XML 14 R52.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.19.3.a.u2

Residential Mortgage Securities and MSR Related Assets (Impact of AFS Securities on AOCI) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
AOCI from AFS Securities:
Unrealized gain on AFS securities at beginning of period	$ 417,167	$ 620,648	$ 620,403
Reclassification adjustment for MBS sales included in net income	(44,600)	(51,580)	(38,707)
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI included in net income	(180)	(1,259)	(1,032)
Change in AOCI from AFS securities	(24,445)	(203,481)	245
Balance at end of period	392,722	417,167	620,648
Agency MBS
AOCI from AFS Securities:
Unrealized (loss)/gain on AFS securities, net	21,844	(17,891)	(39,158)
Non-Agency MBS
AOCI from AFS Securities:
Unrealized (loss)/gain on AFS securities, net	(6,682)	(131,939)	78,337
Unrealized gain/(loss) on MSR term notes, net
AOCI from AFS Securities:
Unrealized (loss)/gain on AFS securities, net	$ 5,173	$ (812)	$ 805

X

- Definition

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment Excluding Cumulative Effect, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mfa_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableforsaleSecuritiesAdjustmentExcludingCumulativeEffectNetofTaxPortionAttributabletoParent
Namespace Prefix:	mfa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AOCIAttributableToParentNetOfTaxRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount, after tax, of accumulated unrealized gain (loss) on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=d3e681-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Amount after tax of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income for unrealized gain (loss) realized upon the sale of available-for-sale securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=d3e689-108580

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=d3e637-108580

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118939692&loc=d3e27357-111563

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 17A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=SL34724391-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount after tax of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income for unrealized loss realized upon the write-down of available-for-sale securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=d3e689-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 17A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=SL34724391-108580

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=d3e637-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForWritedownOfSecuritiesNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount after tax, before reclassification adjustments, of unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=SL7669646-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=d3e637-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByPrivateEnterprisesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=mfa_MSRRelatedAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: