<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-30</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001253756</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EQK HOLDINGS INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-30</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>314141</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>18.35</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>4958442</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-30</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>26475</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>20.46</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>4984917</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Received a contribution to capital from American Realty Trust, Inc. (ART) at a trasnferee cost basis of $20.46 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ronald E. Kimbrough, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>
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4
2003-06-30
0
0000733590
TRANSCONTINENTAL REALTY INVESTORS INC
TCI
0001253756
EQK HOLDINGS INC
0
0
1
0
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
2003-06-30
4
A
0
314141
18.35
A
4958442
D
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
2003-06-30
4
J
0
26475
20.46
A
4984917
D
Received a contribution to capital from American Realty Trust, Inc. (ART) at a trasnferee cost basis of $20.46 per share.
Ronald E. Kimbrough, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
2003-07-01