EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus constituting part of this Registration Statement on Form S-4 of The First American Financial Corporation of our report dated February 9, 1999, appearing on page 21 of The First American Financial Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such proxy statement/prospectus. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP - ------------------------------ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Costa Mesa, CA March 23, 1999