ARTICLES OF MERGER

         THESE  ARTICLES OF MERGER are dated as of  December  31,  1996,  by and
among  Homeplex  Mortgage  Investments   Corporation,   a  Maryland  corporation
("Surviving  Company"),  and Monterey  Homes  Construction  II, Inc., an Arizona
corporation  ("MHC  II")  and  Monterey  Homes  Arizona  II,  Inc.,  an  Arizona
corporation  ("MHA II",  together  with MHC II, the  "Merged  Companies"),  such
corporations sometimes hereinafter being jointly referred to as the "Constituent
Corporations".

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS,  Surviving Company, the Merged Companies, and the shareholders
of  the  Merged   Companies,   have  entered  into  an  Agreement  and  Plan  of
Reorganization  (the  "Agreement") in which the parties  thereto  agreed,  among
other things,  that each of the Merged  Companies  would be merged with and into
Surviving Company (the "Merger");

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  the  following  is adopted as and for the Articles of
Merger of the Constituent Corporations:

         1. MHC II and MHA II were  incorporated  under the laws of the State of
Arizona on June_1, 1995 and own no interest in land in the State of Maryland.

         2. On the  effective  date of the Merger (as  defined in  paragraph  16
hereof and  sometimes  referred to herein as the  "Effective  Date"), the Merged
Companies  shall be merged with and into  Surviving  Company  which shall be the
surviving corporation.
                                       1

         3.  Surviving  Company  shall be  governed  by the laws of the State of
Maryland and the registered  office of Surviving  Company in that state shall be
CT, Inc.

         4. Upon the Merger becoming  effective,  the separate  existence of the
Merged Companies shall cease, and Surviving Company shall succeed to and possess
all the properties,  rights, privileges, powers, franchises and immunities, of a
public  as  well as of a  private  nature,  and be  subject  to all  the  debts,
liabilities,  obligations,  restrictions,  disabilities and duties of the Merged
Companies,  all  without  further act or deed,  as  provided  in the  applicable
provisions of the Maryland  Corporations and  Associations  Code and the Arizona
Business Corporation Act.

         5.  Except as amended by the  provisions  of  paragraph  6 hereof,  the
Articles of  Incorporation  and bylaws of Surviving  Company as in effect on the
Effective  Date shall be, from and after the  Effective  Date,  the  Articles of
Incorporation and bylaws of the surviving  corporation until they are thereafter
amended.

         6. The amendments to the Articles of Incorporation of Surviving Company
which are to be effected  as part of the Merger are to (i) delete  Article IX of
said charter in its entirety,  (ii) renumber  existing Article X of said charter
to Article  IX,  (iii)  delete  Articles  I, VI and VIII of said  charter and to
substitute the following new articles, (iv)_delete subparagraph (a) to Article_V
of said charter and to substitute the following subparagraph (a) to Article_V of
said charter,  and (v) add the following  subparagraph  (e) to Article V of said
charter:
                                    ARTICLE I

                                       2

                                      NAME
                                      ----

         The  name  of  the  corporation   (which  is  hereinafter   called  the
"Corporation") is: Monterey Homes Corporation.

                                    ARTICLE V
                                  CAPITAL STOCK
                                  -------------

         (a) The  total  number  of  shares  of stock of all  classes  which the
Corporation  has  authority  to issue is sixteen  million six hundred  sixty-six
thousand six hundred sixty-seven (16,666,667) shares of capital stock, par value
three cents ($.03) per share,  amounting in aggregate  par value to Five Hundred
Thousand  Dollars  ($500,000).  All of the  authorized  shares are classified as
Common Stock of the same class (the "Common Stock").

         (e)  Simultaneously  with  the  Effective  Date of this  amendment  and
immediately after the Merger, the authorized shares of the Corporation's  Common
Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and each share of such Common Stock issued and
outstanding  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Date (the "Old Common Stock")
shall  automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof be
split and changed  into  one-third  (1/3) of a share (the "Stock  Split") of the
Corporation's  Common Stock, par value $0.03 per share (the "New Common Stock"),
subject to the treatment of fractional  share  interests as described below (the
"Stock Split"). Each holder of a certificate or certificates  which  immediately
prior to the Effective Date represented  outstanding  shares of Old Common Stock
(the "Old  Certificates", whether one or more) shall be entitled to receive upon
                                       3

surrender  of such Old  Certificates  to the  Corporation's  Transfer  Agent for
cancellation, a certificate or certificates (the "New Certificates", whether one
or more)  representing  the number of whole  shares of the New Common Stock into
which and for which the shares of the Old Common Stock  formerly  represented by
such Old Certificates so surrendered, are split under the terms hereof. From and
after the Effective Date, Old Certificates shall represent only the right to the
number of shares of New Common  Stock into which the Old Common Stock shall have
been split and the right to receive New  Certificates  therefor  pursuant to the
provisions  hereof.  No  certificates  or scrip  representing  fractional  share
interests  in New  Common  Stock will be issued,  and no such  fractional  share
interest  will  entitle  the  holder  thereof  to vote,  or to any  rights  of a
shareholder of the Corporation. All fractional shares for one-half share or more
shall be increased to the next higher whole number of shares and all  fractional
shares of less than  one-half  share shall be  decreased to the next lower whole
number  of  shares,  respectively.  If more  than one Old  Certificate  shall be
surrendered at one time for the account of the same  stockholder,  the number of
full shares of New Common Stock for which New Certificates shall be issued shall
be computed on the basis of the aggregate  number of shares  represented  by the
Old Certificates so surrendered.  In the event that the  Corporation's  Transfer
Agent  determines  that a holder of Old  Certificates  has not  tendered all his
certificates for exchange, the Transfer Agent shall carry forward any fractional
share until all  certificates  of that holder have been  presented  for exchange
such that rounding for fractional  shares to any one person shall not exceed one
share. If any New Certificate is to be issued in a name other than that in which
the Old Certificates  surrendered for exchange are issued,  the Old Certificates
so  
                                       4

surrendered  shall  be  properly  endorsed  and  otherwise  in  proper  form for
transfer,  and the person or persons  requesting  such exchange  shall affix any
requisite  stock  transfer tax stamps to the Old  Certificates  surrendered,  or
provide  funds for their  purchase,  or  establish  to the  satisfaction  of the
Transfer  Agent that such taxes are not  payable.  From and after the  Effective
Date the amount of  capital  represented  by the shares of the New Common  Stock
into which and for which the shares of the Old Common  Stock are split under the
terms  hereof  shall be the same as the  amount of  capital  represented  by the
shares of Old Common Stock so split,  until  thereafter  reduced or increased in
accordance with applicable law.  

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                   DIRECTORS
                                   ---------

         The number of directors of the Corporation shall be as set forth in the
Bylaws of the  Corporation,  but shall  never be less  than the  minimum  number
permitted  by the General Laws of the State of Maryland  now or  hereinafter  in
force.  The directors shall be divided into two classes  designated  Class I and
Class II. Each Class shall  consist of one-half of the  directors or as close as
approximation thereto as possible. The Class I directors shall stand of election
at the 1996 annual meeting of  shareholders  and shall be elected for a two-year
term. The Class II directors shall stand for election at the 1996 annual meeting
of shareholders and shall be elected for a one-year term. At each annual meeting
of  shareholders,  commencing  with the annual  meeting to be held during fiscal
1997, each of the successors to the directors of the Class whose term shall have
expired at such annual  meeting  shall be elected for a term  running  until the
second annual  meeting next  succeeding 
                                       5

his or her election and until his or her successor  shall have been duly elected
and qualified.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                        RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER OF SHARES
                        ---------------------------------

         (a) In order to preserve the net  operating  loss  carryovers,  capital
loss  carryovers  and  built-in  losses  (the  "Tax  Benefits")   to  which  the
Corporation  is  entitled  pursuant to the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as
amended, or any successor statute  (collectively the "Code") and the regulations
thereunder,  the following restrictions shall apply until the earlier of (x) the
business  day  following  the fifth  anniversary  of the  effectiveness  of this
Article  VIII,  (y) the repeal of Sections 382 and 383 of the Code (or successor
provisions) if the Board of Directors  determines that the  restrictions  are no
longer  necessary,  or (z) the beginning of a taxable year of the Corporation to
which the Board of  Directors  determines  that no Tax  Benefits  may be carried
forward,  unless  the Board of  Directors  shall fix an earlier or later date in
accordance  with  paragraph  (i) of this  Article  VIII (such date is  sometimes
referred to herein as the "Expiration Date"):

         (i) No person (as herein  defined),  including the  Corporation,  shall
engage in any  Transfer (as herein  defined)  with any person to the extent that
such Transfer,  if effective,  would cause the Ownership Interest Percentage (as
herein defined) of any person or Public Group (as herein defined) to increase to
4.9  percent  or above,  or from 4.9  percent  or above to a  greater  Ownership
Interest Percentage, or would create a new Public Group; provided, however, that
the  foregoing  restriction  on such  Transfers  shall not be  applicable to the
Transfer of shares of Stock  pursuant to (1) the  exercise of any option that is
issued  by the  Corporation  and is  outstanding  on the  effective  date of 
                                       6

the  amendment  to the Amended and  Restated  Articles of  Incorporation  of the
Corporation  which makes this  Article  VIII a part of such Amended and Restated
Articles of  Incorporation,  (2) the exercise of those certain options initially
covering  750,000  shares (prior to the Stock Split) of stock referred to in the
Stock Option Agreement dated December_21,  1995 between the Corporation and Alan
D. Hamberlin,  (3) the issuance of the 800,000 shares (prior to the Stock Split)
of Contingent  Stock  referred to in the  Agreement  and Plan of  Reorganization
dated as of  September  13, 1996 (the  "Agreement") or (4) the exercise of those
certain options  initially  covering an aggregate of 1,000,000  shares (prior to
the Stock  Split) of stock  referred to in those Stock Option  Agreements  dated
December 31, 1996 between the  Corporation  and each of William W.  Cleverly and
Steven J. Hilton.

         For purposes of this Article VIII:

                  (A) "person" refers to any  individual,  corporation,  estate,
         trust,  association,  company,  partnership,  joint  venture,  or other
         entity or  organization,  including, without  limitation,  any "entity"
         within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.382-3(a);

                  (B) a person's  "Ownership  Interest  Percentage" shall be the
         sum of such person's  direct  ownership  interest in the Corporation as
         determined  under Treasury  Regulation  Section  1.382-2T(f)(8)  or any
         successor  regulation and such person's indirect  ownership interest in
         the  Corporation  as  determined  under  Treasury   Regulation  Section
         1.382-2T(f)(15) or any successor regulation,  except that, for purposes
         of determining a person's direct ownership interest in the Corporation,
         any  ownership  interest  in  the  Corporation  described  in  Treasury
         Regulation Section  1.382-2T(f)(18)(iii)(A) or any successor regulation
         shall be 
                                       7

         treated as stock of the Corporation,  and for purposes of determining a
         person's  indirect  ownership  interest  in the  Corporation,  Treasury
         Regulations     Sections     1.382-2T(g)(2),      1.382-2T(h)(2)(i)(A),
         1.382-2T(h)(2)(iii)    and   1.382-2T(h)(6)(iii)   or   any   successor
         regulations shall not apply and any Option Right to acquire Stock shall
         be considered exercised;

                  (C)   "Transferee"   means  any   person  to  whom   Stock  is
         Transferred;

                  (D)  "Stock"  shall  mean  shares of stock of the  Corporation
         (other than stock  described in Section  1504(a)(4)  of the Code or any
         successor statute, or stock that is not described in Section 1504(a)(4)
         solely  because  it  is  entitled  to  vote  as a  result  of  dividend
         arrearages),  any  Option  Rights  to  acquire  Stock,  and  all  other
         interests that would be treated as stock of the Corporation pursuant to
         Treasury   Regulation   Section   1.382-2T(f)(18)   (or  any  successor
         regulation);

                  (E) "Public Group" shall mean a group of individuals, entities
         or   other   persons   described   in   Treasury   Regulation   Section
         1.382-2T(f)(13) or any successor regulation;

                  (F) "Option Right" shall mean any  option,  warrant,  or other
         right to acquire,  convert  into or  exchange  or exercise  for, or any
         similar interests in, shares of Stock;

                  (G) "Transfer" shall mean any issuance, sale, transfer,  gift,
         assignment,  devise or other  disposition,  as well as any other event,
         that  causes a person to  acquire or  increase  an  Ownership  Interest
         Percentage  in the  Corporation,  or any  agreement  to take  any  such
         actions  or cause  any  such  events,  including  (a) the  granting  or
         exercise of any Option Right with respect to Stock, (b) the disposition
         of any  securities  or  rights  convertible  into  or  
                                       8

         exchangeable  or exercisable  for Stock or any interest in Stock or any
         exercise of any such conversion or exchange or exercise right,  and (c)
         transfers  of  interests  in other  entities  that result in changes in
         direct or indirect  ownership of Stock, in each case, whether voluntary
         or involuntary, of record, and by operation by law or otherwise;

                  (H)  "Optionee" means any person  holding  an Option  Right to
         acquire Stock.

         (ii) Any Transfer that would  otherwise be  prohibited  pursuant to the
preceding subparagraph may nonetheless be permitted if information relating to a
specific  proposed  transaction  is presented to the Board of Directors  and the
Board  (including  a  majority  of the  Independent  Directors,  as such term is
defined in the Agreement) determines in its discretion (x) based upon an opinion
of legal counsel or independent public  accountants  selected by the Board, that
such  transaction  will not  jeopardize  or create a material  limitation on the
Corporation's then current or future ability to utilize its Tax Benefits, taking
into account both the proposed transaction and potential future transactions, or
(y) that the overall  economic  benefits of such  transaction to the Corporation
outweigh the detriments of such transaction.  Nothing in this subparagraph shall
be  construed to limit or restrict the Board of Directors in the exercise of its
fiduciary duties under applicable law.

         (b) Unless  approval of the Board of  Directors is obtained as provided
in  subparagraph  (a)(ii) of this Article VIII,  any attempted  Transfer that is
prohibited  pursuant to subparagraph  (a)(i) of this Article VIII, to the extent
that the amount of Stock subject to such prohibited  Transfer exceeds the amount
that could be Transferred without restriction under subparagraph (a) (i) of this
                                       9

Article  VIII  (such  excess   hereinafter   referred  to  as  the   "Prohibited
Interests"),  shall be void ab initio and not effective to transfer ownership of
the  Prohibited  Interests with respect to the purported  acquiror  thereof (the
"Purported  Acquiror"), who shall not be entitled to any rights as a shareholder
of the Corporation with respect to the Prohibited Interests (including,  without
limitation,  the right to vote or to receive dividends with respect thereto), or
otherwise as the holder of the Prohibited Interests.  All rights with respect to
the Prohibited  Interests  shall remain the property of the person who initially
purported to Transfer the  Prohibited  Interests to the Purported  Acquiror (the
"Initial Transferor") until such time as the Prohibited  Interests are resold as
set forth in subparagraph (b)(i) or subparagraph (b)(ii) of this Article VIII.

         (i) Upon  demand  by the  Corporation,  the  Purported  Acquiror  shall
Transfer  any  certificate  or other  evidence  of  purported  ownership  of the
Prohibited  Interests  within the  Purported  Acquiror's  possession or control,
along with any dividends or other  distributions  paid by the  Corporation  with
respect to the Prohibited Interests that were received by the Purported Acquiror
(the "Prohibited Distributions"), to an agent designated by the Corporation (the
"Agent"). If the  Purported  Acquiror  has sold the  Prohibited  Interests to an
unrelated party in an arms-length  transaction after purportedly acquiring them,
the Purported Acquiror shall be deemed to have sold the Prohibited  Interests as
agent for the Initial  Transferor,  and in lieu of  Transferring  the Prohibited
Interests to the Agent shall Transfer to the Agent the Prohibited  Distributions
and the proceeds of such sale (the "Resale  Proceeds") except to the extent that
the Agent  grants  written  permission  to the  Purported  Acquiror  to retain a
portion of the Resale  Proceeds  not  exceeding  the amount that would 
                                       10

have  been  payable  by the  Agent to the  Purported  Acquiror  pursuant  to the
following  subparagraph (b)(ii) if the Prohibited Interests had been sold by the
Agent  rather than by the  Purported  Acquiror.  Any  purported  Transfer of the
Prohibited  Interests by the Purported  Acquiror other than a Transfer described
in one of the two  preceding  sentences  shall not be  effective to Transfer any
ownership of the Prohibited Interests.

         (ii) The Agent  shall sell in an  arms-length  transaction  (on the New
York Stock Exchange,  if possible) any Prohibited  Interests  transferred to the
Agent by the  Purported  Acquiror,  and the  proceeds  of such sale (the  "Sales
Proceeds"), or the Resale  Proceeds,  if  applicable,  shall be allocated to the
Purported  Acquiror  up to the  following  amount:  (x)  where  applicable,  the
purported  purchase  price  paid or value of  consideration  surrendered  by the
Purported  Acquiror for the  Prohibited  Interests,  and (y) where the purported
Transfer of the  Prohibited  Interests  to the  Purported  Acquiror was by gift,
inheritance,  or any similar  purported  Transfer,  the fair market value of the
Prohibited  Interests  at the time of such  purported  Transfer.  Subject to the
succeeding  provisions  of this  subparagraph,  any  Resale  Proceeds  or  Sales
Proceeds in excess of the amount allocable to the Purported Acquiror pursuant to
the preceding sentence, together with any Prohibited Distributions, shall be the
property of the Initial  Transferor.  If the identity of the Initial  Transferor
cannot  be  determined  by the  Agent  through  inquiry  made  to the  Purported
Acquiror,  the  Agent  shall  publish  appropriate  notice  (in The Wall  Street
Journal,  if  possible)  for seven  consecutive  business  days in an attempt to
identify  the Initial  Transferor  in order to transmit  any Resale  Proceeds or
Sales  Proceeds  or  Prohibited  Distributions  due  to the  Initial  Transferor
pursuant to this  subparagraph.  The 
                                       11

Agent may also take, but is not required to take,  other  reasonable  actions to
attempt to identify the Initial Transferor.  If after ninety (90) days following
the  final  publication  of such  notice  the  Initial  Transferor  has not been
identified,  any  amounts  due  to  the  Initial  Transferor  pursuant  to  this
subparagraph may be paid over to a court or governmental  agency,  if applicable
law permits,  or otherwise  shall be transferred to an entity  designated by the
Corporation  that is  described in Section  501(c)(3)  of the Code.  In no event
shall any such amounts due to the Initial Transferor inure to the benefit of the
Corporation  or the  Agent,  but  such  amounts  may be used to  cover  expenses
(including but not limited to the expenses of publication) incurred by the Agent
in attempting to identify the Initial Transferor.

         (c)  Within  thirty  (30)  business  days of  learning  of a  purported
Transfer of  Prohibited  Interests  to a  Purported  Acquiror,  the  Corporation
through its Secretary shall demand that the Purported  Acquiror surrender to the
Agent the  certificates  representing  the Prohibited  Interests,  or any Resale
Proceeds, and any Prohibited Distributions, and if such surrender is not made by
the  Purported  Acquiror  within thirty (30) business days from the date of such
demand  the  Corporation  shall  institute  legal  proceedings  to  compel  such
Transfer;  provided,  however, that nothing in this paragraph (c) shall preclude
the Corporation in its discretion from  immediately  bringing legal  proceedings
without a prior demand, and also provided that failure of the Corporation to act
within the time  periods set out in this  paragraph  (c) shall not  constitute a
waiver of any right of the Corporation under this Article VIII.

         (d) Upon a determination  by the Board of Directors that there has been
or is  threatened 
                                       12

a purported Transfer of Prohibited Interests to a Purported Acquiror,  the Board
of  Directors  may take such action in  addition  to any action  required by the
preceding  paragraph as it deems  advisable to give effect to the  provisions of
this Article VIII, including, without limitation, refusing to give effect on the
books of this Corporation to such purported Transfer or instituting  proceedings
to enjoin such purported  Transfer.  

         (e) In the event of any  Transfer  which does not involve a Transfer of
"securities" of the Corporation within the meaning of the Maryland  Corporations
and Associations Code, as amended ("Securities"), but which would cause a person
or Public Group (the "Prohibited  Party") to violate a restriction  provided for
in subparagraph (a) of this Article VIII, the application of  subparagraphs  (b)
and (c) of this Article  VIII shall be modified as  described in this  paragraph
(e). In such case, the Prohibited  Party and/or any person or Public Group whose
ownership of the Corporation's  Securities is attributed to the Prohibited Party
pursuant  to Section  382 of the Code and the  Treasury  Regulations  thereunder
(collectively, the "Prohibited Party Group") shall not be required to dispose of
any interest  which is not a Security,  but shall be deemed to have disposed of,
and shall be required to dispose of,  sufficient  Securities  (which  Securities
shall be disposed of in the inverse order in which they were acquired by members
of the Prohibited Party Group),  to cause the Prohibited  Party,  following such
disposition,  not to be in violation of  subparagraph  (a) of this Article VIII.
Such  disposition  shall be deemed  to occur  simultaneously  with the  Transfer
giving rise to the application of this provision,  and such amount of Securities
which are deemed to be disposed of shall be considered  Prohibited Interests and
shall be disposed of through the Agent as provided in 
                                       13

subparagraphs  (b)  and  (c) of this  Article  VIII,  except  that  the  maximum
aggregate  amount payable to the Prohibited  Party Group in connection with such
sale shall be the fair market value of the  Prohibited  Interests at the time of
the prohibited Transfer.  All expenses incurred by the Agent in disposing of the
Prohibited  Interests shall be paid out of any amounts due the Prohibited  Party
Group.

         (f) The Corporation  may require as a condition to the  registration of
the transfer of any shares of its Stock that the proposed  Transferee furnish to
the  Corporation all information  reasonably  requested by the Corporation  with
respect to all the proposed  Transferee's direct or indirect ownership interests
in, or options to acquire, Stock.

         (g) All certificates  evidencing  ownership of shares of Stock that are
subject to the  restrictions  on Transfer  contained  in this Article VIII shall
bear a conspicuous legend referencing the restrictions set forth in this Article
VIII.

         (h) Any person who knowingly  violates the restrictions on Transfer set
forth in this  Article  VIII  will be liable  to the  Corporation  for any costs
incurred by the Corporation as a result of such violation.

         (i) Nothing contained in this Article VIII shall limit the authority of
the Board of Directors to take such other action to the extent  permitted by law
as it deems  necessary or advisable to protect the Corporation and the interests
of the  holders  of its  securities  in  preserving  the Tax  Benefits.  Without
limiting the  generality  of the  foregoing,  in the event of a change in law or
Treasury  Regulations  making one or more of the following  actions necessary or
desirable, the Board
                                       14

of Directors may (i) accelerate or extend the Expiration  Date,  (ii) modify the
Ownership Interest Percentage in the Corporation specified in the first sentence
of subparagraph  (a)(i),  or (iii) modify the definitions of any terms set forth
in this Article VIII;  provided that the Board of Directors  shall  determine in
writing that such acceleration,  extension, change or modification is reasonably
necessary  or  advisable  to preserve  the Tax  Benefits  under the Code and the
regulations  thereunder or that the  continuation  of these  restrictions  is no
longer  reasonably  necessary for the  preservation  of the Tax Benefits,  which
determination  shall be based upon an opinion  of legal  counsel or  independent
public accountants to the Corporation.

         (j) The Corporation and the Board of Directors shall be fully protected
in relying in good faith upon the information,  opinions,  reports or statements
of the chief  executive  officer,  the  chief  financial  officer,  or the chief
accounting  officer of the  Corporation or of the  Corporation's  legal counsel,
independent  auditors,  transfer agent,  investment bankers, and other employees
and  agents in making  the  determinations  and  findings  contemplated  by this
Article VIII, and neither the  Corporation  nor the Board of Directors  shall be
responsible for any good faith errors made in connection therewith.

         7.  The  authorized   share   structure  of  each  of  the  Constituent
Corporations is as follows:

                                       15

                                                            Surviving Company
                                                            -----------------
                                                           (after giving effect
                               MHC II       MHA II          to the Stock Split)
                               ------       ------         

Total number of shares of 
all classes:                  2,000,000    2,000,000             16,666,667 

Number and par value of 
shares of each  class:        2,000,000    2,000,000             16,666,667  
                              shares of    shares of              shares of  
                            common stock,  common stock,        common  stock, 
                            $.00017  par    $.0007 par          $.03 par value
                                value         value  

Number of shares  without 
par value of each class:          -             -                      -  

Aggregate  par value of all 
shares with par value:          $340        $1,400                  $500,000



         8. The manner and basis of the  conversion  of the shares of the Merged
Companies shall be in accordance with the Agreement,  including, but not limited
to, the following:

                  (a) Upon the Merger becoming  effective,  each share of common
stock of each Merged  Company (the "Merged  Companies  Common Stock") issued and
outstanding  on the  Effective  Date,  by reason of the Merger and  without  any
action on the part of the holders  thereof,  shall be converted  into the Merger
Consideration Per Share (as defined below), except that any shares of the Merged
Companies Common Stock owned by Surviving Corporation or held in the treasury of
any of the Merged Companies shall be cancelled and all rights in respect thereof
shall cease to exist and no  securities,  cash or other property shall be issued
in respect thereof. The term 
                                       16

"Merger  Consideration Per Share" shall mean for each  Merged  Company an amount
equal to the Merger  Consideration  (as defined  below) divided by the number of
issued and outstanding  shares of common stock of such Merged Company.  The term
"Merger Consideration" shall mean for each Merged Company (i) a number of shares
of Old Common Stock of Surviving Company (the "Surviving  Company Common Stock")
equal to (x) the book  value of such  Merged  Company as of the  Effective  Date
multiplied  by (y) a factor of 3.0 and  divided  by (z) the fully  diluted  book
value per share of the  Surviving  Company Old Common Stock as of the  Effective
Date;  provided,  however,  in the event the sum of the  Merged  Companies  book
values used in clause (x) above is more or less than  $2,500,000,  the excess or
shortfall  shall be  distributed  or contributed in cash as set forth in Section
1.3(b) of the  Agreement,  and (ii) a pro rata portion of the  Contingent  Stock
upon the terms and  conditions as set forth in Section  1.3(f) of the Agreement.
In addition, the Surviving Company shall pay to or receive from the shareholders
of the Merged Companies in cash the Adjustment Amount as such term is defined in
Section 1.3(b) of the Agreement.

                  (b)  Certificates for fractional  shares of Surviving  Company
Common  Stock  shall  not be  issued.  The total  number of shares of  Surviving
Company  Common Stock that any person shall have a right to receive  under these
Articles of Merger will be rounded up to the  nearest  whole share of  Surviving
Company Common Stock.

                  (c) After the Effective Date, each holder other than Surviving
Company of an outstanding certificate or certificates  theretofore  representing
shares of the  Merged  Companies  Common  Stock  (the  "Merged  Companies  Stock
Certificates"), upon  surrender  thereof to such bank,  
                                       17

trust company or other person including Surviving Company as shall be designated
by the Surviving Company (the "Exchange Agent"), shall be entitled to receive in
exchange therefor a certificate or certificates representing the number of whole
shares of  Surviving  Company  Common  Stock into which the shares of the Merged
Companies Common Stock theretofore  represented by such surrendered  certificate
or  certificates  shall have been converted.  Until so surrendered,  each Merged
Companies Stock  Certificate,  shall be deemed for all purposes,  other than the
payment of  dividends  or other  distributions,  if any, in respect of Surviving
Company  Common Stock,  to represent the  appropriate  number of whole shares of
Surviving  Company  Common  Stock into which the shares of the Merged  Companies
Common Stock  theretofore  represented  thereby  shall have been  converted.  No
dividend  or other  distribution,  if any,  payable  to  holders  of  shares  of
Surviving  Company  Common  Stock shall be paid to the  holders of  certificates
theretofore  representing shares of the Merged Companies Common Stock; provided,
however,  that upon  surrender and exchange of such the Merged  Companies  Stock
Certificates  there shall be paid to the record holders of the stock certificate
or  certificates,  issued in exchange  therefor,  the amount,  without  interest
thereon,  of dividends and other  distributions,  if any, which  theretofore but
subsequent to the Effective  Date have become payable with respect to the number
of whole shares of Surviving  Company  Common Stock into which the shares of the
Merged Companies Common Stock  theretofore  represented  thereby shall have been
converted.

                  (d) All  issued  shares of  Surviving  Company  Common  Stock,
whether outstanding or reacquired immediately prior to the Effective Date, shall
continue  unchanged as shares of 
                                       18

common stock of Surviving  Company,  except as otherwise changed pursuant to the
Stock Split.

         9. The  terms and  conditions  of the  Merger  and the  Agreement  were
advised,  authorized, and approved by Surviving Company in the manner and by the
vote  required  by its  Articles  of  Incorporation  and the  provisions  of the
Maryland  Corporations and Associations  Code, and the said Merger and Agreement
approved in the manner hereinafter set forth.

         10. The Merger and the Agreement  were duly advised and approved by the
Board of Directors of Surviving Company in the following  manner.  Said Board of
Surviving  Company adopted a resolution  declaring that the Merger of the Merged
Companies into Surviving  Company is advisable upon the terms and conditions set
forth in the Agreement. Said resolution of the Board of Directors was adopted at
a meeting duly held on September 5,  1996, at which a quorum was present, and at
which the Board acted by at least a majority of its members present thereat.

         11. The Board of Directors of Surviving  Company directed the Secretary
of the corporation to prepare a written notice of the time,  place,  and purpose
of a meeting  of  shareholders  of  Surviving  Company to take  action  upon the
proposed Merger and the Agreement and to furnish a copy of said notice to all of
the shareholders of Surviving  Company entitled to vote upon the proposed Merger
and the Agreement.

         12. The Merger and the Agreement were duly approved by the shareholders
of Surviving  Company in the following manner. At a meeting of shareholders duly
held on December  23,  1996,  pursuant to notice  duly given,  the  shareholders
approved the same by the  affirmative  vote of at least a majority of all shares
outstanding.
                                       19

         13. The terms and  conditions  of the Merger herein set forth were duly
advised,  authorized,  and approved, in respect of the Merged Companies,  in the
manner  and by the  vote  required  by the  Articles  of  Incorporation  of said
corporations  and by the laws of the  State of  Arizona,  which is the  state of
incorporation of said corporations.

         14. The Merger and the  Agreement  were duly  advised  and  unanimously
approved by the respective Board of Directors of each of the Merged Companies at
a meeting held pursuant to notice on July 31, 1996.

         15. The Merger and the Agreement were duly approved by the shareholders
of the Merged Companies by unanimous written consent dated September_9, 1996.

         16.  Subject  to and in  accordance  with  the  laws of the  States  of
Maryland and Arizona,  the conditions  precedent  contained in the Agreement and
the other  obligations of the parties set forth in the Agreement,  the effective
date of the Merger  (the  "Effective  Date") for  purposes of state law shall be
such date and time the Articles of Merger are filed with the  Secretary of State
of the State of Maryland and the Corporation Commission of the State of Arizona.

         17. Notwithstanding  anything herein to the contrary, the Merger may be
terminated  at any time on or  before  the  Effective  Date as  provided  in the
Agreement.  In the event of the  termination  of the Merger,  these  Articles of
Merger  shall  become  void  and  of no  effect  without  any  liability  to the
Constituent  Corporations  or to the  directors,  officers,  representatives  or
agents of any of them except for the obligations the Constituent Corporations to
pay certain fees and expenses as provided for in the Agreement.
                                       20

         18. These Articles of Merger may be modified at any time in any respect
by the mutual consent of the  Constituent  Corporations,  notwithstanding  prior
approval by the respective  shareholders.  Any such modification may be approved
for any such corporation by its Board of Directors,  without further shareholder
approval,   except  that  the  value  and  method  of  calculating   the  Merger
Consideration  to be issued in exchange  for the shares of the Merged  Companies
Common Stock may not be increased or materially  altered  without the consent of
the  shareholders  of Surviving  Company and may not be decreased or  materially
altered without the consent of the  shareholders of the Merged  Companies given,
in each case,  by the same vote as is required  under  applicable  state law for
approval of the Merger; provided, however, no consent of the shareholders of the
Constituent  Corporations  shall  be  required  to  substitute  cash in place of
Surviving Company Common Stock.
                                       21

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  each of the Constituent  Corporations  has caused
these Articles of Merger to be executed under the penalty of perjury on the 31st
day of December, 1996.


                                   HOMEPLEX MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS
                                   CORPORATION


                                   By: /s/ Alan D. Hamberlin
                                   Name:    Alan D. Hamberlin
                                   Title:   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


                                   Attested to:


                                   By: /s/ Jay R. Hoffman
                                   Name:    Jay R. Hoffman
                                   Title:   President, Secretary and Treasurer




                                   MONTEREY HOMES CONSTRUCTION II, INC.


                                   By: /s/ William W. Cleverly
                                   Name:    William W. Cleverly
                                   Title:   President


                                       22

                                   Attested to:


                                   By: /s/ Steven J. Hilton
                                   Name:    Steven J. Hilton
                                   Title:   Secretary and Treasurer
                                   MONTEREY HOMES ARIZONA II, INC.


                                   By: /s/ Larry W. Seay
                                   Name:    Larry W. Seay
                                   Title:   Chief Financial Officer


                                   Attested to:


                                   By: /s/ Steven J. Hilton
                                   Name:    Steven J. Hilton
                                   Title:   Secretary and Treasurer