<PAGE> 43

                                                               Exhibit 10.1

                  --------------------------------------

                        SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
                              CREDIT AGREEMENT
                  --------------------------------------

                       Dated as of September 11, 1998
                  --------------------------------------

                           U.S. HOME CORPORATION,

                        The Lenders Parties Thereto,

                                    and

                    THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                                  as Agent

                 --------------------------------------

<PAGE> 44

                             TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I

          DEFINITIONS..................................................Page 1
          -----------

ARTICLE II
          THE CREDITS..................................................Page 20
          -----------
          
          2.1.  Commitment.............................................Page 20
          2.2.  Required Payments......................................Page 20
          2.3.  Ratable Loans..........................................Page 20
          2.4.  Types of Advances......................................Page 20
          2.5.  Commitment Fee; Changes in Aggregate Commitment........Page 20
          2.6.  Minimum Amount of Each Advance.........................Page 23
          2.7.  Optional Principal Payments............................Page 23
          2.8.  Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods
                for New Advances.......................................Page 23
          2.9.  Conversion and Continuation of Outstanding Advances....Page 24
          2.10. Changes in Interest Rate, etc..........................Page 24
          2.11. Determination of Applicable Margins and Applicable 
                Commitment Rate........................................Page 25
          2.12. Rates Applicable After Default.........................Page 25
          2.13. Method of Payment......................................Page 26
          2.14. Notes; Telephonic Notices..............................Page 26
          2.15. Interest Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis.........Page 26
          2.16. Notification of Advances, Interest Rates,
                Prepayments and Commitment Reductions  and
                Increases..............................................Page 27
          2.17. Lending Installations..................................Page 27
          2.18. Non-Receipt of Funds by the Agent......................Page 27
          2.19. Withholding Tax Exemption..............................Page 27
          2.20. Extension of Facility Termination Date.................Page 28
          2.21. Replacement of Certain Lenders.........................Page 29
          2.22. Swing Line.............................................Page 30
                ----------
          2.23. Amounts Payable Under Original Agreement...............Page 31
               

ARTICLE III

          CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES......................................Page 31
          3.1.  Yield Protection.......................................Page 32
          3.2.  Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations................Page 33
          3.3.  Availability of Types of Advances......................Page 33
          3.4.  Funding Indemnification................................Page 33
          3.5.  Lender Statements; Survival of Indemnity...............Page 34


<PAGE> 45

ARTICLE  IV

         THE LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY.................................Page 34
         4.1.   Facility Letters of Credit.............................Page 34
         4.2.   Limitations............................................Page 34
         4.3.   Conditions.............................................Page 35
         4.4.   Procedure for Issuance of Facility Letters of Credit...Page 35
         4.5.   Duties of Issuing Bank.................................Page 36
         4.6.   Participation..........................................Page 37
         4.7.   Compensation for Facility Letters of Credit............Page 38
         4.8.   Issuing Bank Reporting Requirements....................Page 39
         4.9.   Indemnification; Nature of Issuing Bank's Duties.......Page 39
         4.10.  Resignation of Issuing Bank............................Page 40
         4.11.  Obligations of Issuing Bank and Other Lenders..........Page 40
 

ARTICLE V

          CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.........................................Page 41
          5.1.  Effective Date.........................................Page 41
          5.2.  Each Advance...........................................Page 42

ARTICLE VI

          REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES...............................Page 43
          6.1.  Existence and Standing.................................Page 43
          6.2.  Authorization and Validity.............................Page 43
          6.3.  No Conflict; Government Consent........................Page 44
          6.4.  Financial Statements...................................Page 44
          6.5.  Material Adverse Effect................................Page 44
          6.6.  Taxes..................................................Page 44
          6.7.  Litigation and Contingent Obligations..................Page 45
          6.8.  Subsidiaries...........................................Page 45
          6.9.  ERISA..................................................Page 45
          6.10.Accuracy of Information.................................Page 45
          6.11.Regulation U............................................Page 45
          6.12.Material Agreements.....................................Page 46
          6.13.Labor Disputes and Acts of God..........................Page 46
          6.14.Ownership and Liens.....................................Page 46
          6.15.Operation of Business...................................Page 46
          6.16.Laws; Environment.......................................Page 46
          6.17.Investment Company Act..................................Page 47
         6.18.Public Utility Holding Company Act.......................Page 47
         6.19.Subordinated Indebtedness................................Page 47
         6.20.Year 2000................................................Page 47


<PAGE> 46

ARTICLE VII

          AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS........................................Page 48
          7.1.  Financial Reporting....................................Page 48
          7.2.  Use of Proceeds........................................Page 51
          7.3.  Notice of Default......................................Page 51
          7.4.  Conduct of Business....................................Page 51
          7.5.  Taxes..................................................Page 52
          7.6.  Insurance..............................................Page 52
          7.7.  Compliance with Laws...................................Page 52
          7.8.  Maintenance of Properties..............................Page 52
          7.9.  Inspection.............................................Page 52
         7.10. Environment.............................................Page 52
         7.11. New Subsidiary..........................................Page 53
         7.12. Change in Schedules.....................................Page 53
         7.13. Year 2000...............................................Page 53

ARTICLE VIII

         NEGATIVE COVENANTS............................................Page 53
         8.1.   Dividends..............................................Page 53
         8.2.   Indebtedness...........................................Page 54
         8.3.   Merger.................................................Page 55
         8.4.   Sale of Assets.........................................Page 55
         8.5.   Sale and Leaseback.....................................Page 55
         8.6.   Investments and Acquisitions...........................Page 55
         8.7.   Contingent Obligations.................................Page 57
         8.8.   Liens..................................................Page 57
         8.9.   Redemption.............................................Page 58
         8.10. Affiliates..............................................Page 58
         8.11. Subordinated Indebtedness...............................Page 58
         8.12. Amendments..............................................Page 58
         8.13. Financial Undertakings.  ...............................Page 59


<PAGE> 47

ARTICLE IX

         FINANCIAL COVENANTS...........................................Page 59
         9.1.   Minimum Consolidated Tangible Net Worth................Page 59
         9.2.   Permitted Indebtedness Ratio...........................Page 59
         9.3.   Land Owned.............................................Page 60
         9.4.   Housing Inventory......................................Page 60
         9.5.   Rate Protection........................................Page 60

ARTICLE X

         DEFAULTS......................................................Page 61

ARTICLE XI

ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES.........................Page 63
          11.1. Acceleration...........................................Page 63
          11.2. Amendments.............................................Page 63
          11.3. Preservation of Rights.................................Page 64

ARTICLE XII

         GENERAL PROVISIONS............................................Page 64
          12.1. Survival of Representations............................Page 64
          12.2. Governmental Regulation................................Page 64
          12.3. Taxes..................................................Page 64
          12.4. Headings...............................................Page 65
          12.5. Entire Agreement.......................................Page 65
          12.6. Nature of Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement......Page 65
          12.7. Expenses; Indemnification..............................Page 65
          12.8. Numbers of Documents...................................Page 65
          12.9. Accounting.............................................Page 66
         12.10. Severability of Provisions.............................Page 66
         12.11. Nonliability of Lenders and Issuing Bank...............Page 66
         12.12. CHOICE OF LAW..........................................Page 66
         12.13. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION................................Page 66
         12.14. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL...................................Page 67
         12.15. Confidentiality........................................Page 67

ARTICLE XIII

         THE AGENT.....................................................Page 67
         13.1.  Appointment............................................Page 67
         13.2.  Powers.................................................Page 67
         13.3.  General Immunity.......................................Page 67
         13.4.  No Responsibility for Loans, Recitals, etc.............Page 68
         13.5.  Action on Instructions of Lenders......................Page 68
         13.6.  Employment of Agents and Counsel.......................Page 68
         13.7.  Reliance on Documents; Counsel.........................Page 68
         13.8.  Agent's Reimbursement and Indemnification..............Page 69
         13.9.  Rights as a Lender or Issuing Bank.....................Page 69
         13.10. Lender Credit Decision.................................Page 69
         13.11. Successor Agent........................................Page 70
         13.12. Agent's Fee............................................Page 70


<PAGE> 48

ARTICLE XIV

         SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS......................................Page 70
         14.1.  Setoff.................................................Page 70
         14.2.  Ratable Payments.......................................Page 71

ARTICLE XV

         BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS.............Page 71
         15.1.  Successors and Assigns.................................Page 71
         15.2.  Participations.........................................Page 71
                15.2.1.  Permitted Participants; Effect................Page 71
                15.2.2.  Voting Rights.................................Page 72
                15.2.3.  Benefit of Setoff.............................Page 72
         15.3.  Assignments............................................Page 72
                15.3.1.  Permitted Assignments.........................Page 72
                15.3.2.  Effect; Effective Date........................Page 73
         15.4.  Dissemination of Information...........................Page 73
         15.5.  Tax Treatment..........................................Page 74

ARTICLE XVI

         NOTICES.......................................................Page 74
         16.1.  Giving Notice..........................................Page 74
         16.2.  Change of Address......................................Page 74

ARTICLE XVII

         COUNTERPARTS..................................................Page 74





<PAGE> 49

                                  EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT "A"    -  FORM OF GUARANTY

EXHIBIT "B-1"  -  FORM OF NOTE

EXHIBIT "B-2"  -  FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED NOTE

EXHIBIT "C"    -  FORM OF COMMITMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

EXHIBIT "D"    -  FORM OF OPINION - KAYE, SCHOLER, FIERMAN, HAYS AND
                  HANDLER, LLP

EXHIBIT "E"    -  FORM OF OPINION OF STEVEN LANE, DIRECTOR - LEGAL OF
                  THE BORROWER

EXHIBIT "F"    -  FORM OF OPINION - LORD BISSELL & BROOK

EXHIBIT "G"    -  FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY

EXHIBIT "H"    -  FORM OF SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CONTRIBUTION AND
                  INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT "I"    -  FORM OF SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED SUBORDINATION
                  AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT "J"    -  FORM OF BORROWING CERTIFICATE

EXHIBIT "K"    -  FORM OF QUARTERLY COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

         SCHEDULE "I" TO COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

EXHIBIT "L"  -  FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

         EXHIBIT "I" TO ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
                NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT


                                 SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE "1-A"   -      GUARANTORS

SCHEDULE "1-B"   -      NON-BORROWING SUBSIDIARIES



<PAGE> 50


SCHEDULE "6.3"   -      REQUIRED CONSENTS

SCHEDULE "6.7"   -      LITIGATION AND CONTINGENT OBLIGATIONS

SCHEDULE "6.8"   -      SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE "6.16"  -      EXCEPTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL REPRESENTATIONS

SCHEDULE "8.2"   -      INDEBTEDNESS

SCHEDULE "8.6"   -      EXISTING INVESTMENTS


<PAGE> 51



                SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

         This Second  Amended and Restated  Credit  Agreement,  dated as of
September 11, 1998, is among U.S. Home Corporation, a Delaware corporation,
as Borrower,  the Lenders listed on the signature  pages of this Agreement,
and The First National Bank of Chicago, as Agent.

         WHEREAS, the Borrower and certain of the Lenders are party to that
certain Amended and Restated Credit  Agreement dated as of May 28, 1997, as
amended by that certain  Consent and First  Amendment  to Credit  Agreement
dated as of August 22,  1997,  as further  amended by that  certain  Second
Amendment to Credit  Agreement dated as of January 15, 1998, and as further
amended by that certain  Third  Amendment to Credit  Agreement  dated as of
March 9, 1998 (as so amended, the "Original Agreement"); and

         WHEREAS,  certain Lenders not party to the Original Agreement have
agreed to issue  Commitments (as  hereinafter  defined) and certain Lenders
party to the Original  Agreement have agreed to increase their Commitments,
thereby  increasing the Aggregate  Commitment (as  hereinafter  defined) to
$300,000,000.00; and

         WHEREAS,  the  parties  hereto now desire to amend and restate the
Original Agreement in its entirety to effect such increase in the Aggregate
Commitment  and to effect certain other  modifications  of the terms of the
Original Agreement as hereinafter provided.

         NOW  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises,  the  mutual
covenants  contained herein and for other good and valuable  consideration,
the receipt and  sufficiency of which is hereby  acknowledged,  the parties
hereto  agree that,  effective  as of the  Effective  Date (as  hereinafter
defined),  the  Original  Agreement  is hereby  amended and restated in its
entirety as follows:

                                 ARTICLE I

                                DEFINITIONS 

         As used in this Agreement:
                                                     
         "Acquisition"  means any  transaction,  or any  series of  related
transactions,  consummated on or after the date of this Agreement, by which
the  Borrower  or any  of its  Subsidiaries  (excluding  the  Non-Borrowing
Subsidiaries) (i) acquires any going concern or all or substantially all of
the assets of any firm,  corporation or division  thereof,  whether through
purchase of assets,  merger or  otherwise  or (ii)  directly or  indirectly
acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent  transaction in a series
of transactions) at least a majority (in number of votes) of the securities
of a  corporation  which have  ordinary  voting  power for the  election of
directors  (other than  securities  having such power only by reason of the
happening of a  contingency)  or a majority (by percentage or voting power)
of  the  outstanding   partnership  or  other  ownership   interests  of  a
partnership,  joint  venture,  limited  liability  company or other similar
business organization.
<PAGE> 52

         "Additional Lenders" is defined in Section 2.5(b).

         "Advance" means a borrowing hereunder consisting of either (i) the
aggregate  amount of the several Loans (excluding Swing Line Loans) made by
the  Lenders  to the  Borrower  of the  same  Type  and,  in the  case of a
Eurodollar Advance,  for the same Interest Period or (ii) a Swing Line Loan
made by the Swing Line Bank to the Borrower.

         "Affected Lender" is defined in Section 2.21.

         "Affiliate"  of any  Person  means any other  Person  directly  or
indirectly  controlling,  controlled  by or under common  control with such
Person.  A  Person  shall  be  deemed  to  control  another  Person  if the
controlling  Person  beneficially owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of
the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) 20% or more of any class
of  voting  securities  (or  other  voting  ownership   interests)  of  the
controlled Person or possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct
or cause the  direction  of the  management  or policies of the  controlled
Person, whether through ownership of stock, by contract or otherwise.

         "Agent"  means The First  National Bank of Chicago in its capacity
as  agent  for  the  Lenders  pursuant  to  Article  XIII,  and  not in its
individual capacity as a Lender, and any successor Agent appointed pursuant
to Article XIII.

         "Aggregate Available Credit" means the aggregate of the Available
Credits of all of the Lenders.

         "Aggregate  Commitment"  means the aggregate of the Commitments of
all the Lenders,  as increased or reduced from time to time pursuant to the
terms hereof. As of the date of this Agreement, the Aggregate Commitment is
$300,000,000.

         "Agreement"   means  this  Second  Amended  and  Restated   Credit
Agreement,  as it may be amended or modified  (including  by execution  and
delivery of a Commitment and  Acceptance in accordance  with the provisions
of Section 2.5(b)) and in effect from time to time.

         "Agreement Accounting Principles" is defined in Section 12.9.

         "Alternate  Base Rate" means,  for any day, a rate of interest per
annum equal to the higher of (i) the  Corporate  Base Rate for such day and
(ii) the sum of (a) the Federal Funds  Effective Rate for such day plus (b)
1/2 of 1% per annum.



<PAGE> 53


         "Applicable   Commitment   Rate"   means,   as  at  any   date  of
determination,  the  rate  per  annum  indicated  in  Section  2.11 as then
applicable in the determination of the commitment fee under Section 2.5.

         "Applicable   Eurodollar   Margin"  means,   as  at  any  date  of
determination,  the margin  indicated in Section 2.11 as then applicable in
the  determination of Eurodollar Rates and the Applicable  Letter of Credit
Rate.

         "Applicable  Floating  Rate  Margin"  means,  as at  any  date  of
determination,  the margin  indicated in Section 2.11 as then applicable in
the determination of the Floating Rate applicable to Floating Rate Advances
and Swing Line Loans,  provided,  however,  that, with respect to the first
$25,000,000  of  Floating  Rate  Advances   (excluding  Swing  Line  Loans)
outstanding at any time, the Applicable  Floating Rate Margin shall be zero
(0).

         "Applicable  Letter  of  Credit  Rate"  means,  as at any  date of
determination,  a rate per  annum  equal to (i) the  Applicable  Eurodollar
Margin as at such date, less (ii) 0.25 percent.

         "Applicable  Margin(s)"  means the  Applicable  Eurodollar  Margin
and/or the Applicable Floating Rate Margin, as the case may be.

         "Article"  means  an  article  of this  Agreement  unless  another
document is specifically referenced.

         "Authorized Officer" means any of the Chairman,  President, Senior
Vice President or any Vice President of the Borrower, acting singly.

         "Available  Credit" means, at any date with respect to any Lender,
the amount (if any) by which such  Lender's  Commitment  exceeds the sum of
(i) the  outstanding  principal  balance of such Lender's  Loans as of such
date  (including,  in the case of the Swing Line Bank,  Swing Line  Loans),
plus (ii) such  Lender's  ratable  share  (determined  in  accordance  with
Section 4.6) of the Facility Letter of Credit Obligations as of such date.

         "Borrower" means U.S. Home Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and
its successors and assigns.



<PAGE> 54


         "Borrowing  Base" means,  with  respect to an Inventory  Valuation
Date for which it is to be  determined,  an amount  equal to the sum of the
following assets of the Borrower and the Guarantors (but only to the extent
that such  assets  are not  subject  to any  Liens  (other  than  Permitted
Encumbrances),  whether or not such Liens are permitted hereunder): (i) the
Receivables,   (ii)  the  book  value  of  Housing  Units  Under  Contract,
multiplied  by eighty  percent  (80%),  (iii) the book  value of  Inventory
Housing Units,  multiplied by seventy percent (70%),  and (iv) the sum (but
not exceeding forty percent (40%) of Total Senior Loan  Commitments) of (A)
the book value of Finished Lots,  multiplied by seventy percent (70%), plus
(B) the book value of Land under  Development,  multiplied by fifty percent
(50%)  plus (C) the book  value of  Entitled  Land,  multiplied  by  thirty
percent (30%).

         "Borrowing   Base   Certificate"   means  a  written   certificate
substantially  in the form set forth in Exhibit  "J" (or such other form as
is acceptable to the Borrower and the Required  Lenders)  setting forth the
amount of the  Borrowing  Base with  respect  to the  calendar  month  most
recently completed,  certified as true and correct by an Authorized Officer
of the Borrower.

         "Borrowing Date" means a date on which an Advance is made hereunder.

         "Borrowing Notice" is defined in Section 2.8.

         "Business Day" means (i) with respect to any borrowing, payment or
rate  selection  of  Eurodollar  Advances,  a day (other than a Saturday or
Sunday) on which banks  generally  are open in Chicago and New York for the
conduct of substantially all of their commercial  lending activities and on
which  dealings  in United  States  dollars  are  carried  on in the London
interbank  market  and (ii) for all other  purposes,  a day  (other  than a
Saturday  or Sunday) on which banks  generally  are open in Chicago for the
conduct of substantially all of their commercial lending activities.

         "Capitalized  Lease" of a Person  means any lease of  Property  by
such Person as lessee which would be capitalized on a balance sheet of such
Person prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

         "Capitalized  Lease  Obligations"  of a Person means the amount of
the  obligations  of such Person  under  Capitalized  Leases which would be
shown  as a  liability  on a  balance  sheet  of such  Person  prepared  in
accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

         "Change in Control" means the acquisition by any Person, or two or
more Persons acting in concert, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning
of  Rule  13d-3  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  under  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  as  amended)  of 50%  or  more  of the
outstanding shares of voting stock of the Borrower.

         "Code"  means  the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as  amended,
reformed or otherwise modified from time to time.


<PAGE> 55

         "Commitment" means, for each Lender, the obligation of such Lender
to make Loans  (other than Swing Line  Loans),  and to  participate  in the
Facility Letters of Credit in accordance with Section 4.6(a), not exceeding
the amount set forth  opposite its  signature  below or as set forth in any
Notice of Assignment  relating to any assignment that has become  effective
pursuant to Section 15.3.2 or as set forth in any Commitment and Acceptance
in accordance with Section 2.5(b), as such amount may be modified from time
to time pursuant to the terms hereof.

         "Commitment and Acceptance" is defined in Section 2.5(b).

         "Consolidated   Funded  Indebtedness"  means,  at  any  date,  the
outstanding  amount of all Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Guarantors,
excluding  accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and
guarantees of  performance  or completion  and  performance  bonds (but not
excluding guarantees of payment), all determined without duplication and on
a consolidated basis for the Borrower and the Guarantors in conformity with
Agreement Accounting Principles.

         "Consolidated  Interest  Expense"  means for any  period,  without
duplication,  the aggregate  amount of interest  which,  in conformity with
Agreement  Accounting  Principles,   would  be  set  opposite  the  caption
"interest  expense"  or any like  caption  on an income  statement  for the
Borrower  and  the  Guarantors  (including,   without  limitation,  imputed
interest  included  on  Capitalized  Lease  Obligations,  all  commissions,
discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to Letters of Credit
and  bankers'  acceptance  financing,  the net costs  associated  with Rate
Hedging Obligations, amortization of other financing fees and expenses, the
interest  portion  of any  deferred  payment  obligation,  amortization  of
discount or premiums,  if any, and all other noncash interest expense other
than interest and other  charges  amortized to cost of sales) and includes,
with respect to the Borrower and the Guarantors,  without duplication,  all
interest included as a component of cost of sales for such period.

         "Consolidated  Interest  Incurred"  means for any period,  without
duplication,  the aggregate  amount of interest  which,  in conformity with
Agreement  Accounting  Principles,   would  be  set  opposite  the  caption
"interest  expense"  or any like  caption  on an income  statement  for the
Borrower  and  the  Guarantors  (including,   without  limitation,  imputed
interest  included  on  Capitalized  Lease  Obligations,  all  commissions,
discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to Letters of Credit
and  bankers'  acceptance  financing,  the net costs  associated  with Rate
Hedging Obligations, amortization of other financing fees and expenses, the
interest  portion  of any  deferred  payment  obligation,  amortization  of
discount or premiums,  if any, and all other noncash interest expense other
than interest and other  charges  amortized to cost of sales) and includes,
with respect to the Borrower and the Guarantors,  without duplication,  all
capitalized  interest  for  such  period,  all  interest   attributable  to
discontinued  operations for such period to the extent not set forth on the
income statement under the caption "interest  expense" or any like caption,
and all interest  actually  paid by the  Borrower or a Guarantor  under any
Contingent Obligation during such period.

<PAGE> 56
         "Consolidated  Net Income" means,  for any period,  the net income
(or loss) of the Borrower and the  Guarantors on a  consolidated  basis for
such period taken as a single accounting  period,  determined in conformity
with Agreement Accounting Principles; provided that there shall be excluded
from Consolidated Net Income (i) the income (or loss) of any Person that is
not the  Borrower  or a  Guarantor,  except to the  extent of the amount of
dividends  or  other  distributions  actually  paid  to the  Borrower  or a
Guarantor by such Person during such period,  and (ii) the income (or loss)
of any  Person  accrued  prior to the date it becomes a  Subsidiary  of the
Borrower or is merged into or consolidated  with the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or that Person's assets are acquired by the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries.

         "Consolidated  Senior Debt  Borrowings"  means,  at any date, with
respect to the Borrower and the Guarantors,  on a consolidated  basis,  the
outstanding  principal amount of all obligations  described in clauses (i),
(iv)  or  (viii)  of  the  definition  of  "Indebtedness"   (including  the
Obligations)  calculated in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles
but  excluding  (i)  Indebtedness  secured  by a  Lien  on  Property,  (ii)
Indebtedness of the Borrower to a Guarantor, a Guarantor to the Borrower or
a Guarantor to another Guarantor, and (iii) any Subordinated Indebtedness.

         "Consolidated   Tangible  Net  Worth"  means,  at  any  date,  the
consolidated  stockholders' equity of the Borrower determined in conformity
with Agreement  Accounting  Principles,  less its  consolidated  Intangible
Assets,  all  determined as of such date.  For purposes of this  definition
"Intangible   Assets"  means  the  amount  (to  the  extent   reflected  in
determining such  consolidated  stockholders'  equity) of (i) all write-ups
(other than write-ups  resulting  from foreign  currency  translations  and
write-ups of assets of a going  concern  business made within twelve months
after the acquisition of such business) subsequent to March 31, 1998 in the
book value of any asset  owned by the  Borrower,  (ii) all  investments  in
Non-Borrowing   Subsidiaries  and  (iii)  all  unamortized  debt  discount,
goodwill,  patents,  trademarks,  service marks,  trade names,  copyrights,
organization or developmental expenses and other intangible items.

         "Contingent  Obligation" of a Person means,  without  duplication,
any agreement,  undertaking  or  arrangement by which such Person  assumes,
guarantees  (other than a Guaranty),  endorses (other than  endorsements in
the ordinary  course of business of negotiable  instruments  for deposit or
collection),  contingently  agrees to  purchase  or  provide  funds for the
payment  of, or  otherwise  becomes or is  contingently  liable  upon,  the
obligation or liability of any other Person,  or agrees to maintain the net
worth or working capital or other financial  condition of any other Person,
or  otherwise  assures any  creditor  of such other  Person  against  loss,
including,  without limitation,  any comfort letter,  operating  agreement,
take-or-pay  contract,  or application or other contingent  obligation with
respect to a Letter of Credit,  but excluding  guarantees of performance or
completion and performance bonds, or setoff rights of a lender. "Contingent
Obligation"  does not include the obligation to make capital  contributions
to a joint venture.

         "Contribution Agreement" is defined in Section 5.1(x).


<PAGE> 57

         "Controlled  Group"  means all  members of a  controlled  group of
corporations  and all trades or  businesses  (whether or not  incorporated)
under  common  control  which,  together  with the  Borrower  or any of its
Subsidiaries,  are treated as a single  employer  under  Section 414 of the
Code.

         "Conversion/Continuation Notice" is defined in Section 2.9.

         "Corporate  Base  Rate"  means  a  rate  per  annum  equal  to the
corporate  base rate of interest  announced  by First  Chicago from time to
time, changing when and as said corporate base rate changes.

         "Coverage Test" is defined in Section 9.2(b).

         "Default"  means  an  event  described  in  Article  X  after  the
expiration of any applicable cure or notice period.

         "EBITDA" means, for any period,  without duplication,  (i) the sum
of the  amounts  for  such  period  of (a)  Consolidated  Net  Income,  (b)
Consolidated  Interest Expense, (c) charges against income for all federal,
state and local taxes, (d) depreciation  expense, (e) amortization expense,
(f) other non-cash charges and expenses, and (g) any losses arising outside
of the  ordinary  course  of  business  which  have  been  included  in the
determination  of  Consolidated  Net  Income,  less (ii) any gains  arising
outside of the ordinary  course of business which have been included in the
determination  of  Consolidated   Net  Income,   all  as  determined  on  a
consolidated  basis for the Borrower and the Guarantors in conformity  with
Agreement Accounting Principles.

         "Effective  Date"  means the  later of (a) the date on which  this
Agreement has been fully executed and delivered by the Lenders,  the Agent,
the Issuing Bank and the Borrower and (b) the date on which the  conditions
set forth in Section 5.1 have been satisfied.

         "Entitled Land" means parcels of land owned by the Borrower or any
Guarantor which are zoned for the construction of single-family  dwellings,
whether detached or attached  (including  condominiums but excluding mobile
homes); provided,  however, that the term "Entitled Land" shall not include
Land under  Development,  Finished Lots or any real property upon which the
construction of Housing Units has commenced.

         "Equity  Security"  has the meaning set forth in Rule 3a11-1 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended from time to time, and any rule or regulation issued thereunder.

         "Eurodollar Advance" means an Advance which bears interest at a
Eurodollar Rate.


<PAGE> 58

         "Eurodollar Base Rate" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Advance
for the relevant  Interest  Period,  the rate determined by the Agent to be
the rate at which deposits in U.S.  dollars are offered by First Chicago to
first-class  banks in the London  interbank market at approximately 11 a.m.
(London  time) two  Business  Days prior to the first day of such  Interest
Period, in the approximate  amount of First Chicago's  relevant  Eurodollar
Loan and having a maturity  approximately equal to such Eurodollar Interest
Period.

         "Eurodollar Loan" means a Loan which bears interest at a Eurodollar
Rate.

         "Eurodollar Rate" means, with respect to a Eurodollar  Advance for
the  relevant  Interest  Period,  the  sum of (i) the  quotient  of (a) the
Eurodollar Base Rate applicable to such Interest Period, divided by (b) one
minus the Reserve  Requirement  (expressed as a decimal) applicable to such
Interest Period, plus (ii) the Applicable Eurodollar Margin. The Eurodollar
Rate shall be rounded to the next higher multiple of 1/16 of 1% if the rate
is not such a multiple.

         "Excluded Taxes" is defined in Section 3.1.

         "Extension Request" is defined in Section 2.20(a).

         "Facility Increase Notice" is defined in Section 2.5(c).

         "Facility  Letter of Credit" means (a) any Letter of Credit issued
by the Issuing Bank prior to the  Effective  Date  pursuant to the Original
Agreement  that is  outstanding on the Effective Date and (b) any Letter of
Credit  issued by the  Issuing  Bank for the  account of the  Borrower or a
Guarantor in accordance with Article IV.

         "Facility  Letter of Credit Fee" means a fee, payable with respect
to each Facility  Letter of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank, in an amount
per annum equal to the product of (i) the Applicable  Letter of Credit Rate
(determined as of the date on which the monthly  installment of such fee is
due) and (ii) the  greater of (A)  $50,000  or (B) the face  amount of such
Facility Letter of Credit.

         "Facility  Letter of Credit  Obligations"  means, at any date, the
sum of (i) the aggregate  undrawn face amount of all  outstanding  Facility
Letters of Credit, and (ii) without  duplication of any amounts referred to
in clause (i), the aggregate amount paid by an Issuing Bank on any Facility
Letters of Credit to the extent (if any) not  reimbursed by the Borrower or
by the Lenders under Section 4.4.

         "Facility Termination Date" means May 31, 2001, as the same may be
extended as provided in Section 2.20.

         "FCCM" means First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc.


<PAGE> 59

         "Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate" means,  for any day, an interest
rate per annum  equal to the  weighted  average  of the rates on  overnight
Federal  funds  transactions  with  members of the Federal  Reserve  System
arranged by Federal  funds  brokers on such day, as published  for such day
(or,  if such day is not a  Business  Day,  for the  immediately  preceding
Business Day) by the Federal  Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is
not so  published  for any day which is a Business  Day, the average of the
quotations at  approximately  10 a.m.  (Chicago  time) for such day on such
transactions  received  by the Agent from three  Federal  funds  brokers of
recognized standing selected by the Agent in its sole discretion.

         "Financial  Undertaking"  of a  Person  means  (i) any  repurchase
obligation  or  liability  of such Person or any of its  Subsidiaries  with
respect to accounts or notes  receivable  sold by such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries,  (ii) any sale and leaseback transactions which do not create
a  liability  on the  consolidated  balance  sheet of such  Person  and its
Subsidiaries,   (iii)  any  other   transaction  which  is  the  functional
equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute
a  liability  on the  consolidated  balance  sheets of such  Person and its
Subsidiaries   (excluding  any  obligation  of  a  Person  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries to a governmental authority,  agency or district to acquire or
develop real property and/or to pay taxes or other assessments with respect
to real property, notwithstanding that such tax payments or assessments are
applied to pay debt service on bonds issued by such governmental authority,
agency or district), or (iv) any Rate Hedging Obligations.

         "Finished Lots" means parcels of land owned by the Borrower or any
Guarantor  which are duly  recorded  and  platted for the  construction  of
single-family  dwelling  units,  whether  detached or  attached  (including
condominiums  but  excluding  mobile  homes)  and zoned for such use,  with
respect to which all requisite  governmental  consents and  approvals  have
been  obtained and on which (i) all  development  activity,  other than the
application  of the seal or finishing  coat on improved  roadways and other
minor repairs  required to dedicate such  roadways,  has been completed and
(ii) water and sewer  connections have been brought to the lot shown on the
plat covering such parcel and are available for hook-up to such dwelling or
dwellings;  provided,  however,  that the term  "Finished  Lots"  shall not
include  any real  property  upon which the  construction  of a dwelling or
dwellings has commenced.

         "First  Chicago"  means The First  National Bank of Chicago in its
individual capacity, and its successors.

         "Fixed Rate Debt" means any  obligation  described in clauses (i),
(iv) or (viii) of the definition of "Indebtedness"  (i) that bears interest
at a rate that is fixed until maturity of such  Indebtedness  and that does
not fluctuate or vary,  whether on the basis of rates established from time
to time by the obligee,  indices,  market  conditions  or otherwise or (ii)
having  an  average  weighted  maturity  equal  to or  exceeding  the  then
remaining term of this Agreement and with respect to which the Borrower has
arranged   Rate  Hedging   Obligations   that  protect  the  Borrower  from
fluctuations  of  interest  rates,  which  Rate  Hedging   Obligations  are
acceptable  to the  Required  Lenders in all  respects,  including  without
limitation  the  Person or  Persons  that are  parties  thereto,  the fixed
interest rates thereunder and the other terms and conditions thereof.


<PAGE> 60

         "Floating Rate" means,  for any day, a rate per annum equal to (i)
the  Alternate  Base Rate for such day, plus (ii) the  Applicable  Floating
Rate Margin,  in each case  changing  when and as the  Alternate  Base Rate
changes.

         "Floating  Rate Advance"  means an Advance which bears interest at
the Floating Rate.

         "Floating  Rate Loan"  means a Loan which  bears  interest  at the
Floating Rate.

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in
the United States from time to time, consistently applied.

         "Guarantors"  means the  Subsidiaries  of the  Borrower  listed on
Schedule "1-A" hereto and any  Subsidiary of Borrower that shall  hereafter
execute  a  Guaranty  in  accordance  with  Section  7.11  hereof,  and any
successors and assigns of any of the foregoing.

         "Guaranty" means the Amended and Restated Guaranty provided for in
Section 5.1(ix) or a Guaranty,  in  substantially  the form of Exhibit "A",
duly executed by one or more of the Guarantors, as any of the foregoing may
be amended or modified and in effect from time to time.

         "Housing  Unit"  means a  single-family  dwelling  (including  any
single-family dwelling for which the construction thereof has commenced but
has  not  been  completed),   whether   detached  or  attached   (including
condominiums but excluding  mobile homes),  including the parcel of land on
which  such  dwelling  is  located  or to be  located,  that is  (or,  upon
completion of construction  thereof,  will be) available for sale; the term
"Housing Unit" includes an Inventory Housing Unit.

         "Housing  Unit  Closing"  means a closing of the sale of a Housing
Unit by the Borrower or a Guarantor to a bona fide purchaser for value that
is not an Affiliate of the Borrower.

         "Housing  Unit Under  Contract"  means a Housing Unit owned by the
Borrower or a Guarantor  as to which the Borrower or such  Guarantor  has a
bona fide contract of sale, in a form customarily  employed by the Borrower
or such  Guarantor,  entered into not more than 15 months prior to the date
of  determination  with a Person who is not an Affiliate  of the  Borrower,
under which  contract no  defaults  then exist and not less than  $1,000.00
toward the purchase  price has been paid;  provided,  however,  that in the
case of any Housing  Unit the  purchase of which is to be financed in whole
or in part by a loan  insured  by the  Federal  Housing  Administration  or
guaranteed by the Veterans Administration, the required minimum downpayment
shall be the  amount  (if any)  required  under the  rules of the  relevant
agency.


<PAGE> 61

         "Indebtedness"  of  a  Person  means,  without  duplication,  such
Person's (i) outstanding  obligations for borrowed money,  (ii) outstanding
obligations  representing  the  deferred  purchase  price  of  Property  or
services (other than (A) accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of
such Person's  business and (B) rights or duties under option agreements to
acquire  real  property),  (iii)  outstanding  obligations,  whether or not
assumed,  secured by Liens (other than Permitted  Encumbrances)  or payable
out of the proceeds or production  from Property now or hereafter  owned or
acquired by such Person,  (iv) outstanding  obligations which are evidenced
by  notes,  debentures,  or  other  similar  instruments,  (v)  outstanding
Capitalized  Lease  Obligations,  (vi) net  liabilities  under Rate Hedging
Obligations,   (vii)  Contingent   Obligations  and  (viii)   reimbursement
obligations  for which such Person is obligated with respect to outstanding
Letters of Credit.  Indebtedness includes, in the case of the Borrower, the
Obligations.

         "Interest Period" means, with respect to a Eurodollar  Advance,  a
period of one,  two,  three or six  months  commencing  on a  Business  Day
selected by the Borrower  pursuant to this Agreement.  Such Interest Period
shall end on (but exclude) the day which  corresponds  numerically  to such
date one, two, three or six months thereafter,  provided,  however, that if
there is no such numerically  corresponding day in such next, second, third
or sixth  succeeding  month,  such  Interest  Period  shall end on the last
Business Day of such next, second or third or sixth succeeding month. If an
Interest  Period would  otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day,
such  Interest  Period  shall  end on the  next  succeeding  Business  Day,
provided, however, that if said next succeeding Business Day falls in a new
calendar month, such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding
Business Day.

         "Inventory  Housing  Unit"  means any  Housing  Unit  owned by the
Borrower or any Guarantor that is not a Housing Unit Under Contract.

         "Inventory  Valuation  Date" means the last day of the most recent
calendar  month with  respect to which the  Borrower  is  required  to have
delivered a Borrowing Base Certificate pursuant to Section 7.1(vii) hereof.

         "Investment"  of a Person  means any loan,  advance,  extension of
credit (other than accounts  receivable  arising in the ordinary  course of
business), deposit account or contribution of capital by such Person to any
other Person or any investment in, or purchase or other acquisition of, the
stock,  partnership,  joint venture or limited liability company interests,
notes,  debentures  or other  securities  of any other  Person made by such
Person. The outstanding amount of any Investment shall be the original cost
of such Investment (plus the cost of all additional  Investments,  if any),
without any  adjustments for increases or decreases in value, or write-ups,
write-downs or write-offs with respect to such Investment  (except,  solely
for purposes of Sections  8.6(vi) and (xiv), to the extent that the same is
reflected in the "net equity  investment"  determined  in  accordance  with
Agreement  Accounting  Principles),  reduced by the payment of dividends or
distributions  (including  tax sharing  payments) in  connection  with such
Investment or any other amounts received in respect of such Investment,  to
the extent  constituting  a return on capital in conformity  with Agreement
Accounting Principles or the repayment of any loan, advance or extension of
credit.
<PAGE> 62

         "Issuance  Date"  means  the date on which a  Facility  Letter  of
Credit is issued, amended or extended.

         "Issuing  Bank"  means  any  Lender  that may from time to time be
designated  as Issuing Bank in  accordance  with the  provisions of Section
4.10,  provided,  however,  that a Lender may be designated as Issuing Bank
only if, at the time of such designation,  it has a rating of not less than
"A" as publicly  announced by S&P. As of the date of this Agreement,  First
Chicago is the Issuing Bank.

         "Land  under  Development"  means  parcels  of land  owned  by the
Borrower  or  any  Guarantor  which  are  zoned  for  the  construction  of
single-family  dwelling  units,  whether  detached or  attached  (including
condominiums  but excluding  mobile homes) and upon which  construction  of
site improvements has commenced and is proceeding;  provided, however, that
the term "Land under  Development"  shall not include  Finished Lots or any
real property upon which the construction of any such dwelling or dwellings
has commenced.

         "Lenders" means the lending  institutions  listed on the signature
pages of this Agreement, and any entity that shall become a party hereto as
a Lender in accordance  with the  provisions of Section  2.5(b),  and their
respective successors and assigns.

         "Lending  Installation"  means,  with  respect  to a Lender or the
Agent,  any office,  branch,  subsidiary or Affiliate of such Lender or the
Agent.

         "Letter of Credit" of a Person means a letter of credit or similar
instrument which is issued by a financial  institution upon the application
of such Person or upon which such  Person is an account  party or for which
such Person is in any way liable.

         "Lien"  means any lien  (statutory  or other),  mortgage,  pledge,
hypothecation,   assignment,  deposit  arrangement,  encumbrance  or  other
security  agreement  or  preferential  arrangement  of any  kind or  nature
whatsoever  (including,  without  limitation,  the  interest of a vendor or
lessor  under  any  conditional  sale,  Capitalized  Lease or  other  title
retention agreement).

         "Loan" means, with respect to a Lender,  (i) such Lender's portion
of any Advance,  including  (unless the context  otherwise  indicates)  any
Advance  consisting  of a Swing  Line  Loan,  and (ii) in the case of a New
Lender, any payment made by such Lender pursuant to Section 2.5(d).

         "Loan Documents" means this Agreement, the Notes, any Guaranties
and any Reimbursement Agreements.


<PAGE> 63

         "Material  Adverse Effect" means a material  adverse effect on (i)
the business,  Property,  condition (financial or otherwise), or results of
operations of the Borrower and the Guarantors,  taken as a whole,  (ii) the
ability  of  the  Borrower  to  perform  its  obligations  under  the  Loan
Documents,  or (iii)  the  validity  or  enforceability  of any of the Loan
Documents  or the  rights or  remedies  of the  Agent,  the  Lenders or any
Issuing Bank thereunder.

         "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc.

         "Multiemployer  Plan"  means  a  Plan  maintained  pursuant  to  a
collective  bargaining  agreement  or any  other  arrangement  to which the
Borrower  or any  member of the  Controlled  Group is a party to which more
than one employer is obligated to make contributions.

         "New Lender" is defined in Section 2.5(b).

         "Non-Borrowing   Subsidiaries"   means  the  Subsidiaries  of  the
Borrower  listed on Schedule "1-B" hereto and any Person that (i) hereafter
becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower and has as its primary business one or
more of the types of  businesses  currently  conducted by the  Subsidiaries
listed on Schedule "1-B" or (ii) is or hereafter  becomes a Subsidiary of a
Non-Borrowing Subsidiary.

         "Non-Recourse  Indebtedness"  with  respect  to any  Person  means
Indebtedness  of such  Person  (i) for which the sole  legal  recourse  for
collection  of principal and interest on such  Indebtedness  is against the
specific property identified in the instruments evidencing or securing such
Indebtedness  and such  property  was  acquired  with the  proceeds of such
Indebtedness  or such  Indebtedness  was incurred  within 90 days after the
acquisition  of such  property and for which no other assets of such Person
may be  realized  upon in  collection  of  principal  or  interest  on such
Indebtedness or (ii) that refinances  Indebtedness  described in clause (i)
and for which the  recourse  is limited  to the same  extent  described  in
clause (i).

         "Note"  means a  promissory  note,  in  substantially  the form of
Exhibit "B-1" hereto (or, in the case of a promissory  note that amends and
restates a note  theretofore  held by such  Lender,  in the form of Exhibit
"B-2" hereto),  duly executed by the Borrower and payable to the order of a
Lender  in  the  amount  of  its   Commitment,   including  any  amendment,
modification, renewal or replacement of such promissory note.

         "Notice of Assignment" is defined in Section 15.3.2.

         "Obligations" means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid
interest  on the Notes,  the  Facility  Letter of Credit  Obligations,  all
accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses,  reimbursements,  indemnities and
other  obligations  of the  Borrower to the  Lenders or to any Lender,  the
Agent,  the  Swing  Line Bank any  Issuing  Bank or any  indemnified  party
hereunder arising under the Loan Documents.


<PAGE> 64

         "Original Agreement" is defined in the recitals of this Agreement.

         "Owned Land" means land (other than  Finished  Lots) owned or held
by the Borrower or any Guarantor for  development or sale  (including  Land
under Development, Entitled Land and raw land).

         "Participants" is defined in Section 15.2.1.

         "Payment Date" means the first day of each calendar month.

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any
successor thereto.

         "Permitted Encumbrances" means any of the following:

         (i)      Liens for taxes,  assessments or governmental  charges or
                  levies on a  Person's  Property  if the same shall not at
                  the time be delinquent or thereafter  can be paid without
                  penalty,  or are  being  contested  in good  faith and by
                  appropriate  proceedings and for which adequate  reserves
                  shall  have  been  set  aside on such  Person's  books in
                  accordance with GAAP.

         (ii)     Liens imposed by law, such as carriers',  warehousemen's,
                  mechanics'  and  materialmen's  Liens and  other  similar
                  Liens  arising in the ordinary  course of business  which
                  secure payment of obligations  not more than 90 days past
                  due or  which  are  being  contested  in  good  faith  by
                  appropriate  proceedings and for which adequate  reserves
                  shall  have  been  set  aside  on  a  Person's  books  in
                  accordance with GAAP.

         (iii)    Liens arising out of pledges or deposits  under  worker's
                  compensation  laws,  unemployment   insurance,   old  age
                  pensions,   or  other  social   security  or   retirement
                  benefits, or similar legislation in accordance with GAAP.

         (iv)     Utility easements, rights of way, zoning restrictions and
                  such other encumbrances or charges against real property,
                  or  other  minor  irregularities  of  title,  as are of a
                  nature generally existing with respect to properties of a
                  similar  character  and which do not in any  material way
                  interfere with the use thereof or the sale thereof in the
                  business of the Borrower or the Guarantors.


<PAGE> 65

          (v)     Easements,  dedications,  assessment  district or similar
                  Liens in connection  with  municipal  financing and other
                  similar  encumbrances or charges, in each case reasonably
                  necessary  or  appropriate  for the  development  of real
                  property of the  Borrower or a  Guarantor,  and which are
                  granted in the  ordinary  course of the  business of such
                  Borrower or Guarantor,  and which in the aggregate do not
                  materially  burden or impair the fair market value or use
                  of such  real  property  (or the  project  to which it is
                  related)  for  the  purposes  for  which  it  is  or  may
                  reasonably be expected to be held.

         "Person"  means  any  natural  person,  corporation,  firm,  joint
venture, partnership,  limited liability company, association,  enterprise,
trust or other  entity or  organization,  or any  government  or  political
subdivision or any agency, department or instrumentality thereof.

         "PIR"  means,  at the  date  hereof,  1.75,  as  such  amount  may
hereafter be adjusted from time to time as provided in Section 9.2.

         "Plan" means an employee  pension benefit plan which is covered by
Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section
412 of the Code as to which the  Borrower  or any member of the  Controlled
Group may have any liability.

         "Property" of a Person means any and all  property,  whether real,
personal,  tangible,  intangible, or mixed, of such Person, or other assets
owned, leased or operated by such Person.

         "Purchasers" is defined in Section 15.3.1.

         "Rate  Hedging   Obligations"  of  a  Person  means  any  and  all
obligations  of such Person,  whether  absolute or contingent and howsoever
and  whensoever  created,  arising,  evidenced or acquired  (including  all
renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor),
under (i) any and all  agreements,  devices  or  arrangements  designed  to
protect  at least  one of the  parties  thereto  from the  fluctuations  of
interest rates,  exchange rates or forward rates applicable to such party's
assets,  liabilities or exchange transactions,  including,  but not limited
to, dollar-denominated or cross-currency interest rate exchange agreements,
forward  currency  exchange   agreements,   interest  rate  cap  or  collar
protection agreements, forward rate currency or interest rate options, puts
and warrants,  and (ii) any and all  cancellations,  buy backs,  reversals,
terminations or assignments of any of the foregoing.

         "Receivables"  means  the net  proceeds  payable  to,  but not yet
received  by,  the  Borrower  or any  Guarantor  following  a Housing  Unit
Closing.


<PAGE> 66

         "Refinancing   Indebtedness"   means  Indebtedness  that  refunds,
refinances or extends any  Indebtedness  described in Schedule "8.2" hereto
(or  that  refunds,  refinances  or  extends  any  refund,  refinancing  or
extension  of such  Indebtedness),  but  only to the  extent  that  (i) the
Refinancing  Indebtedness  is  subordinated  to  or  pari  passu  with  the
Obligations  to  the  same  extent  as  the  Indebtedness  being  refunded,
refinanced or extended,  if at all, (ii) the  Refinancing  Indebtedness  is
scheduled to mature no earlier than the then current  maturity date of such
Indebtedness being refunded, refinanced or extended, (iii) such Refinancing
Indebtedness  is in an  aggregate  amount that is equal to or less than the
sum of the aggregate amount then outstanding  under the Indebtedness  being
refunded,  refinanced  or extended,  (iv) the Person or Persons (or Persons
who  are  Subsidiaries  of  such  Persons  or of  which  such  Persons  are
Subsidiaries)  liable for the payment of such Refinancing  Indebtedness are
the same  Persons (or Persons who are  Subsidiaries  of such  Persons or of
which such Persons are Subsidiaries)  that were liable for the Indebtedness
being refunded, refinanced or extended when such Indebtedness was initially
incurred and (v) such Refinancing  Indebtedness is incurred within 120 days
after  the  Indebtedness  being  refunded,  refinanced  or  extended  is so
refunded, refinanced or extended.

         "Regulation D" means Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the
Federal  Reserve  System as from time to time in effect  and any  successor
thereto or other  regulation  or official  interpretation  of said Board of
Governors  relating to reserve  requirements  applicable to member banks of
the Federal Reserve System.

         "Regulation U" means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the
Federal  Reserve  System as from time to time in effect  and any  successor
thereto or other  regulation  or official  interpretation  of said Board of
Governors  relating to the  extension of credit by banks for the purpose of
purchasing  or carrying  margin  stocks  applicable  to member banks of the
Federal Reserve System.

         "Rejecting Lender" is defined in Section 2.20(b).

         "Reimbursement Agreement" means, with respect to a Facility Letter
of Credit,  such form of  application  therefor  and form of  reimbursement
agreement  therefor  (whether  in a  single  or  several  documents,  taken
together) as an Issuing Bank may employ in the ordinary  course of business
for its own account,  with such modifications thereto as may be agreed upon
by such Issuing Bank and the Borrower and as are not materially adverse (in
the  reasonable  judgment  of  such  Issuing  Bank  and the  Agent)  to the
interests of the Lenders;  provided,  however, in the event of any conflict
between the terms of any  Reimbursement  Agreement and this Agreement,  the
terms of this Agreement shall control.

         "Replacement Lender" is defined in Section 2.21.


<PAGE> 67

         "Reportable  Event" means a reportable event as defined in Section
4043 of ERISA and the regulations  issued under such Section,  with respect
to a  Plan,  excluding,  however,  such  events  as to  which  the  PBGC by
regulation  waived the  requirement of Section  4043(a) of ERISA that it be
notified within 30 days of the occurrence of such event, provided, however,
that a failure to meet the minimum  funding  standard of Section 412 of the
Code and of Section 302 of ERISA shall be a Reportable  Event regardless of
the  issuance of any such waiver of the notice  requirement  in  accordance
with either Section 4043(a) of ERISA or Section 412(d) of the Code.

         "Required  Lenders" means Lenders in the aggregate having at least
66-2/3% of the Aggregate  Commitment  or, if the Aggregate  Commitment  has
been terminated,  Lenders in the aggregate  holding at least 66-2/3% of the
aggregate unpaid principal amount of the outstanding Advances.

         "Reserve  Requirement"  means, with respect to an Interest Period,
the  maximum   aggregate   reserve   requirement   (including   all  basic,
supplemental,   marginal  and  other   reserves)  which  is  imposed  under
Regulation D on Eurocurrency liabilities (as defined therein).

         "Rights  Plan" means that certain  rights  agreement,  dated as of
November 7, 1996,  between the Borrower and The First Chicago Trust Company
of New York, as agent,  as the same may be modified or amended from time to
time,  provided  that  the  redemption  price  per  right  to  be  redeemed
thereunder shall not exceed $0.01.

         "S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services.

         "Section"  means a  numbered  section  of this  Agreement,  unless
another document is specifically referenced.

         "Senior Debt" means the Senior Debt  Securities  or, if and to the
extent the same are refinanced,  the Refinancing  Indebtedness with respect
thereto   (unless   such    Refinancing    Indebtedness   is   Subordinated
Indebtedness).

         "Senior Debt  Rating"  means the second  highest  rating among the
publicly announced ratings by Moody's, S&P, Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co.
and/or  Fitch  Investors  Service,  L.P.  on the  Borrower's  Senior  Debt,
provided,  however, (i) if neither of the two highest ratings is by Moody's
or S&P, the Senior Debt Rating  shall be (x) the rating  assigned by either
Moody's or S&P,  if only one of Moody's  or S&P shall  publicly  announce a
rating of the Borrower's  Senior Debt, or (y) the higher of the two ratings
by  Moody's  and S&P,  if both  shall  publicly  announce  a rating  of the
Borrower's  Senior Debt, and (ii) if neither Moody's nor S&P shall publicly
announce ratings of the Borrower's Senior Debt, no Senior Debt Rating shall
be deemed to exist.  The Senior Debt Rating  shall  change if and when such
rating(s) change,  and such change in the Senior Debt Rating shall have the
effect provided for in Section 2.11(b) and elsewhere in this Agreement.


<PAGE> 68

         "Senior Debt Securities" means (a) the 7.95% Senior Notes due 2001
of the Borrower  issued in the  original  principal  amount of  $75,000,000
pursuant to that certain Indenture,  dated as of February 16, 1996, between
the Borrower and IBJ Schroder  Bank & Trust  Company,  as Trustee,  (b) the
8.25%  Senior  Notes  due  2004  of the  Borrower  issued  in the  original
principal amount of $100,000,000  pursuant to that certain Senior Indenture
dated as of August 28, 1997,  between the Borrower and IBJ Schroder  Bank &
Trust  Company,  as Trustee and (c) the 7.75%  Senior Notes due 2005 of the
Borrower issued in the original  principal amount of $100,000,000  pursuant
to that certain  Indenture dated as of August 28, 1997 between the Borrower
and IBJ Schroder Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee.

         "Senior  Indentures"  means  the  Indentures   identified  in  the
definition  of the term "Senior Debt  Securities"  and any other  Indenture
pursuant  to which the  Borrower  or a  Subsidiary  issues any  Refinancing
Indebtedness with respect to any of the Senior Debt Securities (unless such
Refinancing Indebtedness is Subordinated Indebtedness).

         "Significant   Guarantor"  means  any  Guarantor  with  assets  or
liabilities or annual revenues in excess of $1,000,000.

         "Single  Employer Plan" means a Plan maintained by the Borrower or
any member of the  Controlled  Group for  employees  of the Borrower or any
member of the Controlled Group.

         "Subordinated  Indebtedness" of a Person means any Indebtedness of
such  Person  the  payment  of  which is  subordinated  to  payment  of the
Obligations  to  the  reasonable  satisfaction  of  the  Required  Lenders,
including, as to the Borrower, the Subordinated Notes.

         "Subordinated Notes" means the 8.88% Senior Subordinated Notes due
2007  of  the  Borrower  issued  in  the  original   principal   amount  of
$125,000,000  pursuant to that certain Senior Subordinated  Indenture dated
as of August 28, 1997 between the  Borrower  and IBJ Schroder  Bank & Trust
Company, as Trustee.

         "Subordination Agreement" is defined in Section 5.1(xi).

         "Subsidiary" of a Person means (i) any  corporation  more than 50%
of the outstanding securities having ordinary voting power for the election
of the board of directors of which shall at the time be beneficially  owned
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended) directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its
Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, or (ii)
any partnership,  association,  joint venture, limited liability company or
similar  business  organization  more than 50% of the  ownership  interests
having  ordinary  voting  power of  which  shall at the time be so owned or
controlled. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a
"Subsidiary" shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower.


<PAGE> 69

         "Substantial  Portion" means,  with respect to the Property of the
Borrower  and  the  Guarantors,  taken  as  a  whole,  Property  which  (i)
represents  more than 10% of  Consolidated  Tangible Net Worth, as would be
shown in the  consolidated  financial  statements  of the  Borrower and its
Subsidiaries  as at the  beginning  of the  fiscal  quarter  in which  such
determination  is  made,  or (ii)  is  responsible  for  more  than  10% of
Consolidated Net Income, as reflected in the financial  statements referred
to in clause (i) above.

         "Swing Line Bank" means First  Chicago or any  Purchaser  to which
First Chicago  assigns the Swing Line Commitment in accordance with Section
15.3.1.

         "Swing Line  Commitment"  means the  commitment  of the Swing Line
Bank to make Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section  2.22(a).  As of the date
of  this  Agreement,  the  Swing  Line  Commitment  is  in  the  amount  of
$10,000,000.

         "Swing Line Loan" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 
2.22(a).

         "Total  Senior  Loan  Commitments"   means,  at  any  date,  on  a
consolidated basis for the Borrower and the Guarantors,  (i) the sum of (a)
the outstanding  principal  amount of all obligations  described in clauses
(i), (iv) and (viii) of the  definition of  "Indebtedness"  to Persons that
are not the  Borrower,  Subsidiaries  of the Borrower or  Affiliates of the
Borrower or of any of its  Subsidiaries,  plus (b) (without  duplication of
the items included in clause (a) above) all bona fide, binding but unfunded
commitments  (including  the  Commitments)  of  banks  or  other  financial
institutions with respect to the borrowing by the Borrower or any Guarantor
of obligations  of the type referred to in clause (a) above,  except to the
extent that such  commitments  are subject to conditions that have not been
satisfied  (other  than  customary  conditions  that the  Borrower  and the
Guarantors can reasonably be expected to satisfy in the ordinary  course of
business), less (ii) the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all
Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower and any of the Guarantors and (b)
the  outstanding  principal  amount of any  Indebtedness  secured by a Lien
(other than a Permitted  Encumbrance)  on Property,  all as  determined  in
accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

         "Transferee" is defined in Section 15.4.

         "Type"  means,  with  respect  to any  Advance,  its  nature  as a
Floating Rate Advance or Eurodollar Advance.

         "Unfunded  Liabilities"  means  the  amount  (if any) by which the
present  value of all  vested  nonforfeitable  benefits  under  all  Single
Employer  Plans  exceeds the fair market  value of the assets of such Plans
allocable  to such  benefits,  all  determined  as of the then most  recent
valuation date for such Plans,  using the actuarial methods and assumptions
utilized in the actuarial report for each such Plan as of such date.

         "Unmatured Default" means an event which but for the lapse of time
or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a Default.
<PAGE> 70

         "Unrestricted Cash" of a Person means the cash of such Person that
would not be identified as  "restricted"  on a balance sheet of such Person
prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

         "Unused Commitment" means, at any date with respect to any Lender,
the amount (if any) by which such  Lender's  Commitment  exceeds the sum of
(i) the outstanding principal balance of such Lender's Loans (including, in
the case of the Swing Line Bank, Swing Line Loans) as of such date and (ii)
such Lender's ratable share  (determined in accordance with Section 4.6) of
the outstanding amount of the Facility Letters of Credit.

         "Wholly-Owned Subsidiary" of a Person means (i) any Subsidiary all
of the  outstanding  voting  securities  of  which  shall  at the  time  be
beneficially  owned  (within  the  meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) directly or indirectly, by such Person or
one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and
one  or  more  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiaries  of  such  Person,  or  (ii)  any
partnership,  association,  joint  venture,  limited  liability  company or
similar  business  organization  100%  of the  ownership  interests  having
ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be so owned or controlled.
In the case of the Borrower, the term "Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary" shall also
include  those  Subsidiaries  identified  in Schedule 6.8 as of the date of
this  Agreement in which the  ownership  percentage  designated  therein is
99.9%.

         "Year  2000  Issues"  means   anticipated   costs,   problems  and
uncertainties  associated  with the inability of certain of the  Borrower's
and the  Guarantors'  computer  applications  to  effectively  handle  data
(including  dates) on and after January 1, 2000, as such inability  affects
the  business,  operations,  or financial  condition of the Borrower or the
Guarantors, taken as a whole.

         The foregoing  definitions shall be equally applicable to both the
singular and plural forms of the defined terms.



<PAGE> 71

                             ARTICLE II

                            THE CREDITS

     2.1.  Commitment  From and after the  Effective  Date and prior to the
Facility  Termination  Date, each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and
conditions  set forth in this  Agreement,  to make Loans  (other than Swing
Line Loans) to the  Borrower  from time to time in amounts not to exceed in
the  aggregate at any one time  outstanding  the amount of its  Commitment;
provided,  however, that a Lender shall not be required to make any Loan or
Loans in  excess of the  amount of such  Lender's  then  Available  Credit.
Subject to the terms of this Agreement,  the Borrower may borrow, repay and
reborrow  at  any  time  prior  to  the  Facility   Termination  Date.  The
Commitments  to lend  hereunder  shall expire on the  Facility  Termination
Date. 

     2.2.  Required  Payments (a) Any outstanding Advances  and all  other
unpaid  Obligations  shall be paid in full by the Borrower on the Facility 
Termination Date.
                  (b) If at any time  Consolidated  Senior Debt  Borrowings
exceed the  Borrowing  Base,  the  Borrower  shall pay to the  Agent,  as a
payment  of  the  Advances,  an  amount  (not  to  exceed  the  sum  of the
outstanding  Advances) equal to the amount by which the Consolidated Senior
Debt Borrowings exceed the Borrowing Base.

     2.3.  Ratable  Loans.  Each  Advance  (other  than a Swing  Line Loan)
hereunder  shall  consist of Loans  (other than Swing Line Loans) made from
the  several  Lenders  ratably  in  proportion  to  the  ratio  that  their
respective Commitments bear to the Aggregate Commitment.

     2.4. Types of AdvancesAdvances consisting of Swing Line Loans shall be
Floating Rate Advances, and other Advances may be Floating Rate Advances or
Eurodollar Advances, or a combination thereof,  selected by the Borrower in
accordance  with  Sections 2.8 and 2.9.

     2.5. Commitment Fee; Changes in Aggregate Commitment. (a) The Borrower
agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee,
at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable  Commitment  Rate, on the daily
average of such  Lender's  Unused  Commitment  from the date  hereof to and
including the Facility  Termination  Date,  payable in arrears on the first
day of each January,  April, July and October hereafter and on the Facility
Termination  Date.  The  Borrower  may  permanently  reduce  the  Aggregate
Commitment  in whole,  or in part  ratably  among the  Lenders in  integral
multiples  of  $5,000,000  at any time or from time to time,  upon at least
three (3) Business  Days' written  notice to the Agent,  which notice shall
specify  the  amount of any such  reduction,  provided,  however,  that the
amount of the Aggregate  Commitment may not be reduced below the sum of (i)
the aggregate  principal  amount of the  outstanding  Advances and (ii) the
Facility Letter of Credit Obligations. All accrued commitment fees shall be
payable on the effective date of any  termination of the obligations of the
Lenders to make Loans hereunder.
<PAGE> 72



                  (b) The Borrower  may, at any time and from time to time,
request, by notice to the Agent, the Agent's approval of an increase of the
Aggregate  Commitment  within the limitations  hereafter  described,  which
request  shall set forth the  amount  of such  requested  increase.  Within
twenty (20) days of such  request,  the Agent shall  advise the Borrower of
its  approval  or  disapproval  of such  request;  failure to so advise the
Borrower  shall  constitute  disapproval.  Upon approval of the Agent,  the
Aggregate  Commitment  may be so  increased  either  by  having  additional
financial  institutions approved by the Borrower and the Agent ("Additional
Lenders")  become  Lenders  and/or  by  having  any one or more of the then
existing  Lenders (at their  respective  election in their sole discretion)
that have been approved by the Borrower and the Agent,  increase the amount
of its  Commitment  (any such Lender that elects to increase its Commitment
and any Additional Lender being hereinafter referred to as a "New Lender"),
provided that (i) the Commitment of any Additional Lender shall not be less
than  $10,000,000 and the sum of the Commitments of the Additional  Lenders
and the increases in the  Commitments  of the other New Lenders shall be in
an  aggregate  amount  of not less  than  $10,000,000  (and,  if in  excess
thereof,  in  integral  multiples  of  $10,000,000);   (ii)  the  Aggregate
Commitment shall not exceed  $350,000,000;  (iii) the Borrower and each New
Lender shall have executed and delivered a commitment and  acceptance  (the
"Commitment  and  Acceptance")  substantially  in the form of  Exhibit  "C"
hereto,  and the Agent shall have accepted and executed the same;  (iv) the
Borrower  shall have  executed  and  delivered to the Agent a Note or Notes
payable to the order of each New Lender, each such Note to be in the amount
of  such  New  Lender's  Commitment  or  increase  in  its  Commitment  (as
applicable); (v) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Agent opinions of
counsel  (substantially similar to the forms of opinions attached hereto as
Exhibits "D" and "F,"  modified to apply to the  increase in the  Aggregate
Commitment  and each  Note  and  Commitment  and  Acceptance  executed  and
delivered  in  connection  therewith);   (vi)  the  Guarantors  shall  have
consented in writing to the new Commitments or increases in Commitments (as
applicable)  and shall have agreed that their  Guaranties  continue in full
force and effect;  (vii) the Borrower  and each New Lender shall  otherwise
have executed and  delivered  such other  instruments  and documents as the
Agent  shall  have  reasonably   requested  in  connection  with  such  new
Commitment or increase in the Commitment (as applicable); and (viii) if the
Aggregate  Commitment  shall at any time have been reduced,  any subsequent
increase of the Aggregate  Commitment shall be subject to the provisions of
Section  2.5(c).  The form and  substance of the documents  required  under
clauses (iii)  through (vii) above shall be fully  acceptable to the Agent.
The Agent shall provide  written notice to all of the Lenders  hereunder of
the admission of any Additional Lender or the increase in the Commitment of
any other New Lender  hereunder  and shall  furnish to each of the  Lenders
copies of the documents  required under clauses (iii),  (v), (vi) and (vii)
above.



<PAGE> 73


                  (c)  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.5(b), in
the  event  that the  Aggregate  Commitment  shall at any  time  have  been
reduced,  the Aggregate Commitment shall not thereafter be increased unless
and until each of the then existing Lenders shall have been given the right
(at its  election)  to increase  its  Commitment  by an amount equal to the
lesser  of  (i)  such  Lender's  ratable  portion  (based  upon  the  ratio
(determined  as of the  date of the  Borrower's  request  for  the  Agent's
approval of such  increase)  of its then  existing  Commitment  to the then
existing  Aggregate  Commitment)  of the  aggregate  amount  of  all  prior
decreases (net of prior increases) in the Aggregate Commitment or (ii) such
Lender's  ratable portion (based upon the ratio  (determined as of the date
of the Borrower's request for the Agent's approval of such increase) of its
then existing Commitment to the then existing Aggregate  Commitment) of the
proposed  increase in the Aggregate  Commitment.  If, at any time after the
Aggregate  Commitment  has  been  reduced,  the  Agent  shall  approve  the
Borrower's request for an increase in the Aggregate  Commitment,  the Agent
shall  promptly,  but not later than ten (10) days after its receipt of the
Borrower's  request,  deliver to the then  existing  Lenders a notice  (the
"Facility  Increase  Notice")  setting  forth the amount of the increase so
requested by the Borrower,  and the Lenders'  rights  hereunder to increase
their Commitments shall be exercisable  within,  but not later than, thirty
(30) days following the date of delivery of the Facility  Increase  Notice.
If a Lender  elects to  exercise  such  right by notice  given to the Agent
within such 30-day period,  then such Lender shall (in accordance  with and
subject to the provisions of Section 2.5(b))  increase its Commitment by an
amount  determined  in accordance  with the first  sentence of this Section
2.5(c).  If such  Lender  does not so elect by  notice  given to the  Agent
within such 30-day period,  the Borrower and the Agent may proceed with the
increase of the Aggregate  Commitment as set forth in the Facility Increase
Notice, subject to and in accordance with Section 2.5(b). Nothing contained
herein shall preclude any Lender,  at its election and with the approval of
the Borrower and the Agent as provided in and otherwise in accordance  with
Section  2.5(b),  from  increasing its Commitment to an amount in excess of
the amount provided for in this Section 2.5(c).

                  (d)  Upon  the  effective  date  of any  increase  in the
Aggregate  Commitment  pursuant to the provisions  hereof,  which effective
date shall be mutually agreed upon by the Borrower, each New Lender and the
Agent,  each New  Lender  shall  make a  payment  to the Agent in an amount
sufficient, upon the application of such payments by all New Lenders to the
reduction of the  outstanding  Advances  held by the Lenders,  to cause the
principal amount outstanding under the Loans made by each Lender (including
any New  Lender) to be in the  proportion  to the ratio that such  Lender's
Commitment  (upon  the  effective  date  of  such  increase)  bears  to the
Aggregate  Commitment  as so  increased.  The Borrower  hereby  irrevocably
authorizes each New Lender to fund to the Agent the payment  required to be
made pursuant to the immediately  preceding sentence for application to the
reduction of the outstanding Loans held by the other Lenders, and each such
payment shall constitute a Loan hereunder. If, as a result of the repayment

<PAGE> 74
of the  Advances  provided  for in this  Section  2.5(d),  any payment of a
Eurodollar  Advance  occurs  on a day  which  is not  the  last  day of the
applicable  Interest  Period,  the  Borrower  will pay to the Agent for the
benefit of any of the Lenders  holding a  Eurodollar  Loan any loss or cost
incurred by such Lender resulting therefrom in accordance with Section 3.4.
Upon the effective date of such increase in the Aggregate  Commitment,  all
Loans outstanding hereunder (including any Loans made by the New Lenders on
such date) shall be Floating Rate Loans, subject to the Borrower's right to
convert the same to  Eurodollar  Loans on or after such date in  accordance
with the provisions of Section 2.9.

                  (e)  Upon  the  effective  date  of any  increase  in the
Aggregate  Commitment  and the  making of the Loans by the New  Lenders  in
accordance  with the  provisions of Section  2.5(d),  each New Lender shall
also be  deemed  to have  irrevocably  and  unconditionally  purchased  and
received,  without  recourse or  warranty,  from the Lenders  party to this
Agreement  immediately  prior to the effective  date of such  increase,  an
undivided  interest and participation in any Facility Letter of Credit then
outstanding,  ratably,  such that each Lender  (including  each New Lender)
holds a  participation  interest in each such Facility  Letter of Credit in
proportion to the ratio that such Lender's  Commitment  (upon the effective
date of such increase in the Aggregate  Commitment)  bears to the Aggregate
Commitment as so increased.

                  (f)  Nothing  contained  herein  shall   constitute,   or
otherwise  be deemed to be, a  commitment  or  agreement on the part of any
Lender to  increase  its  Commitment  hereunder  at any time or  (except as
provided in Section  2.5(c)) a  commitment  or agreement on the part of the
Borrower or the Agent to give or grant any Lender the right to increase its
Commitment hereunder at any time.

     2.6.  Minimum  Amount of Each  Advance.  Each  Advance  (other than an
Advance consisting of, or made to repay, a Swing Line Loan) shall be in the
minimum  amount of $2,000,000  (and in multiples of $1,000,000 if in excess
thereof).  Each  Advance to repay a Swing Line Loan shall be in the minimum
amount of $1,000,000.
 
     2.7. Optional Principal Payments. The Borrower may at any time or from
time to time pay, without penalty or premium, all outstanding Floating Rate
Advances  or Swing  Line  Loans,  or,  in a  minimum  aggregate  amount  of
$2,000,000 or any integral  multiple of $1,000,000 in excess  thereof,  any
portion of the  outstanding  Floating Rate Advances upon one Business Day's
prior notice to the Agent.  The Borrower  may,  upon three  Business  Days'
prior  notice to the  Agent,  (a) pay,  without  penalty  or  premium,  any
Eurodollar  Advance in full on the last day of the Interest Period for such
Eurodollar Advance,  and (b) prepay any Eurodollar Advance in full prior to
the last day of the Interest Period for such Eurodollar  Advance,  provided
that the Borrower shall also pay at the time of such prepayment all amounts
payable with respect thereto pursuant to Section 3.4 hereof. The provisions
of this Section 2.7 shall not apply to Swing Line Loans.


<PAGE> 75

     2.8. Method of Selecting Types and Interest  Periods for New Advances.
The  Borrower  shall  select the Type of Advance  and,  in the case of each
Eurodollar  Advance,  the Interest  Period  applicable to each Advance from
time to time.  The  Borrower  shall  give the Agent  irrevocable  notice (a
"Borrowing  Notice")  not  later  than  10:00  a.m.  (Chicago  time) on the
Borrowing Date of each Floating Rate Advance and three Business Days before
the Borrowing Date of each Eurodollar Advance, specifying:

      (i) the Borrowing Date, which shall be a Business Day, of such Advance,

     (ii) the aggregate amount of such Advance,

    (iii) the Type of Advance selected, and

     (iv) in the  case of each  Eurodollar  Advance,  the  Interest  Period
applicable thereto.

Not later than noon  (Chicago  time) on each  Borrowing  Date,  each Lender
shall make available its Loan or Loans, in funds  immediately  available in
Chicago to the Agent at its address specified  pursuant to Article XVI. The
Agent will make the funds so  received  from the Lenders  available  to the
Borrower at the Agent's aforesaid  address.  The provisions of this Section
2.8 shall not apply to Swing Line Loans.

     2.9.  Conversion and  Continuation of Outstanding  Advances.  Floating
Rate Advances  shall  continue as Floating  Rate Advances  unless and until
such Floating Rate Advances are converted into  Eurodollar  Advances.  Each
Eurodollar  Advance shall continue as a Eurodollar Advance until the end of
the then applicable Interest Period therefor, at which time such Eurodollar
Advance  shall be  automatically  converted  into a Floating  Rate  Advance
unless the  Borrower  shall have given the Agent a  Conversion/Continuation
Notice requesting that, at the end of such Interest Period, such Eurodollar
Advance  either  continue as a  Eurodollar  Advance for the same or another
Interest  Period or be repaid.  Subject to the terms of  Section  2.6,  the
Borrower  may  elect  from  time to time to  convert  all or any part of an
Advance of any Type into any other Type or Types of Advances; provided that
any conversion of any  Eurodollar  Advance may be made on, and only on, the
last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto. The Borrower shall give
the Agent irrevocable notice (a  "Conversion/Continuation  Notice") of each
conversion of an Advance or continuation of a Eurodollar  Advance not later
than 10:00 a.m.  (Chicago time) at least one Business Day, in the case of a
conversion  into a Floating Rate Advance,  or three  Business  Days, in the
case of a conversion into or continuation of a Eurodollar Advance, prior to
the date of the requested conversion or continuation, specifying:

      (i)  the requested date, which shall be a Business Day, of such
           conversion or continuation;

     (ii)  the aggregate amount and Type of the Advance which is to be
           converted or continued; and

    (iii)  the amount  and  Type(s)  of  Advance(s)  into which such
           Advance is to be converted or continued  and, in the case
           of a  conversion  into or  continuation  of a  Eurodollar
           Advance,  the duration of the Interest Period  applicable
           thereto.
<PAGE> 76


     2.10.  Changes in Interest Rate, etc. Each Floating Rate Advance shall
bear interest on the outstanding  principal  amount  thereof,  for each day
from and  including  the date such Advance is made or is  converted  from a
Eurodollar  Advance into a Floating Rate Advance pursuant to Section 2.9 to
but  excluding  the date it becomes due or is  converted  into a Eurodollar
Advance  pursuant to Section  2.9 hereof,  at a rate per annum equal to the
Floating Rate for such day. Changes in the rate of interest on that portion
of any  Advance  maintained  as a Floating  Rate  Advance  will take effect
simultaneously  with  each  change  in the  Alternate  Base  Rate or in the
Applicable  Floating  Rate  Margin.  Each  Eurodollar  Advance  shall  bear
interest from and including the first day of the Interest Period applicable
thereto to (but not including) the last day of such Interest  Period at the
interest  rate  determined as applicable  to such  Eurodollar  Advance.  No
Interest Period may end after the Facility Termination Date.

     2.11.  Determination of Applicable  Margins and Applicable  Commitment
Rate. (a) The Applicable  Margins and the Applicable  Commitment Rate shall
be determined by reference to the Senior Debt Rating in accordance with the
following table:
                     Applicable          Applicable
Senior Debt          Eurodollar          Floating Rate       Applicable
  Rating             Margin (%)            Margin (%)     Commitment Rate (%)
 ----------          ------------        -------------   -------------------

BBB-/Baa3 or         0.75                      0                  0.20
 higher
BB+/Ba1              0.95                      0                  0.25
BB/Ba2               1.15                      0                  0.30
BB-/Ba3              1.35                      0.10               0.35
Lower or no          1.55                      0.30               0.40
 Senior Debt
 Rating

                  (b)  The   Applicable   Floating   Rate  Margin  and  the
Applicable  Commitment  Rate shall be adjusted,  as applicable from time to
time,  effective  on the first  Business Day after any change in the Senior
Debt  Rating to the  extent  that such  change in the  Senior  Debt  Rating
requires a corresponding change in the Applicable Floating Rate Margin. The
Applicable  Eurodollar Margin in respect of any Eurodollar Advance shall be
adjusted,  as applicable  from time to time,  effective on the first day of
the  Interest  Period for any  Eurodollar  Advance  after any change in the
Senior Debt Rating to the extent that such change in the Senior Debt Rating
requires a corresponding change in the Applicable Eurodollar Margin.



<PAGE> 77


     2.12. Rates Applicable After Default.  Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in Section 2.8, 2.9 or 2.10, during the continuance of a
Default  the  Required  Lenders  may,  at their  option,  by  notice to the
Borrower (which notice may be revoked at the option of the Required Lenders
notwithstanding  any provision of Section 11.2 requiring  unanimous consent
of the Lenders to changes in interest  rates),  declare that no Advance may
be  made  as,  converted  into  or  continued  as  a  Eurodollar   Advance.
Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained in Section 2.8, 2.9 or
2.10,  during the continuance of an Unmatured  Default the Required Lenders
may,  at their  option,  by notice to the  Borrower  (which  notice  may be
revoked at the option of the Required Lenders notwithstanding any provision
of Section 11.2  requiring  unanimous  consent of the Lenders to changes in
interest rates), declare that no Advance may be made as or converted into a
Eurodollar  Advance.  During the  continuance  of a Default,  the  Required
Lenders may, at their option,  by notice to the Borrower  (which notice may
be  revoked  at the  option of the  Required  Lenders  notwithstanding  any
provision of Section  11.2  requiring  unanimous  consent of the Lenders to
changes in interest rates),  declare that (i) each Eurodollar Advance shall
bear interest for the remainder of the  applicable  Interest  Period at the
rate  otherwise  applicable to such  Interest  Period plus 2% per annum and
(ii) each  Floating  Rate Advance  shall bear  interest at a rate per annum
equal to the  Floating  Rate  otherwise  applicable  to the  Floating  Rate
Advance plus 2% per annum.

     2.13.  Method of Payment.  All payments of the  Obligations  hereunder
shall be made, without setoff,  deduction, or counterclaim,  in immediately
available funds to the Agent at the Agent's address  specified  pursuant to
Article XVI, or at any other Lending Installation of the Agent specified in
writing by the Agent to the  Borrower,  by noon (local time at the place of
receipt)  on the date when due,  and shall be applied  ratably by the Agent
among the Lenders,  except that  payments of Swing Line Loans shall be made
solely to the Swing Line Bank. Each payment  delivered to the Agent for the
account  of any Lender  shall be  delivered  promptly  by the Agent to such
Lender in the same type of funds  that the Agent  received  at its  address
specified pursuant to Article XVI or at any Lending Installation  specified
in a notice received by the Agent from such Lender.  If the Agent receives,
for the account of a Lender, a payment from the Borrower and fails to remit
such payment to the Lender on the Business Day such payment is received (if
received  by noon by the Agent) or on the next  Business  Day (if  received
after noon by the Agent),  the Agent  shall pay to such Lender  interest on
such payment at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds  Effective Rate
for each day for which  such  payment  is so  delayed.  The Agent is hereby
authorized  to charge the  account of the  Borrower  maintained  with First
Chicago for each payment of principal,  interest and fees as it becomes due
hereunder  (other than interest  payable in accordance with the immediately
preceding sentence).


<PAGE> 78

     2.14. Notes;  Telephonic Notices.  Each Lender is hereby authorized to
record the principal  amount of each of its Loans and each repayment on the
schedule attached to its Note,  provided,  however,  that the failure to so
record shall not affect the  Borrower's  obligations  under such Note.  The
Borrower hereby authorizes the Lenders and the Agent to extend,  convert or
continue  Advances,  effect selections of Types of Advances and to transfer
funds based on  telephonic  notices made by any person or persons the Agent
or any  Lender  in good  faith  believes  to be  acting  on  behalf  of the
Borrower.  The Borrower  agrees to deliver  promptly to the Agent a written
confirmation, if such confirmation is requested by the Agent or any Lender,
of each telephonic notice signed by an Authorized  Officer.  If the written
confirmation  differs in any material  respect from the action taken by the
Agent and the  Lenders,  the  records  of the Agent and the  Lenders  shall
govern absent manifest error.

     2.15. Interest Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis. Interest accrued
on each Advance shall be payable on each Payment Date,  commencing with the
first such date to occur  after the date  hereof,  and on any date on which
the Advance is prepaid, whether due to acceleration or otherwise.  Interest
and  commitment  fees shall be  calculated  for actual days  elapsed on the
basis of a 360-day year.  Interest  shall be payable for the day an Advance
is made but not for the day of any payment on the amount paid if payment is
received prior to noon (local time at the place of receipt). If any payment
of principal  of or interest on an Advance  shall become due on a day which
is not a Business Day,  such payment  shall be made on the next  succeeding
Business  Day,  and such  extension  of time shall be included in computing
interest in connection with such payment.

     2.16.  Notification  of  Advances,  Interest  Rates,  Prepayments  and
Commitment  Reductions and Increases.  Promptly after receipt thereof,  the
Agent will notify each Lender of the contents of each Aggregate  Commitment
reduction  notice,   Borrowing  Notice,   Conversion/Continuation   Notice,
Facility Increase Notice and repayment notice received by it hereunder. The
Agent will notify  each  Lender of the  interest  rate  applicable  to each
Eurodollar  Advance  promptly upon  determination of such interest rate and
will give each Lender prompt  notice of each change in the  Alternate  Base
Rate.

     2.17.  Lending  Installations.  Each  Lender may book its Loans at any
Lending  Installation  selected  by such  Lender and may change its Lending
Installation  from time to time. All terms of this Agreement shall apply to
any such  Lending  Installation  and the Notes shall be deemed held by each
Lender for the benefit of such  Lending  Installation.  Each Lender may, by
written or telex notice to the Agent and the Borrower,  designate a Lending
Installation  through  which Loans will be made by it and for whose account
Loan payments are to be made.


<PAGE> 79

     2.18.  Non-Receipt  of Funds by the Agent.  Unless the  Borrower  or a
Lender,  as the case may be,  notifies the Agent prior to the date on which
it is  scheduled  to make  payment  to the  Agent  of (i) in the  case of a
Lender,  the  proceeds  of a Loan or (ii) in the  case of the  Borrower,  a
payment of principal,  interest or fees to the Agent for the account of the
Lenders, that it does not intend to make such payment, the Agent may assume
that such payment has been made.  The Agent may, but shall not be obligated
to, make the amount of such payment available to the intended  recipient in
reliance upon such assumption.  If the Borrower or such Lender, as the case
may be, has not in fact made such  payment to the Agent,  the  recipient of
such payment shall,  on demand by the Agent,  repay to the Agent the amount
so made  available  together with  interest  thereon in respect of each day
during the period  commencing on the date such amount was so made available
by the Agent until (but  excluding) the date the Agent recovers such amount
at a rate per annum  equal to (a) in the case of payment  by a Lender,  the
Federal Funds  Effective Rate for such day or (b) in the case of payment by
the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to the relevant Advance.

     2.19. Withholding Tax Exemption.  At least five Business Days prior to
the first date on which  interest  or fees are  payable  hereunder  for the
account of any Lender,  each Lender (if any) that is not incorporated under
the laws of the United States of America,  or a state thereof,  agrees that
it will deliver to each of the  Borrower  and the Agent two duly  completed
copies  of  United  States  Internal  Revenue  Service  Form  1001 or 4224,
certifying in either case that such Lender is entitled to receive  payments
under this Agreement and the Notes without  deduction or withholding of any
United States federal taxes and an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or W-9
entitling  such Lender to receive a complete  exemption  from United States
tax backup  withholding.  Each Lender which so delivers a Form 1001 or 4224
further  undertakes  to deliver to each of the  Borrower  and the Agent two
additional  copies of such form (or a successor form) on or before the date
that such form expires (currently, three successive calendar years for Form
1001 and one calendar year for Form 4224) or becomes  obsolete or after the
occurrence  of any event  requiring  a change in the most  recent  forms so
delivered  by it, and such  amendments  thereto or  extensions  or renewals
thereof as may be  reasonably  requested by the  Borrower or the Agent,  in
each case certifying that such Lender is entitled to receive payments under
this Agreement and the Notes without deduction or withholding of any United
States federal taxes,  unless an event  (including  without  limitation any
change in treaty,  law or  regulation)  has  occurred  prior to the date on
which any such delivery would  otherwise be required which renders all such
forms  inapplicable or which would prevent such Lender from duly completing
and delivering any such form with respect to it and such Lender advises the
Borrower and the Agent that it is not capable of receiving payments without
any deduction or withholding of United States federal tax. If a Lender does
not provide  duly  executed  forms to the Borrower and the Agent within the
time  periods set forth in the  preceding  paragraph,  the  Borrower or the
Agent shall  withhold  taxes from payments to such Lender at the applicable
statutory  rates  and  the  Borrower  shall  not be  required  to  pay  any
additional  amounts as a result of such  withholding.  Upon the  reasonable
request of the Borrower or the Agent, each Lender that has not provided the
forms  or other  documents,  as  provided  above,  on the  basis of being a
"United  States   person,"  shall  submit  to  Borrower  and  the  Agent  a
certificate  or other  evidence  to the  effect  that it is such a  "United
States person."
<PAGE> 80

     2.20.  Extension of Facility  Termination  Date.  (a) The Borrower may
request a one-year extension of the Facility Termination Date by submitting
a request  for an  extension  to the Agent no more than 27 months  nor less
than 25 months prior to the then scheduled  Facility  Termination  Date. At
the time of or prior to the delivery of such  request,  the Borrower  shall
propose to the Agent the amount of the fees that the  Borrower  would agree
to pay with respect to such  one-year  extension if approved by the Lenders
(such request,  together with the fee proposal, being herein referred to as
the "Extension  Request").  Promptly upon (but not later than five Business
Days after) receipt of the Extension  Request,  the Agent shall notify each
Lender of the contents thereof and shall request each Lender to approve the
Extension  Request.  Each Lender  approving  the  Extension  Request  shall
deliver its  written  approval no later than 30 days later than the date of
the Extension  Request.  If the approval of each of the Lenders is received
by the Agent  within 30 days of the date of the  Extension  Request  (or as
otherwise provided in Section 2.20(b)),  the Agent shall promptly so notify
the Borrower,  each Lender  (including the Swing Line Bank) and the Issuing
Bank, and the Facility  Termination Date shall be extended by one year, and
in such event the Borrower may thereafter  request further  extension(s) of
the then  scheduled  Facility  Termination  Date in  accordance  with  this
Section  2.20.  If any of the  Lenders  does not  deliver to the Agent such
Lender's  written  approval to any Extension  Request within the 30 days of
the date of such Extension Request, the Facility Termination Date shall not
be extended, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.20(b).

                  (b) If (i) any  Lenders  whose  pro  rata  shares  of the
Aggregate  Commitment do not exceed (in the aggregate) 20% of the Aggregate
Commitment  ("Rejecting  Lenders") shall not approve an Extension  Request,
(ii) all  rights  and  obligations  of such  Rejecting  Lenders  under this
Agreement  and  under  the  other  Loan   Documents   (including,   without
limitation,  their  Commitment and all Loans owing to them) shall have been
assigned,  within 90 days following such Extension  Request,  in accordance
with  Section  2.21,  to one or more  Replacement  Lenders  who shall  have
approved in writing such Extension  Request at the time of such assignment,
and (iii) no other Lender shall have given  written  notice to the Agent of
such  Lender's  withdrawal of its approval of the  Extension  Request,  the
Agent shall  promptly so notify the  Borrower,  each Lender and the Issuing
Bank and the Facility  Termination  Date shall be extended by one year, and
in such event the Borrower may thereafter  request further  extension(s) as
provided in Section 2.20(a).

                  (c) Within ten days of the Agent's notice to the Borrower
that  all of the  Lenders  have  approved  an  Extension  Request  (whether
pursuant to Section  2.20(a) or  2.20(b)),  the  Borrower  shall pay to the
Agent  for the  account  of  each  Lender  the  applicable  extension  fees
specified in the Extension Request.

<PAGE> 81

     2.21.  Replacement  of  Certain  Lenders.  In the event a Lender  (the
"Affected  Lender")  shall have  requested  compensation  from the Borrower
under Sections 3.1 or 3.2 to cover additional costs incurred by such Lender
that are not being  incurred  generally by the other  Lenders or shall have
delivered a notice  pursuant to Section  3.3 that such  Affected  Lender is
unable to extend  Eurodollar Loans for reasons not generally  applicable to
the other Lenders or such Affected Lender is a Rejecting Lender pursuant to
Section 2.20,  then,  in any such case,  the Borrower or the Agent may make
written  demands on such  Affected  Lender (with a copy to the Agent in the
case of a demand by the  Borrower and a copy to the Borrower in the case of
a demand by the Agent) for the Affected Lender to assign, and such Affected
Lender shall use its best  efforts to assign,  pursuant to one or more duly
executed  assignment  agreements in substantially  the form provided for in
Section 15.3.1, within five Business Days after the date of such demand, to
one or more  financial  institutions  that  comply with the  provisions  of
Section  15.3,  and  if  selected  by the  Borrower,  that  are  reasonably
acceptable  to the  Agent  (each,  a  "Replacement  Lender"),  all of  such
Affected Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents (including, without limitation, its Commitment and all Loans
owing to it) in accordance  with Section 15.3.  The Agent agrees,  upon the
occurrence  of such  events  with  respect to an  Affected  Lender and upon
written  request of the Borrower,  to use its reasonable  efforts to obtain
the  commitments  from  one  or  more  financial  institutions  to act as a
Replacement Lender. Further, with respect to such assignment,  the Affected
Lender shall  concurrently  receive,  in cash, all amounts due and owing to
the Affected Lender  hereunder or under any other Loan Document,  including
without limitation the aggregate  outstanding principal amount of the Loans
owed to such Lender,  together with accrued  interest  thereon  through the
date of such  assignment,  amounts  payable under Sections 3.1 and 3.2 with
respect  to such  Affected  Lender and all fees  payable  to such  Affected
Lender hereunder;  provided that, upon such Affected Lender's  replacement,
such Affected Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to
be entitled to the benefits of Article III and Section  12.7, as well as to
any fees  accrued  hereunder  and not yet paid,  and shall  continue  to be
obligated  under Section 13.8 with respect to obligations  and  liabilities
accruing prior to the replacement of such Affected Lender.

     2.22.  Swing Line.  (a) The Swing Line Bank  agrees,  on the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth, to make loans ("Swing Line Loans") to the
Borrower  from  time  to time  during  the  period  from  the  date of this
Agreement,  up to but not  including  the  fifth  (5th)  day  prior  to the
Facility  Termination Date, in an aggregate  principal amount not to exceed
at any time outstanding the lesser of (i) the Swing Line Commitment or (ii)
the Swing Line Bank's Available Credit.

                  (b) Each  Swing  Line Loan shall be in an amount not less
than One  Million  Dollars  ($1,000,000)  and,  if in  excess  thereof,  in
integral multiples of One Million Dollars  ($1,000,000).  Within the limits
of the Swing Line Commitment,  the Borrower may borrow,  repay and reborrow
under this Section 2.22.


<PAGE> 82
                  (c) The  Borrower  shall give the Swing Line Bank (and if
the Swing Line Bank is not also the Agent,  the Agent) a  Borrowing  Notice
requesting a Swing Line Loan not later than 1:00 p.m. (Chicago time) on the
Business  Day of such  Swing  Line  Loan,  specifying  the  amount  of such
requested Swing Line Loan. Each such Borrowing  Notice shall be accompanied
by a  Borrowing  Base  Certificate  dated as of the date of such  Borrowing
Notice (and by the Borrowing Notice provided for in Section  2.22(d)).  All
Borrowing Notices given by the Borrower under this Section 2.22(c) shall be
irrevocable.  Upon  satisfaction of the applicable  conditions set forth in
Section 5.2, the Swing Line Bank will make the Swing Line Loan available to
the Borrower in immediately available funds by crediting the amount thereof
to the Borrower's  account with the Swing Line Bank. If the Swing Line Bank
is not also the Agent, the Swing Line Bank shall not advance the Swing Line
Loan unless and until the Agent shall have confirmed (by telephonic notice)
that such applicable conditions have been satisfied.

                  (d)  Each  Swing  Line  Loan  shall be paid in full on or
before the third  Business Day following the making of such Swing Line Loan
and,  if not so paid by the  Borrower,  shall  be  paid  in full  from  the
proceeds of an Advance made  pursuant to Section 2.1 on the third  Business
Day following  the making of such Swing Line Loan.  Each  Borrowing  Notice
given by the Borrower under Section  2.22(c) shall  include,  or if it does
not include,  shall be deemed to include an  irrevocable  Borrowing  Notice
under Section 2.8 requesting  the Lenders to make an Advance,  on or before
the third Business Day following the making of such Swing Line Loan, of the
full amount of such Swing Line Loan,  unless such Swing Line Loan is sooner
paid in full by the Borrower.

                  (e) Provided that the applicable  conditions set forth in
Section  5.2 shall  have been  satisfied  at the time of the making of such
Swing Line Loan, the Lenders irrevocably agree to make the Advance provided
for in Section 2.22(d),  notwithstanding  any subsequent failure to satisfy
such  conditions  or any other facts or  circumstances  including  (without
limitation) the existence of a Default.

     2.23. Amounts Payable Under Original  Agreement.  (a) On the Effective
Date,  each Lender  ("Funding  Lender")  that is not party to the  Original
Agreement or whose Commitment  hereunder  exceeds (on a pro rata basis) its
maximum  "Commitment"  under the Original Agreement shall make a payment to
the Agent in an amount sufficient, upon the application of such payments by
all such Funding Lenders to the reduction of the outstanding  Advances held
by the Lenders that are not Funding Lenders,  to cause the principal amount
outstanding  under the Loans by all Lenders  hereunder as at the  Effective
Date to be in the  proportion  to the ratio that such  Lender's  Commitment
(upon the Effective Date) bears to the Aggregate  Commitment.  The Borrower
hereby irrevocably  authorizes each Funding Lender to fund to the Agent the
payment required to be made pursuant to the immediately  preceding sentence
for application to the reduction of the outstanding Loans held by the other
Lenders, and each such payment shall constitute a Loan hereunder,  provided
that  such  Loans  shall not  increase  the  aggregate  amount of all Loans
outstanding  hereunder on the  Effective  Date to an amount  exceeding  the
aggregate amount outstanding under the Original Agreement immediately prior
thereto.  If, as a result of the repayment of the Advances  provided for in

<PAGE> 83

this Section 2.23(a),  any payment of a Eurodollar  Advance occurs on a day
which is not the last  day of the  applicable  Interest  Period  under  the
Original  Agreement,  the Borrower will pay to the Agent for the benefit of
the  Lenders  that were party to the  Original  Agreement  any loss or cost
incurred by such Lender resulting  therefrom in accordance with Section 3.4
of the Original  Agreement.  Upon the Effective Date, all Loans outstanding
hereunder  (including  any Loans made by the Lenders on such date) shall be
Floating Rate Loans, subject to the Borrower's right to convert the same to
Eurodollar Loans on or after such date in accordance with the provisions of
Section 2.9.

                  (b) Borrower hereby agrees to pay to the Agent, for the
benefit of the  Lenders  that were  party to the  Original  Agreement,  the
amount of all  interest  (if any) that has  accrued but not been paid under
the Original  Agreement  through (but  excluding)  the Effective  Date, all
commitment  fees that have  accrued  but not been paid  under the  Original
Agreement  through (but  excluding)  the  Effective  Date and all "Facility
Letter  of  Credit  Fees"  that have  accrued  but not been paid  under the
Original Agreement through (but excluding) the Effective Date, all of which
amounts  shall be paid by the  Borrower  on the date or dates on which such
amounts  would have been due and  payable  under the terms of the  Original
Agreement.  The  provisions  of this Section  2.23(b) shall not increase or
decrease the Borrower's  obligations  with respect to interest,  commitment
fees or  "Facility  Letter of Credit  Fees" that are  accrued  but not paid
under the Original Agreement through the Effective Date.

                                ARTICLE III

                          CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES

     3.1.   Yield   Protection   If  any   law  or  any   governmental   or
quasi-governmental   rule,  regulation,   policy,  guideline  or  directive
(whether or not having the force of law), or any interpretation thereof, or
the compliance of any Lender therewith,

         (i)      subjects   any   Lender   or   any   applicable   Lending
                  Installation  to any tax, duty,  charge or withholding on
                  or from  payments  due from the Borrower  (excluding  any
                  taxes imposed on, or based on, or determined by reference
                  to the net  income of any  Lender or  applicable  Lending
                  Installation,  including,  without limitation,  franchise
                  taxes,  alternative  minimum taxes and any branch profits
                  tax  (collectively,  "Excluded  Taxes")),  or  any  taxes
                  imposed on, or based on, or determined by reference to or
                  changes  the basis of  taxation of payments to any Lender
                  in respect of its Loans or other amounts due it hereunder
                  (except for Excluded Taxes),


<PAGE> 84
            (ii)  imposes or  increases  or deems  applicable  any reserve,
                  assessment,  insurance charge, special deposit or similar
                  requirement  against assets of,  deposits with or for the
                  account  of, or credit  extended  by,  any  Lender or any
                  applicable Lending  Installation (other than reserves and
                  assessments   taken  into  account  in  determining   the
                  interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Rates), or

         (iii)    imposes  any other  condition  the  result of which is to
                  increase the cost to any Lender or any applicable Lending
                  Installation of making,  funding or maintaining  loans or
                  reduces  any  amount  receivable  by  any  Lender  or any
                  applicable Lending Installation in connection with loans,
                  or  requires  any  Lender  or  any   applicable   Lending
                  Installation to make any payment  calculated by reference
                  to the amount of loans held or  interest  received by it,
                  by an amount deemed material by such Lender,

then, within 15 days of demand by such Lender,  the Borrower shall pay such
Lender that portion of such increased  expense  incurred or reduction in an
amount  received which such Lender  determines is  attributable  to making,
funding and maintaining its Loans and its  Commitment;  provided,  however,
that the  Borrower  shall not be  required  to  increase  any such  amounts
payable  to any  Lender  (i) if  such  Lender  fails  to  comply  with  the
requirements  of Section  2.19 hereof or (2) to the extent that such Lender
determines,  in its sole reasonable  discretion,  that it can, after notice
from the  Borrower,  through  reasonable  efforts,  eliminate or reduce the
amount of tax liabilities  payable  (without  additional  costs or expenses
unless  the  Borrower  agrees  to bear  such  costs or  expenses)  or other
disadvantages or risks (economic or otherwise) to such Lender or the Agent.
If any Lender receives a refund in respect of any tax for which such Lender
has  received  payment  from the  Borrower  hereunder,  such  Lender  shall
promptly notify the Borrower of such refund and such Lender shall repay the
amount of such refund to the Borrower, provided that the Borrower, upon the
request of such Lender,  agrees to return such refund (plus any  penalties,
interest  or other  charges)  to such  Lender in the event  such  Lender is
required to repay such refund.  The  determination as to whether any Lender
has received a refund  shall be made by such Lender and such  determination
shall be conclusive absent manifest error.


<PAGE> 85

     3.2. Changes in Capital Adequacy  Regulations.  If a Lender or Issuing
Bank determines the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained
by such Lender, any Lending  Installation of such Lender or Issuing Bank or
any corporation  controlling  such Lender or Issuing Bank is increased as a
result of a  Change,  then,  within  15 days of  demand  by such  Lender or
Issuing Bank, the Borrower shall pay such Lender or Issuing Bank the amount
necessary  to  compensate  for any  shortfall  in the rate of return on the
portion  of such  increased  capital  which  such  Lender or  Issuing  Bank
determines is attributable  to this Agreement,  its Loans or its obligation
to make Loans hereunder, or its issuance or maintenance of or participation
in, or commitment to issue,  to maintain or to participate in, the Facility
Letters of Credit  hereunder  (after  taking into account such  Lender's or
Issuing  Bank's  policies as to capital  adequacy).  "Change" means (i) any
change  after  the  date  of  this  Agreement  in  the  Risk-Based  Capital
Guidelines or (ii) any adoption of or change in any other law, governmental
or quasi-governmental rule, regulation, policy, guideline,  interpretation,
or  directive  (whether  or not  having the force of law) after the date of
this Agreement which affects the amount of capital  required or expected to
be maintained  by any Lender,  Issuing Bank,  Lending  Installation  or any
corporation  controlling  any Lender or Issuing Bank.  "Risk-Based  Capital
Guidelines"  means (i) the risk-based  capital  guidelines in effect in the
United States on the date of this Agreement,  including  transition  rules,
and (ii) the corresponding  capital  regulations  promulgated by regulatory
authorities  outside the United States implementing the July 1988 report of
the  Basle  Committee  on  Banking  Regulation  and  Supervisory  Practices
Entitled  "International  Convergence of Capital  Measurements  and Capital
Standards,"   including  transition  rules,  and  any  amendments  to  such
regulations adopted prior to the date of this Agreement.

     3.3.  Availability of Types of Advances.  If any Lender determines and
notifies  the Agent that  maintenance  of any of such  Lender's  Eurodollar
Loans at a suitable Lending  Installation would violate any applicable law,
rule, regulation or directive,  whether or not having the force of law, the
Agent shall  suspend the  availability  of the affected Type of Advance and
require any  Eurodollar  Advances of the affected Type to be repaid;  or if
the Required Lenders  determine and notify the Agent that (i) deposits of a
type or maturity  appropriate  to match fund  Eurodollar  Advances  are not
available, the Agent shall suspend the availability of the affected Type of
Advance with respect to any Eurodollar  Advances made after the date of any
such  determination,  or  (ii) an  interest  rate  applicable  to a Type of
Advance does not accurately reflect the cost of making a Eurodollar Advance
of such Type, then, if for any reason  whatsoever the provisions of Section
3.1 are  inapplicable,  the Agent  shall  suspend the  availability  of the
affected Type of Advance with respect to any Eurodollar  Advance made after
the date of any such determination.


<PAGE> 86
     3.4. Funding  Indemnification.  If any payment of a Eurodollar Advance
occurs  on a date  which  is not the last  day of the  applicable  Interest
Period,  whether  because of  acceleration,  prepayment or otherwise,  or a
Eurodollar  Advance is not made on the date  specified  by the Borrower for
any reason other than default by the Lenders,  the Borrower will  indemnify
each  Lender  for any  loss or cost  incurred  by it  resulting  therefrom,
including, without limitation, any loss or cost in liquidating or employing
deposits acquired to fund or maintain the Eurodollar Advance.
 
     3.5.  Lender  Statements;   Survival  of  Indemnity.   To  the  extent
reasonably  possible,  each Lender shall  designate  an  alternate  Lending
Installation  with  respect  to  its  Eurodollar  Advances  to  reduce  any
liability of the  Borrower to such Lender under  Sections 3.1 and 3.2 or to
avoid the unavailability of a Type of Advance under Section 3.3, so long as
such  designation  is not  disadvantageous  to such Lender.  Each Lender or
Issuing  Bank shall  deliver a written  statement of such Lender or Issuing
Bank as to the amount due, if any,  under  Sections  3.1, 3.2 or 3.4.  Such
written  statement  shall set forth in reasonable  detail the  calculations
upon which such Lender or Issuing Bank  determined such amount and shall be
final,  conclusive  and binding on the  Borrower in the absence of manifest
error.  Determination  of amounts payable under such Sections in connection
with a Eurodollar  Advance shall be calculated as though each Lender funded
its  Eurodollar  Advance  through the purchase of a deposit of the type and
maturity  corresponding  to the deposit used as a reference in  determining
the Eurodollar Advance applicable to such Loan, whether in fact that is the
case or not. Unless otherwise  provided herein, the amount specified in the
written  statement shall be payable on demand after receipt by the Borrower
of the written  statement.  The  obligations of the Borrower under Sections
3.1, 3.2 and 3.4 shall survive  payment of the  Obligations and termination
of this Agreement.


<PAGE> 87

                                 ARTICLE IV

                       THE LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY

     4.1. Facility Letters of Credit. The Issuing Bank agrees, on the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement,  to issue from time to time for
the account of the Borrower, through such offices or branches as it and the
Borrower  may  jointly  agree,  one or more  Facility  Letters of Credit in
accordance  with this Article IV, during the period  commencing on the date
of the  Original  Agreement  and  ending on the  Business  Day prior to the
Facility Termination Date.

     4.2. Limitations. No Issuing Bank shall issue, amend or extend, at any
time, any Facility Letter of Credit:

                  (i) if the aggregate  maximum  amount then  available for
         drawing under Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, after
         giving  effect to the  Facility  Letter of Credit or  amendment or
         extension  thereof  requested  hereunder,  shall  exceed any limit
         imposed by law or regulation upon such Issuing Bank;

                 (ii) if, after  giving  effect to  the  Facility Letter of
         Credit or amendment or extension thereof requested hereunder,  the
         aggregate  principal  amount  of the  Facility  Letter  of  Credit
         Obligations would exceed $35,000,000;

            (iii) that, in the case of the issuance of a Facility Letter of
         Credit, is in, or in the case of an amendment of a Facility Letter
         of Credit,  increases  the face  amount  thereof  by, an amount in
         excess of the then Aggregate Available Credit;

             (iv) if, after giving effect to the Facility  Letter of Credit
         or   amendment   or   extension   thereof   requested   hereunder,
         Consolidated  Senior Debt  Borrowings  would exceed the  Borrowing
         Base as of the most recent Inventory Valuation Date;

              (v) if such Issuing  Bank  receives  written  notice from the
         Agent at or before noon  (Chicago  time) on the proposed  Issuance
         Date of such  Facility  Letter of  Credit  that one or more of the
         conditions   precedent  contained  in  Sections  5.1  or  5.2,  as
         applicable,  would not on such Issuance Date be satisfied,  unless
         such  conditions  are  thereafter  satisfied and written notice of
         such satisfaction is given to such Issuing Bank by the Agent;

             (vi) that has an  expiration  date  (taking  into  account any
         automatic renewal provisions  thereof) later than the Business Day
         preceding the scheduled Facility Termination Date; or

            (vii) that is in a currency other than U.S. Dollars.


<PAGE> 88

     4.3.  Conditions In addition to being subject to the  satisfaction  of
the  conditions  contained  in  Sections  5.1 and 5.2, as  applicable,  the
issuance of any Facility Letter of Credit is subject to the satisfaction in
full of the following conditions:

                  (i) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Issuing Bank
         at  such  times  and in  such  manner  as  the  Issuing  Bank  may
         reasonably  prescribe  a  Reimbursement  Agreement  and such other
         documents and materials as may be reasonably  required pursuant to
         the terms  thereof,  and the  proposed  Facility  Letter of Credit
         shall be reasonably  satisfactory to such Issuing Bank in form and
         content; and

                 (ii) as of the Issuance Date no order, judgment or  decree
         of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority shall enjoin or
         restrain  such Issuing  Bank from  issuing the Facility  Letter of
         Credit and no law, rule or  regulation  applicable to such Issuing
         Bank  and  no  directive  from  and  governmental  authority  with
         jurisdiction  over the Issuing  Bank shall  prohibit  such Issuing
         Bank from issuing Letters of Credit generally or from issuing that
         Facility Letter or Credit.

     4.4.  Procedure  for Issuance of Facility  Letters of Credit.  (a) The
Borrower  shall give the Issuing  Bank and the Agent not less than 15 days'
prior  written  notice of any  requested  issuance of a Facility  Letter of
Credit  under this  Agreement.  Such  notice  shall  specify (i) the stated
amount  of the  Facility  Letter of Credit  requested,  (ii) the  requested
Issuance Date,  which shall be a Business Day, (iii) the date on which such
requested  Facility  Letter of Credit is to expire,  which date shall be in
compliance with the requirements of Section  4.2(vi),  (iv) the purpose for
which such  Facility  Letter of Credit is to be issued,  and (v) the Person
for whose benefit the requested  Facility Letter of Credit is to be issued.
At the time such request is made, the Borrower shall also provide the Agent
with a copy of the form of the Facility  Letter of Credit it is  requesting
be issued.

         (b) Upon receipt of a request for issuance of a Facility Letter of
Credit in accordance with Section 4.4(a),  the Agent shall promptly deliver
a copy of such  request  to the Lender  then  designated  as  Issuing  Bank
pursuant to Section  4.10.  Within 10 days after  receipt of such  request,
such  Issuing  Bank  shall  approve  or   disapprove,   in  its  reasonable
discretion,  the issuance of such requested  Facility Letter of Credit, but
the issuance of such approved  Facility  Letter of Credit shall continue to
be subject to the provisions of this Article IV. The Issuing Bank shall use
reasonable  efforts to notify the  Borrower  of any  changes in the Issuing
Bank's policies or procedures  that could  reasonably be expected to affect
adversely  the Issuing  Bank's  approval of requested  Facility  Letters of
Credit.


<PAGE> 89

         (c) Not less than three nor more than five  Business Days prior to
the issuance of a Facility Letter of Credit approved by the Issuing Bank as
provided in Section  4.4(b),  the Borrower  shall confirm in writing to the
Agent and to the Issuing Bank the intended Issuance Date and amount of such
Facility Letter of Credit.  The Agent shall  determine,  as of the close of
business  on  the  day it  receives  such  written  confirmation  from  the
Borrower,  whether the issuance of such Facility  Letter of Credit would be
permitted under the provisions of Sections  4.2(iii) and (iv) and, prior to
the close of business on the second  Business Day after the Agent  received
such written confirmation from the Borrower under Section 4.4(a), the Agent
shall notify the Issuing Bank and the Borrower (in writing or by telephonic
notice  confirmed  promptly  thereafter in writing) whether issuance of the
requested Facility Letter of Credit would be permitted under the provisions
of Sections  4.2(iii) and (iv). If the Agent  notifies the Issuing Bank and
the Borrower that such issuance would be so permitted, then, subject to the
terms and  conditions of this Article IV and provided  that the  applicable
conditions  set  forth in  Sections  5.1 and 5.2 have been  satisfied,  the
Issuing Bank shall,  on the requested  Issuance  Date,  issue the requested
Facility  Letter of Credit in accordance  with the Issuing Bank's usual and
customary business practices. The Issuing Bank shall give the Agent written
notice, or telephonic notice confirmed promptly  thereafter in writing,  of
the issuance of a Facility Letter of Credit.

         (d) An Issuing Bank shall not extend or amend any Facility  Letter
of Credit unless the  requirements  of this Section 4.4 are met as though a
new Facility Letter of Credit were being requested and issued.

         (e) Any Lender may,  but shall not be  obligated  to, issue to the
Borrower or any Subsidiary Letters of Credit (that are not Facility Letters
of Credit) for its own account, and at its own risk. None of the provisions
of this  Article  IV shall  apply to any  Letter  of  Credit  that is not a
Facility Letter of Credit.

     4.5.  Duties of Issuing Bank.  Any action taken or omitted to be taken
by an  Issuing  Bank under or in  connection  with any  Facility  Letter of
Credit,  if taken or omitted in the absence of willful  misconduct or gross
negligence,  shall not put such Issuing Bank under any resulting  liability
to any Lender or,  assuming  that such Issuing  Bank has complied  with the
procedures  specified in Section 4.4, relieve any Lender of its obligations
hereunder to such Issuing  Bank.  In  determining  whether to pay under any
Facility  Letter of Credit,  the  Issuing  Bank  shall  have no  obligation
relative to the Lenders other than to confirm that any  documents  required
to be delivered  under such  Facility  Letter of Credit appear to have been
delivered in  compliance  and that they appear to comply on their face with
the requirements of such Facility Letter of Credit.


<PAGE> 90

     4.6.  Participation.  (a) Immediately  upon the Effective Date (in the
case of the Facility  Letters of Credit  outstanding on the Effective Date)
and  immediately  upon issuance after the Effective Date by an Issuing Bank
of any Facility  Letter of Credit in  accordance  with  Section  4.4,  each
Lender shall be deemed to have  irrevocably and  unconditionally  purchased
and  received  from such Issuing  Bank,  without  recourse or warranty,  an
undivided  interest and  participation  (ratably in proportion to the ratio
that such Lender's  Commitment  bears to the Aggregate  Commitment) in such
Facility Letter of Credit (including,  without limitation,  all obligations
of the Borrower  with  respect  thereto  other than  amounts  owing to such
Issuing  Bank under  Section  3.2).

         (b) In the event that an Issuing  Bank makes any payment under any
Facility  Letter of Credit  and the  Borrower  shall not have  repaid  such
amount to such  Issuing  Bank on or before the date of such payment by such
Issuing Bank,  such Issuing Bank shall promptly so notify the Agent,  which
shall  promptly so notify each Lender.  Upon  receipt of such notice,  each
Lender shall promptly and  unconditionally pay to the Agent for the account
of such  Issuing  Bank  the  amount  of such  Lender's  share  (ratably  in
proportion  to  the  ratio  that  such  Lender's  Commitment  bears  to the
Aggregate  Commitment)  of such  payment in same day  funds,  and the Agent
shall promptly pay such amount, and any other amounts received by the Agent
for such Issuing Bank's account  pursuant to this Section  4.6(b),  to such
Issuing  Bank.  If the Agent so notifies  such  Lender  prior to 10:00 a.m.
(Chicago time) on any Business Day, such Lender shall make available to the
Agent for the  account  of such  Issuing  Bank such  Lender's  share of the
amount of such payment on such  Business  Day in same day funds.  If and to
the extent  such  Lender  shall not have so made its share of the amount of
such payment  available to the Agent for the account of such Issuing  Bank,
such Lender agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank
forthwith on demand such amount,  together with interest thereon,  for each
day from the date such  payment was first due until the date such amount is
paid to the Agent for the  account of such  Issuing  Bank,  at the  Federal
Funds  Effective  Rate.  The failure of any Lender to make available to the
Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank such Lender's  share of any such
payment shall not relieve any other Lender of its  obligation  hereunder to
make  available to the Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank its share
of any payment on the date such payment is to be made.



<PAGE> 91


         (c)  The  payments  made  by the  Lenders  to an  Issuing  Bank in
reimbursement of amounts paid by it under a Facility Letter of Credit shall
constitute,  and the Borrower hereby expressly acknowledges and agrees that
such payments shall constitute,  Advances hereunder and such payments shall
for all purposes be treated as Advances  (notwithstanding  that the amounts
thereof may not comply with the  provisions of Section 2.6).  Such Advances
shall be Floating Rate  Advances,  subject to the  Borrower's  rights under
Article II hereof.

         (d)  Upon the request of the Agent or any Lender,  an Issuing Bank
shall  furnish to the  requesting  Agent or Lender  copies of any  Facility
Letter of Credit or  Reimbursement  Agreement to which such Issuing Bank is
party and such other  documentation  as may  reasonably be requested by the
Agent or the Lender.

         (e  The obligations  of the Lenders to make payments to the Agent
for the  account of an Issuing  Bank with  respect to a Facility  Letter of
Credit shall be irrevocable,  not subject to any qualification or exception
whatsoever  and shall be made in accordance  with,  but not subject to, the
terms and conditions of this Agreement under all  circumstances,  including
without limitation the following:

                  (i)  any lack of validity or enforceability of this 
         Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents;

                 (ii)  the  existence  of any claim,  setoff,  defense or
         other  right  which the  Borrower  may have at any time  against a
         beneficiary named in a Facility Letter of Credit or any transferee
         of any Facility  Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such
         transferee  may be acting),  such  Issuing  Bank,  the Agent,  any
         Lender,  or any other  Person,  whether  in  connection  with this
         Agreement,   any  Facility  Letter  of  Credit,  the  transactions
         contemplated herein or any unrelated  transactions  (including any
         underlying transactions between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and
         the beneficiary named in any Facility Letter of Credit);

                 (iii)  any  draft,  certificate  or any  other  document
         presented  under  the  Facility  Letter of  Credit  proving  to be
         forged, fraudulent,  invalid or insufficient in any respect of any
         statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;

                  (iv)  the  surrender or  impairment  of any security for
         the  performance  or  observance of any of the terms of any of the
         Loan Documents;

                  (v) any  failure by the Agent or the  Issuing  Bank to
         make any reports required pursuant to Section 4.8; or

                 (vi)  the  occurrence  of  any  Default  or  Unmatured
         Default.



<PAGE> 92


     4.7.  Compensation  for Facility  Letters of Credit.  (a) The Borrower
agrees to pay to the Agent, in the case of each outstanding Facility Letter
of Credit,  the Facility Letter of Credit Fee therefor,  payable in monthly
installments in advance on the Issuance Date (which  installment shall be a
pro rata portion of the annual Facility Letter of Credit Fee for the period
commencing on the Issuance Date and ending on the day preceding the Payment
Date next  following the Issuance  Date) and on each Payment Date after the
Issuance Date (which  installment shall be a pro rata portion of the annual
Facility  Letter of Credit  Fee for the month in which  such  Payment  Date
occurs).  Facility Letter of Credit Fees shall be calculated, on a pro rata
basis for the period to which such  payment  applies,  for actual days that
will elapse during such period,  on the basis of a 360-day year.  The Agent
shall promptly remit such Facility Letter of Credit Fees, when paid, to the
Lenders  (ratably in the proportion that each Lender's  Commitment bears to
the Aggregate Commitment).

         (b) An Issuing Bank shall have the right to receive solely for its
own account an issuance  fee in the amount of 0.25% (per annum) of the face
amount of each Facility Letter of Credit issued by it, payable quarterly in
advance on the Issuance Date and on the first day of each calendar  quarter
thereafter and such other amounts as the Borrower may agree, in writing, to
pay to such  Issuing Bank for such Issuing  Bank's  out-of-pocket  costs of
issuing and servicing Facility Letters of Credit.

     4.8. Issuing Bank Reporting Requirements.  Each Issuing Bank shall, no
later than the tenth day following  the last day of each month,  provide to
the Agent a schedule  of the  Facility  Letters of Credit  issued by it, in
form and  substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to the  Agent,  showing  the
Issuance Date,  account party,  original face amount,  amount (if any) paid
thereunder,  expiration  date and the  reference  number  of each  Facility
Letter  of  Credit  outstanding  at any  time  during  such  month  and the
aggregate  amount (if any)  payable by the  Borrower to such  Issuing  Bank
during the month  pursuant to Section 3.2.  Copies of such reports shall be
provided promptly to each Lender by the Agent.

     4.9. Indemnification; Nature of Issuing Bank's Duties. (a) In addition
to amounts  payable as elsewhere  provided in this Article IV, the Borrower
hereby agrees to protect, indemnify, pay and save the Agent and each Lender
and Issuing  Bank  harmless  from and against any and all claims,  demands,
liabilities,  damages,  losses,  costs,  charges  and  expenses  (including
reasonable  attorneys'  fees)  arising  from the  claims  of third  parties
against  the  Agent,  Issuing  Bank or Lender as a  consequence,  direct or
indirect,  of (i) the issuance of any Facility Letter of Credit other than,
in the case of an Issuing  Bank,  as a result of its willful  misconduct or
gross negligence, or (ii) the failure of an Issuing Bank issuing a Facility
Letter of Credit to honor a drawing under such Facility Letter of Credit as
a result of any act or  omission,  whether  rightful  or  wrongful,  of any
present or future de jure or de facto government or governmental authority.


<PAGE> 93


         (b) As among the Borrower,  the Lenders, the Agent and the Issuing
Bank,  the  Borrower  assumes  all risks of the acts and  omissions  of, or
misuse of Facility  Letters of Credit by, the respective  beneficiaries  of
such Facility  Letters of Credit.  In furtherance  and not in limitation of
the foregoing,  neither the Issuing Bank nor the Agent nor any Lender shall
be  responsible:  (i)  for  the  form,  validity,  sufficiency,   accuracy,
genuineness  or legal  effect  of any  document  submitted  by any party in
connection with the application for and issuance of the Facility Letters of
Credit,  even if it  should  in  fact  prove  to be in any or all  respects
invalid,  insufficient,  inaccurate,  fraudulent  or  forged;  (ii) for the
validity or  sufficiency  of any  instrument  transferring  or assigning or
purporting to transfer or assign a Facility  Letter of Credit or the rights
or benefits  thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may
prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; (iii) for failure of the
beneficiary of a Facility  Letter of Credit to comply fully with conditions
required  in order to draw upon such  Facility  Letter of Credit;  (iv) for
errors,  omissions,  interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of
any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex or otherwise, whether or not
they be in cipher;  (v) for errors in  interpretation  of technical  terms;
(vi) for any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document
required in order to make a drawing under any Facility  Letter of Credit or
of the proceeds thereof; (vii) for the misapplication by the beneficiary of
a  Facility  Letter of Credit of the  proceeds  of any  drawing  under such
Facility  Letter of Credit;  and (viii) for any  consequences  arising from
causes  beyond the control of the Agent,  the Issuing  Bank and the Lenders
including,  without  limitation,  any act or omission,  whether rightful or
wrongful,  of any  present  or  future  de jure or de facto  government  or
governmental authority.  None of the above shall affect, impair, or prevent
the  vesting  of any of the  Issuing  Bank's  rights or powers  under  this
subsection 4.9.

         (c) In  furtherance  and  extension  and not in  limitation of the
specific  provisions  hereinabove set forth, any action taken or omitted by
an Issuing Bank under or in connection with the Facility  Letters of Credit
or any related  certificates,  if taken or omitted in good faith, shall not
put  such  Issuing  Bank,  the  Agent or any  Lender  under  any  resulting
liability to the Borrower or relieve the Borrower of any of its obligations
hereunder to any such Person.

         (d)  Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary  contained in this
Section 4.9, the Borrower  shall have no obligation to indemnify an Issuing
Bank under this  Section 4.9 in respect of any  liability  incurred by such
Issuing  Bank  arising  primarily  out of the willful  misconduct  or gross
negligence  of such Issuing  Bank,  as  determined  by a court of competent
jurisdiction,  or out of the  wrongful  dishonor by such  Issuing Bank of a
proper demand for payment made under the Facility  Letters of Credit issued
by such Issuing  Bank,  unless such dishonor was made at the request of the
Borrower.

     4.10.  Resignation of Issuing Bank. The Issuing Bank shall continue to
be the Issuing  Bank unless and until (i) it shall have given the  Borrower
and the Agent notice that it has elected to resign as Issuing Bank and (ii)
a  replacement  Issuing  Bank shall have been  designated  and  approved in
writing by the Agent and the  Borrower.  The  resigning  Issuing Bank shall

<PAGE> 94

continue to have the rights and  obligations  of an Issuing Bank  hereunder
solely with respect to Facility Letters of Credit  theretofore issued by it
notwithstanding  the designation of a replacement  Issuing Bank hereunder),
but upon such  designation  of a replacement  Issuing  Bank,  the resigning
Issuing  Bank shall not  thereafter  issue any  Facility  Letters of Credit
(unless such Lender shall again thereafter be designated as Issuing Bank in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.10).

     4.11.  Obligations  of Issuing Bank and Other  Lenders.  Except to the
extent that a Lender shall have agreed to be designated as an Issuing Bank,
no Lender shall have any  obligation  to accept or approve any request for,
or to issue,  amend or extend, any Letter of Credit, and the obligations of
the Issuing Bank to issue,  amend or extend any  Facility  Letter of Credit
are expressly limited by and subject to the provisions of this Article IV.

                                 ARTICLE V

                            CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     5.1.  Effective  Date. The Effective Date of this Agreement  shall not
occur,  the Lenders  shall not be required to make any  additional  Advance
hereunder,  and the  Issuing  Bank  shall  not be  required  to  issue  any
additional  Facility  Letter of Credit  hereunder,  unless the Borrower has
paid to the Agent the fees set forth in the letter  agreement  dated August
7, 1998,  among the Agent,  FCCM and the  Borrower  (which the Agent hereby
agrees  promptly  to pay or cause to be paid to the  Lenders in  accordance
with the Agent's  letters to the Lenders  dated  September 8, 1998) and the
Borrower has furnished to the Agent with sufficient  copies for the Lenders
the following:

         (i)      A  copy  of  the  certificate  of  incorporation  of  the
                  Borrower, together with all amendments, and a certificate
                  of  good  standing,  all  certified  by  the  appropriate
                  governmental    officer    in   the    jurisdiction    of
                  incorporation.

         (ii)     A copy, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary
                  of  the  Borrower  and  each  Guarantor,   of  each  such
                  corporation's Board of Directors' resolutions authorizing
                  the  execution  of the  Loan  Documents  to which it is a
                  party and (in the case of the Borrower only) its by-laws.

         (iii)    Incumbency  certificates,  executed by the  Secretary  or
                  Assistant  Secretary of the Borrower and each  Guarantor,
                  which  shall  identify  by name  and  title  and bear the
                  signature of the officers of such corporation  authorized
                  to sign the Loan Documents to which it is a party.

         (iv)     A   certificate,   signed  by  an   Authorized   Officer,
                  certifying  that,  to the best of his  knowledge,  on the
                  Effective  Date,  no Default  or  Unmatured  Default  has
                  occurred and is continuing.


<PAGE> 95
         (v)      A  written  opinion  of Kaye,  Scholer,  Fierman,  Hays &
                  Handler,  LLP, counsel to the Borrower,  addressed to the
                  Agent and  Lenders in  substantially  the form of Exhibit
                  "D" hereto.

         (vi)     A written opinion of Steven Lane,  Director-Legal  of the
                  Borrower,  addressed  to the  Agent  and the  Lenders  in
                  substantially the form of Exhibit "E" hereto.

                  (vii)  A  written  opinion  of  Lord,  Bissell  &  Brook,
                  Illinois counsel to the Borrower,  addressed to the Agent
                  and the Lenders in substantially  the form of Exhibit "F"
                  hereto.

         (viii) Notes payable to the order of each of the Lenders.

         (ix)     An Amended and  Restated  Guaranty  duly  executed by the
                  Guarantors in the form of Exhibit "G" hereto.

         (x)      An  Amended  and  Restated  Contribution  Agreement  duly
                  executed  by the  Guarantors  in the form of Exhibit  "H"
                  hereto (the "Contribution Agreement").

         (xi)     An Amended  and  Restated  Subordination  Agreement  duly
                  executed by the Non-Borrowing Subsidiaries in the form of
                  Exhibit "I" hereto (the "Subordination Agreement").

         (xii)    Such other  documents  as any  Lender or Issuing  Bank or
                  their respective counsel may have reasonably requested.

                  On or promptly after the Effective Date, each Lender that
is a party  to the  Original  Agreement  shall  cancel  and  return  to the
Borrower  the  promissory  note  held by such  Lender  under  the  Original
Agreement (or a "lost note affidavit and indemnity"  reasonably  acceptable
to the Borrower).

     5.2.  Each  Advance.  The  Lenders  shall not be  required  (except as
otherwise  provided in Section 2.22(e) and 4.6(b) and except for Loans made
by the New Lenders  pursuant to Section  2.5(c)) to make any Advance (other
than the conversion of an Advance of one Type to an Advance of another Type
that does not increase the aggregate  amount of  outstanding  Advances) and
the Swing  Line Bank  shall not be  obligated  to make a Swing  Line  Loan,
unless on the applicable  Borrowing  Date, and an Issuing Bank shall not be
required to issue,  amend or extend a Facility Letter of Credit,  unless on
the applicable Issuance Date:

         (i)      There exists no Default or Unmatured Default.


<PAGE> 96

         (ii)     The representations  and warranties  contained in Article
                  VI are true and  correct in all  material  respects as of
                  such Borrowing Date or Issuance Date except to the extent
                  any such  representation  or warranty is stated to relate
                  solely  to  an   earlier   date,   in  which   case  such
                  representation  or warranty  shall be true and correct in
                  all material  respects on and as of such earlier date and
                  except  to the  extent  that any such  representation  or
                  warranty relates to changes  otherwise  permitted by this
                  Agreement.

         (iii)    After the  making of such  Advance  or  issuance  of such
                  Facility  Letter  of  Credit,  Consolidated  Senior  Debt
                  Borrowings   shall  not   exceed   the   Borrowing   Base
                  (determined  as of the most  recent  Inventory  Valuation
                  Date).

         (iv)     The Borrower shall have delivered to the Agent,  not more
                  than  three (3)  Business  Days  prior to the  applicable
                  Borrowing  Date or  Issuance  Date  or,  in the case of a
                  Swing Line Loan, on the Borrowing  Date, a duly completed
                  certificate  in  substantially  the form of  Exhibit  "J"
                  hereto.

         (v)      All  legal  matters  incident  to (A) the  making of such
                  Advance shall be reasonably  satisfactory  to the Lenders
                  and their  counsel and (B) the issuance of such  Facility
                  Letter of Credit shall be reasonably  satisfactory to the
                  Agent, such Issuing Bank and their respective counsel.

         Each  Borrowing  Notice with respect to each such Advance and each
request for a Facility Letter of Credit shall  constitute a  representation
and  warranty by the  Borrower  that the  conditions  contained in Sections
5.2(i) and (ii) have been satisfied.


                                 ARTICLE VI

                       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

     6.1.  Existence  and  Standing.  The  Borrower is a  corporation  duly
incorporated,  validly  existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of  incorporation  and has all requisite  authority to conduct
its  business  in each  jurisdiction  in which its  business  is  conducted
(except  to the extent  that a failure to  maintain  such  existence,  good
standing or authority would not reasonably be expected to have and does not
have a Material  Adverse Effect).  Each of the Significant  Guarantors is a
corporation duly incorporated,  validly existing and in good standing under
the  laws of its  jurisdiction  of  incorporation  and  has  all  requisite
authority  to  conduct  its  business  in each  jurisdiction  in which  its
business is conducted (except to the extent that a failure to maintain such
existence,  good standing or authority  would not reasonably be expected to
have and does not have a Material Adverse Effect).
<PAGE> 97


     6.2.  Authorization and Validity. The Borrower has the corporate power
and  authority  to execute and deliver the Loan  Documents to which it is a
party  and  to  perform  its  obligations  hereunder  and  thereunder.  The
execution and delivery by the Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is
a party and the  performance of its  obligations  thereunder have been duly
authorized and the Loan Documents to which it is a party constitute  legal,
valid and  binding  obligations  of the  Borrower  enforceable  against the
Borrower in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy,  insolvency
or similar laws affecting the  enforcement of creditors'  rights  generally
and general principles of equity.  Each of the Guarantors has the corporate
power and  authority to execute and deliver the Guaranty and to perform its
obligations thereunder. The execution and delivery by the Guarantors of the
Guaranty and the performance of their obligations thereunder have been duly
authorized,  and the  Guaranty  constitutes  the legal,  valid and  binding
obligations  of  the  Guarantors  enforceable  against  the  Guarantors  in
accordance  with its terms,  subject to  bankruptcy,  insolvency or similar
laws affecting the enforcement of creditors'  rights  generally and general
principles of equity.

     6.3.  No  Conflict;  Government  Consent.  Neither the  execution  and
delivery  by the  Borrower  of the  Loan  Documents  or by the  Significant
Guarantors of the Guaranty, nor the consummation of the transactions herein
contemplated,  nor compliance  with the  provisions  hereof or thereof will
violate in any material  respect any law, rule,  regulation,  order,  writ,
judgment, injunction, decree or award binding on the Borrower or any of the
Significant  Guarantors or the  Borrower's or any  Significant  Guarantor's
certificate of incorporation or by-laws or the provisions of any indenture,
instrument or agreement to which the Borrower or any Significant  Guarantor
is a party or is subject,  or by which it, or its  Property,  is bound,  or
conflict with or constitute a default thereunder, or result in the creation
or  imposition of any Lien in, of or on the Property of the Borrower or any
Significant  Guarantor  pursuant  to  the  terms  of  any  such  indenture,
instrument or agreement.  Except as set forth on Schedule "6.3" hereto,  no
order,  consent,  approval,  license,  authorization,  or validation of, or
filing,  recording or registration  with, or exemption by, any governmental
or public body or authority,  or any  subdivision  thereof,  is required to
authorize,  or is required in connection  with the execution,  delivery and
performance of, or the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability
of, any of the Loan Documents or the Guaranty.

     6.4.  Financial  Statements.  The June 30,  1998  unaudited  condensed
consolidated  financial  statements  of the Borrower  and its  Subsidiaries
delivered  to  the  Lenders  were  prepared   pursuant  to  the  rules  and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Certain information
and footnotes normally included in annual financial  statements prepared in
accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules
and regulations.  Such statements fairly present, in all material respects,
the consolidated financial condition and operations of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries at such date and the consolidated  results of their operations
for the period then ended, subject to normal adjustments and the absence of
footnotes.


<PAGE> 98

     6.5.  Material  Adverse  Effect.  Since  the  date  of  the  financial
statements  (whether  quarterly or annual) of the  Borrower  that have most
recently  been  delivered by the  Borrower to the Agent,  there has been no
change in the  business,  Property,  condition  (financial or otherwise) or
results of operations of the Borrower and the Significant Guarantors (taken
as a whole) that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

     6.6. Taxes. The Borrower and the Significant Guarantors have filed all
United States federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns
which are required to be filed and have paid all taxes due pursuant to said
returns or pursuant to any assessment  received by the Borrower or any such
Significant Guarantor, except such taxes, if any, as are being contested in
good faith and as to which  adequate  reserves have been  provided.  No tax
Liens have been filed and no claims are being  asserted with respect to any
such taxes. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower
and  the   Significant   Guarantors  in  respect  of  any  taxes  or  other
governmental  charges are adequate in accordance with GAAP.

     6.7.  Litigation  and Contingent  Obligations.  Except as set forth on
Schedule "6.7" hereto,  there is no litigation,  arbitration,  governmental
investigation,  proceeding  or inquiry  pending or, to the knowledge of any
Authorized  Officer,  threatened  against or affecting  the Borrower or any
Significant  Guarantor that has had or would reasonably be expected to have
a Material  Adverse  Effect.  Other  than any  liability  incident  to such
litigation,  arbitration or  proceedings,  the Borrower and the Significant
Guarantors  have no material  contingent  obligations  not  provided for or
disclosed in the  financial  statements of the Borrower that have been most
recently delivered by the Borrower to the Agent or the financial statements
of the Borrower for the year ended  December 31, 1997 that has had or would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     6.8. Subsidiaries.  Schedule "6.8" hereto contains an accurate list of
all of the  Subsidiaries  of the Borrower,  setting forth their  respective
jurisdictions  of  incorporation  or formation and the  percentage of their
respective capital stock or partnership  interests owned by the Borrower or
its Subsidiaries. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock
of such  Subsidiaries  that are corporations  have been duly authorized and
validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

     6.9. ERISA.  The Unfunded  Liabilities of all Single Employer Plans do
not in the aggregate exceed $5,000,000.  Neither the Borrower nor any other
member of the Controlled Group has incurred,  or is reasonably  expected to
incur,  any  withdrawal  liability  to  Multiemployer  Plans in  excess  of
$5,000,000 in the  aggregate.  Each Plan complies in all material  respects
with all  applicable  requirements  of law and  regulations,  no Reportable
Event has occurred  with respect to any Plan,  neither the Borrower nor any
other member of the Controlled  Group has withdrawn from any  Multiemployer
Plan or initiated steps to do so, and no steps have been taken to terminate
any Plan.


<PAGE> 99

     6.10. Accuracy of Information.  All factual information  heretofore or
contemporaneously  furnished  by  or on  behalf  of  the  Borrower  or  any
Guarantor to the Agent or any Lender for purposes of or in connection  with
this  Agreement or any  transaction  contemplated  hereby is, and all other
such  factual  information  hereafter  furnished  by or on  behalf  of  the
Borrower  or any  Guarantor  to the Agent or any Lender  will be,  true and
accurate (taken as a whole),  in all material  respects,  on the date as of
which such information is dated or certified and not incomplete by omitting
to state any material fact necessary to make such  information  (taken as a
whole) not misleading at such time.

     6.11.  Regulation  U.  Margin  stock  (as  defined  in  Regulation  U)
constitutes  less  than  25% of  those  assets  of  the  Borrower  and  its
Subsidiaries  which are subject to any limitation on sale, pledge, or other
restriction hereunder.

     6.12.  Material  Agreements.  Neither the Borrower nor any Significant
Guarantor  is in  default,  which  default has had or would  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, in the performance,  observance
or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained
in (i) any  agreement  to  which it is a party,  or (ii) any  agreement  or
instrument evidencing or governing Indebtedness.

     6.13.  Labor  Disputes  and Acts of God.  Neither the business nor the
Property of the Borrower or of any Significant Guarantor is affected by any
fire,  explosion,  accident,  strike,  lockout,  or  other  labor  dispute,
drought,  storm,  hail,  earthquake,  embargo,  act of God or of the public
enemy, or other casualty  (whether or not covered by insurance),  which has
had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     6.14.  Ownership and Liens.  The Borrower and each of the  Significant
Guarantors  have title to, or valid  leasehold  interests  in, all of their
respective  properties  and  assets,  real  and  personal,   including  the
properties  and assets and leasehold  interests  reflected in the financial
statements  referred  to in Section 6.4 (except to the extent that (i) such
properties  or  assets  have been  disposed  of in the  ordinary  course of
business  or (ii) the  failure to have such title has not had and would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect) and none of the
properties  and assets owned by the Borrower or any  Significant  Guarantor
and none of their leasehold interests is subject to any Lien, except as may
be permitted pursuant to Section 8.8.

     6.15. Operation of Business.  The Borrower and each of the Significant
Guarantors possess all licenses, permits, franchises,  patents, copyrights,
trademarks, and trade names, or rights thereto, to conduct their respective
businesses  substantially as now conducted, and as presently proposed to be
conducted, with such exceptions as have not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.


<PAGE> 100


     6.16.  Laws;  Environment.  Except  as set  forth on  Schedule  "6.16"
hereto,  the  Borrower  and each of the  Significant  Guarantors  have duly
complied, and their businesses,  operations and Property are in compliance,
in all material  respects,  with the provisions of all federal,  state, and
local statutes,  laws,  codes, and ordinances and all rules and regulations
promulgated  thereunder (including without limitation those relating to the
environment,  health and  safety).  Except as set forth on Schedule  "6.16"
hereto,  the  Borrower  and each of the  Significant  Guarantors  have been
issued  all  required   federal,   state,  and  local  permits,   licenses,
certificates,  and approvals relating to (1) air emissions;  (2) discharges
to surface water or groundwater;  (3) solid or liquid waste  disposal;  (4)
the use,  generation,  storage,  transportation,  or  disposal  of toxic or
hazardous  substances or hazardous wastes (intended hereby and hereafter to
include any and all such materials  listed in any federal,  state, or local
law,  code,  or  ordinance  and  all  rules  and  regulations   promulgated
thereunder  as  hazardous);  or (5) other  environmental,  health or safety
matters.  Except in accordance with a valid governmental  permit,  license,
certificate or approval or as set forth on Schedule  "6.16" hereto,  to the
best knowledge of the Borrower, there has been no material emission, spill,
release,  or  discharge  into  or upon  (1)  the  air;  (2)  soils,  or any
improvements located thereon; (3) surface water or groundwater;  or (4) the
sewer,  septic  system  or waste  treatment,  storage  or  disposal  system
servicing any Property of the Borrower or any Significant Guarantor, of any
toxic or hazardous substances or hazardous wastes at or from such Property.
There has been no written complaint,  order, directive, claim, citation, or
notice by any  governmental  authority or any person or entity with respect
to  violations  of  law or  damage  by  reason  of  the  Borrower's  or any
Significant  Guarantor's  (1)  air  emissions;  (2)  spills,  releases,  or
discharges  to  soils  or  improvements  located  thereon,  surface  water,
groundwater  or the sewer,  septic  system or waste  treatment,  storage or
disposal  systems  servicing  any  Property;  (3)  solid  or  liquid  waste
disposal;  (4) use,  generation,  storage,  transportation,  or disposal of
toxic  or  hazardous   substances   or  hazardous   waste;   or  (5)  other
environmental,  health or safety  matters  affecting  the  Borrower  or any
Significant Guarantor or its business, operation or Property. Except as set
forth on Schedule  "6.16" hereto,  neither the Borrower nor any Significant
Guarantor has any material Indebtedness, obligation, or liability, absolute
or  contingent,  matured  or not  matured,  with  respect  to the  storage,
treatment,  cleanup, or disposal of any solid wastes,  hazardous wastes, or
other toxic or hazardous substances  (including without limitation any such
indebtedness,   obligation,  or  liability  with  respect  to  any  current
regulation, law or statute regarding such storage,  treatment,  cleanup, or
disposal).  A matter  will not  constitute  a breach of this  Section  6.16
unless it is  reasonably  likely to result in costs or  liabilities  to the
Borrower  or a  Significant  Guarantor  in  excess  of  $2,500,000  in  the
aggregate.

     6.17.  Investment Company Act. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary
is an  "investment  company" or a company  "controlled"  by an  "investment
company",  within the meaning of the  Investment  Company  Act of 1940,  as
amended.


<PAGE> 101

     6.18. Public Utility Holding Company Act. Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary is a "holding  company" or a "subsidiary  company" of a "holding
company",  or an  "affiliate"  of a "holding  company" or of a  "subsidiary
company" of a "holding  company",  within the meaning of the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

     6.19.  Subordinated  Indebtedness.  The Obligations  constitute senior
indebtedness  which  is  entitled  to the  benefits  of  the  subordination
provisions of the Subordinated Notes and all other outstanding Subordinated
Indebtedness of the Borrower and any Guarantors.

     6.20.  Year 2000. The Borrower has made an assessment of the Year 2000
Issues and has a reasonable program for remediating the Year 2000 Issues on
a timely basis. Based on such assessment and program, the Borrower does not
reasonably  anticipate  that Year 2000 Issues will have a Material  Adverse
Effect.

                                ARTICLE VII

                           AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
         
         During the term of this  Agreement,  unless the  Required  Lenders
shall otherwise consent in writing:

     7.1. Financial Reporting.  The Borrower will maintain,  for itself and
each  Subsidiary,  a system of accounting  established and  administered in
accordance with GAAP, and furnish to the Lenders:

         (i)      Within  90  days  after the close of each fiscal year, an
                  unqualified   audit   report   certified   by  nationally
                  recognized   independent   certified  public accountants,
                  reasonably  acceptable   to  the  Lenders,   prepared  in
                  accordance  with  GAAP  on  a  consolidated basis for the
                  Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including  balance  sheets
                  as of the end of such period, related profit and loss and
                  reconciliation of surplus statements, and  a statement of
                  cash flows, accompanied  by  (a)  any  management  letter
                  prepared by said accountants, and (b)  a  certificate  of
                  said accountants that, in the course of their examination
                  necessary for their certification of the  foregoing, they
                  have obtained no  knowledge  of any  Default or Unmatured
                  Default, or if, in the opinion of  such  accountants, any
                  Default or Unmatured  Default  shall  exist, stating  the
                  nature and status thereof.

         (ii)     Within  90 days  after  the  close of each  fiscal  year,
                  unaudited  balance  sheets  as of the end of such  fiscal
                  year for each of the operating  divisions of the Borrower
                  and  a  related   profit  and  loss  statement  for  each
                  Subsidiary, all certified by an Authorized Officer.


<PAGE> 102

         (iii)    Within  45  days  after  the  close  of the  first  three
                  quarterly  periods of each fiscal year,  for the Borrower
                  and its Subsidiaries,  on a consolidated condensed basis,
                  unaudited  balance  sheets  as at the  close of each such
                  period and a related  profit and loss  statement  for the
                  period from the  beginning of such fiscal year to the end
                  of such quarter, all certified by an Authorized Officer.

         (iv)     As soon as available,  but in any event not later than 10
                  days prior to the  beginning  of each fiscal year, a copy
                  of the business plan  (including a  consolidated  balance
                  sheet,  income  statement and cash flow statement) of the
                  Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year.



         (v)      Within  45 days of the  end of  each of the  first  three
                  quarterly  periods  of  each  fiscal  year,  a  quarterly
                  variance  analysis  comparing  actual  quarterly  results
                  versus projected quarterly results for the fiscal quarter
                  most  recently  ended  (including   consolidated   income
                  statements  of the  Borrower  and  its  Subsidiaries,  an
                  analysis of revenues, Housing Unit Closings and operating
                  profits  on  a  consolidated   basis,   unaudited  income
                  statements and balance sheets (by operating division) for
                  such  quarter,  and such  other  items as are  reasonably
                  requested by any of the Lenders), together with a written
                  explanation of material variances.

         (vi)     Within  90 days  after  the end of each  fiscal  year,  a
                  variance analysis  comparing actual annual results versus
                  the business plan for the fiscal year most recently ended
                  (including consolidated income statements of the Borrower
                  and its  Subsidiaries,  an analysis of revenues,  Housing
                  Unit  Closings and  operating  profits on a  consolidated
                  basis, unaudited income statements and balance sheets (by
                  operating  division) for such fiscal year, and such other
                  items as are reasonably requested by any of the Lenders),
                  together   with  a  written   explanation   of   material
                  variances.

         (vii)    Within 10  Business  Days after the end of each  calendar
                  month,  a Borrowing  Base  Certificate  of an  Authorized
                  Officer,  with respect to the  Inventory  Valuation  Date
                  occurring on the last day of such calendar month.

         (viii)   Within 45 days after the end of each quarterly  period of
                  each fiscal year, a certificate of an Authorized  Officer
                  certifying the Housing Units as at such date, which lists
                  (by operating division) the Housing Units,  designated in
                  the same  categories as are  identified in the Borrower's
                  report dated June 30, 1998;  such summary shall include a
                  delineation of sold or unsold items in each category.
<PAGE> 103

         (ix)     Within 45 days after the end of each quarterly  period of
                  each fiscal year, a certificate of an Authorized  Officer
                  certifying  as of such date (by  operating  division) the
                  book  values  of raw land held for  development  or sale,
                  Entitled  Land,  Land under  Development,  Finished Lots,
                  Finished  Lots on the  books in  excess  of nine  months,
                  Housing Units, Housing Units Under Contract and Inventory
                  Housing Units.

         (x)      Within 45 days  after the end of each of the first  three
                  quarterly periods,  and within ninety (90) days after the
                  end, of each fiscal year, a certificate  of an Authorized
                  Officer  of the  Borrower  in the  form  of  Exhibit  "K"
                  hereto.

         (xi)     Within 270 days after the close of each  fiscal  year,  a
                  statement  of the  Unfunded  Liabilities  of each  Single
                  Employer  Plan,   certified  as  correct  by  an  actuary
                  enrolled under ERISA (which  requirement may be satisfied
                  by the delivery of the most recent actuarial valuation of
                  each such Single Employer Plan).

         (xii)    As soon as  possible  and in any  event  within  ten days
                  after the Borrower  knows that any  Reportable  Event has
                  occurred with respect to any Plan, a statement, signed by
                  an Authorized  Officer,  describing said Reportable Event
                  and the action which the  Borrower  proposes to take with
                  respect thereto.

         (xiii)   As soon as possible, and in any  event within thirty (30)
                  days after the Borrower knows or has reason to know  that
                  any circumstances exist that constitute grounds entitling
                  the  PBGC  to  institute  proceedings to terminate a Plan
                  subject to ERISA with respect to the Borrower or any member
                  of the Controlled Group  and  promptly  but  in any event
                  within two (2) Business Days of receipt by  the  Borrower
                  or any member of the Controlled Group of notice  that the
                  PBGC intends to terminate a Plan or appoint a trustee  to
                  administer the same, and promptly but in any event within
                  five (5) Business Days of the receipt of notice concerning
                  the imposition  of  withdrawal  liability  in  excess  of
                  $500,000 with respect to the Borrower or any member of the
                  Controlled Group, a certificate of  an Authorized Officer
                  setting forth all relevant details of such event and  the
                  action which the Borrower proposes to take  with  respect
                  thereto.

         (xiv)    Promptly  after  the  furnishing  thereof,  copies of any
                  statement,  report, document,  notice,  certificate,  and
                  correspondence  furnished to any other party  pursuant to
                  the  terms  of  any  indenture   (including   the  Senior
                  Indentures),  loan,  credit,  or similar  agreement  with
                  respect to any Indebtedness in excess of $1,000,000 or to
                  any  rating  agency  and  not  otherwise  required  to be
                  furnished to the Lenders  pursuant to any other provision
                  of this Section 7.1.
<PAGE> 104

         (xv)     Promptly after the sending or filing  thereof,  copies of
                  all proxy statements,  financial statements,  and reports
                  which the Borrower or any Significant  Guarantor sends to
                  its  stockholders,  and copies of all regular,  periodic,
                  and  special  reports,  and all  registration  statements
                  which the  Borrower or any  Significant  Guarantor  files
                  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  or  any
                  governmental authority which may be substituted therefor,
                  or with any national securities exchange.

         (xvi)    Promptly after the  commencement  thereof,  notice of all
                  actions,  suits,  and  proceedings  before  any  court or
                  governmental  department,   commission,   board,  bureau,
                  agency,   or   instrumentality,   domestic   or  foreign,
                  affecting the Borrower or any  Significant  Guarantor (a)
                  which,  if  determined  adversely to the Borrower or such
                  Significant  Guarantor,  could  reasonably be expected to
                  have a Material  Adverse Effect or (b) in which liability
                  in excess of $2,500,000 (in the aggregate with respect to
                  any action,  suit or proceeding) is asserted  against the
                  Borrower or any Significant Guarantor.

         (xvii)   As soon as possible and in any event within ten days after
                  receipt by the  Borrower  or any  Significant Guarantor, a
                  copy of (a) any written notice or claim to the effect that
                  the Borrower or any Significant Guarantor  is  or  may  be
                  liable to any Person as a result of  the  release  of  any
                  toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment,
                  and (b) any notice alleging any violation  of any federal,
                  state or local  environmental,  health or  safety  law  or
                  regulation by the Borrower or any Guarantor  which, in the
                  case of either (a) or (b), could reasonably be expected to
                  have a Material Adverse Effect or could result in liability
                  to the Borrower or any Significant Guarantor in  excess of
                  $2,500,000 (in the aggregate with respect to any notice or
                  claim).

         (xviii)  Such   other   information    (including    non-financial
                  information)   as  the   Agent  may  from  time  to  time
                  reasonably request.



<PAGE> 105

     7.2. Use of Proceeds. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the
Borrower  will use the  proceeds  of the  Advances  for  general  corporate
purposes  (including  payment of reimbursement  obligations with respect to
Facility  Letters of  Credit),  to repay  outstanding  Swing Line Loans and
other  Advances and to engage in the  transactions  otherwise  permitted by
this  Agreement.  Except as  permitted  by  Sections  8.6,  8.9 and 8.11 or
otherwise  permitted by this Agreement,  the Borrower will not, nor will it
permit  any  Subsidiary  to, use any of the  proceeds  of the  Advances  to
purchase  or carry any  "margin  stock" (as  defined in  Regulation  U) or,
except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, to purchase any securities
in any transaction  that is subject to Sections 13 and 14 of the Securities
Exchange  Act of  1934,  as  amended.  The  Borrower  will not  permit  any
Non-Borrowing Subsidiaries to receive, whether by loan or other Investment,
or  otherwise  to use any  proceeds  of, any Advance if the effect  thereof
would be to  increase  the  outstanding  amount of the  Investments  of the
Borrower or any Guarantor in any  Non-Borrowing  Subsidiaries  to an amount
(in the  aggregate)  in excess  of such  Investments  as of June 30,  1998;
provided  that the Borrower  and the  Guarantors  may (i) make  advances or
loans to or other  Investments in Non-Borrowing  Subsidiaries  (and use the
proceeds  of  Advances  to make the  same) in an amount  not to exceed  the
aggregate  amount of all advances,  loans or other  Investments made by the
Non-Borrowing  Subsidiaries  to the Borrower and the Guarantors  after June
30, 1998 which have not been repaid to such Non-Borrowing  Subsidiaries and
(ii) make loans to or other Investments in the  Non-Borrowing  Subsidiaries
permitted under Section 8.6.

     7.3.  Notice of  Default.  The  Borrower  will,  and will  cause  each
Significant  Guarantor  to, give prompt notice in writing to the Lenders of
the  occurrence of (i) any Default or Unmatured  Default and (ii) any other
development,  financial or  otherwise,  that has had or would be reasonably
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     7.4.  Conduct of Business.  Except as otherwise  permitted  under this
Agreement, the Borrower will, and will cause each Significant Guarantor to,
carry  on  and  conduct   business  in  the  same  general  manner  and  in
substantially  the same fields of enterprise as presently  conducted and to
do all things necessary to remain duly  incorporated,  validly existing and
in  good   standing  as  a  domestic   corporation   in  their   respective
jurisdictions of incorporation  (or, in the case of any Guarantors that are
partnerships  or other  non-corporate  entities,  duly  formed and  validly
existing in their  respective  jurisdictions of formation) and maintain all
requisite  authority  to conduct  business  in each  jurisdiction  in which
business is conducted;  provided,  however,  that nothing  contained herein
shall prohibit the  dissolution of any Guarantor as long as the Borrower or
another Guarantor  succeeds to the assets,  liabilities and business of the
dissolved Guarantor.


<PAGE> 106

     7.5.  Taxes.  The  Borrower  will,  and will  cause  each  Significant
Guarantor to, pay when due all taxes,  assessments and governmental charges
and levies upon them or their  income,  profits or  Property,  except those
that are being contested in good faith by appropriate  proceedings and with
respect to which adequate  reserves have been set aside in accordance  with
GAAP.

     7.6.  Insurance.  The Borrower will,  and will cause each  Significant
Guarantor to,  maintain  with  financially  sound and  reputable  insurance
companies insurance on all their Property in such amounts and covering such
risks as is consistent with sound business practice,  and the Borrower will
furnish to any Lender upon request  full  information  as to the  insurance
carried.

     7.7.  Compliance  with Laws.  The Borrower  will,  and will cause each
Significant Guarantor to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations, orders,
writs,  judgments,  injunctions,  decrees  or  awards  to  which  it may be
subject,  except  to  the  extent  that  the  failure  to do so  would  not
reasonably be expected to have and does not have a Material Adverse Effect.
 
     7.8. Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower will, and will cause each
Significant  Guarantor to, do all things  necessary to maintain,  preserve,
protect and keep its Property in good repair,  working order and condition,
except to the  extent  that the  failure to do so would not  reasonably  be
expected to have and does not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     7.9. Inspection.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Guarantor to,
permit the Lenders,  by their  respective  representatives  and agents,  to
inspect any of the Property, corporate (or partnership) books and financial
records of the  Borrower and the  Guarantors  to examine and make copies of
the books of accounts and other  financial  records of the Borrower and the
Guarantors,  and to discuss  the  affairs,  finances  and  accounts  of the
Borrower  and the  Guarantors  with,  and to be  advised as to the same by,
their  respective  officers at such  reasonable  times and intervals as the
Lenders may designate.

     7.10.  Environment.  The Borrower will, and will cause the Significant
Guarantors to, (i) comply, in all material respects, with the provisions of
all federal, state, and local environmental, health, and safety laws, codes
and  ordinances,  and all rules and  regulations  issued  thereunder;  (ii)
promptly  contain and remove any hazardous  discharge from or affecting the
Property  of the  Borrower  or such  Significant  Guarantor,  to the extent
required by and in compliance with all applicable  laws; (iii) promptly pay
any fine or penalty assessed in connection therewith or contest the same in
good faith; and (iv) permit the Agent to inspect such Property,  to conduct
tests  thereon,  and to inspect  all  books,  correspondence,  and  records
pertaining  thereto at reasonable hours and places;  and (v) at the request
of the Required Lenders, and at the Borrower's expense, provide a report of
a  qualified  environmental  engineer,  satisfactory  in scope,  form,  and

<PAGE> 107

content to the  Required  Lenders,  and such other and  further  assurances
reasonably  satisfactory to the Required  Lenders that any new condition or
occurrence   hereafter  identified  in  any  revision  of  Schedule  "6.16"
delivered  by the  Borrower  pursuant to Section  7.12 has been  corrected;
provided  that a failure to comply with the  foregoing  provisions  of this
Section 7.10 shall not constitute a Default or an Unmatured  Default unless
such  noncompliance  has resulted in or is  reasonably  likely to result in
costs or liabilities  to the Borrower or a Significant  Guarantor in excess
of $2,500,000.

     7.11.  New  Subsidiary.  In the event that  Borrower  shall  hereafter
create a new Subsidiary or a Person shall hereafter  become a Subsidiary of
the Borrower,  the Borrower shall (i) cause such  Subsidiary to execute and
deliver  to the  Agent  (a) in  the  case  of a  Subsidiary  that  is not a
Non-Borrowing  Subsidiary,  a Guaranty and an amendment to the Contribution
Agreement  pursuant to which such Guarantor shall become a party thereunder
and  (b)  in  the  case  of a  Non-Borrowing  Subsidiary,  a  Subordination
Agreement,  and (ii) deliver or cause to be delivered,  by and with respect
to  such   Subsidiary,   certificates,   opinions   and   other   documents
substantially   similar  to  those  required  to  be  delivered  under  the
provisions of Sections 5.1(i),  (ii),  (iii), (vi) and (vii) and such other
documents  as any Lender or Issuing  Bank or their  respective  counsel may
reasonably  request;  all of the  foregoing  shall be in form and substance
satisfactory to the Required Lenders.

     7.12.  Change in Schedules.  Promptly  following the occurrence of any
event or  circumstance  as a result of which any of  Schedules  6.7, 6.8 or
6.16 ceases to be accurate in all material  respects,  the  Borrower  shall
furnish to the Agent the applicable revised Schedule and shall certify that
such  revised  Schedule  is true,  correct  and  complete  in all  material
respects, and such revised Schedule shall be substituted for the applicable
Schedule hereunder.

     7.13.  Year  2000.  The  Borrower  will  take all  actions  reasonably
necessary  to assure  that the Year 2000  Issues  will not have a  Material
Adverse  Effect and,  upon the Agent's  request,  will  provide the Agent a
description  of its  program to  address  the Year 2000  Issues,  including
updates and progress  reports.  The Borrower will promptly advise the Agent
of any reasonably  anticipated  Material Adverse Effect as a result of Year
2000 Issues.
<PAGE> 108

                                ARTICLE VIII

                             NEGATIVE COVENANTS


                  During the term of the Agreement, unless the Required 
Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:

     8.1.  Dividends.  The  Borrower  will  not,  nor  will it  permit  any
Significant  Guarantor  to,  declare  or pay any  dividends  on its  Equity
Securities  (other than dividends  payable in (a) its own Equity Securities
or (b) rights to acquire its own Equity Securities or the Equity Securities
of another  Person),  except  that (i)  provided  no  Default or  Unmatured
Default has  occurred  that is  continuing,  Borrower may pay in any fiscal
quarter   aggregate   dividends  not  to  exceed  fifty  percent  (50%)  of
Consolidated  Net  Income for the  preceding  fiscal  quarter  and (ii) any
Significant Guarantor may declare and pay dividends to the Borrower or to a
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary.

     8.2.  Indebtedness.  The  Borrower  will not,  nor will it permit  any
Significant   Guarantor   to,   create,   incur  or  suffer  to  exist  any
Indebtedness, except: (i) The Loans and the Guaranties.

         (ii)     Indebtedness  described  in  Schedule  "8.2"  hereto  and
                  Refinancing Indebtedness with respect thereto.

         (iii)    Rate  Hedging   Obligations   related  to  the  Loans  or
                  otherwise required pursuant to Section 9.5 hereof.

         (iv)     Indebtedness  of the  Borrower  to a  Subsidiary  or of a
                  Subsidiary  to the  Borrower  or to  another  Subsidiary,
                  provided the same is permitted under Section 7.2.

         (v)      Trade accounts payable and accruals arising or occurring
                  in the ordinary course of business.

         (vi)     Indebtedness with respect to Letters of Credit (including
                  Facility  Letters  of  Credit)  in  an  aggregate  amount
                  outstanding at any time not to exceed $40,000,000.

         (vii)    Indebtedness secured by purchase-money Liens permitted under
                  Section 8.8(ii).

         (viii)   Subordinated Indebtedness.

         (ix)     Non-Recourse   Indebtedness   in  an   aggregate   amount
                  outstanding at any time not to exceed $50,000,000.

         (x)      Performance  bonds,   completion  bonds,  and  guarantees
                  of performance.

         (xi)     Indebtedness or other  liabilities  incurred in transactions
                  permitted pursuant to Section 8.5.
<PAGE> 109

         (xii)    Indebtedness  of a Person  existing as of the time of the
                  Acquisition  of  such  Person  by  the  Borrower  or  any
                  Guarantor,  provided  that,  after giving  effect to such
                  Acquisition, the Borrower is in compliance with the terms
                  of this Agreement  (including  without limitation Section
                  7.11 and Article IX).

         (xiii)   Indebtedness not otherwise  permitted by this Section 8.2
                  in an  aggregate  amount  outstanding  at any time not to
                  exceed $50,000,000.

     8.3.  Merger.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Guarantor
to, merge or consolidate  with or into any other Person,  except (i) that a
Guarantor may merge with any other  Guarantor or with the Borrower and (ii)
for transactions permitted under Section 8.4 or Section 8.6(vii).

     8.4.  Sale of Assets.  The  Borrower  will not, nor will it permit any
Significant Guarantor to, lease, sell or otherwise dispose of its Property,
to any other Person  except (i) for sales or leases in the ordinary  course
of business,  (ii) for leases,  sales or other dispositions of its Property
that,  together with all other Property of the Borrower and the Significant
Guarantors  previously  leased,  sold or  disposed  of  (other  than in the
ordinary  course of  business)  as  permitted  by this  Section  during the
twelve-month  period ending with the month in which any such lease, sale or
other disposition  occurs,  do not constitute a Substantial  Portion of the
Property  of the  Borrower  and the  Significant  Guarantors  and  (iii) as
permitted in Section 8.5.

     8.5. Sale and Leaseback. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any
Significant  Guarantor to, sell or transfer any of its Property in order to
concurrently  or  subsequently  lease as lessee  such or similar  Property,
except for model homes that do not at any time exceed  $25,000,000  in book
value, in the aggregate for the Borrower and the Significant Guarantors.

     8.6. Investments and Acquisitions.  The Borrower will not, nor will it
permit  any  Significant   Guarantor  to,  make  or  suffer  to  exist  any
Investments (including without limitation, loans and advances to, and other
Investments in,  Subsidiaries),  or commitments  therefor, or to create any
Subsidiary  or to become or remain a partner  in any  partnership  or joint
venture, or to make any Acquisition of any Person, except:

         (i)      Obligations of, or fully guaranteed by, the United States
                  of America or any agency thereof,  which obligations have
                  maturities of one year or less.

        (ii)      Commercial  paper rated A-l or better by S&P or P-l or
                  better by Moody's.

       (iii)      Demand deposit accounts maintained in the ordinary course
                  of business.

<PAGE> 110

         (iv)     Certificates  of deposit issued by and time deposits with
                  commercial  banks  (whether  domestic or foreign)  having
                  capital and surplus in excess of $100,000,000.

         (v)      Existing Investments in Subsidiaries and other Investments
                  described in Schedule "8.6" hereto.

         (vi)     Investments  in  joint  ventures,  partnerships,  limited
                  liability  companies or other business  organizations  in
                  which any Person other than the Borrower or a Significant
                  Guarantor has an interest  (excluding those  Wholly-Owned
                  Subsidiaries  of the type identified in the last sentence
                  of  the  definition  of   "Wholly-Owned   Subsidiaries"),
                  provided  that the  aggregate  outstanding  amount of all
                  such  Investments  of the  Borrower  and the  Significant
                  Guarantors  does not at any time exceed  fifteen  percent
                  (15%) of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.

         (vii)    The Acquisition of a business or entity engaged primarily
                  in the business of home  building, provided  that (A) any
                  Acquisition is approved by  the  board of directors (or a
                  committee thereof  having  authority  to  authorize  such
                  transaction)  or other governing body of the owner of the
                  business or entity to  be  acquired, (B)  the  Investment
                  (exclusive of the issuance of  Equity  Securities of  the
                  Borrower or its Subsidiaries in connection therewith)  in
                  any single Acquisition after May 31, 1998 does not exceed
                  $25,000,000 and in all such Acquisitions after May 31, 1998
                  does  not  exceed  $75,000,000   in  the   aggregate, (C)
                  immediately upon the consummation of any such Acquisition
                  the Borrower is in compliance with the  terms,  covenants
                  and conditions of   this   Agreement  (including  without
                  limitation Section 7.11 and  Article IX)  and   (D)   the
                  Borrower shall deliver to the Agent a certificate, signed
                  by an Authorized Officer, certifying that, on the date of,
                  and   taking   into   account, the  consummation  of such
                  Acquisition, no Default or Unmatured Default has occurred
                  and is continuing.

         (viii)   Investment  of  the  Borrower  in  a  Guarantor  or  of a
                  Guarantor in the Borrower or another Guarantor.

         (ix)     Investments in  Non-Borrowing  Subsidiaries to the extent
                  permitted  under the  provisions of Section 7.2 and other
                  loans   or   advances   to  or   other   Investments   in
                  Non-Borrowing  Subsidiaries  that  are  neither  made nor
                  outstanding  at any time at which  any  Loans  (excluding
                  Facility Letters of Credit) are outstanding hereunder.

         (x)      Stock, obligations or securities received in satisfaction
                  of debts owing to the Borrower or any Guarantor.


<PAGE> 111

         (xi)     Pledges  or  deposits  in  cash  by  the  Borrower  or  a
                  Guarantor to support surety bonds,  performance  bonds or
                  guarantees  of  completion  in  the  ordinary  course  of
                  business.

         (xii)    The creation of new (A) Subsidiaries engaged primarily in
                  the home  building  business  (or the purpose of which is
                  principally  to preserve  the use of a name in which such
                  business is conducted) or (B) Non-Borrowing Subsidiaries.

         (xiii)   Investments  pursuant to the  Borrower's or a Significant
                  Guarantor's employment compensation plans or agreements.

         (xiv)    Investments,  in  addition  to those  enumerated  in this
                  Section 8.6, in an aggregate  amount  outstanding  at any
                  time not to exceed $25,000,000.

         (xv)     The purchase, repurchase, repayment, prepayment, redemption
                  or other acquisition of (i) any of the  Borrower's Equity
                  Securities involving cash expenditures  from  and   after
                  December 31, 1997,  not to exceed, in the  aggregate, the
                  sum of $30,000,000, plus  the  amount  of  cash  proceeds
                  received   by   the   Borrower   or   a   Guarantor after
                  December 31, 1997 (A) from the sale of Equity  Securities
                  of the Borrower or any Guarantor and   (B)  in connection
                  with the exercise of any convertible security (including,
                  without limitation, the  Borrower's  Class  B   Warrants)
                  entitling the holder  thereof  to  acquire   any   Equity
                  Securities of the Borrower or a Guarantor, or as otherwise
                  permitted under Sections 8.9 and 8.11  hereof;  and  (ii)
                  rights issued by the Borrower under the Rights Plan.

         (xvi)    Investments permitted under Section 8.9 hereof.

     8.7. Contingent Obligations. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit
any  Significant  Guarantor  to,  make or suffer  to exist  any  Contingent
Obligation (including,  without limitation,  any Contingent Obligation with
respect to the obligations of a Subsidiary),  except (i) the Guaranty,  and
(ii) to the extent permitted by Section 8.2.


<PAGE> 112

     8.8. Liens.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Significant
Guarantor to, create,  incur,  or suffer to exist any Lien in, of or on the
Property of the Borrower or any of the Significant Guarantors, except:

         (i)      Permitted Encumbrances.

         (ii)     Purchase-money  Liens on any Property  hereafter acquired
                  or the assumption of any Lien on Property existing at the
                  time  of   such   acquisition   (and   not   created   in
                  contemplation of such acquisition), or a Lien incurred in
                  connection  with  any  conditional  sale or  other  title
                  retention or a Capitalized Lease; provided that

                  (a)      Any Property  subject to any of the foregoing is
                           acquired  by the  Borrower  or  any  Significant
                           Guarantor   in  the   ordinary   course  of  its
                           respective  business  and the  Lien on any  such
                           Property attaches to such asset  concurrently or
                           within 90 days after the acquisition thereof;

                  (b)      The  obligation  secured by any Lien so created,
                           assumed,  or  existing  shall not exceed  ninety
                           percent  (90%) of the  lesser of the cost or the
                           fair market value as of the time of  acquisition
                           of the Property  covered thereby by the Borrower
                           or the Significant Guarantor acquiring the same;
                           and

                  (c)      Each  Lien  shall  attach  only to the  Property
                           so acquired.

         (iii)    Liens  existing  on the  date  hereof  and  described  in
                  Schedule  "8.2"  hereto  and Liens  securing  Refinancing
                  Indebtedness with respect thereto.

         (iv)     Liens  incurred in the  ordinary  course of business  not
                  otherwise  permitted by this covenant,  provided that the
                  aggregate  amount of  Indebtedness  secured by such Liens
                  outstanding at any time shall not exceed $25,000,000.

         (v)      Judgments and similar  Liens  arising in connection  with
                  court proceedings;  provided the execution or enforcement
                  thereof  is stayed  and the claim is being  contested  in
                  good faith.

         (vi)     Liens securing Non-Recourse Indebtedness.

         (vii)    Liens existing with respect to  Indebtedness  of a Person
                  acquired in an Acquisition permitted by this Agreement.


<PAGE> 113

     8.9.  Redemption.  The Borrower will not purchase or redeem any of its
Equity Securities  heretofore or hereafter issued, except that the Borrower
may (x) purchase or redeem its Equity Securities (i) to the extent that the
consideration  for  such  redemption  or  purchase  is  limited  to  Equity
Securities of the Borrower or a Subsidiary or (ii) if the consideration for
such purchase or redemption is other than Equity Securities of the Borrower
or a Subsidiary and such purchase or redemption is permitted  under Section
8.6(xv),  and (y)  purchase  or redeem the rights  issued  under the Rights
Plan.

     8.10.  Affiliates.  The  Borrower  will not,  nor will it  permit  any
Significant  Guarantor to, enter into any transaction  (including,  without
limitation,  the purchase or sale of any Property or service) with, or make
any payment or transfer to, any Affiliate of the Borrower except (i) in the
ordinary course of business and pursuant to the reasonable  requirements of
the  Borrower's or such  Guarantor's  business and upon fair and reasonable
terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such Significant  Guarantor than
the  Borrower or such  Significant  Guarantor  would obtain in a comparable
arms-length  transaction,  (ii) Investments  permitted under Section 7.2 or
8.6 and (iii)  pursuant to employment and director  compensation  plans and
agreements.

     8.11.  Subordinated  Indebtedness.  The Borrower will not, nor will it
permit any Significant  Guarantor to, make any amendment or modification to
the  subordination  provisions of any  indenture,  note or other  agreement
evidencing  or  governing  any  Subordinated  Indebtedness,  or directly or
indirectly voluntarily prepay,  defease or in substance defease,  purchase,
redeem,  retire  or  otherwise  acquire,  any  Subordinated   Indebtedness;
provided,  however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (i) the repayment
or prepayment of Subordinated  Indebtedness solely from the net proceeds of
other Subordinated  Indebtedness or from Equity Securities of any Person or
(ii) the purchase, repurchase,  repayment, prepayment,  redemption or other
acquisition of the  Borrower's  Equity  Securities to the extent  permitted
under Section 8.6(xv) or Section 8.9.


<PAGE> 114


     8.12. Amendments. The Borrower will not (i) amend or modify any Senior
Indenture  or  the  Senior  Debt  Securities,   except  for  amendments  or
modifications  that do not (a) impose  upon the  Borrower  obligations  not
contained  therein as of the date of this Agreement,  (b) accelerate any of
the tax obligations of the Borrower or (c) otherwise  adversely  affect the
Borrower;  or (ii) permit any Guarantor to amend or modify the Contribution
Agreement, except as provided in Section 7.11.

     8.13.  Financial  Undertakings.  The  Borrower  will not,  nor will it
permit any  Significant  Guarantor to, enter into or remain liable upon any
Financial Undertaking, except as permitted under this Agreement.
 

                                 ARTICLE IX

                            FINANCIAL COVENANTS
 
         During the term of  this  Agreement, unless  the Required  Lenders
shall otherwise consent in writing:

     9.1.  Minimum  Consolidated  Tangible  Net Worth.  The  Borrower  will
maintain at all times a  Consolidated  Tangible  Net Worth of not less than
(i)  $375,000,000  plus (ii) fifty  percent (50%) of the  Consolidated  Net
Income earned after March 31, 1998 (excluding any quarter in which there is
a loss) plus (iii) one hundred  percent  (100%) of the net cash proceeds of
Equity  Securities  issued by the Borrower after March 31, 1998, minus (iv)
the amount (not to exceed, in the aggregate, the net cash proceeds (if any)
received by the Borrower in  connection  with the  exercise,  after May 31,
1998, of any of the Borrower's  Class B Warrants)  expended by the Borrower
after  the  date  of  this  Agreement  to  purchase  or  redeem  any of the
Borrower's Equity Securities.

     9.2.  Permitted  Indebtedness  Ratio. (a) The Borrower will not at any
time permit (x) the excess of (i)  Consolidated  Funded  Indebtedness  over
(ii) the amount of Unrestricted  Cash of the Borrower and its  Subsidiaries
to  exceed  (y)  the  product  of (i) the  then  applicable  PIR  and  (ii)
Consolidated  Tangible  Net Worth. 

                 (b) If   as  of  the  last  day of any fiscal quarter, the
Borrower shall fail to maintain a ratio, for the four-quarter period ending
on such day, of (i) EBITDA to (ii) Consolidated  Interest  Incurred,  of at
least 1.75 to 1.0 (the "Coverage Test"),  then the PIR, effective as of the
first day of the fiscal  quarter  immediately  following  the  four-quarter
period with respect to which the Borrower shall have so failed the Coverage
Test,  shall be decreased  to the extent  herein  provided.  Upon the first
failure to satisfy the Coverage  Test,  or any other failure to satisfy the
Coverage Test that occurs on a date on which the PIR is 1.75, the PIR shall
be decreased by 0.25 to 1.50. Upon any failure to satisfy the Coverage Test
that occurs on a date on which the PIR is less than 1.75,  the PIR shall be
decreased by 0.10.
<PAGE> 115


                  (c) If at any time at which  the PIR is less  than  1.75,
the Borrower  shall  satisfy the Coverage  Test (which for purposes of this
Section 9.2(c) shall be deemed  satisfied only if, on the same day on which
the Borrower  maintains the ratio set forth in Section 9.2(b), the Borrower
is also in compliance with the covenant set forth in Section 9.2(a)),  then
the PIR,  effective as of the first day of the fiscal  quarter  immediately
following the four-quarter  period with respect to which the Borrower shall
have so  satisfied  the  Coverage  Test,  shall be  increased to the extent
herein provided.  Upon satisfaction of the Coverage Test on a date on which
the PIR is 1.50, the PIR shall be increased to 1.75.  Upon  satisfaction of
the  Coverage  Test on a date on which the PIR is less than  1.50,  the PIR
shall be increased by 0.10. In no event shall the PIR exceed 1.75.

                  (d) Any  increase or decrease of the PIR  provided for in
this Section 9.2 shall be effective as of the first day of a fiscal quarter
as  provided  in  Section  9.2(b) or (c) (as  applicable),  and the PIR (as
adjusted)  shall  remain  in  effect  for the  entire  fiscal  quarter  and
thereafter  unless and until adjusted as of the first day of any subsequent
fiscal quarter as provided in this Section 9.2(b) or (c) (as applicable).

                  (e) A failure  to  satisfy  the  Coverage  Test shall not
constitute a Default or an  Unmatured  Default but a failure at any time to
comply with the  covenant set forth in Section  9.2(a)  shall  constitute a
Default under Section 10.3.

     9.3. Land  Owned.The  Borrower will not at any time permit (a) the sum
of (i) the  book  value  of all  raw  land  owned  by the  Borrower  or any
Guarantor  for  development  or sale,  plus (ii) the book value of all land
under  development  owned by the Borrower or any Guarantor,  plus (iii) the
book  value of all lots  that have  been  Finished  Lots for more than nine
months,  to exceed (b) the sum of (i) Consolidated  Tangible Net Worth plus
(ii)  fifty  percent  (50%)  of the  outstanding  principal  amount  of the
Subordinated  Indebtedness  of  the  Borrower  and  the  Guarantors  (on  a
consolidated basis).

     9.4. Housing  Inventory.  The Borrower will not at any time permit the
number of Inventory  Housing Units to exceed  twenty-five  percent (25%) of
the number of  Housing  Unit  Closings  during the  preceding  twelve  (12)
months.

     9.5.  Rate  Protection.  The Borrower will not at any time permit less
than  fifty  percent  (50%)  of the  outstanding  principal  amount  of the
obligations  of the Borrower and the  Guarantors  described in clauses (i),
(iv) and (viii) of the  definition  of  "Indebtedness,"  on a  consolidated
basis, to be Fixed Rate Debt.


<PAGE> 116

                                 ARTICLE X

                                  DEFAULTS


           The  occurrence  of any  one or  more of the following events shall
constitute a Default:

          10.1. Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on
behalf of the Borrower or any  Significant  Guarantor  to the Lenders,  the
Issuing Bank or the Agent under or in connection with this  Agreement,  any
Loan Document,  or any  certificate or information  delivered in connection
with  this  Agreement  or any  other  Loan  Document  shall not be true and
correct in any material respect on the date as of which made.

          10.2. Nonpayment of principal of any Note when due, or nonpayment
of interest  upon any Note or of any  commitment  fee or other  obligations
under any of the Loan  Documents  within  five days after the same  becomes
due.

          10.3. The  breach by the  Borrower  (other   than a breach  which
constitutes  a Default  under  Section 10.1 or 10.2) of any of the terms or
provisions of this Agreement which is not remedied within 30 days after the
occurrence of such breach.

          10.4. Failure of the Borrower or any Significant Guarantor to pay
when due (after any  applicable  grace or notice  period) any  Indebtedness
(other  than  Non-Recourse  Indebtedness  or the  Obligations)  equal to or
exceeding $5,000,000 (in the aggregate);  or the default by the Borrower or
any  Significant  Guarantor in the  performance  of any term,  provision or
condition  contained in any agreement under which any  Indebtedness  (other
than  Non-Recourse  Indebtedness or the Obligations)  equal to or exceeding
$5,000,000  (in the  aggregate)  was created or is  governed,  or any other
event shall occur or condition  exist,  the effect of which is to cause, or
to permit  the  holder  or  holders  of such  Indebtedness  to cause,  such
Indebtedness  to  become  due  prior  to  its  stated   maturity;   or  any
Indebtedness  (other than Non-Recourse  Indebtedness or the Obligations) of
the Borrower or any Significant  Guarantor equal to or exceeding $5,000,000
(in the  aggregate)  shall be declared to be due and payable or required to
be prepaid  (other  than by a  regularly  scheduled  payment)  prior to the
stated maturity thereof; or the Borrower or any Significant Guarantor shall
not pay,  or  shall  admit in  writing  its  inability  to pay,  its  debts
generally as they become due.



<PAGE> 117


          10.5. The Borrower or any Significant Guarantor shall (i) have an
order for relief  entered with  respect to it under the Federal  bankruptcy
laws as now or hereafter in effect, (ii) make an assignment for the benefit
of  creditors,  (iii) apply for,  seek,  consent to, or  acquiesce  in, the
appointment  of a receiver,  custodian,  trustee,  examiner,  liquidator or
similar  official for it or any Substantial  Portion of its Property,  (iv)
institute  any  proceeding  seeking an order for relief  under the  Federal
bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect or seeking to adjudicate it a
bankrupt or insolvent,  or seeking  dissolution,  winding up,  liquidation,
reorganization,  arrangement,  adjustment or composition of it or its debts
under any law  relating to  bankruptcy,  insolvency  or  reorganization  or
relief of debtors or fail to file,  within the  applicable  time period for
the  filing  thereof,  an answer or other  pleading  denying  the  material
allegations of any such proceeding filed against it, (v) take any corporate
action to  authorize  or effect any of the  foregoing  actions set forth in
this Section 10.5 or (vi) fail to contest in good faith any  appointment or
proceeding described in Section 10.6.

         10.6.  A  receiver,  trustee,  examiner,   liquidator  or  similar
official shall be appointed for the Borrower or any  Significant  Guarantor
or  any  Substantial  Portion  of its  Property  without  the  application,
approval or consent of the  Borrower or such  Significant  Guarantor,  or a
proceeding  described in Section  10.5(iv) shall be instituted  against the
Borrower  or any  Significant  Guarantor  and  such  appointment  continues
undischarged  or such  proceeding  continues  undismissed or unstayed for a
period of 60 consecutive days.

         10.7. The Borrower or any Significant  Guarantor shall fail within
30 days to pay,  bond or otherwise  discharge any judgment or order for the
payment  of money in excess  of  $10,000,000  which has not been  stayed on
appeal or is not otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith.

         10.8. The Unfunded  Liabilities of all Single Employer Plans shall
exceed in the aggregate  $5,000,000 or any Reportable  Event shall occur in
connection  with  any  Plan,  which  Reportable  Event  has  had  or  would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         10.9. The  Borrower or any member of the  Controlled  Group  shall
have been  notified  by the  sponsor  of a  Multiemployer  Plan that it has
incurred  withdrawal  liability  to such  Multiemployer  Plan in an  amount
which,  when  aggregated  with all  other  amounts  required  to be paid to
Multiemployer  Plans by the Borrower or any other member of the  Controlled
Group  as  withdrawal  liability   (determined  as  of  the  date  of  such
notification), exceeds $5,000,000 or requires payments exceeding $2,000,000
per annum;  provided,  however,  that such  event  shall not  constitute  a
Default  as  long  as the  Borrower  or the  Controlled  Group  member,  as
applicable,  is  contesting  in good  faith the  imposition  of  withdrawal
liability.


<PAGE> 118

        10.10. The Borrower or any other member  of the  Controlled   Group
shall have been notified by the sponsor of a  Multiemployer  Plan that such
Multiemployer  Plan  is  in   reorganization,   if  as  a  result  of  such
reorganization  the aggregate annual  contributions of the Borrower and the
other  members  of  the  Controlled   Group  (taken  as  a  whole)  to  all
Multiemployer  Plans which are then in reorganization  have been or will be
increased over the amounts  contributed to such Multiemployer Plans for the
respective plan years of each such Multiemployer Plan immediately preceding
the plan year in which  the  reorganization  occurs by an amount  exceeding
$5,000,000.

        10.11. Any Change in Control shall occur.

        10.12. Any Guaranty  shall fail to remain in  full  force or effect
with respect to any one or more of the  Significant  Guarantors  (except by
reason of a merger of a Significant  Guarantor with the Borrower or another
Guarantor or the  dissolution  of a Guarantor  permitted  hereunder or as a
result of a sale permitted  under Section 8.4) or any action shall be taken
by any one or more  of the  Significant  Guarantors  to  discontinue  or to
assert  the  invalidity  or  unenforceability  of  any  Guaranty,   or  any
Significant  Guarantor  shall  fail to  comply  with  any of the  terms  or
provisions of any Guaranty, or any Significant Guarantor denies that it has
any further  liability  under any  Guaranty or gives  notice to such effect
(except by reason of a merger of a Significant  Guarantor with the Borrower
or another Guarantor or the dissolution of a Guarantor  permitted hereunder
or as a result of a sale permitted under Section 8.4).

                                 ARTICLE XI

               ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES

     11.1.  Acceleration.  If any Default described in Section 10.5 or 10.6
occurs with respect to the Borrower, the obligations of the Lenders to make
Loans (including, in the case of the Swing Line Bank, Swing Line Loans) and
of the Issuing Bank to issue  Facility  Letters of Credit  hereunder  shall
automatically  terminate and the Obligations shall  immediately  become due
and payable  without any  election or action on the part of the Agent,  the
Issuing  Bank or any Lender.  If any other  Default  occurs,  the  Required
Lenders may  terminate  or suspend the  obligations  of the Lenders to make
Loans (including, in the case of the Swing Line Bank, Swing Line Loans) and
of the  Issuing  Bank to issue  Facility  Letters of Credit  hereunder,  or
declare the  Obligations  to be due and  payable,  or both,  whereupon  the
Obligations shall become immediately due and payable,  without presentment,
demand,  protest or notice of any kind,  all of which the  Borrower  hereby
expressly waives.  If, within five days after  acceleration of the maturity
of the Obligations or termination of the obligations of the Lenders to make
Loans  (including,  in the case of the Swing Line Bank,  Swing Line  Loans)
hereunder  as a result of any Default  (other than any Default as described
in  Section  10.5 or 10.6 with  respect  to the  Borrower)  and  before any
judgment or decree for the payment of the  Obligations  due shall have been
obtained or entered,  the Required Lenders (in their sole discretion) shall
so direct,  the Agent shall,  by notice to the Borrower,  rescind and annul
such acceleration and/or termination.


<PAGE> 119

     11.2.  Amendments.  Subject to the  provisions of this Article XI, the
Required  Lenders (or the Agent with the consent in writing of the Required
Lenders) and the Borrower may enter into agreements supplemental hereto for
the purpose of adding or modifying any  provisions to the Loan Documents or
changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or the Borrower  hereunder
or  waiving  any  Default  hereunder;   provided,  however,  that  no  such
supplemental  agreement  shall,  without  the  consent  of each  Lender and
Issuing Bank affected thereby:

         (i)      Extend the maturity of any Loan or Note or forgive all or
                  any portion of the principal  amount  thereof,  or reduce
                  the rate of, or extend the time of payment  of,  interest
                  or fees thereon  (except as provided in the last sentence
                  of Section 11.1);

         (ii)     Reduce the percentage specified in the definition of
                  Required Lenders;

         (iii)    Increase  the  amount  of the  Commitment  of any  Lender
                  hereunder  (other than as  contemplated by Section 2.5(b)
                  or Section  2.5(c)  hereof),  or permit the  Borrower  to
                  assign its rights under this Agreement; or

         (iv)     Amend this Section 11.2.

No amendment of any provision of this Agreement relating to the Agent shall
be effective  without the written consent of the Agent. The Agent may waive
payment or reduce the amount of the fees  referred  to in Section  13.12 or
the fee required under Section 15.3.2 without  obtaining the consent of any
other party to this Agreement.

     11.3.  Preservation  of Rights.  No delay or omission of any Lender or
Issuing  Bank or the Agent to exercise  any right under the Loan  Documents
shall impair such right or be construed to be a waiver of any Default or an
acquiescence  therein,  and the  making of a Loan  (including  a Swing Line
Loan) or the  issuance,  amendment  or  extension  of a Facility  Letter of
Credit  notwithstanding  the existence of a Default or the inability of the
Borrower  to satisfy  the  conditions  precedent  to such Loan or  Facility
Letter of Credit  shall not  constitute  any  waiver or  acquiescence.  Any
single or partial  exercise of any such right shall not  preclude  other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, and no waiver,
amendment or other variation of the terms,  conditions or provisions of the
Loan  Documents  whatsoever  shall be valid unless in writing signed by the
Lenders (and, if applicable,  the Agent) required pursuant to Section 11.2,
and then only to the extent in such  writing  specifically  set forth.  All
remedies  contained  in the  Loan  Documents  or by law  afforded  shall be
cumulative  and all shall be available  to the Agent,  the Issuing Bank and
the Lenders until the Obligations have been paid in full.

<PAGE> 120

                                ARTICLE XII

                             GENERAL PROVISIONS

     12.1. Survival of Representations.  All representations and warranties
of the Borrower  contained in this Agreement shall survive  delivery of the
Notes and the making of the Loans and the issuance,  amendment or extension
of any Facility Letter of Credit herein contemplated.

     12.2. Governmental Regulation. Anything contained in this Agreement to
the contrary notwithstanding,  no Lender or Issuing Bank shall be obligated
to  extend  credit  to the  Borrower  in  violation  of any  limitation  or
prohibition provided by any applicable statute or regulation.

     12.3. Taxes. Any recording,  intangible, filing or stamp fees or taxes
or other similar assessments or charges made by any governmental or revenue
authority in respect of the Loan  Documents  shall be paid by the Borrower,
together with interest and penalties, if any.

     12.4.  Headings.  Section  headings  in the  Loan  Documents  are  for
convenience of reference only, and shall not govern the  interpretation  of
any of the provisions of the Loan Documents.

     12.5. Entire Agreement. The Loan Documents embody the entire agreement
and  understanding  among  the  Borrower,  the Agent  and the  Lenders  and
supersede all prior  agreements and  understandings  among the Borrower and
the Agent, the Lenders relating to the subject matter thereof.

     12.6.  Nature of  Obligations;  Benefits  of this  Agreement.  (a) The
respective  obligations of the Lenders  hereunder are several and not joint
and no Lender  shall be the  partner  or agent of any other  (except to the
extent to which the Agent is authorized to act as such). The failure of any
Lender to perform any of its  obligations  hereunder  shall not relieve any
other Lender from any of its obligations hereunder.

                  (b) This Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer
any  right or  benefit  upon any  Person  other  than the  parties  to this
Agreement and their respective successors and assigns.

     12.7.  Expenses;  Indemnification.  The Borrower  shall  reimburse the
Agent for any reasonable costs, internal charges and out-of-pocket expenses
(including reasonable attorneys' fees and time charges of attorneys for the
Agent,  which  attorneys may be employees of the Agent) paid or incurred by
the  Agent in  connection  with the  preparation,  negotiation,  execution,
delivery, review, amendment,  modification,  and administration of the Loan
Documents. The Borrower also agrees to reimburse the Agent, the Lenders and
each  Issuing  Bank  for  any  reasonable   costs,   internal  charges  and
out-of-pocket  expenses  (including  reasonable  attorneys'  fees  and time
charges of  attorneys  for the Agent,  the Lenders and such  Issuing  Bank,
which attorneys may be employees of the Agent,  the Lenders or such Issuing
Bank) paid or incurred  by the Agent,  any Lender or such  Issuing  Bank in
connection with the collection and  enforcement of the Loan Documents.  The

<PAGE> 121

Borrower  further  agrees to indemnify the Agent and each Lender or Issuing
Bank, its  directors,  officers and employees  against all losses,  claims,
damages, penalties, judgments, liabilities and expenses (including, without
limitation,  all expenses of litigation or preparation  therefor whether or
not the Agent or any Lender or Issuing Bank is a party  thereto)  which any
of them may pay or incur arising out of or relating to this Agreement,  the
other Loan Documents, the transactions contemplated hereby or the direct or
indirect  application  or proposed  application of the proceeds of any Loan
hereunder  (except to the extent  arising  due to the gross  negligence  or
willful  misconduct of the  indemnified  Person).  The  obligations  of the
Borrower  under  this  Section  shall  survive  the   termination  of  this
Agreement.

     12.8.  Numbers  of  Documents.   All  statements,   notices,   closing
documents,  and  requests  hereunder  shall be  furnished to the Agent with
sufficient  counterparts  so that the Agent may  furnish one to each of the
Lenders.

     12.9.  Accounting.  Except as provided  to the  contrary  herein,  all
accounting  terms  used  herein  shall be  interpreted  and all  accounting
determinations hereunder shall be made in accordance with GAAP applied on a
basis consistent with the audited  financial  statements of the Borrower as
of December 31, 1997 ("Agreement Accounting Principles").  If any change in
GAAP from the  principles  used in preparing such  statements  would have a
material  effect  upon  the  results  of  any  calculation  required  by or
compliance  with any  provision of this  Agreement,  then such  calculation
shall be made or calculated  and compliance  with such  provision  shall be
determined  using  accounting  principles  used in  preparing  the  audited
financial statements of the Borrower as of December 31, 1997.

     12.10. Severability of Provisions.  Any provision in any Loan Document
that  is  held  to  be  inoperative,   unenforceable,  or  invalid  in  any
jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be inoperative, unenforceable,
or invalid without affecting the remaining  provisions in that jurisdiction
or the  operation,  enforceability,  or validity of that  provision  in any
other  jurisdiction,  and to this end the  provisions of all Loan Documents
are declared to be severable.

     12.11.  Nonliability  of Lenders and Issuing  Bank.  The  relationship
between the  Borrower and the Lenders and the Agent shall be solely that of
borrower and lender. Neither the Agent nor any Lender or Issuing Bank shall
have any fiduciary  responsibilities to the Borrower. Neither the Agent nor
any Lender or Issuing Bank undertakes any responsibility to the Borrower to
review or inform the Borrower of any matter in connection with any phase of
the Borrower's business or operations.

     12.12.  CHOICE OF LAW. THE LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINING
A  CONTRARY  EXPRESS  CHOICE  OF  LAW  PROVISION)  SHALL  BE  CONSTRUED  IN
ACCORDANCE  WITH THE INTERNAL  LAWS (AND NOT THE LAW OF  CONFLICTS)  OF THE
STATE OF ILLINOIS, BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL
BANKS.


<PAGE> 122
     12.13.  CONSENT  TO  JURISDICTION.  THE  BORROWER  HEREBY  IRREVOCABLY
SUBMITS TO THE  NON-EXCLUSIVE  JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR
ILLINOIS STATE COURT SITTING IN CHICAGO IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING
OUT  OF  OR  RELATING  TO  ANY  LOAN  DOCUMENTS  AND  THE  BORROWER  HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY  AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING
MAY BE HEARD AND  DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND  IRREVOCABLY  WAIVES ANY
OBJECTION  IT MAY NOW OR  HEREAFTER  HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT,
ACTION  OR  PROCEEDING  BROUGHT  IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT  SUCH  COURT IS AN
INCONVENIENT  FORUM.  NOTHING  HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE AGENT OR
ANY LENDER OR ISSUING BANK TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE BORROWER IN THE
COURTS OF ANY OTHER  JURISDICTION.  ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY THE BORROWER
AGAINST  THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER OR ISSUING  BANK OR ANY  AFFILIATE  OF THE
AGENT OR ANY LENDER OR ISSUING BANK INVOLVING,  DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY
MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF,  RELATED TO, OR  CONNECTED  WITH ANY LOAN
DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

     12.14. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE BORROWER,  THE AGENT, AND EACH LENDER
AND ISSUING  BANK HEREBY  WAIVE  TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY  JUDICIAL  PROCEEDING
INVOLVING,  DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY,  ANY MATTER (WHETHER  SOUNDING IN TORT,
CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF,  RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED
WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED THEREUNDER.

     12.15.  Confidentiality.  Each  Lender  and  the  Agent  agree  to use
commercially  reasonable efforts to keep confidential any financial reports
and other  information  from time to time  supplied to them by the Borrower
hereunder  to the extent that such  information  is not and does not become
publicly  available  through  or with the  consent or  acquiescence  of the
Borrower,  except for  disclosure (i) to the Agent and the other Lenders or
to a Transferee, (ii) to legal counsel, accountants, and other professional
advisors  to a  Lender,  the  Agent or a  Transferee,  (iii) to  regulatory
officials,  (iv) to any Person as  required  by law,  regulation,  or legal
process, (v) to any Person in connection with any legal proceeding to which
that Lender is a party,  and (vi)  permitted by Section 15.4. Any Lender or
Agent disclosing such information shall use commercially reasonable efforts
to advise the Person to whom such information is disclosed of the foregoing
confidentiality agreement and to direct such Person to comply therewith.

                                ARTICLE XIII

                                 THE AGENT


     13.1.  Appointment.  The  First  National  Bank of  Chicago  is hereby
appointed Agent  hereunder and under each other Loan Document,  and each of
the Lenders  irrevocably  authorizes  the Agent to act as the agent of such
Lender.  The  Agent  agrees  to act as such  upon  the  express  conditions
contained  in this  Article  XIII.  The Agent  shall  not have a  fiduciary
relationship in respect of the Borrower,  any Lender or the Issuing Bank by
reason of this Agreement.

     13.2.  Powers. The Agent shall have and may exercise such powers under
the Loan Documents as are specifically  delegated to the Agent by the terms
of each  thereof,  together with such powers as are  reasonably  incidental
thereto.  The Agent  shall have no implied  duties to the  Lenders,  or any
obligation to the Lenders to take any action  thereunder  except any action
specifically provided by the Loan Documents to be taken by the Agent.
<PAGE> 123


     13.3.  General  Immunity.  Neither the Agent nor any of its directors,
officers, agents or employees shall be liable to the Borrower or any Lender
for action  taken or omitted to be taken by it or them  hereunder  or under
any other Loan Document or in connection  herewith or therewith  except for
its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

     13.4. No Responsibility for Loans, Recitals, etc.Neither the Agent nor
any of its directors,  officers,  agents or employees  shall be responsible
for or  have  any  duty to  ascertain,  inquire  into,  or  verify  (i) any
statement,  warranty or  representation  made in  connection  with any Loan
Document or any  borrowing  or any request for the  issuance,  amendment or
extension of any Facility Letter of Credit hereunder;  (ii) the performance
or  observance  of any of the  covenants or agreements of any obligor under
any  Loan  Document  or   Reimbursement   Agreement,   including,   without
limitation,  any agreement by an obligor to furnish information directly to
each Lender;  (iii) the satisfaction of any condition  specified in Article
IV or V, except receipt of items required to be delivered to the Agent;  or
(iv) the validity,  effectiveness  or  genuineness  of any Loan Document or
Reimbursement  Agreement or any other  instrument  or writing  furnished in
connection  with any of the  foregoing.  The  Agent  shall  have no duty to
disclose to the Lenders information that is not required to be furnished by
the Borrower to the Agent at such time, but is voluntarily furnished by the
Borrower to the Agent (either in its capacity as Agent or in its individual
capacity).

     13.5. Action on Instructions of Lenders.  The Agent shall in all cases
be fully protected in acting,  or in refraining from acting,  hereunder and
under any other Loan  Document  in  accordance  with  written  instructions
signed by the Required  Lenders  (except as  otherwise  provided in Section
11.2),  and  such  instructions  and any  action  taken or  failure  to act
pursuant  thereto shall be binding on all of the Lenders and on all holders
of Notes. The Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take
any  action  hereunder  and under any other Loan  Document  unless it shall
first be  indemnified to its  satisfaction  by the Lenders pro rata against
any and all  liability,  cost and  expense  that it may  incur by reason of
taking or continuing to take any such action.

     13.6.  Employment of Agents and Counsel.  The Agent may execute any of
its  duties as Agent  hereunder  and under any other  Loan  Document  by or
through  employees,   agents,  and   attorneys-in-fact  and  shall  not  be
answerable to the Lenders,  except as to money or securities received by it
or its authorized  agents, for the default or misconduct of any such agents
or  attorneys-in-fact  selected by it with reasonable care. The Agent shall
be entitled to advice of counsel  concerning all matters  pertaining to the
agency  hereby  created and its duties  hereunder  and under any other Loan
Document.

     13.7. Reliance on Documents;  Counsel.  The Agent shall be entitled to
rely  upon any  Note,  notice,  consent,  certificate,  affidavit,  letter,
telegram,  statement,  paper or  document  believed by it to be genuine and
correct  and to have been  signed or sent by the proper  person or persons,
and, in respect to legal matters,  upon the opinion of counsel  selected by
the Agent, which counsel may be employees of the Agent.
<PAGE> 124


     13.8. Agent's Reimbursement and Indemnification.  The Lenders agree to
reimburse and indemnify the Agent ratably in proportion to their respective
Commitments  (i) for any amounts not  reimbursed  by the Borrower for which
the Agent is  entitled  to  reimbursement  by the  Borrower  under the Loan
Documents,  (ii) for any other expenses  incurred by the Agent on behalf of
the Lenders,  in  connection  with the  preparation,  execution,  delivery,
administration  and  enforcement  of the Loan  Documents  and (iii) for any
liabilities,  obligations,  losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments,
suits,  costs,  expenses or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever
which may be imposed on,  incurred by or asserted  against the Agent in any
way relating to or arising out of the Loan  Documents or any other document
delivered in connection therewith or the transactions contemplated thereby,
or the  enforcement  of  any of the  terms  thereof  or of any  such  other
documents, provided that no Lender shall be liable for any of the foregoing
to the extent they arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
the Agent.  The  obligations  of the Lenders  under this Section 13.8 shall
survive payment of the Obligations and termination of this Agreement.

     13.9.  Rights as a Lender or Issuing Bank. In the event the Agent is a
Lender, the Agent shall have the same rights and powers hereunder and under
any other Loan  Document as any Lender and may  exercise the same as though
it were not the Agent,  and the term  "Lender" or "Lenders"  shall,  at any
time when the Agent is a Lender,  unless the context  otherwise  indicates,
include the Agent in its individual capacity.  In the event the Agent is an
Issuing  Bank,  the Agent  shall have the rights and powers of the  Issuing
Bank  hereunder  and may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent,
and the  term  "Issuing  Bank"  shall,  at any time  when the  Agent is the
Issuing Bank, unless the context otherwise indicates,  include and mean the
Agent in its  capacity  as the  Issuing  Bank.  In the event the Agent is a
Swing  Line Bank,  the Agent  shall have the rights and powers of the Swing
Line Bank  hereunder  and may  exercise  the same as though it were not the
Agent,  and the term "Swing Line Bank" shall, at any time when the Agent is
the Swing Line Bank,  unless the context otherwise  indicates,  include and
mean the Agent in its capacity as the Swing Line Bank. The Agent may accept
deposits  from,  lend money to, and generally  engage in any kind of trust,
debt,  equity or other  transaction,  in addition to those  contemplated by
this Agreement or any other Loan Document,  with the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries  in which the Borrower or such  Subsidiary  is not  restricted
hereby from engaging with any other Person.  The Agent,  in its  individual
capacity, is not obligated to remain a Lender.


<PAGE> 125

     13.10.  Lender Credit Decision.  Each Lender acknowledges that it has,
independently  and without  reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender and
based on the financial  statements  prepared by the Borrower and such other
documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit
analysis  and  decision  to enter  into this  Agreement  and the other Loan
Documents.  Each Lender also acknowledges  that it will,  independently and
without  reliance  upon the  Agent or any  other  Lender  and based on such
documents  and  information  as it  shall  deem  appropriate  at the  time,
continue to make its own credit  decisions  in taking or not taking  action
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

     13.11.  Successor  Agent.  The Agent may  resign at any time by giving
written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower, such resignation to
be effective upon the  appointment of a successor Agent or, if no successor
Agent has been appointed,  45 days after the retiring Agent gives notice of
its  intention  to  resign.  The Agent may be  removed  at any time with or
without  cause by written  notice  received by the Agent from the  Required
Lenders, such removal to be effective on the date specified by the Required
Lenders.  Upon any such resignation or removal,  the Required Lenders shall
have the right to appoint,  on behalf of the Borrower  and the  Lenders,  a
successor  Agent. If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the
Required  Lenders  within  thirty days after the resigning  Agent's  giving
notice of its intention to resign, then the resigning Agent may appoint, on
behalf of the Borrower and the Lenders, a successor Agent. If the Agent has
resigned or been removed and no  successor  Agent has been  appointed,  the
Lenders may perform all the duties of the Agent  hereunder and the Borrower
shall make all  payments in respect of the  Obligations  to the  applicable
Lender and for all other purposes shall deal directly with the Lenders.  No
successor  Agent  shall be  deemed to be  appointed  hereunder  until  such
successor  Agent has accepted the  appointment.  Any such  successor  Agent
shall be a commercial bank having capital and retained earnings of at least
$50,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a
successor Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become
vested with all the rights, powers,  privileges and duties of the resigning
or removed Agent.  Upon the  effectiveness of the resignation or removal of
the Agent,  the  resigning or removed  Agent shall be  discharged  from its
duties and obligations  hereunder and under the Loan  Documents.  After the
effectiveness  of the resignation or removal of an Agent, the provisions of
this Article XIII shall continue in effect for the benefit of such Agent in
respect  of any  actions  taken or  omitted  to be taken by it while it was
acting as the Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.

     13.12.  Agent's Fee.  The  Borrower  agrees to pay to the Agent and/or
FCCM (as applicable),  each for its own account,  the fees agreed to by the
Borrower,  FCCM and the Agent in that certain letter agreement dated August
7, 1998.


<PAGE> 126

                                ARTICLE XIV

                          SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS


     14.1. Setoff. In addition to, and without limitation of, any rights of
the Lenders,  Swing Line Bank or Issuing Bank under  applicable law, if the
Borrower becomes insolvent,  however evidenced,  or any Default occurs, any
and all deposits  (including all account balances,  whether  provisional or
final and whether or not collected or available) and any other Indebtedness
at any time held or owing by any Lender, Swing Line Bank or Issuing Bank to
or for the  credit or  account of the  Borrower  may be offset and  applied
toward the payment of the Obligations owing to such Lender, Swing Line Bank
or Issuing Bank, whether or not the Obligations,  or any part hereof, shall
then be due.


     14.2. Ratable Payments. If any Lender, whether by setoff or otherwise,
has  payment  made to it upon  its  Loans  (other  than  payments  received
pursuant to Sections  3.1, 3.2 or 3.4 and other than  payments  received by
the  Swing  Line  Bank  with  respect  to Swing  Line  Loans)  in a greater
proportion  than that  received by any other  Lender,  such Lender  agrees,
promptly  upon  demand,  to purchase a portion of the Loans (other than the
Swing Line  Loans)  held by the other  Lenders so that after such  purchase
each  Lender will hold its ratable  proportion  of Loans  (other than Swing
Line Loans).  If any Lender,  whether in connection  with setoff or amounts
which might be subject to setoff or otherwise, receives collateral or other
protection for its Obligations (other than the Swing Line Bank with respect
to the Swing Line  Loans) or such  amounts  which may be subject to setoff,
such Lender  agrees,  promptly upon demand,  to take such action  necessary
such that all Lenders share in the benefits of such  collateral  ratably in
proportion  to their Loans (other than Swing Line Loans).  In case any such
payment is disturbed by legal process,  or otherwise,  appropriate  further
adjustments shall be made.
                                 ARTICLE XV

             BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS


     15.1.  Successors  and Assigns.  The terms and  provisions of the Loan
Documents  shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the  Borrower,
the  Lenders  and the  Issuing  Bank and their  respective  successors  and
assigns,  except that (i) the  Borrower  shall not have the right to assign
its rights or obligations under the Loan Documents, and (ii) any assignment
by any Lender must be made in compliance with Section 15.3. Notwithstanding
clause  (ii) of this  Section,  any  Lender  may at any time,  without  the
consent  of the  Borrower  or the Agent,  assign all or any  portion of its
rights  under  this  Agreement  and its  Notes to a Federal  Reserve  Bank;
provided,  however,  that no such  assignment  shall release the transferor
Lender from its obligations hereunder. The Agent may treat the payee of any
Note as the owner  thereof for all  purposes  hereof  unless and until such
payee  complies with Section 15.3 in the case of an assignment  thereof or,
in the case of any other  transfer,  a written  notice of the  transfer  is
filed  with the Agent.  Any  assignee  or  transferee  of a Note  agrees by

<PAGE> 127

acceptance  thereof to be bound by all the terms and provisions of the Loan
Documents. Any request, authority or consent of any Person, who at the time
of making such request or giving such authority or consent is the holder of
any  Note,  shall be  conclusive  and  binding  on any  subsequent  holder,
transferee  or  assignee  of such  Note or of any Note or Notes  issued  in
exchange therefor.

         15.2.    Participations.

           15.2.1. Permitted Participants; Effect. Any  Lender  may, in the
     ordinary course of its business and in accordance with applicable law,
     at any time sell to one or more banks or  other  Persons that are not,
     and that are not Affiliates of a Person, in the home building business
     ("Participants")  participating  interests  in any Loan  owing to such
     Lender  (which may  include,  in the case of the Swing Line Bank,  any
     Swing Line Loan), any Note held by such Lender, any Commitment of such
     Lender  (or in the  case  of the  Swing  Line  Bank,  any  Swing  Line
     Commitment)  or any  other  interest  of such  Lender  under  the Loan
     Documents  in an amount of not less than  $5,000,000.  In the event of
     any such sale by a Lender of participating interests to a Participant,
     such  Lender's  obligations  under  the Loan  Documents  shall  remain
     unchanged,  such Lender shall remain solely  responsible  to the other
     parties hereto for the  performance of such  obligations,  such Lender
     shall  remain the holder of any such Note for all  purposes  under the
     Loan  Documents,  all  amounts  payable  by the  Borrower  under  this
     Agreement  shall be  determined  as if such  Lender  had not sold such
     participating  interests,  and the Borrower, the Agent and the Issuing
     Bank shall  continue to deal solely and  directly  with such Lender in
     connection with such Lender's  rights and  obligations  under the Loan
     Documents.

     15.2.2. Voting  Rights.  Each Lender  shall retain the  sole  right to
     approve, without the  consent  of  any  Participant,   any  amendment,
     modification or waiver of any provision of the Loan  Documents   other
     than any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to any Loan or
     Commitment  (or any  Swing  Line  Loan or Swing  Line  Commitment,  if
     applicable) in which such  Participant  has an interest which forgives
     principal,  interest or fees (other than Agent's  fees) or reduces the
     interest  rate or fees (other than Agent's  fees) payable with respect
     to any such Loan or  Commitment  (or any Swing Line Loan or Swing Line
     Commitment,  if  applicable),  or  postpones  any date  fixed  for any
     regularly-scheduled  payment  of  principal  of, or  interest  or fees
     (other  than  Agent's  fees) on, any such Loan or  Commitment  (or any
     Swing Line Loan or Swing Line Commitment, if applicable).
     

<PAGE> 128

     15.2.3. Benefit of  Setoff.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant
     shall be deemed to have the right of setoff provided in  Section  14.1
     in respect of its participating interest in amounts  owing  under  the
     Loan Documents to the same extent as if the amount of its participating
     interest were owing directly to it as a Lender under the Loan Documents,
     provided that each Lender shall retain the right of setoff provided in
     Section 15.1 with respect to the amount of participating interests sold
     to each Participant.  The Lenders agree to share with each Participant,
     and each Participant,  by exercising the right of  setoff  provided in
     Section 14.1, agrees to share  with each  Lender,  any amount received
     pursuant to the exercise of its right  of setoff, such amount  to   be
     shared in accordance with Section 14.2 as if each Participant  were  a
     Lender.

         15.3.    Assignments.

            15.3.1. Permitted Assignments.  Any Lender may, in the ordinary
     course of its business and in accordance with  applicable  law, at any
     time assign to one or more banks or  other  Persons  hat are  not, and
     that are not Affiliates of a Person, in  the  home  building  business
     ("Purchasers") all or any part of its rights and obligations under the
     Loan Documents (which may include, in the case of a  Purchaser  of  an
     interest from the Swing Line Bank, the Swing Line Commitment and Swing
     Line Loans)in the amount of not less than $5,000,000,  provided  that,
     immediately following  such  assignment,  the  assigning Lender either
     (i) shall retain a Commitment  of not  less than  $10,000,000  or (ii)
     shall have assigned all of its Commitment and have no remaining interest
     in the Obligations and provided, further, that  First  Chicago may not
     assign the Swing Line Commitment  or  Swing  Line  Loan  except  to  a
     Purchaser that is, or at the time of such assignment becomes, the Agent
     in accordance with the provisions of this  Agreement.  Such assignment
     shall be  substantially  in the form of Exhibit  "L" hereto or in such
     other form as may be agreed to by the parties thereto.  In the case of
     an  assignment  of a  Commitment  or any portion  thereof  (excluding,
     however,  the Swing Line Commitment or any portion thereof) other than
     to a Lender or an Affiliate  thereof and in the case of any assignment
     of the Swing Line  Commitment or any portion  thereof,  the consent of
     the Borrower and the Agent shall be required prior to such  assignment
     becoming effective;  provided, however, that if a Default has occurred
     and is continuing,  the consent of the Borrower shall not be required.
     Such consents shall not be unreasonably withheld.


<PAGE> 129

            15.3.2. Effect; Effective Date. Upon (i) delivery to the Agent
     of a notice of assignment, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit
     "I" to Exhibit "L" hereto (a "Notice of Assignment"), together with any
     consents required by Section 15.3.1, and (ii) payment by the Lender of
     a  $4,000  fee to the  Agent  for  processing  such  assignment,  such
     assignment  shall become  effective on the effective date specified in
     such Notice of  Assignment.  The Notice of Assignment  shall contain a
     representation  by  the  Purchaser  to the  effect  that  none  of the
     consideration  used to make the purchase of the  Commitment  and Loans
     (and, if applicable,  the Swing Line  Commitment and Swing Line Loans)
     under the applicable assignment agreement are "plan assets" as defined
     under ERISA and that the rights and  interests of the Purchaser in and
     under the Loan Documents will not be "plan assets" under ERISA. On and
     after the effective date of such assignment,  such Purchaser shall for
     all  purposes be a Lender party to this  Agreement  and any other Loan
     Document  executed  by the  Lenders  and shall have all the rights and
     obligations of a Lender under the Loan  Documents,  to the same extent
     as if it were an  original  party  hereto,  and no further  consent or
     action by the Borrower,  the Lenders or the Agent shall be required to
     release the  transferor  Lender with respect to the  percentage of the
     Aggregate Commitment and Loans (and any Swing Line Commitment or Swing
     Line Loan) assigned to such  Purchaser.  Upon the  consummation of any
     assignment  to a  Purchaser  pursuant  to  this  Section  15.3.2,  the
     transferor  Lender,  the Agent and the Borrower shall make appropriate
     arrangements so that  replacement  Notes are issued to such transferor
     Lender and new Notes or, as appropriate, replacement Notes, are issued
     to such Purchaser,  in each case in principal amounts reflecting their
     Commitment, as adjusted pursuant to such assignment.

     15.4.  Dissemination  of  Information.  The Borrower  authorizes  each
Lender to disclose to any  Participant  or  Purchaser  or any other  Person
acquiring  an interest in the Loan  Documents  by  operation of law (each a
"Transferee")  and any  prospective  Transferee any and all  information in
such Lender's  possession  concerning the  creditworthiness of the Borrower
and  its  Subsidiaries;  provided  that  each  Transferee  and  prospective
Transferee agrees to be bound by Section 12.15 of this Agreement.

     15.5.  Tax  Treatment.  If  any  interest  in  any  Loan  Document  is
transferred  to any  Transferee  which is  organized  under the laws of any
jurisdiction  other  than the  United  States  or any  State  thereof,  the
transferor  Lender  shall  cause  such  Transferee,  concurrently  with the
effectiveness  of such  transfer,  to comply with the provisions of Section
2.19.


<PAGE> 130

                                ARTICLE XVI

                                  NOTICES

     16.1.  Giving  Notice.  Except as otherwise  permitted by Section 2.14
with respect to  borrowing  notices,  all notices and other  communications
provided  to any party  hereto  under  this  Agreement  or any  other  Loan
Document  shall be in writing or by telex or by facsimile  and addressed or
delivered to such party at its address set forth below its signature hereto
or at such other  address as may be designated by such party in a notice to
the other  parties.  Any  notice,  if mailed and  properly  addressed  with
postage  prepaid,  shall be deemed  given when  received;  any  notice,  if
transmitted by telex or facsimile,  shall be deemed given when  transmitted
(answerback confirmed in the case of telexes).

     16.2. Change of Address.  The Borrower,  the Agent, any Lender and the
Issuing Bank may each change the address for service of notice upon it by a
notice in writing to the other parties hereto.

                                ARTICLE XVII

                                COUNTERPARTS


     This Agreement may be executed in any number of  counterparts,  all of
which taken together shall constitute one agreement, and any of the parties
hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart.


<PAGE> 131


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower,  the Lenders, and the Agent have
executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

                                         BORROWER:

                                         U.S. HOME CORPORATION

                                         By:  /s/  Thomas A. Napoli
                                              ----------------------
                                         Name: Thomas A. Napoli,
                                               Vice President - Corporate
                                               Finance and Treasurer

                                               1800 West Loop South
                                               Houston, TX  77252
                                               Attention: Thomas A. Napoli

                                         LENDERS:
         Commitments

         $80,000,000.00                  THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                                          Individually and as Agent

                                         By:

                                         Name: Gregory A. Gilbert,
                                               Vice President

                                               One First National Plaza
                                               Chicago, Illinois 60670
                                               Attention: Gregory A. Gilbert



<PAGE> 132


         Commitments

        $60,000,000.00                   GUARANTY FEDERAL BANK, F.S.B.

                                         By:

                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                               8333 Douglas Avenue
                                               Dallas, TX  75225
                                               Attention:  Randy Reid

        $50,000,000.00                   CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH

                                         By:

                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                               1301 Avenue of the Americas
                                               New York, New York 10019
                                               Attention: Loan Servicing
                                               Department

                                               with a copy to:

                                               Lincoln Plaza
                                               2200 Ross Avenue - Suite 4400W
                                               Dallas, TX  75201
                                               Attention: R. Blake Wright


        $35,000,000.00                   COMERICA BANK, a Michigan
                                         corporation

                                         By:

                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                               500 Woodward Avenue, M/C 3256
                                               Detroit, MI  48226
                                               Attention:  David Campbell



<PAGE> 133


        $25,000,000.00                   AMSOUTH BANK
                                         By:

                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                               Sonat Tower
                                               1900 5th Avenue North
                                               9th Floor
                                               Birmingham, AL  35203
                                               Attention: Ronny Hudspeth



        $25,000,000.00                   BANK UNITED
                                         By:

                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                               3200 Southwest Freeway
                                               Suite 2000
                                               Houston, TX  77027
                                               Attention: Carolyn Alexander


        $25,000,000.00                   PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
                                         By:

                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                               Two Tower Center
                                               18th Floor
                                               East Brunswick, NJ  08816
                                               Attention: Douglas Paul


<PAGE> 134




                                EXHIBIT "A"

                                  GUARANTY



                  This GUARANTY  ("Guaranty")  is made as of the ___ day of
_____________,   _____,   by   _________________________,    a   __________
corporation (the "Guarantor"), in favor of the "Lenders" under that certain
Second  Amended and Restated  Credit  Agreement,  dated as of September 11,
1998, by and among U.S. Home  Corporation (the  "Borrower"),  the financial
institutions from time to time parties thereto (collectively, and including
the Issuing  Bank (as defined in the Second  Amended  and  Restated  Credit
Agreement) the  "Lenders")  and The First National Bank of Chicago,  in its
capacity as Agent. Such Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as it
may be amended,  modified or supplemented from time to time, is hereinafter
referred to as the "Credit  Agreement".  Unless  otherwise  defined herein,
capitalized  terms used herein shall have the meanings  ascribed to them in
the Credit Agreement.

                  1. Guaranty.  (i) For value received and in consideration
of any loan,  advance or  financial  accommodation  of any kind  whatsoever
heretofore,  now or hereafter made, given or granted to the Borrower by the
Lenders, the Guarantor  unconditionally  guarantees for the benefit of each
of the Lenders the full and prompt payment when due, whether at maturity or
earlier,  by  reason  of  acceleration  or  otherwise,  and  at  all  times
thereafter,  of all  of the  Obligations  (including,  without  limitation,
interest  accruing  following  the filing of a  bankruptcy  petition  by or
against  the  Borrower,  at the  applicable  rate  specified  in the Credit
Agreement,  whether  or  not  such  interest  is  allowed  as  a  claim  in
bankruptcy).

                  (ii) At any time after the  occurrence of a Default,  the
Guarantor shall pay to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, on demand
and in immediately available funds, the full amount of the Obligations. The
Guarantor  further  agrees to pay to the Agent and reimburse the Agent for,
on demand and in immediately  available  funds,  (a) all  reasonable  fees,
costs and  expenses  (including,  without  limitation,  all court costs and
reasonable  attorneys' and  paralegals'  fees,  costs and expenses) paid or
incurred by the Agent or any of the Lenders in: (1)  endeavoring to collect
all or any part of the  Obligations  from,  or in  prosecuting  any  action
against,  the Guarantor  relating to this  Guaranty;  (2) taking any action
with  respect  to any  security  or  collateral  securing  the  Guarantor's
obligations  hereunder;  and (3)  preserving,  protecting  or defending the
enforceability  of, or enforcing,  this Guaranty or their respective rights
hereunder (all such reasonable costs and expenses are hereinafter  referred
to as the "Expenses"). The Guarantor hereby agrees that this Guaranty is an
absolute guaranty of payment and is not a guaranty of collection.



<PAGE> 135



                  2. Obligations Unconditional.  Subject to Section 10, the
Guarantor  hereby agrees that its obligations  under this Guaranty shall be
unconditional,   irrespective   of:  (i)  the   validity,   enforceability,
avoidance,  novation or  subordination  of any of the Obligations or any of
the Loan  Documents;  (ii) the  absence of any attempt by, or on behalf of,
any Lender or the Agent to collect, or to take any other action to enforce,
all or any part of the  Obligations  whether from or against the  Borrower,
any other  guarantor  of the  Obligations  or any other  Person;  (iii) the
election  of any  remedy  by, or on behalf of, any Lender or the Agent with
respect to all or any part of the  Obligations;  (iv) the waiver,  consent,
extension,  forbearance  or granting of any indulgence by, or on behalf of,
any Lender or the Agent with  respect to any  provision  of any of the Loan
Documents;  (v) the  election  by, or on behalf  of, any one or more of the
Lenders,  in any proceeding  instituted under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the
United States Code (11 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) (the "Bankruptcy  Code"), of the
application  of  Section  1111(b)(2)  of  the  Bankruptcy  Code;  (vi)  any
borrowing   or  grant  of  a  security   interest  by  the   Borrower,   as
debtor-in-possession,  under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy  Code; (vii) the
disallowance,  under  Section  502 of the  Bankruptcy  Code,  of all or any
portion of the claims of any of the Lenders or the Agent for  repayment  of
all or any part of the  Obligations  or any  Expenses;  or (viii) any other
circumstance  which  might  otherwise   constitute  a  legal  or  equitable
discharge or defense of the Borrower or the Guarantor.

                  3.  Enforcement;   Application  of  Payments.   Upon  the
occurrence  of a  Default,  the Agent  may  proceed  directly  and at once,
without  notice,  against the  Guarantor  to obtain  performance  of and to
collect and recover the full amount,  or any portion,  of the  Obligations,
without  first  proceeding  against the  Borrower or any other  Person,  or
against any security or collateral for the Obligations. Subject only to the
terms and  provisions  of the Credit  Agreement,  the Agent  shall have the
exclusive  right to determine the  application of payments and credits,  if
any, from the  Guarantor,  the Borrower or from any other Person on account
of the Obligations or any other liability of the Guarantor to any Lender.

                  4. Waivers.  (a) The Guarantor  hereby waives  diligence,
presentment,  demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event
of  receivership  or  bankruptcy  of the  Borrower,  protest or notice with
respect  to  the  Obligations,   all  setoffs  and  counterclaims  and  all
presentments, demands for performance, notices of nonperformance, protests,
notices of protest,  notices of dishonor and notices of  acceptance of this
Guaranty, the benefits of all statutes of limitation, and all other demands
whatsoever  (and shall not require that the same be made on the Borrower as
a  condition  precedent  to the  Guarantor's  obligations  hereunder),  and
covenants  that this  Guaranty will not be  discharged,  except by complete
payment  (in  cash)  and  performance  of the  Obligations  and  any  other
obligations  contained herein.  The Guarantor further waives all notices of
the  existence,  creation or incurring of new or  additional  indebtedness,
arising either from additional loans extended to the Borrower or otherwise,
and also  waives all  notices  that the  principal  amount,  or any portion
thereof,  and/or any interest on any instrument or document  evidencing all
or any part of the  Obligations is due,  notices of any and all proceedings
to collect from the maker,  any  endorser or any other  guarantor of all or
any part of the Obligations,  or from any other Person,  and, to the extent
permitted by law, notices of exchange, sale, surrender or other handling of
any security or collateral  given to the Agent to secure  payment of all or
any part of the Obligations.
<PAGE> 136


                  (b) The Guarantor understands that it shall be liable for
the full amount of its liability under this Guaranty,  notwithstanding  the
occurrence of any event impairing the right of the Guarantor,  the Agent or
any of the Lenders to proceed against the Borrower,  any other guarantor or
the Borrower's or such guarantor's property.  The Guarantor agrees that all
of its obligations under this Guaranty  (including its obligation to pay in
full all indebtedness  evidenced by or arising under the Credit  Agreement)
shall  remain  in  full  force  and  effect  without  defense,   offset  or
counterclaim  of any  kind,  notwithstanding  that the  Guarantor's  rights
against the Borrower may be  impaired,  destroyed or otherwise  affected by
reason of any action or inaction on the part of the Agent or any Lender.

                  (c) The Lenders,  either themselves or acting through the
Agent,  are  hereby  authorized,  without  notice  or  demand  and  without
affecting the liability of the Guarantor hereunder,  from time to time, (i)
to renew,  extend,  accelerate or otherwise change the time for payment of,
or other  terms  relating  to,  all or any part of the  Obligations,  or to
otherwise  modify,  amend or change the terms of any of the Loan Documents;
(ii) to  accept  partial  payments  on all or any part of the  Obligations;
(iii) to take and hold security or collateral for the payment of all or any
part of the Obligations,  this Guaranty,  or any other guaranties of all or
any part of the Obligations or other  liabilities of the Borrower,  (iv) to
exchange,  enforce, waive and release any such security or collateral;  (v)
to apply such security or collateral and direct the order or manner of sale
thereof  as in their  discretion  they may  determine;  and (vi) to settle,
release,  exchange,  enforce,  waive,  compromise  or collect or  otherwise
liquidate  all or any part of the  Obligations,  this  Guaranty,  any other
guaranty  of all or any  part  of the  Obligations,  and  any  security  or
collateral  for  the  Obligations  or for  any  such  guaranty.  Any of the
foregoing  may be done in any manner,  without  affecting or impairing  the
obligations of the Guarantor hereunder.

                  5.  Setoff.  At any  time  after  all or any  part of the
Obligations  have  become due and payable (by  acceleration  or  otherwise)
following  the  occurrence  of a  Default,  each  Lender and the Agent may,
without  notice to the  Guarantor and  regardless of the  acceptance of any
security or collateral for the payment hereof, appropriate and apply toward
the payment of all or any part of the Obligations (i) any  indebtedness due
or to become due from such Lender or the Agent to the  Guarantor,  and (ii)
any moneys,  credits or other property  belonging to the Guarantor,  at any
time held by or coming into the  possession  of such Lender or the Agent or
any of their respective affiliates.

                  6. Financial  Information.  The Guarantor  hereby assumes
responsibility  for keeping itself  informed of the financial  condition of
the Borrower and any and all  endorsers  and/or other  guarantors of all or
any part of the Obligations,  and of all other  circumstances  bearing upon
the  risk of  nonpayment  of the  Obligations,  or any part  thereof,  that
diligent inquiry would reveal, and the Guarantor hereby agrees that none of
the Lenders nor the Agent  shall have any duty to advise the  Guarantor  of

<PAGE> 137

information  known  to any of them  regarding  such  condition  or any such
circumstances. In the event any Lender, in its sole discretion,  undertakes
at any time or from time to time to  provide  any such  information  to the
Guarantor,  such Lender shall be under no  obligation  (i) to undertake any
investigation not a part of its regular business routine,  (ii) to disclose
any  information  which such  Lender,  pursuant to  accepted or  reasonable
commercial finance or banking practices, wishes to maintain confidential or
(iii) to make any other or future  disclosures  of such  information or any
other information to the Guarantor.

                  7. No Marshalling;  Reinstatement. The Guarantor consents
and agrees that none of the Lenders nor the Agent nor any Person acting for
or on behalf of the Lenders or the Agent shall be under any  obligation  to
marshall  any assets in favor of the  Guarantor or against or in payment of
any or all of the  Obligations.  The Guarantor  further agrees that, to the
extent that the Borrower,  the  Guarantor or any other  guarantor of all or
any part of the  Obligations  makes a payment or  payments to any Lender or
the Agent,  which payment or payments or any part thereof are  subsequently
invalidated,  declared to be fraudulent or  preferential,  set aside and/or
required to be repaid to the Borrower, the Guarantor,  such other guarantor
or any other Person, or their respective  estates,  trustees,  receivers or
any other party, including,  without limitation,  the Guarantor,  under any
bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause,  then,
to the extent of such  payment or  repayment,  the part of the  Obligations
which  has  been  paid,  reduced  or  satisfied  by such  amount  shall  be
reinstated  and  continued  in  full  force  and  effect  as  of  the  time
immediately preceding such initial payment, reduction or satisfaction.

                  8.  Subrogation.  Until the Obligations have been paid in
full, the Guarantor (i) shall have no right of subrogation  with respect to
such  Obligations and (ii) waives any right to enforce any remedy which the
Lenders  or the  Agent  (or any of  them)  now have or may  hereafter  have
against the  Borrower,  any endorser or any guarantor of all or any part of
the Obligations or any other Person,  and the Guarantor  waives any benefit
of, and any right to  participate  in, any security or collateral  given to
the  Lenders  and the  Agent  (or any of them) to  secure  the  payment  or
performance of all or any part of the Obligations or any other liability of
the Borrower to the Lenders.


<PAGE> 138

                  9. Enforcement; Amendments; Waivers. No delay on the part
of any of the  Lenders or the Agent in the  exercise of any right or remedy
arising under this Guaranty,  the Credit  Agreement,  any of the other Loan
Documents or otherwise  with respect to all or any part of the  Obligations
or any other guaranty of or security for all or any part of the Obligations
shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no single or partial exercise by any
such Person of any such right or remedy shall preclude any further exercise
thereof.  No  modification  or  waiver  of any of the  provisions  of  this
Guaranty  shall be  binding  upon  the  Lenders  or the  Agent,  except  as
expressly  set forth in a writing  duly signed and  delivered  by the party
making such  modification  or waiver.  Failure by any of the Lenders or the
Agent at any time or times  hereafter to require strict  performance by the
Borrower,  the  Guarantor,  any other  guarantor  of all or any part of the
Obligations or any other Person of any of the provisions, warranties, terms
and conditions contained in any of the Loan Documents now or at any time or
times hereafter  executed by such Persons and delivered to the Agent or any
Lender  shall not waive,  affect or diminish any right of the Agent or such
Lender at any time or times hereafter to demand strict performance  thereof
and such  right  shall  not be  deemed  to have  been  waived by any act or
knowledge of the Agent or any Lender, or their respective agents,  officers
or employees,  unless such waiver is contained in an instrument in writing,
directed and  delivered to the Borrower or the  Guarantor,  as  applicable,
specifying such waiver,  and is signed by the party or parties necessary to
give such waiver  under the Credit  Agreement.  No waiver of any Default by
the Agent or any Lender shall  operate as a waiver of any other  Default or
the same  Default on a future  occasion,  and no action by the Agent or any
Lender permitted hereunder shall in any way affect or impair the Agent's or
any Lender's  rights and remedies or the obligations of the Guarantor under
this Guaranty.  Any  determination by a court of competent  jurisdiction of
the amount of any principal and/or interest owing by the Borrower to any of
the Lenders shall be conclusive  and binding on the Guarantor  irrespective
of whether  the  Guarantor  was a party to the suit or action in which such
determination was made.



<PAGE> 139
                  10.  Effectiveness;   Termination.  This  Guaranty  shall
become  effective upon its execution by the Guarantor and shall continue in
full force and effect and may not be terminated or otherwise  revoked until
the Obligations shall have been fully paid (in cash) and discharged and the
Credit  Agreement and all financing  arrangements  between the Borrower and
the Lenders shall have been terminated.  If, notwithstanding the foregoing,
the  Guarantor  shall have any right under  applicable  law to terminate or
revoke  this  Guaranty,  the  Guarantor  agrees  that such  termination  or
revocation shall not be effective until a written notice of such revocation
or termination,  specifically referring hereto, signed by the Guarantor, is
actually  received by the Agent. Such notice shall not affect the right and
power of any of the Lenders or the Agent to enforce rights arising prior to
receipt  thereof by the Agent.  If any Lender  grants  loans or takes other
action after the  Guarantor  terminates or revokes this Guaranty but before
the Agent  receives  such  written  notice,  the rights of such Lender with
respect thereto shall be the same as if such  termination or revocation had
not occurred.

                  11.  Successors  and  Assigns.  This  Guaranty  shall  be
binding upon the  Guarantor and upon its  successors  and assigns and shall
inure to the  benefit  of the  Lender  and the Agent  and their  respective
successors and assigns;  all  references  herein to the Borrower and to the
Guarantor  shall be deemed  to  include  their  respective  successors  and
assigns. The successors and assigns of the Guarantor and the Borrower shall
include,  without  limitation,  their  respective  receivers,  trustees  or
debtors-in-possession.  All  references to the singular  shall be deemed to
include the plural where the context so requires.

                  12.  Officer  Authority.  The  Guarantor  authorizes  its
Chairman,  President, and each of its Vice Presidents,  respectively,  from
time to time,  severally and not jointly,  on behalf and in the name of the
Guarantor from time to time in the  discretion of such officer,  to take or
omit to take any and all  action  and to execute  and  deliver  any and all
documents and instruments  which such officer may determine to be necessary
or  desirable  in  relation  to, and  perform  any  obligations  arising in
connection  with,  this Guaranty and any of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, hereby gives
to each  such  officer  severally  the  power  and  right on  behalf of the
Guarantor,  without  notice  to or  assent  by  the  Guarantor,  to do  the
following:  (i) to execute  and  deliver any  amendment,  waiver,  consent,
supplement,  other  modification or  reaffirmation  of this Guaranty or any
document  relating  hereto,  and  to  perform  any  obligation  arising  in
connection herewith or therewith; (ii) to sell, transfer,  assign, encumber
or otherwise  deal in or with any  security  for this  Guaranty or any part
thereof;  (iii) to grant liens, security interests or other encumbrances on
or in respect of any property or assets of the Guarantor, whether now owned
or hereafter acquired,  in favor of the Lenders and the Agent; (iv) to send
notices, directions, orders and other communications to any Person relating
to this Guaranty,  or any security for all or any part of the  Obligations;
(v) to take or omit to take any other action contemplated by or referred to
in this Guaranty or any document  covering any security for all or any part
of the  Obligations;  and  (vi) to take or  omit to take  any  action  with
respect  to  this  Guaranty,  any  security  for  all  or any  part  of the
Obligations or any document covering any such security, all as such officer
may  determine  in his or  her  sole  discretion.  The  undersigned  hereby
certifies that he/she has all necessary authority to grant and execute this
Guaranty on behalf of the Guarantor.
<PAGE> 140
                  13.  Governing  Law. This Guaranty has been  delivered by
the parties hereto in Chicago,  Illinois. Any dispute between the Guarantor
and the Lenders or the Agent arising out of or related to the  relationship
established  between them in  connection  with this  Guaranty,  and whether
arising in  contract,  tort,  equity,  or  otherwise,  shall be resolved in
accordance with the internal laws, and not the conflicts of law provisions,
of the State of Illinois.

                  14.  Consent to  Jurisdiction;  Counterclaims;  Forum Non
Conveniens.  (a) Exclusive  Jurisdiction.  Except as provided in subsection
(b) of this Section 14, the Agent, on behalf of itself and the Lenders, and
the  Guarantor  agree that all  disputes  between  them  arising  out of or
related to the  relationship  established  between them in connection  with
this Guaranty,  whether arising in contract,  tort,  equity,  or otherwise,
shall be  resolved  only by state or federal  courts  located  in  Chicago,
Illinois,  but the parties  acknowledge  that any appeals from those courts
may have to be heard by a court located outside of Chicago, Illinois.

                  (b) Other Jurisdictions. The Lenders and Agent shall have
the right to proceed against the Guarantor or its real or personal property
in a court in any  location  to enable  the Agent or the  Lenders to obtain
personal  jurisdiction over the Guarantor or to enforce a judgment or other
court order entered in favor of the Agent or the Lenders.

                  (c) Venue;  Forum Non  Conveniens.  Each of the Guarantor
and the Agent,  on behalf of itself and the Lenders,  waives any  objection
that it may have  (including,  without  limitation,  any  objection  to the
laying of venue or based on forum non  conveniens)  to the  location of the
court in which any proceeding is commenced in accordance  with this Section
14.

                  15.  Waiver of Jury Trial.  Each of the Guarantor and the
Agent waives any right to trial by jury in any dispute, whether sounding in
contract, tort, or otherwise,  between the Guarantor and the Lenders or the
Agent arising out of or related to the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Guaranty  or any  other  instrument,  document  or  agreement  executed  or
delivered in  connection  herewith.  Either the  Guarantor or the Agent may
file an original  counterpart  or a copy of this Guaranty with any court as
written  evidence  of the  consent of the  parties  hereto to the waiver of
their right to trial by jury.

                  16. Waiver of Bond.  The Guarantor  waives the posting of
any bond  otherwise  required of the Agent in connection  with any judicial
process or  proceeding to enforce any judgment or other court order entered
in favor of the Agent,  or to enforce by  specific  performance,  temporary
restraining order, or preliminary or permanent injunction, this Guaranty or
any other agreement or document between the Agent and the Guarantor.

                  17.  Advice of  Counsel.  The  Guarantor  represents  and
warrants that it has consulted with its legal counsel regarding all waivers
under this Guaranty, including without limitation those under Section 4 and
Sections 14 through 17 hereof,  that it believes that it fully  understands
all rights  that it is  waiving  and the  effect of such  waivers,  that it
assumes the risk of any misunderstanding  that it may have regarding any of
the  foregoing,  and that it intends that such waivers  shall be a material
inducement  to the  Agent  and  the  Lenders  to  extend  the  indebtedness
guaranteed hereby.
<PAGE> 141
                  18.  Notices.   All  notices  and  other   communications
provided  to any party  hereto  shall be in  writing  or by  facsimile  and
addressed  to such party at its  address  set forth  below or at such other
address as may be  designated by such party in a notice to the other party.
Any notice, if mailed and properly addressed with postage prepaid, shall be
deemed given when received; any notice, if transmitted by facsimile,  shall
be deemed given when transmitted. The addresses for notices are as follows:


         if to the Guarantor, at:

                  _____________________________
                  _____________________________
                  _____________________________
                  _____________________________

         if to the Agent, at

                  The First National Bank of Chicago
                  One First National Plaza
                  Chicago, Illinois  60670
                  Attention:  Gregory A. Gilbert
                  Telecopy:  312/732-1117

                  19.  Severability.  Wherever possible,  each provision of
this Guaranty  shall be  interpreted  in such manner as to be effective and
valid under  applicable law, but if any provision of this Guaranty shall be
prohibited  by  or  invalid  under  such  law,  such  provision   shall  be
ineffective  to the  extent  of  such  prohibition  or  invalidity  without
invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of
this Guaranty.

                  20. Merger.  This Guaranty represents the final agreement
of the Guarantor with respect to the matters  contained  herein and may not
be  contradicted  by evidence of prior or  contemporaneous  agreements,  or
subsequent  oral  agreements,  between the  Guarantor  and the Agent or any
Lender.

                  21.  Execution  in  Counterparts.  This  Guaranty  may be
executed in any number of counterparts  and by different  parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be
an original and all of which taken  together  shall  constitute one and the
same agreement.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  this Guaranty has been duly executed
by the Guarantor as of the day and year first set forth above.


                              ------------------------
                       By: __________________________
                         Name: ______________________
                         Title: _____________________
<PAGE> 142

Acknowledged and agreed to as of the ___ day of __________, ____.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
         as Agent

By: __________________________
   Name: Gregory A. Gilbert
   Title:  Vice President


<PAGE> 143



                               EXHIBIT "B-1"

                                    NOTE
                                                    _____________   , l9____
$ _________________


     The  undersigned  (the  "Borrower")  promises  to pay to the  order of
___________________  (the  "Lender")  the  lesser of the  principal  sum of
_______________Dollars  or the  aggregate  unpaid  principal  amount of all
Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Second Amended and
Restated  Credit  Agreement  (as the same may be amended or  modified,  the
"Agreement") hereinafter referred to, in immediately available funds at the
main office of The First National Bank of Chicago in Chicago,  Illinois, as
Agent,  together with interest on the unpaid principal amount hereof at the
rates and on the dates set forth in the  Agreement.  The Borrower shall pay
the  principal  of and accrued and unpaid  interest on the Loans in full on
the Facility Termination Date.

     The Lender shall, and is hereby  authorized to, record on the schedule
attached  hereto,  or to  otherwise  record  in  accordance  with its usual
practice,  the date and amount of each Loan and the date and amount of each
principal payment hereunder.

     This Note is one of the Notes  issued  pursuant to, and is entitled to
the benefits of, the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as
of September  11, 1998,  among the  Borrower,  The First  National  Bank of
Chicago,  individually  and  as  Agent,  and  the  lenders  named  therein,
including the Lender, to which Agreement, as it may be amended from time to
time,  reference is hereby made for a statement of the terms and conditions
governing this Note,  including the terms and  conditions  under which this
Note may be prepaid or its maturity  date  accelerated.  Capitalized  terms
used herein and not  otherwise  defined  herein are used with the  meanings
attributed to them in the Agreement.

                           U.S. HOME CORPORATION

                           By: ___________________________
                           Print Name: ___________________
                           Title: ________________________





<PAGE> 144

                SCHEDULE OF LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL
                                     TO
                       NOTE OF U.S. HOME CORPORATION
                          DATED ____________, 199_


`             Principal         Maturity         Principal
              Amount of        of Interest         Amount           Unpaid
   Date          Loan            Period             Paid            Balance
   ----       ---------        -----------       ----------        ----------






<PAGE> 145

                               EXHIBIT "B-2"

                         AMENDED AND RESTATED NOTE
                                                   ______________   , l9__

     The  undersigned  (the  "Borrower")  promises  to pay to the  order of
_______________________  (the  "Lender") the lesser of the principal sum of
_____________ Dollars or the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Loans
made by the  Lender to the  Borrower  pursuant  to the Second  Amended  and
Restated  Credit  Agreement  (as the same may be amended or  modified,  the
"Agreement") hereinafter referred to, in immediately available funds at the
main office of The First National Bank of Chicago in Chicago,  Illinois, as
Agent,  together with interest on the unpaid principal amount hereof at the
rates and on the dates set forth in the  Agreement.  The Borrower shall pay
the  principal  of and accrued and unpaid  interest on the Loans in full on
the Facility Termination Date.

     The Lender shall, and is hereby  authorized to, record on the schedule
attached  hereto,  or to  otherwise  record  in  accordance  with its usual
practice,  the date and amount of each Loan and the date and amount of each
principal payment hereunder.

     This  Amended and  Restated  Note amends and  restates a certain  Note
dated __________ made by the Borrower payable to the order of the Lender in
the principal amount of $___________,  which Note has been cancelled.  This
Amended and Restated  Note is one of the Notes  issued  pursuant to, and is
entitled  to the  benefits  of,  the Second  Amended  and  Restated  Credit
Agreement,  dated as of September 11, 1998,  among the Borrower,  The First
National Bank of Chicago,  individually and as Agent, and the lenders named
therein,  including the Lender,  to which  Agreement,  as it may be amended
from time to time,  reference  is hereby made for a statement  of the terms
and  conditions  governing  this Amended and Restated  Note,  including the
terms and  conditions  under which this  Amended and  Restated  Note may be
prepaid or its maturity date accelerated. Capitalized terms used herein and
not otherwise defined herein are used with the meanings  attributed to them
in the Agreement.

                           U.S. HOME CORPORATION

                           By: ___________________________
                           Print Name: ___________________
                           Title: ________________________


<PAGE> 146


                SCHEDULE OF LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL
                                     TO
                         AMENDED AND RESTATED NOTE
                          OF U.S. HOME CORPORATION
                          DATED ____________, 199_


`              Principal         Maturity          Principal
               Amount of        of Interest          Amount         Unpaid
    Date        Loan              Period              Paid          Balance






<PAGE> 147



                                EXHIBIT "C"

                         COMMITMENT AND ACCEPTANCE


     This  Commitment and Acceptance  (this  "Commitment  and  Acceptance")
dated as of __________ , ____ , is entered into among the parties listed on
the signature pages hereof. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined  herein  shall have the meanings  attributed  to them in the Credit
Agreement (as defined below). 

                          PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

     Reference is made to that certain Second  Amended and Restated  Credit
Agreement  dated  as  of  September  11,  1998,  by  and  among  U.S.  Home
Corporation, as Borrower, The First National Bank of Chicago, as Agent, and
the Lenders that are parties  thereto (as the same may from time to time be
amended,  modified,  supplemented  or  restated,  in  whole  or in part and
without  limitation  as to amount,  terms,  conditions  or  covenants,  the
"Credit Agreement").

     Pursuant to Section 2.5(b) of the Credit  Agreement,  the Borrower has
requested an increase in the Aggregate Commitment from  $_______________ to
$__________________. Such increase in the Aggregate Commitment is to become
effective on  _______________  __, ____ (the "Increase Date") [THIS DATE IS
TO BE MUTUALLY  AGREED UPON BY THE BORROWER,  THE ACCEPTING  LENDER AND THE
AGENT IN ACCORDANCE  WITH THE  PROVISIONS  OF SECTION  2.5(d) OF THE CREDIT
AGREEMENT].  In connection  with such  requested  increase in the Aggregate
Commitment,  the Borrower,  the Agent and _________________ (the "Accepting
Lender") hereby agree as follows:

     1. ACCEPTING LENDER'S  COMMITMENT.  Effective as of the Increase Date,
[the  Accepting  Lender shall  become a party to the Credit  Agreement as a
Lender,  shall  have  all  of  the  rights  and  obligations  of  a  Lender
thereunder, shall agree to be bound by the terms and provisions thereof and
shall  thereupon  have a  Commitment  under and for  purposes of the Credit
Agreement  in and amount  equal to the] [the  Commitment  of the  Accepting
Lender   under   the   Credit    Agreement    shall   be   increased   from
$___________________  to the]  amount  set  forth  opposite  the  Accepting
Lender's name on the signature pages hereof.

<PAGE> 148
 
     [2.  REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS OF ACCEPTING LENDER. The Accepting
Lender (i) confirms  that it has  received a copy of the Credit  Agreement,
together with copies of the financial statements requested by the Accepting
Lender  and  such  other   documents  and  information  as  it  has  deemed
appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this
Commitment  and  Acceptance,  (ii) agrees that it will,  independently  and
without  reliance upon the Agent or any Lender and based on such  documents
and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time,  continue to make
its own  credit  decisions  in taking or not taking  action  under the Loan
Documents,  (iii)  appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as
agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Loan Documents as
are delegated to the Agent by the terms thereof,  together with such powers
as are reasonably  incidental thereto,  (iv) agrees that it will perform in
accordance  with their terms all of the  obligations  which by the terms of
the Loan  Documents  are required to be  performed  by it as a Lender,  (v)
agrees that its payment  instructions  and notice  instructions  are as set
forth in the  attachment  to  Schedule  1, (vi)  confirms  that none of the
funds,  monies,  assets  or  other  consideration  being  used to make  the
commitment  and  acceptance  hereunder  are "plan  assets" as defined under
ERISA and that its rights,  benefits  and  interests  in and under the Loan
Documents  will not be "plan assets"  under ERISA,  [and (vii) a taches the
forms  prescribed  by the  Internal  Revenue  Service of the United  States
certifying that the Accepting  Lender is entitled to receive payments under
the Loan  Documents  without  deduction or withholding of any United States
federal income taxes].*

*Paragraph 2 to be inserted only if the  Accepting  Lender is not already a
party to the Credit  Agreement prior to the Increase Date, and subparagraph
2(vii) to be inserted  only if such  Accepting  Lender is not  incorporated
under the laws of the United States, or a state thereof.]

     3.  REPRESENTATION  OF BORROWER.  The Borrower  hereby  represents and
warrants  that as of the date hereof and as of the Increase  Date, no event
or condition shall have occurred and then be continuing which constitutes a
Default or Unmatured Default.

     4. GOVERNING LAW. This Commitment and Acceptance  shall be governed by
the internal law, and not the law of  conflicts,  of the State of Illinois.

     5.  NOTICES.  For the  purpose of notices to be given under the Credit
Agreement, the address of the Accepting Lender (until notice of a change is
delivered) shall be the address set forth in Schedule 1.
<PAGE> 149



         IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,   the  parties  hereto  have  executed  this
Assignment Agreement by their duly authorized officers as of the date first
above written.


                                            BORROWER:

                                            U.S. HOME CORPORATION

                                            By: ________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:

                                            AGENT:

                                            [NAME OF AGENT],
                                              as Agent

                                            By: ________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:

  $______________                           ACCEPTING LENDER:

                                            [NAME OF ACCEPTING LENDER]

                                            By: _______________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:



<PAGE> 150



                                 SCHEDULE 1
                        to Commitment and Acceptance

   1.    Attach Accepting Lender's Administrative Information Sheet, which
         must include its payment instructions and notice address.



<PAGE> 151



                                EXHIBIT "D"

           Opinion of Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays & Handler, LLP




<PAGE> 152



                                EXHIBIT "E"


           Opinion of Steven Lane, Director-Legal of the Borrower




<PAGE> 153



                                EXHIBIT "F"

                      Opinion of Lord, Bissell & Brook




<PAGE> 154



                                EXHIBIT "G"

                       AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY



                  This AMENDED AND RESTATED  GUARANTY  ("Guaranty") is made
as of the 11th day of September, 1998 by the undersigned (collectively, the
"Guarantors"  and  individually a  "Guarantor"),  in favor of the "Lenders"
under that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit  Agreement,  dated as
of September 11, 1998, by and among U.S. Home Corporation (the "Borrower"),
the financial institutions from time to time parties thereto (collectively,
and  including  the  Issuing  Bank (as  defined in the Second  Amended  and
Restated  Credit  Agreement)  the "Lenders") and The First National Bank of
Chicago,  in its capacity as Agent. Such Second Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement,  as it may be  amended,  modified or  supplemented  from time to
time,  is  hereinafter  referred  to  as  the  "Credit  Agreement".  Unless
otherwise  defined  herein,  capitalized  terms used herein  shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement.

                  1. Guaranty.  (i) For value received and in consideration
of any loan,  advance or  financial  accommodation  of any kind  whatsoever
heretofore,  now or hereafter made, given or granted to the Borrower by the
Lenders, the Guarantors,  jointly and severally,  unconditionally guarantee
for the  benefit of each of the Lenders  the full and prompt  payment  when
due,  whether  at  maturity  or  earlier,  by  reason  of  acceleration  or
otherwise,  and  at  all  times  thereafter,  of  all  of  the  Obligations
(including, without limitation, interest accruing following the filing of a
bankruptcy  petition by or against the  Borrower,  at the  applicable  rate
specified in the Credit Agreement,  whether or not such interest is allowed
as a claim in bankruptcy).

                  (ii) At any time after the  occurrence of a Default,  the
Guarantors  shall pay to the  Agent,  for the  benefit of the  Lenders,  on
demand  and  in  immediately  available  funds,  the  full  amount  of  the
Obligations.  Each of the Guarantors further agrees to pay to the Agent and
reimburse the Agent for, on demand and in immediately  available funds, (a)
all reasonable fees, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, all
court costs and  reasonable  attorneys'  and  paralegals'  fees,  costs and
expenses)  paid or  incurred  by the Agent or any of the  Lenders  in:  (1)
endeavoring  to  collect  all or any part of the  Obligations  from,  or in
prosecuting any action against,  such Guarantor  relating to this Guaranty;
(2) taking any action with respect to any security or  collateral  securing
such Guarantor's obligations hereunder;  and (3) preserving,  protecting or
defending  the  enforceability  of, or  enforcing,  this  Guaranty or their
respective  rights  hereunder (all such  reasonable  costs and expenses are
hereinafter  referred to as the "Expenses").  Each of the Guarantors hereby
agrees that this  Guaranty is an absolute  guaranty of payment and is not a
guaranty of collection.



<PAGE> 155





                  2. Obligations Unconditional. Subject to Section 10, each
of the Guarantors  hereby agrees that its  obligations  under this Guaranty
shall be unconditional,  irrespective of: (i) the validity, enforceability,
avoidance,  novation or  subordination  of any of the Obligations or any of
the Loan  Documents;  (ii) the  absence of any attempt by, or on behalf of,
any Lender or the Agent to collect, or to take any other action to enforce,
all or any part of the  Obligations  whether from or against the  Borrower,
any other  guarantor  (including any  Guarantor) of the  Obligations or any
other  Person;  (iii) the  election  of any remedy by, or on behalf of, any
Lender or the Agent  with  respect  to all or any part of the  Obligations;
(iv)  the  waiver,  consent,  extension,  forbearance  or  granting  of any
indulgence by, or on behalf of, any Lender or the Agent with respect to any
provision of any of the Loan  Documents;  (v) the election by, or on behalf
of, any one or more of the  Lenders,  in any  proceeding  instituted  under
Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United  States  Code (11 U.S.C.  101 et seq.)
(the "Bankruptcy  Code"),  of the application of Section  1111(b)(2) of the
Bankruptcy Code; (vi) any borrowing or grant of a security  interest by the
Borrower,  as  debtor-in-possession,  under  Section 364 of the  Bankruptcy
Code; (vii) the disallowance,  under Section 502 of the Bankruptcy Code, of
all or any  portion  of the  claims of any of the  Lenders or the Agent for
repayment of all or any part of the Obligations or any Expenses;  or (viii)
any  other  circumstance  which  might  otherwise  constitute  a  legal  or
equitable discharge or defense of the Borrower or such Guarantor.

                  3.  Enforcement;   Application  of  Payments.   Upon  the
occurrence  of a  Default,  the Agent  may  proceed  directly  and at once,
without notice, against the Guarantors or any one or more of them to obtain
performance of and to collect and recover the full amount,  or any portion,
of the Obligations,  without first  proceeding  against the Borrower or any
other Person,  or against any security or collateral  for the  Obligations.
Subject only to the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement, the Agent
shall have the exclusive right to determine the application of payments and
credits, if any, from the Guarantors, the Borrower or from any other Person
on account of the  Obligations  or any other  liability of the Guarantor to
any Lender.

                  4.  Waivers.  (a) Each of the  Guarantors  hereby  waives
diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in
the event of receivership or bankruptcy of the Borrower,  protest or notice
with  respect to the  Obligations,  all setoffs and  counterclaims  and all
presentments, demands for performance, notices of nonperformance, protests,
notices of protest,  notices of dishonor and notices of  acceptance of this
Guaranty, the benefits of all statutes of limitation, and all other demands
whatsoever  (and shall not require that the same be made on the Borrower as
a  condition  precedent  to any  Guarantor's  obligations  hereunder),  and
covenants  that this  Guaranty will not be  discharged,  except by complete
payment  (in  cash)  and  performance  of the  Obligations  and  any  other
obligations  contained  herein.  Each of the Guarantors  further waives all

<PAGE> 156

notices  of the  existence,  creation  or  incurring  of new or  additional
indebtedness, arising either from additional loans extended to the Borrower
or otherwise, and also waives all notices that the principal amount, or any
portion  thereof,  and/or  any  interest  on  any  instrument  or  document
evidencing all or any part of the  Obligations  is due,  notices of any and
all  proceedings  to collect  from the  maker,  any  endorser  or any other
guarantor  (including any Guarantor) of all or any part of the Obligations,
or from any other Person,  and, to the extent  permitted by law, notices of
exchange,  sale,  surrender or other handling of any security or collateral
given to the Agent to secure payment of all or any part of the Obligations.

                  (b) Each of the Guarantors  understands  that it shall be
liable  for  the  full  amount  of  its  liability   under  this  Guaranty,
notwithstanding  the  occurrence  of any event  impairing the right of such
Guarantor,  the Agent or any of the Lenders to proceed against the Borrower
or its property or any other  guarantor  (including  any  Guarantor) or its
property.  Each of the Guarantors  agrees that all of its obligations under
this Guaranty  (including  its  obligation to pay in full all  indebtedness
evidenced by or arising  under the Credit  Agreement)  shall remain in full
force and  effect  without  defense,  offset or  counterclaim  of any kind,
notwithstanding  that such  Guarantor's  rights against the Borrower may be
impaired,  destroyed  or  otherwise  affected  by reason  of any  action or
inaction on the part of the Agent or any Lender.

                  (c) The Lenders,  either themselves or acting through the
Agent,  are  hereby  authorized,  without  notice  or  demand  and  without
affecting the liability of the Guarantors hereunder, from time to time, (i)
to renew,  extend,  accelerate or otherwise change the time for payment of,
or other  terms  relating  to,  all or any part of the  Obligations,  or to
otherwise  modify,  amend or change the terms of any of the Loan Documents;
(ii) to  accept  partial  payments  on all or any part of the  Obligations;
(iii) to take and hold security or collateral for the payment of all or any
part of the Obligations,  this Guaranty,  or any other guaranties of all or
any part of the Obligations or other  liabilities of the Borrower,  (iv) to
exchange,  enforce, waive and release any such security or collateral;  (v)
to apply such security or collateral and direct the order or manner of sale
thereof  as in their  discretion  they may  determine;  and (vi) to settle,
release,  exchange,  enforce,  waive,  compromise  or collect or  otherwise
liquidate  all or any  part  of the  Obligations,  all or any  part  of the
obligations  of one or more  Guarantors  under  this  Guaranty,  any  other
guaranty  of  all or  any  part  of the  Obligations,  or any  security  or
collateral  for  the  Obligations  or for  any  such  guaranty.  Any of the
foregoing  may be done in any manner,  without  affecting or impairing  the
obligations of the Guarantors hereunder.

                  5.  Setoff.  At any  time  after  all or any  part of the
Obligations  have  become due and payable (by  acceleration  or  otherwise)
following  the  occurrence  of a  Default,  each  Lender and the Agent may,
without  notice to the  Guarantors  and regardless of the acceptance of any
security or collateral for the payment hereof, appropriate and apply toward
the payment of all or any part of the Obligations (i) any  indebtedness due
or to become  due from  such  Lender or the Agent to any one or more of the
Guarantors, and (ii) any moneys, credits or other property belonging to any
Guarantor, at any time held by or coming into the possession of such Lender
or the Agent or any of their respective affiliates.
<PAGE> 157

                  6. Financial  Information.  Each of the Guarantors hereby
assumes  responsibility  for  keeping  itself  informed  of  the  financial
condition of the Borrower and any and all endorsers and/or other guarantors
of all or any  part  of the  Obligations,  and of all  other  circumstances
bearing  upon  the  risk of  nonpayment  of the  Obligations,  or any  part
thereof,  that diligent  inquiry would reveal,  and each of the  Guarantors
hereby agrees that none of the Lenders nor the Agent shall have any duty to
advise any Guarantor of  information  known to any of them  regarding  such
condition or any such  circumstances.  In the event any Lender, in its sole
discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such
information  to any one or more of the  Guarantors,  such  Lender  shall be
under no obligation (i) to provide information to any other Guarantor, (ii)
to undertake any  investigation not a part of its regular business routine,
(iii) to disclose any information  which such Lender,  pursuant to accepted
or reasonable  commercial finance or banking practices,  wishes to maintain
confidential  or (iv) to make  any  other  or  future  disclosures  of such
information or any other information to any one or more of the Guarantors.

                  7. No Marshalling;  Reinstatement. Each of the Guarantors
consents  and agrees  that none of the Lenders nor the Agent nor any Person
acting  for or on behalf  of the  Lenders  or the Agent  shall be under any
obligation  to  marshall  any  assets  in  favor  of any one or more of the
Guarantors or against or in payment of any or all of the Obligations.  Each
of the  Guarantors  further  agrees that,  to the extent that the Borrower,
such Guarantor or any other  guarantor  (including any Guarantor) of all or
any part of the  Obligations  makes a payment or  payments to any Lender or
the Agent,  which payment or payments or any part thereof are  subsequently
invalidated,  declared to be fraudulent or  preferential,  set aside and/or
required to be repaid to the Borrower, such Guarantor, such other guarantor
(including any Guarantor) or any other Person, or their respective estates,
trustees, receivers or any other party, including, without limitation, such
Guarantor,  under any bankruptcy  law, state or federal law,  common law or
equitable cause, then, to the extent of such payment or repayment, the part
of the Obligations which has been paid, reduced or satisfied by such amount
shall be  reinstated  and continued in full force and effect as of the time
immediately preceding such initial payment, reduction or satisfaction.

                  8.  Subrogation.  Until the Obligations have been paid in
full, the Guarantors (i) shall have no right of subrogation with respect to
such  Obligations  and (ii) waive any right to enforce any remedy which the
Lenders  or the  Agent  (or any of  them)  now have or may  hereafter  have
against  the  Borrower,  any  endorser  or  any  guarantor  (including  any
Guarantor) of all or any part of the  Obligations or any other Person,  and
each of the Guarantors  waives any benefit of, and any right to participate
in, any security or  collateral  given to the Lenders and the Agent (or any
of them) to secure  the  payment or  performance  of all or any part of the
Obligations or any other liability of the Borrower to the Lenders.



<PAGE> 158


                  9. Enforcement; Amendments; Waivers. No delay on the part
of any of the  Lenders or the Agent in the  exercise of any right or remedy
arising under this Guaranty,  the Credit  Agreement,  any of the other Loan
Documents or otherwise  with respect to all or any part of the  Obligations
or any other guaranty of or security for all or any part of the Obligations
shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no single or partial exercise by any
such Person of any such right or remedy shall preclude any further exercise
thereof.  No  modification  or  waiver  of any of the  provisions  of  this
Guaranty  shall be  binding  upon  the  Lenders  or the  Agent,  except  as
expressly  set forth in a writing  duly signed and  delivered  by the party
making such  modification  or waiver.  Failure by any of the Lenders or the
Agent at any time or times  hereafter to require strict  performance by the
Borrower, any one or more of the Guarantors,  any other guarantor of all or
any part of the  Obligations or any other Person of any of the  provisions,
warranties, terms and conditions contained in any of the Loan Documents now
or at any time or times hereafter executed by such Persons and delivered to
the Agent or any Lender  shall not waive,  affect or diminish  any right of
the Agent or such Lender at any time or times  hereafter  to demand  strict
performance  thereof and such right shall not be deemed to have been waived
by any act or  knowledge  of the Agent or any Lender,  or their  respective
agents,  officers  or  employees,  unless such  waiver is  contained  in an
instrument  in  writing,  directed  and  delivered  to the  Borrower or the
Guarantors,  as applicable,  specifying  such waiver,  and is signed by the
party or parties  necessary to give such waiver under the Credit Agreement.
No waiver of any  Default  by the Agent or any  Lender  shall  operate as a
waiver of any other Default or the same Default on a future  occasion,  and
no action by the Agent or any Lender  permitted  hereunder shall in any way
affect or impair the  Agent's or any  Lender's  rights and  remedies or the
obligations of the Guarantors under this Guaranty.  Any  determination by a
court of  competent  jurisdiction  of the  amount of any  principal  and/or
interest  owing by the Borrower to any of the Lenders  shall be  conclusive
and binding on the Guarantors irrespective of whether any of the Guarantors
was a party to the suit or action in which such determination was made.

                  10.  Effectiveness;   Termination.  This  Guaranty  shall
become effective upon its execution by the Guarantors and shall continue in
full force and effect and may not be terminated or otherwise  revoked until
the Obligations shall have been fully paid (in cash) and discharged and the
Credit  Agreement and all financing  arrangements  between the Borrower and
the Lenders shall have been terminated.  If, notwithstanding the foregoing,
any  Guarantor  shall have any right under  applicable  law to terminate or
revoke this Guaranty,  each such Guarantor  agrees that such termination or
revocation shall not be effective until a written notice of such revocation
or termination, specifically referring hereto, signed by such Guarantor, is
actually  received by the Agent. Such notice shall not affect the right and
power of any of the Lenders or the Agent to enforce rights arising prior to
receipt  thereof by the Agent.  If any Lender  grants  loans or takes other
action after a Guarantor terminates or revokes this Guaranty but before the
Agent receives such written notice,  the rights of such Lender with respect
thereto  shall be the same as if such  termination  or  revocation  had not
occurred.


<PAGE> 159

                  11.  Successors  and  Assigns.  This  Guaranty  shall  be
binding  upon the  Guarantors  and upon  their  respective  successors  and
assigns  and shall  inure to the  benefit  of the  Lender and the Agent and
their  respective  successors  and assigns;  all  references  herein to the
Borrower and to the Guarantors  shall be deemed to include their respective
successors  and assigns.  The  successors and assigns of the Guarantors and
the Borrower shall include, without limitation, their respective receivers,
trustees or debtors-in-possession.  All references to the singular shall be
deemed to include the plural where the context so requires.

                  12. Officer Authority.  Each of the Guarantors authorizes
its Chairman,  President,  and each of its Vice  Presidents,  respectively,
from time to time,  severally and not jointly, on behalf and in the name of
such Guarantor from time to time in the discretion of such officer, to take
or omit to take any and all action and to execute  and  deliver any and all
documents and instruments  which such officer may determine to be necessary
or  desirable  in  relation  to, and  perform  any  obligations  arising in
connection  with,  this Guaranty and any of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, hereby gives
to each  such  officer  severally  the  power  and  right on behalf of such
Guarantor,  without  notice  to or  assent  by  such  Guarantor,  to do the
following:  (i) to execute  and  deliver any  amendment,  waiver,  consent,
supplement,  other  modification or  reaffirmation  of this Guaranty or any
document  relating  hereto,  and  to  perform  any  obligation  arising  in
connection herewith or therewith; (ii) to sell, transfer,  assign, encumber
or otherwise  deal in or with any  security  for this  Guaranty or any part
thereof;  (iii) to grant liens, security interests or other encumbrances on
or in respect of any  property  or assets of such  Guarantor,  whether  now
owned or hereafter acquired, in favor of the Lenders and the Agent; (iv) to
send notices,  directions,  orders and other  communications  to any Person
relating  to this  Guaranty,  or any  security  for all or any  part of the
Obligations;  (v) to take or omit to take any other action  contemplated by
or referred to in this  Guaranty or any document  covering any security for
all or any  part of the  Obligations;  and (vi) to take or omit to take any
action with respect to this  Guaranty,  any security for all or any part of
the  Obligations or any document  covering any such  security,  all as such
officer may determine in his or her sole discretion. The undersigned hereby
certifies that he/she has all necessary authority to grant and execute this
Guaranty on behalf of the Guarantors.

                  13.  Governing  Law. This Guaranty has been  delivered by
the parties  hereto in Chicago,  Illinois.  Any dispute  between any one or
more of the  Guarantors  and the  Lenders  or the Agent  arising  out of or
related to the  relationship  established  between them in connection  with
this Guaranty, and whether arising in contract, tort, equity, or otherwise,
shall be  resolved  in  accordance  with  the  internal  laws,  and not the
conflicts of law provisions, of the State of Illinois.


<PAGE> 160

                  14.  Consent to  Jurisdiction;  Counterclaims;  Forum Non
Conveniens.  (a) Exclusive  Jurisdiction.  Except as provided in subsection
(b) of this Section 14, the Agent, on behalf of itself and the Lenders, and
each of the Guarantors  agree that all disputes between them arising out of
or related to the relationship  established between them in connection with
this Guaranty,  whether arising in contract,  tort,  equity,  or otherwise,
shall be  resolved  only by state or federal  courts  located  in  Chicago,
Illinois,  but the parties  acknowledge  that any appeals from those courts
may have to be heard by a court located outside of Chicago, Illinois.

                  (b) Other Jurisdictions. The Lenders and Agent shall have
the right to proceed  against  any one or more of the  Guarantors  or their
real or personal property in a court in any location to enable the Agent or
the  Lenders to obtain  personal  jurisdiction  over such  Guarantor  or to
enforce a judgment or other  court  order  entered in favor of the Agent or
the Lenders.

                  (c) Venue;  Forum Non Conveniens.  Each of the Guarantors
and the Agent,  on behalf of itself and the  Lenders,  waive any  objection
that it may have  (including,  without  limitation,  any  objection  to the
laying of venue or based on forum non  conveniens)  to the  location of the
court in which any proceeding is commenced in accordance  with this Section
14.

                  15. Waiver of Jury Trial.  Each of the Guarantors and the
Agent waive any right to trial by jury in any dispute,  whether sounding in
contract, tort, or otherwise, between any one or more of the Guarantors and
the  Lenders or the Agent  arising  out of or  related to the  transactions
contemplated  by  this  Guaranty  or  any  other  instrument,  document  or
agreement executed or delivered in connection  herewith. A Guarantor or the
Agent may file an original  counterpart or a copy of this Guaranty with any
court as  written  evidence  of the  consent of the  parties  hereto to the
waiver of their right to trial by jury.

                  16.  Waiver of Bond.  Each of the  Guarantors  waives the
posting of any bond otherwise  required of the Agent in connection with any
judicial process or proceeding to enforce any judgment or other court order
entered in favor of the  Agent,  or to  enforce  by  specific  performance,
temporary restraining order, or preliminary or permanent  injunction,  this
Guaranty or any other  agreement or document  between the Agent and any one
or more of the Guarantors.

                  17. Advice of Counsel.  Each of the Guarantors represents
and warrants  that it has consulted  with its legal  counsel  regarding all
waivers  under this  Guaranty,  including  without  limitation  those under
Section 4 and Sections 14 through 17 hereof, that it believes that it fully
understands  all rights that it is waiving and the effect of such  waivers,
that it assumes the risk of any misunderstanding that it may have regarding
any of the  foregoing,  and that it intends  that such  waivers  shall be a
material inducement to the Agent and the Lenders to extend the indebtedness
guaranteed hereby.
<PAGE> 161

                  18.  Notices.   All  notices  and  other   communications
provided  to any party  hereto  shall be in  writing  or by  facsimile  and
addressed  to such party at its  address  set forth  below or at such other
address as may be  designated by such party in a notice to the other party.
Any notice, if mailed and properly addressed with postage prepaid, shall be
deemed given when received; any notice, if transmitted by facsimile,  shall
be deemed given when transmitted. The addresses for notices are as follows:

         if to a Guarantor, at:

                  c/o U.S. Home Corporation
                  1800 West Loop South
                  Houston, Texas  77252
                  Attention:  Thomas A. Napoli

         if to the Agent, at

                  The First National Bank of Chicago
                  One First National Plaza
                  Chicago, Illinois  60670
                  Attention:  Gregory A. Gilbert
                  Telecopy:  312/732-1117

                  19.  Severability.  Wherever possible,  each provision of
this Guaranty  shall be  interpreted  in such manner as to be effective and
valid under  applicable law, but if any provision of this Guaranty shall be
prohibited  by  or  invalid  under  such  law,  such  provision   shall  be
ineffective  to the  extent  of  such  prohibition  or  invalidity  without
invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of
this Guaranty.

                  20. Merger.  This Guaranty represents the final agreement
of the Guarantor with respect to the matters  contained  herein and may not
be  contradicted  by evidence of prior or  contemporaneous  agreements,  or
subsequent  oral  agreements,  between any  Guarantor  and the Agent or any
Lender.  This Guaranty  amends and restates in its entirety the  Guaranties
heretofore  executed and  delivered by the  Guarantors  with respect to the
Original Agreement.

                  21.  Execution  in  Counterparts.  This  Guaranty  may be
executed in any number of counterparts  and by different  parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be
an original and all of which taken  together  shall  constitute one and the
same agreement.



<PAGE> 162


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Guaranty has been duly executed by
the Guarantor as of the day and year first set forth above.


                           CANTERBURY CORPORATION
                           COUNTRYPLACE GOLF COURSE, INC.
                           E.M.J.V. CORP.
                           HOMECRAFT CORPORATION
                           IMPERIAL HOMES CORPORATION
                           OCEANPOINTE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
                           ORRIN THOMPSON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
                           ORRIN THOMPSON HOMES CORP.
                           PAPARONE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
                           PRAIRIE LAKE CORPORATION
                           RIVENHOME CORPORATION
                           RUTENBERG HOMES, INC. (Florida)
                           RUTENBERG HOMES, INC. (Texas)
                           STONEY CORPORATION
                           STONEYBROOK GOLF CLUB OF FORT MYERS, INC.
                           USH CAPITAL CORPORATION
                           USH EQUITY CORPORATION
                           USH HOLDING, INC.
                           USH MILLENIUM VENTURES CORP.
                           USH/MJR, INC.
                           USH (WEST LAKE), INC.
                           USH WOODBRIDGE, INC.
                           U.S. HOME CORPORATION OF NEW YORK
                           U.S. HOME OF ARIZONA CONSTRUCTION CO.
                           U.S. HOME OF COLORADO REAL ESTATE, INC.
                           U.S. HOME REALTY CORPORATION
                           U.S. HOME REALTY, INC. (Maryland)
                           U.S. HOME REALTY, INC. (Texas)
                           U.S. HOME AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
                           U.S.H. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK
                           U.S.H. LOS PRADOS, INC.



                                     By: ________________________________
                                         Name:  Thomas A. Napoli
                                         Title:  Vice President



<PAGE> 163


Acknowledged and agreed to as of the 11th day of September, 1998.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
         as Agent


By: __________________________
   Name: Gregory A. Gilbert
   Title:  Vice President





<PAGE> 164



                                EXHIBIT "H"

                  SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CONTRIBUTION
                          AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT


                  THIS  SECOND  AMENDED  AND  RESTATED   CONTRIBUTION   AND
INDEMNITY  AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of September 11, 1998, by
and among the undersigned (collectively, the "Guarantors").

                            W I T N E S S E T H:

                  WHEREAS,  concurrently  with the  execution  and delivery
hereof,  U.S. Home  Corporation (the "Borrower") has executed and delivered
that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as such document
may be modified  and amended  from time to time,  the "Credit  Agreement"),
dated as of the date  hereof,  providing  for Loans to be made from time to
time by the Lenders identified in the Credit Agreement to the Borrower in a
principal amount not to exceed $350,000,000 (capitalized terms used herein,
but not defined herein,  shall have the meanings provided for such terms in
the Credit Agreement);

                  WHEREAS,  the Guarantors have each executed and delivered
that certain Amended and Restated Guaranty of even date herewith,  pursuant
to which the Guarantors guaranty the payment of all Obligations; and

                  WHEREAS,  the  Guarantors  are  parties  to that  certain
Amended and Restated  Contribution and Indemnity  Agreement dated as of May
28, 1997, as amended (the "Original Contribution Agreement"); and

                  WHEREAS, the Lenders have required as a condition,  among
others, to the making of the Loans, that the Guarantors execute and deliver
this  Agreement  for the purpose of amending  and  restating  the  Original
Contribution Agreement in its entirety.

                  NOW THEREFORE,  for good and valuable consideration,  the
receipt and  sufficiency of which are hereby  acknowledged,  the Guarantors
hereby  covenant  and agree that the  Original  Contribution  Agreement  is
amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

                  1.  Allocable  Amount.  As used in  this  Agreement,  the
"Allocable Amount" of any Guarantor, as of any date of determination, shall
be  determined  to be an amount equal to  ninety-five  percent (95%) of the
maximum amount which could then be claimed  against such Guarantor  without
rendering such claim voidable or avoidable  under Section 548 of Chapter 11
of the United States Federal  Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C.  Sec. 101 et seq.)
or under any  applicable  state Uniform  Fraudulent  Transfer Act,  Uniform
Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law.



<PAGE> 165




                  2. Allocable  Share. As used in this Agreement,  the term
"Allocable  Share" means, at the relevant time of calculation  with respect
to  any  Guarantor,   a  fraction,  the  numerator  of  which  equals  such
Guarantor's  Allocable  Amount  and the  denominator  of which  equals  the
Allocable Amounts of all the Guarantors.

                  3.  Contribution and  Indemnification.  (a) To the extent
that a payment is made on the  Obligations  by a  Guarantor  (a  "Guarantor
Payment")  which,  taking into account all other  Guarantor  Payments  then
previously or concurrently  made by or attributable to any other Guarantor,
exceeds such Guarantor's Allocable Share of all such Guarantor Payments (as
such share would then be  calculated  immediately  prior to such  Guarantor
Payment),  then  such  Guarantor  shall be  entitled  to  contribution  and
indemnification from, and to be reimbursed by, each of the other Guarantors
for the  amount  of such  excess,  pro rata  based  upon  their  respective
Allocable Shares as in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment.

                  (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Guarantors may, as
among themselves,  provide for an allocation  consistent with the foregoing
which requires the Guarantors that received a direct financial benefit from
the  Obligations in respect of which a payment by a Guarantor has been made
and for which  contribution is sought to make contribution  payments before
the  Guarantors  that  did not  receive  a  direct  financial  benefit  are
obligated to make contribution payments.

                  (c)  The  Guarantors   acknowledge  that  the  rights  of
contribution  and  indemnification  hereunder shall  constitute an asset in
favor of any Guarantor to which such  contribution and  indemnification  is
owing.

                  4. Purpose of Agreement.  This Agreement is intended only
to define the relative rights of the  Guarantors,  and nothing set forth in
this Agreement is intended to or shall impair the obligations of any of the
Guarantors  with  respect to the  Obligations,  the  Guaranty or any of the
other Loan Documents.

                  5. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.


<PAGE> 166




                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Guarantors  have executed this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

                                     CANTERBURY CORPORATION
                                     COUNTRYPLACE GOLF COURSE, INC.
                                     E.M.J.V. CORP.
                                     HOMECRAFT CORPORATION
                                     IMPERIAL HOMES CORPORATION
                                     OCEANPOINTE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
                                     ORRIN THOMPSON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
                                     ORRIN THOMPSON HOMES CORP.
                                     PAPARONE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
                                     PRAIRIE LAKE CORPORATION
                                     RIVENHOME CORPORATION
                                     RUTENBERG HOMES, INC. (Florida)
                                     RUTENBERG HOMES, INC. (Texas)
                                     STONEY CORPORATION
                                     STONEYBROOK GOLF CLUB OF FT. MYERS, INC.
                                     USH CAPITAL CORPORATION
                                     USH EQUITY CORPORATION
                                     USH HOLDING, INC.
                                     USH MILLENIUM VENTURES CORP.
                                     USH/MJR, INC.
                                     USH (WEST LAKE), INC.
                                     USH WOODBRIDGE, INC.
                                     U.S. HOME CORPORATION OF NEW YORK
                                     U.S. HOME OF ARIZONA CONSTRUCTION CO.
                                     U.S. HOME OF COLORADO REAL ESTATE, INC.
                                     U.S. HOME REALTY CORPORATION
                                     U.S. HOME REALTY, INC. (Maryland)
                                     U.S. HOME REALTY, INC. (Texas)
                                     U.S. HOME AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
                                     U.S.H. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK
                                     U.S.H. LOS PRADOS, INC.


                                       By:      ______________________________
                                                Thomas A. Napoli
                                                Vice President




<PAGE> 167




                                EXHIBIT "I"

            SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT

         This Second Amended and Restated  Subordination  Agreement (as the
same  may  from  time  to  time  be  amended,  modified  or  restated,  the
"Agreement")  entered  into by and  between the  parties  signatory  hereto
(together with their successors and assigns,  individually,  a "Noteholder"
and  collectively,  the  "Noteholders"),  and The  First  National  Bank of
Chicago,  as agent (the "Agent") for itself and the other "Senior  Lenders"
(as defined below).

                            W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS,  the  Noteholders  are  subsidiaries  of  Borrower,   and
Borrower  may now or  hereafter  be indebted to the  Noteholders  (all such
indebtedness or any notes or other instruments evidencing such indebtedness
being herein referred to as the "Subordinated Notes");

         WHEREAS, the Borrower has entered into that certain Second Amended
and Restated  Credit  Agreement of even date herewith (as the same may from
time to time be amended, modified, supplemented or restated, in whole or in
part and without limitation as to amount,  terms,  conditions or covenants,
the "Credit Agreement") with the Agent and the Senior Lenders;

         WHEREAS, Borrower is presently indebted to the Senior Lenders as a
result of the  advance  of monies  and  other  extensions  of credit by the
Senior Lenders to Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement;

         WHEREAS,  the Noteholders  acknowledge that the loan or advance of
monies or other  extensions  of any  financial  accommodation  or credit to
Borrower by the Senior Lenders is of value to the Noteholders; and

         WHEREAS,  the Noteholders  have heretofore  executed and delivered
that certain Amended and Restated Subordination Agreement,  dated as of May
28, 1997, as amended (the "Original Subordination Agreement").

         NOW, THEREFORE,  for good and valuable  consideration,  receipt of
which is hereby acknowledged by the Noteholders, and in order to induce the
Senior Lenders, now or from time to time hereafter, to make loans or extend
credit  or any  other  financial  accommodation  to or for the  benefit  of
Borrower; or to grant such renewals, increases or extensions thereof as the
Senior Lenders may deem advisable;  and to better secure the Senior Lenders
in respect of the foregoing, each of the Noteholders hereby agrees with the
Agent and the Senior Lenders that the Original  Subordination  Agreement is
hereby amended and restated in its entirety as hereinafter set forth.

         1. Certain  Defined Terms.  In addition to the terms defined above
and elsewhere in this Agreement, the following terms used in this Agreement
shall have the following meanings,  applicable both to the singular and the
plural forms of the terms defined:


<PAGE> 168

         As used in this Agreement:

         "Borrower" shall mean U.S. Home Corporation,  a corporation or any
successor or assign, including,  without limitation, a receiver, trustee or
debtor-in-possession.

         "Senior  Debt"  shall mean all  "Obligations"  (as  defined in the
Credit  Agreement).  Senior  Debt  shall be  considered  to be  outstanding
whenever any Senior Lender has an outstanding commitment therefor.

         "Senior  Lenders"  shall mean each of the  financial  institutions
from time to time party to the Credit  Agreement  and each other  holder of
the Senior  Debt and shall  include  the  "Issuing  Bank"  under the Credit
Agreement.

         "Subordinated  Debt" shall mean (a) all principal of, and premium,
if any,  and  interest  on,  the  Subordinated  Notes  and  (b)  all  other
indebtedness,  fees, expenses,  obligations and liabilities of the Borrower
(or any other person,  firm,  partnership or corporation for the benefit of
Borrower) to any Noteholders, whether now existing or hereafter incurred or
created,  in each case,  whether such amounts are due or not due, direct or
indirect,  absolute or contingent;  provided,  however,  Subordinated  Debt
shall  include  only such  amounts  in excess  of  $10,000,000  at any time
outstanding.

         2.   Standby;   Subordination;   Subrogation.   The   payment  and
performance of the Subordinated  Debt is hereby  subordinated to the Senior
Debt  and,  except  as set  forth in  Sections  3 and 4 below,  none of the
Noteholders  will accelerate,  ask,  demand,  sue for, take or receive from
Borrower,  by setoff or in any other  manner,  the whole or any part of the
Subordinated  Debt,  including,  without  limitation,  the  taking  of  any
negotiable instruments evidencing such amounts, nor any security for any of
the Subordinated  Debt,  unless and until all of the Senior Debt shall have
been fully and  indefeasibly  paid and  satisfied in cash and all financing
arrangements  among  Borrower,  the Agent and the Senior  Lenders have been
terminated.  Each of the Noteholders also hereby agrees that, regardless of
whether the Senior Debt is secured or unsecured,  the Senior  Lenders shall
be subrogated for the Noteholders with respect to the  Noteholders'  claims
against Borrower and the Noteholders' rights, liens and security interests,
if any, in any of Borrower's assets or any other assets securing the Senior
Debt and the proceeds  thereof  until all of the Senior Debt has been fully
and indefeasibly paid and satisfied in cash and all financing  arrangements
among Borrower, the Agent and the Senior Lenders have been terminated.



<PAGE> 169


         3. Permitted Payments. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2
of this  Agreement,  until the occurrence of a "Default" (as defined in the
Credit  Agreement),  and  provided  that (i) there shall not then exist any
breach  of this  Agreement  by any of the  Noteholders  which  has not been
waived, in writing,  by the Agent, and (ii) the payment described below, if
made,  would not give rise to the  occurrence  of a Default  or the  Senior
Lenders' making an advance to Borrower in excess of amounts  otherwise then
available to Borrower under the terms of the Credit Agreement, Borrower may
pay to the Noteholders,  and the Noteholders may accept from Borrower,  any
and all payments of the Subordinated Debt ("Permitted Payments"),  it being
understood and agreed by the Noteholders that  Subordinated Debt may not be
modified or amended in a manner that  adversely  affects the Senior Lenders
without  the prior  written  consent  of the Agent on behalf of the  Senior
Lenders.

         4.  Enforcement  Rights.  Each of the  Noteholders,  prior  to the
indefeasible  payment in full of the Senior Debt and the termination of the
Credit  Agreement among the Borrower and the Senior Lenders,  shall have no
right  to  enforce  any  claim  with  respect  to  the  Subordinated  Debt,
including,  without limitation, any Permitted Payment, or otherwise to take
any action  against  Borrower  or  Borrower's  property  without the Senior
Lenders' prior written consent.

         5. Liens;  Permitted Transfers;  Permitted Change of Control. Each
of the Noteholders  hereby represents as of the date hereof that it has not
been granted or obtained  any liens or security  interests in any assets of
the  Borrower or any other assets  securing  the Senior  Debt.  Each of the
Noteholders agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Agent and
each of the  Senior  Lenders,  no  Noteholder  shall  take any  liens on or
security  interests  in  any  assets  of  the  Borrower.   The  Noteholders
acknowledge  and agree that, to the extent the terms and provisions of this
Agreement are inconsistent  with the  Subordinated  Notes, the Subordinated
Notes shall be deemed to be subject to this Agreement.  Notwithstanding any
provision contained in the Subordinated Notes accelerating the Subordinated
Debt or requiring a mandatory  prepayment  or put of all or any part of the
Subordinated  Debt upon the occurrence of a default or other event, no such
default  or  other  event  shall  result  in any such  acceleration  of the
Subordinated  Debt,  mandatory  prepayment with respect to the Subordinated
Debt or put of any  portion  of the  Subordinated  Debt,  all of which  are
hereby waived by the  Noteholders,  unless and until all of the Senior Debt
shall have been fully and  indefeasibly  paid and satisfied in cash and all
financing  arrangements  among  Borrower,  the Agent and the Senior Lenders
have been terminated.


<PAGE> 170

         6. Subordinated Debt Owed Only to the Noteholders. The Noteholders
warrant and represent that (a) the Noteholders have not previously assigned
any  interest  in  the  Subordinated  Debt  or  any  security  interest  in
connection  therewith,  if any;  (b) no other party owns an interest in the
Subordinated Debt or security therefor other than the Noteholders  (whether
as joint holders of the Subordinated Debt, participants or otherwise);  and
(c) the entire Subordinated Debt is owing only to the Noteholders.  Each of
the Noteholders  covenants that the entire Subordinated Debt shall continue
to be  owing  only to the  Noteholders  and  all  security  therefor  shall
continue  to be held  solely  for the  benefit  of the  Noteholders  unless
assigned in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

         7. Senior  Lender  Priority.  In the event of the  occurrence of a
Default (as defined in the Credit  Agreement)  (i) the Agent and the Senior
Lenders shall be entitled to receive  indefeasible  payment in full in cash
of any and all of the Senior  Debt prior to the  payment of all or any part
of the Subordinated  Debt, and (ii) any payment or distribution of any kind
or character, whether in cash, securities or other property, which shall be
payable  or  deliverable  upon  or  with  respect  to  any  or  all  of the
Subordinated  Debt  shall  be paid  or  delivered  directly  to  Agent  for
application  on any of the Senior  Debt,  due or not due,  until the Senior
Debt shall have first been fully and  indefeasibly  paid and  satisfied  in
cash.

         8. Grant of Authority to Agent.  In the event of the occurrence of
any event  described  in Section 7 above,  and in order to enable the Agent
and the Senior  Lenders to enforce  their  rights  hereunder  in any of the
aforesaid actions or proceedings,  Agent is hereby  irrevocably  authorized
and empowered, in the Agent's discretion, to file, make and present for and
on behalf of the  Noteholders  such  proofs of claims  against  Borrower on
account of the Subordinated Debt or other motions or pleadings as the Agent
may deem  expedient or proper and to vote such proofs of claims in any such
proceeding  and to  receive  and  collect  any and all  dividends  or other
payments or  disbursements  made  thereon in whatever  form the same may be
paid or  issued  and to apply the same on  account  of any  portion  of the
Senior Debt.  In voting such proofs of claim in any  proceeding,  the Agent
may act in a manner consistent with the sole interest of the Senior Lenders
and the Agent shall have no duty to take any action to optimize or maximize
the  Noteholders'  recovery  with  respect  to its claim.  The  Noteholders
irrevocably authorize and empower the Agent to demand, sue for, collect and
receive  each of the  aforesaid  payments  and  distributions  described in
Section 7 above and give  acquittance  therefor and to file claims and take
such  other  actions,  in  the  Agent's  own  name  or in the  name  of the
Noteholders or otherwise,  as the Agent may deem necessary or advisable for
the enforcement of this Agreement. Each of the Noteholders will execute and
deliver  to the  Agent  such  powers  of  attorney,  assignments  and other
instruments or documents,  including notes and stock certificates (together
with such  assignments or endorsements as the Agent shall deem  necessary),
as may be  requested  by the  Agent in order to  enable  the  Agent  and to
enforce any and all claims of the Agent and the Senior Lenders upon or with
respect to any or all of the  Subordinated  Debt and to collect and receive
any and all payments and distributions  which may be payable or deliverable
at any time upon or with  respect  to the  Subordinated  Debt,  all for the
Agent's and the Senior Lenders' own benefit.


<PAGE> 171

         9.  Payments  Received by the  Noteholders.  Except for  Permitted
Payments  received by the Noteholders  prior to the occurrence of a Default
as  provided  in Section 3 above,  should any  payment or  distribution  or
security or  instrument or proceeds  thereof be received by any  Noteholder
upon or with respect to the Subordinated  Debt or any other  obligations of
Borrower to any  Noteholder  prior to the  indefeasible  payment in full in
cash  of  all  of  the  Senior  Debt  and   termination  of  all  financing
arrangements  among  Borrower,  the  Agent  and  the  Senior  Lenders,  the
Noteholders  shall receive and hold the same in trust, as trustee,  for the
benefit of the Agent and the Senior Lenders,  and shall  forthwith  deliver
the same to the Agent,  in  precisely  the form  received  (except  for the
endorsement  or  assignment  of  the  Noteholders  where  necessary),   for
application on any of Senior Debt, due or not due, and, until so delivered,
the same shall be held in trust by such  Noteholder  as the property of the
Agent and the Senior Lenders. In the event of the failure of any Noteholder
to make any such  endorsement or assignment to the Agent, the Agent, or any
of its officers or employees,  is hereby irrevocably authorized to make the
same.

         10. Continuing  Nature of  Subordination.  This Agreement shall be
effective and may not be terminated or otherwise  revoked by any Noteholder
until the Senior Debt shall have been indefeasibly paid in full in cash and
satisfied and the Credit Agreement among Borrower, the Agent and the Senior
Lenders have been terminated.  In the event the Noteholders  shall have any
right under  applicable law otherwise to terminate or revoke this Agreement
which right cannot be waived,  such  termination or revocation shall not be
effective until written notice of such termination or revocation, signed by
any  such  Noteholder,   is  actually   received  by  the  Agent's  officer
responsible for such matters. In the absence of the circumstances described
in the immediately  preceding sentence,  this is a continuing  agreement of
subordination  and the Agent and the Senior  Lenders may  continue,  at any
time and  without  notice to the  Noteholders,  to  extend  credit or other
financial  accommodations and loan monies to or for the benefit of Borrower
on the faith hereof.  Any termination or revocation  described  hereinabove
shall not affect this  Agreement  in relation to (a) any of the Senior Debt
which arose or was committed to prior to receipt  thereof or (b) any of the
Senior Debt created after receipt thereof, if such Senior Debt was incurred
through  readvances by the Senior Lenders  pursuant to the Senior  Lenders'
financing  arrangements  with  Borrower,   including,  without  limitation,
advances or readvances,  in an aggregate  outstanding  amount not to exceed
the sum of the Aggregate  Commitment (as defined in the Credit Agreement as
in effect on the date of receipt of any such notice and as may be increased
pursuant to the  provisions  of the Credit  Agreement).  If, in reliance on
this  Agreement,  any Senior Lender makes loans or other advances to or for
the benefit of Borrower or takes other  action  under the Credit  Agreement
after such aforesaid  termination or revocation by the Noteholder but prior
to the receipt by the Agent of said written notice as set forth above,  the
rights of the Senior  Lenders shall be the same as if such  termination  or
revocation had not occurred.


<PAGE> 172

         11.  Additional  Agreements  between the Agent, the Senior Lenders
and Borrower.  The Agent or any Senior Lender, at any time and from time to
time,  either before or after any such  aforesaid  notice of termination or
revocation,  may enter into such  agreement or agreements  with Borrower as
the Agent or any  Senior  Lender  may deem  proper,  extending  the time of
payment of or renewing or otherwise altering the terms, including,  without
limitation  increasing the principal amount thereof,  of all or any portion
of the Senior Debt or obtaining security for any or all of the Senior Debt,
and may exchange, sell, release,  surrender or otherwise deal with any such
security, without in any way thereby impairing or affecting this Agreement.

         12. Noteholders'  Waivers.  All of the Senior Debt shall be deemed
to have  been  made or  incurred  in  reliance  upon  this  Agreement.  The
Noteholders  expressly  waive all notice of the  acceptance by the Agent or
any  Senior  Lender  of the  subordination  and  other  provisions  of this
Agreement and all other notices not specifically  required  pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement  whatsoever,  and the  Noteholders  expressly waive
reliance by the Agent and the Senior  Lenders  upon the  subordination  and
other agreements as herein provided.  The Noteholders further agree that in
the event Borrower  consents or fails to object to a proposed  retention of
such assets (or a portion  thereof)  by the Agent or the Senior  Lenders in
satisfaction  of the Senior Debt (or a portion  thereof),  the  Noteholders
hereby  consent  to such  proposed  retention  regardless  of  whether  the
Noteholders  are  provided  with  notice of such  proposed  retention.  The
Noteholders  agree that the  Noteholders  will not interfere with or in any
manner oppose a disposition  of any assets  securing the Senior Debt by the
Agent or any Senior Lender.  The  Noteholders  agree that neither the Agent
nor any  Senior  Lender has made any  warranties  or  representations  with
respect  to  the  due  execution,   legality,  validity,   completeness  or
enforceability of the Credit Agreement, or the collectibility of the Senior
Debt, that the Agent and the Senior Lenders shall be entitled to manage and
supervise  their loans to Borrower in accordance  with  applicable  law and
their usual  practices,  modified  from time to time as deemed  appropriate
under the circumstances, without regard to the existence of any rights that
any  Noteholder  may now or  hereafter  have in or to any of the  assets of
Borrower,  and that Agent and the Senior Lenders shall have no liability to
the  Noteholders  for, and waive any claim which the Noteholders may now or
hereafter  have against,  the Agent or any Senior Lender arising out of any
and all actions which the Agent or any Senior Lender, in good faith,  takes
or  omits  to take  with  respect  to the  Credit  Agreement  or any  other
agreement  related  thereto or to the  collection of the Senior Debt or the
valuation, use, protection or release of any security for the Senior Debt.

         13.  Invalidated  Payments.  To the extent that the Senior Lenders
receive  payments on, or proceeds of collateral  for, the Senior Debt which
are  subsequently  invalidated,  declared to be fraudulent or preferential,
set aside and/or required to be repaid to a trustee,  receiver or any other
party  under any  bankruptcy  law,  state or federal  law,  common  law, or
equitable cause,  then, to the extent of such payment or proceeds received,
the Senior Debt, or part thereof, intended to be satisfied shall be revived
and  continue in full force and effect as if such  payments or proceeds had
not been received by the Senior Lenders.


<PAGE> 173

         14.  Bankruptcy  Issues.  Each of the Noteholders  agrees that the
Senior  Lenders,  or any  one of  them  may  consent  to  the  use of  cash
collateral  or  provide  financing  to  the  Borrower  on  such  terms  and
conditions  and in such  amounts  as the  Senior  Lenders,  in  their  sole
discretion,  may decide and that, in connection  with such cash  collateral
usage or such  financing,  the  Borrower  (or a trustee  appointed  for the
estate of Borrower) may grant to the Agent or the Senior  Lenders liens and
security  interests  upon all  assets  of the  Borrower,  which  liens  and
security  interests  (i) shall secure  payment of all Senior Debt  (whether
such Senior Debt arose  prior to the filing of the  petition  for relief or
arise thereafter);  and (ii) shall be superior in priority to the liens and
security  interests,  if any,  held by the  Noteholders  on the  assets  of
Borrower.  All  allocations of payments  between the Senior Lenders and the
Noteholders  shall,  subject to any court order,  continue to be made after
the filing of a petition under the  Bankruptcy  Code on the same basis that
the payments were to be allocated prior to the date of such filing. Each of
the Noteholders agrees that it will not object to or oppose a sale or other
disposition of any assets securing the Senior Debt (or any portion thereof)
free and  clear  of  security  interests,  liens  or  other  claims  of the
Noteholders,  if any, under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other
provision of the  Bankruptcy  Code if the Senior  Lenders have consented to
such sale or disposition of such assets.  In the event that the Noteholders
have or at any time acquire any security for the Subordinated Debt, each of
the  Noteholders  agrees not to assert  any right it may have to  "adequate
protection" of its interest in such security in any  bankruptcy  proceeding
and agrees  that it will not seek to have the  automatic  stay  lifted with
respect to such security,  without the prior written  consent of the Senior
Lenders.  Each of the Noteholders  waives any claim it may now or hereafter
have  arising  out of  the  Senior  Lender's  election,  in any  proceeding
instituted  under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy  Code, of the application of
Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code, and/or any borrowing or grant of
a security  interest under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy  Code by Borrower,
as debtor in possession.  Each of the Noteholders agrees not to initiate or
prosecute or encourage any other person to initiate or prosecute any claim,
action or other proceeding (i) challenging the enforceability of any Senior
Lender's  claim,  (ii)  challenging  the  enforceability  of any  liens  or
security  interests in assets  securing the Senior Debt or (iii)  asserting
any claims which the Borrower may hold with respect to the Lender.



<PAGE> 174


         15. Agent's and Senior Lenders' Waivers. No waiver shall be deemed
to be made by the Agent or any Senior  Lender of any of the  Agent's or the
Senior  Lenders'  rights  hereunder,  unless  the same  shall be in writing
signed on behalf of the Agent or the Senior  Lenders,  as  applicable,  and
each  waiver,  if any,  shall be a waiver only with respect to the specific
instance involved and shall in no way impair the rights of the Agent or any
Senior Lender or the  obligations  of the  Noteholders to the Agent and the
Senior Lenders in any other respect at any other time.

         16. Information  Concerning  Financial Condition of Borrower.  The
Noteholders  hereby  assume  responsibility  for  keeping  informed  of the
financial  condition of  Borrower,  any and all  endorsers  and any and all
guarantors of the Senior Debt and of all other  circumstances  bearing upon
the risk of  nonpayment  of the Senior Debt and/or  Subordinated  Debt that
diligent  inquiry  would  reveal,  and the  Noteholders  hereby  agree that
neither the Agent nor any Senior  Lender  shall have any duty to advise the
Noteholders  of  information  known  to  the  Agent  or any  Senior  Lender
regarding such condition or any such circumstances.  The Noteholders hereby
agree  that all  payments  received  by any Senior  Lender may be  applied,
reversed, and reapplied,  in whole or in part, to any portion of the Senior
Debt, as the Senior Lenders, in their sole discretion, deem appropriate and
assent to any  extension  or  postponement  of the time of  payment  of the
Senior  Debt  or to any  other  indulgence  with  respect  thereto,  to any
substitution,  exchange  or  release  of  collateral  which may at any time
secure the Senior Debt and to the addition or release of any other party or
person primarily or secondarily liable therefor.

         17. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION;  WAIVERS.  THE NOTEHOLDERS CONSENT TO
THE  JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED WITHIN COOK COUNTY,
ILLINOIS,  AND WAIVE  PERSONAL  SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS UPON IT, AND
CONSENT  THAT  ALL SUCH  SERVICE  OF  PROCESS  BE MADE BY  REGISTERED  MAIL
DIRECTED TO THE NOTEHOLDERS AT THE ADDRESS STATED BELOW AND SERVICE SO MADE
SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE  COMPLETED  THREE (3) DAYS  AFTER THE SAME SHALL HAVE
BEEN POSTED AS AFORESAID.  THE  NOTEHOLDERS  WAIVE ANY OBJECTION BASED UPON
FORUM NON CONVENIENS,  AND ANY OBJECTION TO VENUE OF ANY ACTION  INSTITUTED
HEREUNDER.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO HAVE
A JURY PARTICIPATE IN RESOLVING ANY DISPUTE,  WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT,
TORT,  OR  OTHERWISE,  ARISING  OUT  OF,  CONNECTED  WITH,  RELATED  TO  OR
INCIDENTAL TO THE  RELATIONSHIP  ESTABLISHED  AMONG THEM IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER INSTRUMENT,  DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT  EXECUTED OR
DELIVERED IN  CONNECTION  HEREWITH.  EACH OF THE PARTIES  HERETO AGREES AND
CONSENTS  THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM,  DEMAND,  ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE
DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT ANY PARTY HERETO MAY FILE AN
ORIGINAL  COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN
EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES  HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT
TO TRIAL BY JURY.  NOTHING IN THIS SECTION 17 SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE
AGENT OR ANY  SENIOR  LENDER TO SERVE  LEGAL  PROCESS  IN ANY OTHER  MANNER
PERMITTED  BY LAW OR AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE AGENT OR ANY SENIOR  LENDER TO
BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING  AGAINST THE  NOTEHOLDERS OR ITS PROPERTY IN
THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.


<PAGE> 175

         18. Notices. All notices and other communications  provided to any
party hereto shall be in writing or by facsimile and addressed or delivered
to such party at its address  set forth  below or at such other  address as
may be designated by such party in a notice to the other party. Any notice,
if mailed and  property  addressed  with postage  prepaid,  shall be deemed
given when received;  any notice,  if  transmitted  by facsimile,  shall be
deemed given when transmitted. The addresses are as follows:

         (i)  If to the Agent or any Senior Lender at:

                  The First National Bank of Chicago
                  One First National Plaza
                  Chicago, IL  60670
                  Attn:  Gregory A. Gilbert
                  Telecopy: (312) 732-1117

         (ii) If to any Noteholder at:

                  c/o U.S. Home Corporation
                  1800 West Loop South
                  Houston, TX  77252
                  Attn:  Thomas A. Napoli
                  Telecopy: (713) 877-2451

         19.  Governing Law. This Agreement has been delivered and accepted
at and shall be deemed to have been made at Chicago, Illinois, and shall be
interpreted,   and  the  rights  and  obligations  of  the  parties  hereto
determined,  in  accordance  with the laws and  decisions  of the  State of
Illinois,  shall be  immediately  binding  upon the  Noteholders  and their
successors  and assigns,  and shall inure to the benefit of the  successors
and assigns of the Agent and the Senior Lenders.

         20.  Severability.  Wherever  possible,  each  provision  of  this
Agreement  shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid
under  applicable  law,  but if any  provision of this  Agreement  shall be
prohibited by or invalid under  applicable  law,  such  provision  shall be
ineffective  to the  extent  of such  prohibition  or  invalidity,  without
invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of
this Agreement.

         21. Section Titles. The section titles contained in this Agreement
are and  shall  be  without  substantive  meaning  or  content  of any kind
whatsoever and are not a part of the agreement between the parties hereto.



<PAGE> 176


         22. Authority.  The signatories to this Agreement on behalf of the
Noteholders hereby certify that they have all necessary  authority to grant
the subordination  evidenced hereby and execute this Agreement on behalf of
the Noteholders.

         23.  Full  Agreement.  This  Agreement  constitutes  the  complete
agreement  between the parties with respect to the subject  matter  hereof.
Any document,  instrument or agreement  executed by the parties hereto with
respect to the financing  which is the subject of this Agreement  predating
this  Agreement  shall be  merged  with and  into  and  superseded  by this
Agreement.


<PAGE> 177



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  this Subordination  Agreement has been signed
this 11th day of September, 1998.

                                            NOTEHOLDERS:

                                            U.S. HOME MORTGAGE CORPORATION
                                            C.M. CORP.
                                            FIDELITY GUARANTY AND ACCEPTANCE
                                             CORPORATION
                                            U.S. HOME ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
                                            U.S. INSURORS, INC.
                                            SAN FELIPE INDEMNITY CO., LTD.
                                            U.S.H. INDEMNITY CO., LTD.
                                            TEXAS-WIDE GENERAL AGENCY, INC.
                                            HOMETRUST INSURANCE COMPANY


                                            By:   ___________________________
                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:




Acknowledged and accepted in
Chicago, Illinois this
11th day of September, 1998

The First National Bank of Chicago,
as Agent

By:       ____________________________
      Gregory A. Gilbert
      Vice President


<PAGE> 178

                                 EXHIBIT J

                                CERTIFICATE

                  I,   ____________________________,   ______________  Vice
President of U.S. Home  Corporation,  execute and deliver this  certificate
pursuant to Section 5.2 of the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
("Credit  Agreement")  dated as of  September  11,  1998,  with  The  First
National  Bank of  Chicago,  as Agent,  and the  Lenders  that are  parties
thereto.  Capitalized terms used in this certificate and not defined herein
have the meanings provided therefor in the Credit Agreement.

                  1. As of the date  hereof,  to the best of my  knowledge,
there exists no Default or Unmatured Default.

                  2. To the best of my knowledge,  the  representations and
warranties  contained  in Article VI of the Credit  Agreement  are true and
correct  in all  material  respects  as of the date  hereof,  except to the
extent that any such  representation or warranty is stated to relate solely
to an earlier date, in which case such  representation  or warranty is true
and correct in all  material  respects on and as of such  earlier  date and
except for _________________________.

                  3. Borrower hereby requests [a Eurodollar  Advance in the
amount of  $_________________ on  ____________________  for a _______ month
Interest   Period   and/or  a  Floating  Rate  Advance  in  the  amount  of
$__________________ on ____________________ and/or a Swing Line Loan in the
amount of  $_____________________  on __________________  and/or a Facility
Letter    of   Credit   in   the    amount   of    $_________________    on
_____________________].

                  4. Attached  hereto is the Borrowing Base  Certificate as
of the most recent Inventory  Valuation Date, and I hereby certify that the
aggregate  amount of the Advances and Facility  Letters of Credit requested
under this  certificate  does not exceed the amount available for borrowing
as shown on such Borrowing Base Certificate.


                        ----------------------------

Date: ______________________


<PAGE> 179



                               BORROWING BASE
                              DETERMINED AS OF
                        ______________________, 199_

Borrowing Base

(i) Receivables                     $                         $

(ii) Housing Units under
       Contract                     $
                                    x 80%
                                    $                         $

(iii) Inventory Housing
        Units                       $
                                    x 70%
                                    $                         $

(iv)  Lesser of  (a) the sum
         of (1) Finished Lots       $
                                    x 70%
                                    $

                  PLUS

(2)  Land under Development         $
                                    x 50%
                                    $

                  PLUS

(3)  Entitled Land                  $
                                    x 30%
                                    $

                                    $                *
                  OR

         (b) Total Senior Loan
               Commitments $
                                    x 40%
                                    $                *        $____________

                                                              $

-------------------------------
*The lesser of (a) and (b) of clause (iv)  is to be included in the Borrowing 
Base.


<PAGE> 180




Less Consolidated Senior
 Debt Borrowings (itemize)

         Senior Debt Securities     $
         Outstanding Advances
          under Credit Agreement
         Outstanding Facility
          Letters of Credit
         [other]                    __________       $ ____________


Amount by which Borrowing
 Base exceeds Consolidated
 Senior Debt Borrowings                              $

Aggregate Available Credit
 Aggregate Commitment                                $300,000,000**
 Less Outstanding Advances
  and Facility Letters
  of Credit                                          $ ____________

Amount Available for
 Borrowing                                           $_____________***
                                                     -------------

---------------------------------

**This  amount is to be  decreased  or  increased  to the  extent  that the
Aggregate  Commitment  is  decreased  or  increased  pursuant to the Credit
Agreement.

***This amount is the lesser of (a) the amount  determined  pursuant to the
foregoing calculation (i.e., Borrowing Base, minus Consolidated Senior Debt
Borrowings) and (b) Aggregate Available Credit.


<PAGE> 181

                                EXHIBIT "K"

                           COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
                         
To:      The Lender parties to the
         Agreement Described Below

         This Compliance  Certificate is furnished pursuant to that certain
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of September 11, 1998
(as  amended,  modified,  renewed  or  extended  from  time  to  time,  the
"Agreement") among U.S. Home Corporation, and the Lenders party thereto and
The  First  National  Bank of  Chicago,  as Agent for the  Lenders.  Unless
otherwise  defined  herein,  capitalized  terms  used  in  this  Compliance
Certificate have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Agreement.

         THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT:

         1.  I am the duly elected _______________________ of the Borrower;

         2. I have  reviewed the terms of the Agreement and I have made, or
have  caused to be made  under my  supervision,  a  detailed  review of the
transactions and conditions of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during the
accounting period covered by the attached financial statements;

         3. The examinations described in paragraph 2 did not disclose, and
I have no  knowledge  of, the  existence  of any  condition  or event which
constitutes  a Default  or  Unmatured  Default  during or at the end of the
accounting period covered by the attached financial statements or as of the
date of this Certificate, except as set forth below; and

         4.  Schedule  I attached  hereto  sets  forth  financial  data and
computations evidencing compliance with certain covenants of the Agreement,
all of which data and computations are true, complete and correct.

         Described  below are the  exceptions,  if any,  to  paragraph 3 by
listing, in detail, the nature of the condition or event, the period during
which it has  existed  and the action  which the  Borrower  has  taken,  is
taking, or proposes to take with respect to each such condition or event:


___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________





<PAGE> 182


         The foregoing  certifications,  together with the computations set
forth in Schedule I hereto and the financial statements delivered with this
Certificate in support hereof, are made and delivered this day of _______ ,
19__ .






<PAGE> 183



                                  [SAMPLE]

      SCHEDULE I TO COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATEI TO COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

                     Schedule of Compliance as of with
                   Provisions of ______ and of _________
                               the Agreement


<PAGE> 184



                                EXHIBIT "L"

                            ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
                          
     This  Assignment  Agreement  (this  "Assignment   Agreement")  between
___________________________(the  "Assignor") and (the  "Assignee") is dated
as of _________ ,____ . The parties hereto agree as follows:

         1.  PRELIMINARY  STATEMENT.  The  Assignor  is a party to a Second
Amended  and  Restated  Credit  Agreement  (which,  as it may  be  amended,
modified,  renewed  or  extended  from  time to time is herein  called  the
"Credit  Agreement")  described  in Item 1 of  Schedule 1  attached  hereto
("Schedule  1").  Capitalized  terms used herein and not otherwise  defined
herein shall have the meanings attributed to them in the Credit Agreement.


         2.  ASSIGNMENT  AND  ASSUMPTION.  The  Assignor  hereby  sells and
assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from
the Assignor,  an interest in and to the Assignor's  rights and obligations
under the Credit Agreement such that after giving effect to such assignment
the Assignee shall have purchased pursuant to this Assignment Agreement the
percentage  interest  specified in Item 3 of Schedule 1 of all  outstanding
rights  and  obligations  under  the  Credit  Agreement   relating  to  the
facilities listed in Item 3 of Schedule 1 and the other Loan Documents. The
aggregate  Commitment  (or Loans,  if the  applicable  Commitment  has been
terminated)  purchased by the Assignee  hereunder is set forth in Item 4 of
Schedule 1.


         3. EFFECTIVE DATE. The effective date of this Assignment Agreement
(the  "Effective  Date") shall be the later of the date specified in Item 5
of Schedule 1 or two Business Days (or such shorter period agreed to by the
Agent) after a Notice of  Assignment  substantially  in the form of Exhibit
"I"  attached  hereto  has been  delivered  to the  Agent.  Such  Notice of
Assignment must include any consents  required to be delivered to the Agent
under  Section  15.3.1  of the  Credit  Agreement.  In no  event  will  the
Effective Date occur if the payments required to be made by the Assignee to
the Assignor on the  Effective  Date under  Sections 4 and 5 hereof are not
made on the proposed  Effective Date. The Assignor will notify the Assignee
of the proposed  Effective Date no later than the Business Day prior to the
proposed  Effective  Date. As of the Effective Date, (i) the Assignee shall
have the rights and  obligations  of a Lender under the Loan Documents with
respect to the rights and  obligations  assigned to the Assignee  hereunder
and (ii) the Assignor shall  relinquish its rights and be released from its
corresponding  obligations  under the Loan  Documents  with  respect to the
rights and obligations assigned to the Assignee hereunder.




<PAGE> 185

         4.  PAYMENTS  OBLIGATIONS.  On and after the Effective  Date,  the
Assignee  shall be  entitled  to  receive  from the Agent all  payments  of
principal,  interest and fees with respect to the interest assigned hereby.
The Assignee  shall advance funds directly to the Agent with respect to all
Loans and  reimbursement  payments made on or after the Effective Date with
respect to the interest assigned hereby. [In consideration for the sale and
assignment of Loans hereunder,  (i) the Assignee shall pay the Assignor, on
the Effective Date, an amount equal to the principal  amount of the portion
of all Floating Rate Loans assigned to the Assignee hereunder and (ii) with
respect to each  Eurodollar  Loan made by the  Assignor and assigned to the
Assignee  hereunder  which is outstanding on the Effective Date, (a) on the
last day of the Interest Period therefor or (b) on such earlier date agreed
to by the  Assignor  and the  Assignee or (c) on the date on which any such
Eurodollar  Loan becomes due (by  acceleration  or  otherwise)(the  date as
described  in the  foregoing  clauses  (a),  (b) or (c)  being  hereinafter
referred to as the "Payment Date"),  the Assignee shall pay the Assignor an
amount equal to the principal amount of the portion of such Eurodollar Loan
assigned to the Assignee  which is  outstanding on the Payment Date. If the
Assignor and the Assignee  agree that the Payment Date for such  Eurodollar
Loan shall be the  Effective  Date,  they shall agree to the interest  rate
applicable  to the portion of such Loan  assigned  hereunder for the period
from  the  Effective  Date  to  the  end of the  existing  Interest  Period
applicable to such  Eurodollar  Loan (the "Agreed  Interest  Rate") and any
interest  received by the  Assignee in excess of the Agreed  Interest  Rate
shall be remitted to the  Assignor.  In the event  interest  for the period
from the  Effective  Date to but not including the Payment Date is not paid
by the Borrower with respect to any Eurodollar Loan sold by the Assignor to
the Assignee hereunder, the Assignee shall pay to the Assignor interest for
such period on the portion of such  Eurodollar Loan sold by the Assignor to
the  Assignee  hereunder  at the  applicable  rate  provided  by the Credit
Agreement.  In the  event a  prepayment  of any  Eurodollar  Loan  which is
existing on the Payment  Date and  assigned by the Assignor to the Assignee
hereunder  occurs after the Payment Date but before the end of the Interest
Period  applicable to such Eurodollar Loan, the Assignee shall remit to the
Assignor  the excess of the  prepayment  penalty  paid with  respect to the
portion of such Eurodollar Loan assigned to the Assignee hereunder over the
amount which would have been paid if such prepayment penalty was calculated
based on the Agreed Interest Rate. The Assignee will also promptly remit to
the  Assignor  (i) any  principal  payments  received  from the Agent  with
respect to Eurodollar  Loans prior to the Payment Date and (ii) any amounts
of interest on Loans and fees  received  from the Agent which relate to the
portion of the Loans  assigned to the Assignee  hereunder for periods prior
to the  Effective  Date, in the case of Floating Rate Loans or fees, or the
Payment Date, in the case of Eurodollar  Loans,  and not previously paid by
the  Assignee  to the  Assignor.]*  In the event that either  party  hereto
receives any payment to which the other party hereto is entitled under this
Assignment  Agreement,  then the party receiving such amount shall promptly
remit it to the other party hereto.

*Each  Assignor may insert its standard  payment  provisions in lieu of the
payment terms included in this Exhibit.



<PAGE> 186


         5. FEES PAYABLE BY THE ASSIGNEE.  [The  Assignee  shall pay to the
Assignor a fee on each day on which a payment of interest  or  [commitment]
fees is made  under  the  Credit  Agreement  with  respect  to the  amounts
assigned  to the  Assignee  hereunder  (other than a payment of interest or
commitment  fees for the period prior to the Effective Date or, in the case
of Eurodollar  Loans,  the Payment Date, which the Assignee is obligated to
deliver to the Assignor  pursuant to Section 4 hereof).  The amount of such
fee shall be the difference between (i) the interest or fee, as applicable,
paid with  respect to the amounts  assigned to the Assignee  hereunder  and
(ii) the  interest or fee, as  applicable,  which would have been paid with
respect to the amounts assigned to the Assignee  hereunder if each interest
rate was of 1% less than the  interest  rate paid by the Borrower or if the
commitment fee was of 1% less than the commitment fee paid by the Borrower,
as applicable. In addition, the Assignee agrees to pay % of the recordation
fee  required to be paid to the Agent in  connection  with this  Assignment
Agreement.]**

**The parties may substitute other terms with respect to fees.

         6. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE ASSIGNOR;  LIMITATIONS ON THE ASSIGNOR'S
LIABILITY.  The Assignor  represents  and warrants that it is the legal and
beneficial  owner of the interest  being  assigned by it hereunder and that
such  interest  is free  and  clear of any  adverse  claim  created  by the
Assignor.  It is understood  and agreed that the  assignment and assumption
hereunder  are made without  recourse to the Assignor and that the Assignor
makes no other  representation  or  warranty  of any kind to the  Assignee.
Neither the Assignor nor any of its officers, directors,  employees, agents
or attorneys  shall be  responsible  for (i) the due  execution,  legality,
validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or collectability of any
Loan  Document,  including  without  limitation,   documents  granting  the
Assignor  and the  other  Lenders  a  security  interest  in  assets of the
Borrower or any Guarantor,  (ii) any representation,  warranty or statement
made  in or in  connection  with  any  of the  Loan  Documents,  (iii)  the
financial  condition or  creditworthiness of the Borrower or any Guarantor,
(iv) the  performance of or compliance  with any of the terms or provisions
of any of the Loan Documents,  (v) inspecting any of the Property, books or
records  of the  Borrower  or any  Guarantor,  (vi) any  mistake,  error of
judgment,  or action  taken or omitted to be taken in  connection  with the
Loans or the Loan Documents.

         7. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE ASSIGNEE. The Assignee (i) confirms that
it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the
financial statements requested by the Assignee and such other documents and
information as it has deemed  appropriate  to make its own credit  analysis
and decision to enter into this Assignment  Agreement,  (ii) agrees that it
will,  independently  and without  reliance upon the Agent, the Assignor or
any other Lender and based on such  documents and  information  as it shall
deem appropriate at the time,  continue to make its own credit decisions in
taking or not taking action under the Loan  Documents,  (iii)  appoints and
authorizes  the Agent to take such  action  as agent on its  behalf  and to
exercise such powers under the Loan Documents as are delegated to the Agent
by  the  terms  thereof,  together  with  such  powers  as  are  reasonably

<PAGE> 187

incidental  thereto,  (iv) agrees that it will perform in  accordance  with
their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents
are required to be performed by it as a Lender, (v) agrees that its payment
instructions and notice  instructions are as set forth in the attachment to
Schedule 1, (vi) confirms that none of the funds,  monies,  assets or other
consideration being used to make the purchase and assumption  hereunder are
"plan  assets" as defined  under  ERISA and that its rights,  benefits  and
interests in and under the Loan  Documents  will not be "plan assets" under
ERISA,  [and (vii)  attaches the forms  prescribed by the Internal  Revenue
Service of the United  States  certifying  that the Assignee is entitled to
receive payments under the Loan Documents  without deduction or withholding
of any United States federal income taxes].***

***To be inserted if the Assignee is not incorporated under the laws of the
United States, or a state thereof.

         8.  INDEMNITY.  The  Assignee  agrees  to  indemnify  and hold the
Assignor   harmless  against  any  and  all  losses,   costs  and  expenses
(including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees) and liabilities
incurred by the Assignor in  connection  with or arising in any manner from
the  Assignee's  non-performance  of the  obligations  assumed  under  this
Assignment Agreement.

         9. SUBSEQUENT ASSIGNMENTS.  After the Effective Date, the Assignee
shall have the right pursuant to Section 14.3.1 of the Credit  Agreement to
assign the rights  which are  assigned  to the  Assignee  hereunder  to any
entity or person, provided that (i) any such subsequent assignment does not
violate any of the terms and  conditions of the Loan  Documents or any law,
rule, regulation,  order, writ, judgment, injunction or decree and that any
consent  required  under the terms of the Loan  Documents has been obtained
and (ii) unless the prior written consent of the Assignor is obtained,  the
Assignee is not  thereby  released  from its  obligations  to the  Assignor
hereunder, if any remain unsatisfied,  including,  without limitation,  its
obligations under [Sections 4, 5 and 8] hereof.

         10.  CHANGES  IN  AGGREGATE  COMMITMENT.  If any  reduction  in or
increase  of the  Aggregate  Commitment  occurs  between  the  date of this
Assignment  Agreement  and the  Effective  Date,  the  percentage  interest
specified  in Item 3 of  Schedule 1 shall  remain the same,  but the dollar
amount  purchased shall be  recalculated  based on the reduced or increased
Aggregate Commitment.

         11. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This Assignment  Agreement and the attached
Notice of Assignment embody the entire agreement and understanding  between
the parties hereto and supersede all prior  agreements  and  understandings
between the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof.

         12. GOVERNING LAW. This Assignment  Agreement shall be governed by
the internal law, and not the law of conflicts, of the State of Illinois.

         13.  NOTICES.   Notices  shall  be  given  under  this  Assignment
Agreement in the manner set forth in the Credit Agreement.  For the purpose
hereof,  the  addresses of the parties  hereto (until notice of a change is
delivered) shall be the address set forth in the attachment to Schedule 1.

<PAGE> 188


         IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,   the  parties  hereto  have  executed  this
Assignment Agreement by their duly authorized officers as of the date first
above written.

                                                [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

                                                By:
                                                Title:




                                                [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

                                                By:
                                                Title:




<PAGE> 189




                                 SCHEDULE 1
                          to Assignment Agreement

1.       Description and Date of Credit Agreement:

2.       Date of Assignment Agreement: ___________,  ____ 19

3. Amounts (As of Date of Item 2 above):


         a.       Total of Commitment
                  under Credit
                  Agreement

         b.       Assignee's Percentage
                  purchased under the
                  Assignment
                  Agreement*

         c.       Amount of Assigned Share
                  purchased under the
                  the Assignment
                  Agreement


4.       Assignee's Aggregate
         Commitment Amount
         Purchased Hereunder:             $__________

5.       Proposed Effective Date:


Accepted and Agreed:

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]                                 [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
By: ____________________                           By: __________________
Title: _________________                           Title: _______________




 *       Percentage taken to 10 decimal places


<PAGE> 190



              Attachment to SCHEDULE 1 to ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

                Attach Assignor's Administrative Information
                Sheet, which must include notice address for
                       the Assignor and the Assignee



<PAGE> 191



                                EXHIBIT "I"
                          to Assignment Agreement

                                   NOTICE
                               OF ASSIGNMENT
                                     
                                                  ______________,  19 __

To:             [NAME OF BORROWER]*
                _______________________
                _______________________

                [NAME OF AGENT]
                _______________________
                _______________________


From:    [NAME OF ASSIGNOR] (the "Assignor")

                [NAME OF ASSIGNEE] (the "Assignee")


                1.  We  refer  to  that  Credit   Agreement   (the  "Credit
Agreement")  described in Item 1 of Schedule 1 attached  hereto  ("Schedule
1").  Capitalized  terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings attributed to them in the Credit Agreement.

                2. This Notice of Assignment  (this  "Notice") is given and
delivered  to  ****[the  Borrower  and]****  the Agent  pursuant to Section
15.3.2 of the Credit Agreement.

                3. The  Assignor  and the  Assignee  have  entered  into an
Assignment Agreement, dated as of ______ , 19__ (the "Assignment"), pursuant
to which, among other things, the Assignor has sold, assigned, delegated and
transferred to the Assignee,  and the Assignee has purchased,  accepted and
assumed from the Assignor the  percentage  interest  specified in Item 3 of
Schedule 1 of all  outstandings,  rights and  obligations  under the Credit
Agreement  relating to the  facilities  listed in Item 3 of Schedule 1. The
Effective Date of the  Assignment  shall be the later of the date specified
in Item 5 of Schedule 1 or two  Business  Days (or such  shorter  period as
agreed to by the Agent)  after this Notice of  Assignment  and any consents
and fees  required  by Sections  15.3.1 and 15.3.2 of the Credit  Agreement
have been  delivered to the Agent,  provided that the Effective  Date shall
not occur if any  condition  precedent  agreed to by the  Assignor  and the
Assignee has not been satisfied.



<PAGE> 192



                4.  The  Assignor  and  the  Assignee  hereby  give  to the
Borrower and the Agent notice of the assignment and delegation  referred to
herein.  The Assignor will confer with the Agent before the date  specified
in Item 5 of  Schedule 1 to  determine  if the  Assignment  Agreement  will
become effective on such date pursuant to Section 3 hereof, and will confer
with the Agent to determine the Effective Date pursuant to Section 3 hereof
if it  occurs  thereafter.  The  Assignor  shall  notify  the  Agent if the
Assignment  Agreement does not become  effective on any proposed  Effective
Date as a result of the failure to satisfy the conditions  precedent agreed
to by the  Assignor  and the  Assignee.  At the  request of the Agent,  the
Assignor will give the Agent written  confirmation  of the  satisfaction of
the conditions precedent.

                5. The Assignor or the  Assignee  shall pay to the Agent on
or before the  Effective  Date the  processing  fee of $4,000  required  by
Section 15.3.2 of the Credit Agreement.

                6. If Notes are  outstanding  on the  Effective  Date,  the
Assignor  and the  Assignee  request and direct that the Agent  prepare and
request the  Borrower to execute and deliver new Notes or, as  appropriate,
replacements notes, to the Assignor and the Assignee.  The Assignor and, if
applicable,  the  Assignee  each agree to deliver to the Agent the original
Note received by it from the Borrower upon its receipt of a new Note in the
appropriate amount.

                7. The  Assignee  advises the Agent that notice and payment
instructions are set forth in the attachment to Schedule 1.

                8. The Assignee hereby represents and warrants that none of
the funds,  monies,  assets or other  consideration  being used to make the
purchase  pursuant to the  Assignment  are "plan  assets" as defined  under
ERISA and that its rights,  benefits,  and  interests in and under the Loan
Documents will not be "plan assets" under ERISA.

                9. The  Assignee  authorizes  the Agent to act as its Agent
under the Loan Documents in accordance with the terms thereof. The Assignee
acknowledges that the Agent has no duty to supply  information with respect
to the Borrower or the Loan  Documents  to the Assignee  until the Assignee
becomes a party to the Credit Agreement.*


<PAGE> 193

*May be eliminated if Assignee is a party to the Credit Agreement prior to
the Effective Date.

NAME OF ASSIGNOR                               NAME OF ASSIGNEE

By:______________________                      By: ________________________


Title: __________________                      Title: _____________________
 


ACKNOWLEDGED [AND CONSENTED TO] ACKNOWLEDGED [AND CONSENTED TO]
 BY [NAME OF AGENT]                             BY [NAME OF BORROWER]

By: ____________________________                By: _________________________


Title: _________________________                Title: ______________________


           [Attach photocopy of Schedule 1 to Assignment]


<PAGE> 194



                                SCHEDULE 1-A
                                 GUARANTORS


Canterbury Corporation
Countryplace Golf Course, Inc.
E.M.J.V. Corp.
Homecraft Corporation
Imperial Homes Corporation
Oceanpointe Development Corporation
Orrin Thompson Construction Company
Orrin Thompson Homes Corp.
Paparone Construction Company
Prairie Lake Corporation
Rivenhome Corporation
Rutenberg Homes, Inc. (Texas)
Rutenberg Homes, inc. (Florida)
Stoney Corporation
Stoneybrook Golf Club of Ft. Myers, Inc.
USH Capital Corporation
USH Equity Corporation
USH Holding, Inc.
USH Millenium Ventures Corp.
USH/MJR, Inc.
USH (West Lake), Inc.
USH Woodbridge, Inc.
U.S. Home Corporation of New York
U.S. Home of Arizona Construction Co.
U.S. Home of Colorado Real Estate, Inc.
U.S. Home Realty Corporation
U.S. Home Realty, Inc. (Maryland)
U.S. Home Realty, Inc. (Texas)
U.S. Home and Development Corporation
U.S.H. Corporation of New York
U.S.H. Los Prados, Inc.


<PAGE> 195



                                SCHEDULE 1-B
                         NON-BORROWING SUBSIDIARIES


U.S. Home Mortgage Corporation
C.M. Corp.
Fidelity Guaranty and Acceptance Corporation
U.S. Home Acceptance Corporation
U.S. Insurors, Inc.
San Felipe Indemnity Co., Ltd.
U.S.H. Indemnity Co., Ltd.
Texas-Wide General Agency, Inc.
HomeTrust Insurance Company