Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies Accounting Policy (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) group payment		Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	[1]	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	[1]	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	[1]	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)		Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	[1]	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	[1]	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	[1]	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) group payment		Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Significant Accounting Policies Line Items [Line Items]
Services revenue		$ 49,905	[1]	$ 45,877		$ 40,263		$ 32,849		$ 38,338	[1],[2]	$ 43,185	[2]	$ 44,558	[2]	$ 31,135	[2]	$ 168,894		$ 157,216	[1],[2]	$ 77,951
Cost of services		33,812	[1]	29,447		27,365		23,550		23,187	[1]	26,018		25,326		19,184		114,174		93,715	[1]	44,679
Other income																		3,572		2,899		4,562
Other operating expenses		62,416	[1]	$ 62,119		$ 63,173		$ 57,188		58,624	[1]	$ 64,013		$ 65,925		$ 53,843		244,896		242,405	[1]	251,209
Cash and Restricted Cash [Abstract]
Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents		61,814								59,898								61,814		59,898
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value		52,149								46,898								52,149		46,898
Restricted cash		$ 9,665								$ 13,000								$ 9,665		13,000
Investments [Abstract]
Number of Investment Categories | group		3																3
Maximum Maturity Duration for Short Term Investment Grouping																		3 months
Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets [Abstract]
Assets Held for Sale Classification, Number of Years Until Business is Sold																		1 year
Minimum [Member]
Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance [Abstract]
Number Of Payments Missed For Insured Loans | payment		2																2
Computer Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum																		3 years
Computer Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum																		5 years
Furniture, Fixtures and Office Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum																		7 years
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Significant Accounting Policies Line Items [Line Items]
Services revenue	[3]																	$ 0
Cost of services																		0	[3]	0	[4]	0
Other income																		3,572	[3]	2,899	[4]	4,063	[5]
Other operating expenses																		$ 140,624	[3]	148,619	[4]	158,228	[5]
Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance [Abstract]
Period of Time Insureds Have After Foreclosure To Provide Documents To Perfect Claim																		1 year
Reserve for Premium Deficiency [Abstract]
Number of Mortgage Insurance Product Categories | group																		2
Contract Underwriting Reclasses [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies Line Items [Line Items]
Services revenue																				3,400		1,300
Cost of services																				3,800		1,100
Other income																				(3,400)		(1,300)
Other operating expenses																				$ (3,800)		$ (1,100)

[1] For all periods presented, reflects changes to align our segment reporting structure with recent changes in personnel reporting lines and management oversight related to contract underwriting performed on behalf of third parties. Revenue and expenses for this business are now reflected in the Services segment. As a result, for all periods presented, Services revenue and cost of services have increased, with offsetting reductions in other operating expenses.

[2] Services revenue for the first quarter of 2015 includes $0.1 million that had previously been included in other income.

[3] Reflects changes to align our segment reporting structure with recent changes in personnel reporting lines and management oversight related to contract underwriting performed on behalf of third parties. Revenue and expenses for this business are now reflected in the Services segment. As a result, for all periods presented, Services revenue, cost of services and other operating expenses have increased, with offsetting reductions in Mortgage Insurance other income and other operating expenses.

[4] Reflects changes to align our segment reporting structure with recent changes in personnel reporting lines and management oversight related to contract underwriting performed on behalf of third parties. Revenue and expenses for this business are now reflected in the Services segment. As a result, for all periods presented, Services revenue, cost of services and other operating expenses have increased, with offsetting reductions in Mortgage Insurance other income and other operating expenses.

[5] Reflects changes to align our segment reporting structure with recent changes in personnel reporting lines and management oversight related to contract underwriting performed on behalf of third parties. Revenue and expenses for this business are now reflected in the Services segment. As a result, for all periods presented, Services revenue, cost of services and other operating expenses have increased, with offsetting reductions in Mortgage Insurance other income and other operating expenses.