Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Nov. 07, 2016
Document And Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	TRANSCONTINENTAL REALTY INVESTORS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000733590
Document Type	10-Q
Trading Symbol	TCI
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
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 Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		8,717,767
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016