Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies Accounting Policy (Details)		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Jan. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) contract group payment days	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) contract group payment days	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Significant Accounting Policies Line Items [Line Items]
Cash and Restricted Cash			$ 107,002,000				$ 96,244,000				$ 107,002,000	$ 96,244,000	$ 61,814,000		$ 59,898,000
Cash			95,400,000				80,500,000				95,400,000	80,500,000
Restricted Cash			11,600,000				15,700,000				11,600,000	15,700,000
Accounts Receivable, Net			78,652,000				72,558,000				78,652,000	72,558,000
Unbilled Contracts Receivable			19,917,000				22,257,000				19,917,000	22,257,000
Services revenue			38,414,000	$ 36,566,000	$ 36,828,000	$ 33,164,000	39,703,000	$ 39,571,000	$ 37,802,000	$ 38,027,000	144,972,000	155,103,000	168,894,000
Cost of services			24,939,000	25,854,000	24,205,000	23,126,000	23,349,000	27,240,000	25,635,000	28,375,000	98,124,000	104,599,000	114,174,000
Other income											4,028,000	2,886,000	3,572,000
Other operating expenses			77,266,000	70,125,000	70,184,000	63,243,000	65,999,000	64,195,000	68,750,000	68,377,000	280,818,000	267,321,000	244,896,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due			$ 108,990,000								$ 108,990,000
Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance [Abstract]
Number Of Payments Missed For Insured Loans | payment			2								2
Period That the Policyholder Has to Challenge a Notice of Rescission | days			30								30
Tax Adjustments, Settlements, and Unusual Provisions											$ 0
Cash and Restricted Cash [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value			$ 95,393,000				80,569,000				95,393,000	80,569,000
Restricted cash			$ 11,609,000				15,675,000				$ 11,609,000	15,675,000
Investments [Abstract]
Number of Investment Categories | group			3								3
Maximum Maturity Duration for Short Term Investment Grouping											3 months
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Premiums Earned, Net			$ 261,682,000	$ 258,431,000	$ 251,344,000	$ 242,550,000	245,175,000	$ 236,702,000	$ 229,096,000	$ 221,800,000	$ 1,014,007,000	932,773,000	921,769,000
Minimum
Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance [Abstract]
Number Of Payments Missed For Insured Loans | payment			2								2
Maximum
Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance [Abstract]
Number Of Years That The Measurement Period Of The TCJA Is Not To Exceed											1 year
Computer Equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum											3 years
Computer Equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum											5 years
Furniture and Fixtures | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum											7 years
Office Equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum											5 years
Mortgage and Real Estate Services Segment
Significant Accounting Policies Line Items [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Net			$ 15,461,000				17,391,000				$ 15,461,000	17,391,000
Sales Revenue, Services and Other, Net	[1]										149,451,000	161,833,000	177,249,000
Revenue from Related Parties											3,245,000	6,730,000	8,355,000
Net Premiums Earned and Net Investment Income											7,700,000
Unbilled Contracts Receivable			19,917,000				22,257,000				19,917,000	22,257,000
Services revenue											148,217,000	161,833,000	177,249,000
Cost of services											98,692,000	105,812,000	115,369,000
Other income	[2]										1,234,000
Other operating expenses											53,250,000	50,969,000	55,815,000
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Premiums Earned, Net	[2]										7,286,000
Deferred Revenue			$ 3,204,000				3,235,000				3,204,000	3,235,000
Provision for Doubtful Accounts											$ 0	0	0
Number of Contracts | contract			3								3
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Significant Accounting Policies Line Items [Line Items]
Revenue from Related Parties											$ 0	0	0
Services revenue											0	0	0
Cost of services											0
Other income											2,794,000	2,886,000	3,572,000
Other operating expenses											$ 135,372,000	150,975,000	140,624,000
Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance [Abstract]
Period of Time Insureds Have After Foreclosure To Provide Documents To Perfect Claim											1 year
Number of Mortgage Insurance Product Categories | group											2
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Premiums Earned, Net											$ 1,006,721,000	932,773,000	921,769,000
Mortgage Services | Mortgage and Real Estate Services Segment
Significant Accounting Policies Line Items [Line Items]
Sales Revenue, Services and Other, Net											80,314,000	83,405,000	102,244,000
Real Estate Services | Mortgage and Real Estate Services Segment
Significant Accounting Policies Line Items [Line Items]
Sales Revenue, Services and Other, Net											58,874,000	55,095,000	58,056,000
Title Services | Mortgage and Real Estate Services Segment
Significant Accounting Policies Line Items [Line Items]
Sales Revenue, Services and Other, Net											$ 10,263,000	23,333,000	16,949,000
ASU 2016-01
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Increase in Invested Assets							2,300,000					2,300,000
ASU 2016-01 | Retained Earnings/(Deficit)
Significant Accounting Policies Line Items [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption							2,061,000					2,061,000	0		0
ASU 2016-01 | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Significant Accounting Policies Line Items [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption							224,000					224,000	0		0
ASU 2018-02 | Retained Earnings/(Deficit)
Significant Accounting Policies Line Items [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption							(2,724,000)					(2,724,000)	0		0
ASU 2018-02 | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Significant Accounting Policies Line Items [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption							2,724,000					2,724,000	$ 0		$ 0
ASU 2016-02 | Scenario, Forecast
Significant Accounting Policies Line Items [Line Items]
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset														$ 74,000,000
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Increase (Decrease) in Other Assets		$ 50,000,000
Increase (Decrease) in Other Liabilities		$ 50,000,000
Unrealized Loss Related to Equity Securities | ASU 2016-01 | Retained Earnings/(Deficit)
Significant Accounting Policies Line Items [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption							(200,000)					(200,000)
Practical Expedient to Measure Certain Other Investments Using the NAV | ASU 2016-01 | Retained Earnings/(Deficit)
Significant Accounting Policies Line Items [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption							$ 2,300,000					$ 2,300,000

[1] Includes inter-segment revenues of $3.2 million, $6.7 million, and $8.4 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. For 2018, amounts exclude $7.7 million of Services segment net premiums earned—insurance and net investment income, as both are excluded from the scope of the revenue recognition standard. See Note 4 for segment information.

[2] Results from inclusion of the operations of EnTitle Direct, a national title insurance and settlement service company, acquired in March 2018.