Real Estate Securities - Fair Values of Real Estate Securities by Collateral Type and Entity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Trading		$ 445,687	$ 404,011
Available-for-sale		572,752	829,245
Total Real Estate Securities	[1]	$ 1,018,439	$ 1,233,256

[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.