Note 3 - Derivative Instruments Fair Values Derivatives, Balance Sheet Location by Derivative Contract Type (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Assets	$ 14,857,000		$ 17,212,000
Derivative liabilities	267,323,000		126,006,000
Financial Guaranty Credit Derivatives [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Remaining Maturity	5 years
Derivative Assets	13,000,000		15,400,000
Derivative liabilities	196,200,000		106,500,000
Net Interest Margin Securities Related And Other [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Assets	1,800,000		1,800,000
Derivative liabilities, net	1,800,000	[1]
Financial Guaranty VIE Derivative Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative liabilities	71,100,000	[2]	19,500,000
Derivative liabilities, net	(71,100,000)	[3]
Radian Group Consolidated [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Assets	14,800,000		17,200,000
Derivative liabilities	267,300,000		126,000,000
Derivative liabilities, net	$ (252,500,000)		$ (108,800,000)

[1] Represents NIMS derivative assets related to consolidated NIMS VIEs. Also includes common stock warrants. Because none of these investments represent financial guaranty contracts that we issued, they cannot become liabilities, and therefore, do not represent additional par exposure.

[2] As a result of the Commutation Transactions described in Note 1, we established a VIE. See Note 5 for further details.

[3] Represents the fair value of a CDS included in a VIE which we consolidate relating to the Terminated TruPs CDOs. The assets in the VIE represent the only funds available to pay the CDS Counterparty for amounts due under the contract; therefore, the notional exposure presented for the CDS is limited to the current trust assets. See Notes 1 and 5 for information on the underlying reference securities and on our maximum exposure to loss from this consolidated financial guaranty transaction.