Note 7 - Reinsurance Reinsurance Transactions (Details) - Reinsurer Concentration Risk [Member] - Radian Guaranty - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Quota Share Reinsurance Transactions [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Ceded Premiums Written	[1]	$ 5,457	$ 7,962
Ceded Premiums Earned	[1]	7,834	11,325
Accrued Liabilities for Commissions, Expense and Taxes		1,559	2,270
Fees and Commissions	[2]	3,894	4,446
Reinsurance Recoverable for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustments		570	541
Single Premium QSR Transaction [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Ceded Premiums Written	[1]	8,960	197,593	[3]
Ceded Premiums Earned	[1]	5,859	5,994
Accrued Liabilities for Commissions, Expense and Taxes		3,712	50,932
Fees and Commissions	[2]	2,937	3,032
Risk In Force		3,900,000	3,300,000
Reinsurance Recoverable for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustments		573	536
First Lien Mortgage Insurance Products [Member] | Quota Share Reinsurance Transactions [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Risk In Force		$ 1,500,000	$ 2,000,000

[1] Net of profit commission.

[2] Includes amounts reported in policy acquisition costs and other operating expenses.

[3] Includes ceded premiums for policies written in prior periods. See Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2016 Form 10-K.