<ARTICLE>                           5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                0000014846
<NAME>                               BRT REALTY TRUST 
<MULTIPLIER>                         1,000
       
                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                        6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                       JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                         JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                    19,700
<SECURITIES>                               6,686
<RECEIVABLES>                                  0
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               0
<PP&E>                                         0
<DEPRECIATION>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                            86,530
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          0
<BONDS>                                   10,795
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                  26,657
<OTHER-SE>                                47,622
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>              86,950
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           2,539
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                           1,519
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            2,295
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        2,295
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                               2,295
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                .28
<EPS-DILUTED>                                .28