Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Equity - Type of Adoption [Domain] - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Total		Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Cumulative Earnings	Cumulative Distributions to Stockholders
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013				82,504,801
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2013		$ 1,245,783		$ 825	$ 1,760,899	$ 148,766	$ 806,298	$ (1,471,005)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income		28,350					28,350
Other comprehensive income		18,791				18,791
Issuance of common stock:
Dividend reinvestment & stock purchase plans (in shares)				179,187
Dividend reinvestment & stock purchase plans		3,475		$ 2	3,473
Employee stock purchase and incentive plans (in shares)				396,130
Employee stock purchase and incentive plans		(6,663)		$ 4	(6,667)
Non-cash equity award compensation		6,681			6,681
Common dividends declared		(47,513)						(47,513)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2014				83,080,118
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2014		1,248,904		$ 831	1,764,386	167,557	834,648	(1,518,518)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Adjusted balance		1,265,869		$ 834	1,774,030	140,688	916,595	(1,566,278)
Beginning balance (in shares) (Previously Reported) at Dec. 31, 2014				83,443,141
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014				83,443,141
Beginning balance (Previously Reported) at Dec. 31, 2014		1,256,141		$ 834	1,774,030	140,688	906,867	(1,566,278)
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2014	[1]	1,256,141
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income		41,865					41,865
Other comprehensive income		6				6
Issuance of common stock:
Dividend reinvestment & stock purchase plans (in shares)				418,508
Dividend reinvestment & stock purchase plans		6,834		$ 4	6,830
Employee stock purchase and incentive plans (in shares)				690,683
Employee stock purchase and incentive plans		(7,715)		$ 8	(7,723)
Non-cash equity award compensation		6,193			6,193
Common dividends declared		(48,268)						(48,268)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2015				84,552,332
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2015		$ 1,264,784	[1]	$ 846	$ 1,779,330	$ 140,694	$ 958,460	$ (1,614,546)

[1] Our consolidated balance sheets include assets of consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) that can only be used to settle obligations of these VIEs and liabilities of consolidated VIEs for which creditors do not have recourse to the primary beneficiary (Redwood Trust, Inc.). At June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, assets of consolidated VIEs totaled $1,622,636 and $1,900,208, respectively, and liabilities of consolidated VIEs totaled $1,263,249 and $1,546,490, respectively. See Note 4 for further discussion.