Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
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, 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, Held by non-affiliates			1,361,049
Entity Public Float			$ 13,555,912
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		8,717,767
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016