ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)

Organization and business. Transcontinental Realty Investors, Inc., a Nevada corporation, is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and its common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol (“TCI”). TCI is the successor to a California business trust that was organized on September 6, 1983 and commenced operations on January 31, 1984. On November 30, 1999, TCI acquired all of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of Continental Mortgage and Equity Trust (“CMET”), a real estate company, in a tax-free exchange of shares, issuing 1,181 shares of its common stock for each outstanding CMET share. Prior to January 1, 2000, TCI elected to be treated as a Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). During the third quarter of 2000, due to a concentration of ownership TCI no longer met the requirement for tax treatment as a REIT. Effective March 31, 2003, TCI’s financial results were consolidated in the American Realty Investors, Inc. (“ARL”) Form 10-K and related consolidated financial statements.

TCI is a “C” corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and files an annual consolidated income tax return with ARL, whose common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol (“ARL”). Subsidiaries of ARL own approximately 83.8% of the Company’s common stock.

On July 17, 2009, the Company acquired an additional 2,518,934 shares of common stock of Income Opportunity Realty Investors, Inc. (“IOT”), and in doing so, increased its ownership from approximately 25% to over 80% of the shares of common stock of IOT outstanding. Upon acquisition of the additional shares in 2009, IOT’s results of operations began consolidating with those of the Company for tax and financial reporting purposes. As of December 31, 2012 TCI owned 81.1% of the outstanding IOT common shares. Shares of IOT are traded on the New York Euronext Exchange (“NYSE MKT”) under the symbol (“IOT”).

At the time of the acquisition, the historical accounting value of IOT’s assets was $112 million and liabilities were $43 million. In that the shares of IOT acquired by TCI were from a related party, the values recorded by TCI are IOT’s historical accounting values at the date of transfer. The Company’s fair valuation of IOT’s assets and liabilities at the acquisition date approximated IOT’s book value. The net difference between the purchase price and historical accounting basis of the assets and liabilities acquired was $26.9 million and has been reflected by TCI as deferred income. The deferred income will be recognized upon the sale of the land that IOT held on its books as of the date of sale, to an independent third party.

TCI’s Board of Directors is responsible for directing the overall affairs of TCI and for setting the strategic policies that guide the Company. As of April 30, 2011, the Board of Directors delegated the day-to-day management of the Company to Pillar Income Asset Management, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Pillar”) under a written Advisory Agreement that is reviewed annually by TCI’s Board of Directors. The directors of TCI are also directors of ARL and IOT. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of TCI also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of ARL and IOT. The officers of TCI also serve as officers of ARL, IOT and Pillar.

Effective since April 30, 2011, Pillar, the sole shareholder of which is Realty Advisors, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company, the sole member of which is Realty Advisors, Inc., a Nevada corporation, the sole shareholder of which is Realty Advisors Management, Inc., a Nevada corporation, the sole shareholder of which is a trust known as the May Trust, became the Company’s external Advisor and Cash Manager. Pillar’s duties include, but are not limited to, locating, evaluating and recommending real estate and real estate-related investment opportunities. Pillar also arranges, for the Company’s benefit, debt and equity financing with third party lenders and investors. Pillar also serves as an Advisor and Cash Manager to TCI and IOT. As the contractual advisor, Pillar is compensated by TCI under an Advisory Agreement that is more fully described in Part III, Item 10. “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance – The Advisor”. TCI has no employees. Employees of Pillar render services to TCI in accordance with the terms of the Advisory Agreement. Prime Income Asset Management, LLC (“Prime”) served as the Company’s contractual Advisor prior to April 30, 2011.

Effective since January 1, 2011, Regis Realty Prime, LLC, dba Regis Property Management, LLC (“Regis”), the sole member of which is Realty Advisors, LLC, manages our commercial properties and provides brokerage services. Regis receives property management fees and leasing commissions in accordance with the terms of its property-level management agreement. Regis is also entitled to receive real estate brokerage commissions in accordance with the terms of a non-exclusive brokerage agreement. See Part III, Item 10. “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance – Property Management and Real Estate Brokerage”. Prior to December 31, 2010, Triad Realty Services, L.P. (“Triad”), provided management services for our commercial properties. Triad subcontracted the property-level management and leasing of our commercial properties (office buildings, shopping centers and industrial warehouses) to Regis Realty I, LLC (“Regis I”). TCI engages third-party companies to lease and manage its apartment properties.

The Company has a development agreement with Unified Housing Foundation, Inc. (“UHF”) a non-profit corporation that provides management services for the development of residential apartment projects in the future. The Company has also invested in surplus cash notes receivables from UHF and has sold several residential apartment properties to UHF in prior years. Due to this ongoing relationship and the significant investment in the performance of the collateral secured under the notes receivable, UHF has been determined to be a related party.

Our primary business is the acquisition, development and ownership of income-producing residential and commercial real estate properties. In addition, we opportunistically acquire land for future development in in-fill or high-growth suburban markets. From time to time and when we believe it appropriate to do so, we will also sell land and income-producing properties. We generate revenues by leasing apartment units to residents and leasing office, industrial and retail space to various for-profit businesses as well as certain local, state and federal agencies. We also generate revenues from gains on sales of income-producing properties and land. At December 31, 2012, we owned 47 residential apartment communities comprising of 8,553 units, 13 commercial properties comprising an aggregate of approximately 3.4 million square feet, and an investment in 4,133 acres of undeveloped and partially developed land.

Real estate, depreciation, and impairment

Real estate, depreciation, and impairment. Real estate assets are stated at the lower of depreciated cost or fair value, if deemed impaired. Major replacements and betterments are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the useful lives of the properties (buildings and improvements—10-40 years; furniture, fixtures and equipment—5-10 years). We continually evaluate the recoverability of the carrying value of its real estate assets using the methodology prescribed in ASC Topic 360, “Property, Plant and Equipment,” Factors considered by management in evaluating impairment of its existing real estate assets held for investment include significant declines in property operating profits, annually recurring property operating losses and other significant adverse changes in general market conditions that are considered permanent in nature. Under ASC Topic 360, a real estate asset held for investment is not considered impaired if the undiscounted, estimated future cash flows of an asset (both the annual estimated cash flow from future operations and the estimated cash flow from the theoretical sale of the asset) over its estimated holding period are in excess of the asset’s net book value at the balance sheet date. If any real estate asset held for investment is considered impaired, a loss is provided to reduce the carrying value of the asset to its estimated fair value.

Any properties that are treated as “subject to sales contract” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are listed in detail in Schedule III, “Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation” are those in which we have not recognized the legal sale according to the guidance in ASC 360-20 due to various factors, disclosed in each sale transaction under Item 1 Significant Real Estate Acquisitions/Dispositions and Financing. Any sale transaction where the guidance reflects that a sale had not occurred, the asset involved in the transaction, including the debt and property operations, remained on the books of the Company. We continue to charge depreciation to expense as a period costs for the property until such time as the property has been classified as held for sale in accordance with guidance reflected in ASC 360-10-45 “Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”.

Cost Capitalization

Cost Capitalization. The cost of buildings and improvements includes the purchase price of property, legal fees and other acquisition costs. Costs directly related to planning, developing, initial leasing and constructing a property are capitalized and classified as Real Estate in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Capitalized development costs include interest, property taxes, insurance, and other direct project costs incurred during the period of development.

A variety of costs are incurred in the acquisition, development and leasing of properties. After determination is made to capitalize a cost, it is allocated to the specific component of a project that is benefited. Determination of when a development project is substantially complete and capitalization must cease involves a degree of judgment. Our capitalization policy on development properties is guided by ASC Topic 835-20 “Interest – Capitalization of Interest” and ASC Topic 970 “Real Estate - General”. The costs of land and buildings under development include specifically identifiable costs. The capitalized costs include pre-construction costs essential to the development of the property, development costs, construction costs, interest costs, real estate taxes, salaries and related costs and other costs incurred during the period of development. We consider a construction project as substantially completed and held available for occupancy upon the receipt of certificates of occupancy, but no later than one year from cessation of major construction activity. We cease capitalization on the portion (1) substantially completed and (2) occupied or held available for occupancy, and we capitalize only those costs associated with the portion under construction.

We capitalize leasing costs which include commissions paid to outside brokers, legal costs incurred to negotiate and document a lease agreement and any internal costs that may be applicable. We allocate these costs to individual tenant leases and amortize them over the related lease term.

Related parties

Related parties. We apply ASC Topic 805, “Business Combinations”, to evaluate business relationships. Related parties are persons or entities who have one or more of the following characteristics, which include entities for which investments in their equity securities would be required, trust for the benefit of persons including principal owners of the entities and members of their immediate families, management personnel of the entity and members of their immediate families and other parties with which the entity may deal if one party controls or can significantly influence the decision making of the other to an extent that one of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests, or affiliates of the entity.

Non-performing notes receivable

Non-performing notes receivable. We consider a note receivable to be non-performing when the maturity date has passed without principal repayment and the borrower is not making interest payments in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

Allowance for estimated losses

Allowance for estimated losses. We assess the collectability of notes receivable on a periodic basis, of which the assessment consists primarily of an evaluation of cash flow projections of the borrower to determine whether estimated cash flows are sufficient to repay principal and interest in accordance with the contractual terms of the note. We recognize impairments on notes receivable when it is probable that principal and interest will not be received in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan. The amount of the impairment to be recognized generally is based on the fair value of the partnership’s real estate that represents the primary source of loan repayment. See Note 3 “Notes and Interest Receivable” for details on our notes receivable.

Earnings per share

Earnings per share. Income (loss) per share is presented in accordance with ASC 620 “Earnings per Share”. Income (loss) per share is computed based upon the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each year.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes. TCI is a “C Corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For tax periods ending before August 31, 2012, TCI filed an annual consolidated income tax return with ARL and IOT and their subsidiaries. ARL was the common parent for the consolidated group. After that date, TCI and the rest of the American Realty Investors, Inc. group joined the Realty Advisors Management, Inc. (RAMI) consolidated group for tax purposes. The income tax expense (benefit) for the 2010 and 2011 tax periods in the accompanying financial statement was calculated under a tax sharing and compensating agreement between ARL, TCI and IOT. That agreement continued until August 31, 2012 at which time a new tax sharing and compensating agreement was entered into by ARL, TCI, IOT and RAMI for the remainder of 2012. The agreement specifies the manner in which the group will share the consolidated tax liability and also how certain tax attributes are to be treated among members of the group.