v3.20.1

Financial Derivatives (TBAs) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Mar. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019
--- | --- | ---
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value- | $ 31,752 | $ 16,788
Derivative Liability | 47,772 | 27,621
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net | (16,020) | (10,833)
TBA securities |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | (429,472) | (1,053,630)
Derivative, Cost Basis | (450,886) | (1,098,063)
Market Value Underlying | (456,726) | (1,098,479)
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net | (5,840) | (416)
TBA securities | Long |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | (28,400) | (40,100)
Derivative, Cost Basis | 29,235 | 40,585
Market Value Underlying | 29,537 | 40,675
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net | 302 | 90
TBA securities | Short |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | (457,872) | (1,093,730)
Derivative, Cost Basis | (480,121) | (1,138,648)
Market Value Underlying | (486,263) | (1,139,154)
Derivative Assets (Liabilities), at Fair Value, Net | (6,142) | (506)
Financial Derivatives - Assets | TBA securities | Long |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | (28,400) | (40,100)
Derivative, Cost Basis | 29,235 | 40,585
Market Value Underlying | 29,537 | 40,675
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value- | 302 | 90
Financial Derivatives - Assets | TBA securities | Short |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | (44,697) | (319,981)
Derivative, Cost Basis | (48,301) | (332,080)
Market Value Underlying | (48,052) | (331,574)
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value- | 249 | 506
Financial Derivatives - Liabilities | TBA securities | Short |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Notional Amount | (413,175) | (773,749)
Derivative, Cost Basis | (431,820) | (806,568)
Market Value Underlying | (438,211) | (807,580)
Derivative Liability | $ (6,391) | $ (1,012)

X
- Definition Derivative, Cost Basis + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_DerivativeCostBasis
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Market value (notional amount times price at the end of the period) of the security underyling the derivative. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | efc_MarketValueUnderlying
Namespace Prefix: | efc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
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=118260190&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=117331979&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=118260190&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 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 Nominal or face amount used to calculate payment on derivative. + References Reference 1: 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 2: 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_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=us-gaap_DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |