Note 3 - Segment Reporting Schedule of Segment Reporting Information by Segment (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) segment	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Operating Segments | segment				2
Net premiums earned-insurance		$ 237,437	$ 203,646	$ 462,032	$ 402,408
Services revenue		43,503	0	74,133	0
Net investment income		19,285	16,663	36,613	31,981
Other income		1,743	1,739	3,074	2,865
Provision for losses		32,560	64,648	77,588	114,274
Policy acquisition costs		6,963	6,746	14,713	13,763
Direct cost of services		23,520	0	42,773	0
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		67,731	60,751	121,505	115,258
Assets held for sale (1)		0		0		$ 1,736,444	[1]
Total assets		5,736,504		5,736,504		6,842,336
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums written—insurance		251,082	221,947	492,990	434,900
Increase in unearned premiums		(13,645)	(18,301)	(30,958)	(32,492)
Net premiums earned-insurance		237,437	203,646	462,032	402,408
Net investment income	[2]	19,285	16,663	36,613	31,981
Other income	[2]	1,743	1,620	3,074	2,616
Revenue Non GAAP Basis		258,465	221,929	501,719	437,005
Provision for losses		31,637	64,648	77,488	114,274
Change In Present Value of Estimated Credit Loss Payments		0	180	0	319
Policy acquisition costs		6,963	6,746	14,713	13,763
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		41,853	36,356	75,903	74,120
Total Expenses Non-GAAP	[3]	80,453	107,930	168,104	202,476
Adjusted pretax operating income before corporate allocations		178,012	113,999	333,615	234,529
Allocation of corporate operating expenses	[2]	12,516	17,021	22,274	32,905
Allocation of interest expense (1)	[2]	20,070	22,348	40,023	42,275
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	[4],[5]	145,426	74,630	271,318	159,349
Total assets		5,384,224		5,384,224		4,769,014
Costs and Expenses, Related Party		1,092	0	1,994	0
Mortgage and Real Estate Services Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Services revenue		44,595	0	76,127	0
Other income		0	119	0	249
Revenue Non GAAP Basis	[6]	44,595	119	76,127	249
Direct cost of services		25,501	0	44,754	0
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		11,522	642	20,379	1,501
Total Expenses Non-GAAP		37,023	642	65,133	1,501
Adjusted pretax operating income before corporate allocations		7,572	(523)	10,994	(1,252)
Allocation of corporate operating expenses		1,307	0	2,288	0
Allocation of interest expense (1)		4,431	0	8,863	0
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	[5]	1,834	(523)	(157)	(1,252)
Total assets		352,280		352,280		$ 336,878
Revenue from Related Parties		1,092	0	1,994	0
Mortgage Insurance and Mortgage and Real Estate Services Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)		147,260	74,107	271,161	158,097
Interest Expense [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting, Previously Allocated Income (Expense) to Discontinued Operations		0	15,943	9,918	30,498
Investment Income [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting, Previously Allocated Income (Expense) to Discontinued Operations		0	1,392	882	2,689
Other Income [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting, Previously Allocated Income (Expense) to Discontinued Operations		0	113	26	182
Other Operating Income (Expense) [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting, Previously Allocated Income (Expense) to Discontinued Operations		$ 0	$ 4,412	$ 2,074	$ 8,561

[1] Assets held for sale are not part of the Mortgage Insurance or Services segments.

[2] For periods prior to the April 1, 2015 sale of Radian Asset Assurance, includes certain corporate income and expenses that have been reallocated to the Mortgage Insurance segment that were previously allocated to the former financial guaranty segment, but were not reclassified to discontinued operations, as follows: Three Months EndedJune 30, Six Months EndedJune 30,(In thousands)2015 2014 2015 2014Net investment income$— $1,392 $882 $2,689Other income— 113 26 182Allocation of corporate operating expenses— 4,412 2,074 8,561Allocation of interest expense— 15,943 9,918 30,498

[3] Includes inter-segment expenses as follows: Three Months EndedJune 30, Six Months EndedJune 30,(In thousands)2015 2014 2015 2014Inter-segment expenses$1,092 $— $1,994 $—

[4] For periods prior to the April 1, 2015 sale of Radian Asset Assurance, includes certain corporate income and expenses that have been reallocated to the Mortgage Insurance segment, as listed in the preceding tables. These amounts represent items that were previously allocated to the former financial guaranty segment, but were not reclassified to discontinued operations.

[5] Includes inter-segment expenses and revenues as listed in the notes to the preceding tables.

[6] Includes inter-segment revenues as follows: Three Months EndedJune 30, Six Months EndedJune 30,(In thousands)2015 2014 2015 2014Inter-segment revenues$1,092 $— $1,994 $—