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, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Commercial real estate assets	$ 1,548,603	$ 1,412,543	$ 744,259	$ 660,953
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	$ 305,731	$ 250,044
Loans and Leases Receivable, Percentage of Total, Commercial	19.80%	17.70%
United States, Southeastern Region [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Commercial real estate assets	$ 291,433	$ 239,194
Loans and Leases Receivable, Percentage of Total, Commercial	18.80%	16.90%
United States, Southwestern Region [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Commercial real estate assets	$ 289,686	$ 267,944
Loans and Leases Receivable, Percentage of Total, Commercial	18.70%	19.00%
United States, Northeastern Region [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Commercial real estate assets	$ 582,351	$ 578,762
Loans and Leases Receivable, Percentage of Total, Commercial	37.60%	41.00%
United States, Midwestern Region [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Commercial real estate assets	$ 79,402	$ 76,599
Loans and Leases Receivable, Percentage of Total, Commercial	5.10%	5.40%