Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - 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
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2013		$ 1,245,783		$ 825	$ 1,760,899	$ 148,766	$ 806,298	$ (1,471,005)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income		100,569					100,569
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(8,078)				(8,078)
Dividend reinvestment & stock purchase plans (in shares)				488,174
Dividend reinvestment & stock purchase plans		9,017		$ 5	9,012
Employee stock purchase and incentive plans (in shares)				450,166
Employee stock purchase and incentive plans		(7,148)		$ 4	(7,152)
Non-cash equity award compensation		11,271			11,271
Common dividends declared		(95,273)						(95,273)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014				83,443,141
Balance at End of Period at Dec. 31, 2014		1,256,141		$ 834	1,774,030	140,688	906,867	(1,566,278)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, adjusted		1,265,869		$ 834	1,774,030	140,688	916,595	(1,566,278)
Cumulative effect adjustment - adoption of ASU 2014-13 | Accounting Standards Update 2014-13	[1]	9,728					9,728
Net income		102,088					102,088
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(48,695)				(48,695)
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)				753,429
Employee stock purchase and incentive plans		(7,981)		$ 7	(7,988)
Non-cash equity award compensation		11,806			11,806
Share repurchases (in shares)				(6,452,313)
Share repurchases		(88,785)		$ (63)	(88,722)
Common dividends declared		(94,871)						(94,871)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015				78,162,765
Balance at End of Period at Dec. 31, 2015		1,146,265	[2]	$ 782	1,695,956	91,993	1,018,683	(1,661,149)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income		131,252					131,252
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(20,140)				(20,140)
Employee stock purchase and incentive plans (in shares)				614,952
Employee stock purchase and incentive plans		(7,025)		$ 5	(7,030)
Non-cash equity award compensation		12,648			12,648
Share repurchases (in shares)				(1,943,054)
Share repurchases		(25,107)		$ (19)	(25,088)
Common dividends declared		(88,465)						(88,465)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016				76,834,663
Balance at End of Period at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 1,149,428	[2]	$ 768	$ 1,676,486	$ 71,853	$ 1,149,935	$ (1,749,614)

[1] On January 1, 2015, we adopted ASU 2014-13. See Note 3 for further discussion.

[2] 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 Redwood Trust, Inc. or its affiliates. At December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, assets of consolidated VIEs totaled $798,317 and $1,195,574, respectively. At December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, liabilities of consolidated VIEs totaled $773,980 and $1,050,861, respectively. See Note 4 for further discussion.