The percentage of profit participation rights.

No definition available.

Name:	arl_ProfitParticipationRightsPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	arl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of projects in development.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	arl_ProjectsInDevelopment
Namespace Prefix:	arl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Voting interest in joint venture.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	arl_VotingInterestInJointVenture
Namespace Prefix:	arl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Area of land held.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AreaOfLand
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116859721&loc=d3e6613-128477

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116859721&loc=d3e6578-128477

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114001798&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Net rentable area for properties owned.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NetRentableArea
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of units in a real estate property owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfUnitsInRealEstateProperty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of real estate owned for income production and capital accretion potential, not otherwise specified in the existing taxonomy. Such real estate excludes that which is occupied or used in the business, for entertainment purposes, or held in inventory for specific purposes.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentsOther
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=arl_VictoryAbodeApartmentsLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=arl_CommercialPropertyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=srt_ApartmentBuildingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=arl_VictoryAbodeApartmentsLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_BuildingAndBuildingImprovementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_OwnershipAxis=arl_TranscontinentalRealtyInvestorsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_OwnershipAxis=arl_IncomeOpportunityRealtyInvestorsIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=arl_TranscontinentalRealtyInvestorsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_OwnershipAxis=arl_VictoryAbodeApartmentsLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_TitleOfIndividualAxis=srt_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=arl_AbodeJypLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=arl_SummersetIntermediateHoldings2LLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=arl_RelatedPartyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_OwnershipAxis=arl_AmericanRealtyInvestorsIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details Narrative) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 19, 2018 USD ($) Number	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) a ft² Number	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) Number
Real estate, at cost \| $		$ 469,997	$ 455,993
Acres of land \| a		1,951
Victory Abode Apartments, LLC [Member]
Percentage of ownership		50.00%	50.00%
Number of income-producing properties		51
Cash consideration \| $	$ 236,800
Number of apartment units		9,888
Commercial lProperties [Member]
Number of income-producing properties		7
Rentable square feet \| ft²		1,700,000
Apartment Buildings [Member]
Number of income-producing properties		10	9
Number of apartment units		1,657	1,489
Real estate, at cost \| $		$ 478,000	$ 464,000
Victory Abode Apartments, LLC [Member]
Number of income-producing properties	49
Cash consideration \| $	$ 236,800
Projects in development	3
Minimum [Member] \| Buildings And Improvements [Member]
Useful life of fixed assets		10 years
Minimum [Member] \| Furniture, Fixtures And Equipment [Member]
Useful life of fixed assets		5 years
Maximum [Member] \| Buildings And Improvements [Member]
Useful life of fixed assets		40 years
Maximum [Member] \| Furniture, Fixtures And Equipment [Member]
Useful life of fixed assets		10 years
TCI [Member]
Ownership interest		78.38%
Income Opportunity Realty Investors, Inc. [Member] \| TCI [Member]
Ownership interest		81.23%
Victory Abode Apartments, LLC [Member] \| Class A [Member]
Ownership interest	50.00%
Victory Abode Apartments, LLC [Member] \| Class B [Member] \| Daniel J. Moos ARL's President and Chief Executive Officer [Member]
Profit participation rights percentage		2.00%
Victory Abode Apartments, LLC [Member] \| Abode JVP, LLC [Member] \| Class A [Member]
Voting interest in joint venture		50.00%
Profit participation rights percentage		49.00%
Victory Abode Apartments, LLC [Member] \| Summerset Intermediate Holdings 2 LLC [Member] \| Class A [Member]
Voting interest in joint venture		50.00%
Profit participation rights percentage		49.00%
Related Parties [Member] \| ARL [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Ownership interest		80.00%