Note 8 - Reinsurance Reinsurance Transactions (Details) (Radian Guaranty [Member], USD $)		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 transaction	Sep. 30, 2014 Initial Quota Share Reinsurance Transaction [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Initial Quota Share Reinsurance Transaction [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Initial Quota Share Reinsurance Transaction [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Initial Quota Share Reinsurance Transaction [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Second Quota Share Reinsurance Transaction [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Second Quota Share Reinsurance Transaction [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Second Quota Share Reinsurance Transaction [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Second Quota Share Reinsurance Transaction [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Maximum [Member] Initial Quota Share Reinsurance Transaction [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Scenario, Forecast [Member] Initial Quota Share Reinsurance Transaction [Member]
Reinsurance Transaction Details [Line Items]
Number of Quota Share Reinsurance Agreements	2
First Lien Primary Mortgage Insurance Risk In Force Ceded		$ 1,200,000,000		$ 1,200,000,000		$ 1,500,000,000		$ 1,500,000,000		$ 1,600,000,000
Ceded Premiums Written		4,668,000	5,551,000	15,018,000	17,573,000	9,082,000	8,233,000	24,447,000	32,253,000
Ceded Premiums Earned		6,578,000	7,216,000	20,188,000	22,711,000	7,699,000	5,099,000	21,481,000	12,220,000
Fees and Commissions		1,166,000	1,388,000	3,754,000	4,393,000	3,179,000	2,882,000	8,557,000	11,289,000
Ceded Risk, Amount Able to Be Recaptured Under Quota Share Transaction											$ 750,000,000