Note 14 - Statutory Information Statutory Information (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) years	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	$ 2,900,000	$ 2,900,000
Differences Between GAAP Basis and STAT Basis [Member]
STAT Accounting Information [Abstract]
Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Companies Are Required Each Year To Establish A Contingency Reserve Equal To This Percentage Of Premiums Earned In Such Year		50.00%
Number Of Years A Fifty Percent Contingency Reserve Is Required To Be Maintained | years		10
Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Companies Contingency Reserve May Be Reduced With Regulatory Approval To The Extent That Losses In Any Calendar Year Exceed This Percentage Of Earned Premiums For Such Year		35.00%
PENNSYLVANIA
Additional Risk And Capital Information
Policyholder Dividends, Rate on Policy Earnings		10.00%
Radian Guaranty [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Surplus Notes	325,000	$ 325,000
Statutory Unassigned Negative Surplus	679,900	679,900	$ 715,700
Statutory contingency reserve	860,900	860,900	389,400	$ 23,000
STAT Accounting Information [Abstract]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount		754,800	273,700	(23,800)
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	1,686,500	1,686,500	1,325,200	1,317,800
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent		100,000	100,000	230,400
Radian Guaranty [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member]
STAT Accounting Information [Abstract]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Amount Available for Dividend Payments					$ 0
Radian Reinsurance [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Unassigned Negative Surplus	127,300	127,300
Statutory contingency reserve	128,800	128,800
STAT Accounting Information [Abstract]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount		(1,000)
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	138,700	138,700
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent		50,000
Radian Reinsurance [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member]
STAT Accounting Information [Abstract]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Amount Available for Dividend Payments					$ 0
Radian Mortgage Guaranty Inc. [Member]
Additional Risk And Capital Information
Required statutory surplus	20,000	20,000
Other MI Companies [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory contingency reserve	1,100	1,100	140,700	80,900
STAT Accounting Information [Abstract]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount		92,900	112,900	99,600
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	55,000	55,000	$ 473,700	$ 406,100
Radian Guaranty Reinsurance Inc [Member]
Additional Risk And Capital Information
Required statutory surplus	20,000	20,000
Radian Insurance [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Risk In Force	48,500	48,500
Radian Investor Surety Inc. [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures						$ 20,000
Cash Dividends Paid to Parent Company	15,000
Risk In Force	0	0
STAT Accounting Information [Abstract]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	$ 5,000	$ 5,000