<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE YEAR THEN ENDED OF M/I SCHOTTENSTEIN HOMES, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 6,761 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 34,447 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 238,919 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 280,127 <PP&E> 8,303 <DEPRECIATION> 6,668 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 305,359 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 67,695 <BONDS> 45 <COMMON> 88 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 112,231 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 305,359 <SALES> 569,895 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 577,192 <CGS> 468,089 <TOTAL-COSTS> 468,089 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,103 <INCOME-PRETAX> 23,077 <INCOME-TAX> 8,967 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 14,110 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (1,287) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 12,823 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.46 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.46