Note 1 - Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements - Business Overview and Significant Accounting Policies Business Overview and Significant Accounting Policies(Details) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 27, 2017 USD ($) shares	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) segment	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Business Overview [Abstract]
Number of Operating Segments | segment					2
Mortgage Insurance [Abstract]
Loss on induced conversion and debt extinguishment		$ (1,247)		$ (2,108)	$ (5,703)	$ (57,678)
Impairment of goodwill (Note 6)		184,374		$ 0	184,374	$ 0
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		$ 58,935			$ 58,935
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Mortgage Insurance [Abstract]
Private Mortgage Insurance Protects Lenders For Loans Made With Less Than This Maximum Down Payment Percentage		20.00%			20.00%
Risk In Force		$ 49,800,000			$ 49,800,000
Mortgage and Real Estate Services Segment [Member]
Mortgage Insurance [Abstract]
Impairment of goodwill (Note 6)		184,374			184,374		$ 0
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived		15,800
Goodwill		10,922			10,922		195,170	$ 195,170
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net		58,935			58,935		$ 81,058
Convertible Senior Notes Due 2017
Mortgage Insurance [Abstract]
Repayments of Convertible Debt		31,600
Convertible Senior Notes Due 2019
Mortgage Insurance [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Repurchase Amount			$ 68,000
Repayments of Convertible Debt	$ 110,100
Loss on induced conversion and debt extinguishment	$ (4,500)		$ (4,500)
Convertible Debt | Convertible Senior Notes Due 2017
Mortgage Insurance [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Repurchase Amount		21,600			$ 21,600
Loss on induced conversion and debt extinguishment		$ (1,200)
Convertible Debt | Convertible Senior Notes Due 2019
Mortgage Insurance [Abstract]
Reduction in Dilutive Shares Attributable to Redemption of Conversion of Debt Securities | shares	6.4
Total Primary Insurance Mortgage Insurance Products [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Mortgage Insurance [Abstract]
Concentration Risk, Percentage					98.20%
Pool Insurance Mortgage Insurance Product [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Mortgage Insurance [Abstract]
Concentration Risk, Percentage					1.70%