UNITED STATES             SEC File No. 1-15663
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION  CUSIP No. 029174-10-9
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 12b-25

                           NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING

(Check One):
[ ] Form 10-K     [ ] Form 20-F   [ ] Form 11-K   [X] Form 10-Q   [ ] Form N-SAR


               For Period Ended:     March 31, 2003
                                -----------------------

  Read Instruction (on back page) Before Preparing Form. Please Print or Type.

Nothing in this form shall be construed to imply that the Commission has
verified any information contained herein.

If the notification relates to a portion of the filing checked above, identify
the Item(s) to which the notification relates:
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PART I - REGISTRANT INFORMATION
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Full Name of Registrant
 American Realty Investors, Inc.
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Former Name if Applicable
 N/A
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Address of Principal Executive Office (Street and Number)
 1800 Valley View Lane, Suite 300
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City, State and Zip Code
 Dallas, Texas 75234
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PART II - RULES 12b-25(b) AND (c)

If the subject report could not be filed without unreasonable effort or expense
and the registrant seeks relief pursuant to Rule 12b-25(b), the following should
be completed. (Check box if appropriate.)

             (a)    The reasons described in reasonable detail in Part III of
                    this form could not be eliminated without unreasonable
                    effort or expense;

             (b)    The subject annual report, semi-annual report, transition
                    report on Form 10-K, Form 20-F, II -K, Form N-SAR, or
    [X]             portion thereof, will be filed on or before the fifteenth
                    calendar day following the prescribed due date; or the
                    subject quarterly report of transition report on Form 10-Q,
                    or portion thereof will be filed on or before the fifth
                    calendar day following the prescribed due date; and

             (c)    The accountant's statement or other exhibit required by
                    Rule 12b-25(c) has been attached if applicable.

PART III - NARRATIVE

State below in reasonable detail the reasons why the Form 10-K, 20-F, 11-K,
10-Q, N-SAR, or the transition report or portion thereof, could not be filed
within the prescribed time period.

                                                 (Attach Extra Sheets if Needed)



PART IV - OTHER INFORMATION

(1)  Name and telephone number of person to contact in regard to this
     notification

   Ronald E. Kimbrough                 (469)                 522-4253
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       (Name)                       (Area Code)         (Telephone Number)

(2)  Have all other periodic reports required under Section 13 or 15(d) of the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment Company Act
     of 1940 during the preceding 12 months or for such shorter period that the
     registrant was required to file such reports) been filed? If answer is no,
     identify report(s), [X] Yes [ ] No

(3)  Is it anticipated that any significant change in results of operations from
     the corresponding period for the last fiscal year will be reflected by the
     earnings statements to be included in the subject report or portion
     thereof? [X] Yes [ ] No

     If so, attach an explanation of the anticipated change, both narratively
     and quantitatively, and, if appropriate, state the reasons why a reasonable
     estimate of the results cannot be made.

                         American Realty Investors, Inc.
                     ---------------------------------------
                  (Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

     has caused this notification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
     hereunto duly authorized.

Date     May 15, 2003         By       /s/ Ronald E. Kimbrough
    -----------------------     ------------------------------------------------
                                Ronald E. Kimbrough, Acting Principal Executive
                                Officer and Executive Vice President and
                                Chief Financial Officer

INSTRUCTION: The form may be signed by an executive officer of the registrant or
by any other duly authorized representative. The name and title of the person
signing the form shall be typed or printed beneath the signature. If the
statement is signed on behalf of the registrant by an authorized representative
(other than an executive officer), evidence of the representative's authority to
sign on behalf of the registrant shall be filed with the form.

                                    ATTENTION

     Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal Criminal
     Violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001).

                              GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

1.   This form is required by Rule 12b-25 (17 CFR 240.12b-25) of the General
     Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

2.   One signed original and four conformed copies of this form and amendments
     thereto must be completed and filed with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549, in accordance with Rule 0-3 of the
     General Rules and Regulations under the Act. The information contained in
     or filed with the form will be made a matter of public record in the
     Commission files.

3.   A manually signed copy of the form and amendments thereto shall be filed
     with each national securities exchange on which any class of securities of
     the registrant is registered.

4.   Amendments to the notifications must also be filed on form 12b-25 but need
     not restate information that has been correctly furnished. The form shall
     be clearly identified as an amended notification.

5.   Electronic Filers. This form shall not be used by electronic filers unable
     to timely file a report solely due to electronic difficulties. Filers
     unable to submit a report within the time period prescribed due to
     difficulties in electronic filing should comply with either Rule 201 or
     Rule 202 of Regulations S-T (ss.232.201 or ss.232.202 of this chapter) or
     apply for an adjustment in filing date pursuant to Rule 13(b) of Regulation
     S-T (ss.232.13(b) of this chapter).



                         AMERICAN REALTY INVESTORS, INC.
                            FORM 12b-25 TO FORM 10-Q
                        FOR QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2003

                              SEC FILE NO. 1-15663

Statement I
Form 12b-25, Part III Narrative
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American Realty Investors, Inc. ("ARI") is unable to file its Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, without unreasonable effort
and expense due to the initial consolidation activities required subsequent to
the completion of a tender offer for certain affiliate companies late in the
period.

Statement II
Form 12b-25, Part IV(3) - Other Information
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For the three months ended March 31, 2002, ARI had a net loss of $8.9 million.
For the current period ended March 31, 2003, ARI is estimated to have net income
of approximately $7.3 million due to increased gains on property sales compared
to the period ended March 31, 2002.