v2.4.1.9

Schedule of Reverse Repurchase Agreements by Maturity (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Reverse Repurchase Agreements [Line Items]
Reverse repurchase agreements	$ 1,669,433us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase	[1]	$ 1,236,166us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase	[1]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	0.65%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate		0.90%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Remaining Days to Maturity, Reverse Repurchase Agreements	105 days		56 days
Maturity up to 30 days [Member]
Reverse Repurchase Agreements [Line Items]
Reverse repurchase agreements	715,194us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaturityUpTo30DaysMember		369,861us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaturityUpTo30DaysMember
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	0.22%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaturityUpTo30DaysMember		0.53%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaturityUpTo30DaysMember
Remaining Days to Maturity, Reverse Repurchase Agreements	14 days		14 days
Maturity 31 to 60 days [Member]
Reverse Repurchase Agreements [Line Items]
Reverse repurchase agreements	322,874us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity31to60daysMember		402,206us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity31to60daysMember
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	0.52%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity31to60daysMember		1.12%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity31to60daysMember
Remaining Days to Maturity, Reverse Repurchase Agreements	44 days		45 days
Maturity 61 to 90 days [Member]
Reverse Repurchase Agreements [Line Items]
Reverse repurchase agreements	289,276us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity61to90daysMember		320,161us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity61to90daysMember
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	0.52%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity61to90daysMember		0.78%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity61to90daysMember
Remaining Days to Maturity, Reverse Repurchase Agreements	71 days		72 days
Maturity 91 to 120 days [Member]
Reverse Repurchase Agreements [Line Items]
Reverse repurchase agreements	0us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity91to120daysMember		8,233us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity91to120daysMember
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	0.00%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity91to120daysMember		1.40%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity91to120daysMember
Remaining Days to Maturity, Reverse Repurchase Agreements	0 days		100 days
Maturity 121 to 150 days [Member]
Reverse Repurchase Agreements [Line Items]
Reverse repurchase agreements	21,236us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity121to150daysMember		38,856us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity121to150daysMember
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.03%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity121to150daysMember		0.49%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity121to150daysMember
Remaining Days to Maturity, Reverse Repurchase Agreements	139 days		135 days
Maturity 151 to 180 days [Member]
Reverse Repurchase Agreements [Line Items]
Reverse repurchase agreements	123,484us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity151to180daysMember		96,849us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity151to180daysMember
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.25%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity151to180daysMember		1.90%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity151to180daysMember
Remaining Days to Maturity, Reverse Repurchase Agreements	162 days		179 days
Maturity 181 to 360 days [Member]
Reverse Repurchase Agreements [Line Items]
Reverse repurchase agreements	47,768us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity181to360daysMember		0us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity181to360daysMember
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	0.85%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity181to360daysMember		0.00%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturity181to360daysMember
Remaining Days to Maturity, Reverse Repurchase Agreements	274 days		0 days
Maturity greater than 360 days [Member]
Reverse Repurchase Agreements [Line Items]
Reverse repurchase agreements	$ 149,601us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturitygreaterthan360daysMember		$ 0us-gaap_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchase / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturitygreaterthan360daysMember
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.41%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturitygreaterthan360daysMember		0.00%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = efc_Maturitygreaterthan360daysMember
Remaining Days to Maturity, Reverse Repurchase Agreements	631 days		0 days
[1] In the Company's Consolidated Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Equity, all balances associated with repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and financial derivatives are presented on a gross basis.

X

- Definition

Weighted average maturity (weighted by amount of the agreement) of repurchase agreements (agreements to sell securities and repurchase at a later date) at period end, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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- Definition

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+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

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