Note 9 - Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance Loss Reserves Rollforward (Details) (USD $)				3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended					12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 Mortgage Insurance Segment percentagepoint		Sep. 30, 2013 Mortgage Insurance Segment		Sep. 30, 2014 Mortgage Insurance Segment percentagepoint		Sep. 30, 2013 Mortgage Insurance Segment		Sep. 30, 2014 Mortgage Insurance Segment Primary Mortgage Product [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Insurance Segment Primary Mortgage Product [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 2013 Freddie Mac Agreement [Member] Mortgage Insurance Segment	Sep. 30, 2013 2013 Freddie Mac Agreement [Member] Mortgage Insurance Segment
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1	$ 1,620,351,000	$ 2,185,421,000	$ 2,346,879,000	$ 1,714,681,000		$ 2,690,861,000		$ 2,164,353,000		$ 3,083,608,000
Less reinsurance recoverables	23,335,000	46,846,000		22,458,000	[1]	58,427,000	[1]	38,363,000	[1]	83,238,000	[1]
Balance at beginning of period, net of reinsurance recoverables				1,692,223,000		2,632,434,000		2,125,990,000		3,000,370,000
Add losses and LAE incurred in respect of default notices reported and unreported in [Abstract]
Current year				106,927,000	[2]	140,015,000	[2]	339,496,000	[2]	477,155,000	[2]
Prior years				(58,370,000)		11,997,000		(177,514,000)		(56,777,000)
Total incurred losses and LAE				48,557,000		152,012,000		161,982,000		420,378,000
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Paid Losses and LAE Current year				2,911,000	[2]	21,334,000	[2]	3,348,000	[2]	21,483,000	[2]
Paid losses and LAE Prior years				170,939,000		498,002,000		717,694,000		1,134,155,000
Total paid losses and LAE				173,850,000		519,336,000		721,042,000		1,155,638,000				254,700,000	254,700,000
Balance at end of period, net of reinsurance recoverables				1,566,930,000		2,265,110,000		1,566,930,000		2,265,110,000
Add reinsurance recoverables	23,335,000	46,846,000		21,201,000	[1]	49,675,000	[1]	21,201,000	[1]	49,675,000	[1]
Balance at September 30	1,620,351,000	2,185,421,000	2,346,879,000	1,588,131,000		2,314,785,000		1,588,131,000		2,314,785,000
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Net Of Denials Rescissions and Reinstatements												53.00%	50.00%
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Excluding Pending Claims Net Of Denials And Rescissions												47.00%
Default To Claim Rate Estimate, Gross, For New Defaults												17.00%
Default To Claim Estimate, Gross, For Foreclosure Stage Defaults												81.00%
Impact To Our Loss Reserves Due To Estimated Rescissions And Denials [Abstract]
Percentage Point Change In Severity Used In Assumption Shift Analysis				1				1
First Lien Primary Claim Severity								103.00%
Impact To Loss Reserves Based On One Percentage Change In Primary Claim Severity				12,000,000				12,000,000
Percentage Point Default to Claim Rate Used In Assumption Shift Analysis				1				1
Impact To Loss Reserves Based On One Percentage Change in Default To Claim Rate				$ 23,000,000				$ 23,000,000

[1] Related to ceded losses on captive reinsurance transactions and the QSR Reinsurance Transactions. See Note 8 for additional information.

[2] Related to underlying defaulted loans with a most recent default notice dated in the year indicated. For example, if a loan had defaulted in a prior year, but then subsequently cured and later re-defaulted in the current year, that default would be considered a current year default.