CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenue:
Rental and other property revenues (including $587 and $223 and $564 for the year ended 2012 and 2011 and 2010 respectively from affiliates and related parties)	$ 116,051	$ 106,340	$ 102,683
Expenses:
Property operating expenses (including $1,099 and $1,130 and $1,359 for year ended 2012 and 2011and 2010 respectively from affiliates and related parties)	57,242	56,928	55,636
Depreciation and amortization	21,557	19,003	20,559
General and administrative (including $2,427 and $2,908 and $3,065 for the year ended 2012 and 2011 and 2010 respectively from affiliates and related parties)	5,426	9,433	8,327
Provision on impairment of notes receivable and real estate assets	4,730	37,002	22,579
Advisory fee to affiliate	8,915	9,958	11,919
Total operating expenses	97,870	132,324	119,020
Operating income (loss)	18,181	(25,984)	(16,337)
Other income (expense):
Interest income (including $11,677 and $5,275 and $4,406 for the year ended 2012 and 2011 and 2010 respectively from affiliates and related parties)	11,725	5,720	5,187
Other income (including $6,000 and $0 and $0 for the year ended 2012 and 2011 and 2010 respectively from affiliates and related parties)	6,491	2,480	8,376
Mortgage and loan interest (including $3,153 and $1,696 and $3,345 for the year ended 2012 and 2011 and 2010 respectively from affiliates and related parties)	(55,132)	(51,886)	(54,211)
Loss on the sale of investments	(118)	(514)
Earnings from unconsolidated subsidiaries and investees	(66)	242	(958)
Total other expenses	(37,100)	(43,958)	(41,606)
Loss before gain on land sales, non-controlling interest, and tax	(18,919)	(69,942)	(57,943)
Gain (loss) on land sales	6,935	17,011	(15,155)
Loss from continuing operations before tax	(11,984)	(52,931)	(73,098)
Income tax benefit	1,358	2,215	2,131
Net (loss) from continuing operations.	(10,626)	(50,716)	(70,967)
Discontinued operations:
Loss from discontinued operations	(1,337)	(11,972)	(4,829)
Gain on sale of real estate from discontinued operations	5,217	18,300	10,781
Income tax expense from discontinued operations	(1,358)	(2,215)	(2,083)
Net income from discontinued operations	2,522	4,113	3,869
Net loss	(8,104)	(46,603)	(67,098)
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interest	(220)	282	(98)
Net loss attributable to Transcontinental Realty Investors, Inc.	(8,324)	(46,321)	(67,196)
Preferred dividend requirement	(1,112)	(1,110)	(1,073)
Net loss applicable to common shares	(9,436)	(47,431)	(68,269)
Earnings per share - basic
Loss from continuing operations - basic	$ (1.42)	$ (6.16)	$ (8.89)
Income from discontinued operations - basic	$ 0.30	$ 0.49	$ 0.48
Net loss applicable to common shares - basic	$ (1.12)	$ (5.67)	$ (8.41)
Earnings per share - diluted
Loss from continuing operations-diluted	$ (1.42)	$ (6.16)	$ (8.89)
Income from discontinued operations-diluted	$ 0.30	$ 0.49	$ 0.48
Net loss applicable to common shares-diluted	$ (1.12)	$ (5.67)	$ (8.41)
Weighted average common share used in computing earnings per share	8,413,469	8,370,729	8,113,575
Weighted average common share used in computing diluted earnings per share	8,413,469	8,370,729	8,113,575
Income Loss from continuing operations.	(10,833)	(50,373)	(71,065)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations,	2,509	4,052	3,869
Net loss,	$ (8,324)	$ (46,321)	$ (67,196)