<ARTICLE>                           5
<LEGEND>

This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from National
Property  Investors  III 2000  Second  Quarter  10-QSB and is  qualified  in its
entirety by reference to such 10-QSB filing.

</LEGEND>

<CIK>                               0000310485
<NAME>                              National Property Investors III
<MULTIPLIER>                                           1,000


                                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                   DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                      APR-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                        JUN-30-2000
<CASH>                                                   923
<SECURITIES>                                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                            558
<ALLOWANCES>                                               0
<INVENTORY>                                                0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                           0 <F1>
<PP&E>                                                38,672
<DEPRECIATION>                                       (26,430)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                        14,947
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                      0 <F1>
<BONDS>                                               27,010
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                0
<COMMON>                                                   0
<OTHER-SE>                                           (13,486)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                          14,947
<SALES>                                                    0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                       4,556
<CGS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                          2,922
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                           0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                           0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     1,042
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                            0
<INCOME-TAX>                                               0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                      592
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                             592
<EPS-BASIC>                                            12.20 <F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                              0
<FN>

<F1> Registrant has an unclassified balance sheet. <F2> Multiplier is 1.

</FN>