Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 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
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net $ (17,529)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet $ 95,345us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet $ (40,906)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments (345,647)us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments 245,229us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments (159,775)us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
Gain (loss) on mortgage loans held-for-sale 17,297two_GainLossonMortgageLoansHeldforSale (33,846)two_GainLossonMortgageLoansHeldforSale 2,270two_GainLossonMortgageLoansHeldforSale
Trading Gain (Loss) (358,447)us-gaap_TradingGainsLosses 320,559us-gaap_TradingGainsLosses (198,311)us-gaap_TradingGainsLosses
Forward Sale Commitments [Member]      
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Gain (loss) on mortgage loans held-for-sale 0two_GainLossonMortgageLoansHeldforSale
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_ForwardSaleCommitmentsMember
0two_GainLossonMortgageLoansHeldforSale
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= two_ForwardSaleCommitmentsMember
(26)two_GainLossonMortgageLoansHeldforSale
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_ForwardSaleCommitmentsMember
Agency To-be-Announced Securities, Non-Risk Management [Member]      
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net (4,701)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_AgencyTobeAnnouncedSecuritiesNonRiskManagementMember
38,297us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_AgencyTobeAnnouncedSecuritiesNonRiskManagementMember
0us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_AgencyTobeAnnouncedSecuritiesNonRiskManagementMember
Inverse Interest-Only Securities [Member]      
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net 55,028us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_InverseInterestOnlySecuritiesMember
(13,415)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_InverseInterestOnlySecuritiesMember
41,706us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_InverseInterestOnlySecuritiesMember
Credit Default Swap, Buying Protection [Member]      
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net 0us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapBuyingProtectionMember
0us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapBuyingProtectionMember
11,988us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapBuyingProtectionMember
Forward Purchase Commitments [Member]      
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Gain (loss) on mortgage loans held-for-sale 4,729two_GainLossonMortgageLoansHeldforSale
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_LoanPurchaseCommitmentsMember
(20,015)two_GainLossonMortgageLoansHeldforSale
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_LoanPurchaseCommitmentsMember
2,396two_GainLossonMortgageLoansHeldforSale
/ 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, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net (69,921)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
151,021us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
(30,897)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, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net (14,070)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
7,798us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
0us-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, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net 6,340us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_SwapMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
(11,438)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_SwapMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
0us-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, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net (8)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_ShortUsTreasurySecuritiesMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
(991)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_ShortUsTreasurySecuritiesMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
(1,768)us-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 (242,795)us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwaptionMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
123,033us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwaptionMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
(35,012)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, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net 8,061us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
(1,087)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
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= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
0us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
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= 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 201,536us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_PositionAxis
= us-gaap_ShortMember
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= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
(14,472)us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
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= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_PositionAxis
= us-gaap_ShortMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
0us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
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= 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 (114,121)us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_PositionAxis
= us-gaap_LongMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
6,400us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_PositionAxis
= us-gaap_LongMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwiththeInvestmentPortfolioMember
(13,056)us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
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= 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 (190,267)us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_PositionAxis
= us-gaap_LongMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwithBorrowingsMember
130,268us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_PositionAxis
= us-gaap_LongMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwithBorrowingsMember
(111,707)us-gaap_GainLossOnInterestRateDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_PositionAxis
= us-gaap_LongMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= two_InterestRateRiskAssociatedwithBorrowingsMember
Credit Risk [Member] | Credit Default Swap, Selling Protection [Member]      
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Derivative, Net $ 1,742us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapSellingProtectionMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditRiskMember
$ (74,840)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapSellingProtectionMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditRiskMember
$ (61,935)us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapSellingProtectionMember
/ two_RiskTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CreditRiskMember