Exhibit 23.1


                         Consent of Independent Auditors


The Board of Directors
American Residential Investment Trust, Inc.



We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statements (No.
333-48005 and No. 333-61529) on Form S-8 of American Residential Investment
Trust, Inc. of our report dated January 28, 2001, relating to the consolidated
balance sheets of American Residential Investment Trust, Inc. and subsidiary as
of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the related consolidated statements of
operations and comprehensive income (loss), stockholders' equity and cash flows
for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2000 which
report appears in the December 31, 2000, annual report on Form 10-K of American
Residential Investment Trust, Inc.


                                   KPMG LLP

San Diego, California
March 21, 2001