v3.8.0.1

Valuation (Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable Inputs) (Details) - Level 3 [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017		Sep. 30, 2016
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Assets, Beginning Balance	$ 537,345		$ 519,124	$ 523,837		$ 493,541
Assets, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	(4,033)		(4,129)	(19,509)		(12,918)
Assets, Realized Gain (Loss)	2,218		1,217	5,235		5,730
Assets, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	(2,769)		8,012	14,056		(1,860)
Assets, Purchases	94,748		199,211	438,608		420,365
Assets, Sales	(72,962)		(234,819)	(355,023)		(418,307)
Assets, Transfers into Level 3	7,692		1,517	15,043		8,360
Assets, Transfers out of Level 3	(16,497)		(13,815)	(76,505)		(18,593)
Assets, Ending Balance	545,742		476,318	545,742		476,318
Liabilities, Begining Balance			(11,509)			(6,159)
Liabilities, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums			0			(8)
Liabilities, Realized Gain/(Loss)			(2,247)			(6,160)
Liabilities, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)			(119)			3,508
Liabilities Purchases/Payments			22,911			38,853
Liabilities, Sales/Issuance			(49,858)			(70,856)
Liabilities, Transfers into Level 3			0			0
Liabilities, Transfers out of Level 3			0			0
Liabilities, Ending Balance			(40,822)			(40,822)
Guarantees [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Liabilities, Begining Balance			(312)			(828)
Liabilities, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums			0			0
Liabilities, Realized Gain/(Loss)			0			0
Liabilities, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)			162			678
Liabilities, Payments			0			0
Liabilities, Issuances			0			0
Liabilities, Transfers into Level 3			0			0
Liabilities, Transfers out of Level 3			0			0
Liabilities, Ending Balance			(150)			(150)
Unrealized Gain Loss On Guarantees Level 3 Held At End Of Period			200			700
Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Assets, Beginning Balance	532,238		512,132	518,250		486,974
Assets, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	(4,033)		(4,129)	(19,509)		(12,918)
Assets, Realized Gain (Loss)	1,594		(2,609)	4,121		1,593
Assets, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	(2,192)		8,861	15,013		(1,495)
Assets, Purchases	94,721		190,706	438,513		411,425
Assets, Sales	(72,311)		(229,984)	(353,714)		(412,667)
Assets, Transfers into Level 3	7,692		1,517	15,043		8,360
Assets, Transfers out of Level 3	(16,497)		(13,815)	(76,505)		(18,593)
Assets, Ending Balance	541,212		462,679	541,212		462,679
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss)	(2,900)		600	2,800		(10,400)
Investments [Member] | Agency residential mortgage-backed securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Assets, Beginning Balance	4,896		20,506	29,622		24,918
Assets, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	(377)		(1,821)	(7,233)		(5,766)
Assets, Realized Gain (Loss)	(78)		(77)	(515)		(168)
Assets, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	0		(169)	(140)		(849)
Assets, Purchases	1,649		1,385	3,962		1,689
Assets, Sales	(28)		0	(153)		0
Assets, Transfers into Level 3	772		0	0		0
Assets, Transfers out of Level 3	(1,015)		0	(19,724)		0
Assets, Ending Balance	5,819		19,824	5,819		19,824
Investments [Member] | Private Label Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Assets, Beginning Balance	79,123		112,511	90,083		116,435
Assets, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	261		256	1,672		1,518
Assets, Realized Gain (Loss)	1,018		(958)	1,334		(1,305)
Assets, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	409		6,086	7,319		2,995
Assets, Purchases	3,040		0	31,117		7,439
Assets, Sales	(9,116)		(23,652)	(37,278)		(34,904)
Assets, Transfers into Level 3	5,207		1,517	15,043		8,360
Assets, Transfers out of Level 3	(6,294)		(13,815)	(35,642)		(18,593)
Assets, Ending Balance	73,648		81,945	73,648		81,945
Investments [Member] | Private Label Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Assets, Beginning Balance	13,809		34,942	43,268		34,145
Assets, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	(144)		429	574		1,315
Assets, Realized Gain (Loss)	(752)		87	(3,434)		409
Assets, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	934		(292)	7,873		(4,132)
Assets, Purchases	2,100		5,335	2,120		13,179
Assets, Sales	(5,718)		(3,556)	(31,542)		(7,971)
Assets, Transfers into Level 3	1,713		0	0		0
Assets, Transfers out of Level 3	(310)		0	(7,227)		0
Assets, Ending Balance	11,632		36,945	11,632		36,945
Investments [Member] | Commercial Mortgage Loans [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Assets, Beginning Balance	65,896		49,466	61,129		66,399
Assets, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	140		801	771		2,073
Assets, Realized Gain (Loss)	0		72	416		254
Assets, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	17		(1,140)	1,167		(917)
Assets, Purchases	4,342		13,226	31,887		26,650
Assets, Sales	(2,500)		(5,456)	(27,475)		(37,490)
Assets, Transfers into Level 3	0		0	0		0
Assets, Transfers out of Level 3	0		0	0		0
Assets, Ending Balance	67,895		56,969	67,895		56,969
Investments [Member] | Residential Mortgage Loans [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Assets, Beginning Balance	136,097		46,649	84,290		22,089
Assets, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	(874)		67	(196)		315
Assets, Realized Gain (Loss)	388		(78)	1,469		787
Assets, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	(1,013)		(66)	(1,090)		61
Assets, Purchases	37,170		24,002	108,356		56,068
Assets, Sales	(8,805)		(26,499)	(29,866)		(35,245)
Assets, Transfers into Level 3	0		0	0		0
Assets, Transfers out of Level 3	0		0	0		0
Assets, Ending Balance	162,963		44,075	162,963		44,075
Investments [Member] | Collateralized Loan Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Assets, Beginning Balance	42,536		33,109	44,956		45,974
Assets, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	346		(890)	(5,702)		(3,759)
Assets, Realized Gain (Loss)	61		(703)	1,477		98
Assets, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	(839)		2,844	2,135		3,261
Assets, Purchases	7,108		4,241	52,269		5,418
Assets, Sales	(13,416)		(10,198)	(54,305)		(22,589)
Assets, Transfers into Level 3	0		0	0		0
Assets, Transfers out of Level 3	(8,878)		0	(13,912)		0
Assets, Ending Balance	26,918		28,403	26,918		28,403
Investments [Member] | Consumer loans and asset-backed securities backed by consumer loans [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Assets, Beginning Balance	108,671		154,395	107,157	[1]	115,376
Assets, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	(3,366)		(2,919)	(9,631)	[1]	(8,515)
Assets, Realized Gain (Loss)	500		204	426	[1]	210
Assets, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	(528)		(2,290)	(247)	[1]	(2,839)
Assets, Purchases	33,125		51,775	83,138	[1]	140,731
Assets, Sales	(22,062)		(82,066)	(64,503)	[1]	(125,864)
Assets, Transfers into Level 3	0		0	0	[1]	0
Assets, Transfers out of Level 3	0		0	0	[1]	0
Assets, Ending Balance	116,340	[1]	119,099	116,340	[1]	119,099
Investments [Member] | Corporate Debt [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Assets, Beginning Balance	20,535		36,974	25,004		27,028
Assets, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	(19)		(52)	236		(99)
Assets, Realized Gain (Loss)	128		(1,942)	676		(1,687)
Assets, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	(415)		3,753	(229)		1,652
Assets, Purchases	409		83,700	83,900		136,020
Assets, Sales	(7,730)		(66,116)	(96,679)		(106,597)
Assets, Transfers into Level 3	0		0	0		0
Assets, Transfers out of Level 3	0		0	0		0
Assets, Ending Balance	12,908		56,317	12,908		56,317
Investments [Member] | Real Estate Owned [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Assets, Beginning Balance	24,977		4,162	3,349		12,522
Assets, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	0		0	0		0
Assets, Realized Gain (Loss)	0		53	424		2,291
Assets, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	49		(214)	(246)		(545)
Assets, Purchases	1,137		1,942	25,348		12,614
Assets, Sales	(401)		(2,359)	(3,113)		(23,298)
Assets, Transfers into Level 3	0		0	0		0
Assets, Transfers out of Level 3	0		0	0		0
Assets, Ending Balance	25,762		3,584	25,762		3,584
Investments [Member] | Corporate Equity Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Assets, Beginning Balance	35,698		19,418	29,392	[1]	22,088
Assets, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	0		0	0	[1]	0
Assets, Realized Gain (Loss)	329		733	1,848	[1]	704
Assets, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	(806)		349	(1,529)	[1]	(182)
Assets, Purchases	4,641		5,100	16,416	[1]	11,617
Assets, Sales	(2,535)		(10,082)	(8,800)	[1]	(18,709)
Assets, Transfers into Level 3	0		0	0	[1]	0
Assets, Transfers out of Level 3	0		0	0	[1]	0
Assets, Ending Balance	37,327	[1]	15,518	37,327	[1]	15,518
Investments Sold Short [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Liabilities, Begining Balance			(9,947)			(448)
Liabilities, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums			0			(8)
Liabilities, Realized Gain/(Loss)			(122)			409
Liabilities, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)			(7)			(566)
Liabilities, Purchases			20,974			32,230
Liabilities, Sales			(50,085)			(70,804)
Liabilities, Transfers into Level 3			0			0
Liabilities, Transfers out of Level 3			0			0
Liabilities, Ending Balance			(39,187)			(39,187)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) On Investments Sold Short, Level 3, Held At End Of Period			(30)			(300)
Investments Sold Short [Member] | Corporate Debt Sold Short [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Liabilities, Begining Balance			(9,947)			(448)
Liabilities, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums			0			(8)
Liabilities, Realized Gain/(Loss)			(122)			409
Liabilities, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)			(7)			(566)
Liabilities, Purchases			20,974			32,230
Liabilities, Sales			(50,085)			(70,804)
Liabilities, Transfers into Level 3			0			0
Liabilities, Transfers out of Level 3			0			0
Liabilities, Ending Balance			(39,187)			(39,187)
Financial Derivatives - Assets [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Assets, Beginning Balance	5,107		6,992	5,587		6,567
Assets, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	0		0	0		0
Assets, Realized Gain (Loss)	624		3,826	1,114		4,137
Assets, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	(577)		(849)	(957)		(365)
Assets, Purchases	27		8,505	95		8,940
Assets, Sales	(651)		(4,835)	(1,309)		(5,640)
Assets, Transfers into Level 3	0		0	0		0
Assets, Transfers out of Level 3	0		0	0		0
Assets, Ending Balance	4,530		13,639	4,530		13,639
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss)	(600)		400	(800)		(300)
Financial Derivatives - Assets [Member] | Total Return Swaps [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Assets, Beginning Balance	0		824	155		85
Assets, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	0		0	0		0
Assets, Realized Gain (Loss)	21		3,222	243		3,119
Assets, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	0		(628)	(155)		111
Assets, Purchases	0		954	0		1,377
Assets, Sales	(21)		(4,176)	(243)		(4,496)
Assets, Transfers into Level 3	0		0	0		0
Assets, Transfers out of Level 3	0		0	0		0
Assets, Ending Balance	0		196	0		196
Financial Derivatives - Assets [Member] | Warrant [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Assets, Beginning Balance			100	106		150
Assets, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums			0	0		0
Assets, Realized Gain (Loss)			0	(100)		(50)
Assets, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)			0	(6)		0
Assets, Purchases			7,486	0		7,486
Assets, Sales			0	0		0
Assets, Transfers into Level 3			0	0		0
Assets, Transfers out of Level 3			0	0		0
Assets, Ending Balance	0		7,586	0		7,586
Financial Derivatives - Assets [Member] | Credit Default Swaps On Asset Backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Assets, Beginning Balance	5,107		6,068	5,326		6,332
Assets, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	0		0	0		0
Assets, Realized Gain (Loss)	603		604	971		1,068
Assets, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	(577)		(221)	(796)		(476)
Assets, Purchases	27		65	95		77
Assets, Sales	(630)		(659)	(1,066)		(1,144)
Assets, Transfers into Level 3	0		0	0		0
Assets, Transfers out of Level 3	0		0	0		0
Assets, Ending Balance	4,530		5,857	4,530		5,857
Financial Derivatives - Liabilities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Liabilities, Begining Balance	(207)		(1,250)	(505)		(4,883)
Liabilities, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	0		0	0		0
Liabilities, Realized Gain/(Loss)	(7)		(2,125)	(764)		(6,569)
Liabilities, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	0		(274)	726		3,396
Liabilities, Purchases	7		1,937	776		6,623
Liabilities, Sales	0		227	(440)		(52)
Liabilities, Transfers into Level 3	0		0	0		0
Liabilities, Transfers out of Level 3	0		0	0		0
Liabilities, Ending Balance	(207)		(1,485)	(207)		(1,485)
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss)			(1,100)	50		(1,200)
Financial Derivatives - Liabilities [Member] | Total Return Swaps [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Liabilities, Begining Balance	0		(1,016)	(249)		(4,662)
Liabilities, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	0		0	0		0
Liabilities, Realized Gain/(Loss)	13		(2,143)	(279)		(6,508)
Liabilities, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	0		(207)	249		3,438
Liabilities, Purchases	(13)		1,890	291		6,576
Liabilities, Sales	0		253	(12)		(67)
Liabilities, Transfers into Level 3	0		0	0		0
Liabilities, Transfers out of Level 3	0		0	0		0
Liabilities, Ending Balance	0		(1,223)	0		(1,223)
Financial Derivatives - Liabilities [Member] | Credit Default Swaps On Asset Backed Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Liabilities, Begining Balance	(207)		(234)	(256)		(221)
Liabilities, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums	0		0	0		0
Liabilities, Realized Gain/(Loss)	(20)		18	(485)		(61)
Liabilities, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)	0		(67)	477		(42)
Liabilities, Purchases	20		47	485		47
Liabilities, Sales	0		(26)	(428)		15
Liabilities, Transfers into Level 3	0		0	0		0
Liabilities, Transfers out of Level 3	0		0	0		0
Liabilities, Ending Balance	$ (207)		$ (262)	$ (207)		$ (262)
[1] Conformed to current period presentation.

X

- Definition

The amount of accreted discounts and amortization of premiums related to investments in debt securities classified as Level 3 securities within the fair value heirarchy.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Realized gain/loss on investment/derivatives classed as Level 3 within the fair value heirarchy.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Change in unrealized gain/loss on investment/derivatives classed as Level 3 within the fair value heirarchy.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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X

- Definition

Fair Value, Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations, Recurring Basis, Liability, Accreted Discounts/Amortized Premiums

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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X

- Definition

Fair Value, Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations, Recurring Basis, Liability, Change In Net Unrealized Gain/(Loss)

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Fair Value, Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations, Recurring Basis, Liability, Realized Gain/(Loss)

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Sales and issues that have taken place during the period in relation to liabilities measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_FairValueMeasurmentWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilitySalesAndIssues
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Settlements and purchases that have taken place during the period in relation to liabilities measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_FairValueMeasurmentWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilitySettlementsAndPurchases
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Unrealized Gain Loss On Guarantees Level 3 Held At End Of Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Unrealized Gain (Loss) On Investments Sold Short, Level 3, Held At End Of Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	efc_UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestmentsSoldShortLevel3HeldAtEndOfPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	efc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount of unrealized (holding) gain (loss) which is included in the statement of income (or changes in net assets) related to those assets still held at the reporting date for which fair value is measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258

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