EXHIBIT 10.1
                    MASTER LOAN AND INTER-CREDITOR AGREEMENT
                                      among
                         D.R. HORTON, INC., as Borrower;

                               NATIONSBANK, N.A.,
             BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION,
                              FLEET NATIONAL BANK,
                                  BANK UNITED,
                                 COMERICA BANK,
                        CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH,
                       SOCIETE GENERALE, SOUTHWEST AGENCY,
                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                         PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                      AMSOUTH BANK, BANK ONE, ARIZONA, NA,
                         FIRST AMERICAN BANK TEXAS, SSB,
                         HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK,
                             SANWA BANK CALIFORNIA,
                   NORWEST BANK ARIZONA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
                                and SUMMIT BANK,
                                    as Banks;

                               NATIONSBANK, N.A.,
                     as Issuing Bank for Letters of Credit;

                      AMSOUTH BANK, BANK ONE, ARIZONA, NA,
                         PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
                     and THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                                  as Co-Agents;

                           BANK UNITED, COMERICA BANK,
                        CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH,
                     and SOCIETE GENERALE, SOUTHWEST AGENCY,
                               as Managing Agents;

                  FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Documentation Agent;

             BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION,
                              as Syndication Agent;

                                       and
                   NATIONSBANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent

                           Dated as of April 21, 1998






                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            Page

ARTICLE 1     DEFINITIONS......................................................1

ARTICLE 2     LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT.....................................18

    2.1       Extension of Credit.............................................18
    2.2       Manner of Borrowing and Disbursement Under Loans................19
    2.3       Interest on Loans...............................................21
    2.4       Issuance and Administration of Letters of Credit................21
    2.5       Fees and Commissions on Loans and Letters of Credit.............26
    2.6       Notes, Loan and Letters of Credit Accounts......................27
    2.7       Repayment of Loans and Letters of Credit........................28
    2.8       Manner of Payment...............................................28
    2.9       Application of Payments.........................................29

ARTICLE 3     INVENTORY AND FUNDING AVAILABILITY..............................31

    3.1       Loan Funding Availability.......................................31

ARTICLE 4     LOAN DISBURSEMENTS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT........................33

    4.1       Prior to the First Disbursement or Letter of Credit.............33
    4.2       Subsequent Disbursements and Letters of Credit..................35

ARTICLE 5     BORROWER'S COVENANTS, AGREEMENTS,
              REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES..................................36

    5.1       Payment.........................................................36
    5.2       Performance.....................................................36
    5.3       Additional Information..........................................36
    5.4       Quarterly Financial Statements and Other Information............36
    5.5       Compliance Certificates.........................................36
    5.6       Annual Financial Statements and Information; Certificate
                 of No Default................................................36
    5.7       Financial and Inventory Covenants...............................37
    5.8       Other Financial Documentation...................................38
    5.9       Payment of Contractors..........................................38
    5.10      Inspection and Appraisal........................................38
    5.11      Fees and Expenses...............................................38
    5.12      Hazardous Substances............................................38
    5.13      Insurance.......................................................39
    5.14      Litigation......................................................40
    5.15      Reportable Event................................................40
    5.16      Secured Indebtedness............................................40

ARTICLE 6     DEFAULT AND REMEDIES............................................41

    6.1       Defaults........................................................41
    6.2       Remedies........................................................44
    6.3       Waivers.........................................................45


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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (continued)
                                                                            Page

    6.4       Cross-Default...................................................45
    6.5       No Liability of the Banks.......................................45

ARTICLE 7     THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT........................................46

    7.1       Appointment and Authorization...................................46
    7.2       Delegation of Duties............................................46
    7.3       Interest Holders................................................47
    7.4       Consultation with Counsel.......................................47
    7.5       Documents.......................................................47
    7.6       Administrative Agent and Affiliates.............................47
    7.7       Responsibility of the Administrative Agent......................47
    7.8       Action by Administrative Agent..................................48
    7.9       Notice of Default or Event of Default...........................48
    7.10      Responsibility Disclaimed.......................................49
    7.11      Indemnification.................................................49
    7.12      Credit Decision.................................................50
    7.13      Successor Administrative Agent..................................50
    7.14      Syndication Agent...............................................50
    7.15      Documentation Agent.............................................51
    7.16      Co-Agents.......................................................51

ARTICLE 8     GENERAL CONDITIONS..............................................51

    8.1       Benefit.........................................................51
    8.2       Assignment......................................................51
    8.3       Amendment and Waiver............................................52
    8.4       Additional Obligations and Amendments...........................53
    8.5       Consideration of Renewal........................................53
    8.6       Terms...........................................................53
    8.7       Governing Law and Jurisdiction..................................54
    8.8       Publicity.......................................................54
    8.9       Attorneys' Fees.................................................54
    8.10      Mandatory Arbitration...........................................55
    8.11      Invalidation of Provisions......................................56
    8.12      Execution in Counterparts.......................................56
    8.13      Captions........................................................56
    8.14      Notices.........................................................56
    8.15      Final Agreement.................................................62




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                                    EXHIBITS


Exhibit A  -  Form of Acquisition Carve Out Notice
Exhibit B  -  Commitment Ratios
Exhibit C  -  Form of Inventory Summary Report
Exhibit D  -  Form of Operational Carve Out Notice
Exhibit E  -  Form of Request for Advance
Exhibit F  -  Form of Request for Issuance of Letter of Credit
Exhibit G  -  Form of Letter of Credit Application
Exhibit H  -  Form of Quarterly Compliance Certificate
Exhibit I  -  Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement



                                    SCHEDULES

Schedule 1.13  -  Multi-Level Pricing Grid/Fees
Schedule 1.55  -  Guarantors
Schedule 1.68  -  Prior Letters of Credit








                    MASTER LOAN AND INTER-CREDITOR AGREEMENT


         THIS MASTER LOAN AND INTER-CREDITOR  AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated
as of the 21st day of April,  1998,  is entered  into by and among D.R.  HORTON,
INC., a Delaware corporation;  NATIONSBANK, N.A., BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST
AND SAVINGS  ASSOCIATION,  FLEET NATIONAL BANK, BANK UNITED,  COMERICA BANK, THE
FIRST  NATIONAL  BANK OF CHICAGO,  CREDIT  LYONNAIS NEW YORK  BRANCH,  PNC BANK,
NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION,  AMSOUTH BANK, BANK ONE,  ARIZONA,  NA, SOCIETE GENERALE,
SOUTHWEST AGENCY, FIRST AMERICAN BANK TEXAS, SSB, HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK,
SANWA BANK  CALIFORNIA,  NORWEST BANK ARIZONA,  NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION and SUMMIT
BANK, as banks;  NATIONSBANK,  N.A., as issuing bank for letters of credit; BANK
UNITED,  COMERICA BANK, CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH, THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
OF CHICAGO and PNC BANK,  NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION,  as co-agents;  FLEET  NATIONAL
BANK,  as  documentation  agent;  BANK OF  AMERICA  NATIONAL  TRUST AND  SAVINGS
ASSOCIATION,  as  syndication  agent for the Banks;  and  NATIONSBANK,  N.A., as
administrative agent for the Banks and the Issuing Bank.

         IN  CONSIDERATION of the sum of TEN AND NO/100 DOLLARS ($10.00) in hand
paid by each party to the other and other good and valuable  consideration,  the
receipt  and  sufficiency  of  which  is  hereby  acknowledged  by  each  of the
undersigned, the undersigned hereby covenant and agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE 1

                                   DEFINITIONS

         For the  purposes  of this  Agreement,  the words and phrases set forth
below shall have the following meanings:

         1.1  Acquisition.  Whether by purchase,  lease,  exchange,  issuance of
stock or other equity or debt securities,  merger,  reorganization  or any other
method,   (a)  any  acquisition  by  the  Borrower  or  any  of  its  Restricted
Subsidiaries  of Inventory,  (b) any  acquisition  by the Borrower or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries  of any other Person,  which Person  shall then become a


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Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  or  any  such  Restricted  Subsidiary  or (c)  any
acquisition by the Borrower or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries of all or any
substantial part of the assets of any other Person.

         1.2 Acquisition Carve Out Notice. The written notice by the Borrower in
substantially  the  form  of  Exhibit  A  attached  hereto,   delivered  to  the
Administrative  Agent and the Banks not later than the end of the fiscal quarter
following the fiscal quarter in which an  Acquisition  is consummated  notifying
such Persons of the  election by the  Borrower to initiate a Financial  Covenant
Carve Out as a result of such Acquisition.  Contemporaneously  with the delivery
of an Acquisition  Carve Out Notice,  the Borrower shall deliver to the Managing
Agents a plan of action  reflecting that the Borrower will be in compliance with
the  covenants set forth in Sections  5.7(a),  (e) and (g) hereof on or prior to
the last day of the  applicable  Financial  Covenant  Carve Out and  failure  to
deliver  such plan of action  shall  render  such  Acquisition  Carve Out Notice
ineffective.

         1.3 Acquisition  Cost. If the subject  Developed Lot or Land Parcel was
purchased  individually,  the  Acquisition  Cost for such  Developed Lot or Land
Parcel  shall be the actual  purchase  price and closing  costs  approved by the
Administrative Agent and paid by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries for
the  acquisition  of such  individual  Developed  Lot or Land  Parcel  excluding
Administrative  Costs,  together with all applicable  Development  Costs. If the
subject  Developed  Lot or Land Parcel was part of a larger  group of  Developed
Lots or Land Parcels, the Acquisition Cost for such Developed Lot or Land Parcel
shall be the pro rata portion of the overall  actual  purchase price and closing
costs  approved by the  Administrative  Agent and paid by the  Borrower  and its
Restricted  Subsidiaries  for the  acquisition of such larger group of Developed
Lots or Land  Parcels  allocable  to the  subject  Developed  Lot or Land Parcel
excluding  Administrative  Costs,  together  with  a pro  rata  portion  of  all
applicable Development Costs.

         1.4 Acquisition  Suspension  Period.  An Acquisition  Suspension Period
shall occur upon  delivery by the Borrower to the  Administrative  Agent and the
Banks of an Acquisition Carve Out Notice and shall continue until the earlier to
occur of (a) the last day of the third fiscal quarter immediately  following the
fiscal quarter in which the Acquisition  giving rise to such  Acquisition  Carve
Out Notice was consummated, or (b) the last day of the Borrower's fiscal quarter
in which the Leverage Ratio  (determined in accordance  with Section 5.7 hereof)
exceeds 2.6 to 1.0. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the maximum Leverage Ratio as


                                      - 2 -




of the last day of each fiscal quarter during an Acquisition  Suspension  Period
shall be 2.6 to 1.0, and failure to comply with such Leverage  Ratio shall be an
Event of Default.

         1.5 Adjusted  Tangible Net Worth.  With respect to the Borrower and its
Restricted  Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as of any date, the sum of (a)
Tangible  Net  Worth  and (b) the  lesser  of (i)  fifty  percent  (50%)  of the
aggregate  principal  amount of all  subordinated  debt of the  Borrower and its
Restricted  Subsidiaries  then  outstanding  and (ii)  twenty  percent  (20%) of
Tangible Net Worth.

         1.6  Administrative  Agent.  NationsBank,  N.A.,  in  its  capacity  as
Administrative Agent hereunder.

         1.7  Administrative  Costs. Costs and expenses incurred by the Borrower
or its Restricted  Subsidiaries in connection with (a) the marketing and selling
of Inventory  which is part of the Loan  Inventory  and (b) the  administration,
management  and operation of the  Borrower's  and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries'
businesses  (excluding,  without  limitation,  Interest Expense and fees payable
hereunder).

         1.8 Advance or Advances.  Amounts advanced by the Banks to the Borrower
pursuant to Article 2 hereof on the occasion of any  borrowing or in  connection
with draws under Letters of Credit.

         1.9 Affiliate.  Any Person (other than a Person whose sole relationship
with  the  Borrower  is as an  employee)  directly  or  indirectly  controlling,
controlled by, or under common  control with the Borrower.  For purposes of this
definition,  "control"  when used with respect to any Person means the direct or
indirect  beneficial  ownership of more than twenty  percent (20%) of the voting
securities  or voting  equity or  partnership  interests,  of such Person or the
power to direct or cause the  direction of the  management  and policies of such
Person, whether by contract or otherwise.

         1.10     Agreement.  This Master Loan and Inter-Creditor Agreement.

         1.11 Agreement  Date.  The date as of which the Borrower,  the Managing
Agents, the Co-Agents, the Issuing Bank and the Banks execute this Agreement.


                                      - 3 -




         1.12  Applicable  Law.  In respect of any  Person,  all  provisions  of
constitutions,  statutes, rules, regulations,  and orders of governmental bodies
or regulatory agencies applicable to such Person, including, without limitation,
all orders and decrees of all courts and  arbitrators  in proceedings or actions
to which the Person in question is a party or by which it is bound.

         1.13 Applicable Margin. The interest rate margins set forth on Schedule
1.13  attached  hereto  applicable  to the Base Rate  determined  based upon the
Leverage  Ratio for the fiscal  quarter  end being  tested or the most  recently
completed  fiscal quarter for which financial  statements have been delivered or
the Borrower's S&P/Moody's Rating, as applicable. The Applicable Margin shall be
automatically adjusted as of the later to occur of the first day of the calendar
month in which (a) the Borrower's quarterly compliance certificate is due or (b)
the Borrower's  quarterly compliance  certificate is actually delivered.  At all
times during an Event of Default  hereunder,  the Applicable Margin shall be the
Applicable Margins set forth at Level VI of Schedule 1.13. In the event that the
Borrower  qualifies for more than one level of pricing,  the  Applicable  Margin
shall be based upon the highest  level (with Level I being the lowest level) for
which the Borrower is qualified.  The Applicable  Margin from the Agreement Date
until  the  first  adjustment  date as  provided  above  will be based  upon the
Leverage  Ratio for the most recently  completed  fiscal quarter of the Borrower
prior to the Agreement Date.

         1.14 Authorized Signatory. With respect to the Borrower, such personnel
of the  Borrower  as set  forth in an  incumbency  certificate  of the  Borrower
delivered  to the  Administrative  Agent  on the  Agreement  Date  (or any  duly
executed  incumbency   certificate  delivered  after  the  Agreement  Date)  and
certified therein as being duly authorized by the Borrower to execute documents,
agreements, and instruments on behalf of the Borrower.

         1.15  Available  Letter  of  Credit  Commitment.  As  of  any  date  of
determination,  the Letter of Credit Commitment less all then outstanding Letter
of Credit Obligations.

         1.16 Available Loan  Commitment.  As of any date of  determination,  an
amount  equal  to the  lesser  of (a) the  Loan  Commitment  or (b) (i) the Loan
Funding  Availability less (ii) the sum of (A) the principal amount of the Loans
then outstanding,  (B) all unreimbursed draws under any Letter of Credit and (C)
the then outstanding principal balances of all other Unsecured Indebtedness.


                                      - 4 -




         1.17  Banks.  NationsBank,  N.A.;  Bank of America  National  Trust and
Savings  Association;  Fleet National Bank, Bank United,  Comerica Bank,  Credit
Lyonnais New York Branch, Societe Generale, Southwest Agency, The First National
Bank of  Chicago,  PNC  Bank,  National  Association,  AmSouth  Bank,  Bank One,
Arizona,  NA, First  American  Bank Texas,  SSB,  Harris Trust and Savings Bank,
Sanwa Bank  California,  Norwest Bank Arizona,  National  Association and Summit
Bank. An individual Bank is sometimes referred to as a "Bank."

         1.18 Base Rate.  The lesser of (a)(i) the New York  Federal  Funds Rate
plus (ii) the Applicable  Margin or (b) (i) the Three-Month  LIBOR plus (ii) the
Applicable Margin.

         1.19     Borrower.  D.R. Horton, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

         1.20 Business  Day. A day on which none of the Banks are  authorized or
required to be closed and foreign  exchange markets are open for the transaction
of business required for this Agreement in Atlanta, Georgia.

         1.21 Change of Control.  Either (i) any sale,  lease or other  transfer
(in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially  all of
the consolidated  assets of the Borrower and its Restricted  Subsidiaries to any
Person  (other than a Restricted  Subsidiary of the  Borrower),  provided that a
transaction  where the holders of all classes of Common  Equity of the  Borrower
immediately prior to such transaction own,  directly or indirectly,  50% or more
of  all  classes  of  Common  Equity  of  such  Person  immediately  after  such
transaction shall not be a Change of Control;  (ii) a "person" or "group" within
the meaning of Section  13(d) of the  Exchange  Act (other than the  Borrower or
Donald R. Horton, his wife, children or grandchildren,  or Terrill J. Horton, or
any trust or other entity formed or  controlled  by Donald R. Horton,  his wife,
children or grandchildren, or Terrill J. Horton)) becomes the "beneficial owner"
(as  defined  in Rule  13d-8  under the  Exchange  Act) of Common  Equity of the
Borrower  representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Common Equity of
the Borrower; (iii) Continuing Directors cease to constitute at least a majority
of the Board of  Directors  of the  Borrower;  or (iv) the  stockholders  of the
Borrower  approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the
Borrower,  provided that a liquidation  or  dissolution of the Borrower which is
part of a  transaction  that does not  constitute a Change of Control  under the
proviso contained in clause (i) above shall not constitute a Change of Control.


                                      - 5 -




         1.22 Change of Management. Donald R. Horton shall cease to serve either
as (a) Chairman of the Board of  Directors  of the Borrower or (b)  President or
other chief executive officer of the Borrower.

         1.23 Closed Sales. For any calculation period,  sales of Developed Lots
containing  Dwellings  which have been closed by the Borrower and all Restricted
Subsidiaries.  Closed Sales shall include  Developed Lots  containing  Dwellings
owned by any Person which is or becomes a Restricted  Subsidiary before or after
the Agreement Date for which sales have closed during the applicable calculation
period.  Closed Sales shall include closings attributable to acquisitions by the
Borrower and/or by its Restricted  Subsidiaries or when substantially all assets
owned by any Person were acquired by the Borrower and/or Restricted Subsidiaries
before or after the Agreement Date.

         1.24 Co-Agents. AmSouth Bank, Bank One, Arizona, NA, PNC Bank, National
Association  and The First  National  Bank of Chicago,  in their  capacities  as
Co-Agents hereunder.

         1.25     Code.  The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         1.26  Commitments.  The aggregate amount of the Loan Commitment and the
Letter of Credit Commitment.

         1.27  Commitment  Ratios.  The  percentages  in  which  the  Banks  are
severally  bound to  satisfy  any of the Loan  Commitment,  the Letter of Credit
Commitment  or the  Commitments  as set forth on Exhibit B  attached  hereto and
incorporated herein.

         1.28 Common Equity.  With respect to any Person,  capital stock of such
Person that is  generally  entitled to (i) vote in the  election of directors of
such  Person,  or (ii) if such Person is not a  corporation,  vote or  otherwise
participate in the selection of the governing body, partners, managers or others
that will control the management or policies of such Person.

         1.29 Construction Costs. All costs accepted by the Administrative Agent
actually incurred by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to
the  construction  of a  Dwelling  as  of  the  date  of  determination  by  the


                                      - 6 -




Administrative  Agent,  excluding (a) projected costs and costs for materials or
labor not yet delivered to, provided to or  incorporated  into such Dwelling and
(b) Administrative Costs.

         1.30  Continental  Homes  Merger.  The  merger  of  the  Borrower  with
Continental Homes Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation.

         1.31  Continental  Homes Merger Date. The date on which the Continental
Homes Merger is consummated.

         1.32  Continuing  Director.  A director  who either was a member of the
board  of  directors  of the  Borrower  on the  Agreement  Date or who  became a
director  of the  Borrower  subsequent  to such  date  and  whose  election,  or
nomination for election by the Borrower's  stockholders,  was duly approved by a
majority of the  Continuing  Directors on the board of directors of the Borrower
at the time of such  approval,  either by a specific  vote or by approval of the
proxy  statement  issued  by the  Borrower  on  behalf  of the  entire  board of
directors  of the  Borrower in which such  individual  is named as nominee for a
director.

         1.33  Default.  Any of the  events  specified  in Section  6.1  hereof,
provided that any  requirement  for notice or lapse of time,  or both,  has been
satisfied.

         1.34 Default Rate. A simple per annum interest rate equal to the sum of
the Base Rate, plus two hundred basis points (2.00%).

         1.35  Developed  Lots.  Subdivision  lots owned by the  Borrower or its
Restricted  Subsidiaries,  subject to a recorded  plat,  which the  Borrower has
designated  and the  Administrative  Agent has  accepted to be included  and are
included as "Developed Lots" in the calculation of the Loan Funding Availability
(exclusive  of any  Dwelling  Lot).  An  individual  Developed  Lot is sometimes
referred to herein as a "Developed Lot."

         1.36 Development Costs. All costs accepted by the Administrative  Agent
and  actually  incurred by the  Borrower and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  with
respect to the  development  of a Land Parcel into a Developed  Lot or Developed
Lots as of the date of determination by the Administrative Agent,  excluding (a)
projected  costs and costs for materials or labor not yet delivered to, provided
to or incorporated into such parcel of land and (b) Administrative Costs.


                                      - 7 -




         1.37  Documentation  Agent.  Fleet  National  Bank,  in its capacity as
Documentation Agent hereunder.

         1.38 Dwelling. A house which the Borrower or any Restricted  Subsidiary
has  constructed or is constructing on a Developed Lot which has been designated
as a Dwelling Lot.

         1.39 Dwelling Lots. Developed Lots with Dwellings which the Borrower or
any  Restricted  Subsidiary  has  designated  and the  Administrative  Agent has
accepted to be included and are included as "Dwelling  Lots" in the  calculation
of the Loan Funding Availability.  The term "Dwelling Lot" includes the Dwelling
located thereon. An individual Dwelling Lot is sometimes referred to herein as a
"Dwelling Lot."

         1.40  EBITDA.   With  respect  to  the  Borrower  and  all   Restricted
Subsidiaries,  earnings for the preceding twelve (12) calendar months (including
without limitation dividends from Unrestricted  Subsidiaries including,  without
limitation,  net income (or loss) of any Person that  accrued  prior to the date
that such Person  becomes a Restricted  Subsidiary  or is merged with or into or
consolidated  with the Borrower or any of its  Restricted  Subsidiaries)  before
interest incurred, state and federal income taxes paid, franchise taxes paid and
depreciation and amortization,  all in accordance with GAAP plus, for the twelve
(12)  calendar  month period  following  the  Continental  Homes Merger Date, an
amount  not to exceed  $15,000,000  (to  adjust  for costs  associated  with the
Continental Homes Merger) plus non-cash write downs of any assets.

         1.41 ERISA. The Employee  Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as in
effect on the Agreement Date and as such Act may be amended thereafter from time
to time.

         1.42 ERISA Affiliate. (a) Any corporation which is a member of the same
controlled group of corporations  (within the meaning of Code Section 414(b)) as
is the Borrower,  (b) any other trade or business  (whether or not incorporated)
under  common  control  (within the  meaning of Code  Section  414(c))  with the
Borrower, (c) any other corporation,  partnership or other organization which is
a member of an  affiliated  service  group  (within the meaning of Code  Section
414(m)) with the  Borrower,  or (d) any other entity  required to be  aggregated
with the Borrower pursuant to regulations under Code Section 414(o).


                                      - 8 -




         1.43 Event of Default.  Any event  specified  in Section 6.1 hereof and
any other  event  which  with any  passage of time or giving of notice (or both)
would constitute such event a Default.

         1.44    Exchange Act.  The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         1.45 Facility Fee. Those certain fees paid by the Borrower to the Banks
pursuant to Section 2.5(b) hereof.

         1.46 Federal Funds  Effective  Rate. As of any date, the "Federal Funds
Effective  Rate" for each  relevant  month as published  in the Federal  Reserve
Statistical  Release  H.15 (519),  as published by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, or any successor  publication  published by the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

         1.47  Financial  Covenant  Carve Out. The  Borrower's  compliance  with
either Sections  5.7(a),  (e) and (g) hereof during any  Acquisition  Suspension
Period or with Section 5.7(a) hereof during any  Operational  Suspension  Period
shall be  suspended;  provided,  however,  that there  shall be no more than one
Financial  Covenant Carve Out in any period of twelve (12) consecutive  calendar
months  beginning  with the month in which the Financial  Covenant Carve Out was
elected, and provided,  further,  however,  that no Financial Covenant Carve Out
shall commence  unless the Borrower was in compliance with all covenants for not
less than one full  fiscal  quarter  immediately  preceding  any such  Financial
Covenant Carve Out Notice.

         1.48 Fixed Charges. The aggregate consolidated interest incurred of the
Borrower and its Restricted  Subsidiaries  for the most recently  completed four
(4) fiscal quarters for which results have been reported to the Banks.

         1.49 Force Majeure  Delay.  A delay to the  development  of a Lot Under
Development  or a delay to the  construction  of a  Dwelling  which is caused by
fire,  earthquake or other Acts of God, strike,  lockout,  acts of public enemy,
riot, insurrection,  or governmental regulation of the sale or transportation of
materials,   supplies  or  labor,  provided  that  the  Borrower  furnishes  the
Administrative  Agent with written notice of any such delay within ten (10) days
from the  commencement  of any such  delay and  provided  that the period of the
Force Majeure Delay shall not exceed the period of delay caused by such event.


                                      - 9 -




         1.50 Funded Notes  Payable.  As of any date,  the  aggregate  principal
amounts then  outstanding of all Indebtedness for Money Borrowed of the Borrower
and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries,  or any of them,  in  favor of any  financial
services  providers  or  any  seller  of  real  property,   including,   without
limitation, all pari passu public debt, subordinated debt or convertible debt of
the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, or any of them.

         1.51  Funding  Period.  A  period  commencing  on the  day  immediately
following the date that the Loan Funding Availability is established pursuant to
Section  3.1(c) hereof by the  Administrative  Agent and ending on the date that
the Loan Funding  Availability  next is  established  pursuant to Section 3.1(c)
hereof by the Administrative Agent.

         1.52 GAAP. As in effect as of the Agreement  Date,  generally  accepted
accounting principles consistently applied.

         1.53  Governmental  Authority.  Any nation or government,  any state or
other  political  subdivision  thereof  and  any  entity  exercising  executive,
legislative,  judicial,  regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining
to government.

         1.54  Guaranty  or  Guaranteed.  As  applied to an  obligation  (each a
"primary  obligation"),  shall  mean and  include  (a) any  guaranty,  direct or
indirect, in any manner, of any part or all of such primary obligation,  and (b)
any agreement, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, the practical effect
of which is to assure in any way the  payment  or  performance  (or  payment  of
damages  in the  event of  non-performance)  of any part or all of such  primary
obligation,   including,  without  limiting  the  foregoing,  any  reimbursement
obligations as to amounts drawn down by beneficiaries of outstanding  letters of
credit,  and any obligation of such Person (the "primary  obligor"),  whether or
not contingent,  (i) to purchase any such primary  obligation or any property or
asset  constituting  direct or indirect  security  therefor,  (ii) to advance or
supply funds (1) for the purchase or payment of such primary  obligation  or (2)
to  maintain  working  capital,  equity  capital  or the net  worth,  cash flow,
solvency  or other  balance  sheet or income  statement  condition  of any other
Person, (iii) to purchase property, assets, securities or services primarily for
the purpose of assuring  the owner or holder of any  primary  obligation  of the
ability of the primary  obligor with respect to such primary  obligation to make
payment thereof or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner or holder
of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.



                                     - 10 -




         1.55  Guarantors.  Those  Persons set forth on Schedule  1.55  attached
hereto,  together with each additional  Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower as may
from time to time  deliver a Guaranty of the Loans and  Letters of Credit  which
Guaranty is accepted by the Administrative Agent.

         1.56 Indebtedness. With respect to any specified Person, (a) all items,
except items of (i)  shareholders'  and partners'  equity,  (ii) capital  stock,
(iii)  surplus,   (iv)  general  contingency  or  deferred  tax  reserves,   (v)
liabilities for deposits and (vi) deferred income, which in accordance with GAAP
would be included in  determining  total  liabilities  as shown on the liability
side of a balance sheet of such Person,  (b) all direct or indirect  obligations
secured  by any Lien to which  any  property  or asset  owned by such  Person is
subject,  whether or not the obligation secured thereby shall have been assumed,
and (c) all  reimbursement  obligations  with respect to outstanding  letters of
credit.

         1.57  Indebtedness  for Money  Borrowed.  With respect to any specified
Person, all money borrowed by such Person and Indebtedness  represented by notes
payable by such Person and drafts accepted representing  extensions of credit to
such Person,  all  obligations  of such Person  evidenced by bonds,  debentures,
notes, or other similar instruments,  all Indebtedness of such Person upon which
interest  charges are  customarily  paid,  and all  Indebtedness  of such Person
issued or assumed as full or  partial  payment  for real  property  or  services
(excluding  trade  payables  and  accruals  incurred in the  ordinary  course of
business),  whether or not any such notes, drafts,  obligations, or Indebtedness
represent  Indebtedness  for money  borrowed.  For purposes of this  definition,
interest  which is accrued but not paid on the  original  due date or within any
applicable cure or grace period as provided by the underlying  contract for such
interest shall be deemed Indebtedness for Money Borrowed.

         1.58 Interest Expense. In respect of any period, an amount equal to the
sum of the interest  incurred during such period based on a stated interest rate
with  respect  to  Indebtedness  for  Money  Borrowed  of the  Borrower  and its
Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

         1.59  Inventory.  All  real and  personal  property,  improvements  and
fixtures owned by the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries, including but not
limited  to all Land  Parcels,  Lots  Under  Development,  Development  Lots and
Dwelling Lots.



                                     - 11 -




         1.60 Inventory Summary Report.  The monthly written summary of the Loan
Inventory,  in  substantially  the form of  Exhibit  C  attached  hereto,  to be
prepared by the Borrower and submitted to the Administrative Agent in accordance
with Section 3.1(c) hereof.

         1.61 Issuing Bank.  NationsBank,  N.A. (or any  successor  Issuing Bank
appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement), as issuer of the
Letters of Credit.

         1.62 Land Parcels.  Parcels of land owned by the Borrower or any of its
Restricted  Subsidiaries  which  are,  as of  the  date  of  determination,  not
scheduled for  commencement of development into Developed Lots during the twelve
(12) calendar months immediately  following such date of determination and which
the Borrower has  designated as "Land  Parcels".  An  individual  Land Parcel is
sometimes referred to as a "Land Parcel."

         1.63  Letter  of  Credit  Banks.  NationsBank,  N.A.,  Bank of  America
National Trust and Savings Association and Fleet National Bank.

         1.64 Letter of Credit Commitment. The obligation of the Issuing Bank to
issue Letters of Credit  hereunder  pursuant to the terms hereof in an aggregate
face amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding.

         1.65 Letter of Credit Bank Commitment  Ratio.  The percentages in which
the Letter of Credit Banks are severally bound to reimburse the Issuing Bank for
draws  under  Letters of Credit  pursuant to the terms  hereof,  as set forth on
Exhibit B attached hereto and incorporated herein.

         1.66  Letter of  Credit  Obligations.  At any  time,  the sum of (a) an
amount equal to the aggregate undrawn and unexpired amount (including the amount
to which any such  Letter  of Credit  can be  reinstated  pursuant  to the terms
hereof) of the then outstanding Letters of Credit and (b) an amount equal to the
aggregate drawn, but unreimbursed, drawings on any Letters of Credit.

         1.67 Letter of Credit  Reserve  Account.  An interest  bearing  account
maintained by the Administrative  Agent for the benefit of the Issuing Bank, the
proceeds of which are  maintained  as cash  collateral  for the Letter of Credit



                                     - 12 -




Obligations.  The amount of funds in the Letter of Credit Reserve  Account shall
not exceed the then  outstanding  Letter of Credit  Obligations,  and any excess
shall be applied as set forth in Section 2.9 hereof.  All funds in the Letter of
Credit   Reserve   Account  shall  be  invested  in  such   investments  as  the
Administrative  Agent, in its sole and absolute  discretion,  deems appropriate.
The Borrower  hereby  acknowledges  and agrees that any interest  earned on such
funds shall be retained by the Administrative Agent as additional collateral for
the Letter of Credit  Obligations.  Upon  satisfaction  in full of all Letter of
Credit Obligations,  the Administrative Agent shall pay any amounts then held in
such account to the Borrower.

         1.68 Letters of Credit. Letters of credit issued for the account of the
Borrower  to  support  obligations  of the  Borrower  or any of its  Affiliates,
including  but not limited to earnest  money  payments  under option  contracts,
project   completion   performance  or  project   maintenance  (but  not  credit
enhancement),  including,  without limitation, those Letters of Credit issued by
the  Issuing  Bank  prior to the  Agreement  Date and more  fully  described  on
Schedule  1.68  attached  hereto.  An  individual  Letter of Credit is sometimes
referred to as a "Letter of Credit."

         1.69 Leverage  Ratio.  As of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the
Borrower,  the ratio of (a) the Net Funded Notes Payable of the Borrower and its
Restricted  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis on such date to (b) Adjusted
Tangible  Net  Worth  of the  Borrower  and  its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  on a
consolidated basis for the fiscal quarter end being tested.

         1.70 Lien. With respect to any property,  any mortgage,  lien,  pledge,
assignment,   charge,  security  interest,  title  retention  agreement,   levy,
execution, seizure, attachment, garnishment, or other encumbrance of any kind in
the nature of any of the foregoing in respect of such  property,  whether or not
choate, vested, or perfected.

         1.71 Loan Commitment.  The several  obligations of the Banks to advance
funds in the aggregate sum of up to $775,000,000 to the Borrower pursuant to the
terms hereof as such  obligations  may be reduced from time to time  pursuant to
the terms hereof.

         1.72 Loan Documents.  This  Agreement,  the Notes and any and all other
documents  evidencing  the  Notes  or the  Letters  of  Credit  or  executed  in
connection therewith as the same may be amended, substituted, replaced, extended
or renewed from time to time.


                                     - 13 -




         1.73 Loan Funding  Availability.  The amount of Unsecured  Indebtedness
and  unreimbursed  draws under Letters of Credit which the Borrower may incur as
established  pursuant to Section  3.1 hereof,  at any  applicable  time,  by the
Administrative Agent based on the Loan Inventory.

         1.74  Loan  Inventory.  Lots  Under  Development,  Developed  Lots  and
Dwelling  Lots  which  are not  encumbered  by a Lien or Liens  (other  than any
Permitted  Encumbrance)  and which  have been  designated  by the  Borrower  and
accepted by the Administrative  Agent as "Loan Inventory" to be utilized for the
purpose of calculating the Loan Funding Availability.

         1.75 Loans. Collectively, amounts advanced by the Banks to the Borrower
under the Loan Commitment  pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and evidenced
by the Notes.

         1.76 Lots Under Development.  Land Parcels which are, as of the date of
determination,  being  developed  into Developed Lots or which are scheduled for
the  commencement of development into Developed Lots within twelve (12) calendar
months after the date of  determination,  and which the Borrower has  designated
and the  Administrative  Agent has  accepted to be included  and are included as
"Lots Under Development" in the calculation of the Loan Funding Availability. An
individual  Lot Under  Development  is  sometimes  referred  to as a "Lot  Under
Development."

         1.77 Majority Banks. At any time,  Banks the total of whose  Commitment
Ratios  with  respect to the  Commitments  exceeds  fifty  percent  (50%) of the
aggregate Commitment Ratios with respect to the Commitments of Banks entitled to
vote hereunder.

         1.78 Managing Agents.  Bank United,  Comerica Bank, Credit Lyonnais New
York  Branch and  Societe  General,  Soutwest  Agency,  in their  capacities  as
Managing Agents.

         1.79 Maturity Date.  April 21, 2002, or such earlier date as payment of
the  Loans  and the  Letter  of  Credit  Obligations  shall be due  (whether  by
acceleration or otherwise) as the same may be extended under Section 8.5 hereof.

         1.80  Models.  A  Dwelling  Lot  containing  a  dwelling  unit which is
designated  by the Borrower as a model unit for use in marketing  and  promoting
the sale of Dwelling Lots.

                                     - 14 -




         1.81  Moody's  Rating.  At any time,  with  respect to any Person,  the
rating in effect at such time assigned by Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc. for
the long term senior unsecured debt of such Person.

         1.82 Net Funded Notes Payable.  As of any date, Funded Notes Payable on
such date minus the  Borrower's and the  Restricted  Subsidiaries'  unrestricted
cash and cash equivalents on such date in excess of $15,000,000.

         1.83 Net Total  Liabilities.  At any  time,  Total  Liabilities  of the
Borrower and its Restricted  Subsidiaries  less cash and cash equivalents of the
Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

         1.84 New York  Federal  Funds  Rate.  For any day,  the rate per  annum
(rounded  upward,  if  necessary,  to the  nearest  1/16th  of 1%)  equal to the
weighted  average of the rates on  overnight  Federal  funds  transactions  with
members of the Federal  Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such
day, as  published  by the Federal  Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day
next succeeding such day.

         1.85 Notes.  The promissory  notes by the Borrower one each in favor of
each of the Banks evidencing such Bank's pro rata share of the Loans, as well as
any  promissory   note  or  notes  issued  by  the  Borrower  in   substitution,
replacement,  extension,  amendment  or renewal of any such  promissory  note or
notes. An individual  Note held by a Bank is sometimes  referred to as a "Note."
The combined face amount of the Notes may not exceed SEVEN HUNDRED  SEVENTY-FIVE
MILLION AND NO/100 DOLLARS ($775,000,000.00).

         1.86  Obligations.  (a) All payment and performance  obligations of the
Borrower  and  all  other  obligors  to the  Banks,  the  Issuing  Bank  and the
Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents,  as they
may be amended  from time to time,  or as a result of making the Loans,  and (b)
the obligation to pay an amount equal to the amount of any and all damages which
the Borrower is obligated to pay pursuant to the Loan Documents to, or on behalf
of, the Banks, the Issuing Bank, the Co-Agents and the Managing  Agents,  or any
of them,  which they may suffer by reason of a breach by any of the  Borrower or
any other obligor of any obligation,  covenant,  or undertaking  with respect to
this Agreement or any other Loan Document.


                                     - 15 -




         1.87 Operational  Carve Out Notice.  The written notice by the Borrower
in  substantially  the  form of  Exhibit  D  attached  hereto  delivered  to the
Administrative  Agent and the Banks  within  sixty (60) days from the end of the
fiscal  quarter for which this  election is made  notifying  such Persons of the
election by the Borrower to initiate a Financial  Covenant Carve Out as a result
of normal  operational  performance.  Contemporaneously  with the delivery of an
Operational Carve Out Notice,  the Borrower shall provide to the Managing Agents
a plan of action reflecting that the Borrower will be in compliance with Section
5.7(a) hereof on or prior to the last day of the applicable  Financial  Covenant
Carve Out,  and the  failure to deliver  such plan of action  shall  render such
Operational Carve Out Notice ineffective.

         1.88 Operational  Suspension  Period. An Operational  Suspension Period
shall occur upon  delivery by the Borrower to the  Administrative  Agent and the
Banks of an Operational Carve Out Notice and shall continue until the earlier to
occur of (a) the last day of the second fiscal quarter immediately following the
fiscal quarter for which such Operational Carve Out Notice was delivered, or (b)
the last day of the Borrower's  fiscal quarter on which the Leverage Ratio is to
be  determined  in  accordance  with  Section  5.7  hereof,  if on such date the
Leverage Ratio (determined in accordance with Section 5.7 hereof) exceeds 2.5 to
1.0.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the maximum Leverage Ratio for the Borrower
during an Operational  Suspension Period shall be 2.5. to 1.0 at the end of each
fiscal  quarter of the Borrower,  and failure to comply with such Leverage Ratio
shall be an Event of Default.

         1.89 Overnight  Federal Funds Rate. The rate on overnight Federal funds
transactions  with  members of the Federal  Reserve  System  arranged by Federal
funds  brokers,  as  published  for such day by the Federal  Reserve Bank of New
York.

         1.90 Permitted Encumbrances.  Liens, encumbrances,  easements and other
matters which (a) are in favor of the Managing Agents, the Co-Agents,  the Banks
and the Issuing Bank to secure the Obligations,  (b) are on real estate for real
estate  taxes not yet  delinquent,  (c) are for taxes,  assessments,  judgments,
governmental  charges  or  levies or claims  the  non-payment  of which is being
diligently  contested  in good faith by  appropriate  proceedings  and for which
adequate  reserves have been set aside on the Borrower's books (but only so long
as no  foreclosure,  distraint sale or similar  proceedings  have been commenced
with respect thereto and remain unstayed for a period of thirty (30)  days after


                                     - 16 -




their  commencement),  (d) are in favor of  carriers,  warehousemen,  mechanics,
laborers and  materialmen  incurred in the ordinary  course of business for sums
not yet  past due or being  diligently  contested  in good  faith  (if  adequate
reserves are being  maintained  by the Borrower with respect  thereto),  (e) are
incurred  in the  ordinary  course  of  business  in  connection  with  worker's
compensation and unemployment  insurance,  or (f) are easements,  rights-of-way,
restrictions or similar  encumbrances on the use of real property which does not
interfere  with the ordinary  conduct of business of the Borrower or  materially
detract from the value of such real property.

         1.91 Person. An individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, trust, or unincorporated organization, or a government or any agency or
political subdivision thereof.

         1.92 Plan. An employee  benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3)
of ERISA maintained by or contributed to by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

         1.93  Reconciliation  Date.  Two (2) Business Days after the Borrower's
receipt of notice  from the  Administrative  Agent  pursuant  to Section  3.1(d)
hereof that the outstanding principal balance of the Unsecured Indebtedness plus
unpaid draws under Letters of Credit exceeds the Loan Funding Availability.

         1.94  Reportable  Event.  Shall have the  meaning  set forth in Section
4043(b) of ERISA.

         1.95  Request for  Advance.  Any  certificate  signed by an  Authorized
Signatory of the Borrower  requesting an Advance  hereunder  which will increase
the  aggregate  amount  of the Loans  outstanding,  which  certificate  shall be
denominated a "Request for Advance," and shall be in  substantially  the form of
Exhibit E attached hereto.  Each Request for Advance shall,  among other things,
(a) specify the date of the Advance,  which shall be a Business Day, (b) specify
the amount of the Advance,  (c) state that there shall not exist, on the date of
the requested Advance and after giving effect thereto,  a Default or an Event of
Default,  and (d)  state  that all  conditions  precedent  to the  making of the
Advance have been satisfied.

         1.96 Request for Issuance of Letter of Credit.  Any certificate  signed
by an  Authorized  Signatory  of the Borrower  requesting  that the Issuing Bank

                                     - 17 -




issue a Letter of Credit hereunder,  which certificate shall be in substantially
the form of Exhibit F  attached  hereto,  and shall,  among  other  things,  (a)
specify the stated  amount of the Letter of Credit,  (b)  specify the  effective
date for the issuance of the Letter of Credit  (which shall be a Business  Day),
(c) specify the date on which the Letter of Credit is to expire  (which shall be
a Business  Day), (d) specify the Person for whose benefit such Letter of Credit
is to be issued,  (e) specify other relevant terms of such Letter of Credit, (f)
be accompanied by a completed letter of credit application substantially similar
to Exhibit G attached hereto or otherwise in form and substance  satisfactory to
the  Issuing  Bank,  and (g) state  that there  shall not exist,  on the date of
issuance of the requested  Letter of Credit and after giving effect  thereto,  a
Default or an Event of Default.

         1.97  Restricted  Subsidiary.  Any Subsidiary of the Borrower which has
been  designated  as a Restricted  Subsidiary by the Borrower and from which the
Administrative Agent is required to receive a duly executed Subsidiary Guaranty,
including, without limitation, the Guarantors.

         1.98 S&P Rating. At any time, with respect to any Person, the rating in
effect at such time assigned by Standard and Poor's Ratings Group, a division of
McGraw Hill, Inc., for the long term senior unsecured debt of such Person.

         1.99 S&P/Moody's  Rating. At any time, with respect to any Person,  the
ratings in effect at such time assigned by Standard and Poor's  Ratings Group, a
division of McGraw Hill, and Moody's Investors  Service,  Inc. for the long term
senior unsecured debt of such Person.

         1.100  Speculative  Lot. Any Dwelling  Lots having a fully or partially
constructed  dwelling unit thereon  which  Dwelling Lot is not subject to a bona
fide  contract for the sale of such  Dwelling  Lot to a third  party,  excluding
Developed Lots containing Dwellings used as Models.

         1.101  Subsidiary.  As applied to any Person,  (a) any  corporation  of
which  fifty  percent  (50%)  or  more  of the  outstanding  stock  (other  than
directors'  qualifying  shares) having ordinary voting power to elect a majority
of its board of directors, regardless of the existence at the time of a right of
the  holders  of any class or  classes  of  securities  of such  corporation  to
exercise such  voting power  by reason  of the happening  of any contingency, or


                                     - 18 -




any  partnership  of  which  fifty  percent  (50%)  or more  of the  outstanding
partnership  interests,  is at the time owned by such Person,  or by one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person,  or by such Person and one or more  Subsidiaries of
such Person,  and (b) any other entity which is  controlled  or  susceptible  to
being controlled by such Person,  or by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person,
or by such  Person  and one or more  Subsidiaries  of such  Person.  Unless  the
context  otherwise  requires,  "Subsidiaries"  as used  herein  shall  mean  the
Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

         1.102 Subsidiary  Guaranty.  A guaranty agreement in form and substance
satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent  whereunder a Restricted  Subsidiary
guarantees  the  full  and  faithful  payment  and  performance  of  all  of the
Obligations of the Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.

         1.103  Super-Majority  Banks.  At any  time,  Banks  the total of whose
Commitment  Ratios with respect to the  Commitments  exceeds  sixty-six  and two
thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the aggregate  Commitment Ratios with respect to the
Commitments of Banks entitled to vote hereunder.

         1.104    Syndication Agent.  Bank of America National Trust and Savings
Association, in its capacity as Syndication Agent hereunder.

         1.105  Tangible  Assets.  The  difference  between  total assets of the
Borrower  and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  and all  intangible  assets  of the
Borrower and its Restricted  Subsidiaries,  all as determined in accordance with
GAAP.

         1.106  Tangible  Net  Worth.  With  respect  to the  Borrower  and  its
Restricted  Subsidiaries,  the net  worth  of the  Borrower  and its  Restricted
Subsidiaries,  as defined under GAAP,  less all  "intangible  assets" created by
Acquisitions and operations subsequent to March 1, 1998. Any non-cash writedowns
of assets  after  March 1, 1998 will flow  through the income  statement  of the
Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries such that its effect on net income will
be included  when  determining  the amount of net income when used to  determine
Tangible Net Worth.

         1.107 Third Party Notes  Payable.  With respect to the Borrower and its
Restricted Subsidiaries,  all Indebtedness for Money Borrowed other than (a) the


                                     - 19 -




Obligations  and publicly issued  Indebtedness  for Money Borrowed which is pari
passu with the Obligations, (b) non-recourse Indebtedness, (c) Indebtedness owed
to the  seller of any  Inventory  acquired  by the  Borrower  or its  Restricted
Subsidiaries,   (d)  Indebtedness  which  is  structurally  subordinate  to  the
Obligations or which is  convertible  into equity at the option of the Borrower,
(e) Indebtedness for earnest money and (f) notes payable for insurance  premiums
and capitalized lease obligations.

         1.108  Three-Month  LIBOR. As of any date of  determination,  a rate of
interest  per annum equal to the three (3) month London  Interbank  Offered Rate
for deposits in United States dollars (rounded to two decimal places) in amounts
comparable to the outstanding  principal  amount of the Loans then  outstanding,
which interest rate is set forth in the Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition) on
the next Business  Day;  provided,  however,  if more than one such offered rate
appears in the Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition),  the applicable rate shall
be the highest thereof.

         1.109 Total Liabilities.  All items required by GAAP to be set forth as
"liabilities"  on the Borrower's and its Restricted  Subsidiaries'  consolidated
balance sheet.

         1.110 Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Subsidiaries of the Borrower which are
not Restricted Subsidiaries.

         1.111 Unsecured  Indebtedness.  Indebtedness  for Money Borrowed of the
Borrower  and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  which is not secured in whole or in
part by any Lien except  Permitted  Encumbrances  (excluding  capitalized  lease
obligations, notes payable for insurance premiums, non-recourse promissory notes
for  seller   financing  and  promissory  notes  issued  as  earnest  money  for
contracts).

         Each  definition  of an agreement in this Article 1 shall  include such
agreement as modified, amended, or supplemented from time to time with the prior
written consent of the Majority Banks, except as provided in Section 8.3 hereof,
and except  where the context  otherwise  requires,  definitions  imparting  the
singular  shall  include  the  plural and vice  versa.  Except  where  otherwise
specifically  restricted,  reference to a party to a Loan Document includes that
party and its successors and assigns. All terms used herein which are defined in
Article 9 of the  Uniform  Commercial  Code in effect in the State of Georgia on

                                     - 20 -




the date hereof and which are not otherwise  defined  herein shall have the same
meanings herein as set forth therein.

         All accounting  terms used herein without  definition  shall be used as
defined under GAAP as of the Agreement Date.


                                    ARTICLE 2

                           LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

         2.1 Extension of Credit . Subject to the terms and  conditions  of, and
in reliance upon the  representations  and warranties made in this Agreement and
the other Loan  Documents,  the Banks agree,  severally in accordance with their
respective  Commitment Ratios, and not jointly, to extend credit to the Borrower
in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $775,000,000 and the Issuing Bank
agrees to issue Letters of Credit on behalf of the Borrower in an aggregate face
amount not to exceed $50,000,000, all as provided below:

                  (a) The  Loans.  Subject to the terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement and provided  that there is no Default or Event of Default,  the Banks
agree,  severally in accordance with their Commitment Ratios with respect to the
Loan Commitment,  and not jointly,  upon the terms and subject to the conditions
of this  Agreement,  to lend and re-lend to the Borrower,  prior to the Maturity
Date,  amounts which in the aggregate at any one time  outstanding do not exceed
the Available Loan Commitment.  Advances under the Loan Commitment may be repaid
and reborrowed from time to time on a revolving basis as set forth herein.

                  (b) The Letters of Credit. Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement and provided that there is no Default or Event of Default, the
Issuing  Bank agrees to issue  Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower
pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof in an  aggregate  amount for the  Borrower at any
one time not to exceed the Available Letter of Credit Commitment.

                  (c) Use of Loan Proceeds.  The Administrative Agent, the Banks
and the Borrower  agree that the proceeds of the Loans shall be used for general


                                     - 21 -




corporate purposes, including, without limitation, working capital support, home
construction,   lot  acquisition,  lot  development,  land  acquisition,   asset
acquisitions and stock acquisitions.

         2.2      Manner of Borrowing and Disbursement Under Loans .

                  (a) Advances. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent
irrevocable  written  notice for  Advances  under the Loans not later than 12:00
noon (Eastern time) on the day  immediately  preceding the date of the requested
Advance in the form of a Request for Advance, or notice by telephone or telecopy
followed  immediately  by a Request for  Advance;  provided,  however,  that the
failure by the Borrower to confirm any notice by  telephone  or telecopy  with a
Request for  Advance  shall not  invalidate  any notice so given.  Each  Advance
hereunder  shall be in  principal  amounts  of not  less  than  $100,000  and in
integral  multiples of $100,000.  Subsequent to the initial Advance of the Loans
made on the Agreement Date, the Borrower may not request, in the aggregate, more
than (i) two (2)  Advances in any calendar  month plus (ii) four (4)  additional
Advances in any twelve (12) calendar  month period.  In any event,  the Borrower
may not request,  in the aggregate,  more than twenty-eight (28) Advances in any
twelve (12) calendar month period.

                  (b)  Notification  of Banks.  Upon  receipt  of a Request  for
Advance or notice by  telephone  or  telecopy,  the  Administrative  Agent shall
promptly notify each Bank by telephone or telecopy of the requested Advance, the
date on which the  Advance  is to be made,  the  amount of the  Advance  and the
amount of such Bank's portion of the  applicable  Advance based upon such Bank's
Commitment  Ratio in respect to such Loan. Each Bank shall, not later than 12:00
noon (Eastern time) on the date specified in such notice,  make available to the
Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent's office, or at such account as
the  Administrative  Agent  shall  designate,  the amount of its  portion of the
applicable Advance in immediately available funds.

                  (c)  Disbursement.  Prior to 2:00 p.m.  (Eastern  time) on the
date of an Advance  hereunder,  the Administrative  Agent shall,  subject to the
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in this Agreement, disburse the amounts
made available to the Administrative Agent by the Banks in immediately available
funds  by (i)  transferring  the  amounts  so made  available  by wire  transfer
pursuant to the  instructions  of the  Borrower,  or (ii) in the absence of such
instructions,  crediting  the  amounts so made  available  to the account of the
Borrower  maintained  with  the  Administrative  Agent  or an  affiliate  of the


                                     - 22 -




Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice
from a Bank  prior to the  date of any  Advance  that  such  Bank  will not make
available  to the  Administrative  Agent  such  Bank's  ratable  portion of such
Advance,  and so long as notice has been  given as  provided  in Section  2.2(b)
hereof, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Bank has made such portion
available  to the  Administrative  Agent  on the  date of such  Advance  and the
Administrative  Agent may,  in its sole  discretion  and in  reliance  upon such
assumption,  without any  obligation  hereunder to do so, make  available to the
Borrower  on such date a  corresponding  amount.  If and to the extent such Bank
shall not have so made such  ratable  portion  available  to the  Administrative
Agent, such Bank agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand
such corresponding  amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the
date such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is
repaid to the  Administrative  Agent for the first two (2) days that such amount
is not repaid,  at the Overnight  Federal Funds Rate,  and,  thereafter,  at the
Overnight  Federal  Funds Rate plus four  percent  (4%) per annum.  If such Bank
shall repay to the Administrative  Agent such corresponding  amount, such amount
so repaid shall  constitute  such Bank's portion of the  applicable  Advance for
purposes  of this  Agreement.  If such Bank does not  repay  such  corresponding
amount  immediately  upon  the  Administrative   Agent's  demand  therefor,  the
Administrative Agent may notify the Borrower, and the Borrower shall immediately
pay such  corresponding  amount to the Administrative  Agent,  together with all
interest  accrued  thereon and on the same terms and conditions  that would have
applied to such Advance had such Bank funded its portion  thereof.  Any payments
received by the  Administrative  Agent following such demand shall be applied in
repayment of amounts owed to the  Administrative  Agent  hereunder  prior to any
other  application.  The  failure of any Bank to fund its portion of any Advance
shall not relieve any other Bank of its  obligation,  if any,  hereunder to fund
its respective portion of the Advance on the date of such borrowing, but no Bank
shall be responsible  for any such failure of any other Bank. In the event that,
at any time when this  Agreement is not in Default,  a Bank for any reason fails
or refuses to fund its portion of an Advance, then, until such time as such Bank
has funded its portion of such Advance, or all other Banks have received payment
in full (whether by repayment or  prepayment)  of the principal and interest due
in respect of such Advance,  such  non-funding  Bank shall (i) be  automatically
deemed to have  transferred to the Bank serving as  Administrative  Agent all of
such  non-funding  Bank's right to vote  regarding  any issue on which voting is
required or advisable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document,  and (ii)
not be entitled  to receive  payments  of  principal,  interest or fees from the
Borrower in respect of such Advances which such Bank failed to make.


                                     - 23 -




         2.3      Interest on Loans .

                  (a) Prior to  Default.  Interest on Loans shall be computed on
the  basis of a  hypothetical  year of 360 days for the  actual  number  of days
elapsed  during each  calendar  month and shall be payable at a simple  interest
rate equal to the Base Rate times the principal balance outstanding from time to
time  under  the  Notes  for the  number  of days  such  principal  amounts  are
outstanding  during such calendar month.  Interest then outstanding shall be due
and payable in arrears as provided in Section 2.7 hereof.

                  (b)  Upon  Default.   Upon  the   occurrence  and  during  the
continuance of a Default,  the  Super-Majority  Banks shall have the option (but
shall not be required to give prior notice thereof to the Borrower to accelerate
the maturity of the Loans or to exercise any other rights or remedies  hereunder
in  connection  with the  exercise  of this  right)  to charge  interest  on the
outstanding  principal balance of the Loans at the Default Rate from the date of
such  Default.  Such  interest  shall be payable on the earliest of demand,  the
first (1st)  Business Day of the next  calendar  month or the Maturity  Date and
shall accrue until the earlier of (i) waiver or cure (to the satisfaction of the
Super-Majority Banks) of the Default, (ii) agreement by the Super-Majority Banks
to rescind the  charging of interest at the Default  Rate,  or (iii)  payment in
full of the Obligations.

         2.4      Issuance and Administration of Letters of Credit .

                  (a) Subject to the terms and  conditions  hereof,  the Issuing
Bank, on behalf of the Letter of Credit Banks, and in reliance on the agreements
of the Letter of Credit Banks set forth in subsection  (d) below,  hereby agrees
to issue one or more Letters of Credit up to an  aggregate  face amount equal to
the Available Letter of Credit Commitment,  provided,  however, that the Issuing
Bank  shall  have no  obligation  to issue any  Letter of Credit if a Default or
Event of Default would be caused thereby; and provided further, however, that at
no time  shall the total  Letter of  Credit  Obligations  outstanding  hereunder
exceed  $50,000,000.  Each  Letter of Credit  shall (1) be  denominated  in U.S.
dollars,  and (2) expire no later than the Maturity Date. A Letter of Credit may
contain  provisions for automatic  renewal  provided that no Default or Event of
Default  exists  on the  renewal  date or would be caused  by such  renewal  and
provided  further  that the new  expiration  date  does not  extend  beyond  the
Maturity Date. Each Letter of Credit shall be subject to the Uniform Customs and
Practices for Documentary Credits and, to the extent not inconsistent therewith,


                                     - 24 -




the laws of the State of Georgia and shall be in a form reasonably acceptable to
the Issuing Bank.  The Issuing Bank shall not at any time be obligated to issue,
or cause to be issued,  any  Letter of Credit if such  issuance  would  conflict
with, or cause the Issuing Bank to exceed any limits  imposed by, any Applicable
Law. If a Letter of Credit provides that it is  automatically  renewable  unless
notice is given by the  Issuing  Bank that it will not be  renewed,  the Issuing
Bank shall not be bound to give a notice of non-renewal unless directed to do so
by the  Letter of Credit  Banks at least  thirty  (30) days prior to the date on
which such notice of non-renewal is required to be delivered to the  beneficiary
of the applicable  Letter of Credit pursuant to the terms thereof.  The Borrower
hereby agrees that upon the Maturity Date (whether by reason of  acceleration or
otherwise)  at the  request of the  Administrative  Agent,  the  Borrower  shall
deposit in an interest  bearing account with the  Administrative  Agent, as cash
collateral for the Obligations,  an amount equal to the maximum amount currently
or at any time thereafter  available to be drawn on all  outstanding  Letters of
Credit, and the Borrower hereby grants to the  Administrative  Agent (for itself
and on behalf of the Issuing  Bank) a security  interest in all such cash.  Upon
receipt  of the cash  collateral  referred  to in the  preceding  sentence,  the
obligations  of the Letter of Credit  Banks under this  Section 2.4 shall cease;
provided that, if for any reason,  all or any part of such cash  collateral must
be surrendered or disgorged by the  Administrative  Agent, then such obligations
shall  be   automatically   reinstated.   The  terms  hereof  shall  govern  the
reimbursement obligation of the Borrower with respect to the Letters of Credit.

                  (b) The  Borrower  may  from  time to time  request  that  the
Issuing Bank issue a Letter of Credit. The Borrower shall execute and deliver to
the  Administrative  Agent and the Issuing Bank a Request for Issuance of Letter
of Credit for each Letter of Credit to be issued by the Issuing Bank,  not later
than 12:00 noon  (Eastern  time) on the fifth (5th)  Business Day  preceding the
date on which the  requested  Letter of Credit is to be issued,  or such shorter
notice as may be  acceptable to the Issuing Bank and the  Administrative  Agent.
Upon receipt of any such  Request for  Issuance of Letter of Credit,  subject to
satisfaction  of all  conditions  precedent  thereto  as set forth in  Article 4
hereof,  the Issuing  Bank shall  process such Request for Issuance of Letter of
Credit  and  the  certificates,  documents  and  other  papers  and  information
delivered  to it in  connection  therewith  in  accordance  with  its  customary
procedures and shall promptly issue the Letter of Credit requested thereby.  The
Issuing  Bank shall  furnish a copy of such Letter of Credit to the Borrower and
the Administrative  Agent following the issuance thereof. The Borrower shall pay
or  reimburse  the  Issuing  Bank on demand for normal and  customary  costs and

                                     - 25 -




expenses  incurred by the Issuing Bank in effecting  payment under,  amending or
otherwise administering the Letters of Credit.

                  (c) At such time as the Administrative Agent shall be notified
by the Issuing Bank that the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit has drawn on
the same, the  Administrative  Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and each
Letter of Credit Bank, by telephone or telecopy,  of the amount of the draw and,
in the case of each Letter of Credit Bank,  such Letter of Credit Bank's portion
of such draw amount as calculated  in accordance  with its Letter of Credit Bank
Commitment Ratio.

                  (d) The Borrower  hereby agrees to  immediately  reimburse the
Issuing  Bank for amounts  paid by the Issuing  Bank in respect of draws under a
Letter of Credit issued at the Borrower's  request.  In order to facilitate such
repayment,  the Borrower hereby irrevocably requests the Letter of Credit Banks,
and the  Letter  of  Credit  Banks  hereby  severally  agree,  on the  terms and
conditions  of this  Agreement  (other than as provided in Article 2 hereof with
respect to the amounts  of, the timing of requests  for,  and the  repayment  of
Advances hereunder),  with respect to any drawing under a Letter of Credit prior
to the  occurrence  of an event  described  in clauses (e) or (f) of Section 6.1
hereof,  to make an Advance  hereunder on each day on which a draw is made under
any Letter of Credit and in the amount of such draw,  and to pay the proceeds of
such Advance  directly to the Issuing Bank to reimburse the Issuing Bank for the
amount paid by it upon such draw. Each Letter of Credit Bank shall pay its share
of such  Advance by paying its  portion  of such  Advance to the  Administrative
Agent in  accordance  with Section  2.2(c)  hereof and its Letter of Credit Bank
Commitment  Ratio,  without  reduction  for any set-off or  counterclaim  of any
nature  whatsoever  and  regardless  of whether  any Default or Event of Default
(other than with respect to an event  described in clauses (e) or (f) of Section
6.1  hereof)  then  exists or would be caused  thereby.  If at any time that any
Letters of Credit are outstanding, any of the events described in clauses (e) or
(f) of Section 6.1 hereof shall have  occurred,  then each Letter of Credit Bank
shall,  automatically  upon the  occurrence  of any such event and  without  any
action on the part of the Issuing Bank, the Borrower,  the Administrative Agent,
the Banks or the  Letter  of  Credit  Banks,  be  deemed  to have  purchased  an
undivided  participation  in the face  amount  of all  Letters  of  Credit  then
outstanding  in an amount equal to such Letter of Credit Bank's Letter of Credit
Bank  Commitment  Ratio,  and each Letter of Credit Bank shall,  notwithstanding
such Default, upon a drawing under any Letter of Credit,  immediately pay to the
Administrative  Agent  for the  account  of the  Issuing  Bank,  in  immediately
available funds, the amount of such Letter of Credit Bank's  participation  (and

                                     - 26 -




the  Issuing  Bank  shall   deliver  to  such  Letter  of  Credit  Bank  a  loan
participation  certificate dated the date of the occurrence of such event and in
the amount of such  Letter of Credit  Bank's  Letter of Credit  Bank  Commitment
Ratio).  The  disbursement  of funds in connection with a draw under a Letter of
Credit  pursuant to this Section shall be subject to the terms and conditions of
Section  2.2(c)  hereof.  The  obligation  of each Letter of Credit Bank to make
payments to the  Administrative  Agent,  for the account of the Issuing Bank, in
accordance  with this  Section 2.4 shall be absolute  and  unconditional  and no
Letter of Credit Bank shall be relieved of its obligations to make such payments
by reason of  noncompliance  by any other Person with the terms of the Letter of
Credit or for any other reason. The Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to
the Issuing Bank the amounts so received  from the Letter of Credit  Banks.  Any
overdue amounts payable by any of the Letter of Credit Banks to the Issuing Bank
in respect of a draw under any Letter of Credit shall bear interest,  payable on
demand, for the first two (2) days of such non-payment, at the Overnight Federal
Funds Rate,  and,  thereafter,  at the  Overnight  Federal  Funds Rate plus four
percent (4%).

                  (e) The  obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the Letter of
Credit Banks for Advances made to reimburse the Issuing Bank for draws under any
Letters of Credit shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be
paid  strictly  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of this  Agreement  under  all
circumstances   whatsoever,   including,   without  limitation,   the  following
circumstances:

                         (i)  Any lack of validity or enforceability of any Loan
         Document;

                        (ii)  Any  amendment  or  waiver  of or  consent  to any
         departure from any or all of the Loan Documents;

                       (iii) Any improper use which may be made of any Letter of
         Credit  or  any  improper  acts  or  omissions  of any  beneficiary  or
         transferee of any Letter of Credit in connection therewith;

                        (iv) The existence of any claim, set-off, defense or any
         right which the Borrower  may have at any time against any  beneficiary
         or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or Persons for whom any such
         beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting) or any Bank or Letter
         of Credit  Bank  (other  than the  defense  of  payment to such Bank or
         Letter of Credit Bank in accordance  with the terms of  this Agreement)


                                     - 27 -




         or  any  other  Person  (other  than  the  Issuing  Bank),  whether  in
         connection with any Letter of Credit,  any transaction  contemplated by
         any Letter of Credit, this Agreement,  any other Loan Document,  or any
         unrelated transaction;

                         (v) Any  statement  or any  other  documents  presented
         under  any  Letter  of  Credit  proving  to  be  insufficient,  forged,
         fraudulent  or invalid in any respect or any  statement  therein  being
         untrue or  inaccurate  in any respect  whatsoever,  provided  that such
         payment  shall  not  have  constituted   gross  negligence  or  willful
         misconduct of the Issuing Bank;

                        (vi) The  insolvency of any Person issuing any documents
         in connection with any Letter of Credit;

                       (vii) Any breach of any  agreement  between the  Borrower
         and any beneficiary or transferee of any Letter of Credit;

                      (viii) Any irregularity in the underlying transaction with
         respect to which any Letter of Credit is issued, including any fraud by
         the beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit; or

                        (ix) Any other circumstances  arising from causes beyond
         the control of the Issuing Bank.

                  (f) Each  Letter of Credit Bank shall be  responsible  for its
pro rata share  (based on such  Letter of Credit  Bank's  Letter of Credit  Bank
Commitment  Ratio)  of any  and all  reasonable  out-of-pocket  costs,  expenses
(including  reasonable  legal fees) and  disbursements  which may be incurred or
made by the Issuing Bank in  connection  with the  collection of any amounts due
under, the  administration  of, or the presentation or enforcement of any rights
conferred by any Letter of Credit, the Borrower's or any guarantor's obligations
to reimburse or otherwise, excluding, however, any such expenses incurred by the
Issuing Bank as a result of the willful  misconduct  or gross  negligence of the
Issuing Bank in determining whether a request presented under a Letter of Credit
complies with the terms of the Letter of Credit. In the event the Borrower shall
fail to pay such  expenses of the Issuing Bank within ten (10) days after demand
for payment by the Issuing Bank,  each Letter of Credit Bank shall thereupon pay

                                     - 28 -




to the Issuing  Bank its pro rata share  (based on such Letter of Credit  Bank's
Letter of Credit Bank  Commitment  Ratio) of such expenses  within five (5) days
from the date of the Issuing  Bank's notice to the Letter of Credit Banks of the
Borrower's  failure  to pay;  provided,  however,  that if the  Borrower  or any
guarantor shall thereafter pay such expense, the Issuing Bank will repay to each
Letter of Credit  Bank the  amounts  received  from such  Letter of Credit  Bank
hereunder.  The Borrower hereby irrevocably  requests the Letter of Credit Banks
and the Letter of Credit Banks hereby severally agree subject to compliance with
the terms and conditions hereof (other than as provided in Article 2 hereof with
respect to the amounts of and the timing of requests for Advances hereunder), to
make an Advance to the Issuing Bank, on behalf of the Borrower for reimbursement
of expenses under this Section 2.4(f).

                  (g) The  Borrower  agrees  that each  Advance by the Letter of
Credit Banks to reimburse  the Issuing Bank for draws under any Letter of Credit
or for  expenses  as  provided  in  Section  2.4(f)  hereof,  shall  be  payable
immediately on the date of such Advance and shall bear interest at the Base Rate
until paid in full or at the Default Rate following the occurrence of a Default.

                  (h)  The  Borrower  agrees  that it will  indemnify  and  hold
harmless the Administrative  Agent, the Issuing Bank, each Letter of Credit Bank
and each other  Bank and each of their  respective  employees,  representatives,
officers  and  directors  from  and  against  any and all  claims,  liabilities,
obligations,  losses (other than loss of profits), damages, penalties,  actions,
judgments,  suits,  costs,  expenses  or  disbursements  of any  kind or  nature
whatsoever (including reasonable attorneys' fees, but excluding taxes) which may
be imposed on, incurred by or asserted  against the  Administrative  Agent,  the
Issuing  Bank,  any such  Letter  of  Credit  Bank or any  such  Bank in any way
relating  to or arising out of the  issuance of a Letter of Credit,  except that
the Borrower shall not be liable to the Administrative  Agent, the Issuing Bank,
any such Letter of Credit Bank or any such Bank for any portion of such  claims,
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs, expenses, or disbursements resulting from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the  Administrative  Agent,  the Issuing Bank,  any such Letter of
Credit Bank or such Bank,  as the case may be, or any such claims,  liabilities,
obligations,  losses,  damages,  penalties,  actions,  judgments,  suits, costs,
expenses  or  disbursements  arising  solely  out  of a  controversy  among  the
Administrative  Agent,  the  Issuing  Bank,  the Letter of Credit  Banks and the
Banks,  or any of them.  This Section  2.4(h) shall survive  termination of this
Agreement.

                                     - 29 -




         2.5      Fees and Commissions on Loans and Letters of Credit.

                  (a)  Administration  Fee.  The  Borrower  agrees to pay to the
Administrative  Agent, for its administrative  services as administrative  agent
for the Banks and the Issuing Bank  hereunder,  a fee of  $50,000.00  per annum.
Such fee shall be due and payable on the Agreement Date and on each  anniversary
of the  Agreement  Date,  and shall be fully earned when due and  non-refundable
when paid. In the event that  following the payment of an annual  administration
fee,  all  obligations  of the  Borrower  hereunder  shall be fully and  finally
performed and this Agreement shall be terminated  prior to the next  anniversary
of the  Agreement  Date, a pro rata portion of such fee shall be refunded to the
Borrower, based upon the time remaining to the next anniversary of the Agreement
Date.

                  (b) Facility Fee on Loans.  The Borrower  agrees to pay to the
Administrative  Agent for the  benefit of the Banks,  in  accordance  with their
respective  Commitment  Ratios,  a facility fee for each calendar  quarter based
upon the  S&P/Moody's  Rating  or the  Leverage  Ratio,  as  applicable,  of the
Borrower and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  in an amount equal to the applicable
Facility Fee amount set forth on Schedule 1.13 attached hereto multiplied by the
Loan Commitment on the last day of the applicable calendar quarter. The Facility
Fee shall be due and payable  quarterly in arrears on the eighteenth  (18th) day
of each  February,  May,  August  and  November  for the  immediately  preceding
calendar quarter and on the Maturity Date. The first payment of the Facility Fee
shall be due and payable on August 18, 1998, based on the S&P/Moody's  Rating or
the Leverage Ratio, as applicable,  as of June 30, 1998, for the period from the
Agreement  Date through June 30, 1998.  All Facility  Fees shall be fully earned
when due and non-refundable when paid.

                  (c) Letter of Credit Fees.  The Borrower  agrees to pay to the
Administrative  Agent (i) for the benefit of the Issuing  Bank and the Letter of
Credit Banks,  a fee on the stated amount of any  outstanding  Letters of Credit
from the date of  issuance  through the  expiration  date of each such Letter of
Credit in an amount equal to  seven-tenths  of one percent (0.7%) per annum (the
"Letter  of Credit  Fees")  and (ii) for the  benefit of the  Issuing  Bank,  an
issuing  fee in the amount of $100 for each Letter of Credit  (which  additional
amount shall be due and payable on the date of issuance and renewal). The Letter
of Credit Fees shall be  calculated on the basis of a  hypothetical  year of 360
days for the actual number of days elapsed, shall be due and payable on the date
of issuance and renewal of each Letter of Credit, and shall be fully earned when

                                     - 30 -




due and non-refundable when paid. The Administrative Agent shall, promptly after
receipt  of the  Letter of Credit  Fees,  distribute  such fee to the  Letter of
Credit  Banks  in  accordance  with  their  respective  Letter  of  Credit  Bank
Commitment Ratios.

         2.6      Notes, Loan and Letters of Credit Accounts.

                  (a) The Loans shall be repayable in accordance  with the terms
and provisions set forth herein,  and shall be evidenced by the Notes. Each Bank
shall be issued a Note payable to the order of such Bank in accordance  with the
respective  Commitment  Ratio of such  Bank.  The  Notes  shall be issued by the
Borrower  to each of the Banks  and  shall be duly  executed  and  delivered  by
Authorized Signatories.

                  (b) Each Bank and each Letter of Credit Bank,  as the case may
be,  may open and  maintain  on its  books  in the name of the  Borrower  a loan
account with  respect to the Loans and  interest  thereon and a letter of credit
account with respect to its obligations pursuant to Letters of Credit. Each Bank
which opens such  accounts  in respect of the Loans  shall debit the  applicable
loan  account for the  principal  amount of each  Advance made by it and accrued
interest thereon, and shall credit such loan account for each payment on account
of principal of or interest on the Loans. Each Letter of Credit Bank which opens
such  accounts  in respect of the Letters of Credit  shall debit the  applicable
account for the amount of each Advance made by it and accrued interest  thereon,
and shall  credit such  account  for each  payment on account of  principal  and
interest of Letter of Credit Advances.  The records of each Bank and each Letter
of Credit Bank,  as the case may be, with respect to the accounts  maintained by
it shall be prima facie  evidence of the Loans and Letter of Credit  Obligations
and accrued interest thereon, but the failure to maintain such records shall not
impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Indebtedness hereunder.

                  (c) The Administrative  Agent and Issuing Bank may maintain in
accordance  with  their  usual  practice  records  of  account   evidencing  the
Indebtedness  of the Borrower  resulting  from Advances under the Loans and each
drawing  under a Letter of Credit.  In any legal action or proceeding in respect
of this  Agreement,  the  entries  made in such  record  shall  be  prima  facie
evidence, absent manifest error, of the existence and amounts of the obligations
of the Borrower  therein  recorded.  Failure of the Issuing Bank to maintain any
such  record  shall not  excuse the  Borrower  from the  obligation  to pay such
Indebtedness.  To the extent  that the  records of the  Administrative  Agent or


                                     - 31 -




Issuing  Bank  conflict  with the  records of the Banks  maintained  pursuant to
Section 2.6(b) above,  absent manifest error, the records of the  Administrative
Agent or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, shall control.

                  (d) Each Advance from the Banks under this Agreement  shall be
made pro rata on the basis of their respective applicable Commitment Ratios.

                  (e) Each Advance made on account of drawing  under  Letters of
Credit  shall be made pro rata by the  Letter  of  Credit  Banks on the basis of
their respective Letter of Credit Bank Commitment Ratios.

         2.7      Repayment of Loans and Letters of Credit .

                  (a) Interest. The Borrower shall pay, on the eighteenth (18th)
calendar  day of each month,  all  interest on the Loans which has accrued as of
the first (1st) calendar day of such month,  commencing on the eighteenth (18th)
calendar day of the first (1st) full  calendar  month  following  the  Agreement
Date.

                  (b) Letters of Credit. The Borrower shall repay all draws upon
the Letters of Credit  immediately upon the Issuing Bank's demand therefor.  The
Borrower  shall make certain  other  payments in respect of the Letter of Credit
Obligations as provided in Sections 2.4(a), 2.4(g) and 3.1 hereof.

                  (c) Reconciliation of Loan Inventory. The Borrower shall repay
certain  portions  of the  outstanding  principal  of the Loans and  accrued and
unpaid interest thereon upon the reconciliation of the Loan Funding Availability
against the outstanding principal balance under the Notes as provided in Section
3.1 hereof.

                  (d) Maturity. In addition to the foregoing, a final payment of
all Obligations then outstanding shall be due and payable by the Borrower on the
Maturity Date.

         2.8      Manner of Payment.

                  (a) Each payment (including any prepayment) by the Borrower on
account of the principal of or interest on the Loans, fees, and any other amount

                                     - 32 -




owed to the Banks or the Administrative  Agent under this Agreement,  the Notes,
or the other  Loan  Documents  shall be made not later  than 1:00 p.m.  (Eastern
time) on the date  specified for payment under this Agreement or such other Loan
Document  to  the   Administrative   Agent  to  an  account  designated  by  the
Administrative  Agent,  for the account of the Banks,  the  Issuing  Bank or the
Administrative  Agent,  as the case may be, in lawful money of the United States
of  America  in  immediately  available  funds.  Any  payment  received  by  the
Administrative Agent after 12:00 noon (Eastern time) shall be deemed received on
the next Business Day for purposes of interest accrual. In the case of a payment
for the account of a Bank or the Issuing Bank,  then,  subject to the provisions
of  Section  2.9 of this  Agreement,  the  Administrative  Agent  will  promptly
thereafter  distribute  the amount so received in like funds to such Bank or the
Issuing  Bank. If the  Administrative  Agent shall not have received any payment
from the Borrower as and when due, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify
the  Banks  and,  if  appropriate,   the  Issuing  Bank,  accordingly,  and  the
Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to make any distributions under this
Section 2.8.

                  (b) If any payment  under this  Agreement  or any of the Notes
shall be specified  to be made upon a day which is not a Business  Day, it shall
be made on the next  succeeding  day which is a Business Day, and such extension
of time shall in such case be included in computing  interest and fees,  if any,
in connection with such payment.

                  (c) The  Borrower  may not make  payments,  in the  aggregate,
under this Agreement (excluding any payments  specifically  required pursuant to
the terms of this  Agreement)  more than (i) two (2) times in any calendar month
plus (ii) four (4) additional times in any twelve (12) calendar month period. In
any event, the Borrower may not make, in the aggregate,  more than  twenty-eight
(28) payments  (excluding  any payments  specifically  required  pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement)  under this Agreement in any twelve (12) calendar month
period.

                  (d) The Borrower agrees to pay principal,  interest, fees, and
all  other  amounts  due  hereunder  or under  the  Notes  and  Letter of Credit
Obligations without set-off or counterclaim or any deduction whatsoever.

                  (e)  The  Borrower  agrees  that it will  indemnify  and  hold
harmless  each  Bank and each of their  respective  employees,  representatives,
officers  and  directors  from  and  against  any and all  claims,  liabilities,

                                     - 33 -




obligations,  losses (other than loss of profits), damages, penalties,  actions,
judgments,  suits,  costs,  expenses  or  disbursements  of any  kind or  nature
whatsoever (including reasonable attorneys' fees, but excluding taxes) which may
be imposed on, incurred by or asserted  against such Bank in any way relating to
or arising out of the making of the Loans, except that the Borrower shall not be
liable to such Bank for any portion of such  claims,  liabilities,  obligations,
losses,  damages,  penalties,  actions,  judgments,  suits, costs,  expenses, or
disbursements  resulting from the gross negligence or willful  misconduct of the
such  Bank  or any  such  claims,  liabilities,  obligations,  losses,  damages,
penalties,  actions,  judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements arising
solely out of a controversy  among the Banks.  This Section 2.4(h) shall survive
termination of this Agreement.

         2.9 Application of Payments.  Unless otherwise specifically provided in
this Agreement or the other Loan Documents,  payments made to the Administrative
Agent,  the Letter of Credit  Banks or the Banks,  or any of them,  or otherwise
received by the  Administrative  Agent, the Letter of Credit Banks or the Banks,
or  any  of  them  (from  realization  on  collateral  for  the  Obligations  or
otherwise), shall be applied (subject to Section 2.2(c) hereof) in the following
order to the extent such Obligations are then due and payable hereunder:  First,
to the costs and expenses,  if any, incurred by the Administrative  Agent or the
Banks, or any of them, in the collection of such amounts under this Agreement or
any of the other Loan Documents,  including,  without limitation, any reasonable
costs incurred in connection  with the sale or disposition of any collateral for
the Obligations;  Second, pro rata among the  Administrative  Agent, the Issuing
Bank and the  Banks  based on the  total  amount  of fees  then due and  payable
hereunder or under any other Loan Document and to any other fees and commissions
then due and  payable by the  Borrower to the Banks,  the  Issuing  Bank and the
Administrative  Agent under this Agreement or any Loan Document;  Third,  to any
due and unpaid interest which may have accrued on the Loans,  pro rata among the
Banks  based  on the  outstanding  principal  amount  of the  Loans  outstanding
immediately  prior to such  payment;  Fourth,  to any amounts  outstanding  with
respect to draws under Letters of Credit;  Fifth, to any unpaid principal of the
Loans,  pro rata  among the  Banks  based on the  principal  amount of the Loans
outstanding  immediately prior to such payment; Sixth, to the extent any Letters
of Credit are then  outstanding,  for deposit into the Letter of Credit  Reserve
Account;  Seventh,  to any other  Obligations not otherwise  referred to in this
Section  2.9  until all such  Obligations  are paid in full;  Eighth,  to actual
damages incurred by the Administrative  Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Banks, or
any of them,  by reason of any breach  hereof or of any other Loan  Documents by

                                     - 34 -




the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary; and Ninth, upon satisfaction in full of
all   Obligations,   to  the   Borrower  or  as   otherwise   required  by  law.
Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  after the occurrence and during the continuance
of a Default or an Event of Default,  payments with respect to items Fourth, and
Fifth in the immediately preceding sentence shall be applied to such items based
upon the ratio of the  Obligations  under  each of such  items to the  aggregate
Obligations  under all of such  items.  If any Bank  shall  obtain  any  payment
(whether  involuntary or otherwise) on account of the Loans made by it in excess
of its ratable share of the Loans then  outstanding and such Bank's share of any
expenses, fees and other items due and payable to it hereunder,  such Bank shall
forthwith purchase a participation in the Loans from the other Banks as shall be
necessary  to cause such  purchasing  Bank to share the excess  payment  ratably
based on the applicable Commitment Ratios with each of them; provided,  however,
that if all or any portion of such excess  payment is thereafter  recovered from
such  purchasing  Bank, such purchase from each Bank shall be rescinded and such
Bank shall repay to the purchasing Bank the purchase price to the extent of such
recovery.  The Borrower agrees that any Bank so purchasing a participation  from
another Bank  pursuant to this Section may, to the fullest  extent  permitted by
law,  exercise all its rights of payment with respect to such  participation  as
fully as if such Bank were the direct  creditor of the Borrower in the amount of
such participation so long as the Obligations are not increased.


                                    ARTICLE 3

                       INVENTORY AND FUNDING AVAILABILITY

         3.1 Loan  Funding  Availability.  At the  designated  times  set  forth
herein, the Administrative Agent shall establish a Loan Funding Availability for
the Loan Inventory and other Unsecured Indebtedness.

                  (a) Calculation of Loan Funding Availability. The Loan Funding
Availability shall be equal to the sum of "A" plus "B" plus "C"; provided,  that
during any period that the  Borrower  does not have (i) an S&P Rating of BBB- or
better or (ii) a Moody's Rating of Baa3 or better,  the sum of "A" and "B" shall
not exceed (A) prior to the  effectiveness  of any Acquisition  Carve Out, fifty
percent (50%) of the Loan Funding  Availability and (B) during the effectiveness
of any  Acquisition  Carve Out,  sixty-seven  percent  (67%) of any Loan Funding
Availability.

                                     - 35 -




                           A =  seventy-five  percent  (75%)  of the  sum of all
Acquisition  Costs for all Lots Under Development which are included in the Loan
Inventory.  If, after a parcel of land is  designated  a Lot Under  Development,
development  of such parcel  ceases for thirty (30) calendar days or more (other
than  by  reason  of  a  Force  Majeure   Delay),   at  the  discretion  of  the
Administrative  Agent,  the Loan  Funding  Availability  for such  parcel may be
reduced to an amount determined by the Administrative Agent (which amount can be
zero)  until  development  of such  Lot  Under  Development  is  resumed  to the
satisfaction of the Administration Agent.

                           B =  seventy-five  percent  (75%)  of the  sum of all
Acquisition Costs for all Developed Lots included in the Loan Inventory.

                           C = one  hundred  percent  (100%)  of the  sum of all
Acquisition  Costs and Construction  Costs for all Dwelling Lots included in the
Loan Inventory.

                  (b)  Designation  of Land  Parcels,  Lots  Under  Development,
Developed Lots and Dwelling Lots. On or before the fifteenth (15th) calendar day
of each calendar month, the Borrower shall deliver to the  Administrative  Agent
an  Inventory  Summary  Report  in the form  attached  hereto  as  Exhibit C and
incorporated  herein.  The Inventory Summary Report shall reflect Inventory that
the  Borrower   desires  to  have  designated  as  Loan   Inventory.   Upon  the
Administrative   Agent's   receipt  of  the  Inventory   Summary   Report,   the
Administrative Agent may conduct inspections or reviews of the subject Inventory
that  the  Administrative  Agent  deems  appropriate,  at  the  expense  of  the
Administrative  Agent except as hereinafter  expressly provided.  Based upon the
information in the Inventory Summary Report and the other  information  compiled
by the Administrative  Agent, the Administrative  Agent shall determine,  in its
discretion,  whether a Lot Under Development,  Developed Lot or Dwelling Lot not
previously  designated as part of the Loan Inventory shall be designated part of
the Loan Inventory and, if so, whether such Lot Under Development, Developed Lot
or Dwelling Lot shall be  designated a Lot Under  Development,  Developed Lot or
Dwelling Lot.

                  (c)  Periodic  Establishment  of  Loan  Funding  Availability.
Within  two  (2)  business  days of the  Administrative  Agent's  receipt  of an
Inventory  Summary  Report,  the  Administrative  Agent shall establish the Loan
Funding  Availability based on the Report delivered to the Administrative  Agent
and information compiled by the Administrative  Agent. In the event the Borrower

                                     - 36 -




does not submit the  Inventory  Summary  Report in the time and manner set forth
above or furnish sufficient  information to the  Administrative  Agent to enable
the  Administrative  Agent to  establish a new Loan  Funding  Availability,  the
Administrative Agent will establish a Loan Funding Availability based on some or
all of the previous  information  submitted to the  Administrative  Agent by the
Borrower  in  the  immediately   preceding  Inventory  Summary  Report  and  the
information  compiled by the  Administrative  Agent, as required  hereunder,  in
connection therewith,  as the case may be, or other information available to the
Administrative Agent.

                  (d)  Reconciliation.  In  the  event  that  the  Loan  Funding
Availability  for a particular  Funding Period is less than the then outstanding
principal amount of all Unsecured Indebtedness and unpaid draws under Letters of
Credit, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower thereof. On or before
the  Reconciliation  Date, the Borrower shall (i) (A) pay to the  Administrative
Agent a  principal  payment to be applied  to the Loans and unpaid  draws  under
Letters of Credit and/or (B) provide to the  Administrative  Agent evidence that
the  principal  amount of other  Unsecured  Indebtedness  has been reduced in an
aggregate amount sufficient to eliminate the excess of the outstanding principal
amount of the  Unsecured  Indebtedness  and unpaid draws under Letters of Credit
over  the Loan  Funding  Availability,  together  with any  accrued  and  unpaid
interest  on such  excess or (ii)  provide a revised  Inventory  Summary  Report
designating  sufficient  additional  Inventory (which shall be acceptable to the
Administrative  Agent,  in its  discretion)  as Loan Inventory to cause the Loan
Funding  Availability  to equal  or  exceed  the  outstanding  principal  of all
Unsecured Indebtedness and unpaid draws under Letters of Credit.

                  (e)   Removal/Disapproval   of  Inventory   for  Loan  Funding
Availability.  If, at any time,  the  Administrative  Agent  determines,  in its
reasonable discretion, that any part of the Loan Inventory is not acceptable for
inclusion in the calculation of the Loan Funding  Availability as a result of an
unforeseen  material adverse change in the condition of such portion of the Loan
Inventory or as a result of the existence of hazardous wastes or materials in or
on any  Inventory  which are in violation  of any  warranty,  representation  or
covenant of the Loan Documents regarding such hazardous wastes or materials, the
Administrative  Agent may exclude  such portion of the Loan  Inventory  from the
calculation of the Loan Funding Availability. If, after such exclusion, the then
outstanding  principal  amount under  Unsecured  Indebtedness  (and unpaid draws
under  Letters  of  Credit)  would  exceed the Loan  Funding  Availability,  the
Borrower  shall  pay to the  Administrative  Agent  on the  Reconciliation  Date
immediately following the exclusion of such Loan Inventory,  a principal payment

                                     - 37 -




on the Loans (or provide to the  Administrative  Agent evidence  satisfactory to
the Administrative Agent that other Unsecured  Indebtedness has been reduced) or
unpaid draws under Letters of Credit in an amount  sufficient to eliminate  such
excess  of  the  aggregate   outstanding  principal  balance  of  the  Unsecured
Indebtedness  (and unpaid  draws under  Letters of Credit) over the Loan Funding
Availability, together with accrued and unpaid interest on such excess.

                  (f) Release of Guaranties. Contemporaneously with the delivery
of an  Inventory  Summary  Report,  the  Borrower may request the release of any
Restricted  Subsidiary from the Subsidiary Guaranty.  In the event that the Loan
Funding Availability established by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section
3.1(e) hereof,  without  consideration of any Inventory owned by such Restricted
Subsidiary,  is equal to or greater than the amount otherwise  required pursuant
to Section 3.1(d) hereof, then the Administrative Agent shall, upon receipt of a
certificate  from the Borrower  that no Default  exists  before and after giving
effect to such release,  release such Restricted  Subsidiary from the Subsidiary
Guaranty.


                                    ARTICLE 4

                    LOAN DISBURSEMENTS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

         4.1 Prior to the First  Disbursement  or  Letter  of  Credit.  Prior to
requesting the first disbursement under the Loans or Letter of Credit hereunder,
the Borrower  shall  deliver all of the  following  items to the  Administrative
Agent,  in form and substance  satisfactory  to the  Administrative  Agent.  The
Administrative  Agent and the Banks shall have no  obligation  to make the first
disbursement  hereunder  and the Issuing Bank shall have no  obligation to issue
the first  Letter  of Credit  hereunder  until all of these  items  have been so
executed and/or delivered to the Administrative Agent.

                  (a)  Notes and  Subsidiary  Guaranty.  A Note by the  Borrower
payable to the order of each Bank. A Subsidiary  Guaranty from the Guarantors in
favor of the Banks and Administrative Agent.

                  (b) Taxpayer  Identification  Number.  The Borrower's  federal
taxpayer identification number.

                                     - 38 -




                  (c) Authority Documents of Borrower. Articles of Incorporation
of the Borrower  certified by the office of the  Secretary of State in which the
Borrower is incorporated;  Bylaws of the Borrower certified by an officer of the
Borrower;  Certificate of Existence of the Borrower issued by the state in which
the Borrower is incorporated;  Incumbency Certificate of the Borrower reflecting
the Authorized  Signatories;  Corporate resolutions of the Borrower certified by
an officer of the  Borrower  and  authorizing  the  Borrower  to enter into this
Agreement and execute all related documents and Loan Documents applicable to the
Loans; and documentation  evidencing the Borrower's qualification to do business
for each  state in which any part of the Loan  Inventory  owned by  Borrower  is
located certified by the office of the Secretary of State of such state.

                  (d) Attorney's Opinion.  The written opinion of the Borrower's
counsel (or  special  counsel to the  Administrative  Agent) in form and content
acceptable  to the  Administrative  Agent  and  which  addresses  the  following
matters:

                        (i) Existence,  Due  Authorization  and  Execution.  The
         Borrower is duly organized and existing as a corporation and is in good
         standing  and  qualified  to do business  under the laws of  Borrower's
         state of incorporation and that the Loan Documents evidencing the Loans
         have been properly executed by the persons author ized to do so;

                       (ii)  Enforceability.  The Loan Documents are enforceable
         against the Borrower in accordance with their terms; and

                      (iii)  Miscellaneous.  As to  such  other  matters  as the
         Administrative Agent or the Banks may reasonably request.

                  Such  opinions may be qualified to the extent of the knowledge
of such counsel based upon reasonable investigation.

                  (e)      [RESERVED]

                  (f) Request  for Advance or Letter of Credit.  The Request for
Advance that the Borrower is required to deliver  pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof
or the Request for Issuance of Letter of Credit that the Borrower is required to

                                     - 39 -




deliver in connection with any issuance of a Letter of Credit hereunder,  as the
case may be.

                  (g) Other Documents.  Other documents that the  Administrative
Agent may reasonably require.

                  (h) Fees.  Payment  of all fees and  expenses  payable  on the
Agreement  Date to the Banks,  the Letter of Credit Banks,  the Issuing Bank and
the Administrative Agent.

                  (i) Insurance.  Certificate(s) of insurance  required pursuant
to Section 5.13 hereof.

                  (j)  Environmental   Indemnity  Agreement.   An  environmental
indemnity  agreement by the Borrower in favor of the  Administrative  Agent, the
Issuing Bank and the Banks whereby the Borrower indemnifies such Persons against
any and all environmental matters with respect to the Loan Inventory.

                  (k) Continental  Homes.  Executed merger agreement between the
Borrower and Continental  Homes,  including evidence in form satisfactory to the
Administrative  Agent that the merger of Continental  Homes with the Borrower is
effective.

         4.2 Subsequent Disbursements and Letters of Credit. Prior to requesting
subsequent  disbursements under the Loans (subsequent to the first disbursement)
or Letters of Credit hereunder  (subsequent to the first Letter of Credit),  the
Borrower  shall  execute  and  deliver  to the  Administrative  Agent all of the
following items, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
The Administrative  Agent and the Banks shall have no obligation to make further
disbursements  or issue  additional  Letters of Credit  until all of these items
have been properly executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent.

                  (a) Inventory  Summary  Report.  The Inventory  Summary Report
that the Borrower is required to deliver pursuant to Section 3.1(b) hereof.

                  (b) Request  for  Advance.  The  Request for Advance  that the
Borrower is  required  to deliver  pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof or the Request
for  Issuance  of Letter of Credit  that the  Borrower is required to deliver in
connection  with any issuance of a Letter of Credit  hereunder,  as the case may
be.

                                     - 40 -




                  (c)  Other   Documents.   Such   other   documents   that  the
Administrative Agent may reasonably require.


                                    ARTICLE 5

                        BORROWER'S COVENANTS, AGREEMENTS,
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         The Borrower makes the following covenants, agreements, representations
and warranties with respect to the Loan Documents and the obligations thereunder
to the Banks:

         5.1 Payment.  The Borrower shall pay when due all sums owing under this
Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents executed by the Borrower.

         5.2 Performance.  The Borrower shall perform all Obligations under this
Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents executed by the Borrower.

         5.3 Additional Information. On request of the Administrative Agent, the
Borrower shall deliver to the  Administrative  Agent and/or the Issuing Bank any
documents or information  with respect to the Inventory that the  Administrative
Agent  and/or  the  Issuing  Bank  may  reasonably  require  including,  without
limitation, surveys and acquisition closing documentation.

         5.4  Quarterly  Financial  Statements  and  Other  Information.  Within
forty-five  (45) days after the last day of each  quarter in each fiscal year of
the Borrower,  except the last quarter in each such fiscal year of the Borrower,
the  Borrower  shall  deliver to the  Administrative  Agent the Form 10-Q of the
Borrower as filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission.  Within ten (10)
days from the date of filing,  the Borrower shall provide to the  Administrative
Agent a copy of every other report filed by the Borrower with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission  under  the  Exchange  Act and a copy of each  registration
statement  filed by the Borrower  with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933.

         5.5 Compliance  Certificates.  Within forty-five (45) days from the end
of each  fiscal  quarter of the  Borrower,  the  Borrower  shall  provide to the

                                     - 41 -




Administrative  Agent a  certificate  signed by an  Authorized  Signatory of the
Borrower  in  the  form  attached   hereto  as  Exhibit  H  setting  forth  such
calculations  required to establish  whether the Borrower was in compliance with
Section 5.7 hereof and setting forth a list of all Guarantors as of the last day
of such fiscal quarter.

         5.6 Annual  Financial  Statements  and  Information;  Certificate of No
Default.  Within one hundred (100) days after the end of each fiscal year of the
Borrower,  the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative  Agent the Form 10-K
of the Borrower as filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  together
with the audited consolidated  financial statements of the Borrower (which shall
be prepared by an independent accounting firm of recognized standing).

         5.7 Financial and Inventory Covenants. Until the Obligations are repaid
in full, the Borrower shall adhere to the following  financial  covenants (after
giving effect to any Financial  Covenant Carve Out), all on a consolidated basis
with  the  Restricted  Subsidiaries  and  determined  as of the last day of each
fiscal quarter of the Borrower:

                  (a) The Borrower  shall maintain at all times a Leverage Ratio
of not more than 2.25 to 1.

                  (b) The  Borrower  shall  maintain at all times a ratio of (i)
EBITDA to (ii) Fixed Charges of not less than 2.50 to 1.0.

                  (c) As of the Agreement  Date and continuing  thereafter,  the
Borrower shall maintain at all times a Tangible Net Worth of not less than three
hundred million and no/100 dollars  ($300,000,000.00),  plus fifty percent (50%)
of annual net profits  for such fiscal  year,  plus fifty  percent  (50%) of any
capital paid into the Borrower  (other than stock issued in  connection  with an
employee stock  ownership plan, an employee stock option plan, an employee stock
purchase plan or for an acquisition).

                  (d) The  Borrower  shall not at any time  permit  Third  Party
Notes Payable to be greater than twenty  percent  (20%) of Tangible  Assets on a
consolidated basis;  provided,  however, that this amount shall not be operative
during any period in which the Borrower  maintains  (i) an S&P Rating of BBB- or
better or (ii) a Moody's Rating of Baa3 or better.

                                     - 42 -




                  (e) The total number of Speculative Lots owned by the Borrower
and its Restricted Subsidiaries at any given time shall not exceed fifty percent
(50%) of all Closed Sales during the immediately  preceding twelve (12) calendar
months; provided,  however, that this total amount shall not be operative during
any period in which the Borrower  maintains  (i) an S&P Rating of BBB- or better
or (ii) a  Moody's  Rating of BAA3 or  better.  Models  shall not be  considered
"Speculative Lots" for purposes of this Section 5.7(e).

                  (f)      [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

                  (g) The costs of Developed Lots, Lots Under  Development,  and
Land Parcels  owned by the Borrower and all  Restricted  Subsidiaries  as of the
date of  determination  shall not exceed one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the
net  worth  (as  defined  under  GAAP)  of  the  Borrower  and  all   Restricted
Subsidiaries,  plus fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate principal amount of all
subordinated  debt of the Borrower and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries;  provided,
however,  such  fifty  percent  (50%) does not exceed  twenty  percent  (20%) of
Tangible Net Worth.

         5.8 Other  Financial  Documentation.  The Borrower shall provide to the
Administrative  Agent such other  financial  information  as the  Administrative
Agent  may  reasonably  request  from time to time to  clarify  or  amplify  the
information  required to be  furnished  to the  Administrative  Agent under this
Agreement.

         5.9 Payment of Contractors.  The Borrower shall pay in a timely manner,
and shall cause its Restricted  Subsidiaries to pay in a timely manner,  any and
all  contractors  and  subcontractors  who conduct work in or on the  Inventory,
subject to the right of the  Borrower to contest any amount in dispute,  so long
as the contesting of such amount is pursued  diligently  and in good faith.  The
Borrower  will advise the  Administrative  Agent in writing  immediately  if the
Borrower or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries receives any written notice from
any contractor(s),  subcontractor(s) or material furnisher(s) to the effect that
said contractor(s) or material  furnisher(s) have not been paid for any labor or
materials  furnished  to or in the  Inventory  and such  outstanding  payment or
payments are  individually or collectively  equal to or greater than one million
and no/100  dollars  ($1,000,000.00)  per  subdivision  or fourteen  million and
no/100 dollars ($14,000,000.00) in the aggregate. The Borrower will further make
available to the  Administrative  Agent, for inspection and copying,  on demand,


                                     - 43 -




any  contracts,  bills of sale,  statements,  receipted  vouchers or agreements,
under which the  Borrower  claims title to any  materials,  fixtures or articles
used in the development of the Loan Inventory or construction of improvements on
the Loan Inventory including, without limitation, the Dwellings.

         5.10   Inspection  and   Appraisal.   The  Borrower  shall  permit  the
Administrative Agent and the Banks and their authorized agents to enter upon the
Inventory  during  normal  working  hours and as often as they  desire,  for the
purpose of inspecting or appraising  the Loan Inventory or the  construction  of
the Dwellings.

         5.11 Fees and Expenses.  The Borrower shall pay when due all commitment
and renewal fees and external legal fees incurred by the Administrative Agent in
connection with the making of the Loans.

         5.12 Hazardous Substances.  The Borrower warrants and represents to the
Administrative  Agent,  Issuing  Bank  and the  Banks  that to the best of their
knowledge  and belief and based on  environmental  assessments  of the Inventory
commissioned   by  the  Borrower,   except  to  the  extent   disclosed  to  the
Administrative  Agent in  environmental  assessments or other writings or to the
extent  that  it  would  not  materially  and  adversely   affect  the  use  and
marketability of any Inventory,  the Inventory has not been and is not now being
used in violation of any federal, state or local environmental law, ordinance or
regulation,  that no proceedings  have been  commenced,  or notice(s)  received,
concerning any alleged  violation of any such  environmental  law,  ordinance or
regulation,  and that the Inventory is free of hazardous or toxic substances and
wastes,  contaminants,  oil, radioactive or other materials the removal of which
is required or the  maintenance of which is restricted,  prohibited or penalized
by any federal, state or local agency,  authority or governmental unit except as
set forth in the site assessments.  The Borrower covenants that it shall neither
permit  any such  materials  to be  brought  on to the  Inventory,  nor shall it
acquire  real  property  to be added to the Loan  Inventory  upon which any such
materials exist,  except to the extent disclosed to the Administrative  Agent in
environmental  assessments  or other writings or to the extent that it would not
materially and adversely affect the use and marketability of any Inventory;  and
if such materials are so brought or found located thereon,  such materials shall
be  immediately  removed,  with  proper  disposal,  to the  extent  required  by
applicable  environmental  laws,  ordinances and  regulations,  and all required
environmental  cleanup procedures shall be diligently undertaken pursuant to all
such laws,  ordinances  and  regulations.  The Borrower  further  represents and

                                     - 44 -




warrants that the Borrower will promptly  transmit to the  Administrative  Agent
and the  Banks  copies  of any  citations,  orders,  notices  or other  material
governmental  or other  communications  received  with respect to any  hazardous
materials,  substances,  wastes or other  environmentally  regulated  substances
affecting the Inventory.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  there shall not be a
default of this provision should the Borrower store or use minimal quantities of
the aforesaid  materials,  provided that:  such substances are of a type and are
held only in a  quantity  normally  used in  connection  with the  construction,
occupancy or operation of comparable buildings or residential developments (such
as cleaning  fluids and supplies  normally  used in the day to day  operation of
residential  developments),  such substances are being held,  stored and used in
complete and strict compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, ordinances
and  requirements,  and the indemnity set forth below shall always apply to such
substances,  and it shall continue to be the  responsibility  of the Borrower to
take all remedial  actions  required under and in accordance with this Agreement
in the event of any unlawful release of any such substance.

         5.13  Insurance.  The Borrower shall keep the Inventory  comprising the
Loan Inventory  insured by responsible  insurance  companies in such amounts and
against  such  risks as is  customary  for  owners  of  similar  businesses  and
properties  in the same general  areas in which the Borrower and its  Restricted
Subsidiaries  operate or, to the customary  extent (and in a manner  approved by
the Administrative Agent) the Borrower may be self insured. All insurance herein
provided  for shall be in form and with  companies  reasonably  approved  by the
Administrative  Agent.  The  Borrower  shall  also  maintain  general  liability
insurance,  workman's  compensation  insurance,  automobile  insurance  for  all
vehicles  owned by them  and any  other  insurance  reasonably  required  by the
Administrative Agent, to the extent commercially available at a reasonable cost.
On the Agreement Date, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative  Agent a
copy of a certificate of insurance  evidencing the insurance required hereunder.
In addition,  on the date of delivery of each report  required by Section 3.1(b)
hereof,  the  Borrower  shall  certify  to the  Administrative  Agent  that  all
insurance policies required to be maintained  hereunder remain in full force and
effect.

         5.14   Litigation.   The  Borrower   warrants  and  represents  to  the
Administrative  Agent,  the Issuing Bank and the Banks that as of the  Agreement
Date,  neither the  Borrower  nor any  Restricted  Subsidiary  is a party to any
litigation having a reasonable  probability of being adversely determined to the
Borrower or any Restricted  Subsidiary  which,  if adversely  determined,  would
impair the ability of the Borrower to carry on its business substantially as now
conducted or contemplated  or would  materially  adversely  affect the financial
condition, business or operations of the Borrower.


                                     - 45 -




         5.15  Reportable  Event.  Promptly  after Borrower  receives  notice or
otherwise  becomes aware thereof,  the Borrower shall notify the  Administrative
Agent of the occurrence of any  Reportable  Event with respect to any Plan as to
which the Pension Benefit Guaranty  Corporation has not by regulation waived the
requirement of Section  4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified  within thirty (30)
days of the occurrence of such event  (provided that the Borrower shall give the
Administrative Agent notice of any failure to meet the minimum funding standards
of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA,  regardless  of the issuance
of any waivers in accordance with Section 412(d) of the Code.

         5.16 Secured Indebtedness. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, incur or permit to exist any Indebtedness
which (a) is secured  in whole or in part by any of the  Inventory  (other  than
Permitted  Encumbrances) or (b) contains any provision requiring the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary to grant to the lender thereunder any Lien at a future
date or upon the  occurrence of any subsequent  event;  except that the Borrower
and its Restricted  Subsidiaries may incur (i) Indebtedness in favor of a seller
of  Inventory  to  the  Borrower  which  is  secured  solely  by  the  Inventory
contemporaneously acquired from such seller, (ii) Indebtedness secured solely by
the Borrower's  headquarters  building located in Arlington,  Texas or any other
office  building owned by the Borrower or any Restricted  Subsidiary,  and (iii)
Indebtedness secured by any clubhouse located in any development of the Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary.


                                    ARTICLE 6

                              DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

         6.1  Defaults.  Each  of the  following  shall  constitute  a  Default,
whatever  the  reason  for such  event  and  whether  it shall be  voluntary  or
involuntary  or be effected by  operation  of law or pursuant to any judgment or
order of any court or any order,  rule,  or regulation  of any  governmental  or
non-governmental body:

                  (a) Any  representation  or warranty made under this Agreement
shall prove incorrect or misleading in any material  respect when made or deemed
to have been made;

                                     - 46 -




                  (b)  The  Borrower   shall  default  in  the  payment  of  any
principal,  interest or other monetary  amounts  payable  hereunder or under the
Notes,  or any of them, or under the other Loan Documents  which payment default
(other than  payment due on the Maturity  Date) is not cured within  thirty (30)
calendar days of Borrower's receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent;

                  (c)  The  Borrower   shall  default  in  the   performance  or
observance of any other  agreement or covenant  contained in this  Agreement not
specifically  referred  to  elsewhere  in this  Section  6.1,  and such Event of
Default shall not be cured to the Majority Banks'  satisfaction  within a period
of  ninety  (90)  days  from the  date the  Borrower  receives  notice  from the
Administrative Agent with respect thereto;

                  (d) There shall occur any Event of Default in the  performance
or observance of any  agreement or covenant or breach of any  representation  or
warranty contained in any of the Loan Documents (other than this Agreement or as
otherwise  provided in this  Section 6.1 of this  Agreement)  or any  Subsidiary
Guaranty,  which shall not be cured to the Majority Banks'  satisfaction  within
the applicable cure period, if any, provided for in such Loan Document or ninety
(90) days from the date the  Borrower  receives  notice from the  Administrative
Agent with respect thereto if no cure period is provided in such Loan Document;

                  (e) There  shall be  entered  a decree or order for  relief in
respect of the Borrower or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries under Title 11 of
the United States Code, as now  constituted or hereafter  amended,  or any other
applicable federal or state bankruptcy law or other similar law, or appointing a
receiver,  liquidator,  assignee, trustee, custodian,  sequestrator,  or similar
official  of the  Borrower  or any of  its  Restricted  Subsidiaries,  or of any
substantial part of their respective  properties,  or ordering the winding-up or
liquidation   of  the  affairs  of  the  Borrower  or  any  of  its   Restricted
Subsidiaries,  or an involuntary petition shall be filed against the Borrower or
any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries,  and a temporary stay entered, and (i) such
petition and stay shall not be diligently  contested,  or (ii) any such petition
and stay shall  continue  undismissed  for a period of thirty  (30)  consecutive
days;

                  (f) The Borrower or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries  shall
file a petition,  answer, or consent seeking relief under Title 11 of the United
States Code, as now constituted or hereafter  amended,  or any other  applicable

                                     - 47 -




federal or state bankruptcy law or other similar law, make an assignment for the
benefit of  creditors,  or the  Borrower or any of its  Restricted  Subsidiaries
shall consent to the  institution of proceedings  thereunder or to the filing of
any such petition or to the  appointment  or taking of possession of a receiver,
liquidator,  assignee,  trustee,  custodian,   sequestrator,  or  other  similar
official  of the  Borrower  or any of  its  Restricted  Subsidiaries,  or of any
substantial part of their respective  properties,  or the Borrower or any of its
Restricted  Subsidiaries  shall fail generally to pay their  respective debts as
they become due, or the  Borrower or any of its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  shall
take any corporate or partnership action to authorize any such action;

                  (g) A final judgment shall be entered by any court against the
Borrower or any of its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  for the payment of money which
exceeds  $1,000,000.00,  which judgment is not covered by insurance or a warrant
of attachment or execution or similar  process shall be issued or levied against
property of the Borrower or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries which,  together
with  all  other  such  property  of the  Borrower  or  any  of  its  Restricted
Subsidiaries  subject to other such process,  exceeds in value  $1,000,000.00 in
the aggregate,  and if, within thirty (30) days after the entry,  issue, or levy
thereof,  such  judgment,  warrant,  or  process  shall  not have  been  paid or
discharged or bonded or stayed  pending  appeal,  or if, after the expiration of
any such stay,  such judgment,  warrant,  or process shall not have been paid or
discharged;

                  (h) (1) There  shall be at any time any  "accumulated  funding
deficiency,"  as defined in ERISA or in Section 412 of the Code, with respect to
any Plan; or (2) a trustee shall be appointed by a United States  District Court
to  administer  any Plan;  or the Pension  Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation  shall
institute  proceedings to terminate any Plan; or (3) any of the Borrower and its
ERISA  Affiliates  shall incur any  liability  to the Pension  Benefit  Guaranty
Corporation in connection  with the  termination of any Plan; or (4) any Plan or
trust  created  under any Plan of any of the Borrower  and its ERISA  Affiliates
shall engage in a non-exempt  "prohibited  transaction" (as such term is defined
in Section 406 of ERISA or Section  4975 of the Code)  which  would  subject the
Borrower  or  any  ERISA   Affiliate  to  the  tax  or  penalty  on  "prohibited
transactions"  imposed by Section 502 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code;  and
by reason of any or all of the events  described  in clauses (1) through (4), as
applicable,  the Borrower shall have incurred or is likely to incur liability in
excess of $2,000,000.00 in the aggregate;

                                     - 48 -




                  (i) All or any portion of any Loan Document  shall at any time
and for any reason be declared by a court of  competent  jurisdiction  in a suit
with respect to such Loan Document to be null and void, or a proceeding shall be
commenced by any governmental authority involving a legitimate dispute or by the
Borrower or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries,  having  jurisdiction  over the
Borrower  or  any of its  Restricted  Subsidiaries,  seeking  to  establish  the
invalidity or unenforceability thereof (exclusive of questions of interpretation
of any provision thereof), or the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
shall deny that it has any liability or obligation  for the payment of principal
or interest purported to be created under any Loan Document;

                  (j)      There shall occur any Change of Control;

                  (k)  Except  for  conveyances  of all or any  part of the Loan
Inventory  between the Borrower and the Guarantors there occurs any sale, lease,
conveyance,  assignment,  pledge, encumbrance, or transfer of all or any part of
the Loan  Inventory  or any  interest  therein,  voluntarily  or  involuntarily,
whether by  operation of law or  otherwise,  except (i) in  accordance  with the
terms of this  Agreement,  (ii) for  execution  of  contracts  with  prospective
purchasers, (iii) for Permitted Encumbrances, and (iv) in the ordinary course of
business; or

                  (l) Except in the normal course of Borrower's  development  of
inventory into Developed Lots and construction of Dwellings thereon, without the
prior written consent of Administrative  Agent,  Borrower grants any easement or
dedication, files any plat, condominium declaration, or restriction or otherwise
encumbers  all or any  portion of the Loan  Inventory,  or seeks or permits  any
zoning  reclassification or variance,  unless such action is expressly permitted
by the Loan Documents or does not affect any Inventory which is part of the Loan
Inventory.

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the occurrence of any
of the foregoing shall not be a Default or an Event of Default hereunder if: (i)
the occurrence  pertains only to specific  parcel(s)  within the Loan Inventory;
and (ii) the affected  parcel(s) is (are) removed from the Loan  Inventory on or
before ten (10) days in the case of a monetary  occurrence  and thirty (30) days
in the  case of a  non-monetary  occurrence  after  the  occurrence  or,  if the
Borrower is entitled to notice and cure,  within the applicable  notice and cure
period. In the event that any such parcel is a Lot Under Development,  Developed
Lot or Dwelling Lot,  then the Loan Funding  Availability  shall be  immediately

                                     - 49 -




calculated  excluding  such  parcel.  If,  as the  result of such  removal,  the
outstanding principal balance under all Unsecured Indebtedness together with any
unreimbursed  draws  under  Letters  of Credit  would  exceed  the Loan  Funding
Availability,  the  Borrower  shall pay (X) to the  Administrative  Agent on the
Reconciliation Date immediately following the removal of such Inventory from the
Loan  Inventory,  a principal  payment on the Loans in an amount  sufficient  to
eliminate  such excess of the  aggregate  outstanding  principal  balance of all
Unsecured  Indebtedness and unreimbursed  draws under Letters of Credit over the
Loan Funding  Availability,  together  with any due and unpaid  interest on such
excess  or  (Y)  add  additional  Inventory  to the  Loan  Inventory  (which  is
acceptable  to the  Administrative  Agent) in an amount  sufficient to cause the
Loan Funding  Availability to equal or exceed the Loans and  unreimbursed  draws
under Letters of Credit.

         6.2  Remedies  .  If  a  Default  shall  have  occurred  and  shall  be
continuing:

                  (a) With the  exception  of a Default  specified  in  Sections
6.1(e), (f) or (g) hereof, the Administrative Agent shall at the request, or may
with the  consent,  of the  SuperMajority  Banks,  by notice to the Borrower (i)
declare the Notes, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable under this
Agreement  and the  other  Loan  Documents  to be  forthwith  due  and  payable,
whereupon the Notes,  all such interest and all such amounts shall become and be
forthwith  due and  payable,  without  presentment,  demand,  protest or further
notice of any kind,  all of which are hereby  expressly  waived by the Borrower,
(ii)  terminate  the  Commitments,  and (iii)  require the  Borrower to, and the
Borrower shall thereupon,  deposit in the Letter of Credit Reserve  Account,  an
amount equal to the maximum  amount  currently or at any time  thereafter  to be
drawn on all outstanding  Letters of Credit,  and the Borrower hereby pledges to
the  Administrative  Agent,  the Letter of Credit Banks and the Issuing Bank and
grants  to them a  security  interest  in,  all such  cash as  security  for the
Obligations.

                  (b) Upon the  occurrence of a Default under  Sections  6.1(e),
(f) or (g)  hereof,  the  Commitments  shall  automatically  terminate  and such
principal,  interest  (including without  limitation,  interest which would have
accrued  but for the  commencement  of a case or  proceeding  under the  federal
bankruptcy laws),  Letter of Credit  Obligations and other amounts payable under
this Agreement or the Notes shall thereupon and  concurrently  therewith  become
due and payable, all without any action by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing
Bank or the Banks or the holders of the Notes,  and the Borrower shall thereupon
forthwith deposit in the Letter of Credit Reserve Account an amount equal to all

                                     - 50 -





outstanding  Letter of Credit  Obligations,  all  without  presentment,  demand,
protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived, anything
in this  Agreement  or in the  Notes to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  and the
Borrower hereby pledges to the Administrative  Agent, the Letter of Credit Banks
and the Issuing  Bank,  and grants to the  Administrative  Agent,  the Letter of
Credit  Banks and the  Issuing  Bank a  security  interest  in, all such cash as
security for the Obligations.

                  (c) The  Administrative  Agent,  with the  concurrence  of the
Super-Majority  Banks, shall exercise all of the post-default  rights granted to
it and to them under the Loan Documents or under Applicable Law.

                  (d) The rights and remedies of the  Administrative  Agent, the
Issuing Bank and the Banks hereunder shall be cumulative, and not exclusive.

         6.3 Waivers. Neither a waiver of any Default or Event of Default by the
Borrower  hereunder  nor  any  representation  by a  Bank  or  Banks  as to  the
nonoccurrence  or  nonexistence  thereof  shall be  implied  from  any  delay or
omission  by any one or all of the Banks to notify  the  Borrower  thereof or to
take  action on account  of such  Default  or Event of  Default,  and no express
waiver  shall  affect  any  Default  or Event of  Default  other than the matter
specified in the waiver and it shall be  operative  only for the time and to the
extent therein stated.  Waivers of any covenants,  terms or conditions contained
herein  must be in  writing  and  shall  not be  construed  as a  waiver  of any
subsequent breach of the same covenant, term or condition. Any one or all of the
Banks'  consent or approval to or of any act by the Borrower  requiring  further
consent  or  approval  shall not be deemed  to waive or render  unnecessary  the
consent or approval to or of any  subsequent  or similar  act. Any one or all of
the Banks'  exercise  of any right or remedy or  hereunder  shall not in any way
constitute a cure or waiver of a Default or an Event of Default,  or  invalidate
any act done  pursuant to any notice of the  occurrence of a Default or an Event
of  Default,  or  prejudice  the Banks in the  exercise  of any of their  rights
hereunder  or under  the  Notes or any  other  Loan  Documents,  unless,  in the
exercise of said  rights,  the Banks  realize all amounts owed to them under the
Notes and other Loan Documents.

         6.4 Cross-Default. All of the Notes and other Loan Documents are "cross
defaulted"  such that (a) the occurrence of an Event of Default under any one of
the Loan Documents shall constitute an Event of Default under this Agreement and

                                     - 51 -




all of the Loan  Documents and (b) the  occurrence of a Default under any one of
the Loan  Documents  shall  constitute a Default under this Agreement and all of
the other Loan Documents.

         6.5      No Liability of the Banks.

                  (a) Construction  and/or  Development.  None of the Banks, the
Administrative  Agent or the  Issuing  Bank shall be liable to any party for (i)
the development of or construction  upon any of the Inventory,  (ii) the failure
to develop or  construct or protect  improvements  on the  Inventory,  (iii) the
payment  of any  expense  incurred  in  connection  with the  development  of or
construction  upon the Inventory,  (iv) the performance or nonperformance of any
other obligation of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or (v) the Banks'
or the  Administrative  Agent's  exercise of any remedy  available  to them.  In
addition,  the Banks shall not be liable to the  Borrower or any third party for
the  failure of the Banks or their  authorized  agents to  discover or to reject
materials  or  workmanship  during the course of the Banks'  inspections  of the
Inventory.

                  (b) Dwelling  Lots. In addition to 6.5(a)  above,  none of the
Banks, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank shall be liable to any party
for (i) the  construction  or completion of the  Dwellings,  (ii) the failure to
construct,  complete or protect the Dwellings,  (iii) the payment of any expense
incurred  in  connection  with  the  construction  of the  Dwellings,  (iv)  the
performance  or  nonperformance  of any other  obligation of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary,  or (v) the Banks' or the Administrative Agent's exercise
of any remedy  available to them. In addition,  the Banks shall not be liable to
the Borrower or any third party for the failure of the Banks or their authorized
agents to discover or to reject  materials or  workmanship  during the course of
the Banks' inspections of the Dwelling Lots.

                  (c) Other  Banks.  The  obligations  of each Bank  under  this
Agreement  are  separate  and  independent  such  that no  action,  inaction  or
responsibility of one Bank shall be imputed to the remaining Banks. The Borrower
hereby waives any claim or demand  against each Bank as to the action,  inaction
or responsibility of another.

                                     - 52 -




                                    ARTICLE 7

                            THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT.

         7.1  Appointment  and  Authorization.   Each  Bank  hereby  irrevocably
appoints and  authorizes,  and hereby agrees that it will require any transferee
of any of its interest in its Loans and in its Notes  irrevocably to appoint and
authorize,  the  Administrative  Agent to take such  actions as its agent on its
behalf and to  exercise  such powers  hereunder  as are  delegated  by the terms
hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  Neither
the  Administrative  Agent nor any of its  directors,  officers,  employees,  or
agents  shall be liable to any Bank (or any  transferee  thereof) for any action
taken or omitted to be taken by it or them  hereunder or in connection  herewith
(including,  without limitation,  the granting or withholding of approval of any
matter), except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The
Banks  hereby  each  acknowledge  and agree that the  Administrative  Agent may,
absent  actual  knowledge  to the  contrary,  rely  upon  certifications  of the
Borrower  with respect to Inventory,  financial  covenant  compliance,  covenant
compliance  and all matters  related  thereto.  The  Administrative  Agent shall
endeavor to exercise  its rights and  responsibilities  under this  Agreement in
accordance with its usual practices for borrowers  similar to the Borrower,  but
the Administrative Agent shall not be liable to the Banks with respect to errors
or  omissions  with respect to the  foregoing  unless they are the result of the
gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent.

         7.2 Delegation of Duties. The  Administrative  Agent may execute any of
its duties under the Loan Documents by or through  agents or attorneys  selected
by it using  reasonable  care  and  shall  be  entitled  to  advice  of  counsel
concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall
not be responsible to any Bank for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or
attorneys selected by it with reasonable care.

         7.3 Interest Holders.  The Administrative Agent may treat each Bank, or
the Person  designated  in the last notice filed with the  Administrative  Agent
under this  Section  7.3, as the holder of all of the  interests of such Bank in
its Loans and in its Notes until written notice of transfer, signed by such Bank
(or the Person  designated  in the last  notice  filed  with the  Administrative
Agent) and by the Person designated in such written notice of transfer,  in form
and substance  satisfactory to the  Administrative  Agent, shall have been filed
with the Administrative Agent.

                                     - 53 -




         7.4 Consultation  with Counsel.  The  Administrative  Agent may consult
with  legal  counsel  selected  by it and  shall  not be  liable to any Bank (or
transferee  thereof)  for any action  taken or  suffered  by it in good faith in
reliance thereon.

         7.5  Documents.  The  Administrative  Agent  shall  be under no duty to
examine, inquire into, or pass upon the validity,  effectiveness, or genuineness
of this  Agreement,  any Note, or any  instrument,  document,  or  communication
furnished  pursuant  hereto or in connection  herewith,  and the  Administrative
Agent shall be entitled to assume that they are valid,  effective,  and genuine,
have been signed or sent by the proper parties, and are what they purport to be.

         7.6 Administrative  Agent and Affiliates . The Administrative Agent and
its affiliates may accept deposits from,  administer depository accounts for and
generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Affiliates of,
or Persons doing business with, the Borrower,  without any obligation to account
to any Bank (or any transferee thereof) therefor.

         7.7  Responsibility  of  the  Administrative   Agent.  The  duties  and
obligations  of the  Administrative  Agent under this  Agreement  are only those
expressly  set  forth  in this  Agreement.  The  Administrative  Agent  shall be
entitled  to assume  that no  Default or Event of Default  has  occurred  and is
continuing unless it has actual knowledge, or has been notified by the Borrower,
of such fact and has either determined that a Default or an Event of Default has
occurred or has been notified by a Bank that such Bank  considers that a Default
or an Event of  Default  has  occurred  and is  continuing,  and such Bank shall
specify in detail the nature thereof in writing.  The Administrative Agent shall
not be liable  hereunder to any Bank (or any transferee  thereof) for any action
taken or omitted  to be taken  except  for its own gross  negligence  or willful
misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall provide each Bank with copies of such
documents received from the Borrower as such Bank may reasonably request.

         7.8      Action by Administrative Agent.

                  (a) Except for action  requiring  the approval of the Majority
Banks, the Super-Majority  Banks or all Banks, the Administrative Agent shall be
entitled to use its  discretion  with respect to exercising  or refraining  from

                                     - 54 -




exercising  any rights  which may be vested in it by, and with respect to taking
or  refraining  from  taking any action or actions  which it may be able to take
under or in respect of, this Agreement,  unless the  Administrative  Agent shall
have been instructed by the Majority Banks or the  Super-Majority  Banks, as the
case may be, to exercise or refrain  from  exercising  such rights or to take or
refrain from taking such action,  provided that the  Administrative  Agent shall
not exercise  any rights  under  Section  6.2(a) of this  Agreement  without the
request of the Majority Banks or the  SuperMajority  Banks,  as the case may be.
The Administrative Agent shall incur no liability to any Bank (or any transferee
thereof) under or in respect of this Agreement with respect to anything which it
may do or refrain from doing in the reasonable exercise of its judgment or which
may seem to it to be necessary or desirable in the circumstances, except for its
gross negligence or willful misconduct.

                  (b) The Administrative  Agent shall not be liable to the Banks
or to any Bank in acting or  refraining  from  acting  under this  Agreement  in
accordance  with the  instructions  of the Majority Banks or the  Super-Majority
Banks,  as the case may be, and any action  taken or failure to act  pursuant to
such instructions shall be binding on all Banks.

                  (c) The Borrower shall have the right to rely upon actions and
representations  of the  Administrative  Agent in the  performance of its duties
hereunder  (including,  without  limitation,  representations  with  respect  to
amendments or waivers pursuant to Section 8.3 hereof), without regard to whether
such actions or representations  are actually  authorized by the Banks or any of
them and  without  seeking  confirmation  or  ratification  of such  actions  or
representations.

         7.9  Notice of  Default  or Event of  Default.  In the  event  that the
Administrative  Agent or any Bank shall acquire actual knowledge,  or shall have
been notified in writing, of any Default or Event of Default, the Administrative
Agent or such Bank shall promptly notify the Banks and the Administrative Agent,
and the Administrative Agent shall take such action and assert such rights under
this Agreement as the Majority  Banks or  Super-Majority  Banks (as  applicable)
shall request in writing,  and the Administrative  Agent shall not be subject to
any  liability  by reason of its acting  pursuant  to any such  request.  If the
Majority Banks or Super-Majority Banks (as applicable) shall fail to request the
Administrative  Agent to take action or to assert rights under this Agreement in
respect  of any  Default or Event of  Default  within ten (10) days (or  shorter
period as set forth in such  notice)  after  their  receipt of the notice of any
Default or  Event of  Default from  the  Administrative  Agent, or shall request

                                     - 55 -




inconsistent  action  with  respect  to such  Default or Event of  Default,  the
Administrative  Agent may,  but shall not be  required  to, take such action and
assert such rights (other than rights under Article 6 hereof) as it deems in its
discretion to be advisable for the protection of the Banks,  except that, if the
Majority  Banks or  Super-Majority  Banks (as  applicable)  have  instructed the
Administrative  Agent not to take such action or assert such right,  in no event
shall the Administrative Agent act contrary to such instructions.

         7.10  Responsibility  Disclaimed.  The  Administrative  Agent,  in  its
capacity as Administrative  Agent, shall be under no liability or responsibility
whatsoever as Administrative Agent:

                  (a) To the  Borrower  or  any  other  Person  or  entity  as a
consequence of any failure or delay in performance by or any breach by, any Bank
or Banks of any of its or their obligations under this Agreement;

                  (b) To any Bank or Banks,  as a consequence  of any failure or
delay in performance  by, or any breach by, the Borrower or any other obligor of
any of its  obligations  under  this  Agreement  or the Notes or any other  Loan
Document; or

                  (c) To any Bank or Banks for any statements,  representations,
or warranties in this  Agreement,  or any other  document  contemplated  by this
Agreement or any information provided pursuant to this Agreement, any other Loan
Document,  or any other  document  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  or for the
validity,  effectiveness,  enforceability, or sufficiency of this Agreement, the
Notes,  any other Loan  Document,  or any other  document  contemplated  by this
Agreement.

         7.11  Indemnification.  The Banks agree to indemnify the Administrative
Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower) pro rata according to their
respective  Commitment  Ratios,  from  and  against  any  and  all  liabilities,
obligations,  losses,  damages,  penalties,  actions,  judgments,  suits, costs,
expenses  (including  fees and  expenses of experts,  agents,  consultants,  and
counsel), or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed
on,  incurred  by,  or  asserted  against  the  Administrative  Agent in any way
relating to or arising out of this  Agreement,  any other Loan Document,  or any
other document  contemplated by this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by
the Administrative Agent under this Agreement,  any other Loan Document,  or any

                                     - 56 -




other  document  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  except that no Bank shall be
liable  to the  Administrative  Agent  for  any  portion  of  such  liabilities,
obligations,  losses,  damages,  penalties,  actions,  judgments,  suits, costs,
expenses,  or  disbursements  resulting  from the gross  negligence  or  willful
misconduct  of the  Administrative  Agent.  The  provisions of this Section 7.11
shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

         7.12 Credit  Decision.  Each Bank represents and warrants to each other
and to the Administrative Agent that:

                  (a) In making its decision to enter into this Agreement and to
make Advances it has independently  taken whatever steps it considers  necessary
to evaluate the financial  condition and affairs of the Borrower and that it has
made an independent credit judgment, and that it has not relied upon information
provided by the Administrative Agent; and

                  (b) So long as any  portion  of the  Loans or Letter of Credit
Obligations  remains  outstanding,  it will continue to make its own independent
evaluation of the financial condition and affairs of the Borrower.

         7.13 Successor  Administrative  Agent.  Subject to the  appointment and
acceptance  of a successor  Administrative  Agent  (which shall be any Bank or a
commercial Issuing Bank organized under the laws of the United States of America
or any political  subdivision thereof which has combined capital and reserves in
excess of $250,000,000) as provided below, the  Administrative  Agent may resign
at any time by giving  written  notice thereof to the Banks and the Borrower and
may be  removed  at any time  for  cause by the  Majority  Banks.  Upon any such
resignation  or removal,  the  Majority  Banks shall have the right to appoint a
successor  Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have
been  so  appointed  by  the  Majority  Banks,  and  shall  have  accepted  such
appointment  within thirty (30) days after the retiring  Administrative  Agent's
giving of notice of resignation  or the Majority  Banks' removal of the retiring
Administrative  Agent, then the retiring  Administrative Agent may, on behalf of
the Banks,  appoint a successor  Administrative Agent which shall be any Issuing
Bank or a  commercial  bank  organized  under the laws of the  United  States of
America or any  political  subdivision  thereof  which has combined  capital and
reserves in excess of  $250,000,000.  Upon the acceptance of any  appointment as
Administrative  Agent  hereunder  by  a  successor  Administrative  Agent,  such

                                     - 57 -




successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with
all the rights,  powers,  privileges,  duties,  and  obligations of the retiring
Administrative  Agent,  and, after fully performing its obligations  pursuant to
Section  2.8  hereof  as  to  all   payments   received  by  it,  the   retiring
Administrative  Agent  shall be  discharged  from  its  duties  and  obligations
hereunder.  After any retiring  Administrative  Agent's  resignation  or removal
hereunder as  Administrative  Agent,  the  provisions of this Section 7.13 shall
continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to
be taken by it while it was acting as the Administrative Agent.

         7.14 Syndication  Agent. The Syndication  Agent shall have no duties or
obligations  under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents in its capacity as
Syndication Agent.

         7.15 Documentation  Agent. The Documentation Agent shall have no duties
or obligations  under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents in its capacity
as Documentation Agent.

         7.16 Co-Agents. The Co-Agents shall have no duties or obligations under
this Agreement or the other Loan Documents in their capacities as Co-Agents.


                                    ARTICLE 8

                               GENERAL CONDITIONS

         8.1  Benefit.  This  Agreement  is made and  entered  into for the sole
protection  and benefit of the  Administrative  Agent,  the Issuing Bank and the
Banks and the Borrower,  their  successors  and assigns,  and no other person or
persons other than the Borrower  shall have any right of action hereon or rights
to the Loan proceeds at any time. None of the Administrative  Agent, the Issuing
Bank or the Banks shall (a) owe any duty  whatsoever  to any  claimant for labor
performed  or material  furnished in  connection  with the  construction  of any
Dwelling  or  improvement  on any  Inventory,  or (b) owe any duty to apply  any
undisbursed portion of the Loan to the payment of any claim, or (c) owe any duty
to  exercise  any  right or power of the Banks  hereunder  or  arising  from any
Default by the Borrower.

                                     - 58 -




         8.2 Assignment. The terms hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the heirs,  successors,  assigns, and personal representatives of the
parties  hereto;  provided,  however,  that the  Borrower  shall not assign this
Agreement or any of its rights,  interests,  duties or obligations  hereunder or
any Loan  proceeds or other monies to be advanced  hereunder in whole or in part
without the prior written consent of the Banks and any such assignment  (whether
voluntary  or by operation  law)  without said consent  shall be void and render
automatically  terminated  any  obligation of any Bank  hereunder to advance any
further monies  pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.  Any Bank
may assign its rights and obligations  under this  Agreement,  the Notes and any
other Loan  Documents,  in whole or in part, to any other Person,  provided that
all of the provisions hereof shall continue in full force and effect and, in the
event  of such  assignment,  such  Bank  shall  thereafter  be  relieved  of all
liability  hereunder with respect to actions or omissions of such Bank occurring
thereafter,  but only to the extent of the  interest  so  assigned  and any Loan
disbursements  made by any assignee(s) shall be deemed made in pursuance and not
in  modification  hereof and shall be evidenced by the  applicable  Note and any
other Loan Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing subject to the last sentence
of this Section 8.2, (i) with the prior  written  consent of the  Administrative
Agent only (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), a Bank may assign
not less than one hundred percent (100%) of its interest, rights and obligations
hereunder, and (ii) without the prior written consent of all of the other Banks,
no Bank shall have the right to assign any  portion of its  interest,  rights or
obligations  hereunder  to any other  Person  unless (a) such  assignment  is in
compliance with clause (i) of this sentence,  or (b) in all other cases, (1) the
assignee  shall assume all of the  obligations  of the assigning Bank under this
Agreement,  to the extent of the  interest so assigned  and (2)  following  such
assignment,  each of the assigning  Bank and the assignee  shall maintain a Loan
Commitment  of  not  less  than  twenty-five   million  dollars   ($25,000,000).
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 8.2 to the contrary, any Bank may enter
into  participation  agreements with any other Person, so long as such agreement
does not confer any rights under this Agreement,  any other Loan Document or the
Subsidiary  Guaranty to any purchaser thereof,  or relieve such Bank from any of
its  Obligations  under this  Agreement  (it being  understood  that all actions
hereunder shall be conducted as if no such participation had been granted).  All
assignments  permitted  hereunder  shall be made pursuant to an  Assignment  and
Assumption  Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit I attached hereto. No
Managing Agent may assign any portion of its Loans or Loan Commitment  hereunder
without the prior written  consent of all Managing  Agents (which  consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld).

                                     - 59 -




         8.3  Amendment and Waiver.  Neither this  Agreement nor any term hereof
may be amended orally, nor may any provision hereof be waived orally but only by
an  instrument  in writing  signed by the Majority  Banks and, in the case of an
amendment, also by the Borrower, except that in the event of:

                  (a) any (i) amendment or waiver having a duration of more than
ninety  (90)  days or  (ii)  direction  to the  Administrative  Agent  regarding
termination  of the  Commitments,  acceleration,  or exercise of  remedies,  any
action may be made only by an instrument in writing signed by the Super-Majority
Banks;

                  (b) (i)  any  change  in the  timing  of,  or the  amount  of,
payments  of  fees  due  hereunder  or in  the  method  of  calculating  funding
availability,  (ii) any waiver of any Event of Default due to the failure by the
Borrower to pay any sum due  hereunder,  (iii) any amendment of this Section 8.3
or of the  definitions of Majority Banks or  Super-Majority  Banks,  or (iv) the
release of any Guarantor  other than in connection  with the  conversion of such
Guarantor to an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary or in accordance  with Section  3.1(f)
hereof,  any  amendment or waiver may be made only by an  instrument  in writing
signed by each of the Banks;

                  (c) (i) any change in the amount of the Loan Commitment,  (ii)
any change in the timing of or the amount of payments of principal,  interest or
fees due with respect to the Loans or any change in the rate of interest applied
thereto,  any  change  may be made only by an  instrument  signed by each of the
Banks; and

Any  amendment to  accomplish  any of the  foregoing  must also be signed by the
Borrower.  Each Bank  hereby  acknowledges  and agrees  that a  response  to any
request  for action by the  Administrative  Agent  shall be made within ten (10)
days from the receipt of such  request  and that the  failure to respond  within
such period  shall be deemed to be an  acceptance  by such Bank of the course of
action recommended by the Administrative Agent.

         8.4 Additional Obligations and Amendments.  The Banks shall be under no
obligation to extend any loans to the Borrower  other than as  specifically  set
forth in this  Agreement.  Each  Bank  agrees  that it will not  enter  into any
financing  agreement  with the  Borrower or any of its  Restricted  Subsidiaries
without the consent of all of the Banks.

                                     - 60 -




         8.5 Consideration of Renewal. The Banks agree that no later than thirty
(30)  calendar  days  prior  to  each   anniversary   of  the  Agreement   Date,
representatives  of the Banks will consult with each other to determine  whether
the Banks are  willing,  in their sole and  absolute  discretion,  to extend the
Maturity  Date for a period of not more than one (1) calendar year from the then
current Maturity Date.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  if there has occurred a
Change of Management,  the Banks shall not have any obligation to consult, as to
any  proposed  extension  of the  Maturity  Date,  with any Bank  which  has not
approved, in writing, such Change of Management. The Administrative Agent shall,
within a reasonable  period of time thereafter,  advise the Borrower whether the
Banks are willing to so extend the Maturity  Date. If the Banks and the Borrower
agree to so extend the  Maturity  Date,  such  agreement  shall be  evidenced by
appropriate  amendments  to the  Loan  Documents,  executed  by  all  applicable
parties.  In the event that any Bank does not agree to extend the Maturity Date,
the Maturity  Date then in effect with respect to such Bank's Loans shall remain
unchanged,  and the  Borrower  in its  sole  discretion  may (a)  repay  in full
(together with all accrued  interest and fees with respect  thereto) such Bank's
Loans,  without respect to any other provisions  herein, or (b) may require such
Bank to assign without  recourse or warranty  one-hundred  percent (100%) of its
Loans,  Loan  Commitment  and, in the case of Letter of Credit Banks,  Letter of
Credit  Commitment  (and such Bank hereby  agrees to so assign) to a replacement
bank  designated by the Borrower (and  acceptable to the  Administrative  Agent)
which assignment shall be effective upon receipt by such Bank of payment in full
of all Loans then  outstanding,  Letter of Credit  Obligations,  and accrued and
unpaid interest and fees then outstanding to such Bank. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary  contained herein,  any such replacement bank assuming such Loan
Commitment  and/or  Letter of Credit  Commitment  shall assume not less than one
hundred percent (100%) of such assigning Bank's Loan Commitment and/or Letter of
Credit Commitment.

         8.6 Terms.  Whenever the context and  construction  require,  all words
used in the  singular  number  herein  shall be  deemed to have been used in the
plural,  and vice versa, and the masculine gender shall include the feminine and
neuter and the neuter shall include the masculine and feminine.

         8.7 Governing Law and  Jurisdiction.  This Agreement shall be construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia,  and such laws shall govern
the interpretation, construction and enforcement hereof. For the purposes of any
legal action or proceeding brought by the Administrative Agent or the Banks with


                                     - 61 -




respect to this Agreement or the Loan Documents, the Borrower hereby irrevocably
submits to the  jurisdiction  and venue of the Superior  Court of Fulton County,
Georgia,  and hereby  irrevocably  designates and appoints CT Corporate  System,
1201 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30361, as its authorized agent for
service of process in the State of Georgia.  The Borrower also hereby submits to
the non-exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the United States District Court for
the Northern District of Georgia for any action,  suit or proceeding arising out
of or relating to this Agreement or the Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent
and the Banks  shall for all  purposes  be  entitled  to treat such  designee of
Borrower  as the  authorized  agent to receive  for or on its behalf  service of
writs or summons or other legal process in Georgia;  delivery of such service to
such  authorized  agent shall be deemed to be made when  delivered  or mailed by
certified mail addressed to such authorized  agent,  with a copy to the Borrower
at the address of the Borrower last known to the  Administrative  Agent, sent by
overnight delivery service. In the event that, for any reason, such agent or its
successor  shall no longer serve as agent of the Borrower to receive  service of
process in the State of Georgia,  the Borrower shall establish a successor so to
serve, and shall advise the Administrative  Agent thereof,  so that at all times
Borrower  will  maintain an agent to receive  service of process in the State of
Georgia on its behalf with respect to this Agreement and the Loan Documents.  In
the event that,  for any reason,  service of legal process cannot be made in the
manner described above,  such service may be made in such other manner permitted
by law. The Borrower  hereby  irrevocably  waives any  objection it might now or
hereafter be entitled to make with  respect to the venue of any suit,  action or
proceeding  arising out of or relating to this  Agreement and the Loan Documents
which is brought in the  Superior  Court of Fulton  County,  Georgia  or, at the
election of the  Administrative  Agent,  in the United States District Court for
the Northern District of Georgia, and the Borrower hereby irrevocably waives any
right to claim  that any such  suit,  action or  proceeding  brought in any such
court has been brought in an incorrect forum.

         8.8 Publicity.  Subject to the Borrower's approval,  the Administrative
Agent shall have the right to  incorporate  the names of the Banks into  signage
placed upon the Loan Inventory. Each Bank shall have the right to secure printed
publicity  through newspaper and other media concerning the Inventory and source
of financing.

         8.9  Attorneys'  Fees.  The Borrower shall pay on demand all attorneys'
fees and other costs and expenses actually incurred by the Managing Agents,  the
Co-Agents, the Issuing Bank and the Banks, or any of them, in the enforcement of

                                     - 62 -




or preservation of the Banks', the Administrative  Agent's or the Issuing Bank's
rights under this  Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents.  To the full extent
permitted by  applicable  law, the Borrower  agrees to pay interest on any fees,
costs or expenses  due to the  Administrative  Agent,  the Issuing  Bank and the
Banks, or any of them, under this Section 8.9 which are not paid when due at the
Default Rate. In the event that any Loan Document contains a provision regarding
enforcement or  preservation of rights which is different from this Section 8.9,
this Section 8.9 shall control.

         8.10 Mandatory  Arbitration.  Any controversy or claim between or among
the  parties  hereto  arising out of or  relating  to this  Agreement,  the Loan
Documents  or any related  instruments  including  any claim based on or arising
from an alleged tort,  shall be determined by binding  arbitration in accordance
with the Federal  Arbitration Act (or, if not applicable,  the applicable  state
law),  the Rules of Practice and  Procedure  for the  Arbitration  of Commercial
Disputes of Endispute, Inc., doing business as J.A.M.S./Endispute  ("J.A.M.S."),
as amended from time to time,  and the "Special  Rules" set forth below.  In the
event of any inconsistency,  the Special Rules shall control.  Judgment upon any
arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.  Any party to
this  Agreement may bring an action,  including a summary  judgment or expedited
proceeding,  to compel  arbitration  of any  controversy  or claim to which this
provision applies in any court having jurisdiction over such action.

                  (a) Special Rules.  The arbitration  shall be conducted in the
City of  Atlanta,  Georgia and  administered  by  J.A.M.S.  who will  appoint an
arbitrator;  if J.A.M.S.  is unable or legally precluded from  administering the
arbitration,   then  the  American  Arbitration   Association  will  serve.  All
arbitration hearings will be commenced within ninety (90) days of the demand for
arbitration;  further,  the arbitrator  shall only,  upon a showing of cause, be
permitted to extend the  commencement  of such  hearing for up to an  additional
sixty (60) days.

                  (b)  Reservation  of Rights.  Nothing  in this Loan  Agreement
shall be  deemed  to (i) limit the  applicability  of any  otherwise  applicable
statutes  of  limitation  or  repose  and any  waivers  contained  in this  Loan
Agreement;  or (ii) be a waiver by a Bank or Banks of the protection afforded to
it or them by 12 U.S.C.  Sec. 91 or any  substantially  equivalent state law; or
(iii) limit the right of a Bank or Banks (A) to exercise self help remedies such
as  (but not limited to)  setoff,  or  (B) to obtain from a court provisional or

                                     - 63 -




ancillary  remedies such as injunctive  relief or the appointment of a receiver.
The  Administrative  Agent  may  (or at the  direction  of the  Majority  Banks)
exercise such self help remedies (including, without limitation,  remedies under
Section 6.2 hereof),  or obtain such  provisional or ancillary  remedies before,
during or after the pendency of any arbitration  proceeding  brought pursuant to
this  Loan  Agreement.  Neither  the  exercise  of self  help  remedies  nor the
institution or maintenance of provisional or ancillary remedies shall constitute
a waiver of the right of any party, including the claimant in any such action to
arbitrate  the merits of the  controversy  or claim  occasioning  resort to such
remedies.

         No  provision  in  this  Agreement  or  any  Loan  Documents  regarding
submission  to  jurisdiction  and/or  venue in any court is intended or shall be
construed to be in derogation of the provisions in this Agreement.

         8.11  Invalidation of Provisions.  In the event that any one or more of
the   provisions  of  this  Agreement  is  deemed  invalid  by  a  court  having
jurisdiction over this Agreement or other similar authority,  the Administrative
Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Banks may, in their sole  discretion,  terminate
this Agreement in whole or in part.

         8.12  Execution  in  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be executed in
multiple counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all
of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

         8.13  Captions.  The captions  herein are inserted  only as a matter of
convenience and for reference and in no way define,  limit or describe the scope
of this Agreement or the intent of any provision hereof.

         8.14  Notices.  All  notices,  requests,  consents,  demands  and other
communications  required or which any party  desires to give  hereunder or under
any other Loan Document shall, unless other specifically  provided in such other
Loan Document,  be deemed  sufficiently given or furnished if (a) in writing and
delivered by personal delivery, by courier, or by registered or certified United
States mail,  postage  prepaid,  addressed to the party to whom  directed at the
addresses  specified below (unless changed by similar notice in writing given by
the  particular  party  whose  address  is to be  changed),  (b) by  telex  with
confirmation  thereof in writing by sender pursuant to subsection (a) above, (c)
facsimile to the facsimile number specified below with  confirmation  thereof in


                                     - 64 -




writing by sender pursuant to subsection (a) above, or (d) by oral communication
with  confirmation  thereof  in  writing  by the  notifying  party  pursuant  to
subsection   (a)  above  within   three  (3)  business   days  after  such  oral
communication.  Any such  notice or  communication  shall be deemed to have been
given and to be  effective  either at the time of personal  delivery  or, in the
case of  courier  or mail,  as of the date of first  attempted  delivery  at the
address  and in the  manner  provided  herein,  or, in the case of  telex,  when
transmitted (answerback confirmed),  or, in the case of facsimile,  upon receipt
or,  in the  case of oral  communication,  upon  the  effectiveness  of  written
confirmation as hereinabove provided.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  no notice
of change of address shall be effective except upon receipt.  This Section shall
not be  construed  in any way to affect or impair any waiver of notice or demand
provided  in any Loan  Document  or to require  giving of notice or demand to or
upon any person in any situation or for any reason.

         BORROWER:

         D. R. Horton, Inc.
         1901 Ascension Boulevard
         Suite 100
         Arlington, Texas 76006
         Attn:    David J. Keller
                       and
                  Ted I. Harbour
         Facsimile No.: (817) 856-8249
         Telephone No.: (817) 856-8200


         AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, AS ISSUING BANK AND AS A BANK:

         NationsBank, N.A.
         70 Mansell Court
         Roswell, Georgia 30076
         Attn:  Henry A. Dyer
         Facsimile No.: (770) 642-1261
         Telephone No.: (770) 552-3559


                                     - 65 -




         With copy to:

         Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy
         16th Floor
         191 Peachtree St. N.E.
         Atlanta, Georgia  30303
         Attn:  Douglas S. Gosden
         Facsimile No.: (404) 572-6999
         Telephone No.: (404) 572-6600


         AS SYNDICATION AGENT AND AS A BANK:

         Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association
         40 East 52nd Street
         6th Floor
         New York, New York  10022
         Attn:    Robert Dowling, Vice President
         Facsimile No.: (714) 260-5639
         Telephone No.: (212) 836-5651


         AS DOCUMENTATION AGENT AND AS A BANK:

         Fleet National Bank
         111 Westminster Street
         Suite 800
         Providence, Rhode Island  02903
         Attn:  Patrick Burns
         Facsimile No.: (401) 278-5961
         Telephone No.: (401) 278-5914


                                     - 66 -




         AS A MANAGING AGENT AND AS A BANK:

         Bank United
         3200 S.W. Freeway
         Suite 2000
         Houston, Texas  77027
         Attn:  Carolynn Alexander
         Facsimile No.: (713) 543-6928
         Telephone No.: (713) 543-7955


         AS A MANAGING AGENT AND AS A BANK:

         Comerica Bank
         1 Detroit Center
         500 Woodward Avenue
         Detroit, Michigan  48226-3256
         Attn:  Dave Campell
         Facsimile No.: (313) 222-9295
         Telephone No.: (313) 222-9306


         AS A MANAGING AGENT AND AS A BANK:

         Credit Lyonnais New York Branch
         2200 Ross Avenue
         Suite 4400 West
         Dallas, Texas  75201
         Attn:  Sam Hill
         Facsimile No.: (214) 220-2323
         Telephone No.: (214) 220-2300


                                     - 67 -




         AS A MANAGING AGENT AND AS A BANK

         Societe Generale, Southwest Agency
         2001 Ross Avenue
         Suite 4800
         Dallas, Texas  75201
         Attn:  David Oldani
         Facsimile No.: (214) 979-1104
         Telephone No.: (214) 979-2736



         AS A CO-AGENT AND AS A BANK

         AmSouth Bank
         Commercial Real Estate, 9th Floor
         1900 5th Avenue North
         Birmingham, Alabama  35203
         Attn:  Ronny Hudspeth
         Facsimile No.: (205) 326-4075
         Telephone No.: (205) 307-4227


         AS A CO-AGENT AND AS A BANK

         Bank One, Arizona, N.A.
         201 N. Central
         19th Floor
         Phoenix, Arizona  85004
         Attn:  Jennifer Pescatore
         Facsimile No.: (602) 221-4435
         Telephone No.: (602) 221-2402


                                     - 68 -




         AS A CO-AGENT AND AS A BANK:

         PNC Bank, National Association
         Two Tower Center
         18th Floor
         East Brunswick, New Jersey  08816
         Attn:  Douglas G. Paul
         Facsimile No.: (732) 220-3755
         Telephone No.: (732) 220-3566


         AS A CO-AGENT AND AS A BANK:

         The First National Bank of Chicago
         Real Estate Finance
         One First National Plaza
         Suite 0151
         Chicago, Illinois  60670-0151
         Attn:  Gregory A. Gilbert, Vice President
         Facsimile No.: (312) 732-1117
         Telephone No.: (312) 732-2107


         BANKS:

         First American Bank Texas, SSB
         The Princeton Tower
         14651 Dallas Parkway
         Suite 400
         Dallas, Texas  75240
         Attn:  William L. Kinard
         Facsimile No.: (972) 419-3394
         Telephone No.: (972) 419-3413


                                     - 69 -




         Harris Trust and Savings Bank
         111 West Monroe
         Chicago, Illinois  60603
         Attn:  Greg Bins
         Facsimile No.: (312) 461-2968
         Telephone No.: (312) 461-2203


         Sanwa Bank California
         Real Estate Industries
         4041 MacArthur Boulevard
         Suite 100
         Newport Beach, California  92660
         Attn:  Russ Wakeham
         Facsimile No.: (714) 852-1510
         Telephone No.: (714) 632-6007


         Norwest Bank Arizona, National Association
         Commercial Real Estate Department
         3300 N. Central Avenue, 2nd Floor
         Phoenix, Arizona  85012
         Attn:  Kevin Kosan
         Facsimile No.: (602) 248-3661
         Telephone No.: (602) 248-3655

         Summit Bank
         3 Valley Square, Suite 280
         512 Township Line Road
         Blue Bell, Pennsylvania  19422
         Attn: Brian Daniel
         Facsimile No.: (215) 619-4840
         Telephone No. (215) 619-4832

         8.15     Final Agreement.  THE WRITTEN LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT

                                     - 70 -




THE FINAL  AGREEMENT  BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO AND MAY NOT BE  CONTRADICTED BY
EVIDENCE OF PRIOR,  CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES
HERETO.

              [THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]


                                     - 71 -




         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed  by their  duly  authorized  officers  as of the day and year set forth
above.

BORROWER:                              D.R. HORTON, INC., a Delaware corporation

Date of Execution:
   April 21, 1998                      By:/s/ David J. Keller
- ---------------------                     --------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Chief Financial Officer
                                             -----------------------------------

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT,
SYNDICATION AGENT,
DOCUMENTATION AGENT,                   NATIONSBANK, N.A., as Administrative
MANAGING AGENTS,                       Agent, Issuing Bank and as a Bank
CO-AGENTS AND BANKS:

                                       By:/s/ Henry A. Dyer, Jr.
Date of Execution:                        --------------------------------------
   April 21, 1998                      Title:  Senior Vice President
- ---------------------                        -----------------------------------


                                       BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST
                                       AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION, as
                                       Syndication Agent and as a Bank
Date of Execution:

   April 21, 1998                      By:/s/ Robert Dowling
- ---------------------                     --------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Vice President
                                             -----------------------------------


                                       FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Documentation
                                       Agent and as a Bank
Date of Execution:

   April 20, 1998                      By:/s/ Patrick Burns
- ---------------------                     --------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Vice President
                                             -----------------------------------




                                       BANK UNITED, as a Managing Agent and as a
                                       Bank
Date of Execution:

  April 21, 1998                       By:/s/ Carolynn Alexander
- ---------------------                     --------------------------------------
                                       Title:  
                                             -----------------------------------


                                       COMERICA BANK, as a Managing Agent and
                                       as a Bank
Date of Execution:

  April 20, 1998                       By:/s/ David J. Campbell
- ---------------------                     --------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Vice President
                                             -----------------------------------

                                       CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH,
                                       as a Managing Agent and as a Bank
Date of Execution:

  April 21, 1998                       By:/s/ Robert Ivosevich
- ---------------------                     --------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Senior Vice President
                                             -----------------------------------







                                       SOCIETE GENERALE, SOUTHWEST
                                       AGENCY, as a Managing Agent and a Bank
Date of Execution:

  April 21, 1998                       By:/s/ David C. Oldani
- ---------------------                     --------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Assistant Treasurer
                                             -----------------------------------

Date of Execution:

  April 21, 1998                       By:/s/ Christopher J. Speltz
- ---------------------                     --------------------------------------
                                       Title:  V.P. and Manager
                                             -----------------------------------

                                       AMSOUTH BANK, as a Co-Agent and a Bank
Date of Execution:

  April 21, 1998                       By:/s/ Ronny Hudspeth
- ---------------------                     --------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Vice President
                                             -----------------------------------

                                       BANK ONE, ARIZONA, NA, as a Co-Agent
                                       and a Bank
Date of Execution:

  April 21, 1998                       By:/s/ Jenny Pescatore
- ---------------------                     --------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Vice President
                                             -----------------------------------


                                       PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
                                       a Co-Agent and as a Bank
Date of Execution:

  April 21, 1998                       By:/s/ Douglas G. Paul
- ---------------------                     --------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Vice President
                                             -----------------------------------




                                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
                                       CHICAGO, as a Co-Agent and as a Bank
Date of Execution:

  April 21, 1998                       By:/s/ Lynn Braun
- ---------------------                     --------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Corporate Banking Officer
                                             -----------------------------------


                                       FIRST AMERICAN BANK TEXAS, SSB, as a
                                       Bank
Date of Execution:

  April 21, 1998                       By:/s/ William L. Kinard
- ---------------------                     --------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Vice President
                                             -----------------------------------


                                       HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK, as a
                                       Bank
Date of Execution:

  April 21, 1998                       By:/s/ Gregory M. Bins
- ---------------------                     --------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Vice President
                                             -----------------------------------


                                       SANWA BANK CALIFORNIA, as a Bank
Date of Execution:

  April 21, 1998                       By:/s/ Russ Wakeham
- ---------------------                     --------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Vice President
                                             -----------------------------------




                                       NORWEST BANK ARIZONA, NATIONAL
                                       ASSOCIATION, as a Bank
Date of Execution:

  April 21, 1998                       By:/s/ Kevin Kosan
- ---------------------                     --------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Vice President
                                             -----------------------------------


                                       SUMMIT BANK, as a Bank
Date of Execution:

  April 21, 1998                       By:/s/ Brian D. Daniel
- ---------------------                     --------------------------------------
                                       Title:  Vice President, Regional Manager
                                             -----------------------------------






                                  SCHEDULE 1.13

                            Multi-Level Pricing Grid


====================================================================================================================
                                                                                                     Facility Fee
              Leverage Ratio or S&P/Moody's Rating as of                                              (multiply
          the quarter end or most recently completed quarter               Applicable Margin        Commitments by)
===================================================================  ==========  ===============  ==================
                                                                      LIBOR +    Federal Funds +
                                                                                                 
Level I         less than 1.00 to 1.00 and better than BBB- or Baa3   37.5 bps       52.5 bps           12.5 bps
Level II     1.0 or greater but not to exceed 1.25 and BBB- or Baa3   57.5 bps       72.5 bps           17.5 bps
Level III                  greater than 1.25 but not to exceed 1.75     75 bps       90.0 bps           20.0 bps
Level IV                   greater than 1.75 but not to exceed 2.00     90 bps      105.0 bps           25.0 bps
Level V                    greater than 2.00 but not to exceed 2.25    105 bps      120.0 bps           30.0 bps
Level VI                   greater than 2.25 but not to exceed 2.60    125 bps      140.0 bps           30.0 bps
===================================================================  ==========  ===============  ==================







                                         SCHEDULE 1.55

                                          Guarantors

DRHI, Inc., a Delaware corporation
D.R. Horton, Inc. - Minnesota, a Delaware corporation
Meadows I, Ltd., a Delaware corporation
Meadows II, Ltd., a Delaware corporation
Meadows IX, Ltd., a New Jersey corporation
Meadows X, Ltd., a New Jersey corporation
D.R. Horton Denver Management Company, Inc., a Colorado corporation
D.R. Horton Management Company, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership
D.R. Horton, Inc. - Sacramento, a California corporation
D.R. Horton Sacramento Management Company, Inc., a California corporation
D.R. Horton Los Angeles Holding Company, Inc., a California corporation
D.R. Horton, Inc. - Albuquerque, a Delaware corporation
D.R. Horton, Inc. - Birmingham, an Alabama corporation
D.R. Horton, Inc. - Denver, a Delaware corporation
D.R. Horton, Inc. - Greensboro, a Delaware corporation
D.R. Horton, Inc. - New Jersey, a New Jersey corporation
D.R. Horton Los Angeles Management Company,  Inc., a California corporation 
D.R. Horton San Diego Holding Company, Inc., a California corporation 
D.R. Horton San Diego Management  Company,  Inc., a California corporation  
D.R. Horton-Texas, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership
DRH Construction, Inc., a Delaware corporation
SGS Communities at Grande Quay, L.L.C., a New Jersey limited liability company 
D.R. Horton,  Inc. - Torrey, a Delaware corporation 
S.G. Torrey Atlanta, Ltd., a Georgia corporation 
C. Richard Dobson Builders, Inc., a Virginia corporation 
Land Development, Inc., a Virginia corporation 
Continental Homes of Florida, Inc., a Florida corporation 
KDB Homes, Inc., a Delaware corporation 
Continental Homes, Inc., a Delaware corporation 
L&W Investments, Inc., a California corporation 
Continental Ranch, Inc., a Delaware corporation 
CHTEX of Austin, Inc., a Delaware corporation
CH Investments  of Texas II,  Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation
CHI Construction Company, an Arizona company  
Continental Homes of Austin, L.P., a Texas limited partnership  
Continental Homes of San Antonio, L.P., a Texas limited partnership
Continental Homes of Dallas, L.P., a Texas limited partnership
DRH New Mexico Construction, Inc., a Delaware corporation
DRH Tucson Construction, Inc., a Delaware corporation