Note 3 - Segment Reporting Schedule of Segment Reporting Information by Segment (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Operating Segments | segment				2
Net premiums earned-insurance		$ 238,149	$ 227,433	$ 688,184	$ 689,465
Services revenue		43,096	42,189	112,990	116,322
Net investment income		28,430	22,091	84,470	58,704
Other income		3,497	1,711	8,835	4,785
Provision for losses		55,785	64,192	148,501	141,780
Policy acquisition costs		6,119	2,880	17,901	17,593
Direct cost of services		26,704	24,949	73,311	67,722
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		64,862	65,082	189,531	186,587
Net gains (losses) on investments and other financial instruments		7,711	3,868	69,524	49,095
Total assets		6,049,827		6,049,827		$ 5,642,100
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums written—insurance	[1]	240,999	242,168	499,662	735,158
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums		(2,850)	(14,735)	188,522	(45,693)
Net premiums earned-insurance		238,149	227,433	688,184	689,465
Net investment income		28,430	22,091	84,470	58,704
Other income		3,511	1,711	8,850	4,785
Total	[2]	270,090	251,235	781,504	752,954
Provision for losses		56,151	64,128	149,500	141,616
Policy acquisition costs		6,119	2,880	17,901	17,593
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		38,081	36,632	108,036	112,535
Total	[3]	100,351	103,640	275,437	271,744
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss) before corporate allocations		169,739	147,595	506,067	481,210
Allocation of corporate operating expenses		11,911	14,893	35,526	37,167
Allocation of interest expense		15,360	16,797	50,596	56,820
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	[4]	142,468	115,905	419,945	387,223
Net gains (losses) on investments and other financial instruments		7,700	3,900	69,500	49,100
Inter-segment expenses		718	925	2,023	2,919
Total assets		5,686,726		5,686,726		5,281,597
Mortgage and Real Estate Services Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Services revenue	[5]	43,800	43,114	114,998	119,241
Direct cost of services		26,911	25,870	74,188	70,624
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		12,740	11,533	39,160	31,912
Total		39,651	37,403	113,348	102,536
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss) before corporate allocations		4,149	5,711	1,650	16,705
Allocation of corporate operating expenses		2,265	1,567	6,795	3,855
Allocation of interest expense		4,423	4,423	13,267	13,286
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	[4]	(2,539)	(279)	(18,412)	(436)
Inter-segment revenues		718	$ 925	2,023	$ 2,919
Total assets		$ 363,101		$ 363,101		$ 360,503

[1] Net of ceded premiums written under the QSR Transactions and the Single Premium QSR Transaction. See Note 7 for additional information.

[2] Excludes net gains on investments and other financial instruments of $7.7 million and $69.5 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, and $3.9 million and $49.1 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, not included in adjusted pretax operating income.

[3] Includes inter-segment expenses as follows: Three Months EndedSeptember 30, Nine Months EndedSeptember 30,(In thousands)2016 2015 2016 2015Inter-segment expenses$718 $925 $2,023 $2,919

[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 EndedSeptember 30, Nine Months EndedSeptember 30,(In thousands)2016 2015 2016 2015Inter-segment revenues$718 $925 $2,023 $2,919