-----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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 P/TDM1ZSZHvn8PovnrD4Ow==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-09-022224.txt : 20091001
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-09-022224.hdr.sgml : 20091001
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091001174107
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-09-022224
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090929
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091001
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091001

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COHEN EDWARD E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001228769

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-04408
		FILM NUMBER:		091099682

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		RESOURCE AMERICA INC
		STREET 2:		1845 WALNUT ST
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RESOURCE AMERICA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000083402
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INVESTORS, NEC [6799]
		IRS NUMBER:				720654145
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CRESCENT DRIVE, SUITE 203
		STREET 2:		NAVY YARD CORPORATE CENTER
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19112
		BUSINESS PHONE:		215-546-5005

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CRESCENT DRIVE, SUITE 203
		STREET 2:		NAVY YARD CORPORATE CENTER
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19112

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RESOURCE AMERICA LLC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20060928

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RESOURCE AMERICA INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RESOURCE EXPLORATION INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19890214
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-09-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001228769</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COHEN EDWARD E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1845 WALNUT STREET, 10TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHILADELPHIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19103</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrant to purchase common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.10</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>588235</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-09-29</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-09-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>588235</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>588235</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Foundation</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrant to purchase common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.10</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>313725</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-09-29</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-09-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>313725</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>313725</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The common stock purchase warrants were acquired by the reporting person as part of a private placement by the issuer of senior notes with detachable warrants.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Edward E. Cohen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-10-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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