RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Due from Related Parties [RollForward]
Related party receivable, beginning	$ 101,649
Cash transfers	19,562
Advisory fees	(2,305)	$ (2,371)
Net income fee	(60)	$ (72)
Fees and commissions	(542)
Cost reimbursements	(588)
Interest income	1,141
Notes receivable purchased	(447)
Expenses paid by Advisor	(2,431)
Financing (mortgage payments)	(10,532)
Sales/purchases transactions	(5,732)
Related party receivable, ending	99,714
Pillar Income Asset Management, Inc [Member]
Due from Related Parties [RollForward]
Related party receivable, beginning	(7,103)
Cash transfers	19,562
Advisory fees	(2,306)
Net income fee	(60)
Fees and commissions	(542)
Cost reimbursements	(588)
Notes receivable purchased	(447)
Expenses paid by Advisor	(2,431)
Financing (mortgage payments)	(10,532)
Sales/purchases transactions	(5,732)
Purchase of obligations	3,076
Related party receivable, ending	(7,103)
American Realty Investors, Inc [Member]
Due from Related Parties [RollForward]
Related party receivable, beginning	108,752
Interest income	1,141
Purchase of obligations	(3,076)
Related party receivable, ending	$ 106,817

The amount of advisory fees to related parties, during the period.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Refers to due from related party payment for cost of reimbursements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of net income fee to related parties,during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of purchase obligation, including but not limited to, long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations, purchase obligations, and other commitments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	tci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Refers to due from related party payment for financing mortgage payments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tci_RelatedPartyFinancingMortgagePayments
Namespace Prefix:	tci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sales/purchases during the period with related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	tci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, amounts due from related parties including affiliates, employees, joint ventures, officers and stockholders, immediate families thereof, and pension funds.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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- Definition

Amount of interest income earned from interest-bearing assets owed to the entity by related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestIncomeRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for a loan, supported by a promissory note, granted to related parties where one party can exercise control or significant influence over another party; including affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, pension trusts, and so forth.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from long-term debt by a related party. Related parties, include, but are not limited to, affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, and pension trusts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Expenses recognized resulting from transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Primarily represents commissions incurred in the period based upon the sale by commissioned employees or third parties of the entity's goods or services, and fees for sales assistance or product enhancements performed by third parties (such as a distributor or value added reseller).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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