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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
              CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
Continental Mortgage and Equity Trust
  Dallas, Texas
 
     We hereby consent to the use in the Prospectus constituting a part of this
Registration Statement of our report dated March 7, 1997, relating to the
consolidated financial statements of Continental Mortgage and Equity Trust for
the year ended December 31, 1996.
 
     We also consent to the reference to us under the caption "Experts" in the
Prospectus.
 
                                                   /s/  BDO SEIDMAN, LLP
 
                                                      BDO Seidman, LLP
 
Dallas, Texas
November 17, 1997