Note 11 - Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance Loss Reserves Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1			$ 401,361
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Balance at December 31			404,765		$ 401,361
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1			397,891	[1]	507,588		$ 760,269
Reinsurance Recoverable for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustments	[2]		11,009		8,350		6,851
Balance at beginning of period, net of reinsurance recoverables			386,882		499,238		753,418
Add losses and LAE incurred in respect of default notices reported and unreported in [Abstract]
Current year	[3]		146,733		135,291		185,486
Prior years			(14,709)		(31,699)		(49,286)
Total incurred losses and LAE			132,024		103,592		136,200
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Paid claims and LAE - Current year	[3]		4,220		5,856		25,011
Paid claims and LAE - Prior years			128,007		210,092		365,369
Total paid claims and LAE			132,227		215,948		390,380	[4]
Balance at end of period, net of reinsurance recoverables			386,679		386,882		499,238
Reinsurance Recoverable for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustments	[2]		14,594		11,009		8,350
Balance at December 31			$ 401,273	[1],[5]	$ 397,891	[1]	$ 507,588
2013 Freddie Mac Agreement | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Paid claims and LAE - Prior years		$ 54,800

[1] Primarily comprises first lien primary case reserves of $339.8 million and $361.7 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

[2] Related to ceded losses recoverable, if any, on reinsurance transactions. See Note 8 for additional information.

[3] Related to underlying defaulted loans with a most recent default notice dated in the year indicated. For example, if a loan had defaulted in a prior year, but then subsequently cured and later re-defaulted in the current year, that default would be considered a current year default. For 2017, includes payments made on pool commutations, in some cases for loans not previously in default.

[4] Includes the payment of $54.8 million made in connection with the scheduled final settlement of the Freddie Mac Agreement in the third quarter of 2017.

[5] Excludes Services reserve for losses and LAE of $3.5 million.