Asset-Backed Securities Issued - Components of Asset-Backed Securities Issued by Consolidated Securitization Entities Sponsored, Along With Other Selected Information (Details) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) series	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) series
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total FHLBC Borrowings	[1]	$ 2,575,023	$ 2,620,683
Asset-backed securities issued
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Market valuation adjustments		(62,864)	(110,829)
Total FHLBC Borrowings		1,164,585	773,462
Asset-backed securities issued | Certificates with principal balance
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		1,217,782	880,517
Asset-backed securities issued | Interest-only certificates
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		9,667	3,774
Asset-backed securities issued | Legacy Sequoia
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Market valuation adjustments		(70,652)	(110,829)
Total FHLBC Borrowings		$ 622,445	$ 773,462
Number of series | series		20	20
Asset-backed securities issued | Legacy Sequoia | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Range of weighted average interest rates, by series		1.46%	0.74%
Asset-backed securities issued | Legacy Sequoia | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Range of weighted average interest rates, by series		2.78%	2.23%
Asset-backed securities issued | Legacy Sequoia | Certificates with principal balance
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 691,125	$ 880,517
Asset-backed securities issued | Legacy Sequoia | Interest-only certificates
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		1,972	3,774
Asset-backed securities issued | Sequoia Choice
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Market valuation adjustments		7,788	0
Total FHLBC Borrowings		$ 542,140	$ 0
Range of weighted average interest rates, by series			0.00%
Number of series | series		2	0
Asset-backed securities issued | Sequoia Choice | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Range of weighted average interest rates, by series		4.52%
Asset-backed securities issued | Sequoia Choice | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Range of weighted average interest rates, by series		4.73%
Asset-backed securities issued | Sequoia Choice | Certificates with principal balance
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 526,657	$ 0
Asset-backed securities issued | Sequoia Choice | Interest-only certificates
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 7,695	$ 0

[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, 2017 and December 31, 2016, assets of consolidated VIEs totaled $1,259,774 and $798,317, respectively. At December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, liabilities of consolidated VIEs totaled $1,167,157 and $773,980, respectively. See Note 4 for further discussion.