Note 7 - Reinsurance Reinsurance Transactions (Details) - Reinsurer Concentration Risk [Member] - Radian Guaranty - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Quota Share Reinsurance Transactions [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Ceded Premiums Written	[1]	$ 5,059	$ 7,356	$ 10,516	$ 15,318
Ceded Premiums Earned	[1]	7,404	11,172	15,238	22,497
Accrued Liabilities for Commissions, Expense and Taxes		1,446	2,099	3,005	4,369
Fees and Commissions	[2]	3,379	3,779	7,273	8,225
Ceded losses, net		(310)	223	260	764
Single Premium QSR Transaction [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Ceded Premiums Written	[1]	13,856	11,488	22,816	209,081	[3]
Ceded Premiums Earned	[1]	6,311	7,146	12,170	13,140
Accrued Liabilities for Commissions, Expense and Taxes		5,134	4,844	8,846	55,776
Fees and Commissions	[2]	3,248	3,759	6,185	6,791
Risk In Force		4,100,000	3,500,000	4,100,000	3,500,000
Ceded losses, net		464	380	1,037	916
First Lien Mortgage Insurance Products [Member] | Quota Share Reinsurance Transactions [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Risk In Force		$ 1,400,000	$ 1,900,000	$ 1,400,000	$ 1,900,000

[1] Net of profit commission.

[2] Includes amounts reported in policy acquisition costs and other operating expenses.

[3] Includes ceded premiums for policies written in prior periods. See Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2016 Form 10-K.