Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 20, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	TRANSCONTINENTAL REALTY INVESTORS INC
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000733590
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		8,413,469
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Public Float			$ 3,080,327