<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS OF NATIONAL PROPERTIES INVESTMENT TRUST AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS 
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                          64,395
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   25,925
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               133,057
<PP&E>                                       1,561,142
<DEPRECIATION>                                 637,656
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,056,543
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           41,873
<BONDS>                                        585,117
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                  11,735,447
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,056,543
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               178,648
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  122,364
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              (51,010)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              30,945
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,274
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              5,274
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,274
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.01
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.01