INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES AND INVESTEES (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Real estate, net of accumulated depreciation		$ 844,019				$ 689,121								$ 844,019	$ 689,121
Other assets		41,645				37,441								41,645	37,441
Notes payable		772,636				588,749								772,636	588,749
Shareholders' equity/partners capital		206,748				215,284								206,748	215,284
Rents and interest and other income		28,621	$ 27,539	$ 23,756	$ 22,304	20,578	$ 18,466	$ 18,511	$ 18,303	$ 22,095	$ 18,663	$ 18,351	$ 18,242	102,220	75,858	$ 77,351
Depreciation														(21,299)	(17,398)	(15,842)
Operating expenses		29,732	24,613	19,310	19,264	22,059	17,264	18,388	17,376	32,498	17,472	16,336	16,416	92,919	75,087	82,722
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		220	508	(22)	190	28,526	1,461	4,076	3,805	46,382	747	9,949	4,552	896	37,868	61,630
Net income (loss)		(1,227)	$ (6,506)	$ 419	$ (190)	37,090	$ (2,265)	$ 2,517	$ 4,635	56,219	$ (5,854)	$ 12,142	$ (2,998)	(7,504)	41,977	59,509
Company's proportionate share of income (loss)														41	(28)	(172)
American Realty Investors, Inc. [Member]
Real estate, net of accumulated depreciation		14,232				15,460				11,944				14,232	15,460	11,944
Notes receivable		50,692				50,909				68,909				50,692	50,909	68,909
Other assets		127,497				128,635				128,945				127,497	128,635	128,945
Notes payable		(25,233)				(50,048)				(56,103)				(25,233)	(50,048)	(56,103)
Other liabilities		(98,440)				(80,904)				(91,099)				(98,440)	(80,904)	(91,099)
Shareholders' equity/partners capital		$ (68,748)				$ (64,052)				$ (62,596)				(68,748)	(64,052)	(62,596)
Rents and interest and other income														11,990	12,427	11,372
Depreciation														(192)	(285)	(285)
Operating expenses														(4,414)	$ (6,983)	(14,162)
Gain on land sales														2,737		618
Interest expense														(5,936)	$ (7,144)	(7,173)
Income (loss) from continuing operations														4,185	(1,985)	(9,630)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations														1	64	(15)
Net income (loss)														4,186	(1,921)	(9,645)
Company's proportionate share of income (loss)	[1]													$ 38	$ (19)	$ (192)

[1] Income (loss) represents continued and discontinued operations