v3.19.1

Financial Derivatives (Credit Default Swaps) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value- | [1] | $ 15,356 | $ 20,001
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value- | [1] | (26,904) | $ (20,806)
Fair Value |  | (11,548) |
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value- |  | 3,276 |
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices | Long |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Notional amount, assets |  | 837 |
Notional amount, liabilities |  | (5,439) |
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value- |  | 9 |
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value- |  | $ 819 |
Remaining Maturity, Assets |  | 23 years 208 days |
Remaining Maturity, Liability |  | 40 years 266 days |
Credit default swaps on asset-backed indices | Short |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Notional amount, assets |  | $ 32,326 |
Notional amount, liabilities |  | (2,500) |
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value- |  | 3,267 |
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value- |  | $ (3) |
Remaining Maturity, Assets |  | 37 years 219 days |
Remaining Maturity, Liability |  | 38 years 212 days |
Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value- |  | $ 1,233 |
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value- |  | (822) |
Credit default swaps on asset-backed securities | Short |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Notional amount, assets |  | 2,909 |
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value- |  | $ 1,233 |
Remaining Maturity, Assets |  | 16 years 150 days |
Credit default swaps on corporate bonds |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value- |  | $ 715 |
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value- |  | (945) |
Credit default swaps on corporate bonds | Long |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Notional amount, assets |  | 3,070 |
Notional amount, liabilities |  | (2,980) |
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value- |  | 296 |
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value- |  | $ 407 |
Remaining Maturity, Assets |  | 2 years 354 days |
Remaining Maturity, Liability |  | 1 year 354 days |
Credit default swaps on corporate bonds | Short |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Notional amount, assets |  | $ 3,033 |
Notional amount, liabilities |  | (16,955) |
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value- |  | 419 |
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value- |  | $ (538) |
Remaining Maturity, Assets |  | 1 year 358 days |
Remaining Maturity, Liability |  | 1 year 51 days |
Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value- |  | $ 3,519 |
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value- |  | (11,907) |
Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices | Long |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Notional amount, assets |  | 76,904 |
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value- |  | $ 3,519 |
Remaining Maturity, Assets |  | 4 years 33 days |
Credit default swaps on corporate bond indices | Short |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Notional amount, liabilities |  | $ (223,080) |
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value- |  | $ (11,907) |
Remaining Maturity, Liability |  | 2 years 172 days |
Recovery swaps |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value- |  | $ (8) |
Recovery swaps | Short |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Notional amount, liabilities |  | (2,600) |
Financial derivatives–liabilities, at fair value- |  | $ (8) |
Remaining Maturity, Liability |  | 80 days |
Credit default swaps |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Notional Amount |  | $ (194,173) |
Fair Value |  | $ (4,939) |
Remaining Years to Maturity |  | 7 years 15 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 Derivative, Asset, Average Remaining Maturity + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_DerivativeAssetRemainingMaturity
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Derivative, Liability, Remaining Maturity + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_DerivativeLiabilityRemainingMaturity
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 12 -Section 13 -Sentence Column B + Details
Name: | invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix: | invest_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Nominal or face amount used to calculate payments on the derivative asset. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1A -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5579245-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5580258-113959 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1A -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5579245-113959 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeAssetNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393222&loc=SL20226008-175313 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109250915&loc=d3e13433-108611 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair values as of the balance sheet date of the net amount of all assets and liabilities resulting from contracts that meet the criteria of being accounted for as derivative instruments. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeAssetsLiabilitiesAtFairValueNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109250915&loc=d3e13433-108611 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393222&loc=SL20226008-175313 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Nominal or face amount used to calculate payments on the derivative liability. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1A -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5579245-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5580258-113959 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1A -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5579245-113959 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilityNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Period remaining until the derivative contract matures, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeRemainingMaturity1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=efc_CreditDefaultSwapAssetBackedIndicesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PositionAxis=us-gaap_LongMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PositionAxis=us-gaap_ShortMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=efc_CreditDefaultSwapsAssetBackedSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=efc_CreditDefaultSwapCorporateBondsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=efc_CreditDefaultSwapCorporateBondsIndicesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=efc_RecoverySwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |