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                                                                    EXHIBIT 5(a)


                         [KING & SPALDING LETTERHEAD]



Post Apartment Homes, L.P.
3350 Cumberland Circle
Suite 2200
Atlanta, Georgia 30339

         Re:      Post Apartment Homes, L.P. -- $344,000,000 Aggregate Principal
                  Amount of Medium-Term Notes Due Nine Months or More from Date
                  of Issue

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  We have acted as counsel for Post Apartment Homes, L.P., a 
Georgia limited partnership (the "Operating Partnership,") in connection
with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of
$344,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Medium-Term Notes Due Nine Months or
More from Date of Issue (the "Notes") pursuant to a Prospectus Supplement dated
October 20, 1997 (the "Notes Prospectus Supplement").

                  In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied
upon such records, documents, certificates and other instruments as in our
judgment are necessary or appropriate to form the basis for the opinions
hereinafter set forth. In all such examinations, we have assumed the
genuineness of signatures on original documents and the conformity to such
original documents of all copies submitted to us as certified, conformed or
photographic copies, and as to certificates of public officials, we have
assumed the same to have been properly given and to be accurate. As to matters
of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon statements and
representations of representatives of the Company and of public officials.

                  We have assumed that the execution and delivery of, and the
performance of all obligations under, an indenture (the "Indenture") dated as
of September 25, 1996 between the Operating Partnership and SunTrust Bank,
Atlanta, as the trustee (the "Trustee") will be duly authorized by all
requisite action by the Trustee, and that the Indenture was duly executed and
delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Trustee, enforceable
against the Trustee in accordance with its terms.

                  This opinion is limited in all respects to the federal laws
of the United States of America and the laws of the States of Georgia and New
York, and no opinion is expressed with respect to the laws of any other
jurisdiction or any effect which such laws may have on the
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Post Apartment Homes, L.P.
October 20, 1997
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opinions expressed herein. This opinion is limited to the matters stated
herein, and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters
expressly stated herein.

                  Based upon the foregoing, and the other limitations and
qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

         (i)      The Operating Partnership is a validly existing limited
partnership under the laws of the State of Georgia;

         (ii)     Upon the issuance and sale thereof as described in the Notes
Prospectus Supplement and, when executed by the Operating Partnership and duly
authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the
Notes will be (x) valid and binding obligations of the Operating Partnership,
enforceable against the Operating Partnership in accordance with their terms
and (y) entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

         The opinions set forth above are subject, as to enforcement, to (i)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws
relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally, and
(ii) general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is
considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

                  This opinion is given as of the date hereof, and we assume no
obligation to advise you after the date hereof of facts or circumstances that
come to our attention or changes in law that occur which could affect the
opinions contained herein. This letter is being rendered solely for the benefit
of the Operating Partnership in connection with the matters expressed herein.
This opinion may not be furnished to or relied upon by any person or entity for
any purpose without our prior written consent.

                  We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit
to the Current Report on Form 8-K and to the reference to us under the caption
"Legal Matters" in the Prospectus Supplement dated October 20, 1997.


                           Very truly yours,

                           KING & SPALDING