INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES AND INVESTEES (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	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, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Real estate, net of accumulated depreciation		$ 891,173				$ 844,019								$ 891,173	$ 844,019
Other assets		55,605				41,645								55,605	41,645
Notes payable		(835,528)				(772,636)								(835,528)	(772,636)
Shareholders' equity/partners' capital		(205,885)				(206,748)								(205,885)	(206,748)
Rents and interest and other income		29,271	$ 29,776	$ 30,521	$ 28,903	28,621	$ 27,539	$ 23,756	$ 22,304	$ 20,578	$ 18,466	$ 18,511	$ 18,303	118,471	102,220	$ 75,858
Depreciation														(23,683)	(21,299)	(17,398)
Operating expenses		25,821	25,429	24,751	24,823	29,732	24,613	19,310	19,264	22,059	17,264	18,388	17,376	100,824	92,919	75,087
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(3)			2	220	508	(22)	190	28,526	1,461	4,076	3,805	(1)	896	37,868
Net income (loss)		3,561	$ (4,432)	$ 4,756	$ (3,563)	(1,227)	$ (6,506)	$ 419	$ (190)	37,090	$ (2,265)	$ 2,517	$ 4,635	322	(7,504)	41,977
Company's proportionate share of income (loss)														(26)	41	(28)
American Realty Investors, Inc. [Member]
Real estate, net of accumulated depreciation		14,504				14,232				15,460				14,504	14,232	15,460
Notes receivable		47,257				50,692				50,909				47,257	50,692	50,909
Other assets		127,001				127,497				128,635				127,001	127,497	128,635
Notes payable		(9,485)				(25,233)				(50,048)				(9,485)	(25,233)	(50,048)
Other liabilities		(111,707)				(98,440)				(80,904)				(111,707)	(98,440)	(80,904)
Shareholders' equity/partners' capital		$ (67,570)				$ (68,748)				$ (64,052)				(67,570)	(68,748)	(64,052)
Rents and interest and other income														7,251	11,990	12,427
Depreciation														(175)	(192)	(285)
Operating expenses														(3,633)	(4,414)	(6,983)
Gain on land sales															2,737
Interest expense														(6,274)	(5,936)	(7,144)
Income (loss) from continuing operations														(2,831)	4,185	(1,985)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations															1	64
Net income (loss)														(2,831)	4,186	(1,921)
Company's proportionate share of income (loss)	[1]													$ (25)	$ 38	$ (19)

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