<Page> EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (Nos. 333-32946, 333-38486, 333-73592, 333-83646) and the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-34300) of iStar Financial Inc. of our report dated March 1, 2002 relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedules, which appears in this Form 10-K. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP New York, NY March 26, 2002