Note 19 - Statutory Information Statutory Information (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) years	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	$ 3,000,000
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
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Policyholder Dividends, Rate on Policy Earnings	10.00%
Radian Guaranty [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Unassigned Negative Surplus	$ 691,300	$ 679,900
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Amount Available for Dividend Payments	0
Radian Reinsurance [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Unassigned Negative Surplus	$ 118,400	$ 127,300