Note 1 - Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements - Business Overview, Recent Developments and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting, Policy	Our condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP and include the accounts of Radian Group Inc. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions, and intercompany profits and losses, have been eliminated. We have condensed or omitted certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP pursuant to the instructions set forth in Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the SEC.
Reclassification, Policy	Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.
Use of Estimates, Policy	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of our contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. While the amounts included in our condensed consolidated financial statements include our best estimates and assumptions, actual results may vary materially.
Lessee, Leases, Policy	We determine if an arrangement includes a lease at inception. A right of use asset and lease liability is recognized for operating leases and is included in other assets and other liabilities, respectively, in our condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2019. Right-of-use assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Right of use assets are recognized net of any payments made or received from the lessor. In determining the net present value of lease payments, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date or as of our date of adoption, January 1, 2019. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. For lease agreements entered into after the adoption of this accounting standard that include lease and non-lease components, such components are generally not accounted for separately. For our building leases, as a result of us having elected to adopt the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, we account for the lease and non-lease components, such as common area maintenance charges, as a single lease component. We have elected the short-term exemption for contracts with lease terms of 12 months or less. Prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with our historic accounting under previous lease guidance.
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles	Accounting Standards Adopted During 2019. In February 2016, the FASB issued an update that replaces the existing accounting and disclosure requirements for leases of property, plant and equipment, which requires lessees to recognize, as of the lease commencement date, assets and liabilities for all leases with lease terms of more than 12 months. Leases are required to be classified as either operating or finance, with expense on operating leases recorded as a single lease cost on a straight-line basis. For finance leases, interest expense on the lease liability is required to be recognized separately from the straight-line amortization of the right-of-use asset. We elected the optional transition method, which requires the recognition of a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the beginning of the period of adoption, and we also elected the practical expedients for transitioning existing leases to the new standard as of the effective date. As a result of applying the practical expedients: (i) we did not reassess expired or existing contracts to determine if they contain additional leases; (ii) we did not reassess the lease classification for expired and existing leases; and (iii) we did not reassess initial direct costs for existing leases. Our adoption of this update, effective January 1, 2019, resulted in our recording an increase in other liabilities of $73.5 million, and a corresponding increase in other assets. The increase to other assets was partially offset by an adjustment for unamortized allowances and incentives of $24.1 million, resulting in a right of use asset of $49.4 million. The increase in other liabilities represents a discounted lease liability from operating leases, primarily for our various facilities, which represents the present value of these future lease payments discounted at our incremental borrowing rate. Additionally, we expanded our financial statement disclosures as required by the amendments. Our adoption of this standard did not impact our stockholders’ equity, results of operations or liquidity. See above for a discussion of our accounting policy regarding leases and Note 12. In March 2017, the FASB issued an update to the accounting standard regarding receivables. The new standard requires certain premiums on purchased callable debt securities to be amortized to the earliest call date. The amortization period for callable debt securities purchased at a discount will not be impacted. The provisions of this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The adoption of this update did not have a material effect on our financial statements and disclosures.
New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted, Policy	Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted. In June 2016, the FASB issued an update to the accounting standard regarding the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments. This update requires that financial assets measured at their amortized cost basis be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities are to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses, rather than a write-down of the asset, with the amount of the allowance limited to the amount by which fair value is less than amortized cost. This update is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. This update is not applicable to credit losses associated with our mortgage insurance policies. We are currently evaluating the impact on our financial statements and future disclosures as a result of this update. In August 2018, the FASB issued an update to the accounting standard regarding long-duration insurance contracts. The new standard: (i) requires that assumptions used to measure the liability for future policy benefits be reviewed at least annually; (ii) defines and simplifies the measurement of market risk benefits; (iii) simplifies the amortization of deferred acquisition costs; and (iv) enhances the required disclosures about long-duration contracts. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this update and do not expect it to have a material effect on our financial statements and disclosures. In August 2018, the FASB issued an update to the accounting standard regarding the capitalization of implementation costs for activities performed in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract. The new standard aligns the accounting for implementation costs of hosting arrangements that are service contracts with the accounting for capitalizing internal-use software. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this update and do not expect it to have a material effect on our financial statements and disclosures.
Segment Reporting, Policy	We have two strategic business units that we manage separately—Mortgage Insurance and Services. Adjusted pretax operating income (loss) for each segment represents segment results on a standalone basis; therefore, inter-segment eliminations and reclassifications required for consolidated GAAP presentation have not been reflected. We allocate to our Mortgage Insurance segment: (i) corporate expenses based on the segment’s forecasted annual percentage of total revenue, which approximates the estimated percentage of time spent on the segment; (ii) except as described below, all interest expense; and (iii) all corporate cash and investments. Prior to January 1, 2019, interest expense related to the Clayton Intercompany Note was allocated to our Services segment. Effective January 1, 2019, Radian Group recapitalized the Services segment with a capital contribution that enabled the Services segment to repay the intercompany note and its accumulated allocated interest expense associated with the note, and effective as of the same date, all interest expense is allocated to our Mortgage Insurance segment. We allocate to our Services segment: (i) corporate expenses based on the segment’s forecasted annual percentage of total revenue, which approximates the estimated percentage of time spent on the segment and (ii) until January 1, 2019, the allocated interest expense related to the intercompany note as described above. No corporate cash or investments are allocated to the Services segment. Inter-segment activities are recorded at market rates for segment reporting and eliminated in consolidation. Contract underwriting activities are reported within our Services segment. We include underwriting-related expenses for mortgage insurance, based on a pro-rata volume of mortgage applications excluding third-party contract underwriting services, in our Mortgage Insurance segment’s other operating expenses before corporate allocations. We include underwriting-related expenses for third-party contract underwriting services, based on a pro-rata volume of mortgage applications, in our Services segment’s cost of services and other operating expenses before corporate allocations, as applicable.
Income Tax, Policy	We are required to establish a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that all or some portion of our deferred tax assets will not be realized. At each balance sheet date, we assess our need for a valuation allowance and this assessment is based on all available evidence, both positive and negative. This requires management to exercise judgment and make assumptions regarding whether our deferred tax assets will be realized in future periods.

Note 1 - Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements - Business Overview, Recent Developments and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting, Policy

Our condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP and include the accounts of Radian Group Inc. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions, and intercompany profits and losses, have been eliminated. We have condensed or omitted certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP pursuant to the instructions set forth in Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the SEC.

Reclassification, Policy

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.

Use of Estimates, Policy

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of our contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. While the amounts included in our condensed consolidated financial statements include our best estimates and assumptions, actual results may vary materially.

Lessee, Leases, Policy

We determine if an arrangement includes a lease at inception. A right of use asset and lease liability is recognized for operating leases and is included in other assets and other liabilities, respectively, in our condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2019. Right-of-use assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Right of use assets are recognized net of any payments made or received from the lessor. In determining the net present value of lease payments, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date or as of our date of adoption, January 1, 2019. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. For lease agreements entered into after the adoption of this accounting standard that include lease and non-lease components, such components are generally not accounted for separately. For our building leases, as a result of us having elected to adopt the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, we account for the lease and non-lease components, such as common area maintenance charges, as a single lease component. We have elected the short-term exemption for contracts with lease terms of 12 months or less. Prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with our historic accounting under previous lease guidance.

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles

Accounting Standards Adopted During 2019. In February 2016, the FASB issued an update that replaces the existing accounting and disclosure requirements for leases of property, plant and equipment, which requires lessees to recognize, as of the lease commencement date, assets and liabilities for all leases with lease terms of more than 12 months. Leases are required to be classified as either operating or finance, with expense on operating leases recorded as a single lease cost on a straight-line basis. For finance leases, interest expense on the lease liability is required to be recognized separately from the straight-line amortization of the right-of-use asset.

We elected the optional transition method, which requires the recognition of a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the beginning of the period of adoption, and we also elected the practical expedients for transitioning existing leases to the new standard as of the effective date. As a result of applying the practical expedients: (i) we did not reassess expired or existing contracts to determine if they contain additional leases; (ii) we did not reassess the lease classification for expired and existing leases; and (iii) we did not reassess initial direct costs for existing leases. Our adoption of this update, effective January 1, 2019, resulted in our recording an increase in other liabilities of $73.5 million, and a corresponding increase in other assets. The increase to other assets was partially offset by an adjustment for unamortized allowances and incentives of $24.1 million, resulting in a right of use asset of $49.4 million. The increase in other liabilities represents a discounted lease liability from operating leases, primarily for our various facilities, which represents the present value of these future lease payments discounted at our incremental borrowing rate. Additionally, we expanded our financial statement disclosures as required by the amendments. Our adoption of this standard did not impact our stockholders’ equity, results of operations or liquidity. See above for a discussion of our accounting policy regarding leases and Note 12.

In March 2017, the FASB issued an update to the accounting standard regarding receivables. The new standard requires certain premiums on purchased callable debt securities to be amortized to the earliest call date. The amortization period for callable debt securities purchased at a discount will not be impacted. The provisions of this update are effective for fiscal years

beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The adoption of this update did not have a material effect on our financial statements and disclosures.

New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted, Policy

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted. In June 2016, the FASB issued an update to the accounting standard regarding the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments. This update requires that financial assets measured at their amortized cost basis be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities are to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses, rather than a write-down of the asset, with the amount of the allowance limited to the amount by which fair value is less than amortized cost. This update is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. This update is not applicable to credit losses associated with our mortgage insurance policies. We are currently evaluating the impact on our financial statements and future disclosures as a result of this update.

In August 2018, the FASB issued an update to the accounting standard regarding long-duration insurance contracts. The new standard: (i) requires that assumptions used to measure the liability for future policy benefits be reviewed at least annually; (ii) defines and simplifies the measurement of market risk benefits; (iii) simplifies the amortization of deferred acquisition costs; and (iv) enhances the required disclosures about long-duration contracts. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this update and do not expect it to have a material effect on our financial statements and disclosures.

In August 2018, the FASB issued an update to the accounting standard regarding the capitalization of implementation costs for activities performed in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract. The new standard aligns the accounting for implementation costs of hosting arrangements that are service contracts with the accounting for capitalizing internal-use software. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this update and do not expect it to have a material effect on our financial statements and disclosures.

Segment Reporting, Policy

We have two strategic business units that we manage separately—Mortgage Insurance and Services. Adjusted pretax operating income (loss) for each segment represents segment results on a standalone basis; therefore, inter-segment eliminations and reclassifications required for consolidated GAAP presentation have not been reflected.

We allocate to our Mortgage Insurance segment: (i) corporate expenses based on the segment’s forecasted annual percentage of total revenue, which approximates the estimated percentage of time spent on the segment; (ii) except as described below, all interest expense; and (iii) all corporate cash and investments. Prior to January 1, 2019, interest expense related to the Clayton Intercompany Note was allocated to our Services segment. Effective January 1, 2019, Radian Group recapitalized the Services segment with a capital contribution that enabled the Services segment to repay the intercompany note and its accumulated allocated interest expense associated with the note, and effective as of the same date, all interest expense is allocated to our Mortgage Insurance segment.

We allocate to our Services segment: (i) corporate expenses based on the segment’s forecasted annual percentage of total revenue, which approximates the estimated percentage of time spent on the segment and (ii) until January 1, 2019, the allocated interest expense related to the intercompany note as described above. No corporate cash or investments are allocated to the Services segment. Inter-segment activities are recorded at market rates for segment reporting and eliminated in consolidation.

Contract underwriting activities are reported within our Services segment. We include underwriting-related expenses for mortgage insurance, based on a pro-rata volume of mortgage applications excluding third-party contract underwriting services, in our Mortgage Insurance segment’s other operating expenses before corporate allocations. We include underwriting-related expenses for third-party contract underwriting services, based on a pro-rata volume of mortgage applications, in our Services segment’s cost of services and other operating expenses before corporate allocations, as applicable.

Income Tax, Policy

We are required to establish a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that all or some portion of our deferred tax assets will not be realized. At each balance sheet date, we assess our need for a valuation allowance and this assessment is based on all available evidence, both positive and negative. This requires management to exercise judgment and make assumptions regarding whether our deferred tax assets will be realized in future periods.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for income taxes, which may include its accounting policies for recognizing and measuring deferred tax assets and liabilities and related valuation allowances, recognizing investment tax credits, operating loss carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards, and other carryforwards, methodologies for determining its effective income tax rate and the characterization of interest and penalties in the financial statements.

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