Note 10 - Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance Reserves by Product (Details) (Mortgage Insurance Segment, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified																									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2012 First Lien Mortgage Insurance Products [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 First Lien Mortgage Insurance Products [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Total Primary Insurance Mortgage Insurance Products [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Total Primary Insurance Mortgage Insurance Products [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Prime Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Prime Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Alt A Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Alt A Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 A Minus and Below Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 A Minus and Below Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Reinsurance Recoverables Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Reinsurance Recoverables Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Pool Insurance Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Pool Insurance Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Second Lien Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Second Lien Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Concentration of Risk, Geographical, California and Florida [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage																									20.00%
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Gross	$ 3,083,608	$ 3,247,900	$ 3,524,971	$ 3,450,538	$ 3,072,861	$ 3,236,793	$ 2,749,458	$ 2,883,210	$ 1,739,968	$ 1,748,412	$ 564,719	$ 612,423	$ 361,533	$ 370,806	$ 83,238	[1]	$ 151,569	[1]	$ 323,403	$ 353,583	$ 10,747	[2]	$ 11,107	[2]

[1] Primarily represents ceded losses on captive transactions and Smart Home.

[2] Does not include second-lien premium deficiency reserve.