Note 2 - Segment Reporting Schedule of Segment Reporting Information by Segment (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned-insurance	$ 227,156,000	$ 211,984,000	$ 646,935,000	$ 617,696,000
Net premiums earned on derivatives	2,882,000	4,170,000	9,673,000	14,019,000
Services revenue	42,243,000	0	42,243,000	0
Direct cost of services	23,896,000	0	23,896,000	0
Net investment income	26,178,000	26,732,000	76,144,000	81,220,000
Other income	1,171,000	1,314,000	4,115,000	5,319,000
Policyholder Benefits and Claims Incurred, Net and Including Change in Reserves for Premium Deficiency	42,526,000	154,849,000	167,527,000	427,821,000
Estimated present value of net credit losses (recoveries) incurred	(665,000)	3,273,000	10,432,000	(166,000)
Policy acquisition costs	6,034,000	7,958,000	23,069,000	35,159,000
Other operating expenses	56,262,000	70,974,000	181,722,000	212,055,000
Interest expense	23,989,000	19,570,000	66,264,000	54,871,000
Equity in net (loss) income of affiliates	0	0	(13,000)	1,000
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	147,156,000	(12,424,000)	312,487,000	(11,485,000)
Cash and investments	5,007,309,000	5,060,645,000	5,007,309,000	5,060,645,000
Restricted cash	16,509,000	22,991,000	16,509,000	22,991,000		22,527,000
Deferred policy acquisition costs	60,140,000	68,461,000	60,140,000	68,461,000		66,926,000
Goodwill	194,026,000		194,026,000			2,100,000
Other intangible assets, net	99,606,000		99,606,000
Total assets	5,959,691,000	5,758,573,000	5,959,691,000	5,758,573,000		5,621,691,000
Unearned premiums	796,742,000	751,587,000	796,742,000	751,587,000		768,871,000
Reserve for losses and LAE	1,620,351,000	2,346,879,000	1,620,351,000	2,346,879,000		2,185,421,000
VIE debt	91,232,000	104,218,000	91,232,000	104,218,000		94,645,000
Derivative liabilities	185,258,000	344,870,000	185,258,000	344,870,000		307,185,000
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums written—insurance	245,775,000	250,799,000	680,675,000	719,244,000
Increase in unearned premiums	(27,948,000)	(50,679,000)	(60,440,000)	(138,180,000)
Net premiums earned-insurance	217,827,000	200,120,000	620,235,000	581,064,000
Net premiums earned on derivatives	0	0	0	0
Net investment income	15,904,000	14,868,000	45,196,000	45,236,000
Other income	1,130,000	1,250,000	3,813,000	5,121,000
Revenue Non GAAP Basis	234,861,000	216,238,000	669,244,000	631,421,000
Policyholder Benefits and Claims Incurred, Net and Including Change in Reserves for Premium Deficiency	48,942,000	149,687,000	163,216,000	418,675,000
Estimated present value of net credit losses (recoveries) incurred	(190,000)	(74,000)	129,000	(50,000)
Policy acquisition costs	4,240,000	5,839,000	18,003,000	24,072,000
Other operating expenses	41,368,000	59,590,000	141,333,000	176,665,000
Interest expense	7,936,000	4,447,000	19,713,000	10,820,000
Total Expenses Non-GAAP	102,296,000	219,489,000	342,394,000	630,182,000
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	132,565,000	(3,251,000)	326,850,000	1,239,000
New Insurance Written	11,210,000,000	13,720,000,000	27,340,000,000	38,003,000,000
Cash and investments	3,017,737,000	2,767,160,000	3,017,737,000	2,767,160,000
Restricted cash	11,574,000	22,890,000	11,574,000	22,890,000
Deferred policy acquisition costs	27,595,000	29,158,000	27,595,000	29,158,000
Goodwill	2,095,000		2,095,000
Other intangible assets, net	154,000		154,000
Total assets	3,447,406,000	3,238,224,000	3,447,406,000	3,238,224,000
Unearned premiums	625,269,000	535,420,000	625,269,000	535,420,000
Reserve for losses and LAE	1,588,131,000	2,314,785,000	1,588,131,000	2,314,785,000	1,714,681,000	2,164,353,000	2,690,861,000	3,083,608,000
VIE debt	3,196,000	11,109,000	3,196,000	11,109,000
Derivative liabilities	0	0	0	0
Financial Guaranty Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums written—insurance	(1,523,000)	43,000	(350,000)	(9,988,000)
Increase in unearned premiums	10,852,000	11,821,000	27,050,000	46,620,000
Net premiums earned-insurance	9,329,000	11,864,000	26,700,000	36,632,000
Net premiums earned on derivatives	2,882,000	4,170,000	9,673,000	14,019,000
Net investment income	10,274,000	11,864,000	30,948,000	35,984,000
Other income	41,000	64,000	302,000	198,000
Revenue Non GAAP Basis	22,526,000	27,962,000	67,623,000	86,833,000
Provision for losses	(6,416,000)	5,162,000	4,311,000	9,146,000
Estimated present value of net credit losses (recoveries) incurred	(475,000)	3,347,000	10,303,000	(116,000)
Policy acquisition costs	1,794,000	2,119,000	5,066,000	11,087,000
Other operating expenses	6,663,000	11,384,000	25,426,000	35,390,000
Interest expense	11,629,000	15,123,000	42,127,000	44,051,000
Total Expenses Non-GAAP	13,195,000	37,135,000	87,233,000	99,558,000
Equity in net (loss) income of affiliates	0	0	(13,000)	1,000
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	9,331,000	(9,173,000)	(19,623,000)	(12,724,000)
Cash and investments	1,978,972,000	2,293,485,000	1,978,972,000	2,293,485,000
Restricted cash	73,000	101,000	73,000	101,000
Deferred policy acquisition costs	32,545,000	39,303,000	32,545,000	39,303,000
Goodwill	0		0
Other intangible assets, net	0		0
Total assets	2,175,773,000	2,520,349,000	2,175,773,000	2,520,349,000
Unearned premiums	171,473,000	216,167,000	171,473,000	216,167,000
Reserve for losses and LAE	32,220,000	32,094,000	32,220,000	32,094,000
VIE debt	88,036,000	93,109,000	88,036,000	93,109,000
Derivative liabilities	185,258,000	344,870,000	185,258,000	344,870,000
Mortgage and Real Estate Services Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Services revenue	42,243,000		42,243,000
Direct cost of services	23,896,000		23,896,000
Gross Profit	18,347,000		18,347,000
Other operating expenses	8,663,000		8,663,000
Interest expense	4,424,000		4,424,000
Total Expenses Non-GAAP	13,087,000		13,087,000
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	5,260,000	0	5,260,000	0
Cash and investments	10,600,000		10,600,000
Restricted cash	4,862,000		4,862,000
Deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Goodwill	191,931,000		191,931,000
Other intangible assets, net	99,452,000		99,452,000
Total assets	336,512,000		336,512,000
Unearned premiums	0		0
Reserve for losses and LAE	0		0
VIE debt	0		0
Derivative liabilities	$ 0		$ 0