Note 15 - Discontinued Operations Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net investment income		$ 28,839,000	$ 19,285,000	$ 56,040,000	$ 36,613,000
Net gains (losses) on investments and other financial instruments		30,527,000	28,448,000	61,813,000	45,227,000
Other income		3,423,000	1,743,000	5,338,000	3,074,000
Total revenues		330,168,000	330,416,000	643,120,000	621,079,000
Policy acquisition costs		5,393,000	6,963,000	11,782,000	14,713,000
Other operating expenses		65,680,000	67,731,000	124,669,000	121,505,000
Total expenses		173,621,000	250,432,000	384,171,000	403,645,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		0	4,855,000	0	5,385,000
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale [Member] | Radian Asset Assurance [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Sale of Stock, Percentage of Ownership before Transaction	100.00%
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration	$ 810,000,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		$ 0		0
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale [Member] | Radian Asset Assurance [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total Operating Expenses Allocated to Subsidiaries From Parent Company				0	0
Total Interest Expense Allocated to Subsidiaries From Parent Company				$ 0	0
Net premiums earned			0		1,007,000
Net investment income			0		9,153,000
Net gains (losses) on investments and other financial instruments			7,818,000		21,486,000
Change in fair value of derivative instruments			0		2,625,000
Total revenues			7,818,000		34,271,000
Provision for losses			0		502,000
Policy acquisition costs			0
Policy acquisition costs					(191,000)
Other operating expenses			0		4,107,000
Total expenses			0		4,418,000
Equity in net (loss) of affiliates			0		(13,000)
Income from operations of businesses held for sale			7,818,000		29,840,000
Loss on sale			350,000		(14,280,000)	$ 467,500,000
Income tax provision			2,613,000		10,175,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax			$ 4,855,000		$ 5,385,000