Note 3 - Derivative Instruments Derivative Contract (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014 contract		Dec. 31, 2013
Corporate collateralized debt obligations (CDO's)[Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of Credit Risk Derivatives Held	14
Derivative, Notional Amount	$ 6,060,500
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net	(423)
Non Corporate CDOs and other derivative transactions[Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of Credit Risk Derivatives Held	32
Derivative, Notional Amount	2,754,531
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net	(122,591)
Trust Preferred Securities (TruPs) [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of Credit Risk Derivatives Held	9
Derivative, Notional Amount	816,257
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net	(18,378)
CDOs of commercial mortgage backed securities (CMBS)[Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of Credit Risk Derivatives Held	1
Derivative, Notional Amount	430,000
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net	(39,341)
Structured finance [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of Credit Risk Derivatives Held	3
Derivative, Notional Amount	436,865
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net	(39,728)
Public finance [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of Credit Risk Derivatives Held	19
Derivative, Notional Amount	1,071,409
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net	(25,144)
Total Assumed [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of Credit Risk Derivatives Held	25
Derivative, Notional Amount	223,127
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net	(9,489)
Assumed structured finance [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of Credit Risk Derivatives Held	21
Derivative, Notional Amount	128,112
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net	(9,185)
Assumed public finance [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of Credit Risk Derivatives Held	4
Derivative, Notional Amount	95,015
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net	(304)
Financial Guaranty VIE derivative liabilities [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of Credit Risk Derivatives Held	1	[1]
Derivative, Notional Amount	79,473	[1]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net	(46,653)	[1]
Other Credit Derivatives [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of Credit Risk Derivatives Held	3	[2]
Derivative, Notional Amount	0	[2]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net	18,111	[2]
Radian Group Consolidated [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of Credit Risk Derivatives Held	75
Derivative, Notional Amount	9,117,631		12,300,000
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net	$ (161,045)		$ (290,543)

[1] Represents the fair value of a CDS included in a VIE that we have consolidated.

[2] Represents derivative assets related to other purchased derivatives for which we do not have loss exposure that exceeds our net asset amount.