Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) in Statement of Financial Performance (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) in Statement of Financial Performance (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments $ (126,443)us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments $ (105,528)us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Net 2,967us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet 5,801us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Swap and Swaption Agreements (110,693)two_UnrealizedGainLossonInterestRateSwapsandSwaptions (90,452)two_UnrealizedGainLossonInterestRateSwapsandSwaptions
Gain (Loss) on Mortgage Loans Held-for-Sale 9,092two_GainLossonResidentialMortgageLoansHeldforSale (3,181)two_GainLossonResidentialMortgageLoansHeldforSale
Trading Activity, Gains and Losses, Net (122,506)us-gaap_TradingGainsLosses (100,144)us-gaap_TradingGainsLosses
Agency To-be-Announced Securities, Non-Risk Management [Member]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Net 0us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_AgencyTobeAnnouncedSecuritiesNonRiskManagementMember
(4,701)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_AgencyTobeAnnouncedSecuritiesNonRiskManagementMember
Inverse Interest-Only Securities [Member]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Net 19,261us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_InverseInterestOnlySecuritiesMember
18,323us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_InverseInterestOnlySecuritiesMember
Forward Purchase Commitments [Member]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Gain (Loss) on Mortgage Loans Held-for-Sale 970two_GainLossonResidentialMortgageLoansHeldforSale
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_LoanPurchaseCommitmentsMember
(417)two_GainLossonResidentialMortgageLoansHeldforSale
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_LoanPurchaseCommitmentsMember
Interest Rate Risk Associated with the Investment Portfolio [Member] | Forward Contracts [Member]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Net (27,958)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
(17,903)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
Interest Rate Risk Associated with the Investment Portfolio [Member] | Options Held [Member]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Net 2,535us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
(1,705)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
Interest Rate Risk Associated with the Investment Portfolio [Member] | Swap [Member]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Net 6,090us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_SwapMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
11,531us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_SwapMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
Interest Rate Risk Associated with the Investment Portfolio [Member] | Short US Treasury Securities [Member]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Net 0us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_ShortUsTreasurySecuritiesMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
0us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_ShortUsTreasurySecuritiesMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
Interest Rate Risk Associated with the Investment Portfolio [Member] | Interest Rate Swaption [Member]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments (18,506)us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwaptionMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
(112,558)us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwaptionMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
Interest Rate Risk Associated with the Investment Portfolio [Member] | Total Return Swap [Member]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Net 3,132us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
(1,725)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
Interest Rate Risk Associated with the Investment Portfolio [Member] | Short [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments 42,326us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_PositionAxis
= us-gaap_ShortMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
40,979us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_PositionAxis
= us-gaap_ShortMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
Interest Rate Risk Associated with the Investment Portfolio [Member] | Long [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments (52,559)us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_PositionAxis
= us-gaap_LongMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
(13,420)us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_PositionAxis
= us-gaap_LongMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
Interest Rate Risk Associated with Borrowings [Member] | Long [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments (97,704)us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_PositionAxis
= us-gaap_LongMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwithBorrowingsMember
(20,529)us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_PositionAxis
= us-gaap_LongMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwithBorrowingsMember
Credit Risk Associated with Non-Agency RMBS and Mortgage Loans Held-for-Sale [Member] | Credit Default Swap, Selling Protection [Member]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]    
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Net $ (93)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapSellingProtectionMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_CreditRiskAssociatedwithNonAgencyRMBSandResidentialMortgageLoansHeldforSaleMember
$ 1,981us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapSellingProtectionMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_CreditRiskAssociatedwithNonAgencyRMBSandResidentialMortgageLoansHeldforSaleMember