Other Investments - Summary of Other Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Servicing asset, fair value		$ 242,059	$ 151,582
Other Investments	[1]	384,628	358,130
Residential Loans
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Servicing asset, fair value		258,621	169,204
Excess MSRs
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Servicing asset, fair value		35,070	31,814
Shared home appreciation options
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Shared home appreciation options			45,085
Mortgage servicing rights
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Servicing asset, fair value		14,878	42,224
Investment in multifamily loan fund
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Shared home appreciation options		(323)	39,802
Other
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Shared home appreciation options		$ 34,624	$ 30,001

[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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, assets of consolidated VIEs totaled $8,197,095 and $11,931,869, respectively. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, liabilities of consolidated VIEs totaled $7,238,047 and $10,717,072, respectively. See Note 4 for further discussion.