Note 3 - Segment Reporting Schedule of Segment Reporting Information by Segment (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Operating Segments | segment				2
Net premiums earned-insurance		$ 227,433	$ 217,827	$ 689,465	$ 620,235
Services revenue		42,189	42,243	116,322	42,243
Net investment income		22,091	17,143	58,704	49,124
Other income		1,711	1,162	4,785	4,027
Provision for losses		64,192	48,942	141,780	163,216
Policy acquisition costs		2,880	4,240	17,593	18,003
Direct cost of services		24,949	23,896	67,722	23,896
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		65,082	51,225	186,587	166,483
Assets held for sale		0		0		$ 1,736,444	[1]
Total assets		5,760,916		5,760,916		6,842,336
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums written—insurance		242,168	245,775	735,158	680,675
Increase in unearned premiums		(14,735)	(27,948)	(45,693)	(60,440)
Net premiums earned-insurance		227,433	217,827	689,465	620,235
Net investment income	[2]	22,091	17,143	58,704	49,124
Other income	[2]	1,711	1,037	4,785	3,653
Revenue Non GAAP Basis		251,235	236,007	752,954	673,012
Provision for losses		64,128	48,942	141,616	163,216
Change In Present Value of Estimated Credit Loss Payments		0	(190)	0	129
Policy acquisition costs		2,880	4,240	17,593	18,003
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		36,632	33,679	112,535	107,799
Total Expenses Non-GAAP	[3]	103,640	86,671	271,744	289,147
Adjusted pretax operating income before corporate allocations		147,595	149,336	481,210	383,865
Allocation of corporate operating expenses	[2]	14,893	8,520	37,167	41,425
Allocation of interest expense	[2]	16,797	19,565	56,820	61,840
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	[4],[5]	115,905	121,251	387,223	280,600
Assets held for sale	[1]					0
Total assets		5,408,200		5,408,200		4,769,014
Costs and Expenses, Related Party		925	0	2,919	0
Mortgage and Real Estate Services Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Services revenue		43,114	42,243	119,241	42,243
Other income		0	125	0	374
Revenue Non GAAP Basis	[6]	43,114	42,368	119,241	42,617
Direct cost of services		25,870	23,896	70,624	23,896
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		11,533	9,054	31,912	10,555
Total Expenses Non-GAAP		37,403	32,950	102,536	34,451
Adjusted pretax operating income before corporate allocations		5,711	9,418	16,705	8,166
Allocation of corporate operating expenses		1,567	404	3,855	404
Allocation of interest expense		4,423	4,424	13,286	4,424
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	[5]	(279)	4,590	(436)	3,338
Assets held for sale	[1]					0
Total assets		352,716		352,716		$ 336,878
Revenue from Related Parties		$ 925	0	2,919	0
Investment Income [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting, Previously Allocated Income (Expense) to Discontinued Operations			1,239	882	3,928
Other Income [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting, Previously Allocated Income (Expense) to Discontinued Operations			32	26	214
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			(1,626)	(2,074)	(10,187)
Interest Expense [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting, Previously Allocated Income (Expense) to Discontinued Operations			$ (11,629)	$ (9,918)	$ (42,127)

[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 EndedSeptember 30, Nine Months EndedSeptember 30,(In thousands)2014 2015 2014Net investment income$1,239 $882 $3,928Other income32 26 214Allocation of corporate operating expenses1,626 2,074 10,187Allocation of interest expense11,629 9,918 42,127

[3] Includes inter-segment expenses as follows: Three Months EndedSeptember 30, Nine Months EndedSeptember 30,(In thousands)2015 2014 2015 2014Inter-segment expenses$925 $— $2,919 $—

[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 EndedSeptember 30, Nine Months EndedSeptember 30,(In thousands)2015 2014 2015 2014Inter-segment revenues$925 $— $2,919 $—