Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating revenue	$ 410,411	$ 409,760	$ 389,361	$ 358,101	$ 345,398	$ 348,446	$ 328,421	$ 316,282	$ 1,567,633	$ 1,338,547	$ 1,280,276
Operating income	48,089	61,382	67,562	45,227	15,436	27,840	18,833	26,576	222,260	88,685	113,683
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	6,602	8,166	11,745	9,470	9,877	8,340	5,719	6,334	35,983	30,270	41,641
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	17,035	36,213	41,208	29,052	(6,161)	(2,970)	40,041	21,605	123,508	52,515	46,221
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	3,085	(10,157)	983	(8,967)	(15,999)	(104,220)	(8,556)	1,651	(15,056)	(127,124)	(83,536)
Gain/(loss) from sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	(5,435)	12,264	466	(3,454)					3,841	0	(18,985)
Net income/(loss) attributable to CoreLogic	$ 14,685	$ 38,320	$ 42,657	$ 16,631	$ (22,160)	$ (107,190)	$ 31,485	$ 23,256	$ 112,293	$ (74,609)	$ (56,300)
Earnings Per Share, Basic
Income from continuing operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.36	$ 0.39	$ 0.27	$ (0.06)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.37	$ 0.19	$ 1.20	$ 0.48	$ 0.41
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03	$ (0.10)	$ 0.01	$ (0.08)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.98)	$ (0.08)	$ 0.01	$ (0.15)	$ (1.16)	$ (0.75)
(Loss)/gain from sale of discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ (0.06)	$ 0.12	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)					$ 0.04	$ 0.00	$ (0.17)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14	$ 0.38	$ 0.40	$ 0.16	$ (0.21)	$ (1.01)	$ 0.29	$ 0.20	$ 1.09	$ (0.68)	$ (0.51)
Earnings Per Share, Diluted
Income from continuing operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.35	$ 0.39	$ 0.27	$ (0.06)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.37	$ 0.19	$ 1.19	$ 0.48	$ 0.41
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03	$ (0.10)	$ 0.01	$ (0.08)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.98)	$ (0.08)	$ 0.01	$ (0.14)	$ (1.16)	$ (0.74)
(Loss)/gain from sale of discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.12	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)					$ 0.04	$ 0.00	$ (0.17)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ 0.37	$ 0.40	$ 0.16	$ (0.21)	$ (1.01)	$ 0.29	$ 0.20	$ 1.09	$ (0.68)	$ (0.50)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	97,513	101,650	105,895	106,594	106,508	106,414	108,018	115,545	102,913	109,122	111,529
Diluted (in shares)	99,346	103,113	106,468	107,327	106,508	106,414	108,641	116,306	104,050	109,712	112,363