Note 3 - Segment Reporting Schedule of Segment Reporting Information by Segment (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)		Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) segment		Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		$ 0			$ 0		$ (184,374)		$ 0
Number of Operating Segments | segment							2
Net premiums earned-insurance		236,702			238,149		$ 687,598		688,184
Services revenue		39,571			45,877		115,400		118,989
Net investment income		32,540			28,430		93,643		84,470
Other income		760			716		2,118		2,836
Policy acquisition costs		5,554			6,119		18,406		17,901
Cost of services		27,240			29,447		81,250		80,362
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		64,195			62,119		201,322		182,480
Restructuring and other exit costs		12,038			0		12,038		0
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)		155,619			139,929		444,636		401,533
Net gains (losses) on investments and other financial instruments		2,480			7,711		4,960		69,524
Total assets		5,844,273					5,844,273				$ 5,863,174
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums written—insurance	[1]	247,810			240,999	[2]	713,782		499,662	[2]
(Increase) decrease in unearned premiums		(11,108)			(2,850)	[2]	(26,184)		188,522	[2]
Net premiums earned-insurance		236,702			238,149	[2]	687,598		688,184	[2]
Net investment income		32,540			28,430	[2]	93,643		84,470	[2]
Other income		760			716	[2]	2,118		2,836	[2]
Total	[3]	270,002			267,295	[2]	783,359		775,490	[2]
Provision for losses		35,980			56,151	[2]	100,926		149,500	[2]
Policy acquisition costs		5,554			6,119	[2]	18,406		17,901	[2]
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		36,941			35,940	[2]	114,169		102,851	[2]
Total	[4]	78,475			98,210	[2]	233,501		270,252	[2]
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss) before corporate allocations		191,527			169,085	[2]	549,858		505,238	[2]
Allocation of corporate operating expenses		11,737			11,911	[2]	41,817		35,526	[2]
Allocation of interest expense		11,282			15,360	[2]	34,539		50,596	[2]
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	[5]	168,508			141,814	[2]	473,502		419,116	[2]
Inter-segment expenses		1,491			2,156		5,726		5,702
Total assets		5,630,687					5,630,687				5,506,338
Mortgage and Real Estate Services Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss				$ (184,400)			(184,374)				0
Services revenue	[6]	41,062			48,033	[7]	121,126		124,691	[7]
Cost of services		27,544			29,655	[7]	82,196		81,239	[7]
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		12,781			13,575	[7]	38,188		40,973	[7]
Restructuring and other exit costs		5,463			0	[8]	5,463	[8]	0	[8]
Total		45,788			43,230	[7]	125,847		122,212	[7]
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss) before corporate allocations		(4,726)			4,803	[7]	(4,721)		2,479	[7]
Allocation of corporate operating expenses		3,730			2,265	[7]	10,852		6,795	[7]
Allocation of interest expense		4,433			4,423	[7]	13,293		13,267	[7]
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	[5]	(12,889)			(1,885)	[7]	(28,866)		(17,583)	[7]
Inter-segment revenues		1,491			$ 2,156		5,726		$ 5,702
Total assets		213,586	[9]				213,586	[9]			$ 356,836
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 300,000					$ 300,000

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

[2] Reflects changes made during the fourth quarter of 2016 to align our segment reporting structure concurrent with 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, Services revenue, cost of services and other operating expenses have increased, with offsetting reductions in Mortgage Insurance other income and other operating expenses.

[3] Excludes net gains on investments and other financial instruments of $2.5 million and $5.0 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, and 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, not included in adjusted pretax operating income.

[4] Includes inter-segment expenses as follows: Three Months EndedSeptember 30, Nine Months EndedSeptember 30,(In thousands)2017 2016 2017 2016Inter-segment expenses$1,491 $2,156 $5,726 $5,702

[5] Includes inter-segment expenses and revenues as listed in the notes to the preceding tables.

[6] Includes inter-segment revenues as follows: Three Months EndedSeptember 30, Nine Months EndedSeptember 30,(In thousands)2017 2016 2017 2016Inter-segment revenues$1,491 $2,156 $5,726 $5,702

[7] Reflects changes made during the fourth quarter of 2016 to align our segment reporting structure concurrent with 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, Services revenue, cost of services and other operating expenses have increased, with offsetting reductions in Mortgage Insurance other income and other operating expenses.

[8] Primarily includes employee severance and related benefit costs. Does not include impairment of long-lived assets, which is not considered a component of adjusted pretax operating income.

[9] The decrease in total assets for the Services segment at September 30, 2017, as compared to December 31, 2016, is primarily due to the impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets. See Note 6 for further details.