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                                                                   Exhibit 5(a)

                               KING & SPALDING

                             191 PEACHTREE STREET
                         ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-1763
                           TELEPHONE: 404/572-4600
                           FACSIMILE: 404/572-5100

  DIRECT DIAL:                 October 20, 1997                    DIRECT FAX:



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 herein, and
no opinion is impled 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) be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

        The opinion 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 addressed
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