Note 2 - Segment Reporting Schedule of Segment Reporting Information by Segment (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums written—insurance	$ 222,367,000		$ 251,229,000	$ 436,073,000		$ 458,414,000
Net premiums earned-insurance	214,114,000		213,124,000	419,779,000		405,712,000
Net Premiums Earned On Derivatives	3,346,000		4,857,000	6,791,000		9,849,000
Net investment income	25,737,000		27,615,000	49,966,000		54,488,000
Other income	1,817,000		2,234,000	2,944,000		4,005,000
Provision for losses	69,343,000		140,291,000	124,152,000		272,350,000
Estimated present value of net credit losses (recoveries) incurred	11,459,000		(295,000)	11,097,000		(3,439,000)
Change in premium deficiency reserve (“PDR”)	383,000		1,251,000	849,000		622,000
Policy acquisition costs	8,421,000		10,006,000	17,035,000		27,201,000
Other operating expenses	65,551,000		60,981,000	125,460,000		141,081,000
Interest expense	22,348,000		19,420,000	42,275,000		35,301,000
Equity in net (loss) income of affiliates	0		0	(13,000)		1,000
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	74,241,000		16,176,000	165,331,000		939,000
Cash and investments	5,006,221,000		5,366,633,000	5,006,221,000		5,366,633,000
Deferred policy acquisition costs	60,776,000		70,427,000	60,776,000		70,427,000		66,926,000
Intangible Assets, Net (Including Goodwill)	296,948,000			296,948,000				2,300,000
Total assets	5,932,551,000		6,054,000,000	5,932,551,000		6,054,000,000		5,621,691,000
Unearned premiums	781,660,000		712,706,000	781,660,000		712,706,000		768,871,000
Reserve for losses and LAE	1,749,435,000		2,716,490,000	1,749,435,000		2,716,490,000		2,185,421,000
VIE debt	93,631,000		106,767,000	93,631,000		106,767,000		94,645,000
Derivative liabilities	200,227,000		350,576,000	200,227,000		350,576,000		307,185,000
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums written—insurance	221,947,000		251,159,000	434,900,000		468,445,000
Net premiums earned-insurance	203,646,000		197,952,000	402,408,000		380,944,000
Net Premiums Earned On Derivatives	0		0	0		0
Net investment income	15,271,000		15,266,000	29,292,000		30,368,000
Other income	1,626,000		2,159,000	2,683,000		3,871,000
Revenue Non GAAP Basis	220,543,000		215,377,000	434,383,000		415,183,000
Provision for losses	64,265,000		136,410,000	113,425,000		268,366,000
Estimated present value of net credit losses (recoveries) incurred	180,000		323,000	319,000		24,000
Change in premium deficiency reserve (“PDR”)	383,000		1,251,000	849,000		622,000
Policy acquisition costs	6,746,000		6,501,000	13,763,000		18,233,000
Other operating expenses	49,607,000		51,295,000	99,965,000		117,075,000
Interest expense	6,405,000		3,704,000	11,777,000		6,373,000
Total Expenses Non-GAAP	127,586,000		199,484,000	240,098,000		410,693,000
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	92,957,000		15,893,000	194,285,000		4,490,000
New Insurance Written	9,322,000,000		13,377,000,000	16,130,000,000		24,283,000,000
Cash and investments	2,747,960,000		2,962,997,000	2,747,960,000		2,962,997,000
Deferred policy acquisition costs	26,443,000		29,138,000	26,443,000		29,138,000
Intangible Assets, Net (Including Goodwill)	2,266,000			2,266,000
Total assets	3,153,482,000		3,431,444,000	3,153,482,000		3,431,444,000
Unearned premiums	597,860,000		483,303,000	597,860,000		483,303,000
Reserve for losses and LAE	1,714,681,000		2,690,861,000	1,714,681,000		2,690,861,000	1,893,960,000	2,164,353,000	2,894,500,000	3,083,608,000
VIE debt	3,237,000		10,963,000	3,237,000		10,963,000
Derivative liabilities	0		0	0		0
Financial Guaranty Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums written—insurance	420,000		70,000	1,173,000		(10,031,000)
Net premiums earned-insurance	10,468,000		15,172,000	17,371,000		24,768,000
Net Premiums Earned On Derivatives	3,346,000		4,857,000	6,791,000		9,849,000
Net investment income	10,466,000		12,349,000	20,674,000		24,120,000
Other income	191,000		75,000	261,000		134,000
Revenue Non GAAP Basis	24,471,000		32,453,000	45,097,000		58,871,000
Provision for losses	5,078,000		3,881,000	10,727,000		3,984,000
Estimated present value of net credit losses (recoveries) incurred	11,279,000		(618,000)	10,778,000		(3,463,000)
Change in premium deficiency reserve (“PDR”)	0		0	0		0
Policy acquisition costs	1,675,000		3,505,000	3,272,000		8,968,000
Other operating expenses	9,212,000		9,686,000	18,763,000		24,006,000
Interest expense	15,943,000		15,716,000	30,498,000		28,928,000
Total Expenses Non-GAAP	43,187,000		32,170,000	74,038,000		62,423,000
Equity in net (loss) income of affiliates	0		0	(13,000)		1,000
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	(18,716,000)		283,000	(28,954,000)		(3,551,000)
Cash and investments	2,240,149,000		2,403,636,000	2,240,149,000		2,403,636,000
Deferred policy acquisition costs	34,333,000		41,289,000	34,333,000		41,289,000
Intangible Assets, Net (Including Goodwill)	0			0
Total assets	2,438,418,000		2,622,556,000	2,438,418,000		2,622,556,000
Unearned premiums	183,800,000		229,403,000	183,800,000		229,403,000
Reserve for losses and LAE	34,754,000		25,629,000	34,754,000		25,629,000
VIE debt	90,394,000		95,804,000	90,394,000		95,804,000
Derivative liabilities	200,227,000		350,576,000	200,227,000		350,576,000
Mortgage and Real Estate Services Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and investments	18,112,000	[1]		18,112,000	[1]
Deferred policy acquisition costs	0			0
Intangible Assets, Net (Including Goodwill)	294,682,000	[1]		294,682,000	[1]
Total assets	340,651,000	[1]		340,651,000	[1]
Unearned premiums	0			0
Reserve for losses and LAE	0			0
VIE debt	0			0
Derivative liabilities	$ 0			$ 0

[1] Comprising the acquisition of Clayton effective June 30, 2014. For additional information, see Note 1.