Note 7 - Reinsurance Reinsurance Transactions (Details) - Reinsurer Concentration Risk [Member] - Radian Guaranty - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Quota Share Reinsurance Transactions [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Ceded Premiums Written	[1]	$ 4,621	$ 6,730	$ 15,137	$ 22,048
Ceded Premiums Earned	[1]	6,826	10,597	22,064	33,094
Accrued Liabilities for Commissions, Expense and Taxes		1,323	1,922	4,328	6,291
Fees and Commissions	[2]	2,925	3,974	10,198	12,199
Ceded losses, net		257	495	517	1,259
Single Premium QSR Transaction [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Ceded Premiums Written	[1]	13,248	13,004	36,064	222,085	[3]
Ceded Premiums Earned	[1]	6,771	8,608	18,941	21,748
Accrued Liabilities for Commissions, Expense and Taxes		5,156	5,482	14,002	61,258
Fees and Commissions	[2]	3,536	4,382	9,721	11,173
Risk In Force		4,300,000	3,600,000	4,300,000	3,600,000
Ceded losses, net		406	719	1,443	1,635
First Lien Mortgage Insurance Products [Member] | Quota Share Reinsurance Transactions [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Risk In Force		$ 1,300,000	$ 1,700,000	$ 1,300,000	$ 1,700,000

[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.