<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-01-14</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2011-01-19</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000733590</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRANSCONTINENTAL REALTY INVESTORS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TCI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000916476</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BASIC CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1800 VALLEY VIEW LANE, SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75234</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Former 10% Owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-01-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>920507</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.49</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On January 14, 2011 the Board of Directors of Basic Capital Management, Inc declared a dividend in a specified amount payable by the distribution to its sole stockholder of these 920,707 shares of TCI stock at a price of$6.49 per share, which was incorrectly reported at another amount of $6.07 which was a typographical error.  The correct number is $6.49 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Basic Capital Management, Inc</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Daniel J. Moos, President</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
