<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997             JUN-30-1997             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          29,995                  36,167                  20,591
<SECURITIES>                                   149,892                 165,351                 155,322
<RECEIVABLES>                                   95,961                 141,204                 157,836
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                    572,057                 577,935                 581,938
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                       0                       0
<PP&E>                                          30,751                  29,782                  29,155
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,239,546               1,286,491               1,259,229
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0                       0                       0
<BONDS>                                        427,817                 468,672                 470,245
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                        839                     818                     790
<COMMON>                                        15,906                  15,071                  14,506
<OTHER-SE>                                     294,282                 286,894                 284,139
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,239,546               1,286,491               1,259,229
<SALES>                                        305,669                 683,681               1,081,778
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               329,520                 729,140               1,150,744
<CGS>                                          263,066                 591,327                 936,178
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  309,225                 684,454               1,076,873
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 3,076                   6,271                  10,073
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              14,326                  29,071                  43,219
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,893                   9,344                  20,579
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,157                   3,738                   8,232
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,736                   5,606                  12,347
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,736                   5,606                  12,347
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.08                    0.30                    0.71
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.08                    0.30                    0.70