v3.26.1
Investment in Loans (Narrative) (Details)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2026
USD ($)
loan
Mar. 31, 2025
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2025
USD ($)
loan
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]      
Unpaid Principal Balance $ 16,647,345   $ 16,000,731
Loans, at fair value(1)(2) [1],[2] 17,393,161   16,640,647
Unpaid principal balance on unactive loans 518,000   520,100
Accrued expenses and other liabilities(1) [1] 57,881   55,105
Government Guaranteed Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure Receivable      
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]      
Unpaid principal balance on unactive loans 572,600   469,200
Residential mortgage loans      
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]      
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount 131,000   133,300
Unpaid Principal Balance 3,863,111   3,739,813
Loans, at fair value(1)(2) 3,748,165   3,643,094
Losses (175,907)   (161,034)
Consumer loans      
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]      
Unpaid Principal Balance 154   190
Loans, at fair value(1)(2) 135   159
Realized Losses, Write offs on loans (21)    
Losses (204)   (215)
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss 200   200
Commercial mortgage loans      
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]      
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount 23,800    
Unpaid Principal Balance 623,924   648,592
Loans, at fair value(1)(2) $ 623,196   640,712
Number of mortgage loans in process of foreclosure 3,000    
Mortgage Loans In Process Of Foreclosure, Unpaid Principal Balance $ 23,800    
Losses (7)   (380)
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss 7   400
Corporate loan [Member]      
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]      
Unpaid Principal Balance 32,138   25,767
Loans, at fair value(1)(2) 31,479   25,366
Losses (191)   0
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss 200    
Proprietary reverse mortgage loans      
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]      
Transfer to held-for-investment from held-for-sale - Loan UPB   $ 97,400  
Non-performing | Residential mortgage loans      
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]      
Unpaid Principal Balance 234,620   266,485
Loans, at fair value(1)(2) $ 212,807   $ 246,586
Non-performing | Commercial mortgage loans      
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]      
Number of loans | loan 5   7
Unpaid Principal Balance $ 35,900   $ 64,800
Loans, at fair value(1)(2) 35,200   64,100
Performing Financial Instruments [Member] | Residential mortgage loans      
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]      
Unpaid Principal Balance 21,710   23,062
Loans, at fair value(1)(2) $ 20,555   $ 22,148
[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s Consolidated Balance Sheets include assets and liabilities of variable interest entities it has consolidated. See Note 12 for additional details on Ellington Financial Inc.'s consolidated variable interest entities.
[2] Includes assets pledged as collateral to counterparties. See Note 14 for additional details on the Company's borrowings and related collateral.