content: <PAGE>
   
                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                              ----------------------
  
  
                                      FORM 8-K
  
                                   CURRENT REPORT
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                          Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
  
         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): DECEMBER 16, 1996
  
  
                  HOME IMPROVEMENT & HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST 1996-C
                  ------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
          MINNESOTA                     33-55853                APPLIED FOR
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction         (Commission             (IRS employer
        of incorporation)              file numbers)        identification no.)
   
  
  1100 LANDMARK TOWERS, 345 ST. PETER STREET, SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA  55102-1639
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip code)
  
  
        Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (612) 293-3400
                                                            --------------
  
  
                                   NOT APPLICABLE
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
  <PAGE>
   
  ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.
  
           Pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement between Green Tree
           Financial Corporation (the "Servicer") and First Trust (N.A.) (the
           "Trustee"), on December 16, 1996, the Trustee made distributions to the
           holders of the certificates representing interests in the Trust (the
           "Certificateholders") and delivered to the Certificateholders the
           Monthly Report required by Section 6.05 of the Pooling and Servicing
           Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
  
  ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
  
           (c)  Exhibits.
  
                The following is filed herewith.  The exhibit number
                corresponds with Item 601(b) of Regulation S-K.
  
                Exhibit No.        Description
                -----------        -----------
  
                   99.1            Monthly Report delivered to
                                   Certificateholders on
                                   December 16, 1996.
   
  <PAGE>
   
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  Dated: December 16, 1996
  
  
                                     HOME IMPROVEMENT & HOME EQUITY LOAN
                                     TRUST 1996-C
  
                                     By GREEN TREE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                                        as Servicer with respect to the Trust
  
   
                                     By: /s/ Phyllis A. Knight
                                         ------------------------------------
                                         Phyllis A. Knight
                                         Vice President and Treasurer
  <PAGE>
   
                                 INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  
  
  <TABLE> 
  <CAPTION> 
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER                                                         PAGE
  ------                                                         ----
  <S>                                                            <C> 
   99.1      Monthly Report delivered to Certificateholders      
             on December 16, 1996.                                5
  </TABLE>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 8-K HIP 1996-C", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3744}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "GREEN TREE FINANCIAL CORP", "cik": "0000890175", "assigned-sic": "6189", "irs-number": "411263905", "state-of-incorporation": "MN", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-08916", "film-number": "96684219"}, "business-address": {"street1": "500 LANDMARK TOWERS", "street2": "345 ST PETER ST", "city": "SAINT PAUL", "state": "MN", "zip": "55102-1637", "phone": "6122933400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "500 LANDMARK TOWERS", "street2": "345 ST PETER ST", "city": "SAINT PAUL", "state": "MN", "zip": "55102-1637"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "GREEN TREE ACCEPTANCE INC", "date-changed": "19600201"}}
text: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                              ----------------------
  
                                      FORM 8-K
  
                                   CURRENT REPORT
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                          Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): DECEMBER 16, 1996
  
                  HOME IMPROVEMENT & HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST 1996-C
                  ------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
          MINNESOTA                     33-55853                APPLIED FOR
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction         (Commission             (IRS employer
        of incorporation)              file numbers)        identification no.)
   
  
  1100 LANDMARK TOWERS, 345 ST. PETER STREET, SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA  55102-1639
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip code)
  
        Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (612) 293-3400
                                                            --------------
  
                                   NOT APPLICABLE
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
  ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.
  
           Pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement between Green Tree
           Financial Corporation (the "Servicer") and First Trust (N.A.) (the
           "Trustee"), on December 16, 1996, the Trustee made distributions to the
           holders of the certificates representing interests in the Trust (the
           "Certificateholders") and delivered to the Certificateholders the
           Monthly Report required by Section 6.05 of the Pooling and Servicing
           Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
  
  ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
  
           (c)  Exhibits.
  
                The following is filed herewith.  The exhibit number
                corresponds with Item 601(b) of Regulation S-K.
  
                Exhibit No.        Description
                -----------        -----------
  
                   99.1            Monthly Report delivered to
                                   Certificateholders on
                                   December 16, 1996.
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  Dated: December 16, 1996
  
                                     HOME IMPROVEMENT & HOME EQUITY LOAN
                                     TRUST 1996-C
  
                                     By GREEN TREE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                                        as Servicer with respect to the Trust
  
   
                                     By: /s/ Phyllis A. Knight
                                         ------------------------------------
                                         Phyllis A. Knight
                                         Vice President and Treasurer
  INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER                                                         PAGE
  ------                                                         ----
  99.1      Monthly Report delivered to Certificateholders      
             on December 16, 1996.                                5