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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 10-Q


 Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
                                     of 1934

                  For the Quarterly Period Ended MARCH 31, 1997

                         Commission File Number 2-60561

                         REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LIMITED
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                  I.R.S. Employer Identification No. 95-3187912

                         9090 WILSHIRE BLVD., SUITE 201,
                           BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. 90211

                         Registrant's Telephone Number,
                       Including Area Code (310) 278-2191



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all documents and
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding twelve 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
                                       --- ----


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                         REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LIMITED
                       (a California limited partnership)

                               INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

                      FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1997


PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

       Item 1.    Financial Statements

            Balance Sheets, March 31, 1997 and December 31, 1996..........  1

            Statements of Operations,
                  Three Months Ended March 31, 1997 and 1996..............  2

            Statement of Partner's Equity (Deficiency),
                  Three Months Ended March 31, 1997.......................  3

            Statements of Cash Flows
                  Three Months Ended March 31, 1997 and 1996..............  4

            Notes to Financial Statements.................................  5

       Item 2.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                          Condition and Results of Operations 


PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

       Item 1.        Legal Proceedings...................................  10

       Item 6.        Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K....................  10

       Signatures.........................................................  11



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                         REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LIMITED
                       (A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

                                 BALANCE SHEETS
                      MARCH 31, 1997 AND DECEMBER 31, 1996


                                     ASSETS




                                                                      1997              1996
                                                                    (Unaudited)       (Audited)
                                                                    -----------      -----------
                                                                                   
INVESTMENTS IN LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS (Note 2)                        $ 2,560,816      $ 2,486,997
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (Note 1)                                      340,013          376,976
                                                                    -----------      -----------

          TOTAL ASSETS                                              $ 2,900,829      $ 2,863,973
                                                                    ===========      ===========


                  LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)

LIABILITIES:
     Accounts payable                                               $     5,415      $     7,929
     Accrued fees and expenses due
         general partner (Notes 3 and 6)                              1,038,512        1,021,677
                                                                    -----------      -----------

                                                                      1,043,927        1,029,606
                                                                    -----------      -----------


COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Notes 3 and 4)

PARTNERS' EQUITY (DEFICIENCY):
    General partners                                                   (108,501)        (108,726)
    Limited partners                                                  1,965,403        1,943,093
                                                                    -----------      -----------

                                                                      1,856,902        1,834,367
                                                                    -----------      -----------

           TOTAL LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS'
                EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)                                 $ 2,900,829      $ 2,863,973
                                                                    ===========      ===========





   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.



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                         REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LIMITED
                       (A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                   THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 AND 1996

                                   (Unaudited)



                                                        1997           1996
                                                     ---------      ---------
                                                                 
INTEREST AND OTHER INCOME                            $   9,741      $   3,909
                                                     ---------      ---------

OPERATING EXPENSES:
      Legal and accounting                              16,817         31,550
      Management fees - general partner (Note 3)       101,835        101,835
      Administrative  (Note 3)                          13,060         11,648
                                                     ---------      ---------

                Total operating expenses               131,712        145,033
                                                     ---------      ---------

LOSS FROM OPERATIONS                                  (121,971)      (141,124)

DISTRIBUTIONS FROM LIMITED
      PARTNERSHIPS RECOGNIZED AS
      INCOME (Note 2)                                   61,206         66,452

EQUITY IN INCOME OF LIMITED
      PARTNERSHIPS AND AMORTIZATION
      OF ACQUISITION COSTS (Note 2)                     83,300        111,000
                                                     ---------      ---------

NET INCOME                                           $  22,535      $  36,328
                                                     =========      =========

NET INCOME PER LIMITED
      PARTNERSHIP INTEREST (Note 1)                  $       1      $       2
                                                     =========      =========







   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.





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                         REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LIMITED
                       (A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

                   STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)
                        THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997

                                   (Unaudited)




                                            General       Limited
                                           Partners       Partners         Total
                                          ---------      ----------     ----------
                                                                      
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
      March 31, 1997                                         16,505
                                                         ==========    


EQUITY (DEFICIENCY),
      January 1, 1997                     $(108,726)     $1,943,093     $1,834,367

      Net income for the three months
      ended March 31, 1997                      225          22,310         22,535
                                          ---------      ----------     ----------

EQUITY (DEFICIENCY),
      March 31, 1997                      $(108,501)     $1,965,403     $1,856,902
                                          =========      ==========     ==========












   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


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                         REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LIMITED
                       (A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                   THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 AND 1996

                                   (UNAUDITED)



                                                                            1997          1996
                                                                        ---------      ---------
                                                                                       
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
       Net income                                                       $  22,535      $  36,328
       Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
         provided by operating activities:
           Equity in income of limited partnerships
                and amortization of acquisition costs                     (83,300)      (111,000)
            Increase in accrued fees and
               expenses due general partner                                16,835        101,835
           Increase in accounts payable                                    (2,514)           374
                                                                        ---------      ---------

                Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities       (46,444)        27,537
                                                                        ---------      ---------

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
       Distributions from limited partnership
           recognized as return of capital                                  9,481          9,481
                                                                        ---------      ---------


NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND
       CASH EQUIVALENTS                                                   (36,963)        37,018

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD                            376,976        250,570
                                                                        ---------      ---------


CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD                                $ 340,013      $ 287,588
                                                                        =========      =========







   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.



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                         REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LIMITED
                       (A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                 MARCH 31, 1997


NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

         GENERAL

         The information contained in the following notes to the financial
         statements is condensed from that which would appear in the annual
         audited financial statements; accordingly, the financial statements
         included herein should be reviewed in conjunction with the financial
         statements and related notes thereto contained in the annual report for
         the year ended December 31, 1996 prepared by Real Estate Associates
         Limited (the "Partnership.") Accounting measurements at interim dates
         inherently involve greater reliance on estimates than at year end. The
         results of operations for the interim period presented are not
         necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year.

         In the opinion of the Partnership, the accompanying unaudited financial
         statements contain all adjustments (consisting primarily of normal
         recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position
         as of March 31, 1997, and the results of operations and changes in cash
         flows for the three months then ended.

         The general partners have a 1 percent interest in profits and losses of
         the Partnership. The limited partners have the remaining 99 percent
         interest which is allocated in proportion to their respective
         individual investments. National Partnership Investments Corp. (NAPICO)
         is the corporate general partner of the Partnership.

         USE OF ESTIMATES

         The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
         accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates
         and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
         liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the
         date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and
         expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from
         those estimates.

         METHOD OF ACCOUNTING FOR INVESTMENT IN LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS

         The investment in limited partnerships is accounted for on the equity
         method. Acquisition, selection fees and other costs related to the
         acquisition of the projects have been capitalized to the investment
         account and are being amortized on a straight line basis over the
         estimated lives of the underlying assets, which is generally 30 years.

         NET INCOME PER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP INTEREST

         Net income per limited partnership interest was computed by dividing
         the limited partners' share of net income by the number of limited
         partnership interests outstanding during the year. The number of
         limited partnership interests was 16,505 for the periods presented.


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                         REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LIMITED
                        (A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                                 MARCH 31, 1997

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

         CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

         Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and bank certificates of
         deposit with an original maturity of six months or less. The
         Partnership has its cash and cash equivalents on deposit primarily with
         one high credit quality financial institution. Such cash and cash
         equivalents are in excess of the FDIC insurance limit.

         INCOME TAXES

         No provision has been made for income taxes in the accompanying
         financial statements since such taxes, if any, are the liability of the
         individual partners.

         IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS

         The Partnership adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
         121, Account for the Improvement of Long-Lived Assets and for
         Long-Lived Assets To Be Disposed Of as of January 1, 1996 without a
         significant effect on its financial statements. The Partnership reviews
         long-lived assets to determine if there has been any permanent
         impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that
         the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. If the sum of
         the expected future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the
         assets, the Partnership recognizes an impairment loss.

NOTE 2 - INVESTMENTS IN LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS

         The Partnership has limited partnership interests in 18 limited
         partnerships. The limited partnerships own residential rental projects
         consisting of 1,969 apartment units. The mortgage loans of these
         projects are insured by various governmental agencies.

         The Partnership, as a limited partner, is entitled from 50 percent to
         99 percent of the profits and losses in the limited partnerships.

         Equity in losses of limited partnerships are recognized in the
         financial statements until the limited partnership investment account
         is reduced to a zero balance. Losses incurred after the limited
         partnership investment account is reduced to zero are not recognized.


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                         REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LIMITED
                        (A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                                 MARCH 31, 1997


NOTE 2 - INVESTMENTS IN LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS (CONTINUED):

         Distributions from the limited partnerships are accounted for as a
         return of capital until the investment balance is reduced to zero.
         Subsequent distributions received are recognized as income.

         The following is a summary of the investment in limited partnerships as
         of March 31, 1997:


                                                                      
         Balance, beginning of period                             $2,486,997
         Amortization acquisition costs                                 (700) 
         Cash distribution recognized as return of capital            (9,481) 
         Equity in income of limited partnerships                     84,000
                                                                  ----------
         Balance, end of period                                   $2,560,816
                                                                  ==========




         The limited partnership which owns Chidester Place Apartments, has
         executed, with NAPICO's consent, an Agreement for Purchase and Sale of
         the Chidester Place apartment complex. The pending sale is predicated
         on a $4,600,000 purchase offer from a Tennessee Limited Partnership
         sponsored by Brencor Capital Funding ("Brencor").

         Brencor has obtained preliminary approval from the Ypsilanti Downtown
         Development Authority to finance the acquisition of the property with a
         new tax-exempt bond issue which will qualify the prospective buyer to
         receive an allocation of Low Income Housing Tax Credits. If the sale is
         completed, it is anticipated that the Partnership will receive sale
         proceeds more than sufficient to return the Partnership's original
         capital investment and to offset the projected tax liability associated
         with the Partnership's disposition of the property. The Partnership has
         a zero carrying value for this investment.

         The following are unaudited combined estimated statements of operations
         for the three months ended March 31, 1997 and 1996 for the limited
         partnerships in which the Partnership has investments:



                                                              1997                1996
                                                          ----------           ----------
                                                                                
         REVENUES
              Rental and other                            $4,238,000           $4,142,000
                                                          ----------           ----------
         
         EXPENSES
             Depreciation                                    652,000              670,000
            Interest                                       1,234,000            1,194,000
            Operating                                      2,210,000            2,198,000
                                                          ----------           ----------
         
                                                           4,096,000            4,062,000
                                                          ----------           ----------
         
         NET INCOME                                       $  142,000           $   80,000
                                                          ==========           ==========





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                         REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LIMITED
                        (A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                                 MARCH 31, 1997


NOTE 3 - ACCRUED FEES AND EXPENSES DUE TO GENERAL PARTNER (CONTINUED)

         The Partnership reimburses NAPICO for certain expenses. The
         reimbursement paid to NAPICO was approximately $5,400 and $5,154, for
         the three months ended March 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively, and is
         included in administrative expenses.

         As of March 31, 1997, the fees and expenses due NAPICO exceeded the
         Partnership's cash. The general partner, during the forthcoming year,
         will not demand payment of amounts due in excess of such cash or such
         that the Partnership would not have sufficient operating cash.

NOTE 4 - CONTINGENCIES

         The corporate general partner of the Partnership is involved in various
         lawsuits arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business.
         In the opinion of management and the corporate general partner, the
         claims will not result in any material liability to the Partnership.

NOTE 5 - FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

         Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 107, "Disclosure about
         Fair Value of Financial Instruments," requires disclosure of fair value
         information about financial instruments, when it is practicable to
         estimate that value. The operations generated by the investee limited
         partnerships, which account for the Partnership's primary source of
         revenues, are subject to various government rules, regulations and
         restrictions which make it impracticable to estimate the fair value of
         accrued fees and expenses due general partner. The carrying amount of
         other assets and liabilities reported on the balance sheets that
         require such disclosure approximtes fair value due to their short-term
         maturity.











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                         REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LIMITED
                        (A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                 MARCH 31, 1997

ITEM 2   MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
         RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

         LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

         The Partnership's primary sources of funds include interest income
         earned from investing available cash and distributions from limited
         partnerships in which the Partnership has invested. It is not expected
         that any of the local limited partnerships in which the Partnership has
         invested will generate cash flow sufficient to provide for
         distributions to limited partners in any material amount.

         The limited partnership which owns Chidester Place Apartments, has
         executed, with NAPICO's consent, an Agreement for Purchase and Sale of
         the Chidester Place apartment complex. The pending sale is predicated
         on a $4,600,000 purchase offer from a Tennessee Limited Partnership
         sponsored by Brencor Capital Funding ("Brencor").

         Brencor has obtained preliminary approval from the Ypsilanti Downtown
         Development Authority to finance the acquisition of the property with a
         new tax-exempt bond issue which will qualify the prospective buyer to
         receive an allocation of Low Income Housing Tax Credits. If the sale is
         completed, it is anticipated that the Partnership will receive sale
         proceeds more than sufficient to return the Partnership's original
         capital investment and to offset the projected tax liability associated
         with the Partnership's disposition of the property. The Partnership has
         a zero carrying value for this investment.

         RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

         Partnership revenues consist primarily of interest income earned on
         certificates of deposit and other temporary investment of funds not
         required for investment in local partnerships.

         Operating expenses consist primarily of recurring general and
         administrative expenses and professional fees for services rendered to
         the Partnership. In addition, an annual Partnership management fee in
         an amount equal to .5 percent of investment assets is payable to the
         corporate general partner. Operating expenses are consistent with the
         prior year.

         The Partnership accounts for its investments in the local limited
         partnerships on the equity method, thereby adjusting its investment
         balance by its proportionate share of the income or loss of the local
         limited partnerships. The equity in income of limited partnerships is
         received from one investee limited partnership. All other investee
         limited partnerships have reduced their investment balances to zero and
         as a result thereof, the Partnership does not recognize equity in
         losses from those investments in accordance with the equity accounting
         method.

         Distributions received from limited partnerships are recognized as
         return of capital until the investment balance has been reduced to zero
         or to a negative amount equal to future capital contributions required.
         Subsequent distributions received are recognized as income.

         Except for certificates of deposit and money market funds, the
         Partnership's investments are entirely interests in other limited
         partnerships owning government assisted projects. Available cash is
         invested in these funds earning interest income as reflected in the
         statements of operations. These investments can be converted to cash to
         meet obligations as they arise.







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                         REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LIMITED
                       (A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

                                 MARCH 31, 1997


                           PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The corporate general partner is involved in various lawsuits. None of these are
related to the Partnership.


ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

  (a)      No exhibits are required per the provision of Item 7 of regulation
           S-K.








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                         REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LIMITED
                       (A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

                                 MARCH 31, 1997


                                   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.


                                     REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LIMITED
                                     (a California limited partnership)
                                      By:______________________________________


                                     By: National Partnership Investments Corp.
                                     General Partner


                                     Date:_____________________________________



                                      By:______________________________________
                                         Bruce Nelson
                                         President


                                      Date:____________________________________



                                      By:______________________________________
                                         Shawn Horwitz
                                         Executive Vice President and
                                         Chief Financial Officer


                                      Date:____________________________________






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