EXHIBIT 10.8
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                          HEADLANDS MORTGAGE COMPANY

                    FOUNDERS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

     This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement) is made and entered 
into as of December ___, 1997, by and among Headlands Mortgage Company, a 
California corporation (the "Company"), and the undersigned stockholders of the 
Company.

     In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and for other 
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby 
acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as
follows:

SECTION 1.     DEFINITIONS
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     As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the 
following meanings:

     "Affiliate" of a specified person shall mean any other person directly or 
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common 
control with such specified person. For purposes of this definition, "control," 
when used with respect to any person means the power to direct the management 
and policies of such person, directly or indirectly, whether through the 
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms 
"controlling" and "controlled have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

     "Common Stock" shall mean the Company's Common Stock.

     "Company" shall mean Headlands Mortgage Company, a California corporation, 
until a successor replaces it and thereafter means such successor.

     "Company Allotment" shall be as defined in Section 3(b).

     "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 
and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

     "Holders" shall be as defined in Section 2(b) hereof.

     "Holders Allotment" shall be as defined in 4(b).

     "NASD" means National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

     "NASDAQ/NMS shall mean Nasdaq National Market.

     "Other Holders Allotment" shall be as defined in Section 4(b).

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     "Person" shall mean an individual, trustee, corporation, partnership, 
limited liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated 
association, union, business association, firm or other entity.

     "Piggyback Notice" shall have the meaning as set in forth Section 3(a) 
hereof.

     "Piggyback Underwritten Offering" shall have the meaning as set forth in 
Section 3(a) hereof.

     "Proceeding" shall mean an action, claim, suit or proceeding (including, 
without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a 
deposition), where commenced or threatened.

     "Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration 
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses 
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective 
Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the 
Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with 
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable 
Securities covered by such Registration Statement, and all other amendments and
supplements to Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material
incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus.

     "Registrable Securities" shall mean the shares of Common Stock held by such
Holder on the date of this Agreement until such time as such shares of Common 
Stock shall have been effectively registered under the Securities Act and 
disposed of in accordance with the Registration Statement covering such shares, 
or are otherwise freely transferable by the holder without requirement of 
registration under the Securities Act.

     "Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement of the 
Company that covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions
of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements of such 
Registration Statement and all exhibits and all material incorporated by 
reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Registration 
Statement.

     "Rule 144" shall mean Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may 
be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter 
adopted by the SEC.

     "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     "Underwriter" shall mean any Underwriter, placement agent, selling broker,
dealer manager, qualified independent Underwriter or similar securities industry
professional.

     "Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering" shall mean a 
registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter for 
re-offering to the public.

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SECTION 2.   SECURITIES SUBJECT TO THIS AGREEMENT

             (a)    Registrable Securities. The securities entitled to the
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benefits of this Agreement are the Registrable Securities.

             (b)    Holders of Registrable Securities. A Person is deemed to be
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a Holder of Registrable Securities (each, a "Holder") whenever such Person owns
Registrable Securities.

SECTION 3.   PIGGYBACK REGISTRATION

             (a)    Right to Piggyback. If the Company proposes to file a
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Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to a firm
commitment underwritten public offering of Common Stock (other than a
Registration Statement (i) on Form S-4, Form S-8 or any successor forms thereto
or (ii) filed solely in connection with an exchange offer or any employee
benefit or dividend reinvestment plan), whether or not for its own account, then
the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to the Holders of
Registrable Securities at least fifteen (15) days before the anticipated filing
date (the "Piggyback Notice"). The Piggyback Notice shall offer such Holders the
opportunity to include in such Underwritten Offering such amount of Registrable
Securities as each such Holder may request (a "Piggyback Underwritten 
Offering"). Subject to Section 3(b) hereof, the Company shall include in each 
such Piggyback Underwritten Offering all Registrable Securities with respect to
which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within ten
(10) days after notice has been given to the applicable Holder (which request
shall specify the intended method of distribution). The Holders of Registrable
Securities shall be permitted to withdraw all or part of the Registrable
Securities from a Piggyback Underwritten Offering at any time prior to the 
effective date of such Piggyback Underwritten Offering.

             (b)    Priority on Piggyback Underwritten Offerings. The Company
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shall cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten
Offering to permit Holders of Registrable Securities to include all such
Registrable Securities requested to be included in the Piggyback Underwritten
Offering on the same terms and conditions as any other shares of Common Stock,
if any, of the Company included therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
managing Underwriter or Underwriters of such Piggyback Underwritten Offering
have informed the Company in writing that it is their opinion that the total
amount of securities that such Holders, the Company and any other Persons having
rights to participate in such offering, intended to include in such offering is
such as to materially and adversely affect the success of such offering, then
the Common Stock to be offered in the Piggyback Underwritten Offering shall be
the amount recommended by such managing Underwriter or Underwriters and the
Common Stock to be included in such Piggyback Underwritten Offering shall be
included in the following order of priority: (i) for the account of the Company,
as many shares as the Company may desire or be permitted to sell at such time
(the "Company Allotment"); (ii) for the account of all such other Persons (other
than the Company), as many shares as such Persons may desire to sell at such 
time, (the "Other Holders Allotment"); and (iii) the remaining capacity, if any,
for the account of the Holders (the "Holders Allotment"), to be divided among
such Holders pro rata in production to the respective dollar amounts of such
securities requested to be registered.

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SECTION 4.     HOLD-BACK AGREEMENTS

               (a)  Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable 
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Securities. Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees, in connection with 
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any sale of securities by the Company and in connection with any Registration 
Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof in which all or a portion of the 
Company Allotment is being sold, until such time as there are no remaining 
Registrable Securities, if requested (pursuant to a timely written notice) by 
the Company or the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten 
Offering, not to effect any public sale or distribution of any of its 
Registrable Securities, including a sale pursuant to Rule 144 (except as part of
such Underwritten Offering), during the sale pursuant to Rule 144 (except as 
part of such Underwritten Offering), during the period beginning ten (10) days 
prior to, and ending ninety (90) days after, the closing date of such 
Underwritten Offering made by the Company or pursuant to such Registration
Statement, unless a shorter time period is agreed to be the managing Underwriter
or Underwriters.

               (b)  Restrictions on Public Sale by the Company. The Company 
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agrees that without the written consent of the managing Underwriter or 
Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities as described 
in Section 3 hereof in which all or a portion of the Holders Allotment is being 
sold, it will not affect any public or private sale or distribution of its 
equity securities, including a sale pursuant to Regulation D under the 
Securities Act, during the ten (10) day period prior to, and the ninety (90) day
period beginning on, the closing date of each such Underwritten Offering, unless
a shorter time period is agreed to by the managing Underwriter or Underwriters 
(except (v) as part of such Underwritten Registration, (w) pursuant to 
registrations on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any successor form to such forms or 
pursuant to any unregistered offering to the Company's employees or directors,
or to employees of its subsidiaries, pursuant to any employee benefit plan (as
defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) or dividend reinvestment plan, (x)
pursuant to the conversion of preferred stock or exercise of warrants, (y) in
connection with an exchange offer or (z) in connection with the acquisition of
assets by the Company or its subsidiaries).

SECTION 5.     REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

     In connection with the Company's registration obligations pursuant to 
Section 3 hereof, the Company shall effect such registration(s) to permit the 
sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or 
methods of disposition thereof, as follows:

               (a)  Prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or 
Registration Statements on such form which shall be available for the sale of 
Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of 
distribution thereof, and use its best efforts to cause such Registration 
Statement to become effective and to remain effective as provided herein; 
provided, however, that before filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus or 
any amendments or supplements thereof (including documents that would be 
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the Company 
shall notify the Holders of the Registrable Securities covered by such 
Registration Statement, their counsel and managing Underwriters, if any, of its 
intention to file such documents, and upon request shall furnish to such parties
so


 
requesting copies of all such documents, and upon request shall furnish to such 
parties so requesting copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which 
documents will be subject to the review of such Holders, their counsel and such 
Underwriters, if any, provided, however, that the Company shall not be required 
to deliver to such Holders a copy of any such document that has not been 
materially changed from a copy of such document that was previously delivered to
such Holders.

          (b)  Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments to each 
Registration Statement as may be necessary to cause such Registration Statement 
to become effective with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by
such Registration Statement; and cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented
by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed 
pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the 
Securities Act.

          (c)  Notify the selling Holders of Registrable Securities, their 
counsel and the managing Underwriters, if any, promptly, and (if requested by 
any such Person), confirm such notice in writing, (i) when a Registration 
Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed, and, with respect to a 
Registration Statement, when the same has become effective, (ii) of any request 
by the SEC or any other Federal or state governmental authority for amendments 
or supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for 
additional information (provided, the Company shall not be required to 
notify the Holders or their counsel of all "comment" letters received by the 
Company from the SEC or to deliver copies of such comment letters of the 
Company's responses thereto to the Holders or their counsel unless such letters 
request information from or about the Holders), (iii) of the issuance by the SEC
of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or
the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if at any time the 
representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement 
(including any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 5(n) below cases 
to be true and correct, (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification 
with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from 
qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction,
or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, and (vi) of
the happening of any event that makes any statement made in such Registration 
Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be 
incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that 
requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement, Prospectus or
documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not 
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material 
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the 
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

          (d)  Use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the lifting of any
suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the
Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction.

          (e)  If requested by managing Underwriters, if any, or the Holders of 
a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities being sold in 
connection with an Underwritten Offering, promptly include in a Prospectus 
supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing 
Underwriters, if any, and such Holders may

 
reasonably request in order to permit the intended method of distribution of 
such securities and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or 
such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has 
received such request; provided however, that the Company shall not be required 
to take any actions under this Section 5(e) that are not, in the opinion of 
counsel for the Company, in compliance with applicable law.

          (f)  Furnish to a selling Holder of Registrable Securities, their 
counsel and each managing Underwriter, if any, without charge, at lease one 
conformed copy of the Registration Statement and each post-effective amendment 
thereto, including financial statements (but excluding schedules, all documents 
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and all 
exhibits, unless requested in writing by such holder, counsel or Underwriter).

          (g)  Deliver to each selling Holder of Registrable Securities, their 
counsel, and the Underwriters, if any, without charge, as many copies of the 
Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each 
amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request in 
connection with the distribution of the Registrable Securities; and the Company 
hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement 
thereto by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities and the 
Underwriters, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the 
Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any such amendment or 
supplement thereto.

          (h)  Use its best efforts to register or qualify, or obtain an 
exemption therefrom (or cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable 
Securities, the Underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection
with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or 
qualification)) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the 
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as 
any seller (or Underwriter) reasonably requests in writing and to keep such 
registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the 
period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective; provided, 
however, that the Company will not be required to (A) qualify generally to do 
business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (B) take any 
action that would subject it to general service of process or to taxation in any
such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

          (i)  Cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities and 
the managing Underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and 
delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold, which 
certificates shall be in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust 
Company; and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and 
registered in such names as the managing Underwriters, if any, or Holders may 
request at least two (2) business days prior to any sale of Registrable 
Securities in a firm commitment public offering, or in any other such sale 
within ten (10) business days.

          (j)  Use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered 
by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other 
governmental agencies or authorities within the United States, except as may be 
required solely as a consequence of the nature of such selling Holder's 
business, in which case the Company will cooperate in all best

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respects with the filing of such Registration Statement and the granting of such
approvals as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the 
Underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable 
Securities.

          (k)  Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 5(c)(vi)
above, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration 
Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required 
document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable 
Securities being sold thereunder, such Prospectus will not contain an untrue 
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be 
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the 
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

          (l)  Prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement 
relating to the Registrable Securities, provide a CUSIP number for the 
Registrable Securities.

          (m)  Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered 
by such Registration Statement to be authorized to be quoted on the NASDAQ/NMS 
or listed on a national securities exchange.

          (n)  Enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement 
in form, scope and substance as is customary in Underwritten Offerings) and take
all such other actions reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the 
Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith (including those 
reasonably requested by the managing Underwriters, if any) in order to expedite 
or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, and in such 
connection, whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether
or not the registration is an Underwritten Registration, (i) make such 
representations and warranties to the Holders of such Registrable Securities and
the Underwriters, if any, with respect to the business of the Company and its 
subsidiaries, and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, 
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, in
form, substance and scope as are customarily made by users to Underwriters in 
Underwritten Offerings, and if true, confirm the same if and when requested, 
(ii) use its reasonable efforts to obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and
updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall
be reasonably satisfactory to the managing Underwriters, if any, and counsel to
the Holders of the Registrable Securities being sold), addressed to each selling
Holder of Registrable Securities and each of the Underwriters, if any, covering 
the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in Underwritten Offerings 
and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such counsel and 
Underwriters, (iii) use its reasonable efforts to obtain "cold comfort" letters 
and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the 
Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants 
of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for 
which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, 
included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each selling Holder of 
Registrable Securities (unless such accountants shall be prohibited from so 
addressing such letters by applicable standards of the accounting profession) 
and each of the Underwriters, if any, such letters to be in customary form and 
covering matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in 
connection

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with Underwritten Offerings, (iv) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, 
the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures substantially 
to the effect set forth in Section 7 hereof with respect to all parties to be 
indemnified pursuant to said Section and (v) deliver such documents and 
certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the 
Registrable Securities being sold, their counsel and the managing Underwriters, 
if any, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties
made pursuant to Section 5(b)(i) above and to evidence compliance with any 
customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement 
entered into by the Company. The above shall be done at each closing under such 
underwriting or similar agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder.

     (o)  Make available for inspection by a representative of the Holders of 
Registrable Securities being sold, any Underwriter participating in any such 
disposition of Registrable Securities, if any, and any attorney or accountant 
retained by such selling Holders or Underwriter, at the offices where normally 
kept, during reasonable business hours, all financial and other records, 
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its 
subsidiaries, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company and
its subsidiaries to supply all information in each case reasonably requested by 
any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with 
such Registration Statement; provided, however, that any information that is 
designated by the Company in writing as confidential at the time of delivery of 
such information shall be kept confidential by such Persons unless (i)
disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order,
(ii) disclosure of such information, in the opinion of counsel to such Person,
is required by law, or (iii) such information becomes generally available to the
public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by such
Person. Without limiting the foregoing, no such information shall be used by
such Person as the basis for any market transactions in securities by the
Company or its subsidiaries in violation of law.

     (p)  Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make 
generally available to its securities Holders earning statements satisfying the 
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder, or 
any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act, no later than forty-five 
(45) days after the end of any twelve (12) month period (or ninety (90) days 
after the end of any twelve (12) month period if such period is a fiscal year) 
(i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities 
are sole to Underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts Underwritten 
Offering and (ii) if not sold to Underwriters in such an offering, commencing on
the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective 
date of the Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said twelve 
(12) month periods.

     (q)  Make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order 
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement at the earliest 
possible moment.

     (r)  Cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the NASD 
and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any Underwriter 
(including any "qualified independent Underwriter" that is required to be 
retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD.

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     The Company may require each seller Registrable Securities as to which any 
registration is being effected to furnish to the Company such information 
regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the
Company may, from time to time, reasonably request in writing and the Company 
may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any seller who 
unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after 
receiving such request.

     Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees by acquisition of such 
Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the 
happening of any event of the kind described in Section 5(c)(ii), (iii), (v) or 
(vi) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such 
Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or Prospectus 
until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended 
Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof, or until it is advised in 
writing by the Company that the use of applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and
has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are 
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

SECTION 6.     REGISTRATION EXPENSES

               (a)  All expenses incident to the Company's performance of or 
compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless whether 
a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 herein becomes effective, 
including without limitation:

                    (i)    all registration and filing fees and expenses
associated with any SEC filing;

                    (ii)   fees and expenses of compliance with federal
securities or state blue sky laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Underwriters or selling Holders in connection with the "blue sky"
qualifications of the Registrable Securities pursuant to 5(h) herein);

                    (iii)  expenses of printing (including, without limitation, 
expenses of printing or engraving certificates for the Registrable Securities in
a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and of printing 
Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone.

                    (iv)   reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the 
Company and for the Holders of the Registrable Securities (subject to the 
provisions of Section 4(b) hereof);

                    (v)    fees and disbursements of all independent certified
public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit
and "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance);

                    (vi)   fees and expenses associated with any NASD filing
required to be made in connection with a Registration Statement, including, if
applicable, the fees and expenses

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of any "qualified independent Underwriter" (and its counsel) that is required to
be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD; and

                    (vii)  fees and expenses of listing the Registrable
Securities on any securities exchange or quotation system in accordance with
Section 5(m) hereof. All such expenses being herein called "Registration
Expenses."

               The Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses
(including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and
employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual
audit, rating agency fees and the fees and expenses of any Person, including
special experts, retained by the Company. The Holders of the Registrable
Securities shall bear the expense of any broker's commission or Underwriters'
discount or commission.

               (b)  In connection with the Registration Statement, the Company
will reimburse the Holders of Registrable Securities being registered pursuant
to such Registration Statement for the fees and disbursements of not more than
one counsel chosen by a majority of the Holders of the for the fees and
disbursements of not more than one counsel chosen by a majority of the Holders
of the Registrable Securities to be included in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that in the case of an Underwritten Offering which includes
shares of Common Stock, such counsel shall be chosen by the Holders of a
majority of the shares of Common Stock to be included in such Underwritten
Offering. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6, each Holder of
Registrable Securities shall pay all registration expenses to the extent
required by applicable law.

SECTION 7.     INDEMNIFICATION

               (a)  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Holder (each such Holder an "Indemnified Holder") and each Underwriter
participated in the distribution (each such Underwriter as "Indemnified
Underwriter") and each person that controls each Indemnified Holder or
Indemnified Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and agents, employees, officers and directors
or any such controlling person of any Indemnified Holder or Indemnified
Underwriter from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, judgments,
liabilities and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel
and other expenses in connection with investigating, defending or setting any
such action or claim) as they are incurred arising out of or based upon an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the
Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any
preliminary Prospectus or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except (i) the Company
shall not be liable to any Indemnified Holder or Indemnified Underwriter in any
such case insofar as such losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities or
expenses arise out of, or are based upon, any such untrue statement or omission
or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to such
Indemnified Holder or Indemnified Underwriter furnished in writing by such
Indemnified Holder or Indemnified Underwriter to the Company expressly for use

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therein, and (ii) the Company shall not be liable to any Indemnified Holder or 
Indemnified Underwriter under the indemnity agreement in this Section 7(a) with 
respect to any preliminary Prospectus to the extent that any such loss, claim, 
damage, judgment, liability or expense results solely from the fact that any 
Indemnified Holder or Indemnified Underwriter sold Registrable Securities to a 
person to whom there was not sent or give, at or prior to the written 
confirmation of such sale, a copy of the Prospectus as then amended or 
supplemented, if the Company has previously furnished sufficient copies thereof 
to the Indemnified Holder or Indemnified Underwriter.

          (b)  If any action or proceeding (including any governmental or 
regularly investigation or proceeding) shall be brought or asserted against any 
Indemnified Holder or Indemnified Underwriter with respect to which indemnity 
may be sought against the Company pursuant to Section 7(a) such Indemnified 
Holder or Indemnified Underwriter shall promptly notify the Company in writing,
and the Company shall have the right to assume the defense thereof, including
the employment of counsel reasonable satisfactory of such Indemnified Holder or
Indemnified Underwriter and payment of all fees and expenses; provided, however,
that the omission so to notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from
any liability that they may have to any Indemnified Holder or Indemnified
Underwriter (except to the extent that the Company is materially prejudiced or
otherwise forfeits substantive rights or defenses by reason of such failure). An
Indemnified Holder or Indemnified Underwriter shall have the right to employ
separate counsel in any such action or proceeding and to participate in the
defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of such Indemnified Holder or Indemnified Underwriter unless (i) the
Company agrees in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (ii) the Company has
failed to assume the defense and employ counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified
Holder or Indemnified Underwriter or (iii) the named parties to any such action
or proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnified
Holder or Indemnified Underwriter and the Company and such Indemnified Holder or
Indemnified Underwriter shall have been advised in writing by its counsel that
representation of them and the Company by the same counsel would be
inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct (whether or not
such representation has been proposed) due to actual or potential differing
interests between them (in which case the Company shall not have the right to
assume the defense of such action on behalf of such Indemnified Holder or
Indemnified Underwriter). It is understood that the Company shall not, in
connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or
related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than
one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any time
for such Indemnified Holders or Indemnified Underwriters, which firm shall be
designated in writing by the majority of Holders of the Registrable Securities
on behalf of the Holders of all of the Registrable Securities, and that all such
fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. The Company shall
not be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without the written
consent of the Company, but if settled with the written consent of the Company,
or if there is a final judgment with respect thereto, the Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Holder or Indemnified Underwriter
from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of each Indemnified
Holder or Indemnified Underwriter affected thereby, effect any settlement of any
pending or threatened proceeding in which such Indemnified Holder or Indemnified
Underwriter has sought indemnity

                                      11

 
hereunder, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such 
Indemnified Holder or Indemnified Underwriter from all liability arising out of 
such action, claim, litigation or proceeding.

          (c)  Each Holder and Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and
any person controlling the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively, the "Company 
Indemnified Parties") to the extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company 
to any Indemnified Holder or Indemnified Underwriter, but only with respect to 
information relating to each Holder and Underwriter furnished to the Company in 
writing by each Holder or Underwriter, respectively, expressly for use in the 
Registration Statement, Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or 
any preliminary Prospectus.  In case any action shall be brought against any 
Company Indemnified Party based on the Registration Statement, Prospectus (or 
any amendment or supplement thereto), or any preliminary Prospectus and in 
respect of which indemnification may be sought against each Holder and 
Underwriter pursuant to this Section 7(c), each Holder and Underwriter shall 
have the rights and duties given to the Company by Section 7(a) (except that if 
the Company shall have assumed the defense thereof, each Holder and Underwriter 
may, but shall not be required to, employ separate counsel therein and 
participate in the defense thereof and the fees and expenses of such counsel 
shall be at the expense of the Holder or Underwriter) and the Company 
Indemnified Parties shall have the rights and duties given to the Indemnified 
Holders or Indemnified Underwriters by Section 7(b).

          (d)  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is 
unavailable to any party entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 7(a) or
(c), then each indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified 
party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party 
as a result of such losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities and expenses
(i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the benefits received by the
Company on the one hand, and each Indemnified Holder or Indemnified Underwriter
on the other, from the offering of the Registrable Securities or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on
the one hand and each Indemnified Holder or Indemnified Underwriter on the other
in connection with the statement or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, judgments, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company
on the one hand and each Indemnified Holder or Indemnified Underwriter on the
other shall be deemed to be in the same proportions as the total net proceeds
from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to
the total net discounts and commissions received by each Indemnified Holder or
Indemnified Underwriter, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover
page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand each
Indemnified Holder or Indemnified Underwriter on the other shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omissions or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or
by each Indemnified Holder or Indemnified Underwriter on the other and the
parties' relative intent,
                                      12

 
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such 
statement or omission.

             (e)    The Company and each Indemnified Holder or Indemnified 
Underwriter agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution 
pursuant to Section 7(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other 
method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations 
referred to in Section 7(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party 
as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to 
in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to 
the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim. No person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within 
the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to 
contribution from any person who was not found guilty of such fraudulent 
misrepresentation.

             (f)    The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this 
Section 7 are in addition to any liability that any indemnifying party may 
otherwise have to any indemnified party.

SECTION 8.   PARTICIPATION IN UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS

     No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless
such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's Registrable Securities on the basis
provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled 
hereunder to approve such arrangements, (b) completes and executes all 
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, 
hold-back agreements and other documents required under the terms of such 
underwriting arrangements, and (c) furnishes the Company in writing information 
in accordance with the second to the last paragraph of Section 5 and agrees to 
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign 
the Registration Statement and any person controlling the Company within the 
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as
contemplated by Section 7(c).

SECTION 9.   MISCELLANEOUS

             (a)    Remedies. Each Holder of Registrable Securities, in addition
                    -------- 
to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein and granted by law, 
including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of such 
Holder's rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees that monetary damages 
would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach 
by it of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agrees to waive the defence
in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

             (b)    No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not on or after
                    --------------------------
the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to its
securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of
Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities

                                      13

    

 
hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the 
rights granted to the Holders of the Company's securities under any other 
agreements.

          (c)  Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, 
               ----------------------
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or 
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures with the provisions hereof 
may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of a 
majority of the Holders of the Registrable Securities affected by such 
amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or departure. Notwithstanding the 
foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof that 
relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Securities whose 
securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not
directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders of Registrable
Securities shall be valid only with the written consent of Holders of at least
66-2/3% of the Registrable Securities sold.

          (d)  Notices.  All notices and other communications provided for or 
               -------
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail 
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air 
courtier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

               (i)   if to a Holder of Registrable Securities, at the most 
current address given by such Holder to the Company; and

               (ii)  if to the Company, to

                     Headlands Mortgage Company
                     1100 Larkspur Landing Circle
                     Suite 101
                     Larkspur, California 94939
                     Attn: President

               with a copy to:

                     Tobin & Tobin
                     One Montgomery Street, 15th Floor
                     San Francisco, CA 94104
                     Attn: Phillip R. Pollock

     All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly 
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five (5) business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when 
answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the 
next business day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight 
delivery.

          (e)  Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
               ----------------------
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, 
including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, and
subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities; provided, however, that this 
Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding

                                      14



 
upon a successor or assign of a Holder of Registrable Securities unless and to 
the extent such successor or assign acquired Registrable Securities from such 
Holder. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in
any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable 
Securities shall be held subject to all the terms of this Agreement and by 
taking and holding such Registrable Securities such person shall be conclusively
seemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and 
provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the 
benefits hereof.

          (f)  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of 
               ------------
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which 
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken 
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

          (g)  Headings.  The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of 
               --------
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

          (h)  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
               -------------
in accordance with the laws of the state of New York, without regard to the 
conflict of law rules thereof.

          (i)  Severability.  In the event that any one or more of the 
               ------------     
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is 
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and 
enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining
provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

          (j)  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
               ----------------
final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive 
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, 
warranties or undertakings, other than referred to herein with respect to the 
registration rights granted by the Company with respect to Registrable 
Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings 
between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

                                      15

 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.

COMPANY:                                HEADLANDS MORTGAGE COMPANY      
                                                                        
                                        By____________________________________
                                          Peter T. Paul, President            
                                                                              
STOCKHOLDERS:                           JESSICA M. PAUL IRREVOCABLE TRUST     
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                        By *                                  
                                          ------------------------------------
                                          Daniel W. Paul, as Trustee of the 
                                          Jessica M. Paul Irrevocable Trust 
                                          dated May 21, 1997            
                                                                           
                                        THE JESSICA M. PAUL GRANTOR TRUST  
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                        By *                               
                                          ------------------------------------
                                          Gilbert J. MacQuarrie, as Trustee of
                                          the Jessica M. Paul Grantor Trust 
                                          dated May 21, 1997       
                                                                   
                                        PETER T. PAUL LIVING TRUST 
                                                                   
                                        By *                       
                                          ------------------------------------
                                          Peter T. Paul, as Trustee of the 
                                          Peter T. Paul Living Trust dated May
                                          21, 1997      
                                                                              
                                           *                                  
                                        --------------------------------------
                                        DENNIS M. HART                        
                                                                              
                                           *                                  
                                        --------------------------------------
                                        KATHERINE E. HART                     
                                                                              
                                           *                                  
                                        --------------------------------------
                                        D. MICHAEL HART, JR.                  
                                                                              
                                           *                                  
                                        --------------------------------------
                                        ELIZABETH A. HART                     
                                                                              
                                           *                                  
                                        --------------------------------------
                                        CHRISTOPHER K. HART                   

__________________________________________
/*/By Peter T. Paul as Voting Trustee 
Pursuant to the Voting Trust Agreement 
Dated as of September 15, 1997, as Amended  

                                      16