Two Harbors Investment Corp. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commercial Real Estate Assets by Geographic Location (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Commercial real estate assets	$ 744,259	$ 660,953	$ 45,556	$ 0
Loans and Leases Receivable, Percentage of Total, Commercial	100.00%	100.00%
United States, Western Region [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Commercial real estate assets	$ 131,099	$ 131,488
Loans and Leases Receivable, Percentage of Total, Commercial	17.60%	19.90%
United States, Southeastern Region [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Commercial real estate assets	$ 80,443	$ 79,118
Loans and Leases Receivable, Percentage of Total, Commercial	10.80%	12.00%
United States, Southwestern Region [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Commercial real estate assets	$ 201,499	$ 161,721
Loans and Leases Receivable, Percentage of Total, Commercial	27.10%	24.40%
United States, Northeastern Region [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Commercial real estate assets	$ 264,077	$ 238,913
Loans and Leases Receivable, Percentage of Total, Commercial	35.50%	36.20%
United States, Midwestern Region [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Commercial real estate assets	$ 67,141	$ 49,713
Loans and Leases Receivable, Percentage of Total, Commercial	9.00%	7.50%