HOMEPLEX MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS CORPORATION

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


                  THIS  AGREEMENT  ("Agreement")  is made as of the  21st day of
December,  1995, by and between HOMEPLEX  MORTGAGE  INVESTMENTS  CORPORATION,  a
Maryland corporation ("Homeplex"), and ALAN D. HAMBERLIN ("Hamberlin").

                  WHEREAS,  Hamberlin  is an employee of Homeplex and has served
as its Chief Executive Officer since its organization;

                  WHEREAS,  Hamberlin  and Homeplex have entered into an Amended
and Restated  Employment  Agreement as of the same date hereof (the  "Employment
Agreement"); and

                  WHEREAS, Homeplex considers it desirable and its best interest
that in lieu of a regular  salary  Hamberlin be given an inducement to acquire a
proprietary  interest in Homeplex and added incentive to advance the interest of
Homeplex  by  possessing  an option to  purchase  shares of the common  stock of
Homeplex (the "Stock").

                  NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration of the promises and of the
mutual  covenants herein  contained,  it is agreed by and between the parties as
follows:

                  1. Grant of Option.  Homeplex  grants to Hamberlin,  as of the
date of this Agreement (the "Grant Date"), the right,  privilege and option (the
"Option") to purchase 750,000 shares of Stock (the "Optioned  Shares"),  subject
in all respects to the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement.

                  2. Option  Price.  The purchase  price of the Optioned  Shares
(the "Option Price") is $1.50, which is 100 percent of the fair market value per
share of the Stock on the date of grant of this option.

                  3. Vesting of Option.

                           (a)  Vesting  Schedule.  Optioned  Shares  that  have
vested may be acquired in  accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement  at any
time,  and from time to time, in whole or in part,  until the Option  expires as
provided in Section 5 hereof. The time at which the Optioned Shares vest and the
Hamberlin or his permitted  assignee(s) (each, an "Optionholder") may thereafter
exercise this Option with respect to such Optioned Shares shall be as follows:

                                    (i)  200,000 of the  Optioned  Shares  shall
vest immediately;

                                    (ii)  275,000 of the  Optioned  Shares shall
vest on the first  anniversary  of the Grant Date  provided  Hamberlin is either
employed  by  Homeplex  on that  date or has left  the  employment  of  Homeplex
pursuant  to a  Consented  Termination  as  described  in  Section  6(e)  of the
Employment Agreement; and

                                    (iii)  275,000 of the Optioned  Shares shall
vest on the second  anniversary  of the Grant Date provided  Hamberlin is either
employed  by  Homeplex  on that  date or has left  the  employment  of  Homeplex
pursuant  to a  Consented  Termination  as  described  in  Section  6(e)  of the
Employment Agreement.

Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  all Optioned  Shares shall  accelerate and vest
upon a Change in Control (as defined in the  Employment  Agreement)  or upon the
termination of Hamberlin's  employment (without his consent) by Homeplex for any
reason other than death, disability, a Consented Termination,  or Cause (as that
term is used in the Employment Agreement).

                           (b)  Acceleration.  Homeplex may, in its  discretion,
allow the Optioned Shares to be purchased prior to any vesting date.

                  4.  Exercise  of  Option.  All or any  portion  of the  vested
Optioned  Shares may be purchased  by an  Optionholder  upon  written  notice to
Homeplex,  addressed to Homeplex at its principal place of business. Such notice
shall be signed by the Optionholder and shall state the election to exercise the
Option  and the  number of  Optioned  Shares  with  respect to which it is being
exercised.  Such notice  shall be  accompanied  by payment in full of the Option
Price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased.  Payment may be made in
cash or by check or by tendering duly endorsed certificates  representing shares
of Stock then owned by the Optionholder.  In the sole discretion of Homeplex, an
Optionholder  may be provided  with the  election to pay for the Option Price by
having Homeplex withhold,  from the Stock otherwise issuable, a portion of those
shares of Stock with an aggregate fair market value equal to that portion of the
Option Price  designated by the  Optionholder  (not to exceed 100% of the Option
Price). Upon the exercise of the Option,  Homeplex shall deliver, or cause to be
delivered,  to the  Optionholder a certificate or certificates  representing the
net shares of Stock  purchased upon such exercise as soon as  practicable  after
payment  for those  shares has been  received by  Homeplex.  All shares that are
purchased  and paid for in full upon  exercise of the Option shall be fully paid
and  non-assessable  but may not be transferred,  sold,  assigned or conveyed by
Optionholder for six months from the date of shareholder approval as required by
Section 22 hereof.

                  5.  Termination  of  Option.  This  Option,  to the extent not
previously  exercised,  shall terminate upon the fifth  anniversary of the Grant
Date, or as otherwise set forth in this Agreement.

                  6. Death or Disability of Hamberlin. If Hamberlin's employment
with Homeplex is terminated pursuant to the Employment  Agreement upon the death
or disablement of Hamberlin,  the Optioned Shares that are vested as of the date
of  death  or  Disablement  Commencement  Date  (as  defined  in the  Employment
Agreement), whichever is applicable, shall be exercisable within one year of the
Date of Termination (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or until the stated
expiration  date of the Option,  whichever  occurs first,  by an Optionholder in
accordance  with  Section  4  hereof.   If  Hamberlin  dies  after  a  Consented
Termination,  the Optioned  Shares that are vested as of the date of death shall
be  exercisable  within  one year of such  date of death  or  until  the  stated
expiration  date  of  the  Option,   whichever   occurs  first,  by  Hamberlin's
successors-in-interest.

                  7. No Privilege of Stock Ownership.  An Optionholder shall not
have any of the rights of a  stockholder  with  respect to the  Optioned  Shares
until such Optionholder shall have 
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exercised the option,  paid the Option Price,  and received a stock  certificate
for the purchased shares of Stock.

                  8. Compliance With Laws and Regulations.  The exercise of this
Option  and the  issuance  of the Stock upon such  exercise  shall be subject to
compliance by Homeplex and each Optionholder with all applicable requirements of
law relating  thereto and with all applicable  regulations of any stock exchange
in which the shares of the Stock may be listed at the time of such  exercise and
issuance.   In  connection  with  the  exercise  of  an  Option  hereunder,   an
Optionholder  shall  execute  and deliver to Homeplex  such  representations  in
writing  as may be  requested  by  Homeplex  in  order  for  it to  comply  with
applicable requirements of federal and state securities laws.

                  9. Liability of Homeplex.  The inability of Homeplex to obtain
approval  from any  regulatory  body having  authority  deemed by Homeplex to be
necessary  to the  lawful  issuance  and  sale  of any  Stock  pursuant  to this
Agreement  shall  relieve   Homeplex  of  any  liability  with  respect  to  the
nonissuance  or sale of the Stock as to which such approval  shall not have been
obtained.  Homeplex,  however,  shall use its best  efforts  to obtain  all such
approvals.

                  10. Capital  Adjustments.  The number of Optioned Shares shall
be  proportionately  adjusted  for any  increase  or  decrease  in the number of
outstanding  shares  of  Stock  of  Homeplex  resulting  from a  subdivision  or
consolidation  of shares or any other  capital  adjustment  or the  payment of a
stock  dividend  or any other  increase or decrease in the number of such shares
effected without Homeplex's receipt of consideration therefor in money, services
or property.

                  11. Mergers,  Etc. If Homeplex is the surviving corporation in
any merger or consolidation (not including a Corporate Transaction),  the Option
granted herein shall pertain to and apply to the securities to which a holder of
the number of shares of Stock  subject  to the  Option or Award  would have been
entitled prior to the merger or consolidation.

                  12.  Corporate  Transaction.   In  the  event  of  stockholder
approval  of a  Corporate  Transaction  that is not a  Change  in  Control,  all
unvested  Options shall  automatically  accelerate and immediately  vest so that
each outstanding  Option shall,  one week prior to the specified  effective date
for the Corporate Transaction,  become fully exercisable for all of the Optioned
Shares. Upon the consummation of the Corporate  Transaction,  all Options shall,
to the extent not previously  exercised,  terminate and cease to be outstanding.
"Corporate  Transaction"  shall  mean (a) a  merger  or  consolidation  in which
Homeplex is not the surviving entity or (b) any reverse merger in which Homeplex
is the surviving entity.

                  13.  Assignment.   The  right  to  acquire  Stock  under  this
Agreement  may  not  be  assigned,   encumbered  or  otherwise   transferred  by
Optionholder  other  than by will or the laws of  descent  and  distribution  or
pursuant  to a qualified  domestic  relations  order as defined by the  Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  Title 1 of the Employment  Retirement  Income
Security Act, or the rules thereunder.

                  14. Securities Restrictions

                           (a)   Legend  on   Certificates.   All   certificates
representing  shares of Stock issued  hereunder  shall be endorsed with a legend
reading as follows:
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                    The shares of Common Stock  evidenced by this
                    certificate   have   been   issued   to   the
                    registered  owner in  reliance  upon  written
                    representations  that these  shares have been
                    purchased solely for investment. These shares
                    may  not be  sold,  transferred  or  assigned
                    unless in the  opinion  of  Homeplex  and its
                    legal   counsel   such  sale,   transfer   or
                    assignment  will not be in  violation  of the
                    Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  and the
                    rules and regulations thereunder.

                           (b) Private  Offering  for  Investment  Only.  If the
shares to be issued to an Optionholder  upon the exercise of any Option have not
been  registered  under the 1933 Act, the Arizona Act or the securities  laws of
any other jurisdiction,  those shares will be "restricted securities" within the
meaning of Rule 144 under the 1933 Act and must be held indefinitely without any
transfer,  sale or other  disposition  unless (a) the  shares  are  subsequently
registered  under the 1933 Act, the Arizona Act and the  securities  laws of any
other applicable  jurisdiction,  or (b) the  Optionholder  obtains an opinion of
counsel  which is  satisfactory  to counsel for Homeplex  that the shares may be
sold in reliance on an exemption from registration  requirements.  By the act of
accepting an Option,  Hamberlin  agrees (i) that,  any shares of Stock  acquired
will be solely for investment  not with any intention to resell or  redistribute
those  shares  and (ii)  such  intention  will be  confirmed  by an  appropriate
certificate  at the time the Stock is acquired if  requested  by  Homeplex.  The
neglect or failure to execute such a  certificate,  however,  shall not limit or
negate the foregoing agreement.

                           (c)   Registration   Statement.   If  a  registration
statement  covering  the shares of Stock  issuable  hereunder as filed under the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1933, as amended,  and as declared  effective by the
Securities Exchange Commission (the "Registration"),  the provisions of Sections
14(a) and (b) shall terminate  during the period of time that such  registration
statement, as periodically amended, remains effective. The Company shall use its
best  efforts to effect the  Registration  within six months  after  shareholder
approval is obtained as required by Section 22 hereof.

                  15. Tax Withholding.

                           (a) General.  Homeplex's  obligation to deliver Stock
under  this  Agreement  shall be  subject  to  Hamberlin's  satisfaction  of all
applicable federal, state and local income tax withholding requirements.

                           (b) Shares to Pay for  Withholding.  Homeplex may, in
its discretion  and in accordance  with the provisions of this Section 15(b) and
such  supplemental  rules  as it may  from  time to time  adopt  (including  any
applicable safe-harbor provisions of SEC Rule 16b-3), provide Hamberlin with the
right to use  shares  of Stock in  satisfaction  of all or part of the  federal,
state and local income tax liabilities  incurred by Hamberlin in connection with
the  receipt of Stock  ("Taxes").  Such right may be provided  to  Hamberlin  in
either or both of the following formats:
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                                    (i)  Stock  Withholding.  Hamberlin  may  be
provided with the election to have Homeplex  withhold,  from the Stock otherwise
issuable, a portion of those shares of Stock with an aggregate fair market value
equal to the  percentage  of the  applicable  Taxes (not to exceed 100  percent)
designated by Hamberlin.

                                    (ii) Stock  Delivery.  Homeplex  may, in its
discretion,  provide Hamberlin with the election to deliver to Homeplex,  at the
time the Option is exercised, one or more shares of Stock previously acquired by
Hamberlin (other than pursuant to the transaction  triggering the Taxes) with an
aggregate  fair market value equal to the  percentage  of the taxes  incurred in
connection with such Option  exercise (not to exceed 100 percent)  designated by
Hamberlin.

                  16. Binding Effect.  This agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns.

                  17. Defined Terms. All capitalized  terms herein which are not
otherwise  defined therein shall have the same meaning ascribed to such terms in
the Employment Agreement.

                  18.  Notices.  Any notice required to be given or delivered to
Homeplex under the terms of this Agreement  shall be in writing and addressed to
Homeplex in care of the Corporate  Secretary at its principal corporate offices.
Any  notice  required  to be given or  delivered  to  Hamberlin  at the  address
indicated on the signature page hereto.  Any permitted  assignee hereunder shall
notify the other party hereto of the permitted  assignee's  address for purposes
of this  notice  provision.  All  notices  shall be deemed to have been given or
delivered  upon  personal  delivery or upon  deposit in the U.S.  mail,  postage
prepaid  return  receipt  requested,  and properly  addressed to the party to be
notified.

                  19.  Integration,  Modification and Amendment.  This Agreement
and the Employment  Agreement embody the full  understanding of the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof,  superseding any and all prior agreements,
and no  amendment or  modification  thereof  shall be effective  unless the same
shall be in writing  and  signed by both of said  parties.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  this  Agreement  may not be amended or modified more than once every
six months, other than to comport with changes in the Internal Revenue Code, the
Employee  Retirement Income Security Act, or the rules thereunder.  In addition,
any  amendment  to this  Agreement  shall  be  required  to be  approved  by the
shareholders  if the  amendment  would:  (a)  materially  increase  the benefits
accruing to  Hamberlin;  (b)  materially  increase the number of shares of Stock
which may be issued  hereunder;  or (c) materially  modify the  requirements for
Hamberlin's eligibility for participation hereunder.

                  20. Governing Law. Except as the corporate law of the State of
Maryland  expressly  applies  hereto,  this  Agreement  shall  be  construed  in
accordance  with,  and  governed  by, the laws of the State of Arizona,  without
regard to application of conflicts of law principles.

                  21.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be executed in two or
more counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which,
taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                  22. Shareholder Approval.  The grant of this Option is subject
to approval by the shareholders of Homeplex. Such approval must be by a majority
of the votes cast provided  that the 
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total vote cast on the  proposal  represents  over 50 percent in interest of all
securities entitled to vote on the matter. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the  contrary,  the Option may not be exercised in whole or in part
until such shareholder approval is obtained.  In the event that such shareholder
approval is not obtained  within three years of the Grant Date,  then the Option
shall terminate and an Optionholder hereunder shall have no further rights under
this Agreement.

                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF the  parties  hereto  have  executed  this
Agreement or caused it to be executed on the day and year first above written.

                                  HOMEPLEX MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS
                                  CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation


                                  By: ________________________________________
                                  Name: ______________________________________
                                  Its: _______________________________________



                                  ____________________________________________
                                  Alan D. Hamberlin
                                  Address:
                                          ____________________________________
                                          ____________________________________

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