v2.4.1.9

Financial Derivatives Financial Derivatives (Schedule of Derivative Activity) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Monthly Notional Amount	$ 2,227,315efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember	$ 828,442efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Credit Default Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Monthly Notional Amount	552,411efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember	319,603efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
Total Return Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Monthly Notional Amount	55,108efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember	29,212efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
Futures [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Monthly Notional Amount	738,830efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_FutureMember	134,831efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_FutureMember
Option contract [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Monthly Notional Amount	926,369efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = efc_OptioncontractMember	10,736efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = efc_OptioncontractMember
Forwards [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Monthly Notional Amount	42,143efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember	369efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
Warrant [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Average Monthly Notional Amount	$ 120efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_WarrantMember	$ 0efc_FinancialDerivativeAverageMonthlyNotional / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = us-gaap_WarrantMember

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- Definition

Average notional for the period using absolute value of month end notional amounts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Details

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X

- Details

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