<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from SHELTER PROPERTIES III 2000 Third Quarter 10-QSB and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such 10-QSB filing. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000353282 <NAME> SHELTER PROPERTIES III <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <CASH> 785 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 184 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <F1> <PP&E> 28,092 <DEPRECIATION> 16,878 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 13,093 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <F1> <BONDS> 7,738 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 4,390 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 13,093 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 4,300 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,690 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 514 <INCOME-PRETAX> 0 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 610 <EPS-BASIC> 10.98 <F2> <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <FN> <F1> Registrant has an unclassified balance sheet. <F2> Multiplier is 1. </FN>