CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
ASSETS:
Real estate, at cost	$ 995,380	$ 1,031,632
Real estate held for sale at cost, net of depreciation ($ 151 for 2013 and $4,393 for 2012)	0	17,040
Real estate subject to sales contracts at cost, net of depreciation ($1,861 for 2013 and $15,948 for 2012)	39,794	42,286
Less accumulated depreciation	(164,387)	(160,525)
Total real-estate	870,787	930,433
Notes and interest receivable
Performing (including $114,187in 2013 and 114,275 in 2012 from related parties)	121,361	120,998
Non-performing	3,901	4,175
Less allowance for doubtful accounts (including $15,809 in 2013 and $18,962 in 2012 from related parties)	(20,123)	(21,704)
Total notes and interest receivable	105,139	103,469
Cash and cash equivalents	9,425	17,141
Investment in unconsolidated investees	10,337	8,168
Other assets;	69,688	76,134
Total assets	1,065,376	1,135,345
Liabilities
Notes and interest payable	750,994	769,201
Notes related to assets held for sale	2,466	18,915
Notes related to subject to sales contracts	28,068	55,976
Stock-secured notes payable and margin debt	24,276	25,765
Related party payables	8,430	10,922
Deferred gain (including $74,303 in 2013 and $71,303 in 2012 from sales to related parties)	76,148	73,148
Accounts payable and other liabilities (including $11,354 I 2013 and $15,746 in 2012 to related parties)	88,829	96,314
Total Liabilities	979,211	1,050,241
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, Series A: $2.00 par value, authorized 15,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 3,353,954 shares in 2013 and 2012 (liquidation preference $10 per share), including 900,000 shares in 2013 and 2012 held by subsidiaries Series K: $2.00 par value, authorized, issued and outstanding 135,000 and 0 shares in 2013 and 2012, respectively (liquidation preference $22 per share), held by TCI (consolidated)	4,908	4,908
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 100,000,000 shares; issued 11,941,174 shares and outstanding 11,525,389 shares in 2013 and 2012	115	115
Treasury stock (Common Stock)at cost; 415,785 shares in 2013 and 2012 and 229,214 shares held by TCI (consolidated) as of 2013 and 2012	(6,395)	(6,395)
Paid-in capital	103,671	105,700
Retained earnings	(50,769)	(53,071)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(786)	(786)
Total American Realty Investors, Inc. shareholders' equity	50,744	50,471
Non-controlling interest	35,421	34,633
Total shareholders' equity	86,165	85,104
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 1,065,376	$ 1,135,345