Note 1 - Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements - Basis of Presentation and Business Overview (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Our condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP and include the accounts of all wholly-owned subsidiaries. Companies in which we, or one of our subsidiaries, exercise significant influence (generally ownership interests ranging from 20% to 50%), are accounted for in accordance with the equity method of accounting. VIEs for which we are the primary beneficiary are consolidated, as described in Note 5. All intercompany accounts and transactions, and intercompany profits and losses, have been eliminated.

Business Combinations Policy [Policy Text Block]

The acquisition of Clayton was treated as a purchase for accounting purposes. Therefore, the assets and liabilities were recorded based on their fair values as of June 30, 2014, the date of acquisition. At acquisition, the fair value of assets acquired was $152.4 million and the fair value of liabilities assumed was $31.8 million. The excess of the acquisition price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired resulted in goodwill of $191.9 million. The goodwill represents the estimated future economic benefits arising from the assets acquired that did not qualify to be identified and recognized individually, and includes the value of discounted expected future cash flows of Clayton, Clayton’s workforce, expected synergies with our other affiliates and other unidentifiable intangible assets. Goodwill is deemed to have an indefinite useful life and is subject to review for impairment annually, or more frequently, whenever circumstances indicate potential impairment.

Accounting Standards Update 2013-11 [Member]

New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block]

In July 2013, the FASB issued an update to the accounting standard regarding income taxes. This update provides guidance concerning the balance sheet presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a Carryforward is available. We adopted this update in the first quarter of 2014.

In July 2013, the FASB issued an update to the accounting standard regarding income taxes, which we adopted in the first quarter of 2014. This update provides guidance concerning the balance sheet presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when Carryforwards are available. This accounting standard requires an entity to present its DTAs for the Carryforwards net of its liability related to unrecognized tax benefits. A gross presentation will be required when the Carryforwards are not available under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction or when the Carryforwards would not be used to settle any additional income taxes resulting from disallowance of the uncertain tax position.

Accounting Standards Update 2014-08 [Member]

New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]

Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block]

In April 2014, the FASB issued an update regarding reporting discontinued operations and disclosures of disposals of components of an entity. This update changes the requirements for reporting discontinued operations. A disposal of a component of an entity or a group of components of an entity is required to be reported in discontinued operations if the disposal represents (or would represent) a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results when any of the following occurs: (i) the component of an entity or group of components of an entity meets the criteria to be classified as held for sale; (ii) the component of an entity or group of components of an entity is disposed of by sale; or (iii) the component of an entity or group of components of an entity is disposed of other than by sale (for example, by abandonment or in a distribution to owners in a spin-off). The amendments in this update require expanded disclosures about discontinued operations. The provisions of this update are effective for all disposals (or classifications as held for sale) of components of an entity that occur within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance.

Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]

New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]

Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block]

In May 2014, the FASB issued an update to the accounting standard regarding revenue recognition. This update is intended to provide a consistent approach in recognizing revenue. In accordance with the new standard, recognition of revenue occurs when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, the new standard requires that reporting companies disclose the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. While this update does not change revenue recognition principles related to our insurance and derivative products, this update may be applicable to revenues from our new mortgage and real estate services segment, which has been included in our condensed consolidated statements of operations beginning with the third quarter of 2014. The provisions of this update are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016.

Accounting Standards Update 2014-13 [Member]

New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]

Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block]

In August 2014, the FASB issued an update regarding measuring the financial assets and the financial liabilities of a consolidated collateralized financing entity. A reporting entity that consolidates a collateralized financing entity may elect to measure the financial assets and the financial liabilities of that collateralized financing entity using either the measurement alternative included in this update or the accounting standard regarding fair value measurement. When a reporting entity elects the measurement alternative included in this update, consolidated net income (loss) should reflect the reporting entity’s own economic interests in the collateralized financing entity, including (i) changes in the fair value of the beneficial interests retained by the reporting entity and (ii) beneficial interests that represent compensation for services. This update also clarifies that, when using the accounting standard regarding fair value measurement, (a) the fair value of the financial assets and liabilities of the consolidated entity should be measured using the accounting standard regarding fair value measurement and (b) any differences in the fair value of the financial assets and liabilities of that consolidated entity should be reflected in earnings. This update is effective for public business entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015. A reporting entity may apply the amendments in this update using a modified retrospective approach by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the annual period of adoption.