<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

                             1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                              OF LENDINGTREE, INC.

1.       ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND TYPES OF AWARDS

         LendingTree, Inc. (the "Company") hereby establishes the LendingTree,
Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). The purpose of the Plan is to promote
the long-term growth and profitability of the Company by (i) providing key
people with incentives to improve stockholder value and to contribute to the
growth and financial success of the Company, and (ii) enabling the Company to
attract, retain and reward the best available persons for positions of
substantial responsibility.

         The Plan permits the granting of stock options (including incentive
stock options qualifying under Section 422 of the Code and nonqualified stock
options) in any combination (collectively, "Options").

2.       DEFINITIONS

         Under the Plan, except where the context otherwise indicates, the
following definitions apply:

         (a) "Affiliate" shall mean any entity, whether now or hereafter
existing, that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the
Company (including, but not limited to, joint ventures, limited liability
companies, and partnerships). For this purpose, "control" shall mean ownership
of 50% or more of the voting power of the entity.

         (b) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

         (c) "Change in Control" shall mean (i) any sale, exchange or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets; or (ii) any
merger, share exchange, consolidation or other reorganization or business
combination in which the Company is not the surviving or continuing corporation,
or in which the Company's stockholders become entitled to receive cash,
securities of the Company other than voting common stock, or securities of
another issuer.

         (d) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
<PAGE>   2
         (e) "Committee" shall mean the Board or committee of Board members
appointed pursuant to Section 3 of the Plan to administer the Plan.

         (f) "Common Stock" shall mean shares of the Company's common stock par
value of one cent ($0.01) per share.

         (g) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

         (h) "Fair Market Value" of a share of the Common Stock for any purpose
on a particular date shall be determined in a manner such as the Board or the
Committee, as applicable, shall in good faith determine to be appropriate;
provided, however, that in the case of incentive stock options, the
determination of Fair Market Value shall be made by the Committee in good faith
in conformance with the Treasury Regulations under Section 422 of the Code.

         (i) "Grant Agreement" shall mean a written agreement between the
Company and a grantee memorializing the terms and conditions of an Option
granted pursuant to the Plan.

         (j) "Grant Date" shall mean the date on which the Committee formally
acts to grant an Option to a grantee or such other date as the Committee shall
so designate at the time of taking such formal action.

         (k) "Grantee" shall mean a person granted an Option pursuant to the
Plan.

         (l) "Parent" shall mean a corporation, whether now or hereafter
existing, within the meaning of the definition of "parent corporation" provided
in Section 424(e) of the Code, or any successor thereto of similar import.

         (m) "Rule 16b-3" shall mean Rule 16b-3 as in effect under the Exchange
Act on the effective date of the Plan, or any successor provision prescribing
conditions necessary to exempt the issuance of securities under the Plan (and
further transactions in such securities) from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

         (n) "Subsidiary" and "Subsidiaries" shall mean only a corporation or
corporations, whether now or hereafter existing, within the meaning of the
definition of "subsidiary corporation" provided in Section 424(f) of the Code,
or any successor thereto of similar import.
<PAGE>   3
3.       ADMINISTRATION

         (a) Procedure. The Plan shall be administered by the Board. In the
alternative, the Board may appoint a Committee consisting of not less than two
(2) members of the Board to administer the Plan on behalf of the Board, subject
to such terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe. Once appointed, the
Committee shall continue to serve until otherwise directed by the Board. From
time to time, the Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint
additional members thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint
new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies, however caused, and remove
all members of the Committee and, thereafter, directly administer the Plan. In
the event that the Board is the administrator of the Plan in lieu of a
Committee, the term "Committee" as used herein shall be deemed to mean the
Board.

                  Members of the Board or Committee who are either eligible for
awards of stock options ("Awards") or have been granted Awards may vote on any
matters affecting the administration of the Plan or the grant of Awards pursuant
to the Plan, except that no such member shall act upon the granting of an Award
to himself or herself, but any such member may be counted in determining the
existence of a quorum at any meeting of the Board or the Committee during which
action is taken with respect to the granting of an Award to him or her.

                  The Committee shall meet at such times and places and upon
such notice as it may determine. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a
quorum. Any acts by the Committee may be taken at any meeting at which a quorum
is present and shall be by majority vote of those members entitled to vote.
Additionally, any acts reduced to writing or approved in writing by all of the
members of the Committee shall be valid acts of the Committee.

         (b) Procedure After Registration of Common Stock. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in the provisions of subsection (a) above, in
the event that the Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company
becomes registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the members of the
Committee shall be both "Non-Employee Directors" within the meaning of Rule
16b-3 and, to the extent that the Board has resolved to take actions necessary
to enable compensation arising with respect to Awards under the Plan to
constitute performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the
Code, "outside directors" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
<PAGE>   4
         (c) Powers of the Committee. The Committee shall have all the powers
vested in it by the terms of the Plan, such powers to include authority, in its
sole and absolute discretion, to grant Options under the Plan, prescribe Grant
Agreements evidencing such Options and establish programs for granting Options.
The Committee shall have full power and authority to take all other actions
necessary to carry out the purpose and intent of the Plan, including, but not
limited to, the authority to:

                  (i) determine the eligible persons to whom, and the time or
         times at which, Options shall be granted;

                  (ii) determine the types of Options to be granted;

                  (iii) determine the number of shares to be covered by each
         Option;

                  (iv) impose such terms, limitations, restrictions and
         conditions upon any such Option as the Committee shall deem
         appropriate;

                  (v) modify, extend or renew outstanding Options, accept the
         surrender of outstanding Options and substitute new Options;

                  (vi) accelerate or otherwise change the time in which an
         Option may be exercised or becomes payable and to waive or accelerate
         the lapse, in whole or in part, of any restriction or condition with
         respect to such Option, including, but not limited to, any restriction
         or condition with respect to the vesting or exercisability of an Option
         following termination of any grantee's employment; and

                  (vii) to establish objectives and conditions, if any, for
         earning the grant of an Option and determining whether Options will be
         granted after the end of a performance period.

The Committee shall have full power and authority to administer and interpret
the Plan and to adopt such rules, regulations, agreements, guidelines and
instruments for the administration of the Plan and for the conduct of its
business as the Committee deems necessary or advisable and to interpret same,
all within the Committee's sole and absolute discretion.

         (d) Limited Liability. To the maximum extent permitted by law, no
member of the Board or Committee shall be liable for any action taken or
decision made in good faith relating to the Plan or any Option thereunder.
<PAGE>   5
         (e) Indemnification. To the maximum extent permitted by law and the
Company's charter or by-laws, the members of the Board and Committee shall be
indemnified by the Company in respect of all their activities under the Plan.

         (f) Effect of Committee's Decision. All actions taken and decisions and
determinations made by the Committee on all matters relating to the Plan
pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be in the Committee's sole
and absolute discretion and shall be conclusive and binding on all parties
concerned, including the Company, its stockholders, any participants in the Plan
and any other employee of the Company, and their respective successors in
interest.

4.       SHARES AVAILABLE FOR THE PLAN

         Subject to adjustments as provided in SECTION 11 of the Plan, the
shares of stock that may be delivered or purchased with respect to Options
granted under the Plan, including with respect to incentive stock options
intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code, shall not exceed an aggregate
of 150,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company. The Company shall reserve
said number of shares for Options under the Plan, subject to adjustments as
provided in SECTION 11 of the Plan. If any Option, or portion of an Option,
under the Plan expires or terminates unexercised, becomes unexercisable or is
forfeited or otherwise terminated, surrendered or canceled as to any shares
without the delivery of shares of Common Stock or other consideration, the
shares subject to such Option shall thereafter be shares with respect to which
further Options may be granted under the Plan.

5.       PARTICIPATION

         Participation in the Plan shall be open to all employees, directors,
officers and consultants of the Company, or of any Affiliate of the Company, as
may be selected by the Committee from time to time. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, participation in the Plan with respect to grants of incentive stock
options shall be limited to employees of the Company or of any Parent or
Subsidiary of the Company.

         Options may be granted to such eligible persons and for such number of
shares of Common Stock as the Committee shall determine, subject to the
limitations in SECTION 4 of the Plan. A grant of any type of Option made in any
one year to an eligible person shall neither guarantee nor preclude a further
grant of that or any other type of Option to such person in that year or
subsequent years.
<PAGE>   6
6.       VESTING

         Unless earlier terminated pursuant to the provisions of the Plan or the
Grant Agreement, a portion of each Option shall become vested in accordance with
the vesting schedule specified in the Grant Agreement; provided, however, that
vesting of any Option that is time-based only (i.e., such option vests only
through the passage of time and does not contain any performance-based vesting
criteria) shall be accelerated so that the unvested portion of the Option shall
become fifty percent (50%) vested in the grantee upon any Change in Control of
the Company.

7.       TERMINATION OF OPTIONS

         (a) Upon Termination of Employment or Service Relationship for Reason
Other Than Death, Disability or Retirement. Unless earlier terminated pursuant
to the provisions of the Plan or the Grant Agreement, Options shall terminate in
their entirety, whether vested in whole or in part, three (3) years after the
date the Grantee is no longer employed by, nor in a service relationship with,
the Company and its affiliates for any reason other than the Grantee's death,
Disability, or Retirement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Grantee's Options
shall terminate in their entirety, whether vested in whole or in part, upon
termination of the employment or service relationship of the Grantee by the
Company or an affiliate for "cause". If a Grantee is a party to a written
employment agreement with the Company or an affiliate which contains a
definition of "cause", "termination for cause" or any other similar term or
phrase, whether such Grantee is terminated for "cause" pursuant to this SECTION
7(a) shall be determined according to the terms of and in a manner consistent
with the provisions of such written employment agreement. If a Grantee is not
party to such a written employment agreement with the Company or an affiliate,
then for purposes of this SECTION 7(a), "cause" shall mean (i) any substantiated
act by Grantee involving dishonesty or bad faith against the Company or an
affiliate, or any act or omission that demonstrates a lack of integrity of
Grantee with respect to the Company or an affiliate; (ii) Grantee engaging in
acts or omissions that demonstrably and materially injure the business and
affairs of the Company or an affiliate, monetarily or otherwise; (iii) breach or
threatened breach by Grantee of any non-competition or confidentiality agreement
entered into between Grantee and the Company or its affiliate; (iv) chronic use
of alcohol, drugs or other similar substances affecting Grantee's work
performance; or (v) Grantee being convicted of, or pleading guilty or no lo
contendere to, or being indicted for a felony or other crime involving theft,
fraud or moral turpitude. The good faith determination by the Committee of
whether Grantee's employment or service relationship was terminated by the
Company for 'cause' shall be final and binding for all purposes hereunder.
<PAGE>   7
         (b) Upon Grantee's Death. Unless earlier terminated pursuant to the
provisions of the Plan or the Grant Agreement, upon a Grantee's death Grantee's
executor, personal representative, or the person to whom Options shall have been
transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution, as the case may be,
may exercise all or any part of outstanding Options with respect to shares of
Common Stock as to which the Options are vested as of Grantee's date of death,
provided such exercise occurs within three (3) years after the date of Grantee's
death, but not later than the end of the stated term of the Option. If not
earlier terminated, Options shall terminate upon expiration of the 3 year period
immediately following a Grantee's death.

         (c) Upon Termination of Employment or Service Relationship by Reason of
Disability or Retirement. Unless earlier terminated pursuant to the provisions
of the Plan or the Grant Agreement, in the event that a Grantee ceases, by
reason of Disability or Retirement, to be an employee of or in a service
relationship with the Company or an affiliate, the vested portion of an
outstanding Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time within
three (3) years after the date of Disability or Retirement, as the case may be,
but not later than the end of the stated term of the Option. If not earlier
terminated, Options shall terminate upon expiration of the three-year period
immediately following a Grantee's Disability or Retirement, as the case may be.
For purposes of the Plan, "Disability" shall mean the inability to engage in any
substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or
mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted
or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12)
months. The Committee may require such proof of Disability as the Committee in
its sole discretion deems appropriate and the Committee's determination as to
whether Grantee is Disabled shall be final and binding on all parties concerned.
For purposes of the Plan, 'Retirement' shall mean termination of employment or
service, other than for cause, on or after attainment of age 65."

8.       STOCK OPTIONS

         Subject to the other applicable provisions of the Plan, the Committee
may from time to time grant to eligible participants awards of incentive stock
options as that term is defined in Section 422 of the Code or nonqualified stock
options. The Option awards granted shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions.

         (a) Grant of Option. The grant of an Option shall be evidenced by a
Grant Agreement, executed by the Company and the grantee, stating the number of
<PAGE>   8
shares of Common Stock subject to the Option evidenced thereby and the terms and
conditions of such Option, in such form as the Committee may from time to time
determine.

         (b) Price. The price per share payable upon the exercise of each Option
("exercise price") shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that
in the case of incentive stock options, the exercise price shall not be less
than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the shares on the date the Option is
granted.

         (c) Payment. Stock options may be exercised in whole or in part by
payment of the exercise price of the shares to be acquired in accordance with
the provisions of the Grant Agreement, or such rules and regulations as the
Committee may have prescribed, or such determinations, orders, or decisions as
the Committee may have made. Payment may be made in cash (or cash equivalents
acceptable to the Committee) or by such other means as the Committee may
prescribe. The Company may make or guarantee loans to grantees to assist
grantees in exercising Options and satisfying any related withholding tax
obligations.

         If the Common Stock is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act,
the Committee, subject to such limitations as it may determine, may authorize
payment of the exercise price, in whole or in part, by delivery of a properly
executed exercise notice, together with irrevocable instructions: (i) to a
brokerage firm designated by the grantee and approved by the Company to deliver
promptly to the Company the aggregate amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the
exercise price and any withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection
with the exercise, and (ii) to the Company to deliver the certificates for such
purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm.

         (d) Terms of Options. The term during which each Option may be
exercised shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that in no
event shall an incentive stock option be exercisable more than 10 years from the
date it is granted. Prior to the exercise of the Option and delivery of the
shares certificates represented thereby, the grantee shall have none of the
rights of a stockholder with respect to any shares represented by an outstanding
Option.

         (e) Restrictions on Incentive Stock Options. Incentive stock options
granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with Code Section 422 and,
as such, shall meet the following additional requirements:
<PAGE>   9
                  (i) Grant Date. An incentive stock option must be granted
         within 10 years of the earlier of the Plan's adoption by the Board of
         Directors or approval by the Company's shareholders.

                  (ii) Exercise Price and Term. The exercise price of an
         incentive stock option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market
         Value of the shares on the date the Option is granted and the term of
         the stock option shall not exceed ten years. Notwithstanding anything
         to the contrary contained in the immediately preceding sentence, the
         exercise price of any incentive stock option granted to a grantee who
         owns (within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code, after the
         application of the attribution rules in Section 424(d) of the Code)
         more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of
         shares of the Company, or its Parent or Subsidiary corporations, shall
         be not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on
         the grant date and the term of such Option shall not exceed five years.

                  (iii) Maximum Grant. The aggregate Fair Market Value (deter
         mined as of the Grant Date) of shares of Common Stock with respect to
         which all incentive stock options first become exercisable by any
         grantee in any calendar year under this or any other plan of the
         Company and its Parent and Subsidiary corporations may not exceed
         $100,000 or such other amount as may be permitted from time to time
         under Section 422 of the Code. To the extent that such aggregate Fair
         Market Value shall exceed $100,000, or other applicable amount, such
         Options shall be treated as nonqualified stock options. In such case,
         the Company may designate the shares of Common Stock that are to be
         treated as stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an incentive
         stock option by issuing a separate certificate for such shares and
         identifying the certificate as incentive stock option shares in the
         stock transfer records of the Company.

                  (iv) Grantee. Incentive stock options shall only be issued to
         employees of the Company, or of a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.

                  (v) Tandem Options Prohibited. An incentive stock option may
         not be granted in tandem with a nonqualified option in such a manner
         that the exercise of one affects a grantee's right to exercise the
         other.

                  (vi) Designation. No Option shall be an incentive stock option
         unless so designated by the Committee at the time of grant or in the
         Grant Agreement evidencing such Option.
<PAGE>   10
         (f) Other Terms and Conditions. Options may contain such other
provisions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee
shall determine appropriate from time to time.

9.       WITHHOLDING OF TAXES

         The Company may require, as a condition to the exercise of any Option
under the Plan or the delivery of certificates for shares issued or payments of
cash to a grantee pursuant to the Plan or a Grant Agreement (hereinafter
collectively referred to as a "taxable event"), that the grantee pay to the
Company in cash any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to
be withheld with respect to any taxable event under the Plan. The Company, to
the extent permitted or required by law, shall have the right to deduct from any
payment of any kind (including salary or bonus) otherwise due to a grantee any
federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with
respect to any taxable event under the Plan, or to retain or sell without notice
a sufficient number of the shares to be issued to such grantee to cover any such
taxes.

10.      TRANSFERABILITY

         Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, and in any event in
the case of an incentive stock option, no Option granted under the Plan shall be
transferable by a grantee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in accord with the
provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, an Option may be exercised
during the lifetime of the grantee, only by the grantee or, during the period
the grantee is under a legal disability, by the grantee's guardian or legal
representative.

11.      ADJUSTMENTS; BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

         In the event of a reclassification, recapitalization, stock split,
stock dividend, combination of shares, or other similar event, the maximum
number and kind of shares reserved for issuance or with respect to which Options
may be granted under the Plan as provided in SECTION 4 shall be adjusted to
reflect such event, and the Committee shall make such adjustments as it deems
appropriate and equitable in the number, kind and price of shares covered by
outstanding Options made under the Plan, and in any other matters which relate
to Options and which are affected by the changes in the Common Stock referred to
above.
<PAGE>   11
         In the event of any proposed Change in Control, the Committee shall
take such action as it deems appropriate and equitable to effectuate the
purposes of this Plan and to protect the grantees of Options, which action may
include, but without limitation, any one or more of the following: (i)
acceleration or change of the exercise dates of any Option; (ii) arrangements
with grantees for the payment of appropriate consideration to them for the
cancellation and surrender of any Option; and (iii) in any case where equity
securities other than Common Stock of the Company are proposed to be delivered
in exchange for or with respect to Common Stock of the Company, arrangements
providing that any Option shall become one or more Options with respect to such
other equity securities.

         The Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and
conditions of, and the criteria included in, Options in recognition of unusual
or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in
the preceding two paragraphs of this SECTION 11) affecting the Company, or the
financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary, or of changes in
applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee
determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or
enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available
under the Plan.

         In the event the Company dissolves and liquidates (other than pursuant
to a plan of merger or reorganization), then notwithstanding any restrictions on
exercise set forth in this Plan or any Grant Agreement: (i) each grantee shall
have the right to exercise his Option at any time up to ten (10) days prior to
the effective date of such liquidation and dissolution; and (ii) the Committee
may make arrangements with the grantees for the payment of appropriate
consideration to them for the cancellation and surrender of any Option that is
so canceled or surrendered at any time up to ten (10) days prior to the
effective date of such liquidation and dissolution. The Committee may establish
a different period (and different conditions) for such exercise, delivery,
cancellation, or surrender to avoid subjecting the grantee to liability under
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Any Option not so exercised, canceled, or
surrendered shall terminate on the last day for exercise prior to such effective
date.

12.      TERMINATION AND MODIFICATION OF THE PLAN

         The Board, without further approval of the stockholders, may modify or
terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, except that no
modification shall become effective without prior approval of the stockholders
of the Company if stockholder approval is necessary to comply with any tax or
regulatory requirement or rule of any exchange or Nasdaq System upon which the
Common Stock is listed
<PAGE>   12
or quoted; including for this purpose stockholder approval that is required to
enable the Committee to grant incentive stock options pursuant to the Plan.

         The Committee shall be authorized to make minor or administrative
modifications to the Plan as well as modifications to the Plan that may be
dictated by requirements of federal or state laws applicable to the Company or
that may be authorized or made desirable by such laws. The Committee may amend
or modify the grant of any outstanding Option in any manner to the extent that
the Committee would have had the authority to make such Option as so modified or
amended.

13.      NON-GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE

         Nothing in the Plan or in any Grant Agreement thereunder shall confer
any right on an employee, director, or consultant to continue in the employ or
service of the Company or shall interfere in any way with the right of the
Company to terminate an employee or sever any service relationship of an
individual at any time.

14.      TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

         For purposes of maintaining a grantee's continuous status as an
employee and accrual of rights under any Option granted pursuant to the Plan,
transfer of an employee among the Company and the Company's Affiliates shall not
be considered a termination of employment with the employer.

15.      WRITTEN AGREEMENT

         Each Grant Agreement entered into between the Company and a grantee
with respect to an Option granted under the Plan shall incorporate the terms of
this Plan and shall contain such provisions, consistent with the provisions of
the Plan, as may be established by the Committee.

16.      NON-UNIFORM DETERMINATIONS

         The Committee's determinations under the Plan (including without
limitation determinations of the persons to receive Options, the form, amount
and timing of such Options, the terms and provisions of such Options and the
agreements evidencing same) need not be uniform and may be made by it
selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, Options under
the Plan, whether or not such persons are similarly situated.
<PAGE>   13
17.      APPLICATION OF FUNDS

         The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Common Stock
pursuant to Options granted under the Plan will be used for general corporate
purposes.

18.      LISTING AND REGISTRATION

         If the Company determines that the listing, registration or
qualification upon any securities exchange or upon any listing or quotation
system established by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("Nasdaq System") or under any law, of shares subject to any Option is necessary
or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of same or
the issue or purchase of shares thereunder, no such Option may be exercised in
whole or in part, unless such listing, registration or qualification is effected
free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company.

19.      COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAW

         Common Stock shall not be issued with respect to an Option granted
under the Plan unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance and delivery
of share certificates for such Common Stock pursuant thereto shall comply with
all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities
Act of 1933, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
and the requirements of any national securities exchange or Nasdaq System upon
which the Common Stock may then be listed or quoted, and shall be further
subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such
compliance to the extent such approval is sought by the Committee. All
certificates for Common Stock delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Option or
the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other
restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules,
regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
any stock exchange or Nasdaq System upon which such securities are then listed
or quoted, and any applicable Federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause
a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate
reference to such restrictions.

20.      NO LIMIT ON OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS

         Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or its Parent
or Subsidiary Companies from adopting or continuing in effect other compensation
arrangements (whether such arrangements be generally applicable or applicable
only
<PAGE>   14
in specific cases) as the Committee in its discretion determines desirable,
including without limitation the granting of Options, stock awards, stock
appreciation rights or phantom stock units otherwise than under the Plan.

21.      NO TRUST OR FUND CREATED

         Neither the Plan nor any Option shall create or be construed to create
a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the
Company and a grantee or any other person. To the extent that any grantee or
other person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company pursuant to
an Option, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured
general creditor of the Company.

22.      GOVERNING LAW

         The validity, construction and effect of the Plan, of Grant Agreements
entered into pursuant to the Plan, and of any rules, regulations, determinations
or decisions made by the Board or Committee relating to the Plan or such Grant
Agreements, and the rights of any and all persons having or claiming to have any
interest therein or thereunder, shall be determined exclusively in accordance
with applicable federal laws and the laws of the State of North Carolina,
without regard to its conflict of laws rules and principles.

23.      PLAN SUBJECT TO CHARTER AND BY-LAWS

         This Plan is subject to the Charter and By-Laws of the Company, as they
may be amended from time to time.

24.      EFFECTIVE DATE; TERMINATION DATE

         The Plan is effective as of the date on which the Plan is adopted by
the Board, or such other date as the Board may specify as the effective date,
subject to approval of the stockholders within twelve months before or after
such date. No Option shall be granted under the Plan after the close of business
on the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of the effective date of
the Plan. Subject to other applicable provisions of the Plan, all Options made
under the Plan prior to such termination of the Plan shall remain in effect
until such Options have been satisfied or terminated in accordance with the Plan
and the terms of such Options.

Date Approved by the Board:  February 3, 1998
<PAGE>   15
Date Approved by the Shareholders: ___________________
<PAGE>   16
                               LENDING TREE, INC.
                               AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
                             1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                  THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
("Amendment No. 1") is made and effective this 20th day of March, 1998 by the
Board of Directors of LendingTree, Inc. (the "Company").

                  WHEREAS, the Board of Directors previously adopted the
Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan (the "1998 Plan") on February 3, 1998;

                  WHEREAS, as presently written 150,000 shares of Common Stock
are available for grant under the 1998 Plan;

                  WHEREAS, the Board of Directors deems it advisable and in the
best interests of the Company to increase the number of shares of Common Stock
available for award under the 1998 Plan to 180,000, shares; and

                  WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 12 of the 1998 Plan, the terms
and provisions of the 1998 Plan may be modified or amended by the Board of
Directors.

                  NOW THEREFORE:

         the 1998 Plan is hereby amended by deleting the first sentence of
Section 4 in its entirety and inserting the following sentence in lieu thereof:

         "Subject to adjustments as provided in Section 11 of the Plan, the
shares of stock that may be delivered or purchased with respect to Options
granted under the Plan, including with respect to incentive stock options
intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code, shall not exceed an aggregate
of 180,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company."