<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> DEC-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> FEB-28-1997 <CASH> 11,078 <SECURITIES> 79,683<F1> <RECEIVABLES> 210,799 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 759,897 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,173,251 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 465,273<F2> <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 38,830 <OTHER-SE> 298,813 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,173,251 <SALES> 339,635 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 346,384 <CGS> 279,588 <TOTAL-COSTS> 282,834<F3> <OTHER-EXPENSES> 49,284<F4> <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,396 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,944 <INCOME-TAX> 2,500 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 4,444 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 4,444 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.11 <EPS-DILUTED> 0<F5> <FN> <F1>MARKETABLE SECURITIES ARE COMPRISED OF FIRST MORTGAGES AND MORTGAGE-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>