[MISSION WEST PROPERTIES LOGO]                         GRANT PURSUANT TO
                                                     1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN


________________________, OPTIONEE:

Mission West Properties, a California corporation (the "Company"), hereby grants
to Optionee, an option ("Option") to purchase a total of __________________
(_______) shares of Common Stock ("Shares") of the Company, at the price set
forth herein, and in all respects subject to the terms, definitions and
provisions of the Company's 1997 Stock Option Plan ("Plan"), which is
incorporated herein by this reference.

THE DETAILS OF YOUR OPTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1.   NATURE OF THE OPTION
The Option is intended to be a nonstatutory option and NOT an incentive stock
option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code").

2.   OPTION PRICE
The Option Price is $____________ for each Share.

3    VESTING AND EXERCISE OF OPTION
The Option shall vest and become exercisable during its term in accordance with
the provisions of Section 9 of the Plan as follows:
          a.   VESTING AND RIGHT TO EXERCISE
               i.   The Option shall vest as follows, subject to the Optionee's
               Continuous Employment with the Company:
               
               NUMBER OF SHARES         DATE OF EARLIEST EXERCISE
                (INSTALLMENT)                  (VESTING)
               -----------------------------------------------------------------


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          Subject to the provisions of subparagraphs ii and iii below, the
          Optionee can only exercise the portion of the Option that is vested,
          until the expiration of the Option term.
          ii.    In the event of the Optionee's death, disability or other
          termination of employment, the exercisability of the Option shall be
          governed by Sections 9.d, e and f of the Plan.
          iii.   The Option may not be exercised for fractional shares or for
          less than ten (10) Shares
     b.   METHOD OF EXERCISE
     In order to exercise any portion of this Option, the Optionee shall notify
     the Company in writing of the election to exercise the Option, the number
     of shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised by executing
     and delivering the Notice of Exercise of Stock Option in the form attached
     hereto to the Secretary of the Company.  The certificate or certificates
     representing Shares as to which this Option has been exercised shall be
     registered in the name of the Optionee.
     b.   RESTRICTIONS ON EXERCISE
     This Option may not be exercised if the issuance of the Shares upon such
     exercise or the method of payment of consideration for such shares would
     constitute a violation of any applicable Federal or state securities law or
     other law or regulation.  Furthermore, the method and manner of payment of
     the Option Price will be subject to the rules under Part 207 of Title 12 of
     the Code of Federal Regulations ("Regulation G") as promulgated by the
     Federal Reserve Board if such rules apply to the Company at the date of
     exercise.  As a condition to the exercise of this Option, the Company may
     require the Optionee to make any representation or warranty to the Company
     at the time of exercise of this Option as in the opinion of legal counsel
     for the Company may be required by any applicable law or regulation,
     including the execution and delivery of an appropriate representation
     statement.  Accordingly, the stock certificates for the Shares issued upon
     exercise of this Option may bear appropriate legends restricting transfer.

4.   NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTION
This Option may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the
Optionee and, subject to the provisions of Sections 9.f and 10 of the Plan, may
not be transferred in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution.  The terms of this Option shall be binding upon the executors,
administrators, heirs and successors of the Optionee.

5.   METHOD OF PAYMENT
Payment of the exercise price shall be by any of the following, or a combination
thereof, at the election of the Optionee:
     a.   cash;
     b.   certified or bank cashier's check;
     c.   in the event there exists a public market for the Company's Common
     Stock on the date of exercise, by delivery of a sell order to a broker for
     the shares being purchased and an agreement to pay (or have the broker
     remit payment for) the purchase price of the shares being purchased on or
     before the settlement date for the sale of such shares to the broker; or
     e.   in the event there exists a public market for the Company's Common
     Stock on the date of exercise, by surrender of shares of the Company's
     Common Stock, provided that if such shares were acquired upon exercise of
     an incentive stock option, the Optionee must have first satisfied the
     holding period requirements under Section 422(a)(1) of the Code.  In this
     case payment shall be made as follows:
          i.     Optionee shall deliver to the Secretary of the Company a
          written notice which shall set forth the portion of the purchase price
          the Optionee wishes to pay with Common Stock, and the number of shares
          of such Common Stock the Optionee intends to surrender pursuant to the
          exercise of this Option, which shall be determined by dividing the
          aforementioned portion of the purchase price by the average of the
          last reported bid and asked prices per share of Common Stock of the
          Company, as reported in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, for the day on which
          the notice of exercise is sent or delivered;
          ii.    Fractional shares shall be disregarded and the Optionee shall
          pay in cash an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the price
          determined under subparagraph i above;
          iii.   The written notice shall be accompanied by a duly endorsed
          blank stock power with respect to the number of Shares set forth in
          the notice, and the certificate(s) 


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          representing said Shares shall be delivered to the Company at its
          principal offices within three (3) working days from the date of the
          notice of exercise;
          iv.    The Optionee hereby authorizes and directs the Secretary of
          the Company to transfer so many of the Shares represented by such
          certificate(s) as are necessary to pay the purchase price in
          accordance with the provisions herein;
          v.     If any such transfer of Shares requires the consent of the
          California Commissioner of Corporations or of some other agency under
          the securities laws of any other state, or an opinion of counsel for
          the Company or Optionee that such transfer may be effected under
          applicable Federal and state securities laws, the time periods
          specified herein shall be extended for such periods as the necessary
          request for consent to transfer is pending before said Commissioner or
          other agency, or until counsel renders such an opinion, as the case
          may be.  All parties agree to cooperate in making such request for
          transfer, or in obtaining such opinion of counsel, and no transfer
          shall be effected without such consent or opinion if required by law;
          and
          vi.    Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the Optionee shall
          only be permitted to pay the purchase price with Shares of the
          Company's Common Stock owned by him as of the exercise date in the
          manner and within the time periods allowed under 17 CFR Section
          240.16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
          amended ("Exchange Act"), as such regulation is presently constituted,
          as it is amended from time to time, and as it is interpreted now or
          hereafter by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

6.   ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION OR MERGER.
The number of Shares covered by this Option shall be adjusted in accordance with
the provisions of Section 11 of the Plan in the event of changes in the
capitalization or organization of the Company, or if the Company is a party to a
merger or other corporate reorganization.

7.   TERM OF OPTION
This Option may not be exercised more than six (6) years from the date of grant
of this Option, as set forth below, and may be exercised during such term only
in accordance with the Plan and the terms of this Option.

8.   NOT EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT
Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon the Optionee any
right to continue in the employ of the Company or shall interfere with or
restrict in any way the rights of the Company, which are hereby expressly
reserved, to discharge the Optionee at any time for any reason whatsoever, with
or without cause, subject to the provisions of applicable law.  This is not an
employment contract.

9.   INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING 
a.   The Optionee authorizes the Company to withhold in accordance with
applicable law from any compensation payable to him or her any taxes required to
be withheld by Federal, state or local laws as a result of the exercise of this
Option.  The Optionee agrees to notify the Company immediately in the event of
any disqualifying disposition (within the meaning of Section 421(b) of the Code)
of the shares acquired upon exercise of an incentive stock option.  Furthermore,
in the event of any determination that the Company has failed to withhold a sum
sufficient to pay all withholding taxes due in connection with the exercise of
this Option, or a disqualifying disposition of the shares acquired upon exercise
of an incentive stock option, the Optionee agrees to pay the Company the amount
of such deficiency in cash within five (5) days after receiving a written demand
from the Company to do so, whether or not Optionee is an employee of the Company
at that time.
b.   At such time as the Optionee is required to pay to the Company an amount
with respect to tax withholding obligations as set forth in subparagraph a, the
Optionee may elect prior to the date the amount of such withholding tax is
determined to make such payment, or such increased payment as the Optionee
elects to make up to the maximum federal, state and local marginal tax rates
(including any related FICA obligation) applicable to the Optionee and the
particular transaction in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.g of the
Plan.
c.   Any adverse consequences incurred by an Optionee with respect to the use of
shares of Common Stock to pay any part of the Option Price or of any tax in
connection with the exercise of an Option, including, without limitation, any
adverse tax consequences arising as a result of a disqualifying disposition
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, shall be the sole responsibility
of the Optionee.

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Dated the _____ day of ________________________.

MISSION WEST PROPERTIES

By __________________________________________________
Duly authorized on behalf of the Board of Directors


The Optionee acknowledges receipt of copies of the Plan, the Restricted Stock
Purchase Agreement and the exhibits referred to therein, and represents that he
or she is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and hereby accepts
this Option subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof.  The Optionee
hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or
interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under the Plan.


_____________________________________________
Optionee

CONSENT OF SPOUSE


I, _________________________, spouse of the Optionee who executed the foregoing
Agreement, hereby agree that my spouse's interest in the shares of Common Stock
subject to said Agreement shall be irrevocably bound by the Agreement's terms. 
I further agree that my community property interest in such shares, if any,
shall similarly be bound by said Agreement and that such consent is binding upon
my executors, administrators, heirs and assigns.  I agree to execute and deliver
such documents as may be necessary to carry out the intent of said Agreement and
this consent.

_____________________________________________
Spouse


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