<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> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 75,054 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 23,196 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 136,811 <PP&E> 1,565,305 <DEPRECIATION> 648,260 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,053,856 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 46,771 <BONDS> 579,186 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 11,735,447 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,053,856 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 260,265 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 184,054 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 73,933 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 46,618 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,620 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,620 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,620 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.01 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.01