1
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
     We consent to the inclusion in this Amendment No. 1 to the registration
statement on Form S-11 (Registration No. 333-34983) of our reports dated March
25, 1997 on our audits of the financial statements and financial statement
schedule of Captec Net Lease Realty, Inc. We also consent to the references to
our firm under the captions "Experts" and "Selected Financial Data."
    
 
   
                                            /s/ COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
    
   
                                            COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
    
 
Detroit, Michigan
   
November   , 1997