-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GNV9+Zgutmc077ZNOZoqAZW/RF1hTxW94MwP+g2Ya2CrIvofnY7tnSJgVKR2F54S
 MYJ3QypLjOzqqo2uPQ9njg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-012494.txt : 20040504
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-012494.hdr.sgml : 20040504
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040504192321
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-012494
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040430
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040504

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NIERENBERG DAVID
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001040899

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13485
		FILM NUMBER:		04779191

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		19605 N E 8TH STREET
		CITY:			CAMAS
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98607
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3606048600

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT TRUST INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001035744
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				330741174
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		445 MARINE VIEW AVE SUITE 230
		STREET 2:		STE 260
		CITY:			DEL MAR
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92014
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6193505008

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		445 MARINE VIEW AVE SUITE 230
		CITY:			DEL MAR
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92014
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001035744</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT TRUST INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>INV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001040899</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NIERENBERG DAVID</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT TRUS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10421 WATERIDGE CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.54</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-04-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options vest 1/3 per year for a three year period</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David Nierenberg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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