Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The consolidated financial statements presented herein are at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, and for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. These interim unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in our annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") — as prescribed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) — have been condensed or omitted in these interim financial statements according to these SEC rules and regulations. Management believes that the disclosures included in these interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. In the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments have been made to present fairly the financial condition of the Company at March 31, 2024 and results of operations for all periods presented. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 should not be construed as indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. In the first quarter of 2024, we updated the names of our Residential loans to Residential consumer loans and our Business purpose loans to Residential investor loans. There were no changes to the classifications of account balances as a result of this update in names. All prior period references in this document were conformed to this presentation.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation In accordance with GAAP, we determine whether we must consolidate transferred financial assets and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for financial reporting purposes. We currently consolidate the assets and liabilities of certain Sequoia securitization entities issued prior to 2012 ("Legacy Sequoia"), certain entities formed during and after 2012 in connection with the securitization of Redwood Select prime loans and Redwood Choice expanded-prime loans ("Sequoia"), entities formed in connection with the securitization of CoreVest residential investor term and bridge loans ("CAFL") and entities formed in connection with the securitization of home equity investment contracts ("HEI"). We also consolidate the assets and liabilities of certain Freddie Mac K-Series and Freddie Mac Seasoned Loans Structured Transaction ("SLST") securitizations (and re-securitization of such SLST securities) in which we have invested. Each securitization entity is independent of Redwood and of each other and the assets and liabilities are not owned by and are not legal obligations of Redwood Trust, Inc. Our exposure to these entities is primarily through the financial interests we have purchased or retained, although for certain entities we are exposed to financial risks associated with our role as a sponsor or co-sponsor, servicing administrator, collateral administrator or depositor of these entities or as a result of our having sold assets directly or indirectly to these entities. For financial reporting purposes, the underlying loans owned at the consolidated Legacy Sequoia, Sequoia and Freddie Mac SLST entities are shown under Residential consumer loans held-for-investment, at fair value, the underlying loans at the consolidated Freddie Mac K-Series entity are shown under Consolidated Agency multifamily loans, at fair value, the underlying residential investor term and bridge loans at the consolidated CAFL entities are shown under Residential investor loans held-for-investment, at fair value, and the underlying HEI at the consolidated HEI securitization entities are shown under Home equity investments, at fair value on our consolidated balance sheets. The asset-backed securities (“ABS”) issued to third parties by these entities are shown under ABS issued. In our consolidated statements of income, we record interest income on the loans owned at these entities and interest expense on the ABS issued by these entities as well as fair value changes, other income and expenses associated with these entities' activities. See Note 15 for further discussion on ABS issued. We also consolidate two partnerships ("Servicing Investment" entities) through which we have invested in servicing-related assets. We maintain an 80% ownership interest in each entity and have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these partnerships.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements requires us to make a number of significant estimates. These include estimates of fair value of certain assets and liabilities, amounts and timing of credit losses, prepayment rates, valuation allowances, and other estimates that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of certain revenues and expenses during the reported periods. It is likely that changes in these estimates (e.g., valuation changes due to supply and demand, credit performance, prepayments, interest rates, or other reasons) will occur in the near term. Our estimates are inherently subjective in nature and actual results could differ from our estimates and the differences could be material.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements Newly Adopted Accounting Standard Updates ("ASUs") In June 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-03, “Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions.” ASU 2022-03 clarifies that a contractual restriction on the sale of an equity security should not be considered in measuring its fair value and introduces new disclosure requirements for equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions that are measured at fair value in accordance with Topic 820. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2024, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06, "Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) - Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848." This new guidance defers the sunset date of Topic 848 from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2024, after which entities will no longer be permitted to apply the relief in Topic 848. The objective of the guidance in Topic 848 is to provide temporary relief during the transition period. Through March 31, 2024, we had not elected to apply the optional expedients and exceptions to any of our existing contracts, hedging relationships, or other transactions. At March 31, 2024, we had no remaining LIBOR-indexed financial assets or liabilities. Other Recent Accounting Pronouncements Pending Adoption In August 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-05, "Business Combinations—Joint Venture Formations (Subtopic 805-60): Recognition and Initial Measurement." ASU 2023-05 requires a joint venture, upon formation, to initially measure its assets and liabilities at fair value. This generally aligns the treatment to be consistent with the guidance for business combinations. Joint venture entities that are private companies may elect to include customer-related intangible assets and non-competition agreements within goodwill and not as separate intangible assets. This new guidance is effective for all joint venture entities with a formation date on or after January 1, 2025, with early adoption permitted. Joint ventures formed prior to the adoption date may elect to apply the new guidance retrospectively back to their original formation date. We are evaluating the accounting and disclosure requirements of ASU 2023-05 and we plan to adopt this new guidance by the required date. We do not anticipate that this update will have a material impact on our financial statements. In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, "Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. "ASU 2023-07 expands the breadth and frequency of segment disclosures by requiring disclosures of significant segment expenses regularly provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM") and included within the reported measures of a segment's profit or loss. Other disclosure requirements involve the amount and composition of other segment items and how the CODM uses the reported measures of profit or loss to assess segment performance and to decide how to allocate resources. The ASU does not change how a public entity identifies its operating segments, aggregates those operating segments or applies the quantitative thresholds to determine its reportable segments. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. We are evaluating the accounting and disclosure requirements of ASU 2023-07 and we plan to adopt this new guidance by the required date. In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures." ASU 2023-09 improves the transparency of income tax disclosures by requiring consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the effective tax rate reconciliation disclosures. Additionally, income taxes paid are required to be disaggregated by jurisdiction, along with other amendments to enhance the effectiveness of income tax disclosures. This new guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted and upon adoption, the guidance can be adopted on a prospective or retrospective basis. We are evaluating the accounting and disclosure requirements of ASU 2023-07 and we plan to adopt this new guidance by the required date. In March 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-01, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope Application of Profits Interest and Similar Awards." ASU 2024-01 provides clarification for determining whether a profits interest award should be accounted for as a share-based payment arrangement or other compensation. This new guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted and upon adoption, the guidance can be adopted on a prospective or retrospective basis. We are evaluating the accounting and disclosure requirements of ASU 2024-01 and we plan to adopt this new guidance by the required date.
Balance Sheet Netting	Balance Sheet Netting Certain of our derivatives and short-term debt are subject to master netting arrangements or similar agreements. Under GAAP, in certain circumstances we may elect to present certain financial assets, liabilities and related collateral subject to master netting arrangements in a net position on our balance sheets. However, we do not elect to report any of these financial assets or liabilities on a net basis, and instead present them on a gross basis on our consolidated balance sheets.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

The consolidated financial statements presented herein are at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, and for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. These interim unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in our annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") — as prescribed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) — have been condensed or omitted in these interim financial statements according to these SEC rules and regulations. Management believes that the disclosures included in these interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. In the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments have been made to present fairly the financial condition of the Company at March 31, 2024 and results of operations for all periods presented. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 should not be construed as indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

In the first quarter of 2024, we updated the names of our Residential loans to Residential consumer loans and our Business purpose loans to Residential investor loans. There were no changes to the classifications of account balances as a result of this update in names. All prior period references in this document were conformed to this presentation.

Principles of Consolidation

In accordance with GAAP, we determine whether we must consolidate transferred financial assets and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for financial reporting purposes. We currently consolidate the assets and liabilities of certain Sequoia securitization entities issued prior to 2012 ("Legacy Sequoia"), certain entities formed during and after 2012 in connection with the securitization of Redwood Select prime loans and Redwood Choice expanded-prime loans ("Sequoia"), entities formed in connection with the securitization of CoreVest residential investor term and bridge loans ("CAFL") and entities formed in connection with the securitization of home equity investment contracts ("HEI"). We also consolidate the assets and liabilities of certain Freddie Mac K-Series and Freddie Mac Seasoned Loans Structured Transaction ("SLST") securitizations (and re-securitization of such SLST securities) in which we have invested. Each securitization entity is independent of Redwood and of each other and the assets and liabilities are not owned by and are not legal obligations of Redwood Trust, Inc. Our exposure to these entities is primarily through the financial interests we have purchased or retained, although for certain entities we are exposed to financial risks associated with our role as a sponsor or co-sponsor, servicing administrator, collateral administrator or depositor of these entities or as a result of our having sold assets directly or indirectly to these entities.

For financial reporting purposes, the underlying loans owned at the consolidated Legacy Sequoia, Sequoia and Freddie Mac SLST entities are shown under Residential consumer loans held-for-investment, at fair value, the underlying loans at the consolidated Freddie Mac K-Series entity are shown under Consolidated Agency multifamily loans, at fair value, the underlying residential investor term and bridge loans at the consolidated CAFL entities are shown under Residential investor loans held-for-investment, at fair value, and the underlying HEI at the consolidated HEI securitization entities are shown under Home equity investments, at fair value on our consolidated balance sheets. The asset-backed securities (“ABS”) issued to third parties by these entities are shown under ABS issued. In our consolidated statements of income, we record interest income on the loans owned at these entities and interest expense on the ABS issued by these entities as well as fair value changes, other income and expenses associated with these entities' activities. See Note 15 for further discussion on ABS issued.

We also consolidate two partnerships ("Servicing Investment" entities) through which we have invested in servicing-related assets. We maintain an 80% ownership interest in each entity and have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these partnerships.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements requires us to make a number of significant estimates. These include estimates of fair value of certain assets and liabilities, amounts and timing of credit losses, prepayment rates, valuation allowances, and other estimates that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of certain revenues and expenses during the reported periods. It is likely that changes in these estimates (e.g., valuation changes due to supply and demand, credit performance, prepayments, interest rates, or other reasons) will occur in the near term. Our estimates are inherently subjective in nature and actual results could differ from our estimates and the differences could be material.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Newly Adopted Accounting Standard Updates ("ASUs")

In June 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-03, “Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions.” ASU 2022-03 clarifies that a contractual restriction on the sale of an equity security should not be considered in measuring its fair value and introduces new disclosure requirements for equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions that are measured at fair value in accordance with Topic 820. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2024, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06, "Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) - Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848." This new guidance defers the sunset date of Topic 848 from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2024, after which entities will no longer be permitted to apply the relief in Topic 848. The objective of the guidance in Topic 848 is to provide temporary relief during the transition period. Through March 31, 2024, we had not elected to apply the optional expedients and exceptions to any of our existing contracts, hedging relationships, or other transactions. At March 31, 2024, we had no remaining LIBOR-indexed financial assets or liabilities.

Other Recent Accounting Pronouncements Pending Adoption

In August 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-05, "Business Combinations—Joint Venture Formations (Subtopic 805-60): Recognition and Initial Measurement." ASU 2023-05 requires a joint venture, upon formation, to initially measure its assets and liabilities at fair value. This generally aligns the treatment to be consistent with the guidance for business combinations. Joint venture entities that are private companies may elect to include customer-related intangible assets and non-competition agreements within goodwill and not as separate intangible assets. This new guidance is effective for all joint venture entities with a formation date on or after January 1, 2025, with early adoption permitted. Joint ventures formed prior to the adoption date may elect to apply the new guidance retrospectively back to their original formation date. We are evaluating the accounting and disclosure requirements of ASU 2023-05 and we plan to adopt this new guidance by the required date. We do not anticipate that this update will have a material impact on our financial statements.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, "Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. "ASU 2023-07 expands the breadth and frequency of segment disclosures by requiring disclosures of significant segment expenses regularly provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM") and included within the reported measures of a segment's profit or loss. Other disclosure requirements involve the amount and composition of other segment items and how the CODM uses the reported measures of profit or loss to assess segment performance and to decide how to allocate resources. The ASU does not change how a public entity identifies its operating segments, aggregates those operating segments or applies the quantitative thresholds to determine its reportable segments. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. We are evaluating the accounting and disclosure requirements of ASU 2023-07 and we plan to adopt this new guidance by the required date.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures." ASU 2023-09 improves the transparency of income tax disclosures by requiring consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the effective tax rate reconciliation disclosures. Additionally, income taxes paid are required to be disaggregated by jurisdiction, along with other amendments to enhance the effectiveness of income tax disclosures. This new guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted and upon adoption, the guidance can be adopted on a prospective or retrospective basis. We are evaluating the accounting and disclosure requirements of ASU 2023-07 and we plan to adopt this new guidance by the required date.

In March 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-01, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope Application of Profits Interest and Similar Awards." ASU 2024-01 provides clarification for determining whether a profits interest award should be accounted for as a share-based payment arrangement or other compensation. This new guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted and upon adoption, the guidance can be adopted on a prospective or retrospective basis. We are evaluating the accounting and disclosure requirements of ASU 2024-01 and we plan to adopt this new guidance by the required date.

Balance Sheet Netting

Certain of our derivatives and short-term debt are subject to master netting arrangements or similar agreements. Under GAAP, in certain circumstances we may elect to present certain financial assets, liabilities and related collateral subject to master netting arrangements in a net position on our balance sheets. However, we do not elect to report any of these financial assets or liabilities on a net basis, and instead present them on a gross basis on our consolidated balance sheets.