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Mortgage Loans on Real Estate (Mortgage Loan Portfolio Summarized by Geographic Region and Property Type) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	$ 2,674,315	$ 2,490,619	$ 2,449,909
Percent	100.00%	100.00%
East [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	$ 548,067	$ 635,434
Percent	20.50%	25.50%
Middle Atlantic [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	$ 163,485	$ 151,640
Percent	6.10%	6.10%
Mountain [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	$ 308,486	$ 235,932
Percent	11.50%	9.50%
New England [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	$ 12,265	$ 12,724
Percent	0.50%	0.50%
Pacific [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	$ 466,030	$ 385,683
Percent	17.40%	15.50%
South Atlantic [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	$ 609,736	$ 519,065
Percent	22.80%	20.80%
West North Central [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	$ 324,808	$ 325,447
Percent	12.20%	13.10%
West South Central [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	$ 241,438	$ 224,694
Percent	9.00%	9.00%
Office [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	$ 283,926	$ 308,578
Percent	10.60%	12.40%
Medical Office [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	$ 34,338	$ 50,780
Percent	1.30%	2.10%
Retail [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	$ 1,040,028	$ 886,942
Percent	38.90%	35.60%
Industrial/Warehouse [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	$ 677,770	$ 700,644
Percent	25.30%	28.10%
Apartment [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	$ 462,897	$ 375,837
Percent	17.30%	15.10%
Mixed Use/Other [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	$ 175,356	$ 167,838
Percent	6.60%	6.70%

X

- Definition

Represents the specific geographic distribution or property type distribution amount as a percentage of the total amortized cost of mortgage loans.

+ References

No definition available.

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+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount before allowance of commercial loans issued to businesses to acquire, develop, construct, improve, or refinance land or building. Includes deferred interest and fees, undisbursed portion of loan balance, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts. Excludes loans covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=d3e5066-111524

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