<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000941713 <NAME> HIGHWOODS FORSYTH LLP <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-1996 JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 29,916,000 29,916,000 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 13,404,000 13,404,000 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 42,059,000 42,059,000 <PP&E> 1,354,746,000 1,354,746,000 <DEPRECIATION> 33,988,000 33,988,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,380,910,000 1,380,910,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 28,694,000 28,694,000 <BONDS> 597,734,000 597,734,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 0 0 <OTHER-SE> 739,816,000 739,816,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,366,244,000 1,366,244,000 <SALES> 29,186,000 79,476,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 32,881,000 84,078,000 <CGS> 7,898,000 21,093,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 12,622,000 33,649,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,653,000 3,787,000 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,896,000 13,970,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 13,710,000 32,672,000 <INCOME-TAX> 0 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 13,710,000 32,672,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 2,432,000 2,432,000 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,278,000 30,240,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> .32 1.10 <EPS-DILUTED> .32 1.10