Exhibit 10.3

FIRST AMENDMENT
TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this
“Amendment”) is entered into as of October 12, 2012, among HIGHWOODS REALTY
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a North Carolina limited partnership (“Highwoods Realty”),
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC., a Maryland corporation (“Highwoods Properties”) and
HIGHWOODS SERVICES, INC., a North Carolina corporation (“Highwoods Services;”
Highwoods Realty, Highwoods Properties, and Highwoods Services are hereinafter
referred to individually as a “Borrower” and collectively as “Borrowers”), each
Lender that is a party hereto, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative
Agent (in such capacity, “Administrative Agent”), Swing Line Lender and L/C
Issuer.

R E C I T A L S

A.    Reference is hereby made to that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement dated as of July 27, 2011 (as modified, amended, renewed, extended, or
restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), executed by Borrowers, the
Lenders defined therein, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent,
Swing Line Lender, and L/C Issuer (Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender, L/C
Issuer, and Lenders are individually referred to herein as a “Credit Party” and
collectively referred to herein as the “Credit Parties”).

B.    Capitalized terms used herein shall, unless otherwise indicated, have the
respective meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.

C.    Borrowers have requested that Lenders modify certain provisions contained
in the Credit Agreement, and each Lender that is a party hereto has agreed to
such modifications, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.    Terms and References. Unless otherwise stated in this Amendment (a) terms
defined in the Credit Agreement have the same meanings when used in this
Amendment, and (b) references to “Sections” are to the Credit Agreement's
sections.

2.    Amendment to the Credit Agreement. Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is
hereby amended to delete the definitions of “Acquired Properties” and
“Annualized Adjusted NOI” in their entirety and replace such definitions with
the following:

“Acquired Properties” means, at any time, all Properties acquired by the Subject
Parties within the previous twelve (12) calendar months from any third party
entity through an arms-length transaction.

“Annualized Adjusted NOI” means (a) for each Property owned for twenty-four (24)
months or more, Adjusted NOI for such Property for the immediately preceding
twelve (12) month period; and (b) for each Property owned for a period of less
than twenty-four (24) months and for each Property formerly qualifying as a
Non-Income Producing Property (other than an Acquired Property) that has been an
Income-Producing Property for less than twelve (12) months, Adjusted NOI for
such Property calculated by annualizing from the date such Property became an
Income-Producing Property to date Adjusted NOI for such Property and adjusting
(through appropriate pro-rating, removal or other correction) for all annual or
one-time lump sum payments or expenses with respect to the Property or for any
extraordinary income or expense items with respect to such Property; provided,
that all amounts included in the above calculations with respect to Properties
owned by Unconsolidated Affiliates (and not otherwise adjusted for

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interests in Unconsolidated Affiliates) shall be adjusted to include only that
portion of such amounts attributable to Unconsolidated Affiliate Interests.

3.    Amendments to other Loan Documents.

(a)    All references in the Loan Documents to the Credit Agreement shall
henceforth include references to the Credit Agreement, as modified and amended
hereby, and as may, from time to time, be further amended, modified, extended,
renewed, and/or increased.

(b)    Any and all of the terms and provisions of the Loan Documents are hereby
amended and modified wherever necessary, even though not specifically addressed
herein, so as to conform to the amendments and modifications set forth herein.

4.    Conditions Precedent. This Amendment shall not be effective unless and
until: (a) Administrative Agent receives fully executed counterparts of this
Amendment signed by the Required Lenders, Borrowers, and each Guarantor; (b) the
representations and warranties in the Credit Agreement, as amended by this
Amendment, and each other Loan Document are true and correct in all material
respects on and as of the date of this Amendment as though made as of the date
of this Amendment except to the extent that (i) any of them speak to a different
specific date, or (ii) the facts on which any of them were based have been
changed by transactions contemplated or permitted by the Credit Agreement, and
(c) after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default exists.

6.    Ratifications. Borrowers (a) ratify and confirm all provisions of the Loan
Documents as amended by this Amendment, (b) ratify and confirm that all
guaranties, assurances, and liens granted, conveyed, or assigned to
Administrative Agent for the benefit of Lenders under the Loan Documents are not
released, reduced, or otherwise adversely affected by this Amendment and
continue to guarantee, assure, and secure full payment and performance of the
present and future obligations of Borrowers under the Credit Agreement and the
Loan Documents, and (c) agree to perform such acts and duly authorize, execute,
acknowledge, deliver, file, and record such additional documents, and
certificates as Administrative Agent may request in order to create, perfect,
preserve, and protect those guaranties, assurances, and liens.

7.    Representations. Borrowers represent and warrant to Administrative Agent
and Lenders that as of the date of this Amendment: (a) this Amendment has been
duly authorized, executed, and delivered by each Borrower and each Guarantor;
(b) no action of, or filing with, any governmental authority is required to
authorize, or is otherwise required in connection with, the execution, delivery,
and performance by any Borrower or any Guarantor of this Amendment; (c) the Loan
Documents, as amended by this Amendment, are valid and binding upon each
Borrower and each Guarantor and are enforceable against each Borrower and each
Guarantor in accordance with their respective terms, except as limited by Debtor
Relief Laws; (d) the execution, delivery, and performance by each Borrower and
each Guarantor of this Amendment does not require the consent of any other
Person and do not and will not constitute a violation of any laws, agreements,
or understandings to which any Borrower or any Guarantor is a party or by which
any Borrower or any Guarantor is bound; (e) all representations and warranties
in the Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects except to
the extent that (i) any of them speak to a different specific date, or (ii) the
facts on which any of them were based have been changed by transactions
contemplated or permitted by the Credit Agreement; and (f) no Default exists.

8.    Continued Effect. Except to the extent amended hereby, all terms,
provisions and conditions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
and all documents executed in connection therewith, shall continue in full force
and effect and shall remain enforceable and binding in accordance with their
respective terms.

9.    Miscellaneous. Unless stated otherwise (a) the singular number includes
the plural and vice versa and words of any gender include each other gender, in
each case, as appropriate, (b) headings and captions may not be construed in
interpreting provisions, (c) this Amendment must be construed -- and its
performance enforced -- under North Carolina law, (d) if any part of this
Amendment is for any reason found to be unenforceable, all other portions of it
nevertheless remain enforceable, and (e) this Amendment may be executed in any
number of counterparts

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(originals or facsimile copies followed by originals within two (2) Business
Days) with the same effect as if all signatories had signed the same document,
and all of those counterparts must be construed together to constitute the
same document.

10.    RELEASE. EACH BORROWER AND EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE
OBLIGATIONS ARE ABSOLUTE AND UNCONDITIONAL WITHOUT ANY RIGHT OF RECISSION,
SETOFF, COUNTERCLAIM, DEFENSE, OFFSET, CROSS-COMPLAINT, CLAIM OR DEMAND OF ANY
KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER THAT CAN BE ASSERTED TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE ALL OR ANY
PART OF ITS LIABILITY TO REPAY THE OBLIGATIONS OR TO SEEK AFFIRMATIVE RELIEF OR
DAMAGES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE FROM ANY CREDIT PARTY. THE LOAN PARTIES HEREBY
VOLUNTARILY AND KNOWINGLY RELEASE AND FOREVER DISCHARGE EACH CREDIT PARTY AND
ITS PREDECESSORS, AGENTS, EMPLOYEES, SUCCESSORS, AND ASSIGNS (COLLECTIVELY, THE
“RELEASED PARTIES”), FROM ALL POSSIBLE CLAIMS, DEMANDS, ACTIONS, CAUSES OF
ACTION, DAMAGES, COSTS, EXPENSES, AND LIABILITIES WHATSOEVER, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN,
ANTICIPATED OR UNANTICIPATED, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, FIXED, CONTINGENT, OR
CONDITIONAL, AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, ORIGINATING IN WHOLE OR IN PART ON OR BEFORE
THE DATE THIS AGREEMENT IS EXECUTED, WHICH BORROWERS AND GUARANTORS MAY NOW OR
HEREAFTER HAVE AGAINST THE RELEASED PARTIES, IF ANY, AND IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER
ANY SUCH CLAIMS ARISE OUT OF CONTRACT, TORT, VIOLATION OF LAW OR REGULATIONS, OR
OTHERWISE, AND ARISING FROM ANY “LOANS”, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY
CONTRACTING FOR, CHARGING, TAKING, RESERVING, COLLECTING, OR RECEIVING INTEREST
IN EXCESS OF THE HIGHEST LAWFUL RATE APPLICABLE, THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS AND
REMEDIES UNDER THE CREDIT AGREEMENT OR OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AND NEGOTIATION FOR
AND EXECUTION OF THIS AMENDMENT.

11.    Entireties. The Credit Agreement as amended by this Amendment represents
the final agreement between the parties about the subject matter of the Credit
Agreement as amended by this Amendment and may not be contradicted by evidence
of prior, contemporaneous, or subsequent oral agreements of the parties. There
are no unwritten oral agreements between the parties.

12.    Parties. This Amendment binds and inures to Borrowers, Guarantors,
Administrative Agent, each Lender, and their respective successors and permitted
assigns.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Follow]

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EXECUTED as of the date first stated above.

BORROWERS:

HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By:    HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC., its General Partner
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
HIGHWOODS SERVICES, INC.

By:    /s/ Jeffrey D. Miller
Jeffrey D. Miller
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

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ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent and a Lender

By:        /s/ Authorized Signatory    
Name:        
Title:        

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LENDERS:

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as a Lender

By:        /s/ Authorized Signatory    
Name:        
Title:        

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BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY,
as a Lender

By:        /s/ Authorized Signatory    
Name:        
Title:        

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PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as a Lender

By:        /s/ Authorized Signatory    
Name:        
Title:        

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U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as a Lender

By:        /s/ Authorized Signatory    
Name:        
Title:        

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REGIONS BANK,
as a Lender

By:        /s/ Authorized Signatory    
Name:        
Title:        

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UNION BANK, N.A.,
as a Lender

By:        /s/ Authorized Signatory    
Name:        
Title:        

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FIFTH THIRD BANK, an Ohio banking corporation,
as a Lender

By:        /s/ Authorized Signatory    
Name:        
Title:        

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CHEVY CHASE BANK, A DIVISION OF CAPITAL ONE, N.A., as a Lender

By:        /s/ Authorized Signatory    
Name:        
Title:        

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COMERICA BANK, a Texas banking association
as a Lender

By:        /s/ Authorized Signatory    
Name:        
Title:        

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MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A.,
as a Lender

By:        /s/ Authorized Signatory    
Name:        
Title:        

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ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,
as a Lender

By:        /s/ Authorized Signatory    
Name:        
Title:        

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RBC BANK (USA),
as a Lender

By:        /s/ Authorized Signatory    
Name:        
Title:        

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FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as a Lender

By:        /s/ Authorized Signatory    
Name:        
Title:        

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