UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

       QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarter Ended September 30, 1996, Commission file number: 33-2121
                                                                 ---------------

TPI LAND DEVELOPMENT III LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

ARIZONA                                        86-0540409   
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(State or other jurisdiction of                (IRS Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)

2999 N. 44th Street, Suite 450, Phoenix, Arizona             85018             
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(Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip Code)

(602) 955-4000                                                                  
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days             ( )yes (X)no

                APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
                  PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:

Indicate  by check mark  whether  the  registrant  has filed all  documents  and
reports  required  to be filed  by  Sections  12,  13,  15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the  distribution of securities  under a plan
confirmed by a court.                         (X)yes ( )no

TPI LAND DEVELOPMENT III LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Balance Sheet
As of September 30, 1996
Unaudited

ASSETS
                 Current Assets

                 Cash                                           $          70.53
                 Accounts Receivable
                 Other
                    Mortgage Impounds                                     276.79

                 Total Current Assets                                     347.32

                 Land-Casa Grande                                   1,086,784.10
                 Land-Baseline & 24th St                            1,276,794.35
                 Land-Peoria & 79th Ave                               984,383.98
                 Land-Baseline off 24th St                            766,108.94
                 Land-Baseline & 32nd St                            1,139,148.04
                 Land-Pecos Rd/Chandler                             1,259,018.40
                 Land-Central Ave/Avondale                            125,472.02
                 Land-Van Buren & Central                           1,302,319.75
                 Land Baseline off 24th St                            254,714.10
                 Total Land                                         8,194,743.68

                 Other Assets                                       1,217,475.56
                                                                ----------------

                 TOTAL ASSETS                                   $   9,412,566.56
                                                                ================

LIABILITIES

                 Accounts Payable                               $     131,811.68
                 Notes Payable                                        280,000.00

                 Total Liabilities                                    411,811.68

CAPITAL
                 Partners Capital                                   9,000,754.88
                                                                ----------------

TOTAL LIABILITIES & CAPITAL                                     $   9,412,566.56
                                                                ================
                                       2

TPI LAND DEVELOPMENT III LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Income Statement 
through September 30, 1996
Unaudited

                                                   September-96          YTD
INCOME
          Rental Income                                                 390.00
          Interest Income                                               231.59
          Transfer Fees                                                   --
          Misc. Income                                                   75.91
                                                    ----------      ----------

          Total Income                                    --            697.50

EXPENSE
          Bank Charges                                    6.89          168.82
          Interest Expense                             3666.04       56,595.13
          Legal & Accounting                                         43,711.96
          License & Fees                                                250.00
          Management Fees                                                 --
          Office Expense                                              7,401.54
          Outside Service                                                 --
          Rent                                                        5,630.89
          Property Tax                                               15,348.61
          Trustee Fees                                                1,250.00
          Utilities                                                       --
                                                                    ----------

          Total Expenses                              3,672.93      130,356.95
                                                    ----------      ----------

          Profit/Loss                                (3,672.93)     (129,659.45)
                                                    ----------      ----------

          Other Expense
          Amoritization                                 269.17        2,422.49
                                                                    ----------

          Total Other Expense                           269.17        2,422.49
                                                    ----------      ----------

          Net Profit/Loss                            (3,942.10)    (132,081.94)
                                                    ==========      ==========
                                       3

                  TPI LAND DEVELOPMENT III LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                  --------------------------------------------
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                          -----------------------------
                               September 30, 1996
                               ------------------

PART 1:           FINANCIAL INFORMATION
- ------

NOTE 1:           SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
- -------           ------------------------------------------

                  NATURE OF PARTNERSHIP
                  ---------------------

                  TPI Land  Development  III  Limited  Partnership  is a limited
                  partnership  formed during 1986 under the laws of the State of
                  Arizona. The Partnership reached impound on May 27, 1986.

                  DURATION OF PARTNERSHIP
                  -----------------------

                  It has  been  the  intention  of the  Partnership  to  acquire
                  property for investment appreciation purposes. The partnership
                  intends  to sell a  portion  or all of the  properties  in the
                  future with a view towards liquidation of the Partnership.  If
                  not  terminated  prior to December 31, 2001,  the  Partnership
                  shall cease to exist at that date.

                  OTHER ASSETS
                  ------------

                  Organizational  costs  represent  costs  incurred  during  the
                  formation  period  of the  Partnership.  Organizational  costs
                  total $55,663.00.  Organizational costs were amortized over 60
                  months,  and are fully amortized.  Syndication costs represent
                  commissions  incurred  on  the  sale  of  limited  partnership
                  interests  and  the  costs  of  preparing  the   prospectuses.
                  Syndication costs total  $1,216,937.22.  Syndication costs are
                  not amortized.

                  INCOME TAXES
                  ------------

                  No provision for income tax is made for the Partnership  since
                  the reporting and payment of income tax is the  responsibility
                  of the individual partners.

                  PARTNERS' PREFERRED RETURN ON CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
                  ---------------------------------------------------

                  The preferred  return clause was deleted in the  Amendments to
                  Agreement of Limited  Partnership of TPI Land  Development III
                  Limited Partnership, dated January 1998.
                                       4

                  TPI LAND DEVELOPMENT III LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                  --------------------------------------------
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                          -----------------------------
                               September 30, 1996
                               ------------------

NOTE 1:           SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
- -------           ------------------------------------------------------

                  ALLOCATION OF NET PROFITS, LOSSES, AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO
                  -------------------------------------------------------
                  PARTNERS
                  --------

                  Net  profits,  losses,  (prepared  on an accrual  basis),  and
                  distributions   are  allocated  to  the  limited  and  general
                  partners  in   accordance   with  their   respective   capital
                  percentages per Amendments to Agreement of Limited Partnership
                  of TPI Land  Development III Limited  Partnership,  (paragraph
                  4.1.a), dated January 1998.

NOTE 2:           LAND
- -------           ----

                  Costs incurred by the  Partnership for acquisition and holding
                  of land as of September 30, 1996 are as follows:

                  Casa Grande - Florence                 $ 1,086,784
                  24th St. & Baseline                      1,276,794
                  79th Ave. & Peoria                         984,384
                  23rd St. & Baseline                        766,109
                  32nd St. & Baseline                      1,139,148
                  Central Ave./Avondale                      125,472
                  Arizona Ave. & Pecos                     1,259,018
                  Van Buren & Central                      1,302,320
                  Baseline off 24th Street                   254,714
                                                         -----------
                                                         $ 8,194,744
                                                         ===========

                  One Triplex apartment  building was sold 11/01/94 for $50,000.
                  Two  Triplex  apartment  buildings  were sold on  1/23/95  for
                  $100,000. Rental Property was sold on 5/23/95 for $44, 900.

NOTE 3:           PARTNERS' CAPITAL
- -------           -----------------

                  Partners' capital contributions  received and subscribed as of
                  June 30, 1996 are as follows:

                  Limited partners contribution          $ 9,939,500
                  Prior years profit (loss)                 (806,663)
                  Current years profit (loss)               (132,082)
                                                         -----------
                  Partners' Capital                      $ 9,000.755
                                                         ===========
                                       5

                  TPI LAND DEVELOPMENT III LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                  --------------------------------------------
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                          -----------------------------
                               September 30, 1996
                               ------------------

NOTE 3:           PARTNERS' CAPITAL (CONTINUED)
- -------           -----------------------------

                  A  prior  period  adjustment  was  made  to the  prior  year's
                  profit(loss)  for  $24,381.  The  previous  general  partner's
                  original  contribution  of $100,399  was in the form of a note
                  payable.  The note was  written  off with the  removal  of the
                  general  partner and all of his interests.  Limited  partners'
                  original contributions were adjusted accordingly. The accounts
                  receivable  balance of $2,079 was due to the general  partner,
                  and was written off and the current year's loss adjusted.  The
                  note and the  receivable  netted  in  effect  and the  capital
                  account corrected.

NOTE 4:           The  partnership is obligated  under the Promissory Note dated
- -------           May 3, 1993 with West Financial  Corp. for $285,000.  Interest
                  of  14.9%  per  annum  is  paid  in  monthly  installments  of
                  $3,538.75  with the  remaining  principal and interest due and
                  payable on July 1, 1996.  West  Financial  Corp.  assigned all
                  rights,   title  and  interest  in  the  Promissory  Note  and
                  beneficial  interest  under the Deed of Trust to Bolco Limited
                  Partnership,  in an agreement  dated  February  12, 1996.  The
                  agreement  extends the  remaining  interest due and payable to
                  June 1, 1997.  All other terms of the original  agreement  are
                  upheld.

NOTE 5:           The tri-plex rental property was readied for a pending sale. A
- -------           short  term loan from TPI  Secured  Income  89B was  needed in
                  addition to existing cash reserves to prepare the property for
                  sale. The loan was repaid on 02/01/95.

NOTE 6:           The  Partnership has loaned the sum of $39,500 to an unrelated
- -------           entity under a Promissory Note dated August 31, 1993. Interest
                  of 15% per annum is due monthly and  accrues to  principal  if
                  unpaid  monthly.  The Note was foreclosed upon on 07/13/94 and
                  the  property  was  converted  to an asset to be prepared  for
                  sale.

NOTE 7:           The  Partnership  has loaned $25,000 to an unrelated  party on
- -------           October 8, 1993. Interest of 15% accrues to the principal with
                  the balance all due and payable  October 4, 1994. The loan was
                  repaid on 10/18/94.
                                       6

                  TPI LAND DEVELOPMENT III LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                  --------------------------------------------
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                          -----------------------------
                               September 30, 1996
                               ------------------

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITIONS AND RESULTS OF
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATIONS
- ----------

The partnership  offering period ended December 31, 1987. From that date forward
the Partnership entered the operating stage which either held the properties for
appreciation  or  prepared  the  properties  for  disposition.  Also during this
period, the final acquisitions were made.

As of  September  30, 1996 the  Partnership  had $70.53 in cash and money market
instruments. The sources of revenue during the operating period were interest on
the money market account.

PART 2:           OTHER INFORMATION
- ------

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

A petition was filed on July 6, 1995 in the United States  Bankruptcy  Court for
the District of Arizona,  Case No.  95-05828-PHX-CGC,  for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
protection.  All  parcels of real  property  are listed for sale,  and are being
actively marketed. A plan of reorganization is currently being prepared.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

The general partners, Herve Tessier and TPI Asset Management, Inc., resigned and
have been replaced by the Investors  Recovery Group, LLC, which was organized by
existing partners in TPI Land Development III Limited  Partnership.  The members
of the Investors  Recovery Group,  LLC are Lawrie Porter,  Carl Harwood,  Robert
Long, Elizabeth Kowoser,  Donald Thomas, and Craig Stevenson.  On May 10 and 11,
1996 a Notice of  Settlement  Agreement  regarding  the  Resignation  of General
Partners  of TPI III;  Notice of Hearing on  Approval  of  settlement  Agreement
regarding Resignation of General Partners of TPI III; and Notice of Selection of
Successor  General Partner of TPI III were mailed to all Limited  Partners.  The
settlement  agreement  was  approved  by a  court  order  in the  United  States
Bankruptcy Court District of Arizona,  Chapter 11, Case No.  95-5828-PHX-CGC  on
May 24, 1996.
                                       7

                  TPI LAND DEVELOPMENT III LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                  --------------------------------------------
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                          -----------------------------
                               September 30, 1996
                               ------------------


                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

TPI LAND DEVELOPMENT III LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

By:       /s/ Lawrie Porter
         ----------------------------------
         Lawrie Porter, Managing Member

Date:     September 4, 1998                                           
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                                       8