Estimated title losses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Roll Forward]
Balances at beginning of period	$ 480,990	$ 462,572
Provisions:
Current year	62,592	69,067
Previous policy years	(3,410)	1,524
Total provisions	59,182	70,591
Payments, net of recoveries:
Current year	(9,466)	(10,403)
Previous policy years	(50,822)	(53,491)
Total payments, net of recoveries	(60,288)	(63,894)
Effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates	(3,014)	6,576
Balances at end of period	$ 476,870	$ 475,845
Loss ratios as a percentage of title operating revenues:
Current year provisions	4.50%	5.00%
Total provisions	4.30%	5.10%