Note 3 - Segment Reporting Schedule of Segment Reporting Information by Segment (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) segment		Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Operating Segments | segment		2
Net premiums earned-insurance		$ 220,950		$ 224,595
Services revenue		31,600		30,630
Net investment income		27,201		17,328
Other income		1,915		1,331
Provision for losses		42,991		45,028
Policy acquisition costs		6,389		7,750
Direct cost of services		21,749		19,253
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		58,989		53,774
Net gains on investments and other financial instruments		31,286		16,779
Total assets		5,969,391			$ 5,642,100
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums written—insurance		26,310	[1]	241,908
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums		194,640		(17,313)
Net premiums earned-insurance		220,950		224,595
Net investment income		27,201		17,328
Other income		1,915		1,331
Total	[2]	250,066		243,254
Provision for losses		43,275		45,851
Policy acquisition costs		6,389		7,750
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		33,829		34,050
Total	[3]	83,493		87,651
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss) before corporate allocations		166,573		155,603
Allocation of corporate operating expenses		9,329		9,758
Allocation of interest expense		17,112		19,953
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	[4]	140,132		125,892
Ceded Premiums Written		207,616		13,387
Net gains on investments and other financial instruments		31,300		16,800
Inter-segment expenses		596		902
Total assets		5,605,505			5,281,597
Mortgage and Real Estate Services Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Services revenue	[5]	32,196		31,532
Direct cost of services		22,053		19,253
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		13,883		8,857
Total		35,936		28,110
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss) before corporate allocations		(3,740)		3,422
Allocation of corporate operating expenses		1,751		981
Allocation of interest expense		4,422		4,432
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	[4]	(9,913)		(1,991)
Inter-segment revenues		596		902
Total assets		363,886			$ 360,503
Single Premium QSR Transaction [Member] | Reinsurer Concentration Risk [Member] | Radian Guaranty [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ceded Premiums Written		$ 197,593		$ 0

[1] Net of ceded premiums written under the Single Premium QSR Transaction of $197.6 million.

[2] Excludes net gains on investments and other financial instruments of $31.3 million and $16.8 million for the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, not included in adjusted pretax operating income.

[3] Includes inter-segment expenses as follows: Three Months EndedMarch 31,(In thousands)2016 2015Inter-segment expenses$596 $902

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

[5] Includes inter-segment revenues as follows: Three Months EndedMarch 31,(In thousands)2016 2015Inter-segment revenues$596 $902