<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000877860
<NAME> NATIONAL HEALTH INVESTORS, INC.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                       4,739,000
<SECURITIES>                                19,561,000
<RECEIVABLES>                              459,883,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                     242,727,000
<DEPRECIATION>                            (43,504,000)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             724,919,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                 19,477,000
<COMMON>                                       246,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 415,089,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               724,919,000
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            77,771,000
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             2,978,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          14,185,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      0
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                53,503,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.08
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.05