Ready Capital (RC) 10-Q 10 May 16 2016 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document And Entity Information

Document And Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	May. 09, 2016
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Registrant Name	ZAIS Financial Corp.
Entity Central Index Key	1,527,590
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Trading Symbol	ZFC
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		7,970,886

Condensed Consolidated Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 66,604,813	$ 20,793,716
Restricted cash	4,160,074	4,371,725
Mortgage loans held for investment, at fair value - $32,114,039 and $394,942,512 pledged as collateral, respectively	32,114,043	397,678,140
Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment, at fair value - $368,071,942 pledged as collateral	368,956,195	0
Mortgage loans held for investment, at cost	1,879,254	1,886,642
Mortgage loans held for sale, at fair value - $110,859,815 and $115,942,230 pledged as collateral, respectively	110,859,815	115,942,230
Real estate securities, at fair value - $78,795,777 and $95,627,850 pledged as collateral, respectively	87,120,006	109,339,281
Other Investment Securities, at fair value - $2,033,403 and $1,989,174 pledged as collateral, respectively	12,878,022	12,804,196
Loans eligible for repurchase from Ginnie Mae	37,480,440	34,745,103
Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value	44,852,686	48,209,016
Derivative assets, at fair value	4,040,132	2,376,187
Other assets	12,858,366	7,928,878
Goodwill	14,183,537	14,183,537
Intangible assets	4,683,185	4,880,270
Total assets	802,670,568	775,138,921
Liabilities
Warehouse lines of credit	101,478,055	100,768,428
Treasury security repurchase agreement	39,574,000	0
Loan repurchase facilities	297,392,137	296,789,330
Securities repurchase agreements	60,800,779	73,300,159
Exchangeable Senior Notes	56,784,242	56,509,046
Contingent consideration	11,483,100	11,285,100
Derivative liabilities, at fair value	3,735,023	1,831,967
Dividends and distributions payable	3,559,120	3,559,120
Accounts payable and other liabilities	19,540,931	18,572,613
Liability for loans eligible for repurchase from Ginnie Mae	37,480,440	34,745,103
Total liabilities	$ 631,827,827	$ 597,360,866
Commitments and contingencies (Note 21)
Equity
12.5% Series A cumulative non-voting preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; zero shares issued and outstanding	$ 0	$ 0
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 7,970,886 shares issued and outstanding	798	798
Additional paid-in capital	164,207,617	164,207,617
Accumulated deficit	(11,211,280)	(4,984,178)
Total ZAIS Financial Corp. stockholders’ equity	152,997,135	159,224,237
Non-controlling interests	17,845,606	18,553,818
Total equity	170,842,741	177,778,055
Total liabilities and equity	$ 802,670,568	$ 775,138,921

Condensed Consolidated Balance3

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Parenthetical] - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Mortgage loans held for investment, pledged as collateral	$ 32,114,039	$ 394,942,512
Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment, pledged as collateral	368,071,942
Mortgage Loans Held For Sale Amount Pledged As Collateral	110,859,815	115,942,230
Real estate securities, pledged as collateral	78,795,777	95,627,850
Other investment securities, pledged as collateral	$ 2,033,403	$ 1,989,174
12.5% Series A cumulative non-voting preferred stock, par or stated value per share	$ 0.0001	$ 0.0001
12.5% Series A cumulative non-voting preferred stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
12.5% Series A cumulative non-voting preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
12.5% Series A cumulative non-voting preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value per share	$ 0.0001	$ 0.0001
Common stock, shares authorized	500,000,000	500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	7,970,886	7,970,886
Common stock, shares outstanding	7,970,886	7,970,886

Condensed Consolidated Statemen

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Interest income
Mortgage loans held for investment	$ 294,519	$ 6,625,989
Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment	6,081,850	0
Mortgage loans held for sale	773,963	608,232
Real estate securities	1,343,237	2,420,633
Other investment securities	211,347	32,543
Total interest income	8,704,916	9,687,397
Interest expense
Warehouse lines of credit	551,820	553,359
Treasury securities repurchase agreement	1,275	0
Loan repurchase facilities	2,459,274	2,352,936
Securities repurchase agreements	321,972	402,509
Exchangeable Senior Notes	1,462,936	1,436,673
Total interest expense	4,797,277	4,745,477
Net interest income	3,907,639	4,941,920
Non-interest income
Mortgage banking activities, net	11,652,914	11,152,389
Loan servicing fee income, net of direct costs	2,053,796	1,637,099
Change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights	(8,054,306)	(3,424,914)
Other income	12,460	11,856
Total non-interest income	5,664,864	9,376,430
Other (losses)/gains
Change in unrealized gain or loss on mortgage loans held for investment and sale	2,517,993	(1,199,755)
Change in unrealized gain or loss on real estate securities	(1,793,101)	(177,771)
Change in unrealized gain or loss on Other Investment Securities	24,622	136,320
Change in unrealized gain or loss on real estate owned	(66,766)	101,780
Change in unrealized gain or loss on treasury securities	5,941	0
Realized gain on mortgage loans held for investment and sale	536,344	144,111
Realized loss on real estate securities	(724,607)	0
Realized gain on real estate owned	2,229	20,677
Loss on derivative instruments related to investment portfolio	(676,268)	(907,090)
Total other (losses)/gains	(173,613)	(1,881,728)
Expenses
Advisory fee - related party	767,478	710,800
Salaries, commissions and benefits	7,966,092	7,399,258
Operating expenses	3,040,884	2,919,648
Other expenses	2,603,865	1,135,199
Total expenses	14,378,319	12,164,905
Net (loss)/income before income taxes	(4,979,429)	271,717
Income tax benefit	(1,603,235)	(145,529)
Net (loss)/income	(3,376,194)	417,246
Net (loss)/income allocated to non-controlling interests	(337,446)	43,466
Net (loss)/income attributable to ZAIS Financial Corp. common stockholders	$ (3,038,748)	$ 373,780
Net (loss)/income per share applicable to ZAIS Financial Corp. common stockholders:
Basic	$ (0.38)	$ 0.05
Diluted	$ (0.38)	$ 0.05
Weighted average number of shares of common stock:
Basic	7,970,886	7,970,886
Diluted	8,897,800	8,897,800

Condensed Consolidated Stateme5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($)	Total	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	(Accumulated Deficit)/Retained Earnings [Member]	ZAIS Financial Corp. Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Non-Controlling Interests [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 193,383,812	$ 0	$ 798	$ 164,207,617	$ 9,029,947	$ 173,238,362	$ 20,145,450
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014		0	7,970,886
Distributions on OP units	(370,766)	$ 0	$ 0	0	0	0	(370,766)
Dividends on common stock	(3,188,354)	0	0	0	(3,188,354)	(3,188,354)	0
Net (loss) income	417,246	0	0	0	373,780	373,780	43,466
Balance at Mar. 31, 2015	190,241,938	$ 0	$ 798	164,207,617	6,215,373	170,423,788	19,818,150
Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2015		0	7,970,886
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	177,778,055	$ 0	$ 798	164,207,617	(4,984,178)	159,224,237	18,553,818
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015		0	7,970,886
Distributions on OP units	(370,766)	$ 0	$ 0	0	0	0	(370,766)
Dividends on common stock	(3,188,354)	0	0	0	(3,188,354)	(3,188,354)	0
Net (loss) income	(3,376,194)	0	0	0	(3,038,748)	(3,038,748)	(337,446)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2016	$ 170,842,741	$ 0	$ 798	$ 164,207,617	$ (11,211,280)	$ 152,997,135	$ 17,845,606
Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2016		0	7,970,886

Condensed Consolidated Stateme6

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities
Net (loss)/ income	$ (3,376,194)	$ 417,246
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
Change in unrealized gain or loss	(688,689)	1,139,426
Change in unrealized gain or loss on derivative instruments	239,111	(538,062)
Amortization of Exchangeable Senior Notes discount	275,196	248,934
Depreciation and amortization expense	232,430	227,424
Proceeds from sale and principal payments on mortgage loans held for sale	456,891,268	431,251,708
Originations and purchases of mortgage loans held for sale	(435,225,414)	(451,669,250)
Gain on sale of mortgage loans held for sale	(16,583,439)	(7,920,341)
Capitalization of originated mortgage servicing rights	(4,697,976)	(3,409,899)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in other assets	(3,516,147)	(810,733)
Increase in accounts payable and other liabilities	968,318	467,431
Increase in contingent consideration	198,000	523,425
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	572,541	(30,084,496)
Cash flows from investing activities
Origination of mortgage loans held for investment	(1,405,191)	(1,476,838)
Acquisition of mortgage loans held for investment	(10,123,602)	0
Proceeds from principal repayments on mortgage loans held for investment and sale	11,455,134	7,460,149
Proceeds from principal repayments on real estate securities	4,178,332	3,942,700
Proceeds from sales of real estate securities	16,094,298	0
Restricted cash provided by investment activities	211,651	4,112,699
Net cash provided by investing activities	20,410,622	14,038,710
Cash flows from financing activities
Net borrowings under warehouse lines of credit	709,627	27,468,994
Borrowings from Treasury security repurchase agreement	39,574,000	0
Net borrowings under loan repurchase facilities	602,807	(244,515)
Borrowings from securities repurchase agreements	83,722	1,016,063
Repayments of securities repurchase agreements	(12,583,102)	(4,404,331)
Dividends on common stock and distributions on OP units (net of change in dividends and distributions payable)	(3,559,120)	(3,559,120)
Net cash provided by financing activities	24,827,934	20,277,091
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	45,811,097	4,231,305
Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period	20,793,716	33,791,013
End of period	66,604,813	38,022,318
Noncash investing and financing activities
Accrued dividends and distributions payable	3,559,120	3,559,120
Conversion of mortgage loans held for investment to real estate owned	1,513,223	189,648
Real Estate Securities [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
Change in unrealized gain or loss	(571,063)	(1,248,910)
Change in unrealized gain or loss	1,793,101	177,771
Realized (gain)/loss	724,607	0
Other Investment Securities [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
Change in unrealized gain or loss	(49,204)	(10,740)
Change in unrealized gain or loss	(24,622)	(136,320)
Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
Change in unrealized gain or loss	8,054,306	3,424,914
Real Estate Owned [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
Change in unrealized gain or loss	66,766	(101,780)
Realized (gain)/loss	(2,229)	(20,677)
Mortgage Loans [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
Change in unrealized gain or loss	(1,769,937)	(2,012,281)
Change in unrealized gain or loss	(2,517,993)	1,199,755
Realized (gain)/loss	$ (536,344)	$ (144,111)

Formation and Organization

Formation and Organization	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Nature of Operations [Text Block]	1. Formation and Organization ZAIS Financial Corp. and subsidiaries (the "Company") was incorporated in Maryland on May 24, 2011, and has elected to be taxed and to qualify as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") beginning with the taxable year ended December 31, 2011. The Company completed its formation transaction and commenced operations on July 29, 2011. The Company invests in residential mortgage loans. GMFS, LLC (“GMFS”), a mortgage banking platform the Company acquired in October 2014, originates, sells and services residential mortgage loans and the Company acquires performing, re-performing and newly originated loans through other channels. The Company also invests in, finances and manages residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS") that are not issued or guaranteed by a federally chartered corporation, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae"), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac"), or an agency of the U.S. Government, such as Government National Mortgage Association ("Ginnie Mae") ("non-Agency RMBS"), with an emphasis on securities that, when originally issued, were rated in the highest rating category by one or more of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and residential mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”). The Company also has the discretion to invest in RMBS that are issued or guaranteed by a federally chartered corporation or a U.S. Government agency ("Agency RMBS"), including through To-Be-Announced ("TBA") contracts, and in other real estate-related and financial assets. On April 6, 2016, the Company, ZAIS Financial Partners, L.P. (“Company Operating Partnership” or the “Operating Partnership”), the operating partnership of the Company, ZAIS Merger Sub, LLC (“Merger Sub”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Sutherland Asset Management Corporation ( “Sutherland”) and Sutherland Partners, L.P. (“Sutherland Operating Partnership”) entered into an agreement and plan of merger, as amended as of May 9, 2016 (the “Sutherland Merger Agreement”). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Sutherland Merger Agreement, (i) Sutherland will merge with and into Merger Sub (the “Sutherland Merger”), with Merger Sub surviving the Sutherland Merger and continuing as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and (ii) Sutherland Operating Partnership will merge with and into Company Operating Partnership (the “Partnership Merger” and together with the Sutherland Merger, the “Mergers”), with Company Operating Partnership surviving the Partnership Merger (the “Surviving Partnership”). The transaction will be accounted for as a reverse merger. In order to reduce market risk in its investment portfolio , , The Company's income is generated primarily by the net spread between the income it earns on its assets and the cost of its financing and hedging activities in its residential mortgage investments segment, and the origination, sale and servicing of residential mortgage loans in its residential mortgage banking segment. The Company's objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns to its stockholders, primarily through quarterly dividend distributions and secondarily through capital appreciation. The Company's charter authorizes the issuance of up to 500,000,000 0.0001 50,000,000 0.0001 The Company is the sole general partner of, and conducts substantially all of its business through, the Operating Partnership. The Company is externally managed by ZAIS REIT Management, LLC (the "Advisor"), a subsidiary of ZAIS Group, LLC ("ZAIS"), and has no employees except for those employed by GMFS. GMFS had 243 employees at March 31, 2016.

Summary of Significant Accounti

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") as contained within the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") for interim reporting. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows have been included and are of a normal and recurring nature. The operating results presented for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the entire year. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP as contained in the ASC have been condensed or omitted from the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements according to the SEC rules and regulations. The information and disclosures contained in the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and notes 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, 2015. The Company operates in two business segments: residential mortgage investments and residential mortgage banking. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may ultimately differ from those estimates. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, the Operating Partnership, all of the wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership, including its taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRS Entities”), and a joint venture in which GMFS has a controlling financial interest. All intercompany balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company, which serves as the sole general partner of and conducts substantially all of its business through the Operating Partnership, held approximately 89.6 Changes in the Company's ownership interest (and transactions with non-controlling interests in its consolidated subsidiaries) while the Company retains its controlling interest in the subsidiaries, are accounted for as equity transactions. The carrying amount of the non-controlling interest is adjusted to reflect the change in its ownership interest in the subsidiaries, with the offset to equity attributable to the Company. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, "Consolidation: Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis" ("ASU 2015-02"). ASU 2015-02 makes changes to both the variable interest model and the voting model. The Company adopted ASU 2015-02 on January 1, 2016. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. A variable interest entity ("VIE") is an entity that lacks one or more of the characteristics of a voting interest entity. The Company evaluates each of its investments to determine whether it is a VIE based on: (1) the sufficiency of the entity's equity investment at risk to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support provided by any parties, including the equity holders; (2) whether as a group the holders of the equity investment at risk have (a) the power, through voting rights or similar rights, to direct the activities of a legal entity that most significantly impacts the entity's economic performance, (b) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the legal entity or the right to receive the expected residual returns of the legal entity; and (3) whether the voting rights of these investors are proportional to their obligations to absorb the expected losses of the entity, their rights to receive the expected returns of their equity, or both, and whether substantially all of the entity's activities involve or are conducted on behalf of an investor that has disproportionately fewer voting rights. An investment that lacks one or more of the above three characteristics is considered to be a VIE. The Company reassesses its initial evaluation of an entity as a VIE upon the occurrence of certain reconsideration events. A VIE is subject to consolidation if the equity investors either do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, are unable to direct the entity's activities, or are not exposed to the entity's losses or entitled to its residual returns. VIEs are required to be consolidated by their primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is determined to be the party that has both the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. This determination can sometimes involve complex and subjective analyses. The Company's mortgage loans held for sale are sold predominantly to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are government sponsored enterprises ("GSEs" or "Agencies"). The Company also issues Ginnie Mae securities by pooling eligible loans through a pool custodian and assigning rights to the loans to Ginnie Mae. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae provide credit enhancement of the loans through certain guarantee provisions. The Company also purchases RMBS from securitization trusts or similar vehicles. These securitizations involve VIEs as the trusts or similar vehicles, by design, have the characteristics of a VIE. The Company has evaluated its interests in its real estate investment securities and its interests in the securitizations discussed in the preceding paragraph to determine if each represents a variable interest in a VIE. The Company monitors these investments and its investment in the securities and analyzes them for potential consolidation. The Company determined that it was not the primary beneficiary of the VIEs and therefore none of the VIEs were consolidated at March 31, 2016 or December 31, 2015. The maximum exposure of the Company to VIEs is limited to the fair value of its investments in real estate securities and MSRs as disclosed in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The Company considers highly liquid short-term interest bearing instruments with original maturities of three months or less and other instruments readily convertible into cash to be cash equivalents. Mortgage loans which the Company has decided it no longer intends to hold for the foreseeable future are reclassified from mortgage loans held for investment to mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment in the consolidated balance sheets. These mortgage loans were reported at fair value when held for investment and held for sale. The Company decided during the three months ended March 31, 2016 that it no longer intended to hold its seasoned, re-performing mortgage loan portfolio for the foreseeable future and, as such, reclassified mortgage loans with a fair value of $ 368,956,195 Other Investment Securities The Company held Freddie Mac Structured Agency Credit Risk Notes (“FMRT Notes”) at and during the three months ended March 31, 2016, during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and at December 31, 2015. Additionally, the Company held Fannie Mae's Risk Transfer Notes (“FNRT Notes”) at December 31, 2015 (the FMRT Notes and the FNRT Notes are collectively referred to as the “Other Investment Securities”). The Other Investment Securities represent unsecured general obligations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and are structured to be subject to the performance of a certain pool of residential mortgage loans. The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2011. The Company was organized and has operated and intends to continue to operate in a manner that will enable it to qualify to be taxed as a REIT. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must meet certain organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement to distribute at least 90% of the Company's annual REIT taxable income to its stockholders (which is computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction or net capital gains and which does not necessarily equal net income as calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP). As long as the Company qualifies as a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes on its taxable income to the extent it annually distributes its net taxable income to stockholders and does not engage in prohibited transactions. The majority of states also recognize the Company's REIT status. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, it will be subject to federal income tax on its taxable income at regular corporate income tax rates and generally will not be permitted to qualify for treatment as a REIT for federal income tax purposes for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification is lost unless the Internal Revenue Service grants the Company relief under certain statutory provisions. Such an event could materially adversely affect the Company's net income under U.S. GAAP and net cash available for distribution to stockholders. However, it is assumed that the Company will retain its REIT status and will incur no REIT level taxation as it intends to comply with the REIT regulations and annual distribution requirements. The Company has separately made joint elections with three of its subsidiaries, ZFC Funding Inc., ZFC Trust TRS I, LLC and ZFC Honeybee TRS, LLC, to treat such subsidiaries as TRS Entities. The Company may perform certain activities through these TRS entities that could adversely impact the Company's REIT qualification if performed other than through a TRS entity. The Company's TRS entities file separate tax returns and are taxed as standalone U.S. C-Corporations irrespective of the dividends-paid deduction available to REITs for federal income tax purposes. The Company assesses its tax positions for all open tax years and records tax benefits only if tax positions meet a more-likely-than-not threshold in accordance with U.S. GAAP for guidance on accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASU 2014-09"). The objective of the guidance is to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue. ASU 2014-09 supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance, and also enhances disclosure requirements around revenue recognition and the related cash flows. The guidance is to be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented or through a cumulative adjustment in the year of adoption, for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Earlier application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new standard. In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, "Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-04) Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern" ("ASU 2014-15"), which requires management to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date the financial statements are issued. If conditions or events indicate it is probable that an entity will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the financial statements are issued, the update requires additional disclosures. The update is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2016 with early adoption permitted. Adoption of ASU 2014-15 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“ASU 2016-01”). 'The amendments in ASU 2016-01, among other things: (i) requires equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; (ii) requires public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; (iii) requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (i.e., securities or loans and receivables) and (iii) eliminates the requirement for public business entities to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost. ASU 2016-01 is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The new guidance permits early adoption of the own credit provision. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new standard.

GMFS Transaction

GMFS Transaction	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
GMFS Transaction [Text Block]	3. GMFS Transaction The following relates to the acquisition of GMFS in October 2014 pursuant to the terms of the agreement and plan of merger dated August 5, 2014 (the “GMFS Merger Agreement”): Contingent Consideration In addition to cash paid at closing, two contingent $ 1 2 20 50 Contingent consideration represents the estimated present value of the deferred premiums and Production and Profitability Earn-Out. Contingent consideration was estimated at closing based on future production and earnings projections of GMFS over the four year earn-out period and is re-measured to fair value at each reporting date until the contingency is resolved. The changes in fair value are recognized in earnings. The final consideration paid could be materially different from the estimate and the difference will be recorded through earnings in the consolidated statements of operations. Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Beginning balance $ 11,285,100 $ 11,430,413 Change in fair value 198,000 523,425 Ending balance $ 11,483,100 $ 11,953,838 The increase in the estimated liability for the three month period ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015 resulted from the impact of the passage of time. The change in the contingent consideration liability is included in operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company has delayed the first year installment payment of the contingent consideration (see Note 21). Goodwill Goodwill, with a carrying amount of $ 14,183,537 Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Beginning balance $ 14,183,537 $ 16,512,680 Reversal of a liability existing as of the date of acquisition — (385,610) Ending balance $ 14,183,537 $ 16,127,070 Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment on the anniversary date of the acquisition or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that a potential impairment may have occurred. No impairment losses relating to goodwill were recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2016 or March 31, 2015. Intangible Assets Estimated Fair Estimated Useful Trade name $ 2.0 million 10 years Customer relationships 1.3 million 10 years Licenses 1.0 million 3 years Favorable lease 1.5 million 12 years Total Intangible assets $ 5.8 million Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Amortization expense $ 197,085 $ 197,085 Such amounts are recorded as other expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. March 31, December 31 Trade name $ 283,339 $ 233,338 Customer relationships 184,161 151,662 Licenses 472,226 388,892 Favorable lease 177,089 145,838 Total accumulated amortization $ 1,116,815 $ 919,730 April 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016 $ 591,255 2017 $ 732,776 2018 $ 455,004 2019 $ 455,004 2020 $ 455,004 2021 $ 455,004 No impairment losses relating to intangible assets were recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2016 or March 31, 2015.

Fair Value

Fair Value	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]	4. Fair Value Fair Value Measurement Financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The following tables present the Company’s financial instruments that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 by level within the fair value hierarchy: March 31, 2016 Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets Mortgage loans held for investment $ — $ — $ 32,114,043 $ 32,114,043 Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment — — 368,956,195 368,956,195 Mortgage loans held for sale 110,859,815 — 110,859,815 Non-Agency RMBS — — 87,120,006 87,120,006 Other Investment Securities — — 12,878,022 12,878,022 MSRs — — 44,852,686 44,852,686 Derivative assets — — 4,040,132 4,040,132 Total $ — $ 110,859,815 $ 549,961,084 $ 660,820,899 Liabilities Contingent consideration $ — $ — $ 11,483,100 $ 11,483,100 Derivative liabilities — 3,735,023 — 3,735,023 Total $ — $ 3,735,023 $ 11,483,100 $ 15,218,123 December 31, 2015 Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets Mortgage loans held for investment $ — $ — $ 397,678,140 $ 397,678,140 Mortgage loans held for sale — 115,942,230 — 115,942,230 Non-Agency RMBS — — 109,339,281 109,339,281 Other Investment Securities — — 12,804,196 12,804,196 MSRs — — 48,209,016 48,209,016 Derivative assets — — 2,376,187 2,376,187 Total $ — $ 115,942,230 $ 570,406,820 $ 686,349,050 Liabilities Contingent consideration $ — $ — $ 11,285,100 $ 11,285,100 Derivative liabilities — 1,822,096 9,871 1,831,967 Total $ — $ 1,822,096 $ 11,294,971 $ 13,117,067 The following table presents additional information about the Company’s financial instruments which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis for which the Company has utilized Level 3 inputs to determine fair value: Mortgage Loans Held for Investment and Held for Sale Previously Held for Investment, RMBS and Other Investment Securities Three Months Ended Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Mortgage Mortgage Investment and Other Loans Held Other Previously Held Real Estate Investment for Real Estate Investment for Investment Securities Securities Investment Securities Securities Balance, beginning of period $ 397,678,140 $ 109,339,281 $ 12,804,196 $ 415,959,838 $ 148,585,733 $ 2,040,532 Originations/acquisitions 11,528,793 — — 1,476,838 — — Proceeds from sales — (16,094,298) — — — — Amortization of premiums (12,568) — — (384) — — Net accretion of discounts 1,782,505 571,063 49,204 2,012,665 1,248,910 10,740 Proceeds from principal repayments (11,447,746) (4,178,332) — (7,112,305) (3,942,700) — Conversion of mortgage loans to REO (1,513,223) — — (189,648) — — Total losses (realized/unrealized) included in earnings (4,646,504) (3,290,046) (45,733) (8,823,926) (1,028,489) — Total gains (realized/unrealized) included in earnings 7,700,841 772,338 70,355 7,768,282 850,718 136,320 Balance, end of period $ 401,070,238 $ 87,120,006 $ 12,878,022 $ 411,091,360 $ 145,714,172 $ 2,187,592 The amount of total gains or (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets or liabilities still held at the reporting date $ 2,531,471 $ (2,423,297) $ 24,622 $ (1,204,068) $ (177,772) $ 136,320 Derivative Instruments Three Months Ended Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Interest Rate Interest Rate Loan Purchase Lock Loan Purchase Lock Commitments Commitments Commitments Commitments Beginning balance $ (9,871) $ 2,376,187 $ 4,037 $ 2,481,063 Change in unrealized gain or loss 32,463 1,641,353 23,822 1,936,514 Ending balance $ 22,592 $ 4,017,540 $ 27,859 $ 4,417,577 The amount of total gains or (losses) for the year included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets or liabilities still held at the reporting date $ 32,463 $ 1,641,353 $ 23,822 $ 1,936,514 MSRs See Note 8 – "Mortgage Servicing Rights, at fair value" for additional information about the Company's MSRs. Contingent Consideration There were no financial assets or liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at March 31, 2016 or December 31, 2015. During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015, mortgage loans held for investment were transferred out of Level 3 when the properties were foreclosed and were classified as real estate owned. There were no other transfers into or out of Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 during the months ended March 31, 2016 or March 31, 2015. Fair Value at March 31, Valuation Unobservable Weighted 2016 Technique(s) Input Min Max Average Mortgage loans Held for Investment and Sale $ 401,070,238 Discounted cash flow model Constant voluntary prepayment 2.1 % 5.2 % 3.4 % Constant default rate 1.6 % 4.0 % 3.0 % Loss severity 6.5 % 37.3 % 21.9 % Delinquency 6.5 % 13.7 % 11.2 % Non-Agency RMBS Alternative – A $ 26,102,680 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 2.6 % 16.2 % 11.3 % Constant default rate 0.3 % 7.1 % 2.8 % Loss severity 0.3 % 85.0 % 20.8 % Delinquency 1.7 % 22.4 % 8.8 % Pay option adjustable rate 25,541,425 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 2.2 % 7.1 % 4.1 % Constant default rate 1.1 % 15.3 % 3.7 % Loss severity 0.1 % 74.0 % 34.7 % Delinquency 5.4 % 20.1 % 13.1 % Prime 28,928,776 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 4.2 % 23.6 % 7.9 % Constant default rate 0.8 % 8.9 % 3.5 % Loss severity 0.0 % 87.8 % 27.5 % Delinquency 3.7 % 25.4 % 11.9 % Subprime 6,547,125 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 1.3 % 4.4 % 3.1 % Constant default rate 4.3 % 6.0 % 5.3 % Loss severity 10.9 % 85.0 % 49.1 % Delinquency 19.6 % 27.8 % 23.1 % Total Non-Agency RMBS $ 87,120,006 Other Investment Securities $ 12,878,022 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 4.1 % 23.6 % 7.6 % MSRs $ 44,852,686 Discounted cash flow model Constant voluntary prepayment 10.3 % 12.2 % 11.3 % Cost of servicing $ 77 $ 109 $ 91 Discount rate 9.0 % 10.0 % 9.4 % Contingent consideration $ 11,483,100 Option pricing model Discount rate 10.2 % 10.8 % 10.5 % Production volatility — — 20.0 % Profitability volatility — — 50.0 % Fair Value at December 31, Valuation Unobservable Weighted 2015 Technique(s) Input Min Max Average Mortgage loans held for Investment $ 397,678,140 Discounted cash flow model Constant voluntary prepayment 1.9 % 5.0 % 3.2 % Constant default rate 1.4 % 5.0 % 3.1 % Loss severity 5.9 % 37.2 % 22.1 % Delinquency 6.3 % 13.2 % 10.9 % Non-Agency RMBS Alternative – A $ 35,998,175 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 2.7 % 18.9 % 12.9 % Constant default rate 0.2 % 7.8 % 2.8 % Loss severity 0.0 % 85.0 % 21.0 % Delinquency 1.4 % 22.2 % 8.9 % Pay option adjustable rate 32,209,538 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 2.2 % 13.5 % 7.5 % Constant default rate 0.5 % 13.0 % 3.5 % Loss severity 0.0 % 95.6 % 40.0 % Delinquency 5.3 % 21.9 % 12.3 % Prime 32,482,521 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 3.6 % 21.0 % 8.0 % Constant default rate 0.5 % 9.4 % 3.7 % Loss severity 0.0 % 85.1 % 28.9 % Delinquency 4.4 % 25.5 % 12.0 % Subprime 8,649,047 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 1.2 % 7.7 % 3.9 % Constant default rate 3.0 % 8.0 % 6.2 % Loss severity 11.1 % 128.5 % 54.0 % Delinquency 18.3 % 28.0 % 22.2 % Total Non-Agency RMBS $ 109,339,281 Other Investment Securities $ 12,804,196 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 4.0 % 18.4 % 6.9 % MSRs $ 48,209,016 Discounted cash flow model Constant voluntary prepayment 8.5 % 10.5 % 9.3 % Cost of servicing $ 77 $ 110 $ 92 Discount rate 9.0 % 10.0 % 9.4 % Contingent consideration $ 11,285,100 Option pricing model Discount rate 10.2 % 10.8 % 10.5 % Production volatility — — 20.0 % Profitability volatility — — 50.0 % Derivative Financial Instruments The Company estimates the fair value of interest rate lock commitments ("IRLC") based on quoted Agency MBS prices, the expected net future cash flows related to servicing the mortgage loan, adjusted for: (i) estimated costs to complete and originate the loan and (ii) an adjustment to reflect the estimated percentage of IRLCs that will result in a closed mortgage loan under the original terms of the agreement (or “pullthrough rate”). The Company categorizes IRLCs as a "Level 3" financial statement item. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Company's IRLCs are the pull-through rate and the expected net future cash flows related to servicing the MSRs component of the Company's estimate of the value of the mortgage loans it has committed to purchase. Significant changes in the pull-through rate and expected net future cash flows related to servicing the MSR component of the IRLCs, in isolation, may result in a significant change in fair value. The financial effects of changes in these assumptions are generally inversely correlated as increasing interest rates have a positive effect on the fair value of the MSR component of IRLC value, but increase the pull-through rate for loans that have decreased in fair value. The following is a quantitative summary of key unobservable inputs used in the valuation of IRLCs at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015: March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Pull-through rate Range 56.4% - 100.0 % 62.4% – 100.0 % Weighted average 87.6 % 87.6 % MSR value expressed as: Servicing fee multiple Range 0.1% - 6.1 % 0.8% - 5.9 % Weighted average 4.2 % 4.3 % Percentage of unpaid principal balance Range 0.1% - 1.5 % 0.3% - 1.7 % Weighted average 1.1 % 1.1 % The fair value measurements of these assets are sensitive to changes in assumptions regarding prepayment, probability of default, loss severity in the event of default, forecasts of home prices, and significant activity or developments in the real estate market. Significant changes in any of those inputs in isolation may result in significantly higher or lower fair value measurements. Generally, an increase in the probability of default and loss severity in the event of default would result in a lower fair value measurement. A decrease in these assumptions would have the opposite effect. Conversely, an assumption that the home prices will increase would result in a higher fair value measurement. A decrease in the assumption for home prices would have the opposite effect. Fair Value Option Changes in fair value for assets and liabilities for which the fair value option was elected are recognized in earnings as they occur. The fair value option may be elected on an instrument-by-instrument basis at initial recognition of an asset or liability or upon an event that gives rise to a new basis of accounting for that instrument. March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Unpaid Principal Unpaid Principal and/or Notional and/or Notional Fair Value Balance (2) Difference Fair Value Balance (2) Difference Financial instruments, at fair value Mortgage loans held for investment (1) $ 32,114,043 $ 31,304,573 $ 809,470 $ 397,678,140 $ 444,500,063 $ (46,821,923) Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment 368,956,195 411,002,700 (42,046,505) — — — Mortgage loans held for sale 110,859,815 105,739,051 5,120,764 115,942,230 111,393,424 4,548,806 Non-Agency RMBS (2) 87,120,006 143,682,422 (56,562,416) 109,339,281 168,925,162 (59,585,881) Other Investment Securities 12,878,022 13,395,816 (517,794) 12,804,196 13,398,851 (594,655) MSRs 44,852,686 4,429,521,268 N/A (3) 48,209,016 4,173,927,393 N/A (3) (1) At December 31, 2015, the balance is comprised of loans that are (i) distressed and re-performing at the time of purchase and (ii) newly originated at the time of purchase. (2) Non-Agency RMBS includes an IO with a notional balance of $ 33.7 35.0 (3) Amounts not presented. Unpaid principal balance of MSRs is generally significantly greater than their fair value. Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments In addition to the above disclosures regarding assets or liabilities which are recorded at fair value, U.S. GAAP requires disclosure about the fair value of all other financial instruments. Estimated fair value of financial instruments was determined by the Company using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data and develop estimated fair values. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on estimated fair values. The following table summarizes the estimated fair value and carrying value for all other financial instruments at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015: March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Fair Value Carrying Value Fair Value Carrying Value Other financial instruments Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 66,604,813 $ 66,604,813 $ 20,793,716 $ 20,793,716 Restricted cash 4,160,074 4,160,074 4,371,725 4,371,725 Mortgage loans held for investment, at cost 1,879,254 1,879,254 1,886,642 1,886,642 Liabilities Warehouse lines of credit $ 101,478,055 $ 101,478,055 $ 100,768,428 $ 100,768,428 Treasury security repurchase facility 39,574,000 39,574,000 — — Loan repurchase facilities 297,392,137 297,392,137 296,789,330 296,789,330 Securities repurchase agreements 60,800,779 60,800,779 73,300,159 73,300,159 Exchangeable Senior Notes 57,098,650 56,784,242 56,775,500 56,509,046 Cash and cash equivalents includes cash on hand and treasury securities for which fair value equals carrying value (a Level 1 measurement). Restricted cash represents the Company's cash held by counterparties as collateral against the Company's derivatives, loan repurchase facilities and securities repurchase agreements. Due to the short-term nature of the restrictions, fair value approximates carrying value (a Level 1 measurement). The fair value of the mortgage loans held for investment, at cost is determined, where possible using secondary-market prices. If no such quoted price exists, the fair value of a loan is determined using quoted prices for a similar asset or assets, adjusted for the specific attributes of that loan. Accordingly, mortgage loans held for investment, at cost are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the Company's warehouse lines of credit and repurchase agreements related to the GMFS mortgage banking platform, treasury security repurchase agreement, loan repurchase facilities and securities repurchase agreements is based on an expected present value technique using observable market interest rates. As such, the Company considers the estimated fair value to be a Level 2 measurement. This method discounts future estimated cash flows using rates the Company determined best reflect current market interest rates that would be offered for loans with similar characteristics and credit quality. The fair value of the Exchangeable Senior Notes (see Note 13) is based on observable market prices (a Level 2 measurement). The differences reflected in the table for mortgage loans held for investment are not necessarily indicative of cumulative gains or losses related to loans because it does not take into account the fair value of the loans at the date of acquisition.

Mortgage Loans Held for Investm

Mortgage Loans Held for Investment, at Fair Value and Held for Sale Previously Held for Investment, at Fair Value	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Abstract]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, by Loan Disclosure [Text Block]	5. Mortgage Loans Held for Investment, at Fair Value and Held for Sale Previously Held for Investment, at Fair Value Distressed and re-performing loans at the time of purchase The Company did not acquire any mortgage loans held for investment which showed evidence of credit deterioration at the time of purchase during the three months ended March 31, 2016 or March 31, 2015. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company decided it no longer intended to hold its seasoned and re-performing loan portfolio which were held as loans held for investment, at fair value at December 31, 2015 for the foreseeable future and reclassified this portfolio to Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment, at fair value. The following tables present certain information regarding the Company's mortgage loans at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 which showed evidence of credit deterioration at the time of purchase: March 31, 2016 Mortgage Loans Held for Sale Previously Held for Investment Difference Between Fair Value and Aggregate Unpaid Gross Unrealized (1) Unpaid Weighted Average Principal Premium Amortized Fair Principal Unleveraged Balance (Discount) Cost Gains Losses Value Balance Coupon Yield Performing Fixed $ 236,675,463 $ (43,298,017) $ 193,377,446 $ 27,002,346 $ (2,374,288) $ 218,005,504 $ (18,669,959) 4.74 % 7.65 % ARM 135,940,617 (14,520,006) 121,420,611 5,098,008 (3,656,027) 122,862,592 (13,078,025) 3.69 7.17 Total performing 372,616,080 (57,818,023) 314,798,057 32,100,354 (6,030,315) 340,868,096 (31,747,984) 4.36 7.47 Non-performing (2) 38,386,620 (7,017,147) 31,369,473 948,312 (4,229,686) 28,088,099 (10,298,521) 4.72 7.84 Total $ 411,002,700 $ (64,835,170) $ 346,167,530 $ 33,048,666 $ (10,260,001) $ 368,956,195 $ (42,046,505) 4.39 % 7.50 % December 31, 2015 Mortgage Loans Held for Investment Difference Between Fair Value and Aggregate Unpaid Gross Unrealized (1) Unpaid Weighted Average Principal Premium Amortized Fair Principal Unleveraged Balance (Discount) Cost Gains Losses Value Balance Coupon Yield Performing Fixed $ 240,031,119 $ (44,650,666) $ 195,380,453 $ 23,626,555 $ (2,521,921) $ 216,485,087 $ (23,546,032) 4.70 % 7.59 % ARM 143,625,653 (15,597,990) 128,027,663 5,918,004 (3,126,826) 130,818,841 (12,806,812) 3.63 7.15 Total performing 383,656,772 (60,248,656) 323,408,116 29,544,559 (5,648,747) 347,303,928 (36,352,844) 4.30 7.41 Non-performing (2) 40,100,775 (7,515,130) 32,585,645 990,974 (4,245,960) 29,330,659 (10,770,116) 4.65 7.78 Total $ 423,757,547 $ (67,763,786) $ 355,993,761 $ 30,535,533 $ (9,894,707) $ 376,634,587 $ (47,122,960) 4.34 % 7.45 % (1) The Company has elected the fair value option pursuant to ASC 825 for these mortgage loans held for investment. The Company recorded the following as change in unrealized gain or loss on mortgage loans held for investment in the consolidated statements of operations: Three Months Three Months $ 2,147,861 $ (1,086,535) (2) Loans that are delinquent for 60 days or more Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Accretable yield, beginning of period $ 247,751,944 $ 267,509,905 Acquisitions — — Accretion (6,207,756) (6,605,967) Reclassifications from nonaccretable difference (4,282,052) (1,686,736) Accretable yield, end of period $ 237,262,136 $ 259,217,202 Newly originated loans at the time of purchase Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Aggregate Unpaid Principal Balance $ 11,382,962 $ 1,447,319 Loan Repurchase Facilities Used 10,169,242 1,302,587 March 31, 2016 Unpaid Gross Unrealized (1) Weighted Average Principal Amortized Unleveraged Balance Premium Cost Gains Losses Fair Value Coupon Yield Performing Fixed $ 25,079,640 $ 412,382 $ 25,492,022 $ 292,794 $ (10,823) $ 25,773,993 4.93 % 4.78 % ARM 6,224,933 86,651 6,311,584 28,463 — 6,340,047 4.46 4.33 Total Mortgage Loans Held for Investment $ 31,304,573 $ 499,033 $ 31,803,606 $ 321,257 $ (10,823) $ 32,114,040 4.84 % 4.69 % December 31, 2015 Unpaid Gross Unrealized (1) Weighted Average Principal Amortized Unleveraged Balance Premium Cost Gains Losses Fair Value Coupon Yield Performing Fixed $ 17,674,257 $ 315,860 $ 17,990,117 $ 58,069 $ (99,486) $ 17,948,700 5.05 % 4.89 % ARM 3,068,259 44,875 3,113,134 — (18,280) 3,094,854 4.37 4.25 Total Mortgage Loans Held for Investment $ 20,742,516 $ 360,735 $ 21,103,251 $ 58,069 $ (117,766) $ 21,043,554 4.95 % 4.79 % (1) The Company has elected the fair value option pursuant to ASC 825 for these mortgage loans held for investment. The Company recorded the following as change in unrealized gain or loss on mortgage loans held for investment in the consolidated statements of operations: Three Months Three Months $ 370,132 $ (5,885) Concentrations The Company's mortgage loans held for investment, at fair value consists of mortgage loans on residential real estate located throughout the United States. March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Percentage of fair value of mortgage loans with unpaid principal balance to current property value in excess of 100% 37.8 % 44.1 % Percentage of fair value of mortgage loans secured by properties in the following states: Each representing 10% or more of fair value: California 26.1 % 26.2 % Florida 15.6 % 16.1 % Additional state representing more than 5% of fair value: Georgia 6.1 % 6.1 % Percentage of unpaid principal balance of mortgage loans carrying mortgage insurance 8.0 % 8.2 % March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Interest rates 2.0% - 12.2% 1.75% – 12.20% Contractual maturities 1 – 45 years 1 – 45 years REO March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Net realizable value (included in other assets in the Company's consolidated balance sheets) $ 2,356,589 $ 1,784,670 Carrying amount of mortgage loans held for investment, at fair value secured by residential real estate properties for which formal foreclosure proceedings are in process according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction 11,254,632 5,597,611

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, a

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, at Fair Value	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Receivables Held-for-sale [Abstract]
Receivables Held For Sale [Text Block]	6. Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, at Fair Value Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Balance at beginning of period $ 115,942,230 $ 97,690,960 Originations and repurchases 435,225,414 451,669,250 Proceeds from sales and principal payments (456,891,268) (431,251,708) Gain on sale 16,583,439 7,920,341 Balance at end of period $ 110,859,815 $ 126,028,843 March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Unpaid Unpaid Principal Principal Balance Fair Value Balance Fair Value Conventional $ 67,791,764 $ 70,195,369 $ 54,962,904 $ 56,586,717 Governmental 20,203,875 21,776,355 30,531,301 32,131,354 United States Department of Agriculture loans 10,445,984 11,054,233 16,222,152 17,059,982 United States Department of Veteran Affairs loans 6,809,762 7,284,408 8,922,978 9,314,255 Reverse mortgage 487,666 549,450 754,089 849,922 Total $ 105,739,051 $ 110,859,815 $ 111,393,424 $ 115,942,230

Real Estate Securities and Othe

Real Estate Securities and Other Investment Securities, at Fair Value	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block]	7. Real Estate Securities and Other Investment Securities, at Fair Value The Company's non-Agency RMBS portfolio is not issued or guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or any other U.S. Government agency or a federally chartered corporation and is therefore subject to additional credit risks. March 31, 2016 Principal or Gross Unrealized (2) Weighted Average Notional Premium Amortized Unleveraged Balance (Discount) Cost Gains Losses Fair Value Coupon Yield Real estate securities Non-Agency RMBS: Alternative – A $ 64,387,620 $ (37,379,264) $ 27,008,356 $ 618,969 $ (1,524,645) $ 26,102,680 1.82 % 5.19 % Pay option adjustable rate 35,131,326 (6,102,461) 29,028,865 — (3,487,440) 25,541,425 1.16 4.19 Prime 33,604,620 (4,257,529) 29,347,091 448,354 (866,669) 28,928,776 3.68 5.29 Subprime 10,558,856 (3,847,482) 6,711,374 20,269 (184,518) 6,547,125 0.59 6.81 Total non-Agency RMBS $ 143,682,422 $ (51,586,736) $ 92,095,686 $ 1,087,592 $ (6,063,272) $ 87,120,006 2.01 % 5.03 % Other Investment Securities (1) $ 13,395,816 $ 17,975 $ 13,413,791 $ 77,463 $ (613,232) $ 12,878,022 4.96 % 6.03 % December 31, 2015 Principal or Gross Unrealized (2) Weighted Average Notional Premium Amortized Unleveraged Balance (Discount) Cost Gains Losses Fair Value Coupon Yield Real estate securities Non-Agency RMBS: Alternative – A $ 76,328,172 $ (40,150,416) $ 36,177,756 $ 846,318 $ (1,025,899) $ 35,998,175 2.01 % 6.18 % Pay option adjustable rate 42,562,819 (7,480,996) 35,081,823 6,863 (2,879,148) 32,209,538 1.10 5.31 Prime 37,366,079 (4,732,637) 32,633,442 563,311 (714,232) 32,482,521 3.62 5.95 Subprime 12,668,092 (4,039,253) 8,628,839 111,651 (91,443) 8,649,047 0.93 6.63 Total non-Agency RMBS $ 168,925,162 $ (56,403,302) $ 112,521,860 $ 1,528,143 $ (4,710,722) $ 109,339,281 2.05 % 5.87 % Other Investment Securities (1) $ 13,398,851 $ (34,264) $ 13,364,587 $ 897 $ (561,288) $ 12,804,196 4.94 % 6.65 % (1) See Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, “Other Investment Securities". (2) The Company has elected the fair value option pursuant to ASC 825 for real estate securities. The Company recorded the changes in unrealized gain or loss in the consolidated statements of operations. March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Other Investment Other Investment Non-Agency RMBS Securities Non-Agency RMBS Securities Notional balance of IO included in Alternative A $ 33,668,901 — $ 35,042,860 — Contractual maturities (range) 19.1 to 31.0 years 8.2 to 12.1 years 19.3 to 31.3 years 8.4 to 12.3 years Weighted average maturity 24.7 years 9.8 years 21.3 years 10.1 years Actual maturities are generally shorter than stated contractual maturities. Maturities are affected by the contractual lives of the associated mortgage collateral, periodic payments of principal, prepayments of principal and credit losses. All real estate securities and Other Investment Securities held by the Company at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were issued by issuers based in the United States. The Company did not have any realized losses on real estate securities relating to other than temporary impairments for the three months ended March 31, 2016 or March 31, 2015.

Mortgage Servicing Rights, at F

Mortgage Servicing Rights, at Fair Value	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Transfers and Servicing [Abstract]
Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets [Text Block]	8. Mortgage Servicing Rights, at Fair Value The Company's MSRs consist of conforming conventional loans sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac or loans securitized in Ginnie Mae securities. Similarly, the government loans serviced by the Company are securitized through Ginnie Mae, whereby the Company is insured against loss by the FHA or partially guaranteed against loss by the VA. Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Balance at beginning of period $ 48,209,016 $ 33,378,978 Additions due to loans sold, servicing retained 4,697,976 3,409,899 Change in fair value of MSRs (1) Changes in values of market related inputs or assumptions used in a valuation model (2) (6,609,585) (2,710,478) Other changes (3) (1,444,721) (714,436) Total - change in fair value of MSRs (8,054,306) (3,424,914) Balance at end of period $ 44,852,686 $ 33,363,963 (1) Included in change in fair value of MSRs in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. (2) Primarily reflects changes in values of prepayment assumptions due to changes in interest rates. (3) Represents change in value primarily due to passage of time, including the impact from both regularly scheduled loan principal payments and loans that were paid off or paid down during the period. March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Unpaid Principal Fair Value Unpaid Principal Fair Value Fannie Mae $ 1,943,871,922 $ 18,994,424 $ 1,880,177,827 $ 20,751,648 Ginnie Mae 1,561,234,153 16,871,814 1,488,159,758 18,231,527 Freddie Mac 924,415,193 8,986,448 805,589,808 9,225,841 Total $ 4,429,521,268 $ 44,852,686 $ 4,173,927,393 $ 48,209,016 March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Discount rate: Range 6.6% - 12.2 % 6.6%-12.2 % Weighted average 9.4 % 9.4 % Effect on fair value of adverse change of: 5% $ (816,293) $ (958,786) 10% $ (1,604,489) $ (1,881,870) 20% $ (3,101,957) $ (3,628,281) Prepayment speed (1) Range 8.2% - 14.6 % 7.0%-12.0 % Weighted average 11.3 % 9.3 % Effect on fair value of adverse change of: 5% $ (1,014,616) $ (938,584) 10% $ (1,944,772) $ (1,756,195) 20% $ (3,758,628) $ (3,428,890) Per-loan annual cost of servicing: Range $ 63 - $118 $ 64-$119 Weighted average $ 91 $ 92 Effect on fair value of adverse change of: 5% $ (520,707) $ (547,228) 10% $ (1,041,414) $ (1,094,455) 20% $ (2,082,827) $ (2,188,910) (1) Prepayment speed is measured using CPR. Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 The amount of total losses for the three months ended included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at the reporting date $ (6,609,585) $ (2,710,478) Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Loan servicing fee income $ 3,166,264 $ 2,384,402 Late fee income 86 35 Sub-servicing costs (1,112,554) (747,338) Loan servicing fee income, net of direct costs $ 2,053,796 $ 1,637,099

Warehouse Lines of Credit

Warehouse Lines of Credit	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]	11. Loan Repurchase Facilities March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Credit Suisse Credit Suisse First First Boston Boston Citibank, N.A Mortgage Citibank, N.A Mortgage Distressed and Capital LLC Distressed and Capital LLC Re- Newly Re- Newly Lender Performing Originated Performing Originated Collateral type funded by facility Loans Loans Loans Loans Total facility size $ 325,000,000 $ 100,000,000 $ 325,000,000 $ 100,000,000 Amount committed $ 150,000,000 $ 25,000,000 $ 150,000,000 $ 25,000,000 Maturity date May 20, 2016 June 27, 2016 May 20, 2016 June 27, 2016 Outstanding balance $ 272,199,827 $ 25,192,310 $ 279,467,573 $ 17,321,757 Each of the Loan Repurchase Facilities is collateralized by the underlying mortgages and related documents and instruments in the residential mortgage investments segment and the obligations are fully guaranteed by the Company. Under the Loan Repurchase Facilities, the Company may sell, and later repurchase trust certificates representing interests in residential mortgage loans (the "Trust Certificates"). The principal amount paid by the lenders under the Loan Repurchase Facilities for the Trust Certificates, which represent interests in residential mortgage loans, is based on (i) in the case of the Citi Loan Repurchase Facility, a percentage of the lesser of the market value or the unpaid principal balance of such mortgage loans backing the Trust Certificates and (ii) in the case of the Credit Suisse Loan Repurchase Facility, a percentage of the lesser of the market value, the unpaid principal balance or the acquisition price of such mortgage loans backing the Trust Certificates. Upon the Company's repurchase of a Trust Certificate sold to the lenders under the Loan Repurchase Facilities, the Company is required to repay the lenders a repurchase amount based on the purchase price plus accrued interest. The Company is also required to pay the lenders a commitment fee for the Loan Repurchase Facilities, as well as certain other administrative costs and expenses in connection with the lenders' structuring, management and ongoing administration of the Loan Repurchase Facilities. The commitment fees are included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company pledges cash and certain of its Trust Certificates as collateral under the Loan Repurchase Facilities. The amounts available to be borrowed are dependent upon the fair value of the Trust Certificates pledged as collateral, which fluctuates with changes in interest rates, type of underlying mortgage loans and liquidity conditions within the banking, mortgage finance and real estate industries. In response to declines in the fair value of pledged Trust Certificates, the lenders may require the Company to post additional collateral or pay down borrowings to re-establish agreed upon collateral requirements, referred to as margin calls. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015, the Company has met all margin call requirements related to any outstanding balances under its Loan Repurchase Facilities. The following table presents information with respect to the Company's posting of collateral under its Loan Repurchase Facilities at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015: March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Fair value of Trust Certificates pledged as collateral $ 400,185,981 $ 394,942,512 Cash pledged as collateral 20,886 375,579 The agreements contain covenants that include certain financial requirements, including maintenance of minimum liquidity, minimum tangible net worth and maximum debt to net worth ratio, as defined in the agreements. The Company was in compliance with all significant debt covenants as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015. The maturity dates of the Loan Repurchase Facilities were extended subsequent to March 31, 2016 (see Note 25).
Warehouse Agreement Borrowings [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]	At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had two warehouse lines of credit and two master repurchase agreements, each with different lenders, which provide financing for the Company's origination of mortgage loans held for sale in its residential mortgage banking segment. The warehouse lines of credit and repurchase agreements bear interest at a rate that has historically moved in close relationship to LIBOR. The agreements contain covenants that include certain financial requirements, including maintenance of minimum liquidity, minimum tangible net worth, maximum debt to net worth ratio and current ratio and limitations on capital expenditures, indebtedness, distributions, transactions with affiliates and maintenance of positive net income, as defined in the agreements. The Company was in compliance with all significant debt covenants at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015. March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Availability $ 185,000,000 $ 185,000,000 Maturity dates June 2016 – November 2016 June 2016 – November 2016 These obligations are secured by mortgage loans held for sale, at fair value and also fully guaranteed by the Company. The Company expects to renew the warehouse lines of credit at similar terms in the ordinary course of business as the facilities mature.

Treasury Securities Repurchase

Treasury Securities Repurchase Agreement	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Treasury Securities Repurchase Agreements [Abstract]
Treasury Securities Repurchase Agreements [Text Block]	10. Treasury Securities Repurchase Agreement On March 29, 2016, the Company purchased Treasury securities with a principal balance of $ 40,000,000 39,973,422 June 30, 2016 0.58 April 29, 2016

Loan Repurchase Facilities

Loan Repurchase Facilities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]	11. Loan Repurchase Facilities March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Credit Suisse Credit Suisse First First Boston Boston Citibank, N.A Mortgage Citibank, N.A Mortgage Distressed and Capital LLC Distressed and Capital LLC Re- Newly Re- Newly Lender Performing Originated Performing Originated Collateral type funded by facility Loans Loans Loans Loans Total facility size $ 325,000,000 $ 100,000,000 $ 325,000,000 $ 100,000,000 Amount committed $ 150,000,000 $ 25,000,000 $ 150,000,000 $ 25,000,000 Maturity date May 20, 2016 June 27, 2016 May 20, 2016 June 27, 2016 Outstanding balance $ 272,199,827 $ 25,192,310 $ 279,467,573 $ 17,321,757 Each of the Loan Repurchase Facilities is collateralized by the underlying mortgages and related documents and instruments in the residential mortgage investments segment and the obligations are fully guaranteed by the Company. Under the Loan Repurchase Facilities, the Company may sell, and later repurchase trust certificates representing interests in residential mortgage loans (the "Trust Certificates"). The principal amount paid by the lenders under the Loan Repurchase Facilities for the Trust Certificates, which represent interests in residential mortgage loans, is based on (i) in the case of the Citi Loan Repurchase Facility, a percentage of the lesser of the market value or the unpaid principal balance of such mortgage loans backing the Trust Certificates and (ii) in the case of the Credit Suisse Loan Repurchase Facility, a percentage of the lesser of the market value, the unpaid principal balance or the acquisition price of such mortgage loans backing the Trust Certificates. Upon the Company's repurchase of a Trust Certificate sold to the lenders under the Loan Repurchase Facilities, the Company is required to repay the lenders a repurchase amount based on the purchase price plus accrued interest. The Company is also required to pay the lenders a commitment fee for the Loan Repurchase Facilities, as well as certain other administrative costs and expenses in connection with the lenders' structuring, management and ongoing administration of the Loan Repurchase Facilities. The commitment fees are included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company pledges cash and certain of its Trust Certificates as collateral under the Loan Repurchase Facilities. The amounts available to be borrowed are dependent upon the fair value of the Trust Certificates pledged as collateral, which fluctuates with changes in interest rates, type of underlying mortgage loans and liquidity conditions within the banking, mortgage finance and real estate industries. In response to declines in the fair value of pledged Trust Certificates, the lenders may require the Company to post additional collateral or pay down borrowings to re-establish agreed upon collateral requirements, referred to as margin calls. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015, the Company has met all margin call requirements related to any outstanding balances under its Loan Repurchase Facilities. The following table presents information with respect to the Company's posting of collateral under its Loan Repurchase Facilities at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015: March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Fair value of Trust Certificates pledged as collateral $ 400,185,981 $ 394,942,512 Cash pledged as collateral 20,886 375,579 The agreements contain covenants that include certain financial requirements, including maintenance of minimum liquidity, minimum tangible net worth and maximum debt to net worth ratio, as defined in the agreements. The Company was in compliance with all significant debt covenants as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015. The maturity dates of the Loan Repurchase Facilities were extended subsequent to March 31, 2016 (see Note 25).

Securities Repurchase Agreement

Securities Repurchase Agreements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Disclosure of Repurchase Agreements [Abstract]
Securities Repurchase Agreements [Text Block]	12. Securities Repurchase Agreements Securities repurchase agreements related to real estate securities and Other Investment Securities involve the sale and a simultaneous agreement to repurchase the transferred assets or similar assets at a future date. The amount borrowed generally is equal to the fair value of the assets pledged less an agreed-upon discount, referred to as a "haircut." Repurchase agreements related to real estate securities and Other Investment Securities entered into by the Company are accounted for as financings and require the repurchase of the transferred securities at the end of each arrangement's term, typically 30 to 90 days. The Company maintains the beneficial interest in the specific securities pledged during the term of the repurchase arrangement and receives the related principal and interest payments. Interest rates on these borrowings are fixed based on prevailing rates corresponding to the terms of the borrowings, and interest is paid at the termination of the repurchase arrangement at which time the Company may enter into a new repurchase arrangement at prevailing market rates with the same counterparty or repay that counterparty and negotiate financing with a different counterparty. In response to declines in the fair value of pledged securities due to changes in market conditions or the publishing of monthly security paydown factors, the lender requires the Company to post additional securities as collateral, pay down borrowings or establish cash margin accounts with the counterparty in order to re-establish the agreed-upon collateral requirements, referred to as margin calls. Under the terms of the Company's master repurchase agreements related to real estate securities and Other Investment Securities, the counterparty may sell or re-hypothecate the pledged collateral. The Company has master repurchase agreements with four financial institutions at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. Although securities repurchase agreements are committed borrowings until maturity, the lender retains the right to mark the underlying collateral to fair value. A reduction in the fair value of pledged assets would require the Company to provide additional collateral or cash to fund margin calls. The Company pledges cash and certain of its non-Agency RMBS and Other Investment Securities as collateral under these securities repurchase agreements. The amounts available to be borrowed are dependent upon the fair value of the RMBS and Other Investment Securities pledged as collateral, which fluctuates with changes in interest rates, type of securities and liquidity conditions within the banking, mortgage finance and real estate industries. In response to declines in the fair value of pledged RMBS and Other Investment Securities, the lenders may require the Company to post additional collateral or pay down borrowings to re-establish agreed upon collateral requirements, referred to as margin calls. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015, the Company has met all margin call requirements under its securities repurchase agreements. March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Fair value of non-Agency RMBS pledged as collateral $ 78,795,777 $ 95,627,850 Fair value of Other Investment Securities pledged as collateral 2,033,403 1,989,174 Cash pledged as collateral 1,989,775 2,029,581

8.0% Exchangeable Senior Notes

8.0% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2016	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Notes Payable [Abstract]
8.0% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2016 [Text Block]	On November 25, 2013, the Operating Partnership issued the Exchangeable Senior Notes with a stated rate of 8.0 57.5 55.3 1.7 2.2 The Exchangeable Senior Notes are the Company's senior unsecured obligations and rank senior in right of payment to the Company's existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Exchangeable Senior Notes; equal in right of payment to the Company's existing and future unsecured indebtedness that is not so subordinated; effectively junior in right of payment to any of the Company's secured indebtedness (including existing unsecured indebtedness that the Company later secures) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness; and structurally junior to all existing and future indebtedness (including trade payables) incurred by the Company's subsidiaries, financing vehicles or similar facilities. The Exchangeable Senior Notes are exchangeable for shares of the Company's common stock or, to the extent necessary to satisfy New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) listing requirements, cash, at the applicable exchange rate at any time prior to the close of business on the scheduled trading day prior to November 15, 2016 (the "Maturity Date"). The Company may not elect to issue shares of common stock upon exchange of the Exchangeable Senior Notes to the extent such election would result in the issuance of 20 1,779,560 As a result of the NYSE related limitation on the use of share-settlement for the full conversion option, the embedded conversion option does not qualify for equity classification and instead is separately valued and accounted for as a derivative liability. The initial value allocated to the derivative liability was $ 1.3 The exchange rate was initially 52.5417 19.03 0.50 60.4229 1,000 54.3103 0.55 The Company does not have the right to redeem the Exchangeable Senior Notes prior to the Maturity Date, except to the extent necessary to preserve its qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. No sinking fund is provided for the Exchangeable Senior Notes. In addition, if the Company undergoes certain corporate events that constitute a "fundamental change," the holders of the Exchangeable Senior Notes may require the Company to repurchase for cash all or part of their Exchangeable Senior Notes at a repurchase price equal to 100 The Exchangeable Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 8.0% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on May 15, 2014. The effective interest rate of the Exchangeable Senior Notes, which is equal to the stated rate of 8.0% plus the amortization of the original issue discount and associated costs, is 10.2 March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Fair value of conversion option derivative liability $ 547,457 $ 612,878 Unamortized discount 715,758 990,954

Derivative Instruments

Derivative Instruments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Derivative Instruments [Text Block]	14. Derivative Instruments The Company’s derivative instruments, by segment, are as follows: Residential Mortgage Investments Segment Interest Rate Swap Agreements To help mitigate exposure to higher short-term interest rates, the Company uses currently-paying and forward-starting, three-month LIBOR-indexed, pay-fixed, receive-variable, interest rate swap agreements. These swap agreements establish an economic fixed rate on related borrowings because the variable-rate payments received on the interest rate swap agreements largely offset interest accruing on the related borrowings, leaving the fixed-rate payments to be paid on the interest rate swap agreements as the Company's effective borrowing rate, subject to certain adjustments including changes in spreads between variable rates on the interest rate swap agreements and actual borrowing rates. The Company's interest rate swap agreements and interest rate swaption agreement have not been designated as hedging instruments. Loan Purchase Commitments (“LPCs”) The Company enters into LPCs as a means to help mitigate interest rate risk. The LPCs are pursuant to Master Loan Purchase Agreements with approved, third party residential loan originators to purchase residential loans, which meet the guidelines established by the Company, at a future date. LPCs provide that loans acceptable to the Company be delivered if and when they close and are subject to "pair off" fees if the loans are not delivered by the seller. Residential Mortgage Banking Segment IRLCs The Company enters into IRLCs to originate residential mortgage loans held for sale, at specified interest rates and within a specified period of time (generally between 30 and 90 days), with customers who have applied for a loan and meet certain credit and underwriting criteria. MBS Forward Sales Contracts and TBA Securities The Company manages the interest rate price risk associated with its outstanding IRLCs and mortgage loans held for sale by entering into derivative instruments such as MBS forward sales contracts, some of which are TBA securities. The Company expects these derivatives will experience changes in fair value opposite to changes in the fair value of the IRLCs and mortgage loans held for sale, thereby reducing earnings volatility. The Company takes into account various factors and strategies in determining the portion of the IRLCs and mortgage loans held for sale it wants to economically hedge. Other Conversion Option – Exchangeable Senior Notes Changes in the fair value of the conversion option derivative related to the Exchangeable Senior Notes are recorded through earnings. Derivative Instruments Non-hedge derivatives March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Notional amount of interest rate swaps $ 17,200,000 $ 17,200,000 LPCs (Principal balance of underlying loans) 19,955,150 18,494,332 IRLCs (Principal balance of underlying loans) 243,381,890 190,933,017 Notional amount of MBS forward sales contracts 242,701,243 179,417,280 The notional amount is not representative of the maximum exposure to the Company. March 31, December 31, Derivative instruments Designation Balance Sheet Location 2016 2015 Interest rate swaps Non-hedge Derivative liabilities, at fair value $ (1,641,200) $ (1,009,014) LPCs Non-hedge Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value 22,592 (9,871) IRLCs Non-hedge Derivative assets, at fair value 4,017,540 2,376,187 MBS forward sales contracts Non-hedge Derivative liabilities, at fair value (1,546,366) (200,204) Conversion Option - Exchangeable Senior Notes Non-hedge Derivative liabilities, at fair value (547,457) (612,878) At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, no credit valuation adjustment was made in determining the fair value of the interest rate swaption or interest rate swaps. Income Statement Three Months Ended Non-hedge derivatives Location March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Interest rate swaps Loss on derivative instruments related to investment portfolio $ (774,152) $ (451,439) LPCs Loss on derivative instruments related to investment portfolio 32,463 23,822 IRLCs Mortgage banking activities, net 1,641,353 1,936,514 MBS forward sales contracts Mortgage banking activities, net (1,346,162) (638,711) Conversion Option - Exchangeable Senior Notes Loss on derivative instruments related to investment portfolio 65,421 (479,473) Interest Rate Swaps March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Maturity 2023 2023 Notional Amount $ 17,200,000 $ 17,200,000 Weighted Average Pay Rate 2.72 % 2.72 % Weighted Average Receive Rate 0.39 % 0.33 % Weighted Average Years to Maturity 7.3 7.6 Cash Pledged as Collateral (1) $ 2,149,413 $ 1,966,565 (1) At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 all collateral provided under the interest rate swap agreements consisted of cash collateral which is included in restricted cash in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The Company's interest rate swap agreements contain legally enforceable provisions that allow for netting or setting off of all individual interest rate swap receivables and payables with each respective counterparty and, therefore, the fair value of those interest rate swap agreements are netted. The credit support annex provisions of the Company's interest rate swap agreements allow the parties to mitigate their credit risk by requiring the party which is out of the money to post collateral.

Mortgage Banking Activities

Mortgage Banking Activities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Mortgage Banking [Abstract]
Mortgage Banking Income Expense Disclosure [Text Block]	15. Mortgage Banking Activities The following table presents the components of mortgage banking activities, net, recorded in the Company's consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Gain on sale of mortgage loans held for sale, net of direct costs (1) $ 11,533,909 $ 10,956,258 Loan expenses, including provision for loan indemnification (197,220) (192,866) Loan origination fee income 316,225 388,997 Total $ 11,652,914 $ 11,152,389 (1) Includes the change in fair value related to IRLCs and MBS forward sales contracts held during the period.

Loan Indemnification Reserve

Loan Indemnification Reserve	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Guarantees [Abstract]
Loan Indemnification Reserve [Text Block]	16. Loan Indemnification Reserve A liability has been established for potential losses related to representations and warranties made by GMFS for loans sold with a corresponding provision recorded for loan indemnification losses. The liability is included in accounts payable and other liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets and the provision for loan indemnification losses is included in mortgage banking activities, net in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. In assessing the adequacy of the liability, management evaluates various factors including historical repurchases and indemnifications, historical loss experience, known delinquent and other problem loans, outstanding repurchase demand, historical rescission rates and economic trends and conditions in the industry. Actual losses incurred are reflected as a reduction of the reserve liability. Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Balance at the beginning of period $ 3,201,000 $ 2,662,162 Loan indemnification losses incurred — (42,356) Provision for loan indemnification losses 173,373 180,163 Balance at end of period $ 3,374,373 $ 2,799,969 Because of the uncertainty in the various estimates underlying the loan indemnification reserve, there is a range of losses in excess of the recorded loan indemnification reserve that is reasonably possible. The estimate of the range of possible losses for representations and warranties does not represent a probable loss, and is based on current available information, significant judgment, and a number of assumptions that are subject to change. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the reasonably possible loss above the recorded loan indemnification reserve was not considered material.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes [Text Block]	For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and the years ended December 31, 2011 through December 31, 2015, the Company qualified to be taxed as a REIT under the Code for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As long as the Company qualifies as a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes on its taxable income to the extent it annually distributes its net taxable income to stockholders and does not engage in prohibited transactions. The majority of States also recognize the Company’s REIT status. The Company has separately made joint elections with three of its subsidiaries, ZFC Funding, Inc., ZFC Trust TRS I, LLC and ZFC Honeybee TRS, LLC to treat such subsidiaries as TRS entities. The Company’s TRS entities file separate tax returns and are taxed as standalone C-Corporations for U.S. income tax purposes. The Company recorded income tax benefit of $ 1,603,235 145,529 Reconciliation of Statutory Tax Rate to Effective Tax Rate Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Tax expense/(benefit) at statutory rate (34.00) % 35.00 % State and local taxes, net of Federal Benefit (4.09) % (10.97) % Impact of REIT election (1) 6.26 % (109.68) % Change in valuation allowance (2) (0.74) % 31.82 % Other non-deductible/non-taxable items (3) 0.37 % 0.27 % Effective Tax Rate (32.20) % (53.56) % (1) For all tax years, the Company’s effective tax rate differs from its statutory tax rate due to the deduction for dividend distributions required to be paid under Code section 857(a). (2) For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015, the change in valuation allowance relates to the change in reserve related to net operating losses and other future deductible items for ZFC Trust TRS I, LLC and ZFC Funding, Inc. (3) For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015, the amount primarily relates to non-deductible meals and entertainment expenses. At March 31, 2016, the Company had a net deferred tax liability of $ 1,961,243

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]	18. Earnings Per Share Three Months Ended March 31, March 31, 2016 2015 Numerator: Net (loss)/ income attributable to ZAIS Financial Corp. common stockholders (Basic) $ (3,038,748) $ 373,780 Effect of dilutive securities: Net (loss)/ income allocated to non-controlling interests relating to OP Units exchangeable for shares of common stock of the Company (337,446) 43,466 Exchangeable Senior Notes: Interest expense — — Gain on conversion option derivative liability — — Total – Exchangeable Senior Notes — — Net (loss)/ income available to stockholders, after effect of dilutive securities $ (3,376,194) $ 417,246 Denominator: Weighted average number of shares of common stock 7,970,886 7,970,886 Effect of dilutive securities: Weighted average number of OP Units 926,914 926,914 Weighted average number of shares convertible under Exchangeable Senior Notes — — Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 8,897,800 8,897,800 Net (loss) income per share applicable to ZAIS Financial Corp. common stockholders – Basic $ (0.38) $ 0.05 Net (loss) income per share applicable to ZAIS Financial Corp. common stockholders – Diluted $ (0.38) $ 0.05 For purposes of computing diluted earnings per share, the Company assumes the conversion of OP Units and the Exchangeable Senior Notes to shares of common stock unless the effect is anti-dilutive. The dilutive effect of OP Units, if any, is computed assuming all units are converted to common stock. The dilutive effect of the Exchangeable Senior Notes, if any, is computed assuming shares converted are limited to 1,779,560

Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transaction [Text Block]	19. Related Party Transactions ZAIS REIT Management, LLC The Company is externally managed and advised by the Advisor, a subsidiary of ZAIS. Subject to certain restrictions and limitations, the Advisor is responsible for managing the Company's affairs on a day-to-day basis including, among other responsibilities, (i) the origination, selection, purchase and sale of the Company's portfolio of assets, (ii) arranging the Company's financing activities and (iii) providing the Company with advisory services. The Company pays to its Advisor an advisory fee, calculated and payable quarterly in arrears, equal to 1.5 After an initial three-year term, the Advisor may be terminated annually upon the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the Company's independent directors or by a vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock based upon (i) unsatisfactory performance by the Advisor that is materially detrimental to the Company or (ii) a determination that the advisory fees payable to the Advisor are not fair, subject to the Advisor's right to prevent such termination due to unfair fees by accepting a reduction of advisory fees agreed to by at least two-thirds of the Company's independent directors. Additionally, upon such a termination without cause, the Investment Advisory Agreement provides that the Company will pay the Advisor a termination fee equal to three times the average annual advisory fee earned by the Advisor during the prior 24-month period immediately preceding such termination, calculated as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year before the date of termination. On August 11, 2014, the Company amended its Investment Advisory Agreement to provide that the Company shall pay its Advisor a loan sourcing fee quarterly in arrears in lieu of any payments or reimbursements that would otherwise be due to the Advisor or its affiliates pursuant to Investment Advisory Agreement for loan sourcing services provided. The loan sourcing fee is equal to 0.50 On March 17, 2015, a business combination was completed between HF2 Financial Management Inc. ("HF2 Financial"), a special purpose acquisition company, and ZAIS Group Parent, LLC ("ZGP"), which wholly owns ZAIS, pursuant to a definitive agreement dated September 16, 2014. The current owners of ZGP did not receive any proceeds at the closing of the transaction and retained a significant equity stake in ZGP. Following the close of the transaction, ZAIS's management team has remained in place to continue to lead the combined organization. Three Months Ended March 31, March 31, Advisory fees $ 710,563 $ 702,755 Loan sourcing fees 56,915 8,045 Total – Advisory fees – related party $ 767,478 $ 710,800 Such amounts are included in "Advisory fee – related party" in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. Three Months Ended March 31, March 31, Expense Reimbursements $ 283,688 $ 101,439 Such amounts are included in operating expenses in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. March 31, December 31, $ 875,720 $ 867,415 Such amounts were included in accounts payable and other liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Other Three Months Ended March 31, March 31, $ 5,400 $ 4,800 Such amounts are included in other income in the Company's consolidated statements of operations.

Dividends and Distributions

Dividends and Distributions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Dividends [Abstract]
Dividends and Distributions [Text Block]	20. Dividends and Distributions During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015 the Company declared the following dividends and distributions: Amount per Share Declaration Date Record Date Payment Date and OP Unit Three months ended March 31, 2016: March 17, 2016 March 31, 2016 April 15, 2016 $ 0.40 Three months ended March 31, 2015: March 19, 2015 March 31, 2015 April 15, 2015 $ 0.40

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Legal Matters and Contingencies [Text Block]	21. Commitments and Contingencies Advisor Services The Company is dependent on the Advisor for certain services that are essential to the Company, including the identification, evaluation, negotiation, origination, acquisition and disposition of investments; management of the daily operations of the Company's investment portfolio including determination of fair value; and other general and administrative responsibilities. In the event that the Advisor is unable to provide the respective services, the Company will be required to obtain such services from an alternative source. Litigation From time to time, the Company may become involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. In April 2015, GMFS received a claim from a counterparty of GMFS with respect to residential mortgage loans that were sold servicing released by GMFS to this counterparty’s predecessor prior to its acquisition by the Company on October 31, 2014. GMFS has since executed statute of limitations tolling agreements with this counterparty which have been extended to expire on June 2, 2016 but can be further extended by agreement of the parties (the initial tolling agreement was executed by GMFS on December 12, 2013). Although the Company has established a loan indemnification reserve for potential losses related to loan sale representations and warranties with a corresponding provision recorded for loan losses (see Note 16), due to the limited information available at this stage of the matter, the Company is not able to determine the likelihood of the outcome or estimate an amount of loss or range of losses. The Company believes that any losses in excess of the loan indemnification reserve will be recovered by the Company as either a reduction of total contingent consideration owed under the GMFS Merger Agreement given the indemnification provisions in the GMFS Merger Agreement or by withdrawing funds from an escrow account established by the sellers at the time of the acquisition (as of March 31, 2016, the balance in the escrow account was $ 4,005,732 Losses in excess of the loan indemnification reserve, total contingent consideration and the escrow account could have a material adverse impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position or cash flows. In the event of litigation or settlement with the counterparty, the Company intends to pursue claims against the sellers of GMFS seeking indemnification for any losses or any amounts paid in settlement, although there can be no assurance that such claims would be successful or that any amounts available for indemnification would be adequate. Management is not aware of any other contingencies that would require accrual or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. Commitments to Originate Loans GMFS enters into IRLCs with customers who have applied for residential mortgage loans and meet certain credit and underwriting criteria. These commitments expose GMFS to market risk if interest rates change, and the loan is not economically hedged or committed to an investor. GMFS is also exposed to credit loss if the loan is originated and not sold to an investor and the mortgagor does not perform. Upon extension of credit typically consists of a first deed of trust in the mortgagor's residential property. Commitments to originate loans do not necessarily reflect future cash requirements as some commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon. March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 $ 265,054,976 $ 216,072,457 Leases GMFS leases office space in Baton Rouge, LA for its corporate headquarters under a non-cancelable operating lease. The lease provides that GMFS pays taxes, maintenance, insurance, and other occupancy expenses applicable to the leased premises and contains three five-year renewal options at pre-determined amounts specified by the original lease agreement. GMFS also leases space in various states for its branch offices and equipment under various short-term rental agreements. Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 $ 237,391 $ 182,987 Such amounts are included in operating expenses in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. GMFS sub-leases a portion of its office space and furniture and fixtures contained therein to a related party (see Note 19). April 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016 $ 720,626 2017 $ 812,919 2018 $ 680,366 2019 $ 128,358 2020 $ — Thereafter $ —

Counterparty Risk and Concentra

Counterparty Risk and Concentration	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Concentration Risk Disclosure [Text Block]	22. Counterparty Risk and Concentration Counterparty risk is the risk that counterparties may fail to fulfill their obligations, including their inability to post additional collateral in circumstances where their pledged collateral value becomes inadequate. The Company attempts to manage its exposure to counterparty risk through diversification, use of financial instruments and monitoring the creditworthiness of counterparties. The Company finances the acquisition of a significant portion of its mortgage loans held for investment, RMBS and Other Investment Securities with repurchase agreements. Additionally, the Company finances a significant portion of its mortgages held for sale with its warehouse lines of credit and repurchase agreements. In connection with these financing arrangements, the Company pledges its residential mortgage loans, securities and cash as collateral to secure the borrowings. The amount of collateral pledged will typically exceed the amount of the borrowings ( i.e. The Company's deposits with financial institutions may exceed federally insurable limits of $250,000 per institution In the normal course of business, companies in the mortgage banking industry encounter certain economic and regulatory risks. Economic risks include interest rate risk and credit risk. The Company is subject to interest rate risk to the extent that in a rising interest rate environment, the Company may experience a decrease in loan production, as well as decreases in the value of mortgage loans held for sale and in commitments to originate loans, which may negatively impact the Company's operations. Credit risk is the risk of default that may result from the borrowers' inability or unwillingness to make contractually required payments during the period in which loans are being held for sale. GMFS sells loans to investors without recourse. As such, the investors have assumed the risk of loss or default by the borrower. However, GMFS is usually required by these investors to make certain standard representations and warranties relating to credit information, loan documentation and collateral. To the extent that GMFS does not comply with such representations, or there are early payment defaults, GMFS may be required to repurchase the loans or indemnify these investors for any losses from borrower defaults. In addition, if loans pay-off within a specified time frame, GMFS may be required to refund a portion of the sales proceeds to the investors. The Company's business requires substantial cash to support its operating and investing activities. As a result, the Company is dependent on its warehouse lines of credit and repurchase facilities in order to finance its continued operations and investments. If the Company's principal lenders decided to terminate or not to renew any of these credit facilities with the Company, the loss of borrowing capacity could have a material adverse impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements unless the Company found a suitable alternative source. MSRs are subject to substantial interest rate risk and the value of MSRs generally tend to diminish in periods of declining interest rates as borrowers can prepay the mortgage notes underlying the MSRs. MSRs increase in periods of rising interest rates (as prepayments decrease). Although the level of interest rates is a key driver of prepayment activity, there are other factors that influence prepayments, including home prices, underwriting standards and product characteristics.

Offsetting Assets and Liabiliti

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Offsetting [Abstract]
Offsetting Assets And Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block]	23. Offsetting Assets and Liabilities Net Amounts of Liabilities Gross Amounts Presented in Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Gross Amounts Offset in the the Consolidated Balance Sheets of Recognized Consolidated Consolidated Financial Cash Collateral Liabilities Balance Sheets Balance Sheets Instruments Pledged Net Amount March 31, 2016 Warehouse lines of credit $ 101,478,055 $ — $ 101,478,055 $ (101,478,055) $ — $ — Treasury repurchase agreement 39,574,000 — 39,574,000 (39,574,000) — Loan Repurchase Facilities 297,392,137 — 297,392,137 (297,371,251) (20,886) — Securities repurchase agreements 60,800,779 — 60,800,779 (58,811,004) (1,989,775) — Interest rate swap agreements 1,641,200 — 1,641,200 — (1,641,200) — Total $ 500,886,171 $ — $ 500,886,171 $ (497,234,310) $ (3,651,861) $ — December 31, 2015 Warehouse lines of credit $ 100,768,428 $ — $ 100,768,428 $ (100,768,428) $ — $ — Loan Repurchase Facilities 296,789,330 — 296,789,330 (296,413,751) (375,579) — Securities repurchase agreements 73,300,159 — 73,300,159 (71,270,578) (2,029,581) — Interest rate swap agreements 1,009,014 — 1,009,014 — (1,009,014) — Total $ 471,866,931 $ — $ 471,866,931 $ (468,452,757) $ (3,414,174) $ — The Company did not have any assets that are subject to master netting arrangements which can potentially be offset in the Company's consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2016 or December 31, 2015.

Segment Information

Segment Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	24. Segment Information The Company operates in two operating segments: residential mortgage investments and residential mortgage banking. These operating segments have been identified based on the Company's organizational and management structure. These segments are based on an internally-aligned segment structure, which is how the Company's results are monitored and performance is assessed. The residential mortgage investments segment includes a portfolio of mortgage loans which were either distressed, re-performing or newly originated at the time of purchase. The residential mortgage investments segment's profit and loss consist primarily of net interest income from whole loans and RMBS, changes in unrealized gains and losses from the valuation of the portfolio and realized gains and losses recognized upon the paydowns of mortgage loans and sales of RMBS. Since the operations of GMFS are conducted in ZFC Honeybee TRS, LLC, an indirect subsidiary of the Company, the residential mortgage banking segment includes the operations of GMFS, which originates mortgage loans for subsequent sale as either servicing retained or released, and expenses incurred by ZFC Honeybee TRS, LLC. Each segment includes the operating and other expenses associated with the respective activities. Segment contribution represents the measure of profit that management uses to assess the performance of its business segments and make resource allocation and operating decisions. Certain expenses not directly assigned or allocated to one of the two primary segments are included in the Corporate/Other column. These unallocated expenses primarily include interest expense on the Company's Exchangeable Senior Notes and corporate operating expenses such as insurance, public company expenses, advisory fees, transaction costs and general and administrative expenses. All amounts are before amounts allocated to non-controlling interests. Three Months Ended March 31, 2016: Residential Residential Corporate/Other Total Interest income $ 7,930,953 $ 773,963 $ — $ 8,704,916 Interest expense 2,781,246 551,820 1,464,211 4,797,277 Net interest income (expense) 5,149,707 222,143 (1,464,211) 3,907,639 Non-interest income — 5,664,864 — 5,664,864 Change in unrealized gain or loss 682,748 — 5,941 688,689 Realized loss (186,034) — — (186,034) Loss on derivative instruments (676,268) — — (676,268) Advisory fee – related party 324,939 113,122 329,417 767,478 Salaries, commissions and benefits — 7,966,092 — 7,966,092 Operating expenses 358,332 1,715,793 966,759 3,040,884 Other Expenses: Expenses 380,161 — 1,991,274 2,371,435 Depreciation and amortization — 232,430 — 232,430 Total other expenses 380,161 232,430 1,991,274 2,603,865 Net income (loss) before income taxes 3,906,721 (4,140,430) (4,745,720) (4,979,429) Income tax benefit — (1,603,235) — (1,603,235) Segment net income (loss) $ 3,906,721 $ (2,537,195) $ (4,745,720) $ (3,376,194) Three Months Ended March 31, 2015: Residential Residential Corporate/Other Total Interest income $ 9,079,165 $ 608,232 $ — $ 9,687,397 Interest expense 2,755,445 553,359 1,436,673 4,745,477 Net interest income (expense) 6,323,720 54,873 (1,436,673) 4,941,920 Non-interest income — 9,376,430 — 9,376,430 Change in unrealized gain or loss (1,139,426) — — (1,139,426) Realized gain 164,788 — — 164,788 Loss on derivative instruments (907,090) — — (907,090) Advisory fee – related party 328,966 128,836 252,998 710,800 Salaries, commissions and benefits — 7,399,258 — 7,399,258 Operating expenses 47,395 1,990,288 881,965 2,919,648 Other Expenses: Expenses 858,452 49,324 — 907,776 Depreciation and amortization — 227,423 — 227,423 Total other expenses 858,452 276,747 — 1,135,199 Net income (loss) before income taxes 3,207,179 (363,826) (2,571,636) 271,717 Income tax benefit — (145,529) — (145,529) Segment net income (loss) $ 3,207,179 $ (218,297) $ (2,571,636) $ 417,246 Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Net loss of the residential mortgage banking segment $ (2,537,195) $ (218,297) Add back (deduct) expenses incurred by ZFC Honeybee TRS, LLC: Advisory fee – related party 113,122 128,836 Amortization of deferred premiums, production and profitability earn-outs included in salaries, commission and benefits 189,000 269,367 Operating expenses (including change in contingent consideration) 170,900 732,024 Other expenses 197,085 246,409 Income tax benefit (1,603,235) (145,529) Net (loss) income of GMFS $ (3,470,323) $ 1,012,810 Supplemental Disclosures Selected segment balance sheet information is as follows: Residential Residential Mortgage Mortgage Investments Banking Corporate/Other Total March 31, 2016 Cash and cash equivalents $ 56,160,193 $ 10,440,033 $ 4,587 $ 66,604,813 Mortgage loans held for investment, at fair value 32,114,043 — — 32,114,043 Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment, at fair value 368,956,195 — — 368,956,195 Mortgage loans held for investment, at cost — 1,879,254 — 1,879,254 Mortgage loans held for sale, at fair value — 110,859,815 — 110,859,815 Real estate securities, at fair value 87,120,006 — — 87,120,006 Other investment securities, at fair value 12,878,022 — — 12,878,022 Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value — 44,852,686 — 44,852,686 Goodwill — 14,183,537 — 14,183,537 Intangible assets — 4,683,185 — 4,683,185 Total assets 568,284,662 232,988,961 1,396,945 802,670,568 December 31, 2015 Cash and cash equivalents $ 15,082,286 $ 5,702,608 $ 9,362 $ 20,793,716 Mortgage loans held for investment, at fair value 397,678,140 — — 397,678,140 Mortgage loans held for investment, at cost — 1,886,642 — 1,886,642 Mortgage loans held for sale, at fair value — 115,942,230 — 115,942,230 Real estate securities, at fair value 109,339,281 — — 109,339,281 Other investment securities, at fair value 12,804,196 — — 12,804,196 Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value — 48,209,016 — 48,209,016 Goodwill — 14,183,537 — 14,183,537 Intangible assets — 4,880,270 — 4,880,270 Total assets 542,396,756 232,450,793 291,372 775,138,921

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	25. Subsequent Events See Note 1 - Formation and Organization for disclosures relating to the Sutherland Merger Agreement. On April 6, 2016, the Company, Company Operating Partnership, the Advisor, Sutherland and certain subsidiaries of the Company entered into a termination agreement (the “Termination Agreement”). Pursuant to the Termination Agreement, effective upon the closing of the Mergers, the existing advisory agreement between the Company, the Advisor, Company Operating Partnership and the Company’s subsidiaries would be terminated and the Company would pay the Advisor a termination fee in the amount of $ 8,000,000 Additionally, on April 6, 2016, the Company, the Operating Partnership, certain subsidiaries of the Company, Sutherland, and Waterfall Asset Management, LLC (“Waterfall”) entered into a management agreement , as amended as of May 9, 2016 (the “Sutherland Management Agreement”), and the Company and Waterfall entered into a related Side-Letter Agreement (the “Side Letter”). Pursuant to the Sutherland Management Agreement and the Side Letter, effective upon the closing of the Mergers, the Company will retain Waterfall to provide investment advisory services to the Company on the terms and conditions set forth in the Sutherland Management Agreement. In exchange for services provided, the Company will pay Waterfall a management fee and the Operating Partnership will issue Waterfall a newly authorized special limited partnership unit entitling Waterfall to an incentive fee under the terms of the Sutherland Management Agreement. The Sutherland Management Agreement has an initial term of three years, after which it will renew automatically for additional one year terms. In the event that the Merger Agreement is terminated prior to the consummation of the Mergers, the Sutherland Management Agreement and the Side Letter will automatically terminate and be of no further effect. On April 28, 2016 the Company renewed the Treasury Security Repo. The new agreement bears interest at an annual rate of 0.54 June 30, 2016 On May 6, 2016, the maturity date of the Citi Loan Repurchase Facility was extended to June 3, 2016 Additionally, on May 6, 2016, the maturity date of the Credit Suisse Loan Repurchase Facility was extended to September 30, 2016 36,000,000

Summary of Significant Accoun32

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Basis of Presentation The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") as contained within the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") for interim reporting. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows have been included and are of a normal and recurring nature. The operating results presented for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the entire year. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP as contained in the ASC have been condensed or omitted from the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements according to the SEC rules and regulations. The information and disclosures contained in the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and notes 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, 2015. The Company operates in two business segments: residential mortgage investments and residential mortgage banking.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may ultimately differ from those estimates.
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, the Operating Partnership, all of the wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership, including its taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRS Entities”), and a joint venture in which GMFS has a controlling financial interest. All intercompany balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company, which serves as the sole general partner of and conducts substantially all of its business through the Operating Partnership, held approximately 89.6 Changes in the Company's ownership interest (and transactions with non-controlling interests in its consolidated subsidiaries) while the Company retains its controlling interest in the subsidiaries, are accounted for as equity transactions. The carrying amount of the non-controlling interest is adjusted to reflect the change in its ownership interest in the subsidiaries, with the offset to equity attributable to the Company.
Consolidation, Variable Interest Entity, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Variable Interest Entities In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, "Consolidation: Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis" ("ASU 2015-02"). ASU 2015-02 makes changes to both the variable interest model and the voting model. The Company adopted ASU 2015-02 on January 1, 2016. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. A variable interest entity ("VIE") is an entity that lacks one or more of the characteristics of a voting interest entity. The Company evaluates each of its investments to determine whether it is a VIE based on: (1) the sufficiency of the entity's equity investment at risk to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support provided by any parties, including the equity holders; (2) whether as a group the holders of the equity investment at risk have (a) the power, through voting rights or similar rights, to direct the activities of a legal entity that most significantly impacts the entity's economic performance, (b) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the legal entity or the right to receive the expected residual returns of the legal entity; and (3) whether the voting rights of these investors are proportional to their obligations to absorb the expected losses of the entity, their rights to receive the expected returns of their equity, or both, and whether substantially all of the entity's activities involve or are conducted on behalf of an investor that has disproportionately fewer voting rights. An investment that lacks one or more of the above three characteristics is considered to be a VIE. The Company reassesses its initial evaluation of an entity as a VIE upon the occurrence of certain reconsideration events. A VIE is subject to consolidation if the equity investors either do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, are unable to direct the entity's activities, or are not exposed to the entity's losses or entitled to its residual returns. VIEs are required to be consolidated by their primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is determined to be the party that has both the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. This determination can sometimes involve complex and subjective analyses. The Company's mortgage loans held for sale are sold predominantly to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are government sponsored enterprises ("GSEs" or "Agencies"). The Company also issues Ginnie Mae securities by pooling eligible loans through a pool custodian and assigning rights to the loans to Ginnie Mae. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae provide credit enhancement of the loans through certain guarantee provisions. The Company also purchases RMBS from securitization trusts or similar vehicles. These securitizations involve VIEs as the trusts or similar vehicles, by design, have the characteristics of a VIE. The Company has evaluated its interests in its real estate investment securities and its interests in the securitizations discussed in the preceding paragraph to determine if each represents a variable interest in a VIE. The Company monitors these investments and its investment in the securities and analyzes them for potential consolidation. The Company determined that it was not the primary beneficiary of the VIEs and therefore none of the VIEs were consolidated at March 31, 2016 or December 31, 2015. The maximum exposure of the Company to VIEs is limited to the fair value of its investments in real estate securities and MSRs as disclosed in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers highly liquid short-term interest bearing instruments with original maturities of three months or less and other instruments readily convertible into cash to be cash equivalents.
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale Previously Held for Investment [Policy Text Block]	Mortgage loans which the Company has decided it no longer intends to hold for the foreseeable future are reclassified from mortgage loans held for investment to mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment in the consolidated balance sheets. These mortgage loans were reported at fair value when held for investment and held for sale. The Company decided during the three months ended March 31, 2016 that it no longer intended to hold its seasoned, re-performing mortgage loan portfolio for the foreseeable future and, as such, reclassified mortgage loans with a fair value of $ 368,956,195
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Other Investment Securities The Company held Freddie Mac Structured Agency Credit Risk Notes (“FMRT Notes”) at and during the three months ended March 31, 2016, during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and at December 31, 2015. Additionally, the Company held Fannie Mae's Risk Transfer Notes (“FNRT Notes”) at December 31, 2015 (the FMRT Notes and the FNRT Notes are collectively referred to as the “Other Investment Securities”). The Other Investment Securities represent unsecured general obligations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and are structured to be subject to the performance of a certain pool of residential mortgage loans.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Income Taxes The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2011. The Company was organized and has operated and intends to continue to operate in a manner that will enable it to qualify to be taxed as a REIT. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must meet certain organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement to distribute at least 90% of the Company's annual REIT taxable income to its stockholders (which is computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction or net capital gains and which does not necessarily equal net income as calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP). As long as the Company qualifies as a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes on its taxable income to the extent it annually distributes its net taxable income to stockholders and does not engage in prohibited transactions. The majority of states also recognize the Company's REIT status. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, it will be subject to federal income tax on its taxable income at regular corporate income tax rates and generally will not be permitted to qualify for treatment as a REIT for federal income tax purposes for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification is lost unless the Internal Revenue Service grants the Company relief under certain statutory provisions. Such an event could materially adversely affect the Company's net income under U.S. GAAP and net cash available for distribution to stockholders. However, it is assumed that the Company will retain its REIT status and will incur no REIT level taxation as it intends to comply with the REIT regulations and annual distribution requirements. The Company has separately made joint elections with three of its subsidiaries, ZFC Funding Inc., ZFC Trust TRS I, LLC and ZFC Honeybee TRS, LLC, to treat such subsidiaries as TRS Entities. The Company may perform certain activities through these TRS entities that could adversely impact the Company's REIT qualification if performed other than through a TRS entity. The Company's TRS entities file separate tax returns and are taxed as standalone U.S. C-Corporations irrespective of the dividends-paid deduction available to REITs for federal income tax purposes. The Company assesses its tax positions for all open tax years and records tax benefits only if tax positions meet a more-likely-than-not threshold in accordance with U.S. GAAP for guidance on accounting for uncertainty in income taxes.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASU 2014-09"). The objective of the guidance is to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue. ASU 2014-09 supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance, and also enhances disclosure requirements around revenue recognition and the related cash flows. The guidance is to be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented or through a cumulative adjustment in the year of adoption, for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Earlier application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new standard. In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, "Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-04) Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern" ("ASU 2014-15"), which requires management to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date the financial statements are issued. If conditions or events indicate it is probable that an entity will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the financial statements are issued, the update requires additional disclosures. The update is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2016 with early adoption permitted. Adoption of ASU 2014-15 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“ASU 2016-01”). 'The amendments in ASU 2016-01, among other things: (i) requires equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; (ii) requires public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; (iii) requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (i.e., securities or loans and receivables) and (iii) eliminates the requirement for public business entities to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost. ASU 2016-01 is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The new guidance permits early adoption of the own credit provision. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new standard.

GMFS Transaction (Tables)

GMFS Transaction (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Schedule of Business Acquisitions by Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Table Text Block]	Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Beginning balance $ 11,285,100 $ 11,430,413 Change in fair value 198,000 523,425 Ending balance $ 11,483,100 $ 11,953,838
Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]	Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Beginning balance $ 14,183,537 $ 16,512,680 Reversal of a liability existing as of the date of acquisition — (385,610) Ending balance $ 14,183,537 $ 16,127,070
Schedule of Intangible Assets Acquired [Table Text Block]	The following table presents information about the intangible assets acquired by the Company: Estimated Fair Estimated Useful Trade name $ 2.0 million 10 years Customer relationships 1.3 million 10 years Licenses 1.0 million 3 years Favorable lease 1.5 million 12 years Total Intangible assets $ 5.8 million
Schedule of Intangible Assets Acquired [Table Text Block]	Amortization expense related to the intangible assets acquired for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015 was as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Amortization expense $ 197,085 $ 197,085
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]	At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, accumulated amortization is as follows: March 31, December 31 Trade name $ 283,339 $ 233,338 Customer relationships 184,161 151,662 Licenses 472,226 388,892 Favorable lease 177,089 145,838 Total accumulated amortization $ 1,116,815 $ 919,730
Schedule of Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]	Amortization expense related to the intangible assets for the period April 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 and for the five years subsequent to December 31, 2016 will be as follows: April 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016 $ 591,255 2017 $ 732,776 2018 $ 455,004 2019 $ 455,004 2020 $ 455,004 2021 $ 455,004

Fair Value (Tables)

Fair Value (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring [Table Text Block]	The following tables present the Company’s financial instruments that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 by level within the fair value hierarchy: March 31, 2016 Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets Mortgage loans held for investment $ — $ — $ 32,114,043 $ 32,114,043 Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment — — 368,956,195 368,956,195 Mortgage loans held for sale 110,859,815 — 110,859,815 Non-Agency RMBS — — 87,120,006 87,120,006 Other Investment Securities — — 12,878,022 12,878,022 MSRs — — 44,852,686 44,852,686 Derivative assets — — 4,040,132 4,040,132 Total $ — $ 110,859,815 $ 549,961,084 $ 660,820,899 Liabilities Contingent consideration $ — $ — $ 11,483,100 $ 11,483,100 Derivative liabilities — 3,735,023 — 3,735,023 Total $ — $ 3,735,023 $ 11,483,100 $ 15,218,123 December 31, 2015 Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets Mortgage loans held for investment $ — $ — $ 397,678,140 $ 397,678,140 Mortgage loans held for sale — 115,942,230 — 115,942,230 Non-Agency RMBS — — 109,339,281 109,339,281 Other Investment Securities — — 12,804,196 12,804,196 MSRs — — 48,209,016 48,209,016 Derivative assets — — 2,376,187 2,376,187 Total $ — $ 115,942,230 $ 570,406,820 $ 686,349,050 Liabilities Contingent consideration $ — $ — $ 11,285,100 $ 11,285,100 Derivative liabilities — 1,822,096 9,871 1,831,967 Total $ — $ 1,822,096 $ 11,294,971 $ 13,117,067
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	Mortgage Loans Held for Investment and Held for Sale Previously Held for Investment, RMBS and Other Investment Securities Three Months Ended Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Mortgage Mortgage Investment and Other Loans Held Other Previously Held Real Estate Investment for Real Estate Investment for Investment Securities Securities Investment Securities Securities Balance, beginning of period $ 397,678,140 $ 109,339,281 $ 12,804,196 $ 415,959,838 $ 148,585,733 $ 2,040,532 Originations/acquisitions 11,528,793 — — 1,476,838 — — Proceeds from sales — (16,094,298) — — — — Amortization of premiums (12,568) — — (384) — — Net accretion of discounts 1,782,505 571,063 49,204 2,012,665 1,248,910 10,740 Proceeds from principal repayments (11,447,746) (4,178,332) — (7,112,305) (3,942,700) — Conversion of mortgage loans to REO (1,513,223) — — (189,648) — — Total losses (realized/unrealized) included in earnings (4,646,504) (3,290,046) (45,733) (8,823,926) (1,028,489) — Total gains (realized/unrealized) included in earnings 7,700,841 772,338 70,355 7,768,282 850,718 136,320 Balance, end of period $ 401,070,238 $ 87,120,006 $ 12,878,022 $ 411,091,360 $ 145,714,172 $ 2,187,592 The amount of total gains or (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets or liabilities still held at the reporting date $ 2,531,471 $ (2,423,297) $ 24,622 $ (1,204,068) $ (177,772) $ 136,320 Derivative Instruments Three Months Ended Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Interest Rate Interest Rate Loan Purchase Lock Loan Purchase Lock Commitments Commitments Commitments Commitments Beginning balance $ (9,871) $ 2,376,187 $ 4,037 $ 2,481,063 Change in unrealized gain or loss 32,463 1,641,353 23,822 1,936,514 Ending balance $ 22,592 $ 4,017,540 $ 27,859 $ 4,417,577 The amount of total gains or (losses) for the year included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets or liabilities still held at the reporting date $ 32,463 $ 1,641,353 $ 23,822 $ 1,936,514
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Table Text Block]	Fair Value at March 31, Valuation Unobservable Weighted 2016 Technique(s) Input Min Max Average Mortgage loans Held for Investment and Sale $ 401,070,238 Discounted cash flow model Constant voluntary prepayment 2.1 % 5.2 % 3.4 % Constant default rate 1.6 % 4.0 % 3.0 % Loss severity 6.5 % 37.3 % 21.9 % Delinquency 6.5 % 13.7 % 11.2 % Non-Agency RMBS Alternative – A $ 26,102,680 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 2.6 % 16.2 % 11.3 % Constant default rate 0.3 % 7.1 % 2.8 % Loss severity 0.3 % 85.0 % 20.8 % Delinquency 1.7 % 22.4 % 8.8 % Pay option adjustable rate 25,541,425 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 2.2 % 7.1 % 4.1 % Constant default rate 1.1 % 15.3 % 3.7 % Loss severity 0.1 % 74.0 % 34.7 % Delinquency 5.4 % 20.1 % 13.1 % Prime 28,928,776 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 4.2 % 23.6 % 7.9 % Constant default rate 0.8 % 8.9 % 3.5 % Loss severity 0.0 % 87.8 % 27.5 % Delinquency 3.7 % 25.4 % 11.9 % Subprime 6,547,125 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 1.3 % 4.4 % 3.1 % Constant default rate 4.3 % 6.0 % 5.3 % Loss severity 10.9 % 85.0 % 49.1 % Delinquency 19.6 % 27.8 % 23.1 % Total Non-Agency RMBS $ 87,120,006 Other Investment Securities $ 12,878,022 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 4.1 % 23.6 % 7.6 % MSRs $ 44,852,686 Discounted cash flow model Constant voluntary prepayment 10.3 % 12.2 % 11.3 % Cost of servicing $ 77 $ 109 $ 91 Discount rate 9.0 % 10.0 % 9.4 % Contingent consideration $ 11,483,100 Option pricing model Discount rate 10.2 % 10.8 % 10.5 % Production volatility — — 20.0 % Profitability volatility — — 50.0 % Fair Value at December 31, Valuation Unobservable Weighted 2015 Technique(s) Input Min Max Average Mortgage loans held for Investment $ 397,678,140 Discounted cash flow model Constant voluntary prepayment 1.9 % 5.0 % 3.2 % Constant default rate 1.4 % 5.0 % 3.1 % Loss severity 5.9 % 37.2 % 22.1 % Delinquency 6.3 % 13.2 % 10.9 % Non-Agency RMBS Alternative – A $ 35,998,175 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 2.7 % 18.9 % 12.9 % Constant default rate 0.2 % 7.8 % 2.8 % Loss severity 0.0 % 85.0 % 21.0 % Delinquency 1.4 % 22.2 % 8.9 % Pay option adjustable rate 32,209,538 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 2.2 % 13.5 % 7.5 % Constant default rate 0.5 % 13.0 % 3.5 % Loss severity 0.0 % 95.6 % 40.0 % Delinquency 5.3 % 21.9 % 12.3 % Prime 32,482,521 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 3.6 % 21.0 % 8.0 % Constant default rate 0.5 % 9.4 % 3.7 % Loss severity 0.0 % 85.1 % 28.9 % Delinquency 4.4 % 25.5 % 12.0 % Subprime 8,649,047 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 1.2 % 7.7 % 3.9 % Constant default rate 3.0 % 8.0 % 6.2 % Loss severity 11.1 % 128.5 % 54.0 % Delinquency 18.3 % 28.0 % 22.2 % Total Non-Agency RMBS $ 109,339,281 Other Investment Securities $ 12,804,196 Broker quotes/comparable trades Constant voluntary prepayment 4.0 % 18.4 % 6.9 % MSRs $ 48,209,016 Discounted cash flow model Constant voluntary prepayment 8.5 % 10.5 % 9.3 % Cost of servicing $ 77 $ 110 $ 92 Discount rate 9.0 % 10.0 % 9.4 % Contingent consideration $ 11,285,100 Option pricing model Discount rate 10.2 % 10.8 % 10.5 % Production volatility — — 20.0 % Profitability volatility — — 50.0 % March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Pull-through rate Range 56.4% - 100.0 % 62.4% – 100.0 % Weighted average 87.6 % 87.6 % MSR value expressed as: Servicing fee multiple Range 0.1% - 6.1 % 0.8% - 5.9 % Weighted average 4.2 % 4.3 % Percentage of unpaid principal balance Range 0.1% - 1.5 % 0.3% - 1.7 % Weighted average 1.1 % 1.1 %
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Table Text Block]	March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Unpaid Principal Unpaid Principal and/or Notional and/or Notional Fair Value Balance (2) Difference Fair Value Balance (2) Difference Financial instruments, at fair value Mortgage loans held for investment (1) $ 32,114,043 $ 31,304,573 $ 809,470 $ 397,678,140 $ 444,500,063 $ (46,821,923) Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment 368,956,195 411,002,700 (42,046,505) — — — Mortgage loans held for sale 110,859,815 105,739,051 5,120,764 115,942,230 111,393,424 4,548,806 Non-Agency RMBS (2) 87,120,006 143,682,422 (56,562,416) 109,339,281 168,925,162 (59,585,881) Other Investment Securities 12,878,022 13,395,816 (517,794) 12,804,196 13,398,851 (594,655) MSRs 44,852,686 4,429,521,268 N/A (3) 48,209,016 4,173,927,393 N/A (3) (1) At December 31, 2015, the balance is comprised of loans that are (i) distressed and re-performing at the time of purchase and (ii) newly originated at the time of purchase. (2) Non-Agency RMBS includes an IO with a notional balance of $ 33.7 35.0 (3) Amounts not presented. Unpaid principal balance of MSRs is generally significantly greater than their fair value.
Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table Text Block]	March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Fair Value Carrying Value Fair Value Carrying Value Other financial instruments Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 66,604,813 $ 66,604,813 $ 20,793,716 $ 20,793,716 Restricted cash 4,160,074 4,160,074 4,371,725 4,371,725 Mortgage loans held for investment, at cost 1,879,254 1,879,254 1,886,642 1,886,642 Liabilities Warehouse lines of credit $ 101,478,055 $ 101,478,055 $ 100,768,428 $ 100,768,428 Treasury security repurchase facility 39,574,000 39,574,000 — — Loan repurchase facilities 297,392,137 297,392,137 296,789,330 296,789,330 Securities repurchase agreements 60,800,779 60,800,779 73,300,159 73,300,159 Exchangeable Senior Notes 57,098,650 56,784,242 56,775,500 56,509,046

Mortgage Loans Held for Inves35

Mortgage Loans Held for Investment, at Fair Value and Held for Sale Previously Held for Investment, at Fair Value (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Abstract]
Schedule Of Information About Investments In Mortgage Loans [Table Text Block]	The following tables present certain information regarding the Company's mortgage loans at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 which showed evidence of credit deterioration at the time of purchase: March 31, 2016 Mortgage Loans Held for Sale Previously Held for Investment Difference Between Fair Value and Aggregate Unpaid Gross Unrealized (1) Unpaid Weighted Average Principal Premium Amortized Fair Principal Unleveraged Balance (Discount) Cost Gains Losses Value Balance Coupon Yield Performing Fixed $ 236,675,463 $ (43,298,017) $ 193,377,446 $ 27,002,346 $ (2,374,288) $ 218,005,504 $ (18,669,959) 4.74 % 7.65 % ARM 135,940,617 (14,520,006) 121,420,611 5,098,008 (3,656,027) 122,862,592 (13,078,025) 3.69 7.17 Total performing 372,616,080 (57,818,023) 314,798,057 32,100,354 (6,030,315) 340,868,096 (31,747,984) 4.36 7.47 Non-performing (2) 38,386,620 (7,017,147) 31,369,473 948,312 (4,229,686) 28,088,099 (10,298,521) 4.72 7.84 Total $ 411,002,700 $ (64,835,170) $ 346,167,530 $ 33,048,666 $ (10,260,001) $ 368,956,195 $ (42,046,505) 4.39 % 7.50 % December 31, 2015 Mortgage Loans Held for Investment Difference Between Fair Value and Aggregate Unpaid Gross Unrealized (1) Unpaid Weighted Average Principal Premium Amortized Fair Principal Unleveraged Balance (Discount) Cost Gains Losses Value Balance Coupon Yield Performing Fixed $ 240,031,119 $ (44,650,666) $ 195,380,453 $ 23,626,555 $ (2,521,921) $ 216,485,087 $ (23,546,032) 4.70 % 7.59 % ARM 143,625,653 (15,597,990) 128,027,663 5,918,004 (3,126,826) 130,818,841 (12,806,812) 3.63 7.15 Total performing 383,656,772 (60,248,656) 323,408,116 29,544,559 (5,648,747) 347,303,928 (36,352,844) 4.30 7.41 Non-performing (2) 40,100,775 (7,515,130) 32,585,645 990,974 (4,245,960) 29,330,659 (10,770,116) 4.65 7.78 Total $ 423,757,547 $ (67,763,786) $ 355,993,761 $ 30,535,533 $ (9,894,707) $ 376,634,587 $ (47,122,960) 4.34 % 7.45 % (1) The Company has elected the fair value option pursuant to ASC 825 for these mortgage loans held for investment. The Company recorded the following as change in unrealized gain or loss on mortgage loans held for investment in the consolidated statements of operations: Three Months Three Months $ 2,147,861 $ (1,086,535) (2) Loans that are delinquent for 60 days or more The following tables present certain information regarding the Company's mortgage loans held for investment, at fair value, at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 which were newly originated at the time of purchase and sourced through the Company’s loan purchase program: March 31, 2016 Unpaid Gross Unrealized (1) Weighted Average Principal Amortized Unleveraged Balance Premium Cost Gains Losses Fair Value Coupon Yield Performing Fixed $ 25,079,640 $ 412,382 $ 25,492,022 $ 292,794 $ (10,823) $ 25,773,993 4.93 % 4.78 % ARM 6,224,933 86,651 6,311,584 28,463 — 6,340,047 4.46 4.33 Total Mortgage Loans Held for Investment $ 31,304,573 $ 499,033 $ 31,803,606 $ 321,257 $ (10,823) $ 32,114,040 4.84 % 4.69 % December 31, 2015 Unpaid Gross Unrealized (1) Weighted Average Principal Amortized Unleveraged Balance Premium Cost Gains Losses Fair Value Coupon Yield Performing Fixed $ 17,674,257 $ 315,860 $ 17,990,117 $ 58,069 $ (99,486) $ 17,948,700 5.05 % 4.89 % ARM 3,068,259 44,875 3,113,134 — (18,280) 3,094,854 4.37 4.25 Total Mortgage Loans Held for Investment $ 20,742,516 $ 360,735 $ 21,103,251 $ 58,069 $ (117,766) $ 21,043,554 4.95 % 4.79 % (1) The Company has elected the fair value option pursuant to ASC 825 for these mortgage loans held for investment. The Company recorded the following as change in unrealized gain or loss on mortgage loans held for investment in the consolidated statements of operations: Three Months Three Months $ 370,132 $ (5,885)
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Accretable Yield Movement [Table Text Block]	Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Accretable yield, beginning of period $ 247,751,944 $ 267,509,905 Acquisitions — — Accretion (6,207,756) (6,605,967) Reclassifications from nonaccretable difference (4,282,052) (1,686,736) Accretable yield, end of period $ 237,262,136 $ 259,217,202
Schedule Of Mortgage Loan Acquisitions [Table Text Block]	Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Aggregate Unpaid Principal Balance $ 11,382,962 $ 1,447,319 Loan Repurchase Facilities Used 10,169,242 1,302,587
Schedules of Concentration of Risk, by Risk Factor [Table Text Block]	The following is a summary of certain concentrations of credit risk in the mortgage loan portfolio at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015: March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Percentage of fair value of mortgage loans with unpaid principal balance to current property value in excess of 100% 37.8 % 44.1 % Percentage of fair value of mortgage loans secured by properties in the following states: Each representing 10% or more of fair value: California 26.1 % 26.2 % Florida 15.6 % 16.1 % Additional state representing more than 5% of fair value: Georgia 6.1 % 6.1 % Percentage of unpaid principal balance of mortgage loans carrying mortgage insurance 8.0 % 8.2 %
Schedule of Interest Rate and Contractual Maturities On Mortgage Loans Held For Investment [Table Text Block]	The range of interest rates and contractual maturities of the Company's mortgage loans held for investment at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were as follows: March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Interest rates 2.0% - 12.2% 1.75% – 12.20% Contractual maturities 1 – 45 years 1 – 45 years
Schedule Of Additional Information Company's Real Estate Owned On Mortgage Loans Held For Investment [Table Text Block]	Additional information about the Company’s REO assets at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, are as follows: March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Net realizable value (included in other assets in the Company's consolidated balance sheets) $ 2,356,589 $ 1,784,670 Carrying amount of mortgage loans held for investment, at fair value secured by residential real estate properties for which formal foreclosure proceedings are in process according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction 11,254,632 5,597,611

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale,36

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, at Fair Value (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Transfers and Servicing [Abstract]
Schedule of Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Table Text Block]	During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015, the Company's mortgage loans held for sale activity was as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Balance at beginning of period $ 115,942,230 $ 97,690,960 Originations and repurchases 435,225,414 451,669,250 Proceeds from sales and principal payments (456,891,268) (431,251,708) Gain on sale 16,583,439 7,920,341 Balance at end of period $ 110,859,815 $ 126,028,843
Schedule Of Mortgage Loans Held For Sale [Table Text Block]	Mortgage loans held for sale, at fair value at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 is as follows: March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Unpaid Unpaid Principal Principal Balance Fair Value Balance Fair Value Conventional $ 67,791,764 $ 70,195,369 $ 54,962,904 $ 56,586,717 Governmental 20,203,875 21,776,355 30,531,301 32,131,354 United States Department of Agriculture loans 10,445,984 11,054,233 16,222,152 17,059,982 United States Department of Veteran Affairs loans 6,809,762 7,284,408 8,922,978 9,314,255 Reverse mortgage 487,666 549,450 754,089 849,922 Total $ 105,739,051 $ 110,859,815 $ 111,393,424 $ 115,942,230

Real Estate Securities and Ot37

Real Estate Securities and Other Investment Securities, at Fair Value (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Schedule Of Investments In Real Estate Securities [Table Text Block]	March 31, 2016 Principal or Gross Unrealized (2) Weighted Average Notional Premium Amortized Unleveraged Balance (Discount) Cost Gains Losses Fair Value Coupon Yield Real estate securities Non-Agency RMBS: Alternative – A $ 64,387,620 $ (37,379,264) $ 27,008,356 $ 618,969 $ (1,524,645) $ 26,102,680 1.82 % 5.19 % Pay option adjustable rate 35,131,326 (6,102,461) 29,028,865 — (3,487,440) 25,541,425 1.16 4.19 Prime 33,604,620 (4,257,529) 29,347,091 448,354 (866,669) 28,928,776 3.68 5.29 Subprime 10,558,856 (3,847,482) 6,711,374 20,269 (184,518) 6,547,125 0.59 6.81 Total non-Agency RMBS $ 143,682,422 $ (51,586,736) $ 92,095,686 $ 1,087,592 $ (6,063,272) $ 87,120,006 2.01 % 5.03 % Other Investment Securities (1) $ 13,395,816 $ 17,975 $ 13,413,791 $ 77,463 $ (613,232) $ 12,878,022 4.96 % 6.03 % December 31, 2015 Principal or Gross Unrealized (2) Weighted Average Notional Premium Amortized Unleveraged Balance (Discount) Cost Gains Losses Fair Value Coupon Yield Real estate securities Non-Agency RMBS: Alternative – A $ 76,328,172 $ (40,150,416) $ 36,177,756 $ 846,318 $ (1,025,899) $ 35,998,175 2.01 % 6.18 % Pay option adjustable rate 42,562,819 (7,480,996) 35,081,823 6,863 (2,879,148) 32,209,538 1.10 5.31 Prime 37,366,079 (4,732,637) 32,633,442 563,311 (714,232) 32,482,521 3.62 5.95 Subprime 12,668,092 (4,039,253) 8,628,839 111,651 (91,443) 8,649,047 0.93 6.63 Total non-Agency RMBS $ 168,925,162 $ (56,403,302) $ 112,521,860 $ 1,528,143 $ (4,710,722) $ 109,339,281 2.05 % 5.87 % Other Investment Securities (1) $ 13,398,851 $ (34,264) $ 13,364,587 $ 897 $ (561,288) $ 12,804,196 4.94 % 6.65 % (1) See Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, “Other Investment Securities". (2) The Company has elected the fair value option pursuant to ASC 825 for real estate securities. The Company recorded the changes in unrealized gain or loss in the consolidated statements of operations.
Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity Date [Table Text Block]	March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Other Investment Other Investment Non-Agency RMBS Securities Non-Agency RMBS Securities Notional balance of IO included in Alternative A $ 33,668,901 — $ 35,042,860 — Contractual maturities (range) 19.1 to 31.0 years 8.2 to 12.1 years 19.3 to 31.3 years 8.4 to 12.3 years Weighted average maturity 24.7 years 9.8 years 21.3 years 10.1 years

Mortgage Servicing Rights, at38

Mortgage Servicing Rights, at Fair Value (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Transfers and Servicing [Abstract]
Schedule Of Activity Of Mortgage Servicing Rights [Table Text Block]	The activity of MSRs for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015 is as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Balance at beginning of period $ 48,209,016 $ 33,378,978 Additions due to loans sold, servicing retained 4,697,976 3,409,899 Change in fair value of MSRs (1) Changes in values of market related inputs or assumptions used in a valuation model (2) (6,609,585) (2,710,478) Other changes (3) (1,444,721) (714,436) Total - change in fair value of MSRs (8,054,306) (3,424,914) Balance at end of period $ 44,852,686 $ 33,363,963 (1) Included in change in fair value of MSRs in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. (2) Primarily reflects changes in values of prepayment assumptions due to changes in interest rates. (3) Represents change in value primarily due to passage of time, including the impact from both regularly scheduled loan principal payments and loans that were paid off or paid down during the year.
Schedule Of Mortgage Servicing Rights Portfolio [Table Text Block]	The Company's MSR portfolio at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 is as follows: March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Unpaid Principal Fair Value Unpaid Principal Fair Value Fannie Mae $ 1,943,871,922 $ 18,994,424 $ 1,880,177,827 $ 20,751,648 Ginnie Mae 1,561,234,153 16,871,814 1,488,159,758 18,231,527 Freddie Mac 924,415,193 8,986,448 805,589,808 9,225,841 Total $ 4,429,521,268 $ 44,852,686 $ 4,173,927,393 $ 48,209,016
Schedule Of Quantitative Information Of Mortgage Servicing Rights [Table Text Block]	March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Discount rate: Range 6.6% - 12.2 % 6.6%-12.2 % Weighted average 9.4 % 9.4 % Effect on fair value of adverse change of: 5% $ (816,293) $ (958,786) 10% $ (1,604,489) $ (1,881,870) 20% $ (3,101,957) $ (3,628,281) Prepayment speed (1) Range 8.2% - 14.6 % 7.0%-12.0 % Weighted average 11.3 % 9.3 % Effect on fair value of adverse change of: 5% $ (1,014,616) $ (938,584) 10% $ (1,944,772) $ (1,756,195) 20% $ (3,758,628) $ (3,428,890) Per-loan annual cost of servicing: Range $ 63 - $118 $ 64-$119 Weighted average $ 91 $ 92 Effect on fair value of adverse change of: 5% $ (520,707) $ (547,228) 10% $ (1,041,414) $ (1,094,455) 20% $ (2,082,827) $ (2,188,910) (1) Prepayment speed is measured using CPR.
Schedule Of Gains Losses Included In Earnings [Table Text Block]	Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 The amount of total losses for the three months ended included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at the reporting date $ (6,609,585) $ (2,710,478)
Schedule Of Loan Servicing Fee Income Net Of Direct Costs [Table Text Block]	The Company contracts with licensed sub-servicers to perform all servicing functions for these loans. The following table presents the loan servicing fee income, net of direct costs, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Loan servicing fee income $ 3,166,264 $ 2,384,402 Late fee income 86 35 Sub-servicing costs (1,112,554) (747,338) Loan servicing fee income, net of direct costs $ 2,053,796 $ 1,637,099

Warehouse Lines of Credit (Tabl

Warehouse Lines of Credit (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Warehouse Agreement Borrowings [Member]
Schedule of Line of Credit Facilities [Table Text Block]	The following tables present certain information regarding the Company's warehouse lines of credit and repurchase agreements in its residential mortgage banking segment at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015: March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Availability $ 185,000,000 $ 185,000,000 Maturity dates June 2016 – November 2016 June 2016 – November 2016

Loan Repurchase Facilities (Tab

Loan Repurchase Facilities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Loan Repurchase Facilities [Table Text Block]	At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had the following outstanding master repurchase agreements with Citibank, N.A. (the "Citi Loan Repurchase Facility") and Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Capital LLC (the "Credit Suisse Loan Repurchase Facility") (collectively, the "Loan Repurchase Facilities") used to fund the purchase of mortgage loans held for investment in its residential mortgage investments segment: March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Credit Suisse Credit Suisse First First Boston Boston Citibank, N.A Mortgage Citibank, N.A Mortgage Distressed and Capital LLC Distressed and Capital LLC Re- Newly Re- Newly Lender Performing Originated Performing Originated Collateral type funded by facility Loans Loans Loans Loans Total facility size $ 325,000,000 $ 100,000,000 $ 325,000,000 $ 100,000,000 Amount committed $ 150,000,000 $ 25,000,000 $ 150,000,000 $ 25,000,000 Maturity date May 20, 2016 June 27, 2016 May 20, 2016 June 27, 2016 Outstanding balance $ 272,199,827 $ 25,192,310 $ 279,467,573 $ 17,321,757
Schedule Of Posting of Mortgage Loan Collateral For The Loan Repurchase Facilities [Table Text Block]	The following table presents information with respect to the Company's posting of collateral under its Loan Repurchase Facilities at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015: March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Fair value of Trust Certificates pledged as collateral $ 400,185,981 $ 394,942,512 Cash pledged as collateral 20,886 375,579

Securities Repurchase Agreeme41

Securities Repurchase Agreements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Disclosure of Repurchase Agreements [Abstract]
Schedule of Information Regarding Posting of Collateral [Table Text Block]	The following table presents information with respect to the Company's posting of collateral under its securities repurchase agreements at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015: March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Fair value of non-Agency RMBS pledged as collateral $ 78,795,777 $ 95,627,850 Fair value of Other Investment Securities pledged as collateral 2,033,403 1,989,174 Cash pledged as collateral 1,989,775 2,029,581

8.0% Exchangeable Senior Note42

8.0% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2016 (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Notes Payable [Abstract]
Schedule of Information Pertaining to Senior Notes [Table Text Block]	The following table presents information with respect to the Exchangeable Senior Notes at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015: March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Fair value of conversion option derivative liability $ 547,457 $ 612,878 Unamortized discount 715,758 990,954

Derivative Instruments (Tables)

Derivative Instruments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Schedule of Notional Amounts of Derivative Instruments [Table Text Block]	The following table presents certain information related to derivative instruments held at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015: Non-hedge derivatives March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Notional amount of interest rate swaps $ 17,200,000 $ 17,200,000 LPCs (Principal balance of underlying loans) 19,955,150 18,494,332 IRLCs (Principal balance of underlying loans) 243,381,890 190,933,017 Notional amount of MBS forward sales contracts 242,701,243 179,417,280
Schedule of Fair Value of Derivative Instruments [Table Text Block]	The following table presents the fair value of the Company's derivative instruments and their balance sheet location at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015: March 31, December 31, Derivative instruments Designation Balance Sheet Location 2016 2015 Interest rate swaps Non-hedge Derivative liabilities, at fair value $ (1,641,200) $ (1,009,014) LPCs Non-hedge Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value 22,592 (9,871) IRLCs Non-hedge Derivative assets, at fair value 4,017,540 2,376,187 MBS forward sales contracts Non-hedge Derivative liabilities, at fair value (1,546,366) (200,204) Conversion Option - Exchangeable Senior Notes Non-hedge Derivative liabilities, at fair value (547,457) (612,878)
Schedule of Gains / (Losses) Related to Derivatives [Table Text Block]	The following table presents the gains and (losses) related to Company's derivative instruments: Income Statement Three Months Ended Non-hedge derivatives Location March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Interest rate swaps Loss on derivative instruments related to investment portfolio $ (774,152) $ (451,439) LPCs Loss on derivative instruments related to investment portfolio 32,463 23,822 IRLCs Mortgage banking activities, net 1,641,353 1,936,514 MBS forward sales contracts Mortgage banking activities, net (1,346,162) (638,711) Conversion Option - Exchangeable Senior Notes Loss on derivative instruments related to investment portfolio 65,421 (479,473)
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Schedule of Interest Rate Derivatives [Table Text Block]	The following table presents information about the Company's interest rate swap agreements at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015: March 31, December 31, 2016 2015 Maturity 2023 2023 Notional Amount $ 17,200,000 $ 17,200,000 Weighted Average Pay Rate 2.72 % 2.72 % Weighted Average Receive Rate 0.39 % 0.33 % Weighted Average Years to Maturity 7.3 7.6 Cash Pledged as Collateral (1) $ 2,149,413 $ 1,966,565 (1) At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 all collateral provided under the interest rate swap agreements consisted of cash collateral which is included in restricted cash in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

Mortgage Banking Activities (Ta

Mortgage Banking Activities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Mortgage Banking [Abstract]
Schedule Of Mortgage Banking Income Expense [Table Text Block]	The following table presents the components of mortgage banking activities, net, recorded in the Company's consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Gain on sale of mortgage loans held for sale, net of direct costs (1) $ 11,533,909 $ 10,956,258 Loan expenses, including provision for loan indemnification (197,220) (192,866) Loan origination fee income 316,225 388,997 Total $ 11,652,914 $ 11,152,389 (1) Includes the change in fair value related to IRLCs and MBS forward sales contracts held during the period.

Loan Indemnification Reserve (T

Loan Indemnification Reserve (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Guarantees [Abstract]
Schedule of Activity in Loan Indemnification Reserve [Table Text Block]	The activity for the loan indemnification reserve for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015 is as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Balance at the beginning of period $ 3,201,000 $ 2,662,162 Loan indemnification losses incurred — (42,356) Provision for loan indemnification losses 173,373 180,163 Balance at end of period $ 3,374,373 $ 2,799,969

Income Taxes (Tables)

Income Taxes (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Reconciliation of Statutory Tax Rate to Effective Tax Rate [Table Text Block]	Reconciliation of Statutory Tax Rate to Effective Tax Rate Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Tax expense/(benefit) at statutory rate (34.00) % 35.00 % State and local taxes, net of Federal Benefit (4.09) % (10.97) % Impact of REIT election (1) 6.26 % (109.68) % Change in valuation allowance (2) (0.74) % 31.82 % Other non-deductible/non-taxable items (3) 0.37 % 0.27 % Effective Tax Rate (32.20) % (53.56) % (1) For all tax years, the Company’s effective tax rate differs from its statutory tax rate due to the deduction for dividend distributions required to be paid under Code section 857(a). (2) For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015, the change in valuation allowance relates to the change in reserve related to net operating losses and other future deductible items for ZFC Trust TRS I, LLC and ZFC Funding, Inc. (3) For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015, the amount primarily relates to non-deductible meals and entertainment expenses.

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]	The following table presents a reconciliation of the earnings and shares used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share: Three Months Ended March 31, March 31, 2016 2015 Numerator: Net (loss)/ income attributable to ZAIS Financial Corp. common stockholders (Basic) $ (3,038,748) $ 373,780 Effect of dilutive securities: Net (loss)/ income allocated to non-controlling interests relating to OP Units exchangeable for shares of common stock of the Company (337,446) 43,466 Exchangeable Senior Notes: Interest expense — — Gain on conversion option derivative liability — — Total – Exchangeable Senior Notes — — Net (loss)/ income available to stockholders, after effect of dilutive securities $ (3,376,194) $ 417,246 Denominator: Weighted average number of shares of common stock 7,970,886 7,970,886 Effect of dilutive securities: Weighted average number of OP Units 926,914 926,914 Weighted average number of shares convertible under Exchangeable Senior Notes — — Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 8,897,800 8,897,800 Net (loss) income per share applicable to ZAIS Financial Corp. common stockholders – Basic $ (0.38) $ 0.05 Net (loss) income per share applicable to ZAIS Financial Corp. common stockholders – Diluted $ (0.38) $ 0.05

Related Party Transactions (Tab

Related Party Transactions (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transaction [Table Text Block]	The Company incurred the following fees pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement: Three Months Ended March 31, March 31, Advisory fees $ 710,563 $ 702,755 Loan sourcing fees 56,915 8,045 Total – Advisory fees – related party $ 767,478 $ 710,800
Schedule of Related Party Transactions for Expense Reimbursements [Table Text Block]	The Company incurred the following Expense Reimbursements for amounts incurred by the Advisor for research and market data (including the amortization expense related to amounts prepaid to the Advisor): Three Months Ended March 31, March 31, Expense Reimbursements $ 283,688 $ 101,439
Schedule of Related Party Transactions for Other Expense [Table Text Block]	Amounts payable to the Advisor for advisory fees, loan sourcing fees and Expense Reimbursements at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are as follows: March 31, December 31, $ 875,720 $ 867,415
Schedule of Related Party Transactions for Sub-Lease Income [Table Text Block]	GMFS received the following sub-lease income related to a portion of its office space (see Note 21) from a related party: Three Months Ended March 31, March 31, $ 5,400 $ 4,800

Dividends and Distributions (Ta

Dividends and Distributions (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Dividends [Abstract]
Dividends Declared [Table Text Block]	During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015 the Company declared the following dividends and distributions: Amount per Share Declaration Date Record Date Payment Date and OP Unit Three months ended March 31, 2016: March 17, 2016 March 31, 2016 April 15, 2016 $ 0.40 Three months ended March 31, 2015: March 19, 2015 March 31, 2015 April 15, 2015 $ 0.40

Commitments and Contingencies (

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Table Text Block]	Total commitments to originate loans are as follows at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015: March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 $ 265,054,976 $ 216,072,457
Contractual Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity Schedule [Table Text Block]	GMFS incurred rent expense as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 $ 237,391 $ 182,987
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases [Table Text Block]	At March 31, 2016, the future minimum rental payments for the period April 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 and the five years subsequent to December 31, 2016 and thereafter are as follows: April 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016 $ 720,626 2017 $ 812,919 2018 $ 680,366 2019 $ 128,358 2020 $ — Thereafter $ —

Offsetting Assets and Liabili51

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Offsetting [Abstract]
Offsetting Liabilities [Table Text Block]	The following table presents information about certain liabilities that are subject to master netting arrangements (or similar agreements) and can potentially be offset in the Company's consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015: Net Amounts of Liabilities Gross Amounts Presented in Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Gross Amounts Offset in the the Consolidated Balance Sheets of Recognized Consolidated Consolidated Financial Cash Collateral Liabilities Balance Sheets Balance Sheets Instruments Pledged Net Amount March 31, 2016 Warehouse lines of credit $ 101,478,055 $ — $ 101,478,055 $ (101,478,055) $ — $ — Treasury repurchase agreement 39,574,000 — 39,574,000 (39,574,000) — Loan Repurchase Facilities 297,392,137 — 297,392,137 (297,371,251) (20,886) — Securities repurchase agreements 60,800,779 — 60,800,779 (58,811,004) (1,989,775) — Interest rate swap agreements 1,641,200 — 1,641,200 — (1,641,200) — Total $ 500,886,171 $ — $ 500,886,171 $ (497,234,310) $ (3,651,861) $ — December 31, 2015 Warehouse lines of credit $ 100,768,428 $ — $ 100,768,428 $ (100,768,428) $ — $ — Loan Repurchase Facilities 296,789,330 — 296,789,330 (296,413,751) (375,579) — Securities repurchase agreements 73,300,159 — 73,300,159 (71,270,578) (2,029,581) — Interest rate swap agreements 1,009,014 — 1,009,014 — (1,009,014) — Total $ 471,866,931 $ — $ 471,866,931 $ (468,452,757) $ (3,414,174) $ —

Segment Information (Tables)

Segment Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	The Company's segment profit and loss information is as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016: Residential Residential Corporate/Other Total Interest income $ 7,930,953 $ 773,963 $ — $ 8,704,916 Interest expense 2,781,246 551,820 1,464,211 4,797,277 Net interest income (expense) 5,149,707 222,143 (1,464,211) 3,907,639 Non-interest income — 5,664,864 — 5,664,864 Change in unrealized gain or loss 682,748 — 5,941 688,689 Realized loss (186,034) — — (186,034) Loss on derivative instruments (676,268) — — (676,268) Advisory fee – related party 324,939 113,122 329,417 767,478 Salaries, commissions and benefits — 7,966,092 — 7,966,092 Operating expenses 358,332 1,715,793 966,759 3,040,884 Other Expenses: Expenses 380,161 — 1,991,274 2,371,435 Depreciation and amortization — 232,430 — 232,430 Total other expenses 380,161 232,430 1,991,274 2,603,865 Net income (loss) before income taxes 3,906,721 (4,140,430) (4,745,720) (4,979,429) Income tax benefit — (1,603,235) — (1,603,235) Segment net income (loss) $ 3,906,721 $ (2,537,195) $ (4,745,720) $ (3,376,194) Three Months Ended March 31, 2015: Residential Residential Corporate/Other Total Interest income $ 9,079,165 $ 608,232 $ — $ 9,687,397 Interest expense 2,755,445 553,359 1,436,673 4,745,477 Net interest income (expense) 6,323,720 54,873 (1,436,673) 4,941,920 Non-interest income — 9,376,430 — 9,376,430 Change in unrealized gain or loss (1,139,426) — — (1,139,426) Realized gain 164,788 — — 164,788 Loss on derivative instruments (907,090) — — (907,090) Advisory fee – related party 328,966 128,836 252,998 710,800 Salaries, commissions and benefits — 7,399,258 — 7,399,258 Operating expenses 47,395 1,990,288 881,965 2,919,648 Other Expenses: Expenses 858,452 49,324 — 907,776 Depreciation and amortization — 227,423 — 227,423 Total other expenses 858,452 276,747 — 1,135,199 Net income (loss) before income taxes 3,207,179 (363,826) (2,571,636) 271,717 Income tax benefit — (145,529) — (145,529) Segment net income (loss) $ 3,207,179 $ (218,297) $ (2,571,636) $ 417,246 The following table is a reconciliation of the net income of the residential mortgage banking segment to the operations of GMFS: Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Net loss of the residential mortgage banking segment $ (2,537,195) $ (218,297) Add back (deduct) expenses incurred by ZFC Honeybee TRS, LLC: Advisory fee – related party 113,122 128,836 Amortization of deferred premiums, production and profitability earn-outs included in salaries, commission and benefits 189,000 269,367 Operating expenses (including change in contingent consideration) 170,900 732,024 Other expenses 197,085 246,409 Income tax benefit (1,603,235) (145,529) Net (loss) income of GMFS $ (3,470,323) $ 1,012,810 Supplemental Disclosures Selected segment balance sheet information is as follows: Residential Residential Mortgage Mortgage Investments Banking Corporate/Other Total March 31, 2016 Cash and cash equivalents $ 56,160,193 $ 10,440,033 $ 4,587 $ 66,604,813 Mortgage loans held for investment, at fair value 32,114,043 — — 32,114,043 Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment, at fair value 368,956,195 — — 368,956,195 Mortgage loans held for investment, at cost — 1,879,254 — 1,879,254 Mortgage loans held for sale, at fair value — 110,859,815 — 110,859,815 Real estate securities, at fair value 87,120,006 — — 87,120,006 Other investment securities, at fair value 12,878,022 — — 12,878,022 Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value — 44,852,686 — 44,852,686 Goodwill — 14,183,537 — 14,183,537 Intangible assets — 4,683,185 — 4,683,185 Total assets 568,284,662 232,988,961 1,396,945 802,670,568 December 31, 2015 Cash and cash equivalents $ 15,082,286 $ 5,702,608 $ 9,362 $ 20,793,716 Mortgage loans held for investment, at fair value 397,678,140 — — 397,678,140 Mortgage loans held for investment, at cost — 1,886,642 — 1,886,642 Mortgage loans held for sale, at fair value — 115,942,230 — 115,942,230 Real estate securities, at fair value 109,339,281 — — 109,339,281 Other investment securities, at fair value 12,804,196 — — 12,804,196 Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value — 48,209,016 — 48,209,016 Goodwill — 14,183,537 — 14,183,537 Intangible assets — 4,880,270 — 4,880,270 Total assets 542,396,756 232,450,793 291,372 775,138,921

Formation and Organization (Det

Formation and Organization (Details Textual) - $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	500,000,000	500,000,000
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 0.0001	$ 0.0001
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 0.0001	$ 0.0001

Summary of Significant Accoun54

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015
Number of Operating Segments	2
Transfer of Portfolio Loans and Leases to Held-for-sale	$ 368,956,195
ZAIS Financial Partners, LP [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	89.60%	89.60%

GMFS Transaction (Details)

GMFS Transaction (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Beginning balance	$ 11,285,100	$ 11,430,413
Change in fair value	198,000	523,425
Ending balance	$ 11,483,100	$ 11,953,838

GMFS Transaction (Details 1)

GMFS Transaction (Details 1) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Beginning balance	$ 14,183,537	$ 16,512,680
Reversal of a liability existing as of the date of acquisition	0	(385,610)
Ending balance	$ 14,183,537	$ 16,127,070

GMFS Transaction (Details 2)

GMFS Transaction (Details 2) - GMFS, LLC [Member] $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
Fair value of Liabilities:
Estimated Fair Value of Intangible Assets	$ 5.8
Trade Names [Member]
Fair value of Liabilities:
Estimated Fair Value of Intangible Assets	$ 2
Estimated Useful Life	10 years
Customer Relationships [Member]
Fair value of Liabilities:
Estimated Fair Value of Intangible Assets	$ 1.3
Estimated Useful Life	10 years
Licenses [Member]
Fair value of Liabilities:
Estimated Fair Value of Intangible Assets	$ 1
Estimated Useful Life	3 years
Favorable Lease [Member]
Fair value of Liabilities:
Estimated Fair Value of Intangible Assets	$ 1.5
Estimated Useful Life	12 years

GMFS Transaction (Details 3)

GMFS Transaction (Details 3) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Amortization expense	$ 197,085	$ 197,085

GMFS Transaction (Details 4)

GMFS Transaction (Details 4) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accumulated Amortization	$ 1,116,815	$ 919,730
Trade Names [Member]
Accumulated Amortization	283,339	233,338
Customer Relationships [Member]
Accumulated Amortization	184,161	151,662
Licenses [Member]
Accumulated Amortization	472,226	388,892
Favorable Lease [Member]
Accumulated Amortization	$ 177,089	$ 145,838

GMFS Transaction (Details 5)

GMFS Transaction (Details 5)	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
Amortization expense related to the intangible assets
April 1, 2016 - December 31, 2016	$ 591,255
2,017	732,776
2,018	455,004
2,019	455,004
2,020	455,004
2,021	$ 455,004

GMFS Transaction (Details Textu

GMFS Transaction (Details Textual) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 14,183,537	$ 14,183,537	$ 16,127,070	$ 16,512,680
GMFS, LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Percentage Which May Be Paid In Stock	50.00%
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High	$ 20,000,000
Goodwill		$ 14,183,537	$ 14,183,537
GMFS, LLC [Member] | Discrete Payment One [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Liabilities Incurred	1,000,000
GMFS, LLC [Member] | Deferred Premium Payments [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Liabilities Incurred	$ 2,000,000

Fair Value (Details)

Fair Value (Details) - USD ($)		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets
Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment		$ 368,956,195	$ 0
Mortgage loans held for sale		110,859,815	115,942,230	$ 126,028,843	$ 97,690,960
Non-Agency RMBS		87,120,006	109,339,281
MSRs		44,852,686	48,209,016	33,363,963	33,378,978
Derivative assets		4,040,132	2,376,187
Liabilities
Contingent consideration		11,483,100	11,285,100	$ 11,953,838	$ 11,430,413
Derivative liabilities		3,735,023	1,831,967
Non-Agency RMBS [Member]
Assets
Mortgage loans held for investment	[1]	87,120,006	109,339,281
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Assets
Mortgage loans held for investment		32,114,043	397,678,140
Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment		368,956,195
Mortgage loans held for sale		110,859,815	115,942,230
Other Investment Securities		12,878,022	12,804,196
MSRs		44,852,686	48,209,016
Derivative assets		4,040,132	2,376,187
Total		660,820,899	686,349,050
Liabilities
Contingent consideration		11,483,100	11,285,100
Derivative liabilities		3,735,023	1,831,967
Total		15,218,123	13,117,067
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Non-Agency RMBS [Member]
Assets
Non-Agency RMBS		87,120,006	109,339,281
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets
Mortgage loans held for investment		0	0
Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment		0
Mortgage loans held for sale		0	0
Other Investment Securities		0	0
MSRs		0	0
Derivative assets		0	0
Total		0	0
Liabilities
Contingent consideration		0	0
Derivative liabilities		0	0
Total		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Non-Agency RMBS [Member]
Assets
Non-Agency RMBS		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets
Mortgage loans held for investment		0	0
Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment		0
Mortgage loans held for sale		110,859,815	115,942,230
Other Investment Securities		0	0
MSRs		0	0
Derivative assets		0	0
Total		110,859,815	115,942,230
Liabilities
Contingent consideration		0	0
Derivative liabilities		3,735,023	1,822,096
Total		3,735,023	1,822,096
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Non-Agency RMBS [Member]
Assets
Non-Agency RMBS		0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets
Mortgage loans held for investment		32,114,043	397,678,140
Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment		368,956,195
Mortgage loans held for sale		0	0
Other Investment Securities		12,878,022	12,804,196
MSRs		44,852,686	48,209,016
Derivative assets		4,040,132	2,376,187
Total		549,961,084	570,406,820
Liabilities
Contingent consideration		11,483,100	11,285,100
Derivative liabilities		0	9,871
Total		11,483,100	11,294,971
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Non-Agency RMBS [Member]
Assets
Non-Agency RMBS		$ 87,120,006	$ 109,339,281
[1]	Non-Agency RMBS includes an IO with a notional balance of $33.7 million and $35.0 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

Fair Value (Details 1)

Fair Value (Details 1) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Real Estate Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 109,339,281	$ 148,585,733
Originations/acquisitions	0	0
Proceeds from sales	(16,094,298)	0
Amortization of premiums	0	0
Net accretion of discounts	571,063	1,248,910
Proceeds from principal repayments	(4,178,332)	(3,942,700)
Conversion of mortgage loans to REO	0	0
Total losses (realized/unrealized) included in earnings	(3,290,046)	(1,028,489)
Total gains (realized/unrealized) included in earnings	772,338	850,718
Balance, end of period	87,120,006	145,714,172
The amount of total gains or (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets or liabilities still held at the reporting date	(2,423,297)	(177,772)
Loan Purchase Commitments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	(9,871)	4,037
Change in unrealized gain or loss	32,463	23,822
Balance, end of period	22,592	27,859
The amount of total gains or (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets or liabilities still held at the reporting date	32,463	23,822
Interest Rate Lock Commitments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	2,376,187	2,481,063
Change in unrealized gain or loss	1,641,353	1,936,514
Balance, end of period	4,017,540	4,417,577
The amount of total gains or (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets or liabilities still held at the reporting date	1,641,353	1,936,514
Mortgage Loans Held for Investment [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	397,678,140	415,959,838
Originations/acquisitions	11,528,793	1,476,838
Proceeds from sales	0	0
Amortization of premiums	(12,568)	(384)
Net accretion of discounts	1,782,505	2,012,665
Proceeds from principal repayments	(11,447,746)	(7,112,305)
Conversion of mortgage loans to REO	(1,513,223)	(189,648)
Total losses (realized/unrealized) included in earnings	(4,646,504)	(8,823,926)
Total gains (realized/unrealized) included in earnings	7,700,841	7,768,282
Balance, end of period	401,070,238	411,091,360
The amount of total gains or (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets or liabilities still held at the reporting date	2,531,471	(1,204,068)
Other Investment Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	12,804,196	2,040,532
Originations/acquisitions	0	0
Proceeds from sales	0	0
Amortization of premiums	0	0
Net accretion of discounts	49,204	10,740
Proceeds from principal repayments	0	0
Conversion of mortgage loans to REO	0	0
Total losses (realized/unrealized) included in earnings	(45,733)	0
Total gains (realized/unrealized) included in earnings	70,355	136,320
Balance, end of period	12,878,022	2,187,592
The amount of total gains or (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets or liabilities still held at the reporting date	$ 24,622	$ 136,320

Fair Value (Details 2)

Fair Value (Details 2) - Level 3 [Member] - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Mortgage Loans Held for Investment [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 401,070,238	$ 397,678,140
Mortgage Loans Held for Investment [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	2.10%	1.90%
Constant default rate	1.60%	1.40%
Loss severity	6.50%	5.90%
Delinquency	6.50%	6.30%
Mortgage Loans Held for Investment [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	5.20%	5.00%
Constant default rate	4.00%	5.00%
Loss severity	37.30%	37.20%
Delinquency	13.70%	13.20%
Mortgage Loans Held for Investment [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	3.40%	3.20%
Constant default rate	3.00%	3.10%
Loss severity	21.90%	22.10%
Delinquency	11.20%	10.90%
Alternative - A [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 26,102,680	$ 35,998,175
Alternative - A [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	2.60%	2.70%
Constant default rate	0.30%	0.20%
Loss severity	0.30%	0.00%
Delinquency	1.70%	1.40%
Alternative - A [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	16.20%	18.90%
Constant default rate	7.10%	7.80%
Loss severity	85.00%	85.00%
Delinquency	22.40%	22.20%
Alternative - A [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	11.30%	12.90%
Constant default rate	2.80%	2.80%
Loss severity	20.80%	21.00%
Delinquency	8.80%	8.90%
Pay Option Adjustable Rate [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 25,541,425	$ 32,209,538
Pay Option Adjustable Rate [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	2.20%	2.20%
Constant default rate	1.10%	0.50%
Loss severity	0.10%	0.00%
Delinquency	5.40%	5.30%
Pay Option Adjustable Rate [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	7.10%	13.50%
Constant default rate	15.30%	13.00%
Loss severity	74.00%	95.60%
Delinquency	20.10%	21.90%
Pay Option Adjustable Rate [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	4.10%	7.50%
Constant default rate	3.70%	3.50%
Loss severity	34.70%	40.00%
Delinquency	13.10%	12.30%
Prime [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 28,928,776	$ 32,482,521
Prime [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	4.20%	3.60%
Constant default rate	0.80%	0.50%
Loss severity	0.00%	0.00%
Delinquency	3.70%	4.40%
Prime [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	23.60%	21.00%
Constant default rate	8.90%	9.40%
Loss severity	87.80%	85.10%
Delinquency	25.40%	25.50%
Prime [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	7.90%	8.00%
Constant default rate	3.50%	3.70%
Loss severity	27.50%	28.90%
Delinquency	11.90%	12.00%
Subprime [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 6,547,125	$ 8,649,047
Subprime [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	1.30%	1.20%
Constant default rate	4.30%	3.00%
Loss severity	10.90%	11.10%
Delinquency	19.60%	18.30%
Subprime [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	4.40%	7.70%
Constant default rate	6.00%	8.00%
Loss severity	85.00%	128.50%
Delinquency	27.80%	28.00%
Subprime [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	3.10%	3.90%
Constant default rate	5.30%	6.20%
Loss severity	49.10%	54.00%
Delinquency	23.10%	22.20%
Non-Agency RMBS [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 87,120,006	$ 109,339,281
Other Investment Securities [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 12,878,022	$ 12,804,196
Other Investment Securities [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	4.10%	4.00%
Other Investment Securities [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	23.60%	18.40%
Other Investment Securities [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	7.60%	6.90%
Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 44,852,686	$ 48,209,016
Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	10.30%	8.50%
Cost of servicing	$ 77	$ 77
Discount rate	9.00%	9.00%
Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	12.20%	10.50%
Cost of servicing	$ 109	$ 110
Discount rate	10.00%	10.00%
Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Constant voluntary prepayment	11.30%	9.30%
Cost of servicing	$ 91	$ 92
Discount rate	9.40%	9.40%
Contingent Consideration [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 11,483,100	$ 11,285,100
Contingent Consideration [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Discount rate	10.20%	10.20%
Production volatility		0.00%
Profitability volatility		0.00%
Contingent Consideration [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Discount rate	10.80%	10.80%
Production volatility	0.00%	0.00%
Profitability volatility	0.00%	0.00%
Contingent Consideration [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Discount rate	10.50%	10.50%
Production volatility	20.00%	20.00%
Profitability volatility	50.00%	50.00%

Fair Value (Details 3)

Fair Value (Details 3) - Interest Rate Lock Commitments [Member]	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Minimum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Pull-through rate	56.40%	62.40%
Servicing fee multiple	0.10%	0.80%
Percentage of unpaid principal balance	0.10%	0.30%
Maximum [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Pull-through rate	100.00%	100.00%
Servicing fee multiple	6.10%	5.90%
Percentage of unpaid principal balance	1.50%	1.70%
Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Pull-through rate	87.60%	87.60%
Servicing fee multiple	4.20%	4.30%
Percentage of unpaid principal balance	1.10%	1.10%

Fair Value (Details 4)

Fair Value (Details 4) - USD ($)		Mar. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Mortgage Loans Held for Investment [Member]
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Fair Value	[1]	$ 32,114,043		$ 397,678,140
Unpaid Principal and/or Notional Balance	[1],[2]	31,304,573		444,500,063
Difference	[1]	809,470		(46,821,923)
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale [Member]
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Fair Value		110,859,815		115,942,230
Unpaid Principal and/or Notional Balance	[2]	105,739,051		111,393,424
Difference		5,120,764		4,548,806
Non-Agency RMBS [Member]
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Fair Value	[2]	87,120,006		109,339,281
Unpaid Principal and/or Notional Balance	[2]	143,682,422		168,925,162
Difference	[2]	(56,562,416)		(59,585,881)
Other Investment Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Fair Value		12,878,022		12,804,196
Unpaid Principal and/or Notional Balance	[2]	13,395,816		13,398,851
Difference		(517,794)		(594,655)
MSRs [Member]
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Fair Value		44,852,686		48,209,016
Unpaid Principal and/or Notional Balance	[2]	4,429,521,268		4,173,927,393
Difference	[3]	0		0
Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment [Member]
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Fair Value		368,956,195		0
Unpaid Principal and/or Notional Balance		411,002,700	[2]	0	[4]
Difference		$ (42,046,505)		$ 0
[1]	At December 31, 2015, the balance is comprised of loans that are (i) distressed and re-performing at the time of purchase and (ii) newly originated at the time of purchase.
[2]	Non-Agency RMBS includes an IO with a notional balance of $33.7 million and $35.0 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.
[3]	Amounts not presented. Unpaid principal balance of MSRs is generally significantly greater than their fair value.
[4]	Non-Agency RMBS includes an IO with a notional balance of $33.7 million and $35.0 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

Fair Value (Details 5)

Fair Value (Details 5) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets
Restricted cash	$ 4,160,074	$ 4,371,725
Mortgage loans held for investment, at cost	1,879,254	1,886,642
Liabilities
Loan repurchase facilities	297,392,137	296,789,330
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	66,604,813	20,793,716
Restricted cash	4,160,074	4,371,725
Mortgage loans held for investment, at cost	1,879,254	1,886,642
Liabilities
Treasury security repurchase facility	39,574,000	0
Securities repurchase agreements	60,800,779	73,300,159
Exchangeable Senior Notes	57,098,650	56,775,500
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Secured Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Loan repurchase facilities	297,392,137	296,789,330
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Warehouse Agreement Borrowings [Member]
Liabilities
Loan repurchase facilities	101,478,055	100,768,428
Reported Value Measurement [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	66,604,813	20,793,716
Restricted cash	4,160,074	4,371,725
Mortgage loans held for investment, at cost	1,879,254	1,886,642
Liabilities
Treasury security repurchase facility	39,574,000	0
Securities repurchase agreements	60,800,779	73,300,159
Exchangeable Senior Notes	56,784,242	56,509,046
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Secured Debt [Member]
Liabilities
Loan repurchase facilities	297,392,137	296,789,330
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Warehouse Agreement Borrowings [Member]
Liabilities
Loan repurchase facilities	$ 101,478,055	$ 100,768,428

Fair Value (Details Textual)

Fair Value (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Mortgage Loans On Held for Investment [Line Items]
Notional Balance Of IO	$ 33.7	$ 35

Mortgage Loans Held for Inves69

Mortgage Loans Held for Investment, at Fair Value and Held for Sale Previously Held for Investment, at Fair Value (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Newly Originated Mortgage Loans [Member]
Mortgage Loans On Held for Investment [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 31,304,573		$ 20,742,516
Premium (Discount)		499,033		360,735
Amortized Cost		31,803,606		21,103,251
Gross Unrealized
Gains		321,257	[1]	58,069
Losses	[2]	(10,823)		(117,766)
Fair Value		$ 32,114,040		$ 21,043,554
Weighted Average Coupon		4.84%		4.95%
Weighted Average Yield		4.69%		4.79%
Newly Originated Mortgage Loans [Member] | Fixed [Member]
Mortgage Loans On Held for Investment [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 25,079,640		$ 17,674,257
Premium (Discount)		412,382		315,860
Amortized Cost		25,492,022		17,990,117
Gross Unrealized
Gains		292,794	[1]	58,069
Losses	[2]	(10,823)		(99,486)
Fair Value		$ 25,773,993		$ 17,948,700
Weighted Average Coupon		4.93%		5.05%
Weighted Average Yield		4.78%		4.89%
Newly Originated Mortgage Loans [Member] | ARM [Member
Mortgage Loans On Held for Investment [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 6,224,933		$ 3,068,259
Premium (Discount)		86,651		44,875
Amortized Cost		6,311,584		3,113,134
Gross Unrealized
Gains		28,463	[1]	0
Losses	[2]	0		(18,280)
Fair Value		$ 6,340,047		$ 3,094,854
Weighted Average Coupon		4.46%		4.37%
Weighted Average Yield		4.33%		4.25%
Distressed And Reperforming Loans [Member]
Mortgage Loans On Held for Investment [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 411,002,700		$ 423,757,547
Premium (Discount)		(64,835,170)		(67,763,786)
Amortized Cost		346,167,530		355,993,761
Gross Unrealized
Gains	[2]	33,048,666		30,535,533
Losses	[3]	(10,260,001)		(9,894,707)
Fair Value	[3]	368,956,195		376,634,587
Difference Between Fair Value and Aggregate Unpaid Principal Balance		$ (42,046,505)		$ (47,122,960)
Weighted Average Coupon		4.39%		4.34%
Weighted Average Yield		7.50%		7.45%
Distressed And Reperforming Loans [Member] | Performing Loans [Member]
Mortgage Loans On Held for Investment [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 372,616,080		$ 383,656,772
Premium (Discount)		(57,818,023)		(60,248,656)
Amortized Cost		314,798,057		323,408,116
Gross Unrealized
Gains	[2]	32,100,354		29,544,559
Losses	[3]	(6,030,315)		(5,648,747)
Fair Value	[3]	340,868,096		347,303,928
Difference Between Fair Value and Aggregate Unpaid Principal Balance		$ (31,747,984)		$ (36,352,844)
Weighted Average Coupon		4.36%		4.30%
Weighted Average Yield		7.47%		7.41%
Distressed And Reperforming Loans [Member] | Nonperforming Loans [Member]
Mortgage Loans On Held for Investment [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	[3]	$ 38,386,620		$ 40,100,775
Premium (Discount)	[3]	(7,017,147)		(7,515,130)
Amortized Cost	[3]	31,369,473		32,585,645
Gross Unrealized
Gains	[2],[3]	948,312		990,974
Losses	[2],[3]	(4,229,686)		(4,245,960)
Fair Value	[2],[3]	28,088,099		29,330,659
Difference Between Fair Value and Aggregate Unpaid Principal Balance	[3]	$ (10,298,521)		$ (10,770,116)
Weighted Average Coupon	[3]	4.72%		4.65%
Weighted Average Yield	[3]	7.84%		7.78%
Distressed And Reperforming Loans [Member] | Fixed [Member]
Mortgage Loans On Held for Investment [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 236,675,463		$ 240,031,119
Premium (Discount)		(43,298,017)		(44,650,666)
Amortized Cost		193,377,446		195,380,453
Gross Unrealized
Gains	[2]	27,002,346		23,626,555
Losses	[3]	(2,374,288)		(2,521,921)
Fair Value	[3]	218,005,504		216,485,087
Difference Between Fair Value and Aggregate Unpaid Principal Balance		$ (18,669,959)		$ (23,546,032)
Weighted Average Coupon		4.74%		4.70%
Weighted Average Yield		7.65%		7.59%
Distressed And Reperforming Loans [Member] | ARM [Member
Mortgage Loans On Held for Investment [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 135,940,617		$ 143,625,653
Premium (Discount)		(14,520,006)		(15,597,990)
Amortized Cost		121,420,611		128,027,663
Gross Unrealized
Gains	[2]	5,098,008		5,918,004
Losses	[3]	(3,656,027)		(3,126,826)
Fair Value	[3]	122,862,592		130,818,841
Difference Between Fair Value and Aggregate Unpaid Principal Balance		$ (13,078,025)		$ (12,806,812)
Weighted Average Coupon		3.69%		3.63%
Weighted Average Yield		7.17%		7.15%
[1]	The Company has elected the fair value option pursuant to ASC 825 for real estate securities. The Company recorded the changes in unrealized gain or loss in the consolidated statements of operations.
[2]	The Company has elected the fair value option pursuant to ASC 825 for these mortgage loans held for investment. The Company recorded the following as change in unrealized gain or loss on mortgage loans held for investment in the consolidated statements of operations:
[3]	Loans that are delinquent for 60 days or more are considered non-performing.

Mortgage Loans Held for Inves70

Mortgage Loans Held for Investment, at Fair Value and Held for Sale Previously Held for Investment, at Fair Value (Parenthetical) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Loans Delinquent Considered Nonperforming	60days or more
Distressed And Reperforming Loans [Member]
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments, Total	$ 2,147,861	$ (1,086,535)
Newly Originated Mortgage Loans [Member]
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments, Total	$ 370,132	$ (5,885)

Mortgage Loans Held for Inves71

Mortgage Loans Held for Investment, at Fair Value and Held for Sale Previously Held for Investment, at Fair Value (Details 1) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Change in accretable yield:
Accretable yield, beginning of period	$ 247,751,944	$ 267,509,905
Acquisitions	0	0
Accretion	(6,207,756)	(6,605,967)
Reclassifications from nonaccretable difference	(4,282,052)	(1,686,736)
Accretable yield, end of period	$ 237,262,136	$ 259,217,202

Mortgage Loans Held for Inves72

Mortgage Loans Held for Investment, at Fair Value and Held for Sale Previously Held for Investment, at Fair Value (Details 2) - Distressed And Reperforming Loans [Member] - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Acquisition of Mortgage Loans Held for Investment [Line Items]
Aggregate Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 11,382,962	$ 1,447,319
Loan Repurchase Facility [Member]
Acquisition of Mortgage Loans Held for Investment [Line Items]
Loan Repurchase Facilities Used	$ 10,169,242	$ 1,302,587

Mortgage Loans Held for Inves73

Mortgage Loans Held for Investment, at Fair Value and Held for Sale Previously Held for Investment, at Fair Value (Details 3)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Percentage of fair value of mortgage loans with unpaid principal balance to current property value in excess of 100% [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	37.80%	44.10%
Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | California [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	26.10%	26.20%
Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | Florida [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	15.60%	16.10%
Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | Georgia [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	6.10%	6.10%
Loans With unpaid principal balance of mortgage loans carrying mortgage insurance [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	8.00%	8.20%

Mortgage Loans Held for Inves74

Mortgage Loans Held for Investment, at Fair Value and Held for Sale Previously Held for Investment, at Fair Value (Details 4)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Minimum Interest Rate in Range	2.00%	1.75%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Maximum Interest Rate in Range	12.20%	12.20%
Minimum [Member]
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Maturity Term	1 year	1 year
Maximum [Member]
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Maturity Term	45 years	45 years

Mortgage Loans Held for Inves75

Mortgage Loans Held for Investment, at Fair Value and Held for Sale Previously Held for Investment, at Fair Value (Details 5) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Net realizable value (included in other assets in the Company's consolidated balance sheets)	$ 2,356,589	$ 1,784,670
Carrying amount of mortgage loans held for investment, at fair value secured by residential real estate properties for which formal foreclosure proceedings are in process according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction	$ 11,254,632	$ 5,597,611

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale,76

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, at Fair Value (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Balance at beginning of period	$ 115,942,230	$ 97,690,960
Originations and repurchases	435,225,414	451,669,250
Proceeds from sales and principal payments	(456,891,268)	(431,251,708)
Gain on sale	16,583,439	7,920,341
Balance at end of period	$ 110,859,815	$ 126,028,843

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale,77

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, at Fair Value (Details 1) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 105,739,051	$ 111,393,424
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, Fair Value	110,859,815	115,942,230	$ 126,028,843	$ 97,690,960
Conventional Mortgage Loan [Member]
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, Unpaid Principal Balance	67,791,764	54,962,904
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, Fair Value	70,195,369	56,586,717
Governmental Mortgages [Member]
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, Unpaid Principal Balance	20,203,875	30,531,301
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, Fair Value	21,776,355	32,131,354
United States Department of Agriculture Loans [Member]
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, Unpaid Principal Balance	10,445,984	16,222,152
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, Fair Value	11,054,233	17,059,982
United States Department of Veteran Affairs Loans [Member]
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, Unpaid Principal Balance	6,809,762	8,922,978
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, Fair Value	7,284,408	9,314,255
Reverse Mortgages [Member]
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, Unpaid Principal Balance	487,666	754,089
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale, Fair Value	$ 549,450	$ 849,922

Real Estate Securities and Ot78

Real Estate Securities and Other Investment Securities, at Fair Value (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Alternative Mortgage Backed Securities Issued By Private Enterprises [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Owned, Principal or Notional Balance		$ 64,387,620	$ 76,328,172
Investment Owned, Premium (Discount)		(37,379,264)	(40,150,416)
Investment Owned, Amortized Cost		27,008,356	36,177,756
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments [Abstract]
Investment Owned, Gross Unrealized Gains	[1]	618,969	846,318
Investment Owned, Gross Unrealized Losses	[1]	(1,524,645)	(1,025,899)
Investment Owned, at Fair Value		$ 26,102,680	$ 35,998,175
Investment Owned, Weighted Average Coupon		1.82%	2.01%
Investment Owned, Weighted Average Unleveraged Yield		5.19%	6.18%
Pay Option Adjustable Rate [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Owned, Principal or Notional Balance		$ 35,131,326	$ 42,562,819
Investment Owned, Premium (Discount)		(6,102,461)	(7,480,996)
Investment Owned, Amortized Cost		29,028,865	35,081,823
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments [Abstract]
Investment Owned, Gross Unrealized Gains	[1]	0	6,863
Investment Owned, Gross Unrealized Losses	[1]	(3,487,440)	(2,879,148)
Investment Owned, at Fair Value		$ 25,541,425	$ 32,209,538
Investment Owned, Weighted Average Coupon		1.16%	1.10%
Investment Owned, Weighted Average Unleveraged Yield		4.19%	5.31%
Prime [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Owned, Principal or Notional Balance		$ 33,604,620	$ 37,366,079
Investment Owned, Premium (Discount)		(4,257,529)	(4,732,637)
Investment Owned, Amortized Cost		29,347,091	32,633,442
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments [Abstract]
Investment Owned, Gross Unrealized Gains	[1]	448,354	563,311
Investment Owned, Gross Unrealized Losses	[1]	(866,669)	(714,232)
Investment Owned, at Fair Value		$ 28,928,776	$ 32,482,521
Investment Owned, Weighted Average Coupon		3.68%	3.62%
Investment Owned, Weighted Average Unleveraged Yield		5.29%	5.95%
Subprime [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Owned, Principal or Notional Balance		$ 10,558,856	$ 12,668,092
Investment Owned, Premium (Discount)		(3,847,482)	(4,039,253)
Investment Owned, Amortized Cost		6,711,374	8,628,839
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments [Abstract]
Investment Owned, Gross Unrealized Gains	[1]	20,269	111,651
Investment Owned, Gross Unrealized Losses	[1]	(184,518)	(91,443)
Investment Owned, at Fair Value		$ 6,547,125	$ 8,649,047
Investment Owned, Weighted Average Coupon		0.59%	0.93%
Investment Owned, Weighted Average Unleveraged Yield		6.81%	6.63%
Total non-Agency RMBS [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Owned, Principal or Notional Balance		$ 143,682,422	$ 168,925,162
Investment Owned, Premium (Discount)		(51,586,736)	(56,403,302)
Investment Owned, Amortized Cost		92,095,686	112,521,860
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments [Abstract]
Investment Owned, Gross Unrealized Gains	[1]	1,087,592	1,528,143
Investment Owned, Gross Unrealized Losses	[1]	(6,063,272)	(4,710,722)
Investment Owned, at Fair Value		$ 87,120,006	$ 109,339,281
Investment Owned, Weighted Average Coupon		2.01%	2.05%
Investment Owned, Weighted Average Unleveraged Yield		5.03%	5.87%
Other Investment Securities [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Owned, Principal or Notional Balance	[2]	$ 13,395,816	$ 13,398,851
Investment Owned, Premium (Discount)	[2]	17,975	(34,264)
Investment Owned, Amortized Cost	[2]	13,413,791	13,364,587
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments [Abstract]
Investment Owned, Gross Unrealized Gains	[1],[2]	77,463	897
Investment Owned, Gross Unrealized Losses	[1],[2]	(613,232)	(561,288)
Investment Owned, at Fair Value	[2]	$ 12,878,022	$ 12,804,196
Investment Owned, Weighted Average Coupon	[2]	4.96%	4.94%
Investment Owned, Weighted Average Unleveraged Yield	[2]	6.03%	6.65%
[1]	The Company has elected the fair value option pursuant to ASC 825 for real estate securities. The Company recorded the changes in unrealized gain or loss in the consolidated statements of operations.
[2]	See Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, “Other Investment Securities".

Real Estate Securities and Ot79

Real Estate Securities and Other Investment Securities, at Fair Value (Details 1) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Notional balance of IO included in Alternative A	$ 33,700,000	$ 35,000,000
Other Debt Obligations [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Contractual Maturities Of Securities	12 years 1 month 6 days	12 years 3 months 18 days
Notional balance of IO included in Alternative A	$ 0	$ 0
Other Debt Obligations [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Contractual Maturities Of Securities	9 years 9 months 18 days	10 years 1 month 6 days
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Notional balance of IO included in Alternative A	$ 33,668,901	$ 35,042,860
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Contractual Maturities Of Securities	31 years	31 years 3 months 18 days
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Contractual Maturities Of Securities	19 years 1 month 6 days	19 years 3 months 18 days
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Contractual Maturities Of Securities	24 years 8 months 12 days	21 years 3 months 18 days

Mortgage Servicing Rights, at80

Mortgage Servicing Rights, at Fair Value (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period		$ 48,209,016	$ 33,378,978
Additions due to loans sold, servicing retained		4,697,976	3,409,899
Change in fair value of MSRs
Changes in values of market related inputs or assumptions used in a valuation model	[1],[2]	(6,609,585)	(2,710,478)
Other changes	[1],[3]	(1,444,721)	(714,436)
Total - change in fair value of MSRs		(8,054,306)	(3,424,914)
Balance at end of period		$ 44,852,686	$ 33,363,963
[1]	Included in change in fair value of MSRs in the Company's consolidated statements of operations.
[2]	Primarily reflects changes in values of prepayment assumptions due to changes in interest rates.
[3]	Represents change in value primarily due to passage of time, including the impact from both regularly scheduled loan principal payments and loans that were paid off or paid down during the period.

Mortgage Servicing Rights, at81

Mortgage Servicing Rights, at Fair Value (Details 1) - USD ($)		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value		$ 44,852,686	$ 48,209,016	$ 33,363,963	$ 33,378,978
MSRs [Member]
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	[1]	4,429,521,268	4,173,927,393
Fair Value		44,852,686	48,209,016
Fannie Mae [Member] | MSRs [Member]
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		1,943,871,922	1,880,177,827
Fair Value		18,994,424	20,751,648
Ginnie Mae [Member] | MSRs [Member]
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		1,561,234,153	1,488,159,758
Fair Value		16,871,814	18,231,527
Freddie Mac [Member] | MSRs [Member]
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		924,415,193	805,589,808
Fair Value		$ 8,986,448	$ 9,225,841
[1]	Non-Agency RMBS includes an IO with a notional balance of $33.7 million and $35.0 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

Mortgage Servicing Rights, at82

Mortgage Servicing Rights, at Fair Value (Details 2) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Amount		$ (44,852,686)	$ (48,209,016)	$ (33,363,963)	$ (33,378,978)
Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member] | Effect of Discount Rate At Five Percent [Member]
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Amount		(816,293)	(958,786)
Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member] | Effect of Prepayment Rate At Five Percent [Member]
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Amount		(1,014,616)	(938,584)
Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member] | Effect Of Cost of Servicing At Five Percent [Member]
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Amount		(520,707)	(547,228)
Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member] | Effect of Discount Rate At Ten Percent [Member]
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Amount		(1,604,489)	(1,881,870)
Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member] | Effect of Discount Rate At Twenty Percent [Member]
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Amount		(3,101,957)	(3,628,281)
Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member] | Effect of Prepayment Rate At Ten Percent [Member]
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Amount		(1,944,772)	(1,756,195)
Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member] | Effect of Prepayment Rate At Twenty Percent [Member]
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Amount		(3,758,628)	(3,428,890)
Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member] | Effect Of Cost of Servicing At Ten Percent [Member]
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Amount		(1,041,414)	(1,094,455)
Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member] | Effect Of Cost of Servicing At Twenty Percent [Member]
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Amount		$ (2,082,827)	$ (2,188,910)
Minimum [Member] | Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member]
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate		6.60%	6.60%
Fair Value Inputs, Prepayment Rate	[1]	8.20%	7.00%
Per-loan annual to Cost of Servicing		$ 63	$ 64
Maximum [Member] | Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member]
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate		12.20%	12.20%
Fair Value Inputs, Prepayment Rate	[1]	14.60%	12.00%
Per-loan annual to Cost of Servicing		$ 118	$ 119
Weighted Average [Member] | Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member]
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate		9.40%	9.40%
Fair Value Inputs, Prepayment Rate	[1]	11.30%	9.30%
Per-loan annual to Cost of Servicing		$ 91	$ 92
[1]	Prepayment speed is measured using CPR.

Mortgage Servicing Rights, at83

Mortgage Servicing Rights, at Fair Value (Details 3) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Mortgage Servicing Rights [Member]
The amount of total losses for the three months ended included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at the reporting date	$ (6,609,585)	$ (2,710,478)

Mortgage Servicing Rights, at84

Mortgage Servicing Rights, at Fair Value (Details 4) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Servicing Assets at Fair Value [Line Items]
Loan servicing fee income	$ 3,166,264	$ 2,384,402
Late fee income	86	35
Sub-servicing costs	(1,112,554)	(747,338)
Loan servicing fee income, net of direct costs	$ 2,053,796	$ 1,637,099

Warehouse Lines of Credit (Deta

Warehouse Lines of Credit (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Maturity dates	June 2016 – November 2016	June 2016 – November 2016
Warehouse Agreement Borrowings [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Availability	$ 185,000,000	$ 185,000,000

Treasury Securities Repurchas86

Treasury Securities Repurchase Agreement (Details Textual) - US Treasury Securities [Member]	1 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2016USD ($)
Treasury Securities Non-interest Bearing, Maturity Date	Jun. 30, 2016
Repurchase Agreement Counterparty, Maturity Date of Agreements	Apr. 29, 2016
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Carrying Amount	$ 40,000,000
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Interest Rate	0.58%
Purchase Price of Assets Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase	$ 39,973,422

Loan Repurchase Facilities (Det

Loan Repurchase Facilities (Details) - Loan Repurchase Facility [Member] - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Citibank, N.A [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Total facility size	$ 325,000,000	$ 325,000,000
Amount committed	$ 150,000,000	$ 150,000,000
Maturity date	May 20, 2016	May 20, 2016
Outstanding balance	$ 272,199,827	$ 279,467,573
Credit Suisse [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Total facility size	100,000,000	100,000,000
Amount committed	$ 25,000,000	$ 25,000,000
Maturity date	Jun. 27, 2016	Jun. 27, 2016
Outstanding balance	$ 25,192,310	$ 17,321,757

Loan Repurchase Facilities (D88

Loan Repurchase Facilities (Details 1) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Line Items]
Fair value of Trust Certificates pledged as collateral	$ 32,114,039	$ 394,942,512
Cash pledged as collateral	20,886	375,579
Loan Repurchase Facility [Member]
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Line Items]
Fair value of Trust Certificates pledged as collateral	$ 400,185,981	$ 394,942,512

Securities Repurchase Agreeme89

Securities Repurchase Agreements (Details) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Line Items]
Fair value of non-Agency RMBS pledged as collateral	$ 87,120,006	$ 109,339,281
Fair value of Other Investment Securities pledged as collateral	78,795,777	95,627,850
Cash pledged as collateral	20,886	375,579
Repurchase Agreements [Member]
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Line Items]
Cash pledged as collateral	1,989,775	2,029,581
Non-Agency RMBS [Member]
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Line Items]
Fair value of non-Agency RMBS pledged as collateral	78,795,777	95,627,850
Other Investment Securities [Member]
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase [Line Items]
Fair value of Other Investment Securities pledged as collateral	$ 2,033,403	$ 1,989,174

8.0% Exchangeable Senior Note90

8.0% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2016 (Details) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Nov. 25, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of conversion option derivative liability	$ 3,735,023	$ 1,831,967
Exchangeable Senior Notes Conversion Option [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of conversion option derivative liability	547,457	612,878	$ 1,300,000
Unamortized discount	$ 715,758	$ 990,954

8.0% Exchangeable Senior Note91

8.0% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2016 (Details Textual)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Dec. 27, 2013	Nov. 25, 2013USD ($)$ / shares	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)$ / shares	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015$ / shares	Dec. 19, 2013$ / shares
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Dividend declared, amount per share | $ / shares			$ 0.40		$ 0.40
Derivative Liability			$ 3,735,023	$ 1,831,967
8.0% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 1,000
Debt Instrument Repurchase Price, Percentage on Principal Amount		100.00%
Exchangeable Senior Notes Conversion Option [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 57,500,000
Proceeds from sale of debt		55,300,000
Aggregate estimated offering expenses		$ 2,200,000
Effective annual rate			10.20%
Percentage of shares outstanding issuable upon exchange			20.00%
Number of shares issuable upon exchange			1,779,560
Conversion ratio	54.3103	52.5417
Exchange price | $ / shares		$ 19.03
Dividend threshold requiring adjustment to exchange rate | $ / shares		$ 0.50
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			8.00%
Purchase Discount Amount		$ 1,700,000
Derivative Liability		$ 1,300,000	$ 547,457	$ 612,878
Exchangeable Senior Notes Conversion Option [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Conversion ratio		60.4229
Special Cash Dividend [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Dividend declared, amount per share | $ / shares						$ 0.55

Derivative Instruments (Details

Derivative Instruments (Details) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	$ 17,200,000	$ 17,200,000
Loan Purchase Commitments [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	19,955,150	18,494,332
Interest Rate Lock Commitments [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	243,381,890	190,933,017
MBS Forward Sales Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	$ 242,701,243	$ 179,417,280

Derivative Instruments (Detai93

Derivative Instruments (Details 1) - Non-hedge [Member] - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value	$ (1,641,200)	$ (1,009,014)
Loan Purchase Commitments [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value	22,592	(9,871)
Interest Rate Lock Commitments [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value	4,017,540	2,376,187
MBS forward sales contracts
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value	(1,546,366)	(200,204)
Exchangeable Senior Notes Conversion Option [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value	$ (547,457)	$ (612,878)

Derivative Instruments (Detai94

Derivative Instruments (Details 2) - Non-hedge derivatives [Member] - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Investment portfolio [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Loss on derivative instruments	$ (774,152)	$ (451,439)
Loan Purchase Commitments [Member] | Investment portfolio [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Loss on derivative instruments	32,463	23,822
Interest Rate Lock Commitments [Member] | Mortgage banking activities [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Loss on derivative instruments	1,641,353	1,936,514
MBS Forward Sales Contracts [Member] | Mortgage banking activities [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Loss on derivative instruments	(1,346,162)	(638,711)
Exchangeable Senior Notes Conversion Option [Member] | Investment portfolio [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Loss on derivative instruments	$ 65,421	$ (479,473)

Derivative Instruments (Detai95

Derivative Instruments (Details 3) - Swap [Member] - USD ($)		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount		$ 17,200,000	$ 17,200,000
Derivative - Maturity Date Five [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maturity		2,023	2,023
Notional Amount		$ 17,200,000	$ 17,200,000
Weighted Average Pay Rate		2.72%	2.72%
Weighted Average Receive Rate		0.39%	0.33%
Weighted Average Years to Maturity		7 years 3 months 18 days	7 years 7 months 6 days
Cash Pledged as Collateral	[1]	$ 2,149,413	$ 1,966,565
[1]	At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 all collateral provided under the interest rate swap agreements consisted of cash collateral which is included in restricted cash in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

Mortgage Banking Activities (De

Mortgage Banking Activities (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Gain on sale of mortgage loans held for sale, net of direct costs	[1]	$ 11,533,909	$ 10,956,258
Loan expenses, including provision for loan indemnification		(197,220)	(192,866)
Loan origination fee income		316,225	388,997
Total		$ 11,652,914	$ 11,152,389
[1]	Includes the change in fair value related to IRLCs and MBS forward sales contracts held during the period.

Loan Indemnification Reserve (D

Loan Indemnification Reserve (Details) - Indemnification Reserve [Member] - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Balance at the beginning of period	$ 3,201,000	$ 2,662,162
Loan indemnification losses incurred	0	(42,356)
Provision for loan indemnification losses	173,373	180,163
Balance at end of period	$ 3,374,373	$ 2,799,969

Income Taxes (Details)

Income Taxes (Details)		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent [Abstract]
Tax expense/(benefit) at statutory rate		(34.00%)	35.00%
State and local taxes, net of Federal Benefit		(4.09%)	(10.97%)
Impact of REIT election	[1]	6.26%	(109.68%)
Change in valuation allowance	[2]	(0.74%)	31.82%
Other non-deductible/non-taxable items	[3]	0.37%	0.27%
Effective Tax Rate		(32.20%)	(53.56%)
[1]	For all tax years, the Company’s effective tax rate differs from its statutory tax rate due to the deduction for dividend distributions required to be paid under Code section 857(a).
[2]	For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015, the change in valuation allowance relates to the change in reserve related to net operating losses and other future deductible items for ZFC Trust TRS, LLC and ZFC Funding, Inc.
[3]	For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015, the amount primarily relates to non-deductible meals and entertainment expenses.

Income Taxes (Details Textual)

Income Taxes (Details Textual) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	$ (1,603,235)	$ (145,529)
ZFC Honeybee TRS, LLC [Member]
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Total	$ 1,961,243

Earnings Per Share (Details)

Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Numerator:
Net (loss)/ income attributable to ZAIS Financial Corp. common stockholders (Basic)	$ (3,038,748)	$ 373,780
Effect of dilutive securities:
Net (loss)/ income allocated to non-controlling interests relating to OP Units exchangeable for shares of common stock of the Company	(337,446)	43,466
Exchangeable Senior Notes:
Interest expense	0	0
Gain on conversion option derivative liability	0	0
Total - Exchangeable Senior Notes	0	0
Net (loss)/ income available to stockholders, after effect of dilutive securities	$ (3,376,194)	$ 417,246
Denominator:
Weighted average number of shares of common stock	7,970,886	7,970,886
Effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average number of OP Units	926,914	926,914
Weighted average number of shares convertible under Exchangeable Senior Notes	0	0
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	8,897,800	8,897,800
Net (loss) income per share applicable to ZAIS Financial Corp. common stockholders - Basic	$ (0.38)	$ 0.05
Net (loss) income per share applicable to ZAIS Financial Corp. common stockholders - Diluted	$ (0.38)	$ 0.05

Earnings Per Share (Details Tex

Earnings Per Share (Details Textual) - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	8,897,800	8,897,800
New York Stock Exchange [Member]
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	1,779,560

Related Party Transactions (Det

Related Party Transactions (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Advisory fee - related party	$ 767,478	$ 710,800
ZAIS REIT Management, LLC | Advisory Fee [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Advisory fee - related party	710,563	702,755
ZAIS REIT Management, LLC | Loan Sourcing Fee [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Advisory fee - related party	$ 56,915	$ 8,045

Related Party Transactions (103

Related Party Transactions (Details 1) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expense Reimbursements	$ 875,720		$ 867,415
Operating Expense [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expense Reimbursements	$ 283,688	$ 101,439

Related Party Transactions (104

Related Party Transactions (Details 2) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Expense Reimbursements	$ 875,720	$ 867,415

Related Party Transactions (105

Related Party Transactions (Details 3) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
GMFS, LLC [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Income Statement, Sublease Revenue	$ 5,400	$ 4,800

Related Party Transactions (106

Related Party Transactions (Details Textual) - ZAIS REIT Management, LLC	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Aug. 11, 2014
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loan origination Rate		0.50%
Advisory Fee [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction Advisory Fee Rate	1.50%

Dividends and Distributions (De

Dividends and Distributions (Details) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Declaration Date	Mar. 17, 2016	Mar. 19, 2015
Record Date	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Payment Date	Apr. 15, 2016	Apr. 15, 2015
Amount per Share and OP Unit	$ 0.40	$ 0.40

Commitments and Contingencie108

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Total commitments to originate loans	$ 265,054,976	$ 216,072,457

Commitments and Contingencie109

Commitments and Contingencies (Details 1) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
GMFS rent expense	$ 237,391	$ 182,987

Commitments and Contingencie110

Commitments and Contingencies (Details 2)	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
April 1, 2016 - December 31, 2016	$ 720,626
2,017	812,919
2,018	680,366
2,019	128,358
2,020	0
Thereafter	$ 0

Commitments and Contingencie111

Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual)	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
Fair Value, Off-balance Sheet Risks, Disclosure Information [Line Items]
Escrow Deposit	$ 4,005,732

Counterparty Risk and Concen112

Counterparty Risk and Concentration (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Uninsured Deposits	The Company's deposits with financial institutions may exceed federally insurable limits of $250,000 per institution

Offsetting Assets and Liabil113

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Offsetting Liabilities [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	$ 500,886,171	$ 471,866,931
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	0	0
Net Amounts of Liabiliies Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	500,886,171	471,866,931
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
Financial Instruments	(497,234,310)	(468,452,757)
Cash Collateral Pledged	(3,651,861)	(3,414,174)
Net Amount	0	0
Warehouse Lines of Credit [Member]
Offsetting Liabilities [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	101,478,055	100,768,428
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	0	0
Net Amounts of Liabiliies Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	101,478,055	100,768,428
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
Financial Instruments	(101,478,055)	(100,768,428)
Cash Collateral Pledged	0	0
Net Amount	0	0
Treasury repurchase agreements [Member]
Offsetting Liabilities [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	39,574,000
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	0
Net Amounts of Liabiliies Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	39,574,000
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
Financial Instruments	(39,574,000)
Cash Collateral Pledged	$ 0
Net Amount
Loan Repurchase Facilities [Member]
Offsetting Liabilities [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	$ 297,392,137	296,789,330
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	0	0
Net Amounts of Liabiliies Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	297,392,137	296,789,330
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
Financial Instruments	(297,371,251)	(296,413,751)
Cash Collateral Pledged	(20,886)	(375,579)
Net Amount	0	0
Securities repurchase agreements [Member]
Offsetting Liabilities [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	60,800,779	73,300,159
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	0	0
Net Amounts of Liabiliies Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	60,800,779	73,300,159
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
Financial Instruments	(58,811,004)	(71,270,578)
Cash Collateral Pledged	(1,989,775)	(2,029,581)
Net Amount	0	0
Interest rate swap agreements [Member]
Offsetting Liabilities [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	1,641,200	1,009,014
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	0	0
Net Amounts of Liabiliies Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	1,641,200	1,009,014
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
Financial Instruments	0	0
Cash Collateral Pledged	(1,641,200)	(1,009,014)
Net Amount	$ 0	$ 0

Segment Information (Details)

Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest income	$ 8,704,916	$ 9,687,397
Interest expense	4,797,277	4,745,477
Net interest income (expense)	3,907,639	4,941,920
Non-interest income	5,664,864	9,376,430
Change in unrealized gain or loss	688,689	(1,139,426)
Realized (Loss) gain	(186,034)	164,788
Loss on derivative instruments	(676,268)	(907,090)
Advisory fee - related party	767,478	710,800
Salaries, commissions and benefits	7,966,092	7,399,258
Operating expenses	3,040,884	2,919,648
Other Expenses:
Expenses	2,371,435	907,776
Depreciation and amortization	232,430	227,423
Total other expenses	2,603,865	1,135,199
Net income (loss) before income taxes	(4,979,429)	271,717
Income tax benefit	(1,603,235)	(145,529)
Segment net income (loss)	(3,376,194)	417,246
Residential Mortgage Investment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest income	7,930,953	9,079,165
Interest expense	2,781,246	2,755,445
Net interest income (expense)	5,149,707	6,323,720
Non-interest income	0	0
Change in unrealized gain or loss	682,748	(1,139,426)
Realized (Loss) gain	(186,034)	164,788
Loss on derivative instruments	(676,268)	(907,090)
Advisory fee - related party	324,939	328,966
Salaries, commissions and benefits	0	0
Operating expenses	358,332	47,395
Other Expenses:
Expenses	380,161	858,452
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Total other expenses	380,161	858,452
Net income (loss) before income taxes	3,906,721	3,207,179
Income tax benefit	0	0
Segment net income (loss)	3,906,721	3,207,179
Residential Mortgage Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest income	773,963	608,232
Interest expense	551,820	553,359
Net interest income (expense)	222,143	54,873
Non-interest income	5,664,864	9,376,430
Change in unrealized gain or loss	0	0
Realized (Loss) gain	0	0
Loss on derivative instruments	0	0
Advisory fee - related party	113,122	128,836
Salaries, commissions and benefits	7,966,092	7,399,258
Operating expenses	1,715,793	1,990,288
Other Expenses:
Expenses	0	49,324
Depreciation and amortization	232,430	227,423
Total other expenses	232,430	276,747
Net income (loss) before income taxes	(4,140,430)	(363,826)
Income tax benefit	(1,603,235)	(145,529)
Segment net income (loss)	(2,537,195)	(218,297)
Corporate/Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest income	0	0
Interest expense	1,464,211	1,436,673
Net interest income (expense)	(1,464,211)	(1,436,673)
Non-interest income	0	0
Change in unrealized gain or loss	5,941	0
Realized (Loss) gain	0	0
Loss on derivative instruments	0	0
Advisory fee - related party	329,417	252,998
Salaries, commissions and benefits	0	0
Operating expenses	966,759	881,965
Other Expenses:
Expenses	1,991,274	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Total other expenses	1,991,274	0
Net income (loss) before income taxes	(4,745,720)	(2,571,636)
Income tax benefit	0	0
Segment net income (loss)	$ (4,745,720)	$ (2,571,636)

Segment Information (Details 1)

Segment Information (Details 1) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Advisory fee - related party	$ 767,478	$ 710,800
Amortization of deferred premiums, production and profitability earn-outs included in salaries, commission and benefits	7,966,092	7,399,258
Operating expenses (including change in contingent consideration)	3,040,884	2,919,648
Income tax benefit	(1,603,235)	(145,529)
Net (loss) income	(3,376,194)	417,246
Residential Mortgage Banking Segment [Member]
Net (loss) income	(2,537,195)	(218,297)
Residential Mortgage Banking Segment [Member] | GMFS, LLC [Member]
Advisory fee - related party	113,122	128,836
Amortization of deferred premiums, production and profitability earn-outs included in salaries, commission and benefits	189,000	269,367
Operating expenses (including change in contingent consideration)	170,900	732,024
Other expenses	197,085	246,409
Income tax benefit	(1,603,235)	(145,529)
Net (loss) income	$ (3,470,323)	$ 1,012,810

Segment Information (Details 2)

Segment Information (Details 2) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 66,604,813	$ 20,793,716	$ 38,022,318	$ 33,791,013
Mortgage loans held for investment, at fair value	32,114,043	397,678,140
Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment, at fair value	368,956,195	0
Mortgage loans held for investment, at cost	1,879,254	1,886,642
Mortgage loans held for sale, at fair value	110,859,815	115,942,230	126,028,843	97,690,960
Real estate securities, at fair value	87,120,006	109,339,281
Other investment securities, at fair value	12,878,022	12,804,196
Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value	44,852,686	48,209,016	33,363,963	33,378,978
Goodwill	14,183,537	14,183,537	$ 16,127,070	$ 16,512,680
Intangible assets	4,683,185	4,880,270
Total assets	802,670,568	775,138,921
Corporate/Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	4,587	9,362
Mortgage loans held for investment, at fair value	0	0
Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment, at fair value	0
Mortgage loans held for investment, at cost	0	0
Mortgage loans held for sale, at fair value	0	0
Real estate securities, at fair value	0	0
Other investment securities, at fair value	0	0
Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Intangible assets	0	0
Total assets	1,396,945	291,372
Residential Mortgage Investment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	56,160,193	15,082,286
Mortgage loans held for investment, at fair value	32,114,043	397,678,140
Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment, at fair value	368,956,195
Mortgage loans held for investment, at cost	0	0
Mortgage loans held for sale, at fair value	0	0
Real estate securities, at fair value	87,120,006	109,339,281
Other investment securities, at fair value	12,878,022	12,804,196
Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Intangible assets	0	0
Total assets	568,284,662	542,396,756
Residential Mortgage Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	10,440,033	5,702,608
Mortgage loans held for investment, at fair value	0	0
Mortgage loans held for sale previously held for investment, at fair value	0
Mortgage loans held for investment, at cost	1,879,254	1,886,642
Mortgage loans held for sale, at fair value	110,859,815	115,942,230
Real estate securities, at fair value	0	0
Other investment securities, at fair value	0	0
Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value	44,852,686	48,209,016
Goodwill	14,183,537	14,183,537
Intangible assets	4,683,185	4,880,270
Total assets	$ 232,988,961	$ 232,450,793

Subsequent Events (Details Text

Subsequent Events (Details Textual) - USD ($)	May. 06, 2016	Apr. 28, 2016	Mar. 29, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Apr. 06, 2016
Citibank, Na [Member] | Secured Debt [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity				$ 325,000,000	$ 325,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date				May 20, 2016	May 20, 2016
Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Capital LLC [Member] | Secured Debt [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity				$ 100,000,000	$ 100,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date				Jun. 27, 2016	Jun. 27, 2016
US Treasury Securities [Member]
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Interest Rate			0.58%
Treasury Securities NonInterest Bearing, Maturity Date			Jun. 30, 2016
Subsequent Event [Member]
Liabilities Subject to Compromise, Early Contract Termination Fees						$ 8,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Citibank, Na [Member] | Secured Debt [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date	Jun. 3, 2016
Subsequent Event [Member] | Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Capital LLC [Member] | Secured Debt [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 36,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Subsequent Event [Member] | US Treasury Securities [Member]
Assets Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Interest Rate		0.54%
Treasury Securities NonInterest Bearing, Maturity Date		Jun. 30, 2016