v2.4.1.9

Financial Highlights (Results Of Operations For A Share Outstanding) (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Increase (Decrease) Equity Per Share [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Beginning Shareholders' Equity Per Share (12/31/2013, 12/31/2012, and 12/31/2011, respectively) | $ 24.40 us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare | [1] | $ 24.86 us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare | [1] | $ 22.55 us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare |  |
Net Investment Income | $ 2.10 efc_NetInvestmentIncomePerShare |  | $ 2.11 efc_NetInvestmentIncomePerShare |  | $ 1.35 efc_NetInvestmentIncomePerShare |  |
Net Realized/Unrealized Gains (Losses) | $ 0.04 efc_NetRealizedUnrealizedGainsLossesPerShare |  | $ 1.26 efc_NetRealizedUnrealizedGainsLossesPerShare |  | $ 4.08 efc_NetRealizedUnrealizedGainsLossesPerShare |  |
Results of Operations Attributable to Equity | $ 2.14 efc_NetIncomeLossPerShare |  | $ 3.37 efc_NetIncomeLossPerShare |  | $ 5.43 efc_NetIncomeLossPerShare |  |
Less: Results of Operations Attributable to Non-controlling Interests | $ (0.03)efc_Netincomelossattributabletononcontrollinginterestpershare |  | $ (0.04)efc_Netincomelossattributabletononcontrollinginterestpershare |  | $ 0.00 efc_Netincomelossattributabletononcontrollinginterestpershare |  |
Results of Operations Attributable to Shareholders' Equity | $ 2.11 efc_Netincomelossattributabletoparentpershare | [2] | $ 3.33 efc_Netincomelossattributabletoparentpershare | [2] | $ 5.43 efc_Netincomelossattributabletoparentpershare | [2] |
Dividends Paid Per Common Share | $ (3.08)efc_DividedsPaidPerCommonShare |  | $ (3.83)efc_DividedsPaidPerCommonShare |  | $ (2.50)efc_DividedsPaidPerCommonShare |  |
Weighted Average Share Impact on Dividends Paid (2) | $ (0.01)efc_WeightedAverageShareImpactOnDividendsPaid | [3] | $ (0.08)efc_WeightedAverageShareImpactOnDividendsPaid | [3] | $ (0.15)efc_WeightedAverageShareImpactOnDividendsPaid | [3] |
Accretive (Dilutive) Effect of Share Issuances (Net of Offering Costs), Share Repurchases, and Adjustments to Non-controlling Interest | $ (0.04)efc_AccretiveDilutiveEffectofShareIssuancesNetofOfferingCostsShareRepurchasesandAdjustmentstoNoncontrollinginterests |  | $ 0.12 efc_AccretiveDilutiveEffectofShareIssuancesNetofOfferingCostsShareRepurchasesandAdjustmentstoNoncontrollinginterests |  | $ (0.47)efc_AccretiveDilutiveEffectofShareIssuancesNetofOfferingCostsShareRepurchasesandAdjustmentstoNoncontrollinginterests |  |
Ending Shareholders' Equity Per Share (12/31/2014, 12/31/2013, and 12/31/2012, respectively)(3) | $ 23.38 us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare | [1] | $ 24.40 us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare | [1] | $ 24.86 us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare | [1] |
Shares Outstanding, end of period | 33,449,678 efc_CommonSharesOutstanding |  | 25,428,186 efc_CommonSharesOutstanding |  | 20,370,469 efc_CommonSharesOutstanding |  | 16,447,651 efc_CommonSharesOutstanding
Shareholders Equity Per Share Upon Conversion Of All Convertible Units (in usd per share) | $ 23.09 efc_ShareholdersEquityPerShareUponConversionOfAllConvertibleUnits |  | $ 23.99 efc_ShareholdersEquityPerShareUponConversionOfAllConvertibleUnits |  | $ 24.38 efc_ShareholdersEquityPerShareUponConversionOfAllConvertibleUnits |  |
[1] | If all LTIP units and OP Units previously issued were vested and exchanged for common shares as of December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, shareholders' equity per share would be $23.09, $23.99, and $24.38, respectively.
[2] | Calculated based on average common shares outstanding and can differ from the calculation for EPS (See Note 11).
[3] | Per share impact on dividends paid relating to share issuances/repurchases during the period as well as dividends paid to LTIP and OP Unit holders.

X
- Definition Per share impact of share issuances/repurchases, or adjustments to non-controlling interests. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_AccretiveDilutiveEffectofShareIssuancesNetofOfferingCostsShareRepurchasesandAdjustmentstoNoncontrollinginterests
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Total number of shares of common stock held by shareholders. May be all or portion of the number of common shares authorized. These shares represent the ownership interest of the common shareholders. Shares outstanding equals shares issued minus shares held in treasury or retired after repurchase. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_CommonSharesOutstanding
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Per share dividend amount paid to common shareholders. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_DividedsPaidPerCommonShare
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | efc_IncreaseDecreaseEquityPerShareRollForward
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest based on average common shares outstanding during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_Netincomelossattributabletononcontrollinginterestpershare
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent based on average common shares outstanding during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_Netincomelossattributabletoparentpershare
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Consolidated profit or loss for the period, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest based on average common shares outstanding during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_NetIncomeLossPerShare
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Net investment income per share using average outstanding shares for the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_NetInvestmentIncomePerShare
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The net realized and unrealized gain or loss per share using average shares outstanding for the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_NetRealizedUnrealizedGainsLossesPerShare
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The Company's equity per share if all the long term incentive plan units and Operating Partnership units (owned by the non-controlling interest) that have been previously been issued were to be fully vested and exchanged for common shares as of the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_ShareholdersEquityPerShareUponConversionOfAllConvertibleUnits
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Per share impact on dividend amount paid relating to shares issued/repurchased during the period as well as dividends paid to LTIP unit holders. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_WeightedAverageShareImpactOnDividendsPaid
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Face amount or stated value per share of common stock. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant