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                                                    SEC FILE NUMBER 1-15663
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                                                    CUSIP NUMBER 029174-10-9
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                                 UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  FORM 12b-25

                          NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING


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


       For Period Ended: December 31, 2002
                        ------------------------------------------------

                     [_] Transition Report on Form 10-K
                     [_] Transition Report on Form 20-F
                     [_] Transition Report on Form 11-K
                     [_] Transition Report on Form 10-Q
                     [_] Transition Report on Form N-SAR

       For the Transition Period Ended:
                                       ---------------------------------

         Read Instructions 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:

================================================================================

                        PART I - REGISTRANT INFORMATION


                         American Realty Investors, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Full Name of Registrant

                                      N/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Former Name if Applicable

                        1800 Valley View Lane, Suite 300
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Address of Principal Executive Office (Street and Number)

                                Dallas, TX 75234
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            City, State and Zip Code

================================================================================

                       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, 11-K, or Form N-SAR, or portion thereof, will
    |      be filed on or before the fifteenth calendar day following the
[X] |      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 Forms 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)

American Realty Investors, Inc. ("ARI") is unable to file its Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, without unreasonable effort and
expense due to the significant number of fourth quarter transactions and
subsequent events with regard to completion of a tender offer for certain
affiliate companies.

================================================================================

                          PART IV - OTHER INFORMATION

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

         Ronald E. Kimbrough              469                 522-4253
     ----------------------------    --------------    -------------------------
               (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 report(s) 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.

For the year ended December 31, 2001, ARI had net income of $12.6 million. For
the current period ended December 31, 2002, ARI is estimated to have a loss of
approximately $10.0 million due to lower gain on property sales compared to the
period ended December 31, 2001.

================================================================================

                        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  March 31, 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
of 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
   Regulation S-T ((S)232.201 or (S)232.202 of this chapter) or apply for an
   adjustment in filing date pursuant to Rule 13(b) of Regulation S-T
   ((S)232.13(b) of this Chapter).

Last update: 10/8/2002