on preferred shares	(3,449)	(5,867)	(6,687)	(11,137)
Less redemption preference premiums paid	0	(19,924)	0	(19,924)
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders, basic, total	$ 33,115	$ 4,103	$ 68,268	$ 33,751
Net income per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.35	$ 0.04	$ 0.72	$ 0.35
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.35	$ 0.04	$ 0.71	$ 0.35
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in dollars per share)	95,399	95,126	95,374	95,073
Diluted (in dollars per share)	95,626	95,397	95,583	95,359
Cash dividends declared per share:
Common (in dollars per share)	$ 0.34	$ 0.31	$ 0.68	$ 0.62
Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A [Member]
Cash dividends declared per share:
Preferred stock Dividend (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0.32	$ 0	$ 0.72
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B [Member]
Cash dividends declared per share:
Preferred stock Dividend (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0.25	$ 0	$ 0.57
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series E [Member]
Cash dividends declared per share:
Preferred stock Dividend (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.32	$ 0.94	$ 0.32