WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER REAL ESTATE FUND
CLASS A
</LEGEND>
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAY-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 78,814,943
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 77,821,421
<RECEIVABLES> 317,030
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 3,606,930
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 81,745,381
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> (21,810)
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> (212,078)
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> (233,888)
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 85,075,537
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1,114,046
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 652,548
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (10,274)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (2,560,265)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (993,505)
<NET-ASSETS> 10,780,239
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 2,254,762
<INTEREST-INCOME> 67,226
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (907,137)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1,414,581
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (2,455,752)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 11,319,814
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 10,278,913
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (120,485)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 842,606
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (393,077)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 11,939
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 8,507,135
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 113,624
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (104,513)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (369,506)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (907,137)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 6,413,240
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.63
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.19
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.08
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.22)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.68
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.77
</TABLE>
