Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 30, 2018
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, 2017
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	2017