<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1997<F1> <PERIOD-START> AUG-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> APR-30-1997 <CASH> 626,351 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 15,413,677 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 4,869,488 <DEPRECIATION> 7,620,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 18,597,792 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 8,776,110 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 17,500 <OTHER-SE> 7,584,477 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 18,597,792 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 18,598,770 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 4,338,664 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 13,390,340 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 579,162 <INCOME-PRETAX> 290,604 <INCOME-TAX> 134,567 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 156,037 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 156,037 <EPS-PRIMARY> .09 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <FN> <F1>Company adopted unclassified balance sheet in 1989. </FN>