80
                                                                    EXHIBIT-10.2

                                                            Employment Agreement
                                                      dated as of August 1, 1996
                                                             between Lexford and
                                                                     Pat Holder,
                                                            President of Lexford

                                                     August 1, 1996



Pat Holder
8615 Freeport Parkway
Suite 200
Irving, Texas  75063

Dear Pat:

         The  following  sets forth our  mutual  understanding  respecting  your
employment with the undersigned,  Lexford Properties,  Inc., a Texas corporation
(herein  referred to as  "Employer"),  and when this letter is signed by you the
same shall  constitute an  Employment  Agreement  between  Employer and you. For
purposes of this  Agreement,  you are herein  referred to in the third person as
"Employee". The terms of said Employment Agreement are as follows:

         1.       Employment.

                  (a)  During  the  term of this  Employment  Agreement,  or any
         extension or renewal hereof (for purposes hereof, all references herein
         to the term of this  Employment  Agreement  shall be deemed to  include
         references  to the  period of  extension  or renewal  hereof,  if any),
         Employee  will devote his full time and best efforts to his  employment
         and perform  diligently  such duties as are or may be from time to time
         required by the Board of Directors  of Employer  (the  "Board"),  which
         duties shall be consistent  with his position as set forth in paragraph
         2 hereof.

                  (b) Employee shall not,  without the prior written  consent of
         Employer,  directly or indirectly,  during the term of this  Employment
         Agreement,  other than in the performance of duties naturally  inherent
         in the business of Employer,  Employer's parent  corporation,  Cardinal
         Realty Services,  Inc., an Ohio corporation ("Parent") or any direct or
         indirect  subsidiary of Parent or Employer and in furtherance  thereof,
         render services of a business, professional or commercial nature to any
         other  person or firm,  whether  for  compensation  or  otherwise.  For
         purposes  of  this  Employment  Agreement,  all  references  herein  to
         subsidiaries  of  Parent  shall be  deemed  to  include  references  to
         subsidiaries  of either  Parent or Employer now or  hereafter  existing
         whether   owned   directly   or   indirectly   through   one  or   more
         intermediaries.


                                       81

Pat Holder
August 1, 1996
Page 2


         2.       Term and Positions; Office.

                  (a) Subject to the provisions  for  termination as hereinafter
         provided,  the term of this  Employment  Agreement  shall be  deemed to
         begin on August 1,  1996,  and  shall  continue  for a term of four (4)
         years from such date to and including July 31, 2000.

                  (b) Employee  shall serve as President of Employer and in such
         substitute or further offices or positions with Employer, Parent or any
         direct or indirect  subsidiary of Parent or Employer  (consistent  with
         such named office or position) as shall, from time to time, be assigned
         by the Board without, however, any change in Employee's compensation
         hereunder.

                  (c) During  the term of this  Employment  Agreement,  Employer
         shall provide Employee with use of the office space currently  occupied
         by Employee and located at 8615 Freeport  Parkway,  Suite 200,  Irving,
         Texas 75063.

         3.       Compensation.

                  (a) For all  services he may render to Employer and any direct
         or indirect  subsidiary  of Parent or Employer  during the term of this
         Employment Agreement,  Employee shall receive an aggregate salary while
         he is  employed  hereunder  at the  rate of One  Hundred  Seventy  Five
         Thousand Dollars ($175,000) per year ("Base Salary").  During the first
         year of the term of this Employment  Agreement,  Employee shall be paid
         his Base Salary as  follows:  Twenty Five  Thousand  Dollars  ($25,000)
         shall be paid upon the execution of this  Employment  Agreement and the
         balance  of his Base  Salary  shall be paid in  equal  installments  in
         accordance with Employer's  customary payroll  procedures.  During each
         subsequent year, Employee shall be paid his entire Base Salary in equal
         installments   in  accordance   with   Employer's   customary   payroll
         procedures.

                  (b) In addition to the Base Salary, Employee shall be entitled
         to  receive,  if earned,  a  performance  cash  bonus  (the  "Incentive
         Compensation")  as a Grade  11  -Property  Management  Executive  under
         Parent's 1996  Incentive  Compensation  Plan (the "Plan") as adopted by
         Parent's  Board of  Directors  on March 21, 1996 and as outlined on the
         attached  Exhibit A to this  Employment  Agreement  up to a maximum  of
         sixty percent (60%) of Employee's Base Salary earned during fiscal year
         1996 while this  Employment  Agreement  is in effect.  For  purposes of
         determining the amount, if any, of Incentive Compensation that Employee
         is entitled to in accordance with the calculations contained on Exhibit
         A, the target net income-property management for fiscal year 1996 shall
         be Six Million Nine Hundred Two Thousand Six Hundred and Seven  Dollars
         ($6,902,607) (it being  acknowledged that such target is different than
         the target for other employees of Parent under the Plan) and the actual
         net  income-property  management for fiscal year 1996 shall include the
         actual net profit of Lexford Properties, a Texas joint venture, and its
         successors in interest for fiscal year 1996 earned  prior  to the  date



                                       82

Pat Holder
August 1, 1996
Page 3


         hereof.  After  December 31, 1996 and during the remaining term of this
         Employment  Agreement,  Employee  shall be entitled to receive the same
         incentive  compensation as other similarly situated property management
         executives under Parent's then existing incentive compensation plan(s).

                  (c) During  the term of this  Employment  Agreement,  Employee
         shall be entitled to monthly  advances  ("Advances")  not to exceed Two
         Thousand  Dollars  ($2,000) per month  regardless  of the amount of any
         Advances made in prior months. All unpaid Advances received by Employee
         shall bear  interest  ("Interest")  at the  "prime"  or "base"  rate of
         interest  per annum,  as announced  from time to time by The  Provident
         Bank or Parent's  successor senior lender,  plus one percent (1%) until
         repaid.  Any  request  for an Advance  shall be made by Employee by the
         fifth (5th) day of each month upon the receipt of which  Employer  will
         fund such  Advance  by the  fifteenth  (15th)  day of such  month.  The
         Incentive Compensation earned by Employee, if any, for any period shall
         be applied by Parent  first to any  accrued  and unpaid  Interest  with
         respect  to  Advances  made,  second  to the  principal  amount  of any
         outstanding  Advances  and  the  balance,  if  any,  shall  be  paid to
         Employee.  If the  Incentive  Compensation  earned by Employee  for any
         period is less than the sum of the outstanding Advances and the accrued
         and unpaid Interest  thereon,  if any,  Employee shall pay such deficit
         (plus Interest accrued thereon to the date of payment) to Parent within
         ninety (90) days of Parent's demand therefor.

         4.       Additional  Compensation.  In addition to the compensation as 
above  stated,  Employee  shall  be   entitled  to   receive   such   additional
compensation, if any, as may be awarded from time to time by the Board.

         5.       Termination and Further Compensation.

                  (a)  The   employment  of  Employee   under  this   Employment
         Agreement, and the term hereof, may be terminated by Employer for cause
         at any time. For purposes  hereof the term "cause"  includes but is not
         limited to:

                         (i)   Employee's fraud, dishonesty, willful misconduct,
                  or  gross   negligence  in  the   performance  of  his  duties
                  hereunder; or

                         (ii)  Employee's  material   breach of any provision of
                  this Employment Agreement.

         Any  termination by reason of the foregoing  shall not be in limitation
         of any other right or remedy  Employer  may have under this  Employment
         Agreement or otherwise.


                                       83

Pat Holder
August 1, 1996
Page 4


                  (b) In the event of termination of this  Employment  Agreement
         by Employer pursuant to this paragraph 5, Employee shall be entitled to
         no further salary, additional compensation or other benefits under this
         Employment Agreement.

         6.       Renewal. The term of this Employment Agreement may be extended
or  renewed  by  mutual  agreement  of  Employer,  acting through the Board, and
Employee.

         7.       Reimbursement. Employer shall  reimburse  Employee (or provide
him with  an  expense  allowance) for travel, entertainment and  other  expenses
reasonably and  necessarily  incurred by Employee in the promotion of Employer's
business.

         8.       Covenants and Confidential Information.

                  (a)  Employee  agrees that during the term of this  Employment
         Agreement  and for a period  of one (1)  year  thereafter  (and,  as to
         clauses (iii) and (iv) of this  subparagraph (a), at any time after the
         term of this Employment Agreement) he will not, directly or indirectly,
         do or suffer any of the following:

                         (i)  Own,   manage,   control  or  participate  in  the
                  ownership, management or control of, or be employed or engaged
                  by or otherwise  affiliated  or  associated  as a  consultant,
                  independent   contractor   or   otherwise   with,   any  other
                  corporation,  partnership,  proprietorship, firm, association,
                  or other business entity, or otherwise engage in any business,
                  which is engaged in any manner in, or otherwise competes with,
                  the   business  of   Employer,   Parent  or  any  of  Parent's
                  subsidiaries  (as conducted on the date Employee  ceases to be
                  employed by Employer,  Parent or any of Parent's  subsidiaries
                  in any capacity, including as a consultant) in the continental
                  United States (it being acknowledged by Employee that Employer
                  and  Parent  each  conduct   businesses  of  national  scope);
                  provided,  however,  that the  ownership  of not more than one
                  percent (1%) of the stock of any publicly  traded  corporation
                  shall not be a violation of this covenant;

                        (ii) Employ, assist in employing, or otherwise associate
                  in  business  with any  present,  former or  future  employee,
                  officer  or  agent  of  Employer,  Parent  or any of  Parent's
                  subsidiaries;

                        (iii) Induce  any  person  who is an  employee,  officer
                  or agent of Employer,  Parent or any of Parent's  subsidiaries
                  to terminate said relationship; or

                        (iv) Disclose,  divulge,  discuss, copy or otherwise use
                  or suffer to be used in any manner,  in  competition  with, or
                  contrary  to the  interests  of,  Employer,  Parent  or any of
                  Parent's or Employer's  direct or indirect  subsidiaries,  the
                  customer  lists,  appraisals,  engineering  and  environmental
                  reports,  market  research,  investment  banking  analyses  or



                                       84


Pat Holder
August 1, 1996
Page 5


                  financial  and  engineering  data or other  trade  secrets  of
                  Employer,  Parent or any of  Parent's  subsidiaries,  it being
                  acknowledged by Employee that all such  information  regarding
                  the  business of Employer,  Parent and  Parent's  subsidiaries
                  compiled or  obtained  by, or  furnished  to,  Employee  while
                  Employee  shall  have  been  employed  by or  associated  with
                  Employer is confidential  information and Employer's exclusive
                  property.

                  (b) Employee  expressly agrees and understands that the remedy
         at law for any breach by him of this paragraph 8 will be inadequate and
         that the damages  flowing from such breach are not readily  susceptible
         to being measured in monetary  terms.  Accordingly,  it is acknowledged
         that  upon  adequate  proof  of  Employee's  violation  of any  legally
         enforceable  provision of this  paragraph 8, Employer shall be entitled
         to  immediate  injunctive  relief  and may  obtain  a  temporary  order
         restraining any threatened or further breach. Nothing in this paragraph
         8 shall be deemed to limit Employer's  remedies at law or in equity for
         any breach by Employee  of any of the  provisions  of this  paragraph 8
         which may be pursued or availed of by Employer.

                  (c)  In  the  event   Employee   shall   violate  any  legally
         enforceable  provision  of this  paragraph  8 as to  which  there  is a
         specific time period during which he is prohibited  from taking certain
         actions or from  engaging in certain  activities,  as set forth in such
         provision,  then, in such event,  such violation shall toll the running
         of  such  time  period  from  the  date of such  violation  until  such
         violation shall cease.

                  (D) EMPLOYEE HAS CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF
         THE  RESTRICTIONS  UPON HIM AND THE RIGHTS AND REMEDIES  CONFERRED UPON
         EMPLOYER  UNDER THIS  PARAGRAPH 8, AND HEREBY  ACKNOWLEDGES  AND AGREES
         THAT THE SAME ARE  REASONABLE  IN TIME AND  TERRITORY,  ARE DESIGNED TO
         ELIMINATE  COMPETITION WHICH OTHERWISE WOULD BE UNFAIR TO EMPLOYER,  DO
         NOT STIFLE THE INHERENT  SKILL AND  EXPERIENCE  OF EMPLOYEE,  WOULD NOT
         OPERATE  AS A BAR TO  EMPLOYEE'S  SOLE  MEANS  OF  SUPPORT,  ARE  FULLY
         REQUIRED TO PROTECT THE  LEGITIMATE  INTERESTS  OF EMPLOYER  AND DO NOT
         CONFER A BENEFIT UPON  EMPLOYER  DISPROPORTIONATE  TO THE  DETRIMENT TO
         EMPLOYEE.

         9. Severable  Provisions.  The provisions of this Employment  Agreement
are severable and if any one or more  provisions are determined to be illegal or
otherwise  unenforceable,  in whole or in part, the remaining provisions and any
partially  unenforceable provision to the extent enforceable in any jurisdiction
shall, nevertheless, be binding and enforceable.

         10. Death or Permanent Disability.  In the event of Employee's death or
permanent  disability (as hereinafter defined) occurring during the term of this
Employment  Agreement,  this Employment Agreement shall be deemed terminated and
he or his estate,  as the case may be,  shall be entitled to no further  salary,
other compensation or other privileges or benefits  hereunder,  except as to (i)
that  portion  of any  unpaid  salary or other  benefits  accrued  and earned by
Employee hereunder up to and including the day of death  or disability,  as  the



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Pat Holder
August 1, 1996
Page 6


case may be and (ii) in the case of permanent disability, continuation of salary
payments for nine (9) months. The phrase "permanent  disability" shall be deemed
to occur  after one  hundred  twenty  (120)  days in the  aggregate  during  any
consecutive  twelve (12) month period,  or after ninety (90)  consecutive  days,
during which one hundred  twenty (120) or ninety (90) days,  as the case may be,
Employee, by reason of his physical or mental disability or illness,  shall have
been unable to discharge fully his duties under this Employment Agreement.

         11.  Binding  Agreement.  The rights and  obligations of Employer under
this  Employment  Agreement  shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding
upon, Employer and its successors and assigns, and the rights and obligations of
Employee  under this  Employment  Agreement  shall  inure to the benefit of, and
shall be binding  upon,  Employee and his heirs,  personal  representatives  and
estate.

         12. Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to
this  Employment  Agreement,   or  the  breach  thereof,  shall  be  settled  by
arbitration in accordance with the Rules of the American Arbitration Association
then  pertaining  in the City of Columbus,  Ohio,  and  judgment  upon the award
rendered by the  Arbitrator  or  Arbitrators  may be entered in any Court having
jurisdiction  thereof.  The Arbitrator or Arbitrators shall be deemed to possess
the power to issue mandatory  orders and  restraining  orders in connection with
such arbitration;  provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph 12 shall be
construed  so as to deny  Employer  the  right  and  power  to seek  and  obtain
injunctive  relief in a court of equity for any breach or  threatened  breach by
Employee of any of his covenants  contained in  subparagraph  (a) of paragraph 8
hereof.

         13.  Notices.  Any notice to be given under this  Employment  Agreement
shall be  personally  delivered  in writing or shall have been deemed duly given
after it is posted in the United States Mails,  postage  prepaid,  registered or
certified,  return  receipt  requested,  and if  mailed  to  Employer,  shall be
addressed  to  Employer  c/o Parent at  Parent's  principal  place of  business,
Attention:  John B. Bartling, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, and if
mailed to Employee,  shall be addressed to him at his home address last shown on
the  records of  Employer,  or at such  other  address  or  addresses  as either
Employer or Employee may hereafter designate in writing to the other.

         14.  Waiver.  The failure of either  party to enforce any  provision or
provisions of this  Employment  Agreement shall not in any way be construed as a
waiver of any such provision or provisions as to any future violations  thereof,
nor prevent that party  thereafter from enforcing each and every other provision
of this  Employment  Agreement.  The  rights  granted  the  parties  herein  are
cumulative  and the waiver of any single remedy shall not constitute a waiver of
such party's right to assert all other legal remedies  available to it under the
circumstances.




                                       86


Pat Holder
August 1, 1996
Page 7


         15.  Miscellaneous.  This  Employment  Agreement  supersedes  all prior
employment  agreements  and  understandings  between  the parties and may not be
modified or terminated orally. No modification,  termination or attempted waiver
of this Employment  Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by the
party against whom the same is sought to be enforced.  This Employment Agreement
shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of the State of Ohio.

         If the foregoing  understanding  respecting  the  Employment  Agreement
between you and the  undersigned  is  acceptable  to you,  please  indicate your
approval  thereof by signing a copy of this letter in the space  provided  below
and return it to the undersigned.  Thereupon,  the Employment Agreement shall be
in full force and effect in accordance with its terms above set forth.

                                   Sincerely,

                                   LEXFORD PROPERTIES, INC.

                                   By:  Mark D. Thompson
                                        Vice President 
                                          

         The  terms  and  provisions  of the  Employment  Agreement  are  hereby
approved and accepted this 1st day of August, 1996.

                                   /s/ Pat Holder
                                   -------------------------------------
                                       Pat Holder


         Cardinal  Realty  Services,   Inc.   acknowledges  and  agrees  to  the
provisions contained in Paragraph 3(b) hereof this 1st day of August, 1996.

                                   CARDINAL REALTY SERVICES, INC.

                                   By:  Mark D. Thompson
                                        Executive Vice President 
                                          of Corporate Acquisitions



                                       87




                                                             STOCK BONUS               MAX CASH BONUS
                                                       ----------------------      -------------------------
                                       GROSS SALARY    RESTRICTED     OPTIONS      60%    45%    30%    4.5%
                                       ------------    ----------     -------      ---    ---    ---    ----
                                                                                    
GRADE 12 - 1 EMPLOYEE                      $285,000
- ---------------------                              
     President                                                                      x
GRADE 11 - 5 EMPLOYEES                      643,819
- ----------------------                             
     Chief Financial Officer                                x                       x
     Corporate Acquisitions                                 x                       x
     Manager Advisory Services                              x                       x
     Property Management - FO                                            x          x
     Property Management - PO                                            x          x
GRADE 10 - 11 EMPLOYEES                     714,301
- -----------------------                            
     Corporate Treasurer                                                 x                 x
     Audit / Strategic Planning                                          x                 x
     General Counsel                                                     x                 x
     Co-General Counsel                                                  x                 x
     Ancillary Services                                                  x                 x
     Regional Manager - PM/NE                                            x                 x
     Regional Manager - PM/NW                                            x                 x
     Regional Manager - PM/S                                             x                 x
     Portfolio Manager - WO                                              x                 x
     Portfolio Manager - S Synd.                                         x                 x
     Portfolio Manager - N Synd.                                         x                 x
     ---------------------------                                                            
GRADE 9 - 49 EMPLOYEES                    2,511,267
- ----------------------                             
     Asset Managers - WO                                                 x                        x
     Asset Managers - S Synd.                                            x                        x
     Asset Managers - N Synd.                                            x                        x
     Asset Manager - Portf.                                              x                        x
     Assoc. General Counsel                                              x                        x
     Assoc. General Counsel                                              x                        x
     Ancillary Services                                                  x                        x
     Ancillary Services                                                  x                        x
     Property Management - Portf                                         x                        x
     Administrative Services - HR                                        x                        x
     Management Information                                              x                        x
     Accounting Managers - 8 emps.                                       x                        x
     District Managers - 30 emps.                                        x                        x
     ----------------------------                                                                  
DISCRETIONARY POOL                        2,861,828                      x                               x
- ------------------                                 

* NOTE:  NOTWITHSTANDING THE ABOVE CHART,
EMPLOYEE SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE STOCK OPTIONS.




                                       88




                                              BONUS CALCULATION = FACTOR %INCREASE X MULTIPLIER (CUMULATIVELY)            
                                        ------------------------------------------------------------------------------  MAX-CASH
                                      FACTOR            3% - 5%  6% - 10%   11% - 15%  16% - 20%  21% - 25%  26% - 30%   BONUS
                                      ------            -------  --------   ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- ---------
                                                                                                     
GRADE 12 - 1 EMPLOYEE                                                                                                   171,000 
- ---------------------                                                                                                           
     President                      EBITDA                2.00      2.00        2.00       2.00       2.00       2.00
     ---------                      ------                ----      ----        ----       ----       ----       ----
GRADE 11 - 5 EMPLOYEES                                                                                                  386,291 
- ----------------------                                                                                                          
     Chief Financial Officer        EBITDA                1.50      1.50        2.00       2.00       2.50       2.50
     Corporate Acquisitions         EBITDA                1.50      1.50        2.00       2.00       2.50       2.50
     Manager Advisory Services      Return/Equity         1.50      1.50        2.00       2.00       2.50       2.50
     Property Management - FO       Net Income - PM       1.50      1.50        2.00       2.00       2.50       2.50
     Property Management - PO       Net Income - PM       1.50      1.50        2.00       2.00       2.50       2.50
     ------------------------       ---------------       ----      ----        ----       ----       ----       ----
GRADE 10 - 11 EMPLOYEES                                                                                                 321,435 
- -----------------------                                                                                                         
     Corporate Treasurer            EBITDA                1.13      1.13        1.50       1.50       1.88       1.88
     Audit / Strategic Planning     EBITDA                1.13      1.13        1.50       1.50       1.88       1.88
     General Counsel                EBITDA                1.13      1.13        1.50       1.50       1.88       1.88
     Co-General Counsel             EBITDA                1.13      1.13        1.50       1.50       1.88       1.88
     Ancillary Services             Net Income - AS       1.13      1.13        1.50       1.50       1.88       1.88
     Regional Manager - PM/NE       NOI                   2.00      3.00        4.00                                 
     Regional Manager - PM/NW       NOI                   2.00      3.00        4.00                                 
     Regional Manager - PM/S        NOI                   2.00      3.00        4.00                                 
     Portfolio Manager - WO         Return/Equity         1.13      1.13        1.50       1.50       1.88       1.88
     Portfolio Manager - S Synd.    Return/Equity         1.13      1.13        1.50       1.50       1.88       1.88
     Portfolio Manager - N Synd.    Return/Equity         1.13      1.13        1.50       1.50       1.88       1.88
     ---------------------------    -------------         ----      ----        ----       ----       ----       ----
GRADE 9 - 49 EMPLOYEES                                                                                                  753,380 
- ----------------------                                                                                                          
     Asset Managers - WO            Return/Equity         0.75      0.75        1.00       1.00       1.25       1.25
     Asset Managers - S Synd.       Return/Equity         0.75      0.75        1.00       1.00       1.25       1.25
     Asset Managers - N Synd.       Return/Equity         0.75      0.75        1.00       1.00       1.25       1.25
     Asset Manager - Portf.         Return/Equity         0.75      0.75        1.00       1.00       1.25       1.25
     Assoc. General Counsel         EBITDA                0.75      0.75        1.00       1.00       1.25       1.25
     Assoc. General Counsel         EBITDA                0.75      0.75        1.00       1.00       1.25       1.25
     Ancillary Services             Net Income - AS       0.75      0.75        1.00       1.00       1.25       1.25
     Ancillary Services             Net Income - AS       0.75      0.75        1.00       1.00       1.25       1.25
     Property Management - Portf    Net Income - PM       0.75      0.75        1.00       1.00       1.25       1.25
     Administrative Services - HR   Net Income - PM       0.75      0.75        1.00       1.00       1.25       1.25
     Management Information         Net Income - PM       0.75      0.75        1.00       1.00       1.25       1.25
     Accounting Managers - 8 emps.  Net Income - PM       0.75      0.75        1.00       1.00       1.25       1.25
     District Managers - 30 emps.   NOI                   1.50      2.00        2.50   WE THANK THEM                  
     ----------------------------   ---                   ----      ----        -----      -----      -----      -----
DISCRETIONARY POOL                  EBITDA                0.125     0.125       0.150      0.150      0.175      0.175  128,782 
- ------------------                                                                                                              

* NOTE:  NOTWITHSTANDING THE ABOVE CHART, 
EMPLOYEE SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE STOCK OPTIONS.