<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF POST PROPERTIES, INC. FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31,
1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000903127
<NAME> POST PROPERTIES, INC.
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997
<CASH> 12,421,000
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 0
<ALLOWANCES> 0
<INVENTORY> 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 0
<PP&E> 1,936,011,000
<DEPRECIATION> 201,095,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,780,563,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0
<BONDS> 821,209,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0
<PREFERRED> 30,000
<COMMON> 306,000
<OTHER-SE> 756,584,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,780,563,000
<SALES> 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 200,116,000
<CGS> 0
<TOTAL-COSTS> 101,750,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 0
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 24,658,000
<INCOME-PRETAX> 64,308,000
<INCOME-TAX> 0
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 50,040,000
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 75,000
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 49,965,000
<EPS-PRIMARY> 2.11<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED> 2.09
<FN>
<F1>REPRESENTS BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
</FN>