MONTEREY HOMES CORPORATION
                                STOCK OPTION PLAN
                                -----------------


1.  ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND DEFINITIONS.
    ---------------------------------------

         a.       The Stock  Option Plan (the "Option  Plan") of Monterey  Homes
                  (the  "Company"),  is hereby  adopted.  The Option  Plan shall
                  provide for the issuance of incentive  stock options  ("ISOs")
                  and nonqualified stock options ("NSOs").

         b.       The purpose of this  Option  Plan is to promote the  long-term
                  success of the Company by attracting, motivating and retaining
                  key executives, consultants and directors (the "Participants")
                  through the use of competitive  long-term incentives which are
                  tied to stockholder  interests by providing  incentives to the
                  Participants  in the form of stock options which offer rewards
                  for achieving the long-term strategic and financial objectives
                  of the Company.

         c.       The  Option  Plan is  intended  to  provide  a  means  whereby
                  Participants may be given an opportunity to purchase shares of
                  Stock of the Company pursuant to (i) options which may qualify
                  as ISOs under  Section  422 of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of
                  1986, as amended (the "Internal  Revenue Code"),  or (ii) NSOs
                  which may not so qualify.

         d.       The term "Affiliates" as used in this Option Plan means parent
                  or subsidiary  corporations,  as defined in Section 424(e) and
                  (f) of the Code (but  substituting "the Company" for "employer
                  corporation"),  including parents or subsidiaries which become
                  such after adoption of the Option Plan.

2.  ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
    --------------------------

         a.       The Option  Plan  shall be  administered  by the  Compensation
                  Committee  (the   "Committee")   appointed  by  the  Board  of
                  Directors of the Company from time to time (the "Board").

         b.       The Committee shall consist  entirely of directors  qualifying
                  as  "non-employee  directors"  as such term is defined in Rule
                  16b-3  promulgated by the  Securities and Exchange  Commission
                  (the "Committee"). Members of the Committee shall serve at the
                  pleasure of the Board.

         c.       The Committee may from time to time determine  which employees
                  of the  Company  or its  Affiliates  or other  individuals  or
                  entities (each an "option  holder")  shall be granted  options
                  under the Option Plan, the terms thereof (including without 
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                  limitation  determining  whether  the  option is an  incentive
                  stock  option and the times at which the options  shall become
                  exercisable),  and the  number of shares of Stock for which an
                  option or options may be granted.

         d.       If rights of the Company to repurchase Stock are imposed,  the
                  Board  or  the   Committee   may,  in  its  sole   discretion,
                  accelerate,  in whole or in part,  the time for lapsing of any
                  rights of the  Company to  repurchase  shares of such Stock or
                  forfeiture restrictions.

         e.       If rights of the Company to repurchase Stock are imposed,  the
                  certificates   evidencing   such   shares  of  Stock   awarded
                  hereunder,  although  issued in the name of the option  holder
                  concerned,  shall  be held  by the  Company  or a third  party
                  designated by the  Committee in escrow  subject to delivery to
                  the option  holder or to the Company at such times and in such
                  amounts as shall be  directed  by the Board under the terms of
                  this Option Plan. Share certificates  representing Stock which
                  is subject to repurchase  rights shall have imprinted or typed
                  thereon a legend or legends  summarizing  or  referring to the
                  repurchase rights.

         f.       The Board or the Committee shall have the sole  authority,  in
                  its  absolute  discretion,  to adopt,  amend and rescind  such
                  rules and  regulations,  consistent with the provisions of the
                  Option  Plan,  as, in its  opinion,  may be  advisable  in the
                  administration  of the Option Plan,  to construe and interpret
                  the  Option  Plan,   the  rules  and   regulations,   and  the
                  instruments  evidencing  options granted under the Option Plan
                  and to make  all  other  determinations  deemed  necessary  or
                  advisable  for the  administration  of the  Option  Plan.  All
                  decisions, determinations and interpretations of the Committee
                  shall be binding on all option holders under the Option Plan.

3.  STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
    -------------------------

         a.       "Stock"  shall mean Common  Stock of the Company or such stock
                  as may be changed as contemplated by Section 3(c) below. Stock
                  shall   include   shares  drawn  from  either  the   Company's
                  authorized  but  unissued  shares  of  Common  Stock  or  from
                  reacquired   shares  of  Common   Stock,   including   without
                  limitation  shares  repurchased  by the  Company  in the  open
                  market.  The maximum shares of Common Stock that can be issued
                  under this  Option  Plan is 225,000  shares,  and the  maximum
                  shares of Common  Stock  that can be issued to any one  person
                  under this Option Plan is 50,000 shares.

         b.       Options may be granted under the Option Plan from time to time
                  to eligible  persons.  Stock options  awarded  pursuant to the
                  Option Plan which are  forfeited,  terminated,  surrendered or
                  canceled for any reason  prior to exercise  shall again become
                  available  for grants  under the Option  Plan  (including  any
                  option  canceled in accordance with the  cancellation  regrant
                  provisions of Section 6 (f) herein). 
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         c.       If there  shall be any  changes  in the Stock  subject  to the
                  Option Plan,  including  Stock  subject to any option  granted
                  hereunder,  through merger,  consolidation,  recapitalization,
                  reorganization,  reincorporation,  stock split,  reverse stock
                  split, stock dividend,  combination or reclassification of the
                  Company's  Stock  or  other  similar  events,  an  appropriate
                  adjustment  shall be made by the  Committee  in the  number of
                  shares of Stock.  Consistent with the foregoing,  in the event
                  that the  outstanding  Stock is changed into another  class or
                  series of capital stock of the Company,  outstanding option to
                  purchase  Stock  granted  under the Option  Plan shall  become
                  options  to  purchase  such  other  class  or  series  and the
                  provisions  of this Section 3(c) shall apply to such new class
                  or series.

         d.       The aggregate number of shares of Stock approved by the Option
                  Plan may not be exceeded  without amending the Option Plan and
                  obtaining  stockholder  approval  within twelve months of such
                  amendment.

4.  ELIGIBILITY
    -----------

         Persons who shall be eligible to receive  stock  options  granted under
         the  Option  Plan  shall  be  those  individuals  and  entities  as the
         Committee  in  its  discretion   determines   should  be  awarded  such
         incentives given the best interests of the Company; provided,  however,
         that (i) ISOs may only be granted to  employees  of the Company and its
         Affiliates and (ii) any person holding  capital stock  possessing  more
         than 10% of the total combined  voting power of all classes of Stock of
         the Company or any  Affiliate  shall not be  eligible  to receive  ISOs
         unless  the  exercise  price per share of Stock is at least 110% of the
         fair market value of the Stock on the date the option is granted.

5.       EXERCISE PRICE FOR OPTIONS GRANTED UNDER THE PLAN
         -------------------------------------------------

         a.       All ISOs and the  majority of NSOs will have  option  exercise
                  prices per option share not less than the fair market value of
                  a share of the Stock on the date the option is granted, except
                  that in the case of ISOs granted to any person possessing more
                  than 10% of the total combined  voting power of all classes of
                  stock of the Company or any  Affiliate  the price shall be not
                  less than 110% of such fair market value. The price of ISOs or
                  NSOs  granted  under  the  Option  Plan  shall be  subject  to
                  adjustment to the extent provided in Section 3(c) above.

         b.       The fair market value on the date of grant shall be determined
                  based upon the closing price on an exchange on that day or, if
                  the Stock is not listed on an exchange,  on the average of the
                  closing bid and asked prices in the Over the Counter Market on
                  that day. 
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6.  TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS
    -------------------------------

         a.       Each  option  granted  pursuant  to the  Option  Plan shall be
                  evidenced  by a written  stock option  agreement  (the "Option
                  Agreement")  executed  by the  Company  and the person to whom
                  such option is granted.  The Option  Agreement shall designate
                  whether the option is an ISO or an NSO.

         b.       The term of each ISO and NSO  shall be no more  than 10 years,
                  except  that  the  term  of  each  ISO  issued  to any  person
                  possessing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of
                  stock of the Company or any Affiliate  shall be no more than 5
                  years. Subsequently issued options, if Stock becomes available
                  because  of  further  allocations  or the lapse of  previously
                  outstanding  options,  will extend for terms determined by the
                  Board  or  the  Committee  but  in no  event  shall  an ISO be
                  exercised  after the  expiration  of 10 years from the date of
                  its grant.

         c.       In  the  case  of  ISOs,   the  aggregate  fair  market  value
                  (determined  as of the time  such  option is  granted)  of the
                  Stock to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by such
                  individual  during any  calendar  year (under this Option Plan
                  and any other plans of the Company or its  Affiliates  if any)
                  shall not exceed the amount specified in Section 422(d) of the
                  Internal Revenue Code, or any successor provision in effect at
                  the time an ISO becomes exercisable.

         d.       The Option Agreement may contain such other terms,  provisions
                  and  conditions   regarding   vesting,   repurchase  or  other
                  provisions  as may be  determined  by  the  Committee.  To the
                  extent such terms,  provisions and conditions are inconsistent
                  with this Option Plan,  the specific  provisions of the Option
                  Plan shall  prevail.  If an option,  or any part  thereof,  is
                  intended  to qualify as an ISO,  the  Option  Agreement  shall
                  contain  those  terms  and  conditions   which  the  Committee
                  determine are necessary to so qualify under Section 422 of the
                  Internal Revenue Code.

         e.       The  Committee  shall have full power and  authority to extend
                  the  period  of time for which any  option  granted  under the
                  Option  Plan is to remain  exercisable  following  the  option
                  holder's  cessation  of service as an  employee,  director  or
                  consultant, including without limitation cessation as a result
                  of death or disability;  provided,  however,  that in no event
                  shall  such  option  be   exercisable   after  the   specified
                  expiration date of the option term.

         f.       As a condition to option  grants  under the Option  Plan,  the
                  option  holder  agrees to grant  the  Company  the  repurchase
                  rights as Company may at its option  require and as may be set
                  forth in a separate repurchase  agreement.  Any option granted
                  under the Option Plan may be subject to a vesting  schedule as
                  provided in the Option  Agreement  and,  except as provided in
                  this Section 6 herein,  only the vested portion of such option
                  may be  exercised  at any time during the Option  Period.  All
                  rights to 
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                  exercise  any option  shall lapse and be of no further  effect
                  whatsoever  immediately if the option  holder's  service as an
                  employee is terminated for "Cause" (as hereinafter defined) or
                  if  the  option  holder  voluntarily   terminates  the  option
                  holder's  service as an employee.  The unvested portion of the
                  option will lapse and be of no further effect immediately upon
                  any  termination  of  employment  of the option holder for any
                  reason.  In the  remaining  cases  where the  option  holder's
                  service as an employee is terminated  due to death,  permanent
                  disability,   or  is   terminated   by  the  Company  (or  its
                  affiliates)  without  Cause  at  any  time,  unless  otherwise
                  provided by the  Committee,  the vested  portion of the option
                  will  extend  for a period of three (3) months  following  the
                  termination of employment and shall lapse and be of no further
                  force or effect  whatsoever only if it is not exercised before
                  the end of such  three  (3)  month  period.  "Cause"  shall be
                  defined in an Employment  Agreement between Company and option
                  holder and if none there shall be "Cause" for  termination  if
                  (i) the  option  holder is  convicted  of a  felony,  (ii) the
                  option holder engages in any fraudulent or other dishonest act
                  to the detriment of the Company, (iii) the option holder fails
                  to report for work on a regular  basis,  except for periods of
                  authorized  absence  or bona  fide  illness,  (iv) the  option
                  holder misappropriates trade secrets,  customer lists or other
                  proprietary  information  belonging  to the  Company  for  the
                  option   holder's   own  benefit  or  for  the  benefit  of  a
                  competitor,  (v) the  option  holder  engages  in any  willful
                  misconduct  designed to harm the Company or its  stockholders,
                  or (vi) the option holder fails to perform  properly  assigned
                  duties.

         g.       No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued under the Option
                  Plan,  whether by  initial  grants or any  adjustments  to the
                  Option Plan.

7.  USE OF PROCEEDS
    ---------------

         Cash  proceeds  realized  from the sale of Stock  under the Option Plan
         shall constitute general funds of the Company.

8.  AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF PLAN
    --------------------------------------------

         a.       The Board may at any time  suspend  or  terminate  the  Option
                  Plan,  and may amend it from time to time in such  respects as
                  the Board may deem advisable provided that (i) such amendment,
                  suspension or termination  complies with all applicable  state
                  and  federal   requirements  and  requirements  of  any  stock
                  exchange  on which the  Stock is then  listed,  including  any
                  applicable requirement that the Option Plan or an amendment to
                  the Option Plan be approved by the stockholders,  and (ii) the
                  Board shall not amend the Option Plan to increase  the maximum
                  number of shares of Stock  subject  to ISOs  under the  Option
                  Plan or to change the description or class of persons eligible
                  to receive  ISOs under the Option Plan  without the consent of
                  the  stockholders  of the  Company  sufficient  to approve the
                  Option  Plan in the first  instance.  The  Option  Plan  shall
                  terminate on the earlier of (i) tenth anniversary of 
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         the Plan's  approval or (ii) the date on which no additional  shares of
         Stock are available for issuance under the Option Plan.

         b.       No option may be granted  during any  suspension  or after the
                  termination of the Option Plan,  and no amendment,  suspension
                  or  termination  of the Option Plan shall,  without the option
                  holder's  consent,  alter or impair any  rights or  obligation
                  under any option granted under the Option Plan.

         c.       The Committee,  with the consent of affected  option  holders,
                  shall  have the  authority  to cancel  any or all  outstanding
                  options under the Option Plan and grant new options  having an
                  exercise  price which may be higher or lower than the exercise
                  price of canceled options.

         d.       Nothing  contained  herein  shall  be  construed  to  permit a
                  termination, modification or amendment adversely affecting the
                  rights  of  any  option   holder  under  an  existing   option
                  theretofore granted without the consent of the option holder.

9.  ASSIGNABILITY OF OPTIONS AND RIGHTS
    -----------------------------------

         Each ISO and NSO granted pursuant to this Option Plan shall, during the
         option holder's lifetime, be exercisable only by the option holder, and
         neither  the  option  nor  any  right  to   purchase   Stock  shall  be
         transferred,  assigned or pledged by the option holder, by operation of
         law or otherwise, other than upon a beneficiary designation executed by
         the option  holder and  delivered to the Company or the laws of descent
         and distribution.

10.  PAYMENT UPON EXERCISE
     ---------------------

         Payment of the purchase  price upon  exercise of any option or right to
         purchase  Stock  granted under this Option Plan shall be made by giving
         the Company  written notice of such exercise,  specifying the number of
         such shares of Stock as to which the option is  exercised.  Such notice
         shall be  accompanied by payment of an amount equal to the Option Price
         of such shares of Stock.  Such  payment may be (i) cash,  (ii) by check
         drawn against sufficient funds,  (iii) such other  consideration as the
         Committee,  in its sole  discretion,  determines and is consistent with
         the Option Plan's purpose and applicable  law, or (iv) any  combination
         of the foregoing.  Any Stock used to exercise options to purchase Stock
         (including  Stock  withheld  upon the  exercise of an option to pay the
         purchase  price  of the  shares  of Stock as to  which  the  option  is
         exercised) shall be valued in accordance with procedures established by
         the  Committee.  If accepted by the Committee in its  discretion,  such
         consideration  also  may be  paid  through  a  broker-dealer  sale  and
         remittance  procedure  pursuant  to which the  option  holder (i) shall
         provide irrevocable written instructions to a designated brokerage firm
         to effect the immediate  sale of the  purchased  Stock and remit to the
         Company,  out of the sale proceeds  available on the  settlement  date,
         sufficient  funds to cover the  aggregate  option price payable for the
         purchased Stock plus all applicable Federal and State income and 
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         employment  taxes  required to be withheld by the Company in connection
         with such  purchase and (ii) shall  provide  written  directives to the
         Company to deliver the certificates for the purchased Stock directly to
         such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale transaction.

11.  WITHHOLDING TAXES
     -----------------

         a.       Shares of Stock  issued  hereunder  shall be  delivered  to an
                  option  holder only upon payment by such person to the Company
                  of the amount of any  withholding  tax required by  applicable
                  federal, state, local or foreign law. The Company shall not be
                  required  to issue any Stock to an option  holder  until  such
                  obligations are satisfied.

         b.       The Committee may, under such terms and conditions as it deems
                  appropriate, authorize an option holder to satisfy withholding
                  tax  obligations  under  this  Section  11 by  surrendering  a
                  portion of any Stock previously issued to the option holder or
                  by electing to have the Company  withhold shares of Stock from
                  the  Stock to be  issued to the  option  holder,  in each case
                  having  a  fair  market  value  equal  to  the  amount  of the
                  withholding tax required to be withheld.

12.  RATIFICATION
     ------------

         This Option Plan and all options issued under this Option Plan shall be
         void unless this Option Plan is or was  approved or ratified by (i) the
         Board;  and (ii) a majority of the votes cast at a stockholder  meeting
         at which a quorum  representing  at least a majority of the outstanding
         shares of Stock is (either in person or by proxy) present and voting on
         the Option  Plan within  twelve  months of the date this Option Plan is
         adopted by the Board.  No ISOs shall be  exercisable  prior to the date
         such stockholder approval is obtained.

13.  CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS
     ----------------------

         a.       For the purpose of this Section 13, a "Corporate  Transaction"
                  shall  include  any  of  the  following   stockholder-approved
                  transactions  to which the Company is a party:  (i)a merger or
                  consolidation  in  which  the  Company  is not  the  surviving
                  entity,  except for a  transaction  the  principal  purpose of
                  which is to change the State of the Company's incorporation;
                  (ii)     the sale,  transfer  or other  disposition  of all or
                           substantially  all of the  assetsof  the  Company  in
                           liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or
                  (iii)    any  reverse  merger  in  which  the  Company  is the
                           surviving entity but in which beneficial ownership of
                           securities  possessing  more than fifty percent (50%)
                           of the total  combined  voting power of the Company's
                           outstanding  securities  are  transferred  to holders
                           different   from  those  who  held  such   securities
                           immediately prior to such merger.

         b.       Upon  the  occurrence  of  a  Corporate  Transaction,  if  the
                  surviving  corporation or the  purchaser,  as the case may be,
                  does not assume the obligations of the Company under
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                  the Option Plan, then  irrespective of the vesting  provisions
                  contained in individual  option  agreements,  all  outstanding
                  options shall become immediately  exercisable in full and each
                  option  holder  will be afforded  an  opportunity  to exercise
                  their options prior to the  consummation of the merger or sale
                  transaction  so that they can  participate on a pro rata basis
                  in the  transaction  based  upon the number of shares of Stock
                  purchased by them on exercise of options if they so desire. To
                  the extent that the Option Plan is  unaffected  and assumed by
                  the successor  corporation  or its parent  company a Corporate
                  Transaction will have no effect on outstanding options and the
                  options shall continue in effect according to their terms.

         c.       Each  outstanding  option  under  this  Option  Plan  which is
                  assumed in  connection  with the Corporate  Transaction  or is
                  otherwise  to  continue  in  effect  shall  be   appropriately
                  adjusted,  immediately  after such Corporate  Transaction,  to
                  apply and pertain to the number and class of securities  which
                  would have been issued to the option holder in connection with
                  the consummation of such Corporate Transaction had such person
                  exercised  the  option  immediately  prior  to such  Corporate
                  Transaction. Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the
                  option price payable per share,  provided the aggregate option
                  price  payable for such  securities  shall remain the same. In
                  addition,  the class and number of  securities  available  for
                  issuance under this Option Plan following the  consummation of
                  the Corporate Transaction shall be appropriately adjusted.

         d.       The grant of options  under this  Option  Plan shall in no way
                  affect  the  right  of  the  Company  to  adjust,  reclassify,
                  reorganize  or  otherwise   change  its  capital  or  business
                  structure  or to merge,  consolidate,  dissolve,  liquidate or
                  sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

14.  REGULATORY APPROVALS
     --------------------

         The  obligation  of the Company  with respect to Stock issued under the
         Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations and
         such approvals by any  governmental  agencies or stock exchanges as may
         be required. The Company reserves the right to restrict, in whole or in
         part, the delivery of Stock under the Plan until such time as any legal
         requirements  or regulations  have been met relating to the issuance of
         Stock,  to their  registration  or  qualification  under the Securities
         Exchange Act of 1934, if applicable, or any applicable state securities
         laws,  or to their  listing  on any stock  exchange  at which time such
         listing may be applicable.

15.  NO EMPLOYMENT/SERVICE RIGHTS
     ----------------------------

         Neither the action of the Company in establishing this Option Plan, nor
         any  action  taken by the  Board or the  Committee  hereunder,  nor any
         provision  of this  Option Plan shall be  construed  so as to grant any
         individual the right to remain in the employ or service of the
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         Company (or any parent,  subsidiary or affiliated  corporation) for any
         period of specific duration, and the Company (or any parent, subsidiary
         or affiliated  corporation  retaining the services of such  individual)
         may  terminate or change the terms of such  individual's  employment or
         service at any time and for any reason, with or without cause.

16.  MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
     ------------------------

         a.       The  provisions  of this  Option Plan shall be governed by the
                  laws of the  State of  Arizona,  as such laws are  applied  to
                  contracts  entered into and  performed in such State,  without
                  regard to its rules concerning conflicts of law.

         b.       The provisions of this Option Plan shall insure to the benefit
                  of, and be binding  upon,  the Company and its  successors  or
                  assigns,  whether by Corporate  Transaction or otherwise,  and
                  the  option  holders,  the  legal   representatives  of  their
                  respective  estates,  their  respective  heirs or legatees and
                  their permitted assignees.

         c.       The option holders shall have no divided rights, voting rights
                  or any  other  rights as a  stockholder  with  respect  to any
                  options under the Option Plan prior to the issuance of a stock
                  certificate for such Stock.

         d.       If there is a  conflict  between  the terms of any  employment
                  agreement  pursuant to which options under this Plan are to be
                  granted  and the  provisions  of this  Plan,  the terms of the
                  employment agreement shall prevail.
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