Transcontinental Realty Investors (TCI) 8-K Transcontinental Realty Investors, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2011 Results

Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact:
	Transcontinental Realty Investors, Inc.
	Investors Relations
	(800) 400-6407
	investor.relations@primeasset.com

Transcontinental Realty Investors, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2011 Results

DALLAS (May 16, 2011) — Transcontinental Realty Investors, Inc. (NYSE: TCI), a Dallas-based real estate investment company, today reported results of operations for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011. TCI announced today that the Company reported a net loss applicable to common shares of $12.2 million or $1.49 per diluted earnings per share, as compared to a net loss applicable to common shares of $10.5 million or $1.30 per diluted earnings per share for the same period ended 2010.

Rental and other property revenues were $31.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. This represents a decrease of $1.3 million, as compared to the prior period revenues of $32.6 million. The change, by segment, is a decrease in the commercial portfolio of $2.2 million, a decrease in the land and other portfolios of $0.1 million, offset by an increase in the apartment portfolio of $1.0 million. Within the apartment portfolio, the developed apartments had an increase of $0.5 million and the same properties had an increase of $0.5 million. Within the commercial portfolio, the same property portfolio decreased by $2.2 million due to an increase in vacancy, which we attribute to the current state of the economy. We have directed our efforts to apartment development and put some additional land projects on hold until the economic conditions turn around. We are also continuing to market our properties aggressively to attract new tenants and strive for continuous improvement of our properties in order to maintain our existing tenants.

Mortgage and loan interest was $14.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. This represents a decrease of $1.3 million, as compared to the prior period interest expense of $15.5 million. This change, by segment is a decrease in the commercial portfolio of $0.6 million, a decrease in the apartment portfolio of $0.4 million and a decrease in the other portfolio of $0.6 million, offset by an increase in the land portfolio of $0.3 million. The commercial portfolio experienced a reduction in interest expense due to a matured loan that is being negotiated at a lower interest rate. The decrease in the apartment portfolio is primarily due to loans that were refinanced in 2010 at a lower interest rate. The decrease in the other portfolio is due to a decrease in interest expense on loan amounts due to our advisor.

Provision for impairment was $6.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Impairment was recorded as an additional loss of $0.9 million in the commercial properties we currently hold and $5.2 million in the apartments we currently hold.

Gain on land sales increased for the three months ended March 31, 2011 as compared to the prior period. In the current period we sold 191.99 acres of land in 10 separate transactions for an aggregate sales price of $42.8 million and recorded a gain of $0.8 million. In the prior period, we sold 0.275 acres of land in one transaction for an aggregate sales price of $8,984 and recorded a gain of $6,470.

Included in discontinued operations are a total of two and 15 properties for 2011 and 2010, respectively. The gain on sale of the properties is also included in discontinued operations for those years.

About Transcontinental Realty Investors, Inc.

Transcontinental Realty Investors, Inc., a Dallas-based real estate investment company, holds a diverse portfolio of equity real estate located across the U.S., including office buildings, apartments, shopping centers and developed and undeveloped land. The Company invests in real estate through direct equity ownership and partnerships nationwide. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.transconrealty-invest.com.

TRANSCONTINENTAL REALTY INVESTORS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)

	For the Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2011			2010
	(dollars in thousands, except share
	and per share amounts)
Revenues:
Rental and other property revenues (including $372 and $858 for the three months ended 2011 and 2010 respectively from affiliates and related parties)	$	31,335		$	32,651
Expenses:
Property operating expenses (including $349 and $452 for the three months ended 2011 and 2010 respectively from affiliates and related parties)		17,769			18,581
Depreciation and amortization		6,622			6,416
General and administrative (including $842 and $891 for the three months ended 2011 and 2010 respectively from affiliates and related parties)		2,155			1,826
Provision on impairment of notes receivable and real estate assets		6,059			—
Advisory fee to affiliate		2,620			3,097
Total operating expenses		35,225			29,920
Operating income (loss)		(3,890	)		2,731
Other income (expense):
Interest income (including $317 and $653 for the three months ended 2011 and 2010 respectively from affiliates and related parties)		426			859
Other income		1,467			664
Mortgage and loan interest (including $298 and $839 for the three months ended 2011 and 2010 respectively from affiliates and related parties)		(14,246	)		(15,531	)
Earnings from unconsolidated subsidiaries and investees		(61	)		(60	)
Total other expenses		(12,414	)		(14,068	)
Loss before gain on land sales, non-controlling interest, and tax		(16,304	)		(11,337	)
Gain on land sales		796			6
Loss from continuing operations before tax		(15,508	)		(11,331	)
Income tax benefit		1,211			495
Net loss from continuing operations		(14,297	)		(10,836	)
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(217	)		1,277
Gain on sale of real estate from discontinued operations		3,677			—
Income tax expense from discontinued operations		(1,211	)		(447	)
Net income from discontinued operations		2,249			830
Net loss		(12,048	)		(10,006	)
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interest		85			(273	)
Net loss attributable to Transcontinental Realty Investors, Inc.		(11,963	)		(10,279	)
Preferred dividend requirement		(274	)		(262	)
Net loss applicable to common shares	$	(12,237	)	$	(10,541	)
Earnings per share — basic
Loss from continuing operations	$	(1.76	)	$	(1.40	)
Income from discontinued operations		0.27			0.10
Net loss applicable to common shares	$	(1.49	)	$	(1.30	)
Earnings per share — diluted
Loss from continuing operations	$	(176	)	$	(1.40	)
Income from discontinued operations		0.27			0.10
Net loss applicable to common shares	$	(1.49	)	$	(1.30	)
Weighted average common share used in computing earnings per share		8,240,136			8,113,669
Weighted average common share used in computing diluted earnings per share		8,240,136			8,113,669
Amounts attributable to Transcontinental Realty Investors, Inc.
Loss from continuing operations	$	(14,212	)	$	(11,109	)
Income from discontinued operations		2,249			830
Net loss	$	(11,963	)	$	(10,279	)

TRANSCONTINENTAL REALTY INVESTORS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)

	March 31,			December 31,
	2011			2010
	(dollars in thousands, except share and
	par value amounts)
Assets
Real estate, at cost	$	1,012,213		$	1,074,635
Real estate subject to sales contracts at cost, net of depreciation ($65,676 for 2011 and $58,579 for 2010)		258,347			232,495
Less accumulated depreciation		(94,873	)		(94,016	)
Total real estate		1,175,687			1,213,114
Notes and interest receivable
Performing (including $60,381 in 2011 and $66.011 in 2010 from affiliates and related parties)		64,786			71,766
Less allowance for estimated losses (including $3,061 in 2011 and 2010 from affiliates and related parties)		(4,741	)		(4,741	)
Total notes and interest receivable		60,045			67,025
Cash and cash equivalents		6,687			11,259
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and investees		7,842			8,146
Other assets		73,532			85,217
Total assets	$	1,323,793		$	1,384,761
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Liabilities:
Notes and interest payable	$	780,270		$	831,322
Notes related to subject to sales contracts		214,550			190,693
Affiliate payables		33,032			47,261
Deferred revenue (from sales to related parties)		87,000			89,132
Accounts payable and other liabilities (including $1,694 in 2011 and $1,466 in 2010 from affiliates and related parties)		40,792			49,196
		1,155,644			1,207,604
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, Series C: $.01 par value, authorized 10,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 30,000 shares in 2011 and 2010 respectively (liquidation preference $100 per share). Series D: $.01 par value, authorized, issued and outstanding 100,000 shares in 2011 and 2010 respectively		1			1
Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued 8,413,669 and 8,113,669 for 2011 and 2010 and outstanding 8,413,469 and 8,113,469 for 2011 and 2010		84			81
Treasury stock at cost; 200 shares in 2011 and 2010		(2	)		(2	)
Paid-in capital		264,072			261,072
Retained earnings		(113,877	)		(101,914	)
Total Transcontinental Realty Investors, Inc. shareholders’ equity		150,278			159,238
Non-controlling interest		17,871			17,919
Total equity		168,149			177,157
Total liabilities and equity	$	1,323,793		$	1,384,761

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.