Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Schedule of Notional Amounts of Derivative Positions (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Schedule of Notional Amounts of Derivative Positions (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Derivative [Line Items]    
Derivative, Notional Amount, Beginning Balance $ (48,115,523)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount $ (37,366,610)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Derivative, Notional Amount, Additions (12,292,267)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions (15,835,110)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
Derivative, Notional Amount, Settlement Termination Expiration or Exercise (26,698,747)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise (9,625,574)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
Derivative, Notional Amount, Ending Balance (33,709,043)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount (43,576,146)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Derivative, Average Notional Amount (42,996,135)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount (39,708,009)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Derivatives 2,893us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives 957us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
Inverse Interest-Only Securities [Member]    
Derivative [Line Items]    
Derivative, Notional Amount, Beginning Balance (1,168,226)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_InverseInterestOnlySecuritiesMember
(1,525,845)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_InverseInterestOnlySecuritiesMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Additions 0two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_InverseInterestOnlySecuritiesMember
0two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_InverseInterestOnlySecuritiesMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Settlement Termination Expiration or Exercise (62,016)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_InverseInterestOnlySecuritiesMember
(113,471)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_InverseInterestOnlySecuritiesMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Ending Balance (1,106,210)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_InverseInterestOnlySecuritiesMember
(1,412,374)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_InverseInterestOnlySecuritiesMember
Derivative, Average Notional Amount (1,138,468)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_InverseInterestOnlySecuritiesMember
(1,470,667)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_InverseInterestOnlySecuritiesMember
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Derivatives 0us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_InverseInterestOnlySecuritiesMember
193us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= two_InverseInterestOnlySecuritiesMember
Interest Rate Swap [Member]    
Derivative [Line Items]    
Derivative, Notional Amount, Beginning Balance (18,584,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
(19,619,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Additions (5,620,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
(2,944,148)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Settlement Termination Expiration or Exercise (4,275,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
(900,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Ending Balance (19,929,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
(21,663,148)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Derivative, Average Notional Amount (18,238,389)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
(19,156,878)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Derivatives (1,070)us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
(22)us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Credit Default Swap [Member]    
Derivative [Line Items]    
Derivative, Notional Amount, Beginning Balance (125,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
(427,073)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Additions 0two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
0two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Settlement Termination Expiration or Exercise 0two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
(302,073)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Ending Balance (125,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
(125,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
Derivative, Average Notional Amount (125,000)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
(179,418)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Derivatives 0us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
(13,705)us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapMember
Interest Rate Swaption [Member]    
Derivative [Line Items]    
Derivative, Notional Amount, Beginning Balance (12,410,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwaptionMember
(5,130,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwaptionMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Additions (5,550,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwaptionMember
(3,900,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwaptionMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Settlement Termination Expiration or Exercise (5,000,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwaptionMember
(470,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwaptionMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Ending Balance (12,960,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwaptionMember
(9,500,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwaptionMember
Derivative, Average Notional Amount (12,851,667)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwaptionMember
(8,979,111)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwaptionMember
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Derivatives 12,845us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwaptionMember
(1,219)us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwaptionMember
Forward Contracts [Member]    
Derivative [Line Items]    
Derivative, Notional Amount, Beginning Balance (1,325,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
(603,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Additions (6,933,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
(892,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Settlement Termination Expiration or Exercise (5,762,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
(733,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Ending Balance (2,496,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
(1,022,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
Derivative, Average Notional Amount (2,121,700)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
(526,444)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Derivatives (17,364)us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
11,853us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
Options Held [Member]    
Derivative [Line Items]    
Derivative, Notional Amount, Beginning Balance (2,000,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember
0invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Additions (250,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember
(1,500,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Settlement Termination Expiration or Exercise (4,750,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember
0two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Ending Balance (2,500,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember
(1,500,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember
Derivative, Average Notional Amount (8,333)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember
(255,556)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Derivatives (3,047)us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember
0us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember
Swap [Member]    
Derivative [Line Items]    
Derivative, Notional Amount, Beginning Balance (14,000,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_SwapMember
(10,000,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_SwapMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Additions (6,000,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_SwapMember
(8,000,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_SwapMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Settlement Termination Expiration or Exercise (17,000,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_SwapMember
(8,000,000)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_SwapMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Ending Balance (3,000,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_SwapMember
(10,000,000)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_SwapMember
Derivative, Average Notional Amount (6,988,889)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_SwapMember
(10,000,000)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_SwapMember
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Derivatives 6,384us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_SwapMember
3,887us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_SwapMember
Total Return Swap [Member]    
Derivative [Line Items]    
Derivative, Notional Amount, Beginning Balance (598,459)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
(49,629)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Additions (676,633)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
(197,012)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Settlement Termination Expiration or Exercise (397,563)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
(2,654)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Ending Balance (877,529)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
(243,987)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
Derivative, Average Notional Amount (875,346)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
(153,910)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Derivatives 4,202us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
0us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
Forward Purchase Commitments [Member]    
Derivative [Line Items]    
Derivative, Notional Amount, Beginning Balance (554,838)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_LoanPurchaseCommitmentsMember
(12,063)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_LoanPurchaseCommitmentsMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Additions (1,128,634)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_LoanPurchaseCommitmentsMember
(185,950)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountAdditions
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_LoanPurchaseCommitmentsMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Settlement Termination Expiration or Exercise (976,168)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_LoanPurchaseCommitmentsMember
(44,376)two_DerivativeNotionalAmountSettlementTerminationExpirationorExercise
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_LoanPurchaseCommitmentsMember
Derivative, Notional Amount, Ending Balance (707,304)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_LoanPurchaseCommitmentsMember
(153,637)invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_LoanPurchaseCommitmentsMember
Derivative, Average Notional Amount (648,343)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_LoanPurchaseCommitmentsMember
(38,913)two_DerivativeAverageNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_LoanPurchaseCommitmentsMember
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Derivatives $ 943us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_LoanPurchaseCommitmentsMember
$ (30)us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_LoanPurchaseCommitmentsMember