<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Fund III Financial Statements for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 586,146 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 74,547<F1> <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 891,476 <PP&E> 31,994,943<F2> <DEPRECIATION> (21,757,596)<F3> <TOTAL-ASSETS> 11,789,516 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 607,644 <BONDS> 18,829,979<F4> <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> (7,648,107)<F5> <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 11,789,516 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 5,674,940<F6> <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,987,655<F7> <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,254,318 <INCOME-PRETAX> 0 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 432,967<F8> <EPS-PRIMARY> 0<F8> <EPS-DILUTED> 0<F8> <FN> <F1>Includes all receivables grouped in "Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets" on the Balance Sheet. <F2>Includes apartment complexes of $31,475,359 and deferred expenses of $519,584. <F3>Includes depreciation of $21,510,208 and amortization of deferred expenses of $247,388. <F4>Represents mortgage note payable. <F5>Represents total deficit of the General Partners ($330,429) and the Limited Partners ($7,317,678). <F6>Includes all revenue of the Partnership. <F7>Includes operating expenses of $2,242,830, real estate taxes of $416,842 and depreciation and amortization of $1,327,983. <F8>Net Income allocated $4,330 to General Partners and $428,637 to Limited Partners. Net Income of $16.45 per unit on 25,000 units outstanding. </FN>