<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FORTRESS
GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF MARCH 31, 1997, JUNE 30, 1997,
AND SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND FROM THE FORTRESS GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS
OF OPERATIONS FOR THE QUARTERS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997, JUNE 30, 1997, AND
SEPTEMBER 30, 1997.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0001010607
<NAME>                        The Fortress Group, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
<CURRENCY>                                        U.S.

<S>                             <C>                             <C>                           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                          3-MOS                        3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997                     DEC-31-1997                   DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                              JAN-1-1997                      APR-1-1997                    JUL-1-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997                     JUN-30-1997                   SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                   1.00                            1.00                          1.00
<CASH>                                          12,212                           8,820                         3,483
<SECURITIES>                                         0                               0                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   11,523                          10,511                         9,618
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                               0                             0
<INVENTORY>                                    164,057                         192,938                       215,872
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                               0                             0
<PP&E>                                           4,593                           6,584                         7,735
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                               0                             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 226,800                         257,101                       314,149
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0                               0                             0
<BONDS>                                              0                               0                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                               0                             0
<PREFERRED>                                          1                               1                             1
<COMMON>                                           118                             118                           118
<OTHER-SE>                                      39,219                          38,478                        54,515
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   226,800                         257,101                       314,149
<SALES>                                         68,399                         105,581                       117,763
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                70,065                         105,581                       117,763
<CGS>                                           59,598                          90,324                        99,251
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   68,452                         103,304                       112,407
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  (173)                           (392)                         (423)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                               0                             0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 206                             665                         1,551
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,613                           2,019                         4,224
<INCOME-TAX>                                       618                             764                         1,634
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                               0                             0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                               0                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                               0                             0
<CHANGES>                                            0                               0                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                       995                           1,255                         2,590
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.08                            0.10                          0.22
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.08                            0.10                          0.20



</TABLE>