Note 18 - Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	$ 878,026	[1]	$ 132,031	[1]	$ 103,537	[1]	$ 145,980	[1]	$ (16,047)		$ (28,011)		$ (77,579)		$ (20,214)		$ 1,259,574	[1]	$ (141,851)		$ (224,105)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(449,691)	[2]	21,559	[2]	71,296	[2]	56,779	[2]	52,416		15,329		44,407		(167,286)		(300,057)	[2]	(55,134)		(227,363)
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic																	959,517		(196,985)		(451,468)
Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations, Diluted, Amount																	1,273,946		(141,851)		(224,105)
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Diluted																	973,889		(196,985)		(451,468)
Average common shares outstanding																	184,551,000		166,366,000		132,533,000
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Share-based Payment Arrangements																	3,150,000	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]
Adjusted shares outstanding-diluted	242,801,000	[4]	238,067,000	[4]	230,779,000	[4]	222,668,000	[4]	173,099,000	[4]	171,830,000	[4]	171,783,000	[4]	144,355,000	[4]	233,902,000	[4]	166,366,000	[4]	132,533,000
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share																	$ 6.83		$ (0.85)		$ (1.69)
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share																	$ (1.63)		$ (0.33)		$ (1.72)
Net (loss) income per share—basic																	$ 5.20		$ (1.18)		$ (3.41)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share																	$ 5.44		$ (0.85)		$ (1.69)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share																	$ (1.28)		$ (0.33)		$ (1.72)
Net (loss) income per share—diluted	$ 1.78	[4],[5]	$ 0.67	[4],[5]	$ 0.78	[4],[5]	$ 0.94	[4],[5]	$ 0.21	[4],[5]	$ (0.07)	[4],[5]	$ (0.19)	[4],[5]	$ (1.30)	[4],[5]	$ 4.16	[4],[5]	$ (1.18)	[4],[5]	$ (3.41)
Stock Compensation Plan [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount																	541,720
Stock Compensation Plan and Convertible Debt Securities [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount																			43,287,966		5,872,600
Convertible Debt [Member] | Convertible Senior Notes Due 2017
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Conversion of Debt Securities																	8,465,000		0		0
Convertible Debt [Member] | Convertible Senior Notes Due 2019
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Interest on Convertible Debt, Net of Tax																	$ 14,372	[6]	$ 0	[6]	$ 0	[6]
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Conversion of Debt Securities																	37,736,000		0		0

[1] This amount reflects a reversal of substantially all of our tax valuation allowance in the fourth quarter.

[2] This amount reflects a $468 million loss on reclassification of Radian Asset Assurance as assets held for sale in the fourth quarter.

[3] For the year ended December 31, 2014, 541,720 shares of our common stock equivalents issued under our stock-based compensation arrangements were not included in the calculation of diluted net income per share as of such date because they were anti-dilutive. As a result of our net loss from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, 43,287,966 and 5,872,600 shares, respectively, of our common stock equivalents issued under our stock-based compensation arrangements and convertible debt were not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share as of such dates because they were anti-dilutive.

[4] Diluted net income (loss) per share and average shares outstanding per the accounting standard regarding earnings per share.

[5] Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed independently for each period presented. Consequently, the sum of the quarters may not equal the total net income (loss) per share for the year. For all calculations, the determination of whether potential common shares are dilutive or anti-dilutive is based on net income (loss) from continuing operations.

[6] As applicable, includes coupon interest, amortization of discount and fees, and other changes in income or loss that would result from the assumed conversion.