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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1



               CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

American Realty Trust, Inc.
Dallas, Texas

We hereby consent to the use in the Prospectus constituting a part of this
Registration Statement of our report dated March 25, 1998, relating to the
consolidated financial statements of American Realty Trust, Inc. for the year
ended December 31, 1997.

We also consent to the references to us under the caption "Experts" in the
Prospectus.


                                             /s/ BDO SEIDMAN, LLP
                                             -------------------------
                                                 BDO Seidman, LLP

   
Dallas, Texas
December 2, 1998