<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 15,567,918 <SECURITIES> 4,696,495 <RECEIVABLES> 2,623,502 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 35,991,142 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 59,425,057 <PP&E> 673,000 <DEPRECIATION> (404,904) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 72,820,730 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 20,994,715 <BONDS> 24,880,951 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 45,806 <OTHER-SE> 26,899,258 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 72,820,730 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,243,835 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,683,407 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 237,945 <INCOME-PRETAX> 322,483 <INCOME-TAX> 26,562 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 295,921 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (148,433) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 147,488 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.04 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.04