Note 3 - Segment Reporting Schedule of Segment Reporting Information by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums earned-insurance		$ 242,550	$ 221,800
Services revenue		33,164	38,027
Net investment income		33,956	31,032
Other income		807	746
Policy acquisition costs		7,117	6,729
Cost of services		23,126	28,375
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		63,243	68,377
Restructuring and other exit costs		551	0
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)		164,103	125,281
Net gains (losses) on investments and other financial instruments		(18,887)	(2,851)
Total assets		6,010,249		$ 5,900,881
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums written—insurance	[1]	237,980	224,665
(Increase) decrease in unearned premiums		4,570	(2,865)
Net premiums earned-insurance		242,550	221,800
Net investment income		33,956	31,032
Other income		807	746
Total	[2]	277,313	253,578
Provision for losses		37,391	47,232
Policy acquisition costs		7,117	6,729
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		31,888	39,289
Total	[3]	76,396	93,250
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss) before corporate allocations		200,917	160,328
Allocation of corporate operating expenses		18,577	14,186
Allocation of interest expense		10,629	11,509
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	[4]	171,711	134,633
Inter-segment expenses		1,002	2,062
Total assets		5,843,685		5,733,918
Mortgage and Real Estate Services Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		0		(184,374)
Services revenue	[5],[6]	34,166	40,089
Cost of services		23,270	28,690
Other operating expenses before corporate allocations		10,744	12,604
Restructuring and other exit costs	[7]	525	0
Total		34,539	41,294
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss) before corporate allocations		(373)	(1,205)
Allocation of corporate operating expenses		2,784	3,718
Allocation of interest expense		4,451	4,429
Adjusted pretax operating income (loss)	[4]	(7,608)	(9,352)
Inter-segment revenues		1,002	$ 2,062
Total assets		166,564		$ 166,963
Investments and Cash		0
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 300,000

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

[2] Excludes net losses on investments and other financial instruments of $18.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, and net losses on investments and other financial instruments of $2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, not included in adjusted pretax operating income.

[3] Includes inter-segment expenses as follows: Three Months EndedMarch 31,(In thousands)2018 2017Inter-segment expenses$1,002 $2,062

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

[5] Includes inter-segment revenues as follows: Three Months EndedMarch 31,(In thousands)2018 2017Inter-segment revenues$1,002 $2,062

[6] Includes inter-segment revenues of $1.0 million and $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. See Note 3 for segment information.

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