Exhibit 10.9


                              DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
                              TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT


September 4, 2001


Mr. Donald B. Vaden
Chairman of Compensation Committee
Dynex Capital, Inc.
4551 Cox Road, Suite 300
Glen Allen, Virginia  23060

Dear Don:

This letter will formalize the terms of my employment  with Dynex Capital,  Inc.
("Dynex" or "the Company") as set forth below.

o     I agree to continue as an employee of Dynex through June 30, 2002.

o     My salary will remain at $180,000 per annum.

o     The benefits that I currently receive will remain the same.

o     I will  receive a bonus of $120,000 at the earliest of (i) June 30, 2002;
      (ii) a change in voting control of the Company's  common  stock in excess
      of  20%; (iii) the  material  modification  of  the  my current duties or
      responsibilities  or  the  geographic  location  of  my  employment;   or
      (iv)  the  termination  of  my  employment  by the Company for any reason
      other  than gross  negligence,  an act of bad faith which  results in the
      injuring of the business  of the  Company,  or the commission of a felony
      or any other  crime involving moral turpitude, fraud or misrepresentation
      by the Recipient whether or not related to the business or property of the
      Company.

o     I will receive a grant of 30,000 Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) pursuant
      to the Company's  1992 Stock  Incentive  Plan dated with a strike price of
      $2.00 which will vest 100% at the  earliest of (i) June 30,  2002;  (ii) a
      change in voting control of the  Company's  common stock in excess of 20%;
      (iii)  the   material   modification   of  the  my   current   duties   or
      responsibilities, or the geographic location of my employment; or (iv) the
      termination  of my  employment  by  the Company  for any reason other than
      gross negligence, an act of bad faith which results in the injuring of the
      business of the Company, or the commission of a  felony or any other crime
      involving  moral turpitude,  fraud or  misrepresentation by  the Recipient
      whether  or not related  to the business or property of  the Company. Such
      SARs will terminate on June 30, 2004.

o    To the extent any disputes arise as a result of this  agreement,  we hereby
     agree that the senior attorney for personnel/employment  related matters at
     the law firm of Williams,  Mullen,  Christian & Dobbins  will  designate an
     arbitrator to hear the dispute, and the decision of such arbitrator will be
     final.  The arbitrator  will also determine how the cost of the arbitration
     will be borne among the parties.

If the above is acceptable, please so indicate by signing below.

Sincerely,                                Acknowledged and Agreed:



/s/ Stephen J. Benedetti                  /s/ Donald B. Vaden
- --------------------------------          --------------------------------------
Stephen J. Benedetti                      Donald B. Vaden
Executive Vice President                  Chairman, Compensation Committee