-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 YDRAaNNwe9Mp2yhGuBNSdQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000083402-04-000009.txt : 20040430
<SEC-HEADER>0000083402-04-000009.hdr.sgml : 20040430
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040430170220
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000083402-04-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040429
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040430

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RESOURCE AMERICA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000083402
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				720654145
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1845 WALNUT STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1000
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103
		BUSINESS PHONE:		215-546-5005

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1845 WALNUT STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1000
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RESOURCE EXPLORATION INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19890214

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SMTR CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19700522

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WHITE JOHN S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001230062

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-04408
		FILM NUMBER:		04770568

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		RESOURCE AMERICA
		STREET 2:		1845 WALNUT ST
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>whiteform4042904_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000083402</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RESOURCE AMERICA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>REXI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001230062</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WHITE JOHN S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O 1845 WALNUT STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHILADELPHIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19103</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>789</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>789</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>18972</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The undersigned is a participant in both the Resource America, Inc. 1997 Non-Employee Directors Deferred Stock and Deferred Compensation Plan (the &quot;1997 Plan&quot;), and the Resource America, Inc. 2002 Non-Employee Directors Deferred Stock and Deferred Compensation Plan (the &quot;2002 Plan&quot;).  The undersigned has been granted 15,000 units under the 1997 Plan and 3,972 units under the 2002 Plan.  Each unit represents the right to receive one share of the Company's Common Stock upon termination of the
undersigned as a director of the Company, subject to vesting provisions.  The units in both the 1997 Plan and the 2002 Plan vest on the later of (i) the fifth anniversary of the date he or she first became an Eligible Director and (ii) the first anniversary of the grant of those Units.  The shares are receivable on account of the undersigned's service as a director and without additional consideration.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John S. White</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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