<PAGE>   1



Exhibit 24


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                      NHP REALTY FUND I LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS

         THAT I, the undersigned member of the Board of Directors of National
Corporation for Housing Partnerships, hereby make, constitute and appoint Troy
D. Butts, Chief Financial Officer of NCHP, my attorney-in-fact, with full power
of substitution, in my name, place and stead to execute and sign my name upon
and documents, paper releases, consents and the like, including federal and
state securities registration statements and amendments and Form 10-K annual
reports and other post-sale and periodic reports pertaining to NHP Realty Fund I
Limited Partnership as may be appropriate.

         IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal on the date
set forth below.


Date:    3-20-98                                  /s/  Alan A. Diamonstein
       -------------                              --------------------------
                                                  SIGNATURE

State of Virginia

City of Newport News

Before me, Allan R. Staley, on this day personally appeared Alan A. Diamonstein
known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed in the foregoing
instrument, and who, after being duly sworn, stated that the content of said
instrument is to the best of his knowledge and belief true and correct, and who
acknowledged that he executed same for the purposes therein expressed.

Given under my hand and official seal at 10 AM this 20th day of March 1998.


 /s/  Allan R. Staley
-----------------------
Notary Public

My Commission Expires:   5-31-98
                      -----------



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<PAGE>   2



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                      NHP REALTY FUND I LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS

         THAT I, the undersigned member of the Board of Directors of National
Corporation for Housing Partnerships, hereby make, constitute and appoint Troy
D. Butts, Chief Financial Officer of NCHP, my attorney-in-fact, with full power
of substitution, in my name, place and stead to execute and sign my name upon
and documents, paper releases, consents and the like, including federal and
state securities registration statements and amendments and Form 10-K annual
reports and other post-sale and periodic reports pertaining to NHP Realty Fund I
Limited Partnership as may be appropriate.

         IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal on the date
set forth below.


Date:    3-12-98                                        /s/  Susan R. Baron
         -------                                        -------------------
                                                        SIGNATURE

State of Dictrict of Columbia

County of
         ----------

Before me, James M. Reed, on this day personally appeared Susan R. Baron known
to me to be the person whose name is subscribed in the foregoing instrument, and
who, after being duly sworn, stated that the content of said instrument is to
the best of his knowledge and belief true and correct, and who acknowledged that
he executed same for the purposes therein expressed.

Given under my hand and official seal at 11 AM this 12th day of March 1998.
                                        -------    ------      -------

 /s/  James M. Reed
----------------------
Notary Public

My Commission Expires:   6-30-2002
                       -------------



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<PAGE>   3




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                      NHP REALTY FUND I LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS

         THAT I, the undersigned member of the Board of Directors of National
Corporation for Housing Partnerships, hereby make, constitute and appoint Troy
D. Butts, Chief Financial Officer of NCHP, my attorney-in-fact, with full power
of substitution, in my name, place and stead to execute and sign my name upon
and documents, paper releases, consents and the like, including federal and
state securities registration statements and amendments and Form 10-K annual
reports and other post-sale and periodic reports pertaining to NHP Realty Fund I
Limited Partnership as may be appropriate.

         IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal on the date
set forth below.


Date:    3-30-98                                       /s/  Terry Considine
         -------                                       ----------------------
                                                       SIGNATURE

State of Colorado
                 --------

City of Denver

Before me,__________, on this day personally appeared Terry Considine known to
me to be the person whose name is subscribed in the foregoing instrument, and
who, after being duly sworn, stated that the content of said instrument is to
the best of his knowledge and belief true and correct, and who acknowledged that
he executed same for the purposes therein expressed.

Given under my hand and official seal at      this     day of          1998.
                                         -----    -----       ---------

 /s/ 
-------------------------
Notary Public


My Commission Expires:   -
                      --------



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<PAGE>   4


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                      NHP REALTY FUND I LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS

         THAT I, the undersigned member of the Board of Directors of National
Corporation for Housing Partnerships, hereby make, constitute and appoint Troy
D. Butts, Chief Financial Officer of NCHP, my attorney-in-fact, with full power
of substitution, in my name, place and stead to execute and sign my name upon
and documents, paper releases, consents and the like, including federal and
state securities registration statements and amendments and Form 10-K annual
reports and other post-sale and periodic reports pertaining to NHP Realty Fund I
Limited Partnership as may be appropriate.

         IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal on the date
set forth below.


Date:    3-30-98                                      /s/  Peter K. Kompaniez
        ---------                                     -------------------------
                                                      SIGNATURE

State of Colorado

City of Denver
              ---------

Before me,________, on this day personally appeared Peter K. Kompaniez known to
me to be the person whose name is subscribed in the foregoing instrument, and
who, after being duly sworn, stated that the content of said instrument is to
the best of his knowledge and belief true and correct, and who acknowledged that
he executed same for the purposes therein expressed.

Given under my hand and official seal at       this     day of          1998.
                                         ------    -----       ---------

/s/ 
--------------------
Notary Public

My Commission Expires:   -
                      --------




                                       63
<PAGE>   5





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                      NHP REALTY FUND I LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS

         THAT I, the undersigned member of the Board of Directors of National
Corporation for Housing Partnerships, hereby make, constitute and appoint Troy
D. Butts, Chief Financial Officer of NCHP, my attorney-in-fact, with full power
of substitution, in my name, place and stead to execute and sign my name upon
and documents, paper releases, consents and the like, including federal and
state securities registration statements and amendments and Form 10-K annual
reports and other post-sale and periodic reports pertaining to NHP Realty Fund I
Limited Partnership as may be appropriate.

         IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal on the date
set forth below.


Date:    3-30-98                                       /s/  Leeann Morein
         -------                                       -----------------------
                                                       SIGNATURE

State of Colorado

City of Denver
              ------

Before me,________, on this day personally appeared Leeann Morein known to me
to be the person whose name is subscribed in the foregoing instrument, and who,
after being duly sworn, stated that the content of said instrument is to the
best of his knowledge and belief true and correct, and who acknowledged that he
executed same for the purposes therein expressed.

Given under my hand and official seal at       this     day of          1998.
                                         ------    -----       ---------

/s/ 
--------------------------
Notary Public

My Commission Expires:   -
                      --------




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<PAGE>   6


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                      NHP REALTY FUND I LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS

         THAT I, the undersigned member of the Board of Directors of National
Corporation for Housing Partnerships, hereby make, constitute and appoint Troy
D. Butts, Chief Financial Officer of NCHP, my attorney-in-fact, with full power
of substitution, in my name, place and stead to execute and sign my name upon
and documents, paper releases, consents and the like, including federal and
state securities registration statements and amendments and Form 10-K annual
reports and other post-sale and periodic reports pertaining to NHP Realty Fund I
Limited Partnership as may be appropriate.

         IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal on the date
set forth below.


Date:    3-30-98                                   /s/  Thomas W. Toomey
         -------                                   -----------------------
                                                   SIGNATURE

State of Colorado

City of Denver
              ------

Before me,_______, on this day personally appeared Thomas W. Toomey known to me
to be the person whose name is subscribed in the foregoing instrument, and who,
after being duly sworn, stated that the content of said instrument is to the
best of his knowledge and belief true and correct, and who acknowledged that he
executed same for the purposes therein expressed.

Given under my hand and official seal at      this     day of          1998.
                                         -----    -----       ---------

/s/ 
---------------------
Notary Public

My Commission Expires:   -
                      --------




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