<PAGE>   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  FORM 10-Q/A

                                AMENDMENT NO. 1

              [X] QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
    SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998
                                                          ------------------

                          Commission File Number 1-9240
                                                 ------

                     TRANSCONTINENTAL REALTY INVESTORS, INC.
        -------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

           Nevada                                                94-6565852
 -------------------------------                            -------------------
 (State or Other Jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer
  Incorporation or Organization)                             Identification No.)


10670 North Central Expressway, Suite 300, Dallas, Texas             75231
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Address of Principal Executive Office)                          (Zip Code)

                                 (214) 692-4700
                         -------------------------------
                         (Registrant's Telephone Number,
                              Including Area Code)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [X].  No [ ].

                      APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:


Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of
Common Stock, as of the latest practicable date.


Common Stock, $.01 par value                               3,875,944
----------------------------                  ---------------------------------
        (Class)                               (Outstanding at October 30, 1998)




                                      1
<PAGE>   2
This Form 10-Q/A Amendment No. 1 amends the Registrant's quarterly report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998 as follows:


ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET - PAGE 2 AND
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - PAGE 4.

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K - EXHIBIT 27.0 - PAGE 67.
<PAGE>   3



                          PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have not been audited by
independent certified public accountants, but in the opinion of the management
of Transcontinental Realty Investors, Inc. (the "Company"), all adjustments
(consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of
the Company's consolidated financial position, consolidated results of
operations and consolidated cash flows at the dates and for the periods
indicated, have been included.

                     TRANSCONTINENTAL REALTY INVESTORS, INC.
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            September 30,   December 31,
                                                               1998           1997
                                                             ----------     ----------
                     Assets                                    (dollars in thousands)
<S>                                                          <C>            <C>       
Notes and interest receivable
   Performing ..........................................     $    1,610     $    4,388
   Nonperforming, nonaccruing ..........................            806            450
                                                             ----------     ----------
                                                                  2,416          4,838

Less - allowance for estimated losses ..................           (891)          (891)
                                                             ----------     ----------
                                                                  1,525          3,947

Foreclosed real estate held for sale ...................          3,867          1,356

Real estate held for sale, net of accumulated
   depreciation ($74 in 1998 and $1,350 in 1997) .......          6,524          3,630
                                                             ----------     ----------
                                                                 10,391          4,986
Real estate held for investment, net of
   accumulated depreciation ($58,426 in 1998 and
   $55,487 in 1997) ....................................        308,639        269,845
Investment in real estate entities .....................          3,877          4,333
Cash and cash equivalents ..............................         19,657         24,733
Other assets (including $495 in 1998 and $497 in
   1997 from affiliates) ...............................         15,614         11,291
                                                             ----------     ----------
                                                             $  359,703     $  319,135
                                                             ==========     ==========

       Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Liabilities
Notes and interest payable .............................     $  258,782     $  222,029
Other liabilities (including $681 in 1998 and $1,157
   in 1997 to affiliates) ..............................          8,738         10,973
                                                             ----------     ----------
                                                                267,520        233,002
Stockholders' equity
Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized, 10,000,000
   shares; issued and outstanding, 3,872,505 shares
   in 1998 and 3,889,200 shares in 1997 ................             39             39
Paid-in capital ........................................        217,431        217,688
Accumulated distributions in excess of
   accumulated earnings ................................      (125,287)       (131,594)
                                                             ----------     ----------
                                                                 92,183         86,133
                                                             ----------     ----------
                                                             $  359,703     $  319,135
                                                             ==========     ==========
</TABLE>

             The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                      Consolidated Financial Statements.


                                        2

<PAGE>   4

                     TRANSCONTINENTAL REALTY INVESTORS, INC.
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                  For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1998


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           Accumulated
                                                                                          Distributions
                                             Common Stock                                  in Excess of
                                     ------------------------------       Paid-in          Accumulated      Stockholders'
                                        Shares           Amount           Capital           Earnings           Equity
                                     ------------      ------------     ------------      ------------      ------------
                                                   (dollars in thousands, except per share)
<S>                                  <C>               <C>              <C>               <C>               <C>         
Balance, January 1, 1998 .......        3,889,200      $         39     $    217,688      $   (131,594)     $     86,133



Repurchase of Common Stock .....          (21,950)               --             (336)               --              (336)


Sale of Common Stock under
   dividend reinvestment
   plan ........................            5,255                --               79                --                79


Dividends ($.45 per share)  ....               --                --               --            (1,728)           (1,728)


Net income .....................               --                --               --             8,035             8,035
                                     ------------      ------------     ------------      ------------      ------------



Balance, September 30, 1998 ....        3,872,505      $         39     $    217,431      $   (125,287)     $     92,183
                                     ============      ============     ============      ============      ============
</TABLE>



             The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                      Consolidated Financial Statements.


                                        4

<PAGE>   5




                                   SIGNATURES




Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



                                              TRANSCONTINENTAL REALTY
                                              INVESTORS, INC.






Date:      February 16, 1999                  By:  /s/ Randall M. Paulson
     ------------------------------              -------------------------------
                                                 Randall M. Paulson
                                                 President


Date:      February 16, 1999                  By:  /s/ Thomas A. Holland
     ------------------------------              -------------------------------
                                                 Thomas A. Holland
                                                 Executive Vice President and
                                                 Chief Financial Officer
                                                 (Principal Financial and
                                                 Accounting Officer)

                                       16

<PAGE>   6
                              INDEX TO EXHIBITS



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number                  Description
------                  -----------
<S>                     <C>
27                      Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>