<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> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 24,356 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 18,963 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 72,885 <PP&E> 1,653,391 <DEPRECIATION> 670,439 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,055,837 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 77,882 <BONDS> 564,234 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 443,681 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,055,837 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 87,016 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 62,477 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 23,547 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 14,579 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,101 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,101 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,101 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.00 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.00