Residential Loans - Summary of Classifications and Carrying Value of Residential Loans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Residential Loans Held For Sale
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment	[1]	$ 835,399	$ 1,115,738
Residential Loans
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		830,000	1,110,000
Residential loans, at lower of cost or fair value
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		1,000	1,000
Residential Loans Held For Investment at Fair Value
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment			1,790,000
Sequoia Entities | Residential Loans Held For Investment at Fair Value
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		792,000	1,020,000
Residential Loans
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		3,888,051	3,928,803
Residential Loans | Residential Loans Held For Sale
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		835,399	1,115,738
Residential Loans | Residential Loans | Conforming Loans
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment			129,819
Residential Loans | Residential Loans | Jumbo Loans
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		834,193	984,486
Residential Loans | Residential loans, at lower of cost or fair value
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		1,206	1,433
Residential Loans | Residential Loans Held For Investment at Fair Value | Jumbo Loans
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		3,052,652	2,813,065
Residential Loans | Redwood
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		3,096,415	2,906,933
Residential Loans | Redwood | Residential Loans Held For Sale
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		835,399	1,115,738
Residential Loans | Redwood | Residential Loans | Conforming Loans
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment			129,819
Residential Loans | Redwood | Residential Loans | Jumbo Loans
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		834,193	984,486
Residential Loans | Redwood | Residential loans, at lower of cost or fair value
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		1,206	1,433
Residential Loans | Redwood | Residential Loans Held For Investment at Fair Value | Jumbo Loans
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		2,261,016	1,791,195
Residential Loans | Sequoia Entities
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		791,636	1,021,870
Residential Loans | Sequoia Entities | Residential Loans Held For Sale
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		0	0
Residential Loans | Sequoia Entities | Residential Loans | Conforming Loans
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment			0
Residential Loans | Sequoia Entities | Residential Loans | Jumbo Loans
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		0	0
Residential Loans | Sequoia Entities | Residential loans, at lower of cost or fair value
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		0	0
Residential Loans | Sequoia Entities | Residential Loans Held For Investment at Fair Value | Jumbo Loans
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Loan market valuation adjustment		$ 791,636	$ 1,021,870

[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 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.