Note 11 - Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses Mortgage Insurance Reserves by Product (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables		$ 8,492	$ 7,368
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) (Note 11)		507,588	760,269
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) (Note 11)		507,588	760,269	$ 976,399	$ 1,560,032
Mortgage Insurance Segment | First Lien Mortgage Insurance Products [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) (Note 11)		507,043	759,550
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Total Primary Insurance Mortgage Insurance Products [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) (Note 11)		493,580	726,057
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Prime Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims		285,022	379,845
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Alt-A and A minus and Below Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims		170,873	249,659
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Primary Mortgage Product [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Incurred but Not Reported Claims	[1]	16,021	71,107
Liability for Claims Adjustment Expense		13,349	18,630
Reinsurance recoverables	[2]	8,315	6,816
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Pool Insurance Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims		12,794	31,853
Liability for Incurred but Not Reported Claims		278	673
Liability for Claims Adjustment Expense		356	932
Reinsurance recoverables	[2]	35	35
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) (Note 11)		13,463	33,493
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Second Lien Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) (Note 11)	[3]	$ 545	$ 719

[1] At December 31, 2016, primarily related to expected payments under the Freddie Mac Agreement. During the third quarter of 2017, the scheduled final settlement date under the Freddie Mac Agreement occurred and therefore, except for loans with loss mitigation and claims activity already in process, most of the loans subject to the Freddie Mac Agreement were removed from RIF and IIF because the insurance no longer remains in force. See “—Agreements—Freddie Mac Agreement,” below for additional information.

[2] Represents ceded losses on captive reinsurance transactions, the QSR Transactions and the 2016 Single Premium QSR Transaction.

[3] Does not include our second-lien mortgage loan PDR that is included in other liabilities.