v3.19.1

To Be Announced RMBS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018
To Be Announced Securities [Line Items]
TBA securities, at fair value (Current principal: $460,037)			$ 2,939,311
Investments sold short, at fair value-	$ (26,212)		(850,577)
Payable for securities purchased relating to unsettled TBA purchases	$ (168,211)	[1]	(488,411)
To Be Announced Fixed Rate Agency Securities [Member]
To Be Announced Securities [Line Items]
TBA securities, at fair value (Current principal: $460,037)			474,860
Principal Amount			460,037
Receivable for securities sold relating to unsettled TBA sales			766,574
TBA - Fixed Rate Agency Securities Sold Short [Member]
To Be Announced Securities [Line Items]
Investments sold short, at fair value-			(772,964)
Principal Amount			(753,697)
Payable for securities purchased relating to unsettled TBA purchases			(473,386)
Net short TBA securities, at fair value			$ (298,104)
[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet includes assets and liabilities of variable interest entities it has consolidated. See Note 9 for additional details on Ellington Financial Inc.'s consolidated variable interest entities.

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