<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from MRI Business Properties Fund Ltd. 1997 First Quarter 10-QSB and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such 10-QSB filing. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000722886 <NAME> MRI BUSINESS PROPERTIES FUND LTD. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-30-1996 <CASH> 4,199 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0<F1> <PP&E> 4,475 <DEPRECIATION> (1,762) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 9,153 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0<F1> <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 9,072 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 9,153 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,081 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 231 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6 <INCOME-PRETAX> 850 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 850 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 94 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 756 <EPS-PRIMARY> 7.34<F2> <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <FN> <F1>Registrant has an unclassified balance sheet. <F2>Multiplier is 1. </FN>