UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  FORM 10-K405

[x]  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO  SECTION  13  OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
     ACT OF 1934

     For the fiscal year ended           December 31, 1996
                               -------------------------------------------------

                                       OR

[ ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
     ACT OF 1934

     For the transition period from ______________ to_____________

     Commission file number  0-14258


                        McNEIL REAL ESTATE FUND XV, LTD.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         California                            94-2941516
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)               Identification No.)


             13760 Noel Road, Suite 600, LB70, Dallas, Texas, 75240
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code     (972) 448-5800
                                                  ------------------------------

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
- ----------------------------------------------------------

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
    Limited partnership units
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months,  and (2) has been subject to such filing  requirements
for the past 90 days. Yes X No
                         ---  ---

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation  S-K is not contained  herein,  and will not be contained,  to the
best of registrant's  knowledge,  in definitive proxy or information  statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [ X ]

101,479  of the  registrant's  102,796  limited  partnership  units  are held by
non-affiliates  of this registrant.  The aggregate market value of units held by
non-affiliates  is not determinable  since there is no public trading market for
limited  partnership  units  and  transfers  of units  are  subject  to  certain
restrictions.

Documents Incorporated by Reference:        See Item 14, Page 34

                                TOTAL OF 36 PAGES

                                     PART I

ITEM 1.   BUSINESS
- -------   --------

Organization
- ------------

McNeil Real Estate Fund XV, Ltd. (the "Partnership") was organized June 26, 1984
as a limited  partnership under the provisions of the California Uniform Limited
Partnership Act. The general partner of the Partnership is McNeil Partners, L.P.
(the "General Partner"), a Delaware limited partnership,  an affiliate of Robert
A. McNeil  ("McNeil").  The  Partnership  is governed by an amended and restated
partnership  agreement of limited partnership dated October 11, 1991, as amended
(the "Amended Partnership Agreement").  Prior to October 11, 1991, McNeil Realty
Investors  Corporation (the prior "Corporate General  Partner"),  a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Southmark Corporation  ("Southmark"),  and McNeil were the general
partners  of the  Partnership,  which was  governed by an  agreement  of limited
partnership  dated June 26, 1984 (the  "Original  Partnership  Agreement").  The
principal  place of business for the  Partnership  and General  Partner is 13760
Noel Road, Suite 600, LB70, Dallas, Texas, 75240.

On  September  14,  1984,  a  Registration  Statement  on Form S-11 was declared
effective by the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  whereby the  Partnership
offered for sale $35,000,000 of limited  partnership  units ("Units"),  with the
General  Partners' right to increase the offering up to  $60,000,000.  The Units
represent equity interests in the Partnership and entitle the holders thereof to
participate in certain  allocations and  distributions of the  Partnership.  The
sale of Units closed on January 31, 1986,  with 101,519 Units sold at $500 each,
for gross proceeds of $50,759,500 to the Partnership.  In addition, the original
general partners  purchased a total of 10 Units for $5,000. In 1991 and in 1992,
651 and 696 Units, respectively,  were issued to the General Partner for payment
of the Management Incentive Distribution ("MID").  During 1993 to 1995, 40 Units
were  relinquished  leaving  102,836 Units  outstanding as of December 31, 1996.
Subsequent  to year  end,  40 Units  were  relinquished  leaving  102,796  Units
outstanding at January 31, 1997.

SOUTHMARK BANKRUPTCY AND CHANGE IN GENERAL PARTNER
- --------------------------------------------------

On July 14, 1989,  Southmark filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under
Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Neither the Partnership,  McNeil nor the
Corporate   General   Partner   were   included  in  the   filing.   Southmark's
reorganization  plan became  effective  August 10, 1990. Under the plan, most of
Southmark's assets, which included Southmark's interest in the Corporate General
Partner, were sold or liquidated for the benefit of creditors.

In  accordance  with  Southmark's  reorganization  plan,  Southmark,  McNeil and
various of their affiliates  entered into an asset purchase agreement on October
12, 1990,  providing for, among other things,  the transfer of control to McNeil
or his affiliates of 34 limited partnerships  (including the Partnership) in the
Southmark portfolio.










On February 14,  1991,  pursuant to the asset  purchase  agreement as amended on
that date: (a) an affiliate of McNeil purchased the Corporate  General Partner's
economic  interest in the  Partnership;  (b) McNeil became the managing  general
partner of the Partnership  pursuant to an agreement with the Corporate  General
Partner  that  delegated  management  authority  to McNeil;  and (c) McNeil Real
Estate Management,  Inc. ("McREMI"), an affiliate of McNeil, acquired the assets
relating to the property management and partnership  administrative  business of
Southmark  and its  affiliates  and commenced  management  of the  Partnership's
properties  pursuant  to an  assignment  of  the  existing  property  management
agreements from the Southmark affiliates.

On October 11, 1991,  the limited  partners  approved a  restructuring  proposal
providing for (i) the  replacement of the Corporate  General  Partner and McNeil
with  the  General  Partner;  (ii)  the  adoption  of  the  Amended  Partnership
Agreement,  which  substantially  alters provisions of the Original  Partnership
Agreement  relating  to, among other  things,  compensation,  reimbursements  of
expenses, and voting rights; and (iii) the approval of a new property management
agreement with McREMI, the Partnership's property manager.

The Amended Partnership  Agreement provides for a MID to replace all other forms
of  general  partner  compensation  other  than  property  management  fees  and
reimbursements  of certain costs.  Additional  Units may be issued in connection
with the payment of the MID pursuant to the Amended Partnership  Agreement.  See
Item 8 - Note 2 - "Transactions with  Affiliates".  In 1992, the General Partner
received 696 Units for such a payment.  For a discussion of the  methodology for
calculating and  distributing  the MID see Item 13 - Certain  Relationships  and
Related Transactions.

Settlement of Claims:

The  Partnership  filed claims with the United States  Bankruptcy  Court for the
Northern  District of Texas,  Dallas Division (the  "Bankruptcy  Court") against
Southmark for damages relating to improper  overcharges,  breach of contract and
breach of fiduciary duty. The Partnership settled these claims in 1991, and such
settlement was approved by the Bankruptcy Court.

An Order Granting  Motion to Distribute  Funds to Class 8 Claimants  dated April
14, 1995 was issued by the Bankruptcy  Court.  In accordance  with the Order, in
May 1995 the Partnership received in full satisfaction of its claims, $26,655 in
cash,  and  common  and  preferred  stock  in the  reorganized  Southmark  which
represents the  Partnership's  pro-rata share of Southmark  assets available for
Class 8 Claimants. The Partnership sold the Southmark common and preferred stock
in May 1995 for $8,608 which,  combined  with the cash proceeds from  Southmark,
resulted in a gain on legal settlement of $35,263.

CURRENT OPERATIONS
- ------------------

General:

The Partnership is engaged in real estate  activities,  including the ownership,
operation and  management of residential  and  commercial  real estate and other
real estate related  assets.  At December 31, 1996, the  Partnership  owned four
income-producing properties as described in Item 2 - Properties.

The  Partnership  does not directly  employ any  personnel.  The  Partnership is
managed by the General Partner and, in accordance  with the Amended  Partnership
Agreement,  the  Partnership  reimburses  affiliates of the General  Partner for
certain costs  incurred by affiliates in connection  with the  management of the
Partnership's business. See Item 8 - Note 2 - "Transactions With Affiliates."

The business of the Partnership to date has involved only one industry  segment.
See Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. The Partnership has no
foreign operations. The business of the Partnership is not seasonal.

Business Plan:

The Partnership  determined to evaluate market and other economic  conditions to
establish  the  optimum  time  to  commence  an  orderly   liquidation   of  the
Partnership's  assets in  accordance  with the terms of the Amended  Partnership
Agreement.  Taking such conditions as well as other pertinent  information  into
account,  the Partnership has determined to begin orderly liquidation of all its
assets.  Although there can be no assurance as to the timing of the  liquidation
due to real estate  market  conditions,  the general  difficulty of disposing of
real estate,  and other general  economic  factors,  it is anticipated that such
liquidation  would result in the  dissolution of the  Partnership  followed by a
liquidating distribution to Unitholders by December 2001. Until such time as the
Partnership's  assets are liquidated,  the Partnerships plan of operations is to
preserve or increase the net operating  income of its assets whenever  possible,
while at the same time making whatever capital expenditures are reasonable under
the   circumstances   in  order  to  preserve  and  enhance  the  value  of  the
Partnership's assets.

Competitive Conditions:

Since the  principal  business of the  Partnership  is to own and  operate  real
estate,  the Partnership is subject to all of the risks incident to ownership of
real estate and interests  therein,  many of which relate to the  illiquidity of
this type of  investment.  These  risks  include  changes  in  general  or local
economic conditions,  changes in supply or demand for competing properties in an
area,  changes in interest rates and  availability  of permanent  mortgage funds
which  may  render  the  sale  or  refinancing   of  a  property   difficult  or
unattractive, changes in real estate and zoning laws, increases in real property
tax rates and Federal or local  economic or rent  controls.  The  illiquidity of
real estate  investments  generally  impairs the ability of the  Partnership  to
respond  promptly  to  changed  circumstances.  The  Partnership  competes  with
numerous established companies, private investors (including foreign investors),
real estate investment trusts,  limited partnerships and other entities (many of
which have greater  resources than the Partnership) in connection with the sale,
financing  and  leasing  of  properties.  The  impact  of  these  risks  on  the
Partnership,   including   losses  from  operations  and   foreclosures  of  the
Partnership's  properties,  is described in Item 7 - Management's Discussion and
Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations.  See  Item 2 -
Properties  for  discussion  of  competitive  conditions  at  the  Partnership's
properties.

Forward-Looking Information:

Within this document,  certain  statements are made as to the expected occupancy
trends,  financial  condition,  results  of  operations,  and cash  flows of the
Partnership  for periods after  December 31, 1996.  All of these  statements are
forward-looking  statements  made pursuant to the safe harbor  provisions of the
Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995.  These  statements  are not
historical  and  involve  risks  and  uncertainties.  The  Partnership's  actual
occupancy trends, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows for
future  periods may differ  materially  due to several  factors.  These  factors
include,  but are not limited to, the  Partnership's  ability to control  costs,
make necessary  capital  improvements,  negotiate  sales or  refinancings of its
properties and respond to changing economic and competitive factors.

Other information:

The environmental  laws of the federal government and of certain state and local
governments  impose  liability  on current  property  owners for the clean-up of
hazardous and toxic substances discharged on the property. This liability may be
imposed  without  regard  to the  timing,  cause or person  responsible  for the
release of such substances onto the property.  The Partnership  could be subject
to such liability in the event that it owns properties having such environmental
problems.  The Partnership has no knowledge of any pending claims or proceedings
regarding such environmental problems.

In August 1995, High River Limited  Partnership,  a Delaware limited partnership
controlled by Carl C. Icahn ("High River") made an  unsolicited  tender offer to
purchase from holders of Units up to approximately 6.9% of the outstanding Units
of the  Partnership  for a purchase price of $95.00 per Unit. In September 1996,
High River made another  unsolicited tender offer to purchase any and all of the
outstanding  Units of the  Partnership for a purchase price of $100.24 per unit.
In  addition  High River  made  unsolicited  tender  offers  for  certain  other
partnerships controlled by the General Partner. The Partnership recommended that
the  limited  partners  reject  the  tender  offers  made  with  respect  to the
Partnership and not tender their Units.  The General Partner believes that as of
January  31,  1997,  High  River  has  purchased   approximately  10.3%  of  the
outstanding  Units  pursuant to the tender offers.  In addition,  all litigation
filed by High River,  Mr. Icahn and his affiliates in connection with the tender
offers have been dismissed without prejudice.





ITEM 2.      PROPERTIES
- -------      ----------

The  following  table sets forth the real  estate  investment  portfolio  of the
Partnership  at December 31, 1996.  The buildings and the land on which they are
located  are owned by the  Partnership  in fee,  subject  in each case (with the
exception of Cedar Run, which is  unencumbered  by mortgage  indebtedness)  to a
first lien deed of trust as set forth more fully in Item 8 - Note 5 -  "Mortgage
Notes  Payable".  See  also  Item 8 - Note 4 -  "Real  Estate  Investments"  and
Schedule III - "Real Estate  Investments and Accumulated  Depreciation."  In the
opinion of management, the properties are adequately covered by insurance.



                                            Net Basis                             1996            Date
Property              Description           of Property           Debt        Property Tax      Acquired
- ----------            ------------        --------------      -------------   ------------      --------
                                                                                    
Arrowhead (1)         Apartments
Shawnee, KS           436 units           $    8,198,117      $   6,999,878      $ 153,169          3/85

Cedar Run             Apartments
Lexington, KY         152 units                3,482,114                  -         30,617         12/85

Mountain
  Shadows (2)         Apartments
Albuquerque, NM       504 units               12,809,173         11,656,890        187,976          8/85

Woodcreek (3)         Apartments
Cary, NC              200 units                5,762,089          5,200,253         61,758         12/85
                                           -------------      -------------     ----------
                                          $   30,251,493     $   23,857,021    $   433,520
                                           =============      =============     ==========



- -----------------------------------------
Total:    Apartments  -  1,292 units

 (1)   Arrowhead  Apartments is  owned by Arrowhead Fund XV Limited  Partnership
       which is wholly-owned by the Partnership.

 (2)   Mountain Shadows  Apartments  is owned by McNeil Mountain Shadows Fund XV
       Limited Partnership which is wholly-owned by the Partnership.

 (3)   Woodcreek Apartments is owned by Woodcreek Fund XV, Ltd. which is wholly-
       owned by the Partnership.




The  following  table sets  forth the  properties'  occupancy  rate and rent per
square foot for each of the last five years:




                                      1996            1995          1994            1993           1992
                                    ---------      ----------    -----------     ----------    ------------
                                                                                         
Arrowhead
   Occupancy Rate............             95%             95%            95%            96%             92%
   Rent Per Square Foot......       $    7.12      $     6.76    $      6.42     $     5.95     $      5.49

Cedar Run
   Occupancy Rate............             95%             95%            95%            91%             92%
   Rent Per Square Foot......       $    7.62      $     7.22    $      7.14     $     6.61     $      6.32

Mountain Shadows
   Occupancy Rate............             87%             88%            94%            95%             93%
   Rent Per Square Foot......       $    8.28     $      8.24    $      7.97     $     7.53      $     6.88

Woodcreek
   Occupancy Rate............             96%             95%            99%            97%             92%
   Rent Per Square Foot......       $    8.80     $      8.42    $      8.08     $     7.40      $     6.87


Occupancy rate  represents all units leased divided by the total number of units
of the  property  as of  December  31 of the given  year.  Rent per square  foot
represents all revenue, except interest,  derived from the property's operations
divided by the leasable square footage of the property.

Competitive Conditions at Properties
- ------------------------------------

The occupancy rate at Arrowhead is running slightly above the local area average
of 94%. Area occupancy rates are expected to remain in the 95% range.  Arrowhead
is located in an affluent  county in  metropolitan  Kansas City.  The  apartment
market is extremely  concentrated  with over 3,000  apartment units within a one
mile radius of  Arrowhead.  The increase in capital  improvements  over the last
several  years has  allowed  the  property  to  reposition  itself as one of the
leaders in the market.

Over the past three  years,  Cedar Run has  reduced  its  dependency  on college
students.  This has enabled Cedar Run to maintain an occupancy rate of 95% since
1994.  The market has  fluctuated  from 90% to 96%, while Cedar Run has held its
occupancy rate constant throughout the year. The property's rent per square foot
is currently  12% higher than the local  market rate.  There has been little new
development of multi-family projects in the area.

Mountain Shadows is located in a very competitive  market in Albuquerque and has
experienced  a decline in  occupancy  rates  since  1993.  This  decline  can be
attributed to the construction of new  multi-family  units. The market maintains
an  occupancy  level at 90%.  The capital  improvements  program  that  Mountain
Shadows has been involved in has kept the property aggressive in the market.






The occupancy  rate at Woodcreek  currently  mirrors the market rate of 96%. The
property  is  located  in a  rapidly  developing  area of Wake  County  in North
Carolina with an additional  6,189 units  planned in 1997.  The current  capital
improvement  program has enabled the property to stay  competitive  in a growing
market.

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
- -------    -----------------

The Partnership is not party to, nor are any of the Partnership's properties the
subject of, any material pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary, routine
litigation incidental to the Partnership's business, except for the following:

1)   James F. Schofield, Gerald C. Gillett, Donna S. Gillett, Jeffrey Homburger,
     Elizabeth Jung,  Robert Lewis,  and Warren Heller et al. v. McNeil Partners
     L.P., McNeil Investors,  Inc., McNeil Real Estate Management,  Inc., Robert
     A. McNeil,  Carole J. McNeil,  McNeil Pacific  Investors  Fund 1972,  Ltd.,
     McNeil Real Estate Fund IX, Ltd.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund X, Ltd.,  McNeil
     Real Estate Fund XI, Ltd.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XII, Ltd.,  McNeil Real
     Estate Fund XIV, Ltd., McNeil Real Estate Fund XV, Ltd., McNeil Real Estate
     Fund XX, L.P.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XXI, L.P.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund
     XXII,  L.P.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XXIV,  L.P.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund
     XXV, L.P.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XXVI, L.P., and McNeil Real Estate Fund
     XXVII,  L.P., et al. - Superior  Court of the State of  California  for the
     County of Los  Angeles,  Case No.  BC133799  (Class and  Derivative  Action
     Complaint).

     The action  involves  purported  class and  derivative  actions  brought by
     limited  partners of each of the fourteen  limited  partnerships  that were
     named as nominal  defendants as listed above (as defined in this Section 1,
     the  "Partnerships").  Plaintiffs allege that McNeil  Investors,  Inc., its
     affiliate  McNeil Real Estate  Management,  Inc.  and three of their senior
     officers and/or directors (as defined in this Section 1, collectively,  the
     "Defendants") breached their fiduciary duties and certain obligations under
     the  respective  Amended  Partnership  Agreement.  Plaintiffs  allege  that
     Defendants  have  rendered  such Units  highly  illiquid  and  artificially
     depressed  the prices that are  available  for Units on the resale  market.
     Plaintiffs  also allege that  Defendants  engaged in a course of conduct to
     prevent  the  acquisition  of  Units  by an  affiliate  of  Carl  Icahn  by
     disseminating  purportedly  false,  misleading and inadequate  information.
     Plaintiffs  further  allege  that  Defendants  acted to  advance  their own
     personal interests at the expense of the Partnerships'  public unit holders
     by failing to sell Partnership properties and failing to make distributions
     to unitholders.

     On December 16,  1996,  the  Plaintiffs  filed a  consolidated  and amended
     complaint.  Plaintiffs  are suing for breach of fiduciary  duty,  breach of
     contract  and  an  accounting,  alleging,  among  other  things,  that  the
     management  fees paid to the McNeil  affiliates over the last six years are
     excessive,  that these fees  should be reduced  retroactively  and that the
     respective Amended  Partnership  Agreements  governing the Partnerships are
     invalid.  On January 7, 1997,  the Court ordered  consolidation  with three
     other similar actions listed below.

     The  Partnerships  filed a demurrer to the complaint and a motion to strike
     on February 14, 1997, seeking to dismiss the complaint in all respects. The
     demurrer  is  pending.  The  Partnerships  deny that  there is any merit to
     Plaintiff's allegations and intend to vigorously defend this action.


2)   Alfred Napoletano v. McNeil Partners, L.P., McNeil Investors,  Inc., Robert
     A. McNeil,  Carole J. McNeil,  McNeil Pacific  Investors  Fund 1972,  Ltd.,
     McNeil Real Estate Fund V, Ltd.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund IX, Ltd.,  McNeil
     Real Estate Fund X, Ltd.,  McNeil  Real Estate Fund XI,  Ltd.,  McNeil Real
     Estate Fund XIV, Ltd., McNeil Real Estate Fund XV, Ltd., McNeil Real Estate
     Fund XX, L.P.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XXIV, L.P., McNeil Real Estate Fund
     XXV,  L.P.  -  Superior  Court of the  State of  California,  County of Los
     Angeles,  Case No. BC133849 (Class Action  Complaint).  On January 7, 1997,
     this  action was consolidated  by  court  order  with  Scholfield,  et al.,
     referenced above.

3)   Warren Heller v. McNeil Partners,  L.P., McNeil Investors,  Inc., Robert A.
     McNeil,  Carole J. McNeil, McNeil Pacific Investors Fund 1972, Ltd., McNeil
     Real Estate Fund V, Ltd.,  McNeil  Real Estate Fund IX,  Ltd.,  McNeil Real
     Estate Fund X, Ltd.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XI, Ltd.,  McNeil Real Estate
     Fund XIV, Ltd.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XV, Ltd.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund
     XX, L.P.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XXIV, L.P., McNeil Real Estate Fund XXV,
     L.P. - Superior  Court of the State of  California,  County of Los Angeles,
     Case No. BC133957 (Class Action Complaint). On January 7, 1997, this action
     was consolidated by court order with Scholfield, et al., referenced above.

4)   Robert Lewis v. McNeil  Partners,  L.P.,  McNeil  Investors,  Inc.,  Robert
     A. McNeil et al. - In the District  Court of Dallas County,  Texas,  A-14th
     Judicial  District,  Cause No. 95-08535 (Class Action) - Plaintiff,  Robert
     Lewis, is a limited partner with McNeil Pacific  Investors Fund 1972, Ltd.,
     McNeil Real Estate Fund X, Ltd. and McNeil Real Estate Fund XV, Ltd.

     On  April  11,  1996,  the  action  was  dismissed   without  prejudice  in
     anticipation  of  consolidation  with other  class  action  complaints.  On
     January  7,  1997,  this  action  was  consolidated  by  court  order  with
     Schofield, et al., referenced above.

For a discussion of the Southmark bankruptcy, see Item 1 - Business.

ITEM 4.        SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
- -------        ---------------------------------------------------

None.

                                     PART II

ITEM 5.   MARKET  FOR  THE REGISTRANT'S UNITS OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AND RELATED
- -------   ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          SECURITY HOLDER MATTERS
          -----------------------

(A) There is no established public trading market for Units, nor is one expected
to develop.

(B)    Title of Class                       Number of Record Unit Holders
       --------------                       -----------------------------

       Limited partnership units            5,314 as of January 31, 1997

(C)    Cash  distributions of $999,981 were made to the limited  partners during
       1996. The  distributions   consisted   of  funds  from   operations.   No
       distributions  were  made  to  the  limited  partners  during  1995.  The
       Partnership  accrued  distributions  of  $511,760  and  $519,812  for the
       benefit of the General  Partner for the years ended December 31, 1996 and
       1995, respectively,  of which all but $42,651 was paid as of December 31,
       1996. These distributions are the MID pursuant to the Amended Partnership

       Agreement.  Distributions  of the  MID  are  expected  to be  paid to the
       General  Partner  in  1997.  See  Item 8 - Note  2 -  "Transactions  with
       Affiliates."  See  Item  7 -  Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of
       Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations  for a  discussion  of
       distributions  and the likelihood they will continue to limited partners.
       In February  1997,  a  distribution  of $500,000  was made to the limited
       partners.

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
- ------- -----------------------

The  following  table sets forth a summary  of  certain  financial  data for the
Partnership.  This summary should be read in conjunction with the  Partnership's
financial statements and notes thereto appearing in Item 8.




Statements of                                             Years Ended December 31,
Operations                              1996           1995            1994           1993           1992
- ------------------                  -------------  -------------  --------------  -------------  -------------
                                                                                            
Rental revenue.................     $   7,973,979  $   7,716,859  $    7,415,746  $   7,237,745  $   7,897,402
Total revenue..................         8,076,096      7,991,130       7,772,979      7,280,900      7,982,880
Write-down for permanent
   impairment of real
   estate......................                 -              -               -              -      3,327,000
Loss on disposition of real
   estate......................                 -              -               -     (2,002,611)             -
Loss before extraordinary
   items.......................          (133,470)      (198,113)        (41,096)    (3,099,381)    (5,450,278)
Extraordinary gain on early
   extinguishment of debt......                 -              -               -      2,681,807         52,623
Net loss.......................          (133,470)      (198,113)        (41,096)      (417,574)    (5,397,655)

Net loss per limited partner-
 ship unit:
Loss before extraordinary
 items.........................        $    (5.66)   $     (6.90)  $       (5.19) $      (35.26) $      (52.45)
Extraordinary gain on early
 extinguishment of debt........                 -              -               -          25.81            .51
                                        ---------     ----------    ------------   ------------   ------------

Net loss.......................        $    (5.66)   $     (6.90)  $       (5.19) $       (9.45) $     (51.94)
                                        =========     ==========    ============   ============   ===========

Distribution per limited
   partnership unit............        $     9.70    $         -   $        4.86  $           -  $          -
                                        =========     ==========    ============   ============   ===========









                                                              As of December 31,
Balance Sheets                          1996           1995            1994           1993           1992
- --------------                      -------------  -------------  --------------  -------------  --------
                                                                                            
Real estate investments,
   net.........................    $   30,251,493  $  31,548,994  $   32,336,645 $   33,207,297  $  35,470,317
Asset held for sale............                 -              -               -              -      6,515,301
Total assets...................        33,180,985     35,129,849      37,030,171     38,348,427     43,663,439
Mortgage notes payable,
   net.........................        23,857,021     24,216,133      25,443,252     25,803,685     30,191,039
Partners' equity...............         8,392,642     10,037,853      10,755,778     11,805,729     12,627,676


See Item 7 -  Management's  Discussion  and Analysis of Financial  Condition and
Results of Operations.  The Partnership sold Riverway Five on December 28, 1993,
while La Plaza East was foreclosed upon on May 11, 1993.

ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
- -------  -----------------------------------------------------------
         AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
         -------------------------

FINANCIAL CONDITION
- -------------------

The  Partnership  was formed to  acquire,  operate and  ultimately  dispose of a
portfolio of  income-producing  real  properties.  As of December 31, 1996,  the
Partnership  owned four apartment  properties.  Three of the four  Partnership's
properties are subject to mortgage notes.

Riverway  Five was sold by the  Partnership  on December 28, 1993  yielding cash
proceeds of  $2,034,822.  The property had very limited  parking  spaces and was
only 64% occupied.  The  Partnership  had  previously  recorded  write-downs  of
$1,800,000 and $2,000,000 in 1992 and 1991,  respectively,  due to reevaluations
of the  long-term  prospects  for the market and the lack of available  parking.
Management believed that leasing the vacant space would be difficult,  therefore
the  Partnership  accepted  a  purchase  offer,  and the  property  was sold for
$2,100,000. The Partnership filed suit against the title company involved in the
Partnership's  purchase  of the  property  over  representations  of  rights  to
additional  parking when the  property was  acquired.  In  September  1994,  the
Partnership and Chicago Title reached a settlement of $300,000 which is recorded
as gain on  settlement of  litigation  on the  Statements  of Operations  net of
related legal costs.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
- ---------------------

1996 compared to 1995

Revenue:

Partnership  revenues  increased  by  $84,966 or 1.1% for the year ended 1996 as
compared to 1995.  Rental  revenue  increased by $257,120 or 3%, while  interest
income decreased $136,891.


Rental  revenue was  $7,973,979  for 1996 as compared to $7,716,859 in 1995. The
increase of $257,120 or 3% is primarily due to increases in rental rates, offset
by a slight increase in rental discounts given to Mountain Shadow tenants.

Interest income  decreased by $136,891 or 57% in 1996 as compared to 1995 due to
smaller average cash balances invested in interest-bearing accounts.

The  Partnership  also  recognized a gain on legal  settlement from Southmark of
$35,263 in 1995. No such gain has been recognized in 1996.

Expenses:

Partnership  expenses  increased  in 1996 by $20,323 or 0.2% as  compared to the
same period last year.  Increases in  personnel,  repairs and  maintenance,  and
general  and  administrative  expenses  were  offset by  decreases  in  mortgage
interest and general and administrative - affiliate expenses.

Mortgage interest expense  decreased for the year ended 1996,  compared to 1995,
by $299,187 or 12%.  The decrease is due to the payoff of the Cedar Run mortgage
note payable in December 1995.

Personnel  expenses for 1996 were $883,514 as compared to $835,031 in 1995.  The
increase of $48,483 or 6% is due to increased office and maintenance salaries at
all of the properties.

Repairs and maintenance  expense for the period ended 1996 increased by $216,826
or 28%,  compared to 1995.  The increase is partially due to the  replacement of
carpeting, which met the Partnership's criteria for capitalization in 1995 based
on the  magnitude  of  replacements,  but were  expensed in 1996.  In  addition,
furniture  rental  increased at Mountain Shadows due to an increase in corporate
unit leases where  furniture  rental is included in the lease.  The  Partnership
also  experienced  increases in contract  painting  and  cleaning  services as a
result of increased turnover of residents at the properties.

General  and  administrative  expenses  increased  in 1996 by $35,200 or 14%, as
compared to 1995,  due to costs  incurred  by the  Partnership  to evaluate  and
disseminate  information regarding an unsolicited 1996 tender offer as discussed
in Item 1 - Business.

General and  administrative - affiliates expense decreased by $45,581 or 18% for
the period ended 1996 as compared to 1995.  The decrease is due to the reduction
of overhead expenses allocable to the Partnership.

1995 compared to 1994

Revenue:

Partnership  revenues  increased  by  $218,151  or 3% for the year ended 1995 as
compared to 1994.  Rental revenue and interest income  increased by $301,113 and
$104,776, respectively.

Rental  revenue was  $7,716,859  for 1995 as compared to $7,415,746 in 1994. The
increase  was  primarily  due to  increases  in rental  rates,  offset by slight
decreases in occupancy rates at all the properties.

Interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents  increased from 1994 to 1995
due to an  increase  in the  interest  rates and larger  average  cash  balances
invested in interest-bearing accounts.


In 1994,  the  Partnership  recognized  income of $223,001 for the settlement of
litigation,  as discussed  above. In 1995, the Partnership  recognized a gain on
legal settlement of $35,263 as a result of the settlement with Southmark.

Expenses:

Partnership expenses increased in 1995 by $375,168 or 5% as compared to the same
period in 1994.  The increase was primarily due to increases in property  taxes,
other property operating and general and administrative expenses.

Property tax expense for 1995 was $421,633 as compared to $393,660 in 1994.  The
increase of $27,973 or 7% was a result of an increase in the  assessed  property
value at Mountain Shadows.

Other property  operating  expenses  increased $53,477 or 12% for the year ended
1995 as compared to the year ended  1994.  The  increase  can be  attributed  to
increases  in hazard  insurance at Arrowhead  and Mountain  Shadows,  as well as
increases in office supplies and marketing at all four properties.

General and  administrative  expenses during 1995 increased $145,222 as compared
to 1994 due to costs incurred by the Partnership in the third quarter of 1995 to
evaluate and disseminate information regarding an unsolicited 1995 tender offer.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
- -------------------------------

The Partnership has experienced positive cash flow from operations of $6,004,721
for the three years ended December 31, 1996. In 1995, the  Partnership  received
net cash proceeds of $1,367,557  through the refinancing of Woodcreek.  Over the
last three years the  Partnership  has used cash to fund $3,010,580 in additions
to real  estate  investments,  $1,236,697  in  scheduled  principal  payments on
mortgage  notes  payable,  $143,638 for  additional  deferred  borrowing  costs,
$1,511,397  for  payment  of the MID and  $1,499,974  for  distributions  to the
limited partners.  In December 1995,  proceeds from the refinancing of Woodcreek
and current cash reserves totaling $2,217,856 were used to pay off the principal
balance of the mortgage note on Cedar Run.

Cash  generated  from  operating  activities  increased  by  $67,918  in 1996 as
compared to 1995.  The increase in cash  received from tenants and the reduction
in interest paid as well as cash paid to affiliates  offset the increase in cash
paid to suppliers and the decrease in interest received.

The Partnership  generated cash flow of $1,914,501 through operating  activities
in 1995 as  compared to  $2,107,801  in 1994.  This  decline of $193,300 in cash
provided by operating  activities is primarily due to the proceeds received from
the  litigation  settlement  in 1994.  The  increases in the cash  received from
tenants and  interest  received  were offset by the increase in the cash paid to
suppliers and the property taxes paid.

The  Partnership  expended  $827,496,  $1,168,355  and  $1,014,729  for  capital
improvements to the properties in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

During 1996 and 1994, the Partnership paid distributions to the limited partners
of $1,499,974.  In 1995,  proceeds from the  refinancing of a mortgage note were
used to retire another mortgage note, as discussed above.






Short-term liquidity:

The  Partnership  held cash and cash  equivalents  of $1,362,812 at December 31,
1996, down $716,540 from the balance at December 31, 1995. This balance provides
a reasonable level of working capital for the Partnership's operations.

In 1997,  operations  of the  Partnership's  properties  are expected to provide
positive cash flow from operations.  Management will perform routine repairs and
maintenance on the properties to preserve and enhance their value in the market.
In the past three years the  Partnership  has spent $2.9 million  renovating the
properties so they can remain competitive in their respective  markets. In 1997,
the  Partnership  has  budgeted  to  spend  approximately  $547,000  on  capital
improvements, which are expected to be funded from operations of the properties.

Long-term liquidity:

For the long-term,  property operations will remain the primary source of funds.
While the present outlook for the Partnership's  liquidity is favorable,  market
conditions may change and property  operations can  deteriorate.  In that event,
the Partnership  would require other sources of working  capital.  No such other
sources have been  identified,  and the Partnership has no established  lines of
credit.  Other possible actions to resolve working capital  deficiencies include
refinancing or  renegotiating  terms of existing loans,  deferring major capital
expenditures on Partnership properties except where improvements are expected to
enhance the  competitiveness  or marketability  of the properties,  or arranging
working capital support from affiliates. All or a combination of these steps may
be  inadequate  or  unfeasible  in  resolving  such  potential  working  capital
deficiencies.  No affiliate  support has been required in the past, and there is
no assurance  that support  would be provided in the future,  since  neither the
General  Partner nor any  affiliates  have any  obligation  in this regard.  The
Partnership has determined to evaluate  market and other economic  conditions to
establish  the  optimum  time  to  commence  an  orderly   liquidation   of  the
Partnership's  assets in  accordance  with the terms of the Amended  Partnership
Agreement.  Taking such conditions as well as other pertinent  information  into
account,  the Partnership has determined to begin orderly liquidation of all its
assets.  Although there can be no assurance as to the timing of the  liquidation
due to real estate  market  conditions,  the general  difficulty of disposing of
real estate,  and other general  economic  factors,  it is anticipated that such
liquidation  would result in the  dissolution of the  Partnership  followed by a
liquidating distribution to Unitholders by December 2001.

Income allocations and distributions:

Terms  of  the  Amended   Partnership   Agreement  specify  that  income  before
depreciation  is allocated  to the General  Partner to the extent of MID paid in
cash. Depreciation is allocated in the ratio of 99:1 to the limited partners and
the General Partner, respectively.  Therefore, for each of the three years ended
December 31, 1996, income of $448,715, $511,270 and $492,604,  respectively, was
allocated to the General Partner.  The limited partners received  allocations of
net loss of  $582,185,  $709,383  and $533,700 for each of the three years ended
December 31, 1996, respectively.







During 1996, the limited partners received a cash distribution of $999,981. This
distribution consisted of funds from operations.  A distribution of $511,760 for
the MID was accrued by the Partnership for the General Partner in 1996. In light
of the Cedar Run mortgage note payoff, management did not make any distributions
to the limited  partners in 1995. In February 1997, a  distribution  of $500,000
was made to the limited  partners.  The General Partner will continue to monitor
the cash reserves and working capital needs of the Partnership to determine when
cash flow will support additional distributions to the limited partners.





ITEM 8.      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA




                                                                                                      Page
                                                                                                      Number

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Financial Statements:

                                                                                                      
   Report of Independent Public Accountants.......................................                       14

   Balance Sheets at December 31, 1996 and 1995...................................                       15

   Statements of Operations for each of the three years in the period
      ended December 31, 1996.....................................................                       16

   Statements of Partners' Equity (Deficit) for each of the three years
      in the period ended December 31, 1996.......................................                       17

   Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years in the
      period ended December 31, 1996..............................................                       18

   Notes to Financial Statements..................................................                       20

   Financial Statement Schedule -

      Schedule III - Real Estate Investments and Accumulated
         Depreciation.............................................................                       29





















All other  schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required
information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.





                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


To the Partners of
McNeil Real Estate Fund XV, Ltd.:

We have audited the  accompanying  balance sheets of McNeil Real Estate Fund XV,
Ltd. (a California  limited  partnership)  as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and
the related statements of operations,  partners' equity (deficit) and cash flows
for each of the  three  years in the  period  ended  December  31,  1996.  These
financial  statements and the schedule referred to below are the  responsibility
of the Partnership's management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
these financial statements and the schedule based on our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material  respects,  the  financial  position of McNeil Real Estate Fund XV,
Ltd. as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the results of its operations and its
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

Our  audits  were  made for the  purpose  of  forming  an  opinion  on the basic
financial  statements  taken as a whole.  The  schedule  listed  in the index to
financial  statements is presented for purposes of complying with the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission's  rules  and  is not  part  of  the  basic  financial
statements.  This schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied
in our audits of the basic  financial  statements  and, in our  opinion,  fairly
states in all material  respects  the  financial  data  required to be set forth
therein in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.





/s/  Arthur Andersen LLP


Dallas, Texas
   March 17, 1997












                        McNEIL REAL ESTATE FUND XV, LTD.

                                 BALANCE SHEETS


                                                                                 December 31,
                                                                      ------------------------------------
                                                                           1996                  1995
                                                                      ----------------      --------------
ASSETS
- ------
                                                                                                 
Real estate investments:
   Land.....................................................           $     7,087,195      $    7,087,195
   Buildings and improvements...............................                45,563,139          44,889,821
                                                                        --------------       -------------
                                                                            52,650,334          51,977,016
   Less:  Accumulated depreciation..........................               (22,398,841)        (20,428,022)
                                                                        --------------       -------------
                                                                            30,251,493          31,548,994

Cash and cash equivalents...................................                 1,362,812           2,079,352
Cash segregated for security deposits.......................                   263,255             249,574
Accounts receivable.........................................                   188,831               6,691
Prepaid expenses and other assets...........................                    43,266              43,905
Escrow deposits.............................................                   310,888             364,431
Deferred borrowing costs, net of accumulated
   amortization of $248,892 and $172,430 at
   December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively ................                   760,440             836,902
                                                                        --------------       -------------
                                                                       $    33,180,985      $   35,129,849
                                                                        ==============       =============
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
- -------------------------------------------

Mortgage notes payable, net.................................           $    23,857,021      $   24,216,133
Accounts payable............................................                         -              42,258
Accrued expenses............................................                   149,324             197,112
Accrued interest............................................                   166,600             169,346
Accrued property taxes......................................                   170,447             164,534
Deferred gain - involuntary conversion......................                    97,210                   -
Payable to affiliates - General Partner.....................                    99,892              48,469
Security deposits and deferred rental income................                   247,849             254,144
                                                                        --------------       -------------
                                                                            24,788,343          25,091,996
                                                                        --------------       -------------
Partners' equity (deficit):
   Limited partners - 120,000  limited  partnership  units
     authorized;  102,836 limited partnership units 
     issued and outstanding at December 31, 1996 and 1995...                 8,812,479          10,394,645
   General Partner..........................................                  (419,837)           (356,792)
                                                                        --------------       -------------
                                                                             8,392,642          10,037,853
                                                                        --------------       -------------
                                                                       $    33,180,985      $   35,129,849
                                                                        ==============       =============


                 See accompanying notes to financial statements.

                        McNEIL REAL ESTATE FUND XV, LTD.

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS




                                                              For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                   ----------------------------------------------------
                                                        1996               1995               1994
                                                   --------------     --------------    ---------------

Revenue:
                                                                                           
   Rental revenue..........................        $    7,973,979     $    7,716,859    $     7,415,746
   Interest................................               102,117            239,008            134,232
   Gain on settlement of legal expenses....                     -             35,263                  -
   Gain on settlement of litigation, net...                     -                  -            223,001
                                                    -------------      -------------     --------------
     Total revenue.........................             8,076,096          7,991,130          7,772,979
                                                    -------------      -------------     --------------

Expenses:
   Interest................................             2,134,252          2,433,439          2,397,880
   Depreciation and amortization...........             2,039,432          1,956,006          1,885,381
   Property taxes..........................               433,520            421,633            393,660
   Personnel expenses......................               883,514            835,031            810,327
   Repairs and maintenance.................             1,002,566            785,740            801,181
   Property management fees -
     affiliates............................               399,829            385,074            376,559
   Utilities...............................               362,268            378,487            366,026
   Other property operating expenses.......               458,335            487,602            434,125
   General and administrative..............               293,281            258,081            112,859
   General and administrative -
     affiliates............................               202,569            248,150            236,077
                                                    -------------      -------------     --------------
     Total expenses........................             8,209,566          8,189,243          7,814,075
                                                    -------------      -------------     --------------

Net loss...................................        $     (133,470)    $     (198,113)   $       (41,096)
                                                    =============      =============     ==============

Net loss allocable to limited partners.....        $     (582,185)    $     (709,383)   $      (533,700)
Net income allocable to
   General Partner.........................               448,715            511,270            492,604
                                                    -------------      -------------     --------------
Net loss...................................        $     (133,470)    $     (198,113)   $       (41,096)
                                                    =============      =============     ==============

Net loss per limited partnership unit......        $        (5.66)    $        (6.90)   $         (5.19)
                                                    =============      =============     ==============

Distribution per limited partnership unit..        $         9.70     $            -    $          4.86
                                                    =============      =============     ==============




                 See accompanying notes to financial statements.

                        McNEIL REAL ESTATE FUND XV, LTD.

                    STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)

              For the Years Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994






                                                                                                   Total
                                                    General                 Limited                Partners'
                                                    Partner                 Partners               Equity
                                                 ----------------        ----------------      ----------------
                                                                                                  
Balance at December 31, 1993..............       $      (331,992)        $    12,137,721       $    11,805,729

Net income (loss).........................               492,604                (533,700)              (41,096)

Limited partners distribution.............                     -                (499,993)             (499,993)

Management Incentive Distribution.........              (508,862)                      -              (508,862)
                                                  --------------          --------------        --------------

Balance at December 31, 1994..............              (348,250)             11,104,028            10,755,778

Net income (loss).........................               511,270                (709,383)             (198,113)

Management Incentive Distribution.........              (519,812)                      -              (519,812)
                                                  --------------          --------------        --------------

Balance at December 31, 1995..............              (356,792)             10,394,645            10,037,853

Net income (loss).........................               448,715                (582,185)             (133,470)

Limited partners distribution.............                     -                (999,981)             (999,981)

Management Incentive Distribution.........              (511,760)                      -              (511,760)
                                                  --------------          --------------        --------------

Balance at December 31, 1996..............       $      (419,837)        $     8,812,479       $     8,392,642
                                                  ==============          ==============        ==============




                 See accompanying notes to financial statements.












                        McNEIL REAL ESTATE FUND XV, LTD.

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents



                                                             For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------
                                                       1996               1995               1994
                                                   --------------    ---------------    ----------------
                                                                                           
Cash flows from operating activities:
   Cash received from tenants..............        $    7,957,172    $     7,687,865    $     7,446,868
   Cash received from legal settlement.....                     -             35,263                  -
   Cash paid to suppliers..................            (2,999,800)        (2,639,152)        (2,486,722)
   Cash paid to affiliates.................              (593,626)          (630,652)          (611,940)
   Interest received.......................               102,117            239,008            134,232
   Interest paid...........................            (2,017,275)        (2,308,035)        (2,285,387)
   Property taxes paid.....................              (466,169)          (469,796)          (312,251)
   Net proceeds from litigation
     settlement............................                     -                  -            223,001
                                                    -------------      -------------     --------------
Net cash provided by operating activities..             1,982,419          1,914,501          2,107,801
                                                    -------------      -------------     --------------

Net cash used in investing activities:
   Additions to real estate
     investments...........................              (827,496)        (1,168,355)        (1,014,729)
                                                    -------------      -------------     --------------

Cash flows from financing activities:
   Net proceeds from refinancing of
     mortgage notes payable................                     -          1,367,557                  -
   Principal payments on mortgage
     notes payable.........................              (402,373)        (2,644,430)          (407,750)
   Deferred borrowing costs paid...........                     -           (143,638)                 -
   Limited partners distribution...........              (999,981)                 -           (499,993)
   Management Incentive Distribution.......              (469,109)          (530,830)          (511,458)
                                                    -------------      -------------     --------------
Net cash used in financing activities......            (1,871,463)        (1,951,341)        (1,419,201)
                                                    -------------      -------------     --------------

Net decrease in cash and cash
   equivalents.............................              (716,540)        (1,205,195)          (326,129)

Cash and cash equivalents at
     beginning of year.....................             2,079,352          3,284,547          3,610,676
                                                    -------------      -------------     --------------

Cash and cash equivalents at end
     of year...............................        $    1,362,812     $    2,079,352    $     3,284,547
                                                    =============      =============     ==============


See discussions of noncash investing and financing activities in Note 6.

                 See accompanying notes to financial statements.


                        McNEIL REAL ESTATE FUND XV, LTD.

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


               Reconciliation of Net Loss to Net Cash Provided by
                              Operating Activities





                                                            For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                   ---------------------------------------------------
                                                        1996               1995               1994
                                                   ---------------    ---------------   --------------
                                                                                          
Net loss...................................        $     (133,470)    $     (198,113)   $     (41,096)
                                                    -------------      -------------     -------------

Adjustments to reconcile net loss
   to net cash provided by operating
     activities:
   Depreciation and amortization...........             2,039,432          1,956,006          1,885,381
   Amortization of discounts on
     mortgage notes payable................                43,261             49,754             47,317
   Amortization of deferred borrowing
     costs.................................                76,462             95,120             68,136
   Changes in assets and liabilities:
     Cash segregated for security
       deposits............................               (13,681)            (4,580)            12,952
     Accounts receivable...................                   635              4,797              8,137
     Prepaid expenses and other assets.....                   639             41,718            (29,561)
     Escrow deposits.......................                53,543            (85,941)            61,811
     Accounts payable......................               (42,258)            15,759             (9,505)
     Accrued expenses......................               (47,788)           117,708             12,911
     Accrued interest......................                (2,746)           (19,470)            (2,960)
     Accrued property taxes................                 5,913            (47,614)            70,734
     Payable to affiliates - General
       Partner.............................                 8,772              2,572                696
     Security deposits and deferred
       rental income.......................                (6,295)           (13,215)            22,848
                                                    -------------      -------------     --------------

         Total adjustments.................             2,115,889          2,112,614          2,148,897
                                                    -------------      -------------     --------------

Net cash provided by operating activities..        $    1,982,419     $    1,914,501    $     2,107,801
                                                    =============      =============     ==============




                 See accompanying notes to financial statements.





                        McNEIL REAL ESTATE FUND XV, LTD.

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                December 31, 1996


NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
- ------   -----------------------------------------------------------

Organization
- ------------

McNeil Real Estate Fund XV, Ltd. (the "Partnership") was organized June 26, 1984
as a limited  partnership under the provisions of the California Uniform Limited
Partnership Act. The general partner of the Partnership is McNeil Partners, L.P.
(the "General Partner"), a Delaware limited partnership,  an affiliate of Robert
A. McNeil.  The  Partnership is governed by an amended and restated  partnership
agreement  of limited  partnership  dated  October  11,  1991,  as amended  (the
"Amended  Partnership  Agreement").  The  principal  place of  business  for the
Partnership and the General Partner is 13760 Noel Road, Suite 600, LB70, Dallas,
Texas, 75240.

The Partnership is engaged in real estate  activities,  including the ownership,
operation and  management of residential  and  commercial  real estate and other
real estate related  assets.  The  Partnership has determined to evaluate market
and other  economic  conditions  to  establish  the optimum  time to commence an
orderly liquidation of the Partnership's  assets in accordance with the terms of
the Amended Partnership  Agreement.  At December 31, 1996, the Partnership owned
four  income-producing   properties  as  described  in  Note  4  -  Real  Estate
Investments.

Basis of Presentation
- ---------------------

The  accompanying  financial  statements  have been prepared in conformity  with
generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP").  The preparation of financial
statements in conformity  with GAAP  requires  management to make  estimates and
assumptions  that  affect the  reported  amounts of assets and  liabilities  and
disclosure of  contingent  assets and  liabilities  at the date of the financial
statements  and the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and  expenses  during  the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The  Partnership's  financial  statements  include the accounts of the following
listed tier  partnerships.  These single asset tier  partnerships were formed to
accommodate  the refinancing of the respective  property.  The Partnership has a
100% ownership interest in each of the following tier partnerships:


   Tier Partnership
   ----------------

Arrowhead Fund XV Limited Partnership (a)(b)
McNeil Mountain Shadows Fund XV
   Limited Partnership (a)(b)
Woodcreek Fund XV, Ltd. (a)(c)

(a) The general partner of these  partnerships  is a corporation  whose stock is
100% owned by the Partnership.



(b) Included in financial statements for years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and
    1994.

(c)  Included in financial statements for year ended December 31, 1996 and 1995.

Real Estate Investments
- -----------------------

Real estate investments are generally stated at the lower of depreciated cost or
fair value. Real estate investments are reviewed for impairment  whenever events
or changes in  circumstances  indicate  that their  carrying  amounts may not be
recoverable.  When the  carrying  value  of a  property  exceeds  the sum of all
estimated  future cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized.  At such time, a
write-down  is  recorded to reduce the basis of the  property  to its  estimated
recoverable amount.

The  Partnership's  method  of  accounting  for real  estate  investments  is in
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121, "Accounting
for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed
Of"  ("SFAS 121"), which the Partnership  adopted effective January 1, 1996. The
adoption  of  SFAS  121 did  not  have a  material  impact  on the  accompanying
financial statements.

Improvements and betterments are capitalized and expensed  through  depreciation
charges. Repairs and maintenance are charged to operations as incurred.

Depreciation and Amortization
- -----------------------------

Buildings and improvements are depreciated using the  straight-line  method over
the  estimated  useful lives of the assets,  ranging from 3 to 25 years.  Tenant
improvements were amortized over the terms of the related tenant lease using the
straight-line method.

Cash and Cash Equivalents
- -------------------------

Cash  and  cash  equivalents  include  cash on hand  and  cash on  deposit  with
financial  institutions  with  original  maturities  of  three  months  or less.
Carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents approximate fair value.

Escrow Deposits
- ---------------

The  Partnership is required to maintain  escrow accounts in accordance with the
terms of various  mortgage  indebtedness  agreements.  These escrow accounts are
controlled by the mortgagee and are used for payment of property  taxes,  hazard
insurance,  capital improvements and/or property replacements.  Carrying amounts
for escrow deposits approximate fair value.

Deferred Borrowing Costs
- ------------------------

Loan fees and other related costs incurred to obtain long-term financing on real
property are  capitalized  and amortized  using a method that  approximates  the
effective  interest method over the terms of the related mortgage notes payable.
Amortization of deferred  borrowing costs is included in interest expense on the
Statements of Operations.

Discounts on Mortgage Notes Payable
- -----------------------------------

Discounts on mortgage notes payable are being amortized over the remaining terms
of the related mortgage notes using the effective interest method.  Amortization
of discounts on mortgage  notes  payable is included in interest  expense on the
Statements of Operations.

Rental Revenue
- --------------

The Partnership  leases its residential  properties under  short-term  operating
leases. Lease terms generally are less than one year in duration. Rental revenue
is recognized as earned.

Income Taxes
- ------------

No provision for Federal  income taxes is necessary in the financial  statements
of the  Partnership  because,  as a  partnership,  it is not  subject to Federal
income tax and the tax effect of its activities accrues to the partners.

Allocation of Net Income and Net Loss
- -------------------------------------

The Amended Partnership Agreement provides for net income of the Partnership for
both financial  statements and income tax reporting  purposes to be allocated as
indicated  below.  For  allocation  purposes,  net  income  and net  loss of the
Partnership are determined prior to deductions for depreciation:

a)   first, deductions for  depreciation shall be  allocated  1% to the  General
     Partner and 99% to the limited partners;

b)   then,  net income in an amount  equal to the greater of 1) 1% of net income
     or 2) the  cumulative  amount  distributed  for  the  Management  Incentive
     Distribution  ("MID") for which no income  allocation has  previously  been
     made shall be allocated to the General  Partner;  provided that if all or a
     portion  of  such  distribution   consists  of  limited  partnership  units
     ("Units"),  the amount of net income allocated shall be equal to the amount
     of cash the General Partner would have otherwise received; and

c)   any remaining net income shall be allocated 100% to the limited partners.

The Amended  Partnership  Agreement  provides that net losses shall be allocated
1% to the General  Partner and 99% to the limited partners.

Federal  income tax law provides  that the  allocation of loss to a partner will
not be  recognized  unless the  allocation  is in  accordance  with a  partner's
interest in the partnership or the allocation has substantial  economic  effect.
Internal  Revenue  Code Section  704(b) and  accompanying  Treasury  Regulations
establish  criteria for allocation of  Partnership  deductions  attributable  to
debt. The  Partnership's  tax allocations for 1996, 1995 and 1994 have been made
in accordance with these provisions.







Distributions
- -------------

Pursuant to the  Amended  Partnership  Agreement  and at the  discretion  of the
General Partner, distributions of cash from property operations shall be made as
follows:

(a)      first, to the General Partner, an amount equal to the MID; and

(b)      any remaining distributable cash, as defined, shall be distributed 100%
         to the limited partners.

At the  discretion of the General  Partner,  distribution  of cash from sales or
refinancing shall be distributed as follows:

(a)      first, to the General Partner, an amount equal to any MID not satisfied
         through  distributions  of cash from property operations; and

(b)      any remaining cash shall be distributed to the limited  partners in the
         following proportions: 95/270 to Group A subscribers, 90/270 to Group B
         subscribers  and 85/270 to Group C subscribers  of the pro rata portion
         of  the  original  invested  capital  attributable  to  each  group  of
         subscribers.

Cash  distributions  of $999,981 and $499,993 were made to the limited  partners
during 1996 and 1994,  respectively.  No distributions  were made to the limited
partners  during  1995.  The  Partnership  accrued  distributions  of  $511,760,
$519,812 and $508,862 for the benefit of the General Partner for the years ended
December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994,  respectively.  The  distributions are the MID
pursuant to the Amended Partnership Agreement.  In February 1997, a distribution
of $500,000 was made to the limited partners.  The General Partner will continue
to monitor the cash  reserves and working  capital needs of the  Partnership  to
determine when cash flow will support  additional  distributions  to the limited
partners.

Net Loss Per Limited Partnership Unit
- -------------------------------------

Net loss per Unit is  computed  by dividing  net loss  allocated  to the limited
partners by the weighted average number of Units  outstanding  calculated on the
last day of each calendar month. Per Unit information has been computed based on
102,836  weighted  average  Units  outstanding  in 1996 and  1995,  and  102,846
weighted average Units outstanding in 1994.

NOTE 2 - TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
- -------------------------------------

The  Partnership  pays property  management fees equal to 5% of the gross rental
receipts of the Partnership's properties to McNeil Real Estate Management,  Inc.
("McREMI"),  an  affiliate  of  the  General  Partner,  for  providing  property
management services for the Partnership's  residential and commercial properties
and leasing  services  for its  residential  properties.  

The  Partnership  reimburses  McREMI  for  its  costs,  including  overhead,  of
administering the Partnership's affairs.






Under the terms of the Amended Partnership Agreement,  the Partnership is paying
the MID to the  General  Partner.  The maximum  MID is  calculated  as 1% of the
tangible asset value of the  Partnership.  The maximum MID percentage  decreases
subsequent to 1999.  Tangible  asset value is determined by using the greater of
(i)  an  amount  calculated  by  applying  a  capitalization  rate  of 9% to the
annualized net operating  income of each property or (ii) a value of $10,000 per
apartment  unit for  residential  property  and $50 per  gross  square  foot for
commercial property to arrive at the property tangible asset value. The property
tangible  asset  value  is then  added to the book  value  of all  other  assets
excluding intangible assets.

MID will be paid to the extent of the Entitlement Amount, and may be paid (i) in
cash,  unless there is insufficient  cash to pay the distribution in which event
any unpaid  portion not taken in Units will be deferred and is payable,  without
interest,  from the first  available cash and/or (ii) in Units. A maximum of 50%
of the MID may be paid in Units.  The  number of Units  issued in payment of the
MID is based on the greater of $50 per Unit or the net tangible asset value,  as
defined, per Unit.

During  1991,  the  Partnership  amended  its  capitalization  policy  and began
capitalizing  certain costs of improvements and betterments which under policies
of  prior  management  had been  expensed  when  incurred.  The  purpose  of the
amendment was to more properly recognize items which were capital in nature. The
effect of the amendment  standing alone was evaluated at the time the change was
made and  determined  not to be  material  to the  financial  statements  of the
Partnership  in 1991,  nor was it expected  to be  material in any future  year.
However,  the amendment  can have a material  effect on the  calculation  of the
Entitlement   Amount  which  determines  the  amount  of  MID  earned.   Capital
improvements  are  excluded  from cash flow,  as defined.  The  majority of base
period cash flow was measured under the previous  capitalization  policy,  while
incentive  period cash flow is determined  using the amended  policy.  Under the
amended  policy,  more  items  are  capitalized,  and cash flow  increases.  The
amendment of the  capitalization  policy did not  materially  affect the MID for
1996,  1995 or 1994 because the  Entitlement  Amount was  sufficient  to pay MID
notwithstanding the amendment to the capitalization policy.

Any  amount  of the MID that is paid to the  General  Partner  in Units  will be
treated as if cash is distributed to the General Partner and is then contributed
to the Partnership by the General Partner. The MID represents a return of equity
to the General Partner for increasing cash flow, as defined,  and accordingly is
treated as a distribution.



Compensation and  reimbursements  paid or accrued for the benefit of the General
Partner or its affiliates are as follows:



                                                            For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                   ---------------------------------------------------
                                                       1996               1995               1994
                                                   --------------     --------------    --------------
                                                                                          
Property management fees - affiliates......        $      399,829     $      385,074    $      376,559
Charged to general and
   administrative - affiliates:
   Partnership administration..............               202,569            248,150            236,077
                                                    -------------      -------------     --------------
                                                   $      602,398     $      633,224    $       612,636
                                                    =============      =============     ==============

Charged to General Partner's deficit:
   MID.....................................        $      511,760     $     519,812     $       508,862
                                                    =============      ============      ==============


Payable to  affiliates - General  Partner at December 31, 1996 and 1995 consists
primarily of MID, reimbursable costs and property  management fees which are due
and payable from current operations.

NOTE 3 - TAXABLE LOSS
- ---------------------

McNeil Real Estate Fund XV, Ltd. is a partnership  and is not subject to Federal
and state income taxes.  Accordingly,  no  recognition  has been given to income
taxes in the  accompanying  financial  statements of the  Partnership  since the
income or loss of the  Partnership  is to be  included in the tax returns of the
individual  partners.  The  tax  returns  of  the  Partnership  are  subject  to
examination by Federal and state taxing authorities. If such examinations result
in  adjustments  to  distributive  shares of  taxable  income  or loss,  the tax
liability of the partners could be adjusted accordingly.

The  Partnership's  net assets and liabilities for tax purposes exceeded the net
assets and  liabilities for financial  reporting  purposes by $713,934  in 1996,
$472,231 in 1995 and $284,142 in 1994.




NOTE 4 - REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS
- --------------------------------

The  basis  and  accumulated  depreciation  of  the  Partnership's  real  estate
investments at December 31, 1996 and 1995 are set forth in the following tables:



                                                   Buildings and        Accumulated           Net Book
       1996                         Land           Improvements         Depreciation            Value
       ----                    --------------      --------------      ---------------     --------------
                                                                                          
Arrowhead
   Shawnee, KS                 $    1,537,294      $   13,912,565      $   (7,251,742)     $    8,198,117
Cedar Run
   Lexington, KY                      866,465           4,770,183          (2,154,534)          3,482,114
Mountain Shadows
   Albuquerque, NM                  3,236,768          19,140,288          (9,567,883)         12,809,173
Woodcreek
   Cary, NC                         1,446,668           7,740,103          (3,424,682)          5,762,089
                                -------------       -------------       -------------       -------------
                               $    7,087,195      $   45,563,139      $  (22,398,841)     $   30,251,493
                                =============       =============       =============       =============

                                                   Buildings and        Accumulated           Net Book
       1995                         Land           Improvements         Depreciation            Value
       ----                    --------------      --------------      ---------------     --------------

Arrowhead                      $    1,537,294      $   13,723,961      $   (6,644,247)     $    8,617,008
Cedar Run                             866,465           4,660,303          (1,915,041)          3,611,727
Mountain Shadows                    3,236,768          19,017,982          (8,739,577)         13,515,173
Woodcreek                           1,446,668           7,487,575          (3,129,157)          5,805,086
                                -------------       -------------       -------------       -------------
                               $    7,087,195     $    44,889,821      $  (20,428,022)     $   31,548,994
                                =============      ==============       =============       =============


On or about August 19, 1993, the  Partnership  filed an action against the title
company regarding the lack of parking at a former Partnership property, Riverway
Five.  Although  Riverway  Five was sold  December  28,  1993,  the  Partnership
continued to pursue the action filed against the title company. On September 14,
1994, the Partnership received a settlement of $300,000 which is included in the
Statement of Operations net of related legal costs.

Except for Cedar Run, the Partnership's real estate properties are encumbered by
mortgage indebtedness as discussed in Note 5.




NOTE 5 - MORTGAGE NOTES PAYABLE
- -------------------------------

The following  table sets forth the mortgage notes payable of the Partnership at
December  31,  1996 and 1995.  All  mortgage  notes are  secured by real  estate
investments.



                         Mortgage         Annual       Monthly
                         Lien             Interest     Payments/                          December 31,
Property                 Position    (a)  Rates %      Maturity Date (d)           1996                1995
- --------                 ---------------  -------      -----------------      ---------------    ----------------

                                                                                              
Arrowhead (c)            First             8.150       $   60,450    07/03    $     7,158,921    $     7,294,796
                         Discount (b)                                                (159,043)          (175,401)
                                                                                -------------     --------------
                                                                                    6,999,878          7,119,395
                                                                                -------------     --------------

Mountain
   Shadows (c)           First             8.150          100,670    07/03         11,922,091         12,148,372
                         Discount (b)                                                (265,201)          (292,104)
                                                                                -------------     --------------
                                                                                   11,656,890         11,856,268

Woodcreek                First             8.540           40,517    08/02          5,200,253          5,240,470
                                                                                -------------     --------------
                                                                              $    23,857,021    $    24,216,133
                                                                                =============     ==============

(a)  The debt is non-recourse to the Partnership.

(b)  Discounts  are  based  on an effective interest rate of 8.62% for Arrowhead
     and Mountain Shadows.

(c)  Financing was obtained under the terms of a Real Estate Mortgage Investment
     Conduit financing.  The mortgage notes payable are cross-collateralized and
     may not be prepaid in whole or part before July 1998. Any prepayments  made
     during the sixth or seventh  loan years are subject to a Yield  Maintenance
     premium,  as  defined.  Additionally,  the  Partnership  must pay a release
     payment  equal to 25% of the prepaid  balance  which will be applied to the
     remaining mortgage notes in the collateral pool.

(d)  Balloon payments on the mortgage notes payable are due as follows:

         Property                Balloon Payment                Date
         --------                ---------------                -----

         Woodcreek               $4,894,767                     08/02
         Arrowhead               5,947,622                      07/03
         Mountain Shadows        9,904,857                      07/03






On December  28, 1995,  the  Partnership  paid off the mortgage  note payable on
Cedar Run in the amount of $2,217,856.  The related deferred  borrowing costs in
the amount of $47,040 were written off.

Scheduled  principal  maturities of the mortgage  notes  payable under  existing
agreements, before consideration of discounts of $424,244, are as follows:

                  1997....................................        $   436,589
                  1998....................................            473,715
                  1999....................................            513,999
                  2000....................................            557,709
                  2001....................................            605,137
                  Thereafter..............................         21,694,116
                                                                   ----------
                    Total.................................        $24,281,265
                                                                   ==========

Based on borrowing  rates  currently  available to the  Partnership for mortgage
loans with similar terms and average maturities, the fair value of notes payable
was  approximately  $23,497,000 at December 31, 1996 and $24,307,000 at December
31, 1995.

NOTE 6 - REFINANCING OF MORTGAGE NOTES PAYABLE
- ----------------------------------------------

On August 11, 1995,  the  Partnership  refinanced  the mortgage notes payable on
Woodcreek.  The new loan bears an interest  rate of 8.54% and will mature August
11, 2002. Following is a summary of the transaction:


         New loan proceeds...........................         $  5,250,000
         Existing debt retired.......................           (3,882,443)
                                                               -----------
         Cash proceeds from refinancing..............         $  1,367,557
                                                               ===========

The Partnership  deposited  $131,656 into property tax and deferred  maintenance
escrows and incurred loan costs of $143,638 relating to the refinancing.

NOTE 7 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
- --------------------------

The Partnership is not party to, nor are any of the Partnership's properties the
subject of, any material pending legal proceedings,  other than ordinary routine
litigation incidental to the Partnership's business, except for the following:

1)   James F. Schofield, Gerald C. Gillett, Donna S. Gillett, Jeffrey Homburger,
     Elizabeth Jung,  Robert Lewis,  and Warren Heller et al. v. McNeil Partners
     L.P., McNeil Investors,  Inc., McNeil Real Estate Management,  Inc., Robert
     A. McNeil,  Carole J. McNeil,  McNeil Pacific  Investors  Fund 1972,  Ltd.,
     McNeil Real Estate Fund IX, Ltd.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund X, Ltd.,  McNeil
     Real Estate Fund XI, Ltd.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XII, Ltd.,  McNeil Real
     Estate Fund XIV, Ltd., McNeil Real Estate Fund XV, Ltd., McNeil Real Estate
     Fund XX, L.P.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XXI, L.P.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund
     XXII,  L.P.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XXIV,  L.P.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund
     XXV, L.P.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XXVI, L.P., and McNeil Real Estate Fund
     XXVII,  L.P., et al. - Superior  Court of the State of  California  for the
     County of Los  Angeles,  Case No.  BC133799  (Class and  Derivative  Action
     Complaint).


     The action  involves  purported  class and  derivative  actions  brought by
     limited  partners of each of the fourteen  limited  partnerships  that were
     named as nominal  defendants as listed above (as defined in this Section 1,
     the  "Partnerships").  Plaintiffs allege that McNeil  Investors,  Inc., its
     affiliate  McNeil Real Estate  Management,  Inc.  and three of their senior
     officers and/or directors (as defined in this Section 1, collectively,  the
     "Defendants") breached their fiduciary duties and certain obligations under
     the  respective  Amended  Partnership  Agreement.  Plaintiffs  allege  that
     Defendants  have  rendered  such Units  highly  illiquid  and  artificially
     depressed  the prices that are  available  for Units on the resale  market.
     Plaintiffs  also allege that  Defendants  engaged in a course of conduct to
     prevent  the  acquisition  of  Units  by an  affiliate  of  Carl  Icahn  by
     disseminating  purportedly  false,  misleading and inadequate  information.
     Plaintiffs  further  allege  that  Defendants  acted to  advance  their own
     personal interests at the expense of the Partnerships'  public unit holders
     by failing to sell Partnership properties and failing to make distributions
     to unitholders.

     On December 16,  1996,  the  Plaintiffs  filed a  consolidated  and amended
     complaint.  Plaintiffs  are suing for breach of fiduciary  duty,  breach of
     contract  and  an  accounting,  alleging,  among  other  things,  that  the
     management  fees paid to the McNeil  affiliates over the last six years are
     excessive,  that these fees  should be reduced  retroactively  and that the
     respective Amended  Partnership  Agreements  governing the Partnerships are
     invalid.  On January 7, 1997,  the Court ordered  consolidation  with three
     other similar actions listed below.

     The  Partnerships  filed a demurrer to the complaint and a motion to strike
     on February 14, 1997, seeking to dismiss the complaint in all respects. The
     demurrer  is  pending.  The  Partnerships  deny that  there is any merit to
     Plaintiff's allegations and intend to vigorously defend this action.

2)   Alfred Napoletano v. McNeil Partners, L.P., McNeil Investors,  Inc., Robert
     A. McNeil,  Carole J. McNeil,  McNeil Pacific  Investors  Fund 1972,  Ltd.,
     McNeil Real Estate Fund V, Ltd.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund IX, Ltd.,  McNeil
     Real Estate Fund X, Ltd.,  McNeil  Real Estate Fund XI,  Ltd.,  McNeil Real
     Estate Fund XIV, Ltd., McNeil Real Estate Fund XV, Ltd., McNeil Real Estate
     Fund XX, L.P.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XXIV, L.P., McNeil Real Estate Fund
     XXV,  L.P.  -  Superior  Court of the  State of  California,  County of Los
     Angeles,  Case No. BC133849 (Class Action  Complaint).  On January 7, 1997,
     this action  was  consolidated by  court  order  with  Scholfield,  et al.,
     referenced above.

3)   Warren Heller v. McNeil Partners,  L.P., McNeil Investors,  Inc., Robert A.
     McNeil,  Carole J. McNeil, McNeil Pacific Investors Fund 1972, Ltd., McNeil
     Real Estate Fund V, Ltd.,  McNeil  Real Estate Fund IX,  Ltd.,  McNeil Real
     Estate Fund X, Ltd.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XI, Ltd.,  McNeil Real Estate
     Fund XIV, Ltd.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XV, Ltd.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund
     XX, L.P.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XXIV, L.P., McNeil Real Estate Fund XXV,
     L.P. - Superior  Court of the State of  California,  County of Los Angeles,
     Case No. BC133957 (Class Action Complaint). On January 7, 1997, this action
     was consolidated by court order with Scholfield, et al., referenced above.







4)   Robert Lewis v. McNeil  Partners,  L.P.,  McNeil  Investors,  Inc.,  Robert
     A. McNeil et al. - In the District  Court of Dallas County,  Texas,  A-14th
     Judicial  District,  Cause No. 95-08535 (Class Action) - Plaintiff,  Robert
     Lewis, is a limited partner with McNeil Pacific  Investors Fund 1972, Ltd.,
     McNeil Real Estate Fund X, Ltd. and McNeil Real Estate Fund XV, Ltd.

     On  April  11,  1996,  the  action  was  dismissed   without  prejudice  in
     anticipation  of  consolidation  with other  class  action  complaints.  On
     January  7,  1997,  this  action  was  consolidated  by  court  order  with
     Schofield, et al., referenced above.

5)   McNeil Pacific  Investors Fund 1972, Ltd., McNeil Real Estate Fund V, Ltd.,
     McNeil Real Estate Fund IX, Ltd.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund X, Ltd.,  McNeil
     Real Estate Fund XI, Ltd.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XIV, Ltd.,  McNeil Real
     Estate Fund XV, Ltd.,  McNeil Real Estate Fund XX, L.P., McNeil Real Estate
     Fund XXIV,  L.P.,  and McNeil  Real  Estate  Fund XXV,  L.P.  v. High River
     Limited Partnership,  Riverdale Investors Corp., Carl C. Icahn, and Unicorn
     Associates  Corporation  - United  States  District  Court for the  Central
     District of California, Case No. 96-5680SVW.

     On August 12,  1996,  High River  Limited  Partnership  (as defined in this
     Section 5, "High River"), a partnership controlled by Carl C. Icahn, sent a
     letter to the  partnerships  referenced above demanding lists of the names,
     current  residences or business  addresses  and certain  other  information
     concerning the unitholders of such partnerships.  On August 19, 1996, these
     partnerships  commenced the above action  seeking,  among other things,  to
     declare that such  partnerships are not required to provide High River with
     a current list of unitholders on the grounds that the defendants  commenced
     a tender  offer in  violation  of the  federal  securities  laws by  filing
     certain Schedule 13D Amendments on August 5, 1996.

     On October 16, 1996, the presiding judge denied the partnerships'  requests
     for a permanent and  preliminary  injunction to enjoin High River's  tender
     offers and  granted  the  defendants  request  for an order  directing  the
     partnerships  to turn  over  current  lists of  unitholders  to High  River
     forthwith.  On October 24, 1996, the partnerships  delivered the unitholder
     lists to High River.  The judge's  decision  resolved all the issues in the
     action.

NOTE 8 - GAIN ON INVOLUNTARY CONVERSION
- ---------------------------------------

On October 30, 1996,  four units at Woodcreek  Apartments were destroyed by fire
causing $192,775 in damages.  The insurance  reimbursements to cover the cost of
repairs,  net of a deductible,  will exceed the basis of the property damaged by
$97,210. The Partnership has recorded a deferred gain on involuntary  conversion
of $97,210 and a receivable of $182,775 from its insurance company for funds not
reimbursed as of December 31, 1996.  The deferred gain will be recognized as the
insurance proceeds are recovered.




                        McNEIL REAL ESTATE FUND XV, LTD.
                                  SCHEDULE III
              REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
                                December 31, 1996



                                                                                   Cumulative          Costs
                                                     Initial Cost (b)              Write-down       Capitalized
                            Related (b)                          Buildings and    and Permanent      Subsequent
Description                Encumbrances          Land            Improvements       Impairment     To Acquisition
- -----------                --------------    --------------    ----------------   -------------    --------------
                                                                                              
APARTMENTS:

Arrowhead

   Shawnee, KS             $    6,999,878    $    1,537,294    $   12,035,648     $          -     $   1,876,917

Cedar Run
   Lexington, KY                        -           866,465         3,947,228         (150,600)          973,555

Mountain Shadows
   Albuquerque, NM             11,656,890         3,236,768        17,555,977                -         1,584,311

Woodcreek
   Cary, NC                     5,200,253         1,446,668         6,590,377                -         1,149,726
                           --------------    --------------    --------------     ------------     -------------

                          $    23,857,021   $     7,087,195   $    40,129,230    $    (150,600)   $    5,584,509
                           ==============    ==============    ==============     ============     =============



(b)  The  encumbrances  reflect  the  present  value  of  future  loan  payments
     discounted,  if  appropriate,  at a rate  estimated  to be  the  prevailing
     interest rate at the date of acquisition or refinancing.









                     See accompanying notes to Schedule III.


                        McNEIL REAL ESTATE FUND XV, LTD.
                                  SCHEDULE III
              REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
                                December 31, 1996



                                            Gross Amount at
                                     Which Carried at Close of Period                  Accumulated
                                                 Buildings and                         Depreciation
Description                      Land            Improvements          Total (a)      and Amortization
- -----------                   --------------     --------------   ----------------    ----------------
                                                                                      
APARTMENTS:

Arrowhead

   Shawnee, KS                $    1,537,294     $   13,912,565   $     15,449,859    $   (7,251,742)

Cedar Run
   Lexington, KY                     866,465          4,770,183          5,636,648        (2,154,534)

Mountain Shadows
   Albuquerque, NM                 3,236,768         19,140,288         22,377,056        (9,567,883)

Woodcreek
   Cary, NC                        1,446,668          7,740,103          9,186,771        (3,424,682)
                              --------------     --------------    ---------------     -------------
                              $    7,087,195    $    45,563,139   $     52,650,334    $  (22,398,841)
                              ==============     ==============    ===============     =============



(a)  For Federal income tax purposes,  the properties are depreciated over lives
     ranging from 5-27.5 years using ACRS or MACRS methods. The  aggregate  cost
     of   real  estate  investments   for  Federal    income  tax  purposes  was
     approximately   $52,928,356 and accumulated depreciation was $20,698,127 at
     December 31, 1996.





                     See accompanying notes to Schedule III.





                        McNEIL REAL ESTATE FUND XV, LTD.
                                  SCHEDULE III
              REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
                                December 31, 1996





                                 Date of                    Date                Depreciable
Description                   Construction                Acquired              lives (years)
- -----------                   ------------                ---------             -------------
                                                                            
APARTMENTS:

Arrowhead

   Shawnee, KS                  1971                        03/85                   3-25

Cedar Run
   Lexington, KY                1978                        12/85                   3-25

Mountain Shadows
   Albuquerque, NM              1986                        08/85                   3-25

Woodcreek
   Cary, NC                     1981                        12/85                   3-25







                     See accompanying notes to Schedule III.




                        McNEIL REAL ESTATE FUND XV, LTD.

                              Notes to Schedule III

              Real Estate Investments and Accumulated Depreciation


A  summary  of  activity  for the  Partnership's  real  estate  investments  and
accumulated depreciation is as follows:



                                                          For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                  -----------------------------------------------------
                                                       1996               1995               1994
                                                  ---------------     --------------    ---------------

Real estate investments:
                                                                                           
Balance at beginning of year...............       $    51,977,016     $   50,808,661    $    49,793,932

Improvements...............................               827,496          1,168,355          1,014,729

Replacement of assets......................              (154,178)                 -                  -
                                                    -------------      -------------     --------------

Balance at end of year.....................       $    52,650,334     $   51,977,016    $    50,808,661
                                                    =============      =============     ==============



Accumulated depreciation:

Balance at beginning of year...............       $    20,428,022     $   18,472,016    $    16,586,635

Depreciation...............................             2,039,432          1,956,006          1,885,381

Replacement of assets......................               (68,613)                 -                  -
                                                    -------------      -------------     --------------

Balance at end of year.....................       $    22,398,841     $   20,428,022    $    18,472,016
                                                    =============      =============     ==============





ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING
- -------  -----------------------------------------------------------
         AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
         ------------------------
None.
                                    PART III

ITEM 10.      DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
- --------      --------------------------------------------------

Neither the  Partnership  nor the General Partner has any directors or executive
officers.  The names and ages of, as well as the positions held by, the officers
and  directors of McNeil  Investors,  Inc.,  the general  partner of the General
Partner, are as follows:

                                       Other Principal Occupations and Other
Name and Position             Age      Directorships During the Past 5 Years
- -----------------             ---      -----------------------------------------

Robert A. McNeil,              76       Mr.  McNeil  is  also  Chairman  of  the
Chairman of the                         Board  and   Director  of   McNeil  Real
Board and Director                      Estate   Management,   Inc.   ("McREMI")
                                        which  is an  affiliate  of the  General
                                        Partner.   He  has  held  the  foregoing
                                        positions  since the  formation  of such
                                        entity in 1990. Mr. McNeil  received his
                                        B.A. degree from Stanford  University in
                                        1942 and his L.L.B. degree from Stanford
                                        Law  School  in 1948.  He is a member of
                                        the State Bar of California and has been
                                        involved in real estate  financing since
                                        the  late  1940's  and  in  real  estate
                                        acquisitions,      syndications      and
                                        dispositions since 1960. From 1986 until
                                        active  operations  of McREMI and McNeil
                                        Partners,  L.P.  began in February 1991,
                                        Mr. McNeil was a private  investor.  Mr.
                                        McNeil is a member of the  International
                                        Board   of   Directors   of   the   Salk
                                        Institute,  which  promotes  research in
                                        improvements in health care.

Carole J. McNeil               53       Mrs. McNeil is Co-Chairman, with husband
Co-Chairman of the                      Robert A. McNeil,  of McNeil  Investors,
Board                                   Inc.  Mrs.  McNeil has  twenty  years of
                                        real estate experience, most recently as
                                        a private investor from 1986 to 1993. In
                                        1982, she founded Ivory & Associates,  a
                                        commercial real estate brokerage firm in
                                        San  Francisco,  CA. Prior to that,  she
                                        was a commercial  real estate  associate
                                        with the Madison Company and, earlier, a
                                        commercial  sales  associate and analyst
                                        with   Marcus  and   Millichap   in  San
                                        Francisco.    In   1978,   Mrs.   McNeil
                                        established   Escrow  Training  Centers,
                                        California's first accredited commercial
                                        training   program  for  title   company
                                        escrow  officers and real estate  agents
                                        needing  college  credits to qualify for
                                        brokerage  licenses.  She  began in real
                                        estate as Manager and Marketing Director
                                        of Title  Insurance  and  Trust in Marin
                                        County,  CA. Mrs.  McNeil  serves on the
                                        International  Board of Directors of the
                                        Salk Institute.



                                        Other Principal Occupations and Other
Name and Position             Age       Directorships During the Past 5 Years
- -----------------             ---       ----------------------------------------
Ron K. Taylor                  39       Mr.  Taylor is the  President  and Chief
President and Chief                     Executive  Officer of McNeil Real Estate
Executive Officer                       Management  which is an affiliate of the
                                        General Partner.  Mr. Taylor has been in
                                        this capacity  since the  resignation of
                                        Donald K. Reed on March 4,  1997.  Prior
                                        to       assuming       his      current
                                        responsibilities, Mr. Taylor served as a
                                        Senior  Vice  President  of McREMI.  Mr.
                                        Taylor has been in this  capacity  since
                                        McREMI  commenced  operations  in  1991.
                                        Prior  to  joining  McREMI,  Mr.  Taylor
                                        served as an  Executive  Vice  President
                                        for  a   national   syndication/property
                                        management  firm. In this capacity,  Mr.
                                        Taylor  had the  responsibility  for the
                                        management  and leasing of a  21,000,000
                                        square  foot   portfolio  of  commercial
                                        properties. Mr. Taylor has been actively
                                        involved  in the  real  estate  industry
                                        since 1983.

Each director  shall serve until his successor  shall have been duly elected and
qualified.

ITEM 11.     EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
- --------     ----------------------

No direct  compensation  was paid or payable by the  Partnership to directors or
officers  (since it does not have any  directors or officers) for the year ended
December  31,  1996,  nor was any  direct  compensation  paid or  payable by the
Partnership  to  directors  or officers  of the  general  partner of the General
Partner for the year ended  December 31, 1996. The  Partnership  has no plans to
pay any such remuneration to any directors or officers of the general partner of
the General Partner in the future.

See Item 13 - Certain  Relationships  and  Related  Transactions  for amounts of
compensation and  reimbursements  paid by the Partnership to the General Partner
and its affiliates.




ITEM 12.     SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
- --------     --------------------------------------------------------------

(A)     Security ownership of certain beneficial owners.

        No individual or group, as defined by Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities
        Exchange Act of 1934,  was known by the  Partnership to own more than 5%
        of the  Units,  other  than High River  Limited  Partnership  which owns
        10,538  Units  (approximately  10.3%  of  the  outstanding  Units).  The
        business address for High River Limited Partnership is 100 South Bedford
        Road, Mount Kisco, New York 10549.

(B)     Security ownership of management.

       The  General  Partner  and the  officers  and  directors  of its  general
       partner,  collectively,  own 1,357 Units, which represent less than 2% of
       the outstanding Units.

(C)     Change in control.

        None.

ITEM 13.     CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
- --------     ----------------------------------------------

Under the terms of the Amended Partnership Agreement,  the Partnership is paying
the MID to the  General  Partner.  The maximum  MID is  calculated  as 1% of the
tangible asset value of the  Partnership.  The maximum MID percentage  decreases
subsequent to 1999.  Tangible  asset value is determined by using the greater of
(i)  an  amount  calculated  by  applying  a  capitalization  rate  of 9% to the
annualized net operating  income of each property or (ii) a value of $10,000 per
apartment  unit for  residential  property  and $50 per  gross  square  foot for
commercial property to arrive at the property tangible asset value. The property
tangible  asset  value  is then  added to the book  value  of all  other  assets
excluding intangible assets.

MID will be paid to the extent of the Entitlement Amount, and may be paid (i) in
cash,  unless there is insufficient  cash to pay the distribution in which event
any unpaid  portion not taken in Units will be deferred and is payable,  without
interest,  from the first  available cash and/or (ii) in Units. A maximum of 50%
of the MID may be paid in Units.  The  number of Units  issued in payment of the
MID is based on the greater of $50 per Unit or the net tangible asset value,  as
defined, per Unit. For the year ended December 31, 1996, the Partnership paid or
accrued for the General Partner MID in the amount of $511,760.

Any  amount  of the MID that is paid to the  General  Partner  in Units  will be
treated as if cash is distributed to the General Partner and is then contributed
to the Partnership by the General Partner. The MID represents a return of equity
to the General Partner for increasing cash flow, as defined,  and accordingly is
treated as a distribution.




The  Partnership  pays property  management fees equal to 5% of the gross rental
receipts of the Partnership's  properties to McREMI, an affiliate of the General
Partner,  for  providing  property  management  and  leasing  services  for  the
Partnership's residential properties.  The Partnership reimburses McREMI for its
costs,  including overhead, of administering the Partnership's  affairs. For the
year ended  December  31,  1996,  the  Partnership  paid or accrued  $602,398 in
property management fees and reimbursements.

See  Item 1 -  Business,  Item  7 -  Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of
Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations,  and  Item  8  -  Note  2  -
"Transactions with Affiliates."



ITEM 14.     EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
- --------     -----------------------------------------------------------------

See accompanying Index to Financial Statements at Item 8.

(A)     Exhibits

       The following  exhibits are incorporated by reference and are an integral
       part of this Form 10-K.

        Exhibit
        Number                              Description
        -------                             -----------

         3.                                 Partnership Agreement dated June 26,
                                            1984  and  amended  as  of September
                                            7, 1984. (1)

         3.1                                Amended  and   Restated  Partnership
                                            Agreement of McNeil Real Estate Fund
                                            XV,  Ltd.,  dated  October 11, 1991.
                                            (1)

         3.2                                Amendment  No. 1 to the Amended  and
                                            Restated   Partnership    Agreement,
                                            dated March 28, 1994. (2)

         3.3                                Amendment  No. 2 to the Amended  and
                                            Restated   Partnership    Agreement,
                                            dated March 28, 1994. (2)

         10.1                               Property Management Agreement, dated
                                            October  11,  1991,  between  McNeil
                                            Real Estate Fund XV, Ltd. and McNeil
                                            Real Estate Management, Inc. (1)

         10.2                               Termination Agreement, dated October
                                            11, 1991, between McNeil Real Estate
                                            Fund XV, Ltd.  and McNeil  Partners,
                                            L.P. (1)

         10.3                               Amendment  of  Property   Management
                                            Agreement,   dated  March  5,  1993,
                                            between  McNeil Real Estate Fund XV,
                                            Ltd.    and   McNeil   Real   Estate
                                            Management,  Inc.  (Incorporated  by
                                            reference  to the  Annual  Report on
                                            Form   10-K  for  the   year   ended
                                            December 31, 1992)





        Exhibit
        Number                              Description
        -------                             ------------

         10.4                               Loan   Agreement,  dated   June  24,
                                            1993,   between  Lexington  Mortgage
                                            Company  and McNeil Real Estate Fund
                                            XV,  Ltd.  et al.  (Incorporated  by
                                            reference  to the  Annual  Report of
                                            McNeil  Real  Estate  Fund XI,  Ltd.
                                            (File No. 0-9783),  on Form 10-K for
                                            the period ended December 31, 1993)

         10.5                               Master      Property      Management
                                            Agreement, dated as of June 24, 1993
                                            between     McNeil    Real    Estate
                                            Management,  Inc.  and  McNeil  Real
                                            Estate Fund XV, Ltd. (2)

         10.6                               Mortgage    Note, dated   August 11,
                                            1995,  between  Woodcreek  Fund  XV,
                                            Ltd. and Fleet Real Estate  Capital,
                                            Inc.  (Incorporated by  reference to
                                            the  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for
                                            the  year ended December 31, 1995).

         11.                                Statement  regarding  computation of
                                            Net  Income   (Loss)   per   limited
                                            partnership  unit (see Item 8 - Note
                                            1 -  "Organization  and  Summary  of
                                            Significant Accounting Policies").

         22.                                Following  is a list of subsidiaries
                                            of the Partnership:



                                                                                               Names Under
                                                                           Jurisdiction          Which It Is
                                            Name of Subsidiary            Incorporation        Doing Business
                                            -----------------------       -------------        --------------
                                                                                       
                                             Arrowhead Fund XV               Delaware               None
                                             Limited Partnership

                                            McNeil Mountain Shadows          Delaware               None
                                               Fund XV Limited
                                               Partnership

                                            Woodcreek Fund XV, Ltd.          Texas                  None



                  (1)                       Incorporated  by  reference  to  the
                                            Annual  Report of McNeil Real Estate
                                            Fund XV, Ltd. (File No. 0-14258), on
                                            Form  10-K  for  the  period   ended
                                            December 31, 1991, as filed with the
                                            Securities  and Exchange  Commission
                                            on March 29, 1992.



                  (2)                       Incorporated  by  reference  to  the
                                            Annual  Report of McNeil Real Estate
                                            Fund XV, Ltd. (File No. 0-14258), on
                                            Form  10-K  for  the  period   ended
                                            December 31, 1993, as filed with the
                                            Securities  and Exchange  Commission
                                            on March 30, 1994.

        The Partnership has omitted  instruments  with respect to long-term debt
        where the total amount of the securities  authorized thereunder does not
        exceed 10% of the total assets of the Partnership  and its  subsidiaries
        on a consolidated  basis.  The  Partnership  agrees to furnish a copy of
        each instrument to the Commission upon request.

        27.                                 Financial Data Schedule for the year
                                            ended December 31, 1996.

(B)  Reports on Form 8-K.  There  were no  reports on Form 8-K filed  during the
     quarter ended December 31, 1996.





                        McNEIL REAL ESTATE FUND XV, LTD.
                              A Limited Partnership

                                 SIGNATURE PAGE


Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                            McNEIL REAL ESTATE FUND XV, LTD.


                              By:  McNeil Partners, L.P., General Partner

                                   By: McNeil Investors, Inc., General Partner



March 28, 1997                     By:  /s/  Robert A. McNeil
- --------------                        ------------------------------------------
Date                                    Robert A. McNeil
                                        Chairman of the Board and Director
                                        (Principal Executive Officer)


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has been signed below by the following  persons on behalf of the  registrant and
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.



March 28, 1997                     By:  /s/  Ron K. Taylor
- --------------                        ------------------------------------------
Date                                    Ron K. Taylor
                                        President and Director of McNeil 
                                          Investors, Inc.
                                        (Principal Financial Officer)




March 28, 1997                     By:  /s/  Brandon K. Flaming
- --------------                         -----------------------------------------
Date                                    Brandon K. Flaming
                                        Vice President of McNeil Investors, Inc.
                                        (Principal Accounting Officer)