<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          NOV-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-31-1996
<CASH>                                          23,336
<SECURITIES>                                    83,573<F1>
<RECEIVABLES>                                  243,535
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    889,760
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                               0
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,348,939
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                        344,870<F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        38,873
<OTHER-SE>                                     286,463
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,348,939
<SALES>                                      1,242,371
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,226,198
<CGS>                                        1,020,837
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,031,128<F3>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               334,231<F4>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              27,717
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              (126,829)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    45,700
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (81,129)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (81,129)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (2.04)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F5>
<FN>
<F1>Marketable securities are comprised of first mortgages and morgage-backed
securities which are held for long-term investment. The mortgage-backed
securities serve as collateral for related collateralized mortgage obligations.
<F2>Bonds are comprised of senior and senior subordinated notes and collateralized
mortgage obligations.
<F3>Total Costs include interest expense on the collateralized mortgage
obligations, as the associated interest income generated from the
mortgage-backed securities is included in Total Revenues.
<F4>Other Expenses are comprised of selling, general and administrative expenses.
<F5>Fully diluted earnings per share is not disclosed in the Company's consolidated
financial statements since the maximum dilutive effect is not material.
</FN>