Other Assets and Liabilities - Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Contingent consideration		$ 25,167	$ 0
Payable to minority partner		18,664	14,331
Accrued compensation		17,219	19,769
Guarantee obligations		15,016	16,711
Lease liability		12,570	0
Deferred tax liabilities		11,986	9,022
Margin payable		6,658	835
Accrued operating expenses		6,036	3,122
Residential bridge loan holdbacks		4,465	0
Residential loan and MSR repurchase reserve		3,947	4,189
Legal reserve		2,000	2,000
Other		6,014	8,740
Total Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities	[1]	$ 129,742	$ 78,719

[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 September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, assets of consolidated VIEs totaled $9,596,537 and $6,331,191, respectively. At September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, liabilities of consolidated VIEs totaled $8,582,595 and $5,709,807, respectively. See Note 4 for further discussion.