Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 18, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Document And Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	TRANSCONTINENTAL REALTY INVESTORS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000733590
Document Type	10-K
Trading Symbol	TCI
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2015
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity a Voluntary Filer	No
Entity's Reporting Status Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Public Float			$ 15,447,906
Entity Common Stock, Shares held by Nonaffiliates			1,361,049
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		8,717,767
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015