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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 30, 1999, relating to the
consolidated financial statements and schedules of American Realty Trust, Inc.
for the year ended December 31, 1998.

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


/s/ BDO SEIDMAN, LLP

    BDO Seidman, LLP




Dallas, Texas
June 11, 1999