<PAGE>   1
                          PLAN AND AGREEMENT OF MERGER

                                   DATED AS OF

                                FEBRUARY 16, 2000

                                      AMONG

                             U.S. HOME CORPORATION,

                               LENNAR CORPORATION

                                       AND

                           LEN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
<PAGE>   2
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

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                                                                            PAGE
<S>            <C>                                                          <C>
Article I             MERGER OF ACQUISITION AND THE COMPANY...............    2

      1.1      The Merger.................................................    2

      1.2      Certificate of Incorporation...............................    2

      1.3      By-Laws....................................................    3

      1.4      Directors..................................................    3

      1.5      Officers...................................................    3

      1.7      Stock of the Company.......................................    4

      1.8      Stock of Acquisition.......................................    7

      1.9      Dissenting Shares..........................................    7

      1.11     Election Notices...........................................    8

      1.12     Distributions with Regard to U.S. Home Common Stock........    9

      1.14     Options and Warrants.......................................   13

Article II            EFFECTIVE TIME OF MERGER............................   14

      2.1      Date of the Merger.........................................   14

      2.2      Execution of Certificate of Merger.........................   14

      2.3      Effective Time of the Merger...............................   14

Article III           REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES......................   15

      3.1      Representations and Warranties of the Company..............   15

      3.3      Termination of Representations and Warranties..............   29

Article IV            ACTIONS PRIOR TO THE MERGER.........................   29

      4.1      Company's Activities Until Effective Time..................   29

      4.2      Lennar's Activities Until Effective Time...................   31

      4.4      HSR Act Filings............................................   33

      4.7      No Solicitation of Offers; Notice of Proposals from Others.   37

      4.8      Lennar's and Acquisition's Efforts to Fulfill Conditions...   39

      4.9      Company's Efforts to Fulfill Conditions....................   39

Article V             CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO MERGER......................   39

      5.1      Conditions to the Company's Obligations....................   39

      5.2      Conditions to Lennar's and Acquisition's Obligations.......   42

Article VI            TERMINATION.........................................   44

      6.1      Right to Terminate.........................................   44

      6.2      Manner of Terminating Agreement............................   47
</TABLE>


                                       -i-
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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (CONTINUED)
<TABLE>
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                                                                            PAGE
<S>            <C>                                                          <C>
      6.3      Effect of Termination......................................   47

Article VII           ABSENCE OF BROKERS..................................   47

      7.1      Representations and Warranties Regarding Brokers and Others   47

Article VIII          OTHER AGREEMENTS....................................   48

      8.1      Payment to Lennar..........................................   48

Article IX            GENERAL.............................................   52

      9.1      Expenses...................................................   52

      9.6      Access to Properties, Books and Records....................   54

      9.7      Press Releases.............................................   55

      9.8      Entire Agreement...........................................   55

      9.9      Effect of Disclosures......................................   55

      9.10     Captions...................................................   55

      9.11     Prohibition Against Assignment.............................   55

      9.12     Notices and Other Communications...........................   56

      9.13     Governing Law..............................................   56

      9.14     Amendments.................................................   57

      9.15     Counterparts...............................................   57
</TABLE>


                                      -ii-
<PAGE>   4
                          PLAN AND AGREEMENT OF MERGER

          This is a Plan and Agreement of Merger dated as of February 16, 2000,
among U.S. Home Corporation (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, Lennar
Corporation ("Lennar"), a Delaware corporation, and LEN Acquisition Corporation
("Acquisition"), a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lennar,
relating to a merger (the "Merger") of the Company into Acquisition.

                                    ARTICLE I

                      MERGER OF ACQUISITION AND THE COMPANY

     1.1 The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
this Agreement, and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware (the "DGCL"), at the Effective Time (as defined in Paragraph 2.3),
the Company will be merged with and into Acquisition, which will be the
surviving corporation of the Merger (the "Surviving Corporation"). Except as
specifically provided in this Agreement, when the Merger becomes effective, (i)
the real and personal property, other assets, rights, privileges, immunities,
powers, purposes and franchises of Acquisition will continue as those of the
Surviving Corporation, unaffected and unimpaired by the Merger, (ii) the
separate existence of the Company will terminate, and the Company's real and
personal property, other assets, rights, privileges, immunities, powers,
purposes and franchises will be merged into the Surviving Corporation, which
will succeed to and assume all the rights and obligations of the Company in
accordance with the DGCL, and (iii) the Merger will have the other effects
specified in the DGCL (including, without limitation, Section 259 of the DGCL).

     1.2 Certificate of Incorporation. From the Effective Time until
subsequently amended in accordance with applicable law, the Certificate of
Incorporation of Acquisition immediately


                                       2
<PAGE>   5
before the Effective Time will be the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation, except that the Merger will effect an amendment to that
Certificate of Incorporation changing the name of the Surviving Corporation to
"U.S. Home Corporation." The Certificate of Incorporation of Acquisition, as so
amended, separate and apart from this Agreement, may be certified as the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation.

     1.3 By-Laws. The By-Laws of Acquisition immediately before the Effective
Time will be the By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation from the Effective Time
until they are amended in accordance with their terms, the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and applicable law.

     1.4 Directors. The directors of Acquisition immediately prior to the
Effective Time will be the directors of the Surviving Corporation after the
Effective Time and will serve in accordance with the By-Laws of the Surviving
Corporation until their respective successors are elected and qualified, or
until such earlier time as they resign or are removed in accordance with the
By-Laws.

     1.5 Officers. The officers of the Company immediately before the Effective
Time will be the officers of the Surviving Corporation after the Effective Time
and will hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and in
accordance with the By-Laws, of the Surviving Corporation.

     1.6 Further Assurances. If at any time after the Effective Time, the
Surviving Corporation determines or is advised that any deeds, bills of sale,
assignments, assurances or other actions or things are necessary or desirable to
vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Corporation its
right, obligation, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights,
properties or assets of either the Company or Acquisition acquired or to be
acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the
Merger or otherwise to


                                       3
<PAGE>   6
carry out the transactions which are the subject of this Agreement, the officers
and directors of the Surviving Corporation will be authorized to execute and
deliver all documents, in the name and behalf of the Company, Acquisition or
otherwise, and to take all other actions and do all other things as may be
necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm any and all right,
obligation, title and interest in, to and under such rights, properties or
assets in the Surviving Corporation or otherwise to carry out the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

     1.7 Stock of the Company. (a) Except as provided in subparagraphs (d), (f)
and (g) and Paragraph 1.9, at the Effective Time each share of Common Stock of
the Company ("U.S. Home Common Stock"), par value $ .01 per share, which is
outstanding immediately before the Effective Time will be converted into and
become the right to receive, (i) the number of shares of common stock of Lennar
("Lennar Common Stock"), par value $.10 per share, described in subparagraph (b)
(the "Stock Consideration"), plus (ii) $18 in cash (the "Cash Consideration").
Each share which receives that consideration is a "Non-Election Share."

          (b) The Stock Consideration for a share of U.S. Home Common Stock will
be the number of shares of Lennar Common Stock with a Market Value (computed as
provided in subparagraph (c)) equal to $18, except that in no event will the
Stock Consideration (i) be more than 1.27434 shares of Lennar Common Stock or
(ii) be fewer than 0.9600 shares of Lennar Common Stock. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if the Market Value of a share of Lennar Common Stock is (x) $11.55
or less, and neither the Company nor Lennar terminates this Agreement pursuant
to Article VI, the Stock Consideration for a share of U.S. Home Common Stock
will be the number of shares of Lennar Common Stock which has a Market Value of
$14.72, or (y) more than $23.96, the Stock Consideration for a share of U.S.
Home Common Stock will be the number of shares of Lennar Common Stock which has
a Market Value of $23.00.


                                       4
<PAGE>   7
          (c) The "Market Value" of a share of Lennar Common Stock will be the
average of the Last Sale Price of a share of Lennar Common Stock on each of the
twenty New York Stock Exchange trading days ending on, and including, the last
New York Stock Exchange trading day prior to the day of the meeting at which the
stockholders of the Company vote upon the Merger. The "Last Sale Price" of a
share of Lennar Common Stock on a day will be the last sale price of a share of
Lennar Common Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange consolidated tape
prior to 4:00 p.m. on that day.

          (d) Any holder of U.S. Home Common Stock may elect to receive with
regard to specified shares of U.S. Home Common Stock, instead of the combination
of Stock Consideration and Cash Consideration described in subparagraph (a),
either (i) a number of shares of Lennar Common Stock which is twice the Stock
Consideration per share of U.S. Home Common Stock described in subparagraph (a),
but no cash (a "Stock Election") or (ii) an amount of cash which is twice the
Cash Consideration described in subparagraph (a), but no shares of Lennar Common
Stock (a "Cash Election"), except that

          (x) if Stock Elections would cause the total number of shares of
          Lennar Common Stock which are to be issued to holders of U.S. Home
          Common Stock to be more than the Maximum Shares, (i) the number of
          shares of Lennar Common Stock which a holder of U.S. Home Common Stock
          who makes a Stock Election will receive for each share of U.S. Home
          Common Stock as to which the Stock Election is made will be reduced on
          a pro rata basis with all other such holders to the number such that
          the total number of shares of Lennar Common Stock to be issued to
          holders of U.S. Home Common Stock will be the Maximum Shares (assuming
          no Company stockholders exercise dissenters' rights or receive cash in
          lieu of fractional shares), and (ii) the holder will receive, with
          regard to the shares the holder does not receive because of the
          reduction, cash


                                       5
<PAGE>   8
          at the rate of the Market Value of Lennar Common Stock per full share
          of Lennar Common Stock, and

          (y) if Cash Elections would cause more than 55% of the total value of
          the Merger Consideration for all the outstanding shares of U.S. Home
          Common Stock to be cash (treating all stockholders who give the
          Company a timely and proper notice of intention to exercise
          dissenters' rights as receiving Merger Consideration consisting of
          cash equal to $36 per share as to which the notices relate), (i) the
          cash which a holder of a share of U.S. Home Common Stock who makes a
          Cash Election will receive will be reduced on a pro rata basis with
          all other such holders to the amount such that 55% of the total value
          of the Merger Consideration will be cash (treating all stockholders
          who give the Company timely and proper notice of intention to exercise
          dissenters' rights as receiving Merger Consideration consisting of
          cash equal to $36 per share as to which the notices relate), but not
          below $18 per share of U.S. Home Common Stock and (ii) the holder of
          U.S. Home Common Stock will receive for each $0.01 of the reduction of
          cash a fraction of a share of Lennar Common Stock equal to the number
          of shares constituting the Stock Consideration divided by 1800.

          (e) The Lennar Common Stock and cash into which a share of U.S. Home
Common Stock is converted in the Merger as provided in subparagraph (a) (i.e.,
the Market Value of the Stock Consideration and the Cash Consideration) is
referred to in this Agreement as the "Merger Price." The Lennar Common Stock and
cash into which a share of U.S. Home Common Stock is converted in the Merger as
provided in either subparagraph (a) or subparagraph (d) is referred to in this
Agreement as the "Merger Consideration." The term "Maximum Shares" as used in
subparagraph (d) means the number of shares of Lennar


                                       6
<PAGE>   9
Common Stock which would be issued if all holders of U.S. Home Common Stock
received the Stock Consideration provided for in subparagraph (a).

          (f) Each share of U.S. Home Common Stock held in the treasury of the
Company, by Lennar or by any direct or indirect wholly - owned subsidiary of the
Company or Lennar, immediately before the Effective Time will, at the Effective
Time, be canceled and cease to exist and no payment will be made with respect to
any of those shares.

          (g) No fractional shares of Lennar Common Stock will be issued as a
result of the Merger. Any holder of U.S. Home Common Stock who, but for this
subparagraph, would be entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Lennar
Common Stock as a result of the Merger will receive, instead of that fraction of
a share, cash equal to the Market Value of a share of Lennar Common Stock times
the fraction.

     1.8 Stock of Acquisition. At the Effective Time, each share of stock of
Acquisition ("Acquisition stock") which is outstanding immediately before the
Effective Time will remain outstanding and will become one share of common stock
of the Surviving Corporation. At the Effective Time, a certificate which
represented Acquisition stock will automatically become and be a certificate
representing the number of shares of Surviving Corporation common stock into
which the Acquisition stock represented by the certificate was converted.

     1.9 Dissenting Shares. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement
to the contrary, U.S. Home Common Stock that is outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time which is held by stockholders who have complied with Section
262 of the DGCL (including making a timely demand for appraisal and not voting
in favor of or consenting to the Merger) and who, as of the Effective Time, have
not withdrawn or lost their right to appraisal, will not be converted into or
represent the right to receive the Merger Price. Instead, if the Merger takes
place, the Surviving Corporation will pay the holders of those shares the fair
value of the shares


                                       7
<PAGE>   10
of U.S. Home Common Stock determined as provided in Section 262 of the DGCL.
Shares held by stockholders who fail to perfect, or who otherwise properly
withdraw or lose, their rights to receive the fair value of their shares of U.S.
Home Common Stock determined under Section 262 of the DGCL will be deemed to
have been converted, at the later of the Effective Time or the time they
withdraw or lose their rights to receive the fair value of their shares, into
the right to receive the Merger Price provided in Paragraph 1.7(a), without any
interest.

          (b) The Company will promptly give Lennar (i) notice of any demands
for appraisal received by the Company, any withdrawals of any such demands, and
any other communications required by, or relating to, Section 262 of the DGCL
which the Company receives and (ii) the opportunity to direct all negotiations
and proceedings with respect to demands for appraisal under the DGCL. The
Company will not, except with the prior written consent of Lennar, make any
payment with respect to any demand for payment of the fair value of shares or
offer to settle or settle any such demand.

     1.10 Adjustments. If between the date of this Agreement and the Effective
Time, the outstanding shares of U.S. Home Common Stock or Lennar Common Stock
are changed into a different number of shares by reason of a reclassification,
recapitalization, split up, combination or exchange of shares, or any dividend
payable in stock or other securities is declared with regard to the U.S. Home
Common Stock or Lennar Common Stock with a record date between the date of this
Agreement and the Effective Time, the Merger Consideration will be adjusted to
provide the holders of U.S. Home Common Stock the same economic effect as that
contemplated by this Agreement if the reclassification, recapitalization,
split-up, combination, exchange or dividend had not taken place.

     1.11 Election Notices. (a) Not later than 30 days before the scheduled date
of the meeting of the Company's stockholders at which they are to vote upon the
Merger (the


                                       8
<PAGE>   11
Company's "Merger Stockholders Meeting"), the Company will distribute to its
stockholders a form (an "Election Form"), which has been prepared by the Company
and approved by Lennar, with which the Company's stockholders can make the
election described in Paragraph 1.7(d). The Company will make additional
Election Forms available to its stockholders upon request throughout the period
during which elections can be made.

          (b) To make an election under Paragraph 1.7(d), a holder of U.S. Home
Common Stock must complete an Election Form and send or deliver it, accompanied
by the shares of U.S. Home Common Stock to which it relates, to the address
specified in the instructions to the Election Form, and the Election Form and
shares must be received at that address not later than 4:00 New York City time
on the day before the day on which the Company's Merger Stockholders Meeting is
held.

          (c) An election under Paragraph 1.7(d) may be rescinded at any time
before 4:00 p.m. New York City time on the day before the day on which the
Company's Merger Stockholders Meeting is held in the manner which will be
specified in the instructions to the Election Form. If an election is rescinded,
the shares of U.S. Home Common Stock as to which the election was made (i) will
be treated as Non-Election Shares and (ii) will be returned promptly to the
stockholder who made the election.

          (d) The Company will keep Lennar informed of the results of elections
made by its stockholders and will permit Lennar or its representatives to
inspect the Election Forms during normal business hours.

     1.12 Distributions with Regard to U.S. Home Common Stock. (a) Prior to the
Effective Time, Acquisition and the Company will jointly designate a bank or
trust company to act as Distributing Agent in connection with the Merger (the
"Distributing Agent"). Immediately before the Effective Time, Lennar will
provide the Distributing Agent with the shares of Lennar


                                       9
<PAGE>   12
Common Stock and funds which will have to be distributed to holders of U.S. Home
Common Stock under Paragraph 1.7(a) (assuming for this purpose that no holder of
shares of U.S. Home Common Stock will perfect the right under Section 262 of the
DGCL to receive the appraised value of shares of U.S. Home Common Stock). If it
is subsequently determined that, because of elections made as described in
Paragraph 1.7(d), holders of U.S. Home Common Stock will be entitled to more
cash, but fewer shares of Lennar Common Stock, than what the Distributing Agent
is holding, Lennar will promptly provide the additional funds to the
Distributing Agent and the Distributing Agent will return the excess shares to
Lennar.

          (b) Until they are distributed, the shares of Lennar Common Stock held
by the Distributing Agent will be deemed to be outstanding, (except that excess
shares returned to Lennar as provided in subparagraph (a) will be deemed never
to have been outstanding) but the Distributing Agent will not vote those shares
or exercise any rights of a shareholder with regard to them. If any dividends
are paid with regard to shares of Lennar Common Stock while they are held by the
Distributing Agent, the Distributing Agent will hold the dividends, uninvested,
until shares of Lennar Common Stock are distributed to particular former holders
of U.S. Home Common Stock, at which time the dividends which have been paid with
regard to the shares of Lennar Common Stock which are being distributed will be
paid to the persons to whom the shares are being distributed.

          (c) While the Distributing Agent is holding funds provided by Lennar
under subparagraph (a), the Distributing Agent will invest the funds, as
directed by Lennar, in obligations of or guaranteed by the United States of
America or obligations of an agency of the United States of America which are
backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America, in
commercial paper obligations rated A-1 or P-1 or better by Moody's Investors
Services Inc. or Standard & Poors' Corporation, or in deposit accounts,
certificates of deposit or banker's acceptances of, repurchase or reverse
repurchase agreements with, or Eurodollar time


                                       10
<PAGE>   13
deposits purchased from, commercial banks with capital, surplus and undivided
profits aggregating more than $500 million (based on the most recent financial
statements of the banks which are then publicly available at the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") or otherwise).

          (d) Promptly after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation will
cause the Distributing Agent to mail to each person who was a record holder of
U.S. Home Common Stock at the Effective Time, a form of letter of transmittal
for use in effecting the surrender of stock certificates representing U.S. Home
Common Stock ("Certificates") in order to receive payment of the Merger
Consideration. When the Distributing Agent receives a Certificate, together with
a properly completed and executed letter of transmittal and any other required
documents, the Distributing Agent will distribute to the holder of the
Certificate, or as otherwise directed in the letter of transmittal, the Merger
Consideration with regard to the shares represented by the Certificate, and the
Certificate will be canceled. No interest will be paid or accrued on the cash
payable upon the surrender of Certificates. If payment is to be made to a person
other than the person in whose name a surrendered Certificate is registered, the
surrendered Certificate must be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form
for transfer, and the person who surrenders the Certificate must provide funds
for payment of any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the
distribution to a person other than the registered holder of the surrendered
Certificate or establish to the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that
the tax has been paid. After the Effective Time, a Certificate which has not
been surrendered will represent only the right to receive the Merger
Consideration (and any dividends paid after the Effective Time with regard to
shares of Lennar Common Stock included in the Merger Consideration), without any
interest.

          (e) If a Certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Surviving
Corporation will accept an affidavit and indemnification reasonably satisfactory
to it instead of the Certificate


                                       11
<PAGE>   14
and will pay the Merger Consideration to the holder of the shares of U.S. Home
Common Stock which had been represented by the Certificate.

          (f) At any time which is more than six months after the Effective
Time, Lennar may require the Distributing Agent to deliver to it any shares of
Lennar Common Stock and any funds which had been made available to the
Distributing Agent and have not been disbursed to former holders of U.S. Home
Common Stock (including, without limitation, interest and other income received
by the Distributing Agent in respect of the funds made available to it), and
after the funds have been delivered to Lennar, former stockholders of the
Company must look to Lennar for payment of the cash portion of the Merger
Consideration upon surrender of the Certificates held by them. None of Lennar,
the Surviving Corporation or the Distributing Agent will be liable to any former
stockholder of the Company for any Merger Consideration which is delivered to a
public official pursuant to any abandoned property, escheat or similar law.

          (g) After the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation will not
record any transfers of shares of U.S. Home Common Stock on the stock transfer
books of the Company or the Surviving Corporation, and the stock ledger of the
Company will be closed. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented
for transfer, they will be canceled and treated as having been surrendered for
the Merger Price described in Paragraph 1.7(a).

     1.13 Determinations Regarding Documents. The Company (or, after the Merger,
the Surviving Corporation) will have the discretion, which it may delegate in
whole or in part, to determine whether Election Notices and letters of
transmittal accompanying Certificates have been properly and timely completed,
signed and submitted and to determine whether or not to disregard immaterial
defects in particular Election Notices or letters of transmittal. The decision
of the Company (or, after the Merger, the Surviving Corporation) with regard to
those matters will be conclusive and binding. None of Lennar, the Company, the
Surviving Corporation or the


                                       12
<PAGE>   15
Distributing Agent will have any obligation to notify any person of any defect
in an Election Form or a letter of transmittal submitted to the Company, the
Surviving Corporation or Lennar, as applicable. The Distributing Agent or
another person or entity agreed to by the Company and Lennar will make all
computations contemplated by Paragraph 1.7 and those computations will be
conclusive and binding on the holders of U.S. Home Common Stock.

     1.14 Options and Warrants. At the Effective Time, each option or warrant
issued by the Company which is outstanding at the Effective Time (a) will become
the right to receive a sum in cash equal to (i) the amount, if any, by which the
per share exercise price of the option or warrant is less than $36.00, times
(ii) the number of shares of U.S. Home Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
the option or warrant in full (irrespective of vesting provisions), and (b)
except as described in clause (a), will be canceled. In order to receive the
amount to which a holder of an option or warrant is entitled under this
Paragraph, the holder must deliver to the Surviving Corporation (i) any
certificate or option agreement relating to the option or warrant and (ii) a
document in which the holder acknowledges that the payment the holder is
receiving is in full satisfaction of any rights the holder may have under or
with regard to the option or warrant. Lennar or the Surviving Corporation will
pay the amount due under this Paragraph to a holder of an option promptly after
the Surviving Corporation receives from the holder the items described in
clauses (i) and (ii) of the preceding sentence.

     1.15 Withholding. Lennar may withhold from the Merger Consideration payable
to any holder of U.S. Home Common Stock and pay to the appropriate taxing
authorities, any amounts which Lennar may be required (or may reasonably believe
it is required) to withhold under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code"), or any provision of state, local or foreign tax law. Any portion
of the Merger Consideration which is withheld as permitted by this Paragraph
will be deemed to have been paid to the holder of U.S. Home Common Stock with
respect to whom it is withheld.


                                       13
<PAGE>   16
                                   ARTICLE II

                            EFFECTIVE TIME OF MERGER

     2.1 Date of the Merger. Unless this Agreement is terminated prior to the
Effective Time in accordance with Article VI, the day on which the Merger is to
take place (the "Merger Date") will be the business day after the latest of (i)
the day on which the Merger is approved by the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of U.S. Home Common Stock, (ii) the day on which the Merger
is approved by the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding
shares of Lennar Common Stock and Lennar's class B common stock voting as a
single class, and (iii) the second business day after the day on which all the
conditions set forth in Article V (other than conditions which are contemplated
to be satisfied on or after the Merger Date) have been satisfied or waived. The
Merger Date may be changed with the consent of the Company and Lennar.

     2.2 Execution of Certificate of Merger. On the day before the Merger Date,
Acquisition and the Company will each execute a certificate of merger (the
"Certificate of Merger"), which will be in proper form for filing under the
DGCL, and deliver it to Clifford Chance Rogers & Wells LLP for filing with the
Secretary of State of Delaware. When all the conditions in Article V have been
satisfied or waived, Lennar and the Company will (i) cause the Certificate of
Merger to be filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on the Merger Date
and (ii) cause all other documents which must be recorded or filed as a result
of the Merger to be recorded or filed.

     2.3 Effective Time of the Merger. The Merger will become effective at 11:59
P.M. on the day when the Certificate of Merger is filed with the Secretary of
State of Delaware, or at such other time and date as are agreed upon by Lennar
and the Company and specified in the Certificate of Merger (that being the
"Effective Time").


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<PAGE>   17
                                   ARTICLE III

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents
and warrants to Lennar and Acquisition as follows:

          (a) The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

          (b) The Company has all corporate power and authority necessary to
enable it to enter into this Agreement and carry out the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. All corporate actions necessary to authorize the
Company to enter into this Agreement and carry out the transactions contemplated
by it, other than approval of the Merger and adoption of this Agreement by the
stockholders of the Company, have been taken. This Agreement has been duly
executed by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. The Company's
Board of Directors has determined that the Merger is advisable and fair to the
Company's stockholders and has voted to recommend to the Company's stockholders
that they vote in favor of approving the Merger and adopting this Agreement.

          (c) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or of any
document to be delivered in accordance with this Agreement nor the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or by any document to be
delivered in accordance with this Agreement will violate, result in a breach of,
or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or
both, would constitute a default) under, the Certificate of Incorporation or
By-Laws of the Company.


                                       15
<PAGE>   18
          (d) Except as shown on Exhibit 3.1-D, no governmental filings,
authorizations, approvals, or consents, or other governmental action, other than
the expiration or termination of waiting periods under the Hart-Scott Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), if any, are
required to permit the Company to fulfill all its obligations under this
Agreement, other than governmental filings, authorizations, approvals, consents
or other governmental actions the absence of which would not have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company.

          (e) The Company and each of its subsidiaries is qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation in each state in which it is required to be
qualified, except states in which the failure to qualify, in the aggregate,
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. As used in this
Agreement, the term "Material Adverse Effect" on a company means a material
adverse effect on (i) the business, operations, results of operations,
properties, assets, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise) of that
company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) the ability of that
company to consummate the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, other than a material adverse effect resulting from (w) a change in
laws, rules or regulations of governmental agencies, (x) a change in United
States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), (y) a change or
occurrence affecting the homebuilding industry generally, or (z) a change in
general economic conditions (including, without limitation, a change in interest
rates).

          (f) The only authorized stock of the Company is 50,000,000 shares of
U.S. Home Common Stock, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.10
per share. At the date of this Agreement, the only outstanding stock of the
Company is not more than 13,500,000 shares of U.S. Home Common Stock. All the
outstanding shares of U.S. Home Common Stock have been duly authorized and
issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. Except as shown on Exhibit 3.1-F,
the Company has not issued any options, warrants or


                                       16
<PAGE>   19
convertible or exchangeable securities, and is not a party to any other
agreements, which require, or upon the passage of time, the payment of money or
the occurrence of any other event may require, the Company to issue or sell any
of its stock.

          (g) The number of shares of U.S. Home Common Stock which the Company
repurchased between January 1, 1999 and the date of this Agreement did not
exceed 405,600 shares and the total amount the Company paid for those shares did
not exceed $12,400,000.

          (h) The Board of Directors of the Company has approved an amendment to
the Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") dated as of November 7, 1996
between the Company and First Chicago Trust, to exclude Lennar and Acquisition
from the definition of "Acquiring Person" in the Rights Agreement from and after
the Effective Time, and prior to the Effective Time so long as this Agreement
has not been terminated in accordance with its terms (the "Suspension Period").
During the Suspension Period, no acquisition of U.S. Home Common Stock by Lennar
or Acquisition will result in there being a Distribution Date under the Rights
Agreement or otherwise entitle anyone to exercise Rights under the Rights
Agreement.

          (i) Except as shown on Exhibit 3.1-I, (i) each of the corporations and
other entities of which the Company owns directly or indirectly 51% or more of
the equity (each corporation or other entity of which a company owns directly or
indirectly 51% or more of the equity being a "subsidiary" of that company) has
been duly organized, and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of its state of incorporation, (ii) all the shares of stock owned by the Company
or a subsidiary of each of the Company's subsidiaries which is a corporation are
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are not
subject to any preemptive rights, and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has issued any options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable
securities, or is a party to any other agreements, which require, or upon the
passage of time, the payment of money or the


                                       17
<PAGE>   20
occurrence of any other event may require, the Company or any subsidiary to
issue or sell any stock or other equity interests in any of the Company's
subsidiaries and, there are no registration covenants or transfer or voting
restrictions with respect to outstanding securities of any of the Company's
subsidiaries.

          (j) Since February 1, 1997, the Company has filed with the SEC all
forms, statements, reports and documents it has been required to file under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") or the rules under them.

          (k) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1998 (the "U.S. Home 1998 10-K") and its Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the period ended September 30, 1999 (the "U.S. Home September 10-Q")
which the Company filed with the SEC, including the documents incorporated by
reference in each of them, each contained all the information required to be
included in it and, when it was filed, did not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements made in it, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. Without limiting what is said in the preceding sentence, the
financial statements included in the U.S. Home 1998 10-K all were prepared, and
the financial information included in the U.S. Home September 10-Q was derived
from financial statements which were prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied
on a consistent basis (except that financial information included in the U.S.
Home September 10-Q does not contain notes and is subject to normal year-end
adjustments) and present fairly the consolidated financial condition and the
consolidated results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries at the
dates, and for the periods, to which they relate. The Company has not filed any
reports with the SEC with regard to any period which ended, or any event which
occurred, after September 30, 1999. The Company's consolidated revenues and net
income for the quarter ended December 31, 1999


                                       18
<PAGE>   21
and for the year ended December 31, 1999 were as stated in a press release
issued by the Company on February 2, 2000.

          (l) Since September 30, 1999, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries
have conducted their respective businesses in the ordinary course and in the
same manner in which they were conducted prior to September 30, 1999, and (ii)
nothing has occurred which, individually or in aggregate, has had a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company, except purchases by the Company of 292,000 shares
of U.S. Home Common Stock, which, among other things, reduced the Company's
working capital, tangible net worth and net assets.

          (m) The assets of the Company and its subsidiaries constitute, in the
aggregate, all the assets (including, but not limited to, intellectual property
rights) used in or necessary to the conduct of their businesses as they
currently are being conducted. They are substantially all of the assets with
which the Company has conducted its historical business.

          (n) The Company and it subsidiaries have at all times complied, and
currently are complying, with all applicable Federal, state, local and foreign
laws and regulations, except failures to comply which would not reasonably be
expected, in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

          (o) Except as shown on Exhibit 3.1-O, the Company and its subsidiaries
have all licenses and permits which are required at the date of this Agreement
to enable them to conduct their businesses as they currently are being
conducted, except licenses or permits the lack of which would not reasonably be
expected, in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

          (p) The Company and each of its subsidiaries has filed when due
(taking account of extensions) all Tax Returns (as defined below) relating to
Federal income taxes, and all other


                                       19
<PAGE>   22
material Tax Returns, which it has been required to file and has paid all Taxes
shown on those returns to be due. Those Tax Returns are true, correct and
complete in all material respects and accurately reflect all Taxes required to
have been paid, except to the extent of items which may be disputed by
applicable taxing authorities but for which there is substantial authority to
support the position taken by the Company or the subsidiary and which have been
adequately reserved against in accordance with GAAP on the balance sheet at
September 30, 1999 included in the U.S. Home September 10-Q. The Company has
maintained all documents, books and records as are required to be maintained by
it and its subsidiaries under applicable Tax laws. Except as shown on Exhibit
3.1-P, (i) no extension of time given by the Company or any of its subsidiaries
for completion of the audit of any of its Federal income Tax Returns or other
material Tax Returns is in effect, (ii) no tax lien has been filed by any taxing
authority against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their assets
relating to Taxes, penalties and interest in excess of $100,000 in any instance,
or $1,000,000 in aggregate, (iii) no Federal income Tax Return, or material
state, local or foreign Tax Return, of the Company or any subsidiary, is the
subject of a pending audit or other administrative proceeding or court
proceeding, (iv) except as shown on Exhibit 3.1-P, neither the Company nor any
subsidiary is a party to any agreement providing for the allocation or sharing
of Taxes (other than agreements solely between the Company and its direct or
indirect wholly owned subsidiaries or among direct or indirect wholly owned
subsidiaries of the Company), (v) neither the Company nor any subsidiary has
participated in or cooperated with an international boycott as that term is used
in Section 999 of the Code, (vi) the liabilities and reserves for Taxes
reflected in the consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 1999 included in
the U.S. Home September 10-Q cover all Taxes for all periods ended at or prior
to the date of such balance sheet and have been determined in accordance with
GAAP and there is no material liability for Taxes for any period beginning after
the date of such balance sheet other than Taxes arising in the ordinary course
of business, other than Tax liabilities assumed or incurred in the purchase of
real estate in the


                                       20
<PAGE>   23
ordinary course of business which are not material in the aggregate, (vii) no
event, transaction, act or omission has occurred which could result in the
Company's becoming liable to pay or to bear any Tax as a transferee, successor
or otherwise which is primarily or directly chargeable or attributable to any
other person, firm or company, and the Company has no actual or contingent
liability (whether by reason of any indemnity, warranty or otherwise) to any
other person in respect of any actual, contingent or deferred liability of such
person for Taxes, (viii) the Company is not required to include in income any
adjustment pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Code by reason of a voluntary
change in accounting method initiated by the Company, and the Internal Revenue
Service (the "IRS") has not proposed any such adjustment or change in accounting
method, and (ix) neither the Company nor any subsidiary has filed a consent
pursuant to Section 341(f) of the Code or agreed to have Section 341(f)(2) of
the Code apply to any disposition of a Subsection (f) asset (as that term is
defined in Section 341(f)(4) of the Code) owned by the Company or any
subsidiary. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "Taxes" means all taxes
(including, but not limited to, withholding taxes), assessments, fees, levies
and other governmental charges, and any related interest or penalties. For the
purposes of this Agreement, the term "Tax Return" means any report, return or
other information required to be supplied to a taxing authority in connection
with Taxes. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has taken or agreed to
take any action, nor do any of the executive officers of the Company have
knowledge of any fact or circumstance relating to the Company, that would
prevent the Merger from qualifying as a "reorganization" under Section
368(a)(2)(D) of the Code.

          (q) (i) The Company and its subsidiaries have all material
environmental permits which are necessary to enable them to conduct their
businesses as they currently are being conducted without violating any
Environmental Laws in a manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company, (ii) except as shown on Exhibit 3.1-Q, neither the Company nor


                                       21
<PAGE>   24
any subsidiary has received any written notice of material noncompliance or
material liability under any Environmental Law which is now pending, (iii)
neither the Company nor any subsidiary has performed any acts, including but not
limited to releasing, storing or disposing of hazardous materials, there is no
condition on any property owned or leased by the Company or a subsidiary, and
there was no condition on any property formerly owned or leased by the Company
or a subsidiary while the Company or a subsidiary owned or leased that property,
that would be a basis for liability of the Company or a subsidiary under any
Environmental Law which would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and
(iv) except as shown on Exhibit 3.1-Q, and except for those which would not have
a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, neither the Company nor any subsidiary
is subject to any order of any court or governmental agency requiring the
Company or any subsidiary to take, or refrain from taking, any actions in order
to comply with any Environmental Law and no action or proceeding seeking such an
order is pending or, insofar as any officer of the Company is aware, threatened
against the Company. As used in this Agreement, the term "Environmental Law"
means any Federal, state or local law, rule, regulation, guideline or other
legally enforceable requirement of a governmental authority relating to
protection of the environment or to environmental conditions which affect human
health or safety.

          (r) Failures of items sold by the Company or its subsidiaries to have
been Y2K Compliant will not result in liabilities or costs to the Company which,
in aggregate, will have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. As used in
this Agreement, items failed to be Y2K compliant if they failed to function
properly because they were not capable of recognizing that dates in the year
2000 are subsequent to December 31, 1999 or otherwise were not able to operate
without being adversely affected by the change from the twentieth to the
twenty-first century.


                                       22
<PAGE>   25
          (s) The Board of Directors of the Company has received the written
opinion of Warburg Dillon Read LLC its financial advisor, dated not earlier than
the day before the date of this Agreement, in form satisfactory to the Company
and its Board of Directors, to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion,
the Merger Price was fair from a financial point of view to the holders of U.S.
Home Common Stock.

          (t) Except as shown on Exhibit 3.1-T, there are no contracts,
agreements or other arrangements which could result in the payment by the
Company or by any subsidiary of an "Excess Parachute Payment" as that term is
used in Section 280G of the Code or the payment by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries of compensation which will not be deductible because of Section
162(m) of the Code.

          (u) Except as is described in the U.S. Home 1998 10-K or a subsequent
report filed with the SEC, neither the Company nor any subsidiary is a party to
any litigation which is required to be disclosed in an Annual Report on Form
10-K of the Company.

     3.2 Representations and Warranties of Lennar and Acquisition. Each of
Lennar and Acquisition represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

          (a) Each of Lennar and Acquisition is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Acquisition is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lennar.

          (b) Each of Lennar and Acquisition has all corporate power and
authority necessary to enable it to enter into this Agreement and carry out the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. All corporate actions necessary to
authorize each of Lennar and Acquisition to enter into this Agreement and carry
out the transactions contemplated by it, other than adoption of this Agreement
by the stockholders of Lennar, have been taken. This Agreement


                                       23
<PAGE>   26
has been duly executed by each of Lennar and Acquisition and is a valid and
binding agreement of each of Lennar and Acquisition, enforceable against each of
Lennar and Acquisition in accordance with its terms.

          (c) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or of any
document to be delivered in accordance with this Agreement nor the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or by any document to be
delivered in accordance with this Agreement will violate, result in a breach of,
or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or
both, would constitute a default) under, the Certificate of Incorporation or
By-Laws of either Lennar or Acquisition, any agreement or instrument to which
either Lennar or Acquisition or any other subsidiary of Lennar is a party or by
which any of them is bound, any law, or any order, rule or regulation of any
court or governmental agency or other regulatory organization having
jurisdiction over Lennar or any of its subsidiaries, including Acquisition,
except violations or breaches of, or defaults under, agreements or instruments
which would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Lennar.

          (d) Except as shown on Exhibit 3.2-D, no governmental filings,
authorizations, approvals, or consents, or other governmental action, other than
the expiration or termination of waiting periods under the HSR Act, if any, are
required to permit each of Lennar and Acquisition to fulfill all its obligations
under this Agreement.

          (e) Lennar and each of its subsidiaries is qualified to do business as
a foreign corporation in each state in which it is required to be qualified,
except states in which the failure to qualify, in the aggregate, would not have
a Material Adverse Effect upon Lennar.

          (f) The only authorized stock of Lennar is 100,000,000 shares of
Lennar Common Stock, 30,000,000 shares of class B common stock, par value $.10
per share, 100,000,000 shares of participating preferred stock, par value $.10
per share, and 500,000


                                       24
<PAGE>   27
shares of preferred stock, par value $10.00 per share. At the date of this
Agreement, the only outstanding stock of Lennar is not more than 40,000,000
shares of Lennar Common Stock and not more than 9,850,000 shares of class B
common stock. All the outstanding shares have been duly authorized and issued
and are fully paid and non-assessable. Except as shown on Exhibit 3.2-F, Lennar
has not issued any options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities,
and is not a party to any other agreements, which require, or upon the passage
of time, the payment of money or the occurrence of any other event may require,
Lennar to issue or sell any of its stock.

          (g) Except as shown on Exhibit 3.2-G, (i) each of Lennar's
subsidiaries has been duly organized, and is validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its state of incorporation, (ii) all the shares of
stock owned by Lennar or a subsidiary of each of Lennar's subsidiaries which are
corporations are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable
and are not subject to any preemptive rights, and (iii) neither Lennar nor any
of its subsidiaries has issued any options, warrants or convertible or
exchangeable securities, or is a party to any other agreements, which require,
or upon the passage of time, the payment of money or the occurrence of any other
event may require, Lennar or any subsidiary to issue or sell any stock or other
equity interests in any of Lennar's subsidiaries and, there are no registration
covenants or transfer or voting restrictions with respect to outstanding
securities of any of Lennar's subsidiaries.

          (h) Since February 1, 1997, Lennar has filed with the SEC all forms,
statements, reports and documents it has been required to file under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the rules under either of them.

          (i) Lennar's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November
30, 1998 (the "Lennar 1998 10-K") and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
period ended August


                                       25
<PAGE>   28
31, 1999 (the "Lennar August 10-Q") which Lennar filed with the SEC, including
the documents incorporated by reference in each of them, each contained all the
information required to be included in it and, when it was filed, did not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements made in it, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Without limiting what
is said in the preceding sentence, the financial statements included in the
Lennar 1998 10-K all were prepared, and the financial information included in
the Lennar August 10-Q was derived from financial statements which were
prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis (except that
financial information included in the Lennar August 10-Q does not contain notes
and is subject to normal year end adjustments) and present fairly the
consolidated financial condition and the consolidated results of operations of
Lennar and its subsidiaries at the dates, and for the periods, to which they
relate. Lennar has not filed any reports with the SEC with regard to any period
which ended, or any event which occurred, after August 31, 1999. Lennar's
consolidated revenues and net income for the quarter ended November 30, 1999 and
for the year ended November 30, 1999 were as stated in a press release issued by
Lennar on January 11, 2000.

          (j) Since August 31, 1999, (i) Lennar and its subsidiaries have
conducted their businesses in the ordinary course and in the same manner in
which they were conducted prior to August 31, 1999, and (ii) nothing has
occurred which, individually or in aggregate, has had a Material Adverse Effect
on Lennar, except purchases by Lennar of not more than 10,000,000 shares of
Lennar Common Stock, which, among other things, reduced Lennar's working
capital, tangible net worth and net assets.

          (k) The assets of Lennar and its subsidiaries constitute, in the
aggregate, all the assets (including, but not limited to, intellectual property
rights) used in or necessary to the conduct of their businesses as they
currently are being conducted.


                                       26
<PAGE>   29
          (l) Lennar and its subsidiaries have at all times complied, and
currently are complying, with all applicable Federal, state, local and foreign
laws and regulations, except failures to comply which would not reasonably be
expected, in the aggregate, to have a Material Averse Effect on Lennar.

          (m) Lennar and its subsidiaries have all licenses and permits which
are required at the date of this Agreement to enable them to conduct their
businesses as they currently are being conducted, except licenses or permits the
lack of which would not reasonably be expected, in the aggregate, to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Lennar.

          (n) Lennar and each of its subsidiaries has filed when due (taking
account of extensions) all Tax Returns relating to Federal income taxes, and all
other material Tax Returns, which it has been required to file and has paid all
Taxes shown on those returns to be due. Those Tax Returns are true, correct and
complete in all material respects and accurately reflect all Taxes required to
have been paid, except to the extent of items which may be disputed by
applicable taxing authorities but for which there is substantial authority to
support the position taken by Lennar or the subsidiary and which have been
adequately reserved against in accordance with GAAP on the balance sheet at
August 31, 1999 included in the Lennar August 10-Q. None of Lennar, Acquisition
or any other of Lennar's subsidiaries has any plan or arrangement to acquire
shares of Lennar Common Stock which will be issued to stockholders of the
Company as a result of the Merger, other than purchases in the open market
pursuant to a stock repurchase program of Lennar which was announced before the
date of this Agreement. It is the present intention of Lennar to cause the
Surviving Corporation and its subsidiaries or other companies which are part of
a qualified group (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-1(d)(4)(ii))
which includes the Surviving Corporation, to continue to run at least one
significant historic business line of the Company, or to use a significant
portion of the Company's historic business assets in its business.


                                       27
<PAGE>   30
          (o) (i) Lennar and its subsidiaries have all material environmental
permits which are necessary to enable them to conduct their businesses as they
currently are being conducted without violating any Environmental Laws, (ii)
neither Lennar nor any subsidiary has received any notice of material
noncompliance or material liability under any Environmental Law, (iii) neither
Lennar nor any subsidiary has performed any acts, including but not limited to
releasing, storing or disposing of hazardous materials, there is no condition on
any property owned or leased by Lennar or a subsidiary, and there was no
condition on any property formerly owned or leased by Lennar or a subsidiary
while Lennar or a subsidiary owned or leased that property, that could result in
material liability by Lennar or a subsidiary under any Environmental Law and
(iv) neither Lennar nor any subsidiary is subject to any order of any court or
governmental agency requiring Lennar or any subsidiary to take, or refrain from
taking, any actions in order to comply with any Environmental Law and no action
or proceeding seeking such an order is pending or, insofar as any officer of
Lennar is aware, threatened against Lennar or a subsidiary.

          (p) Failures of items sold by Lennar or its subsidiaries to have been
Y2K Compliant will not result in liabilities or costs to Lennar or its
subsidiaries which, in aggregate, will have a Material Adverse Effect on Lennar.

          (q) Lennar has, or has access under existing credit lines to,
sufficient funds to pay the maximum cash portion of the Merger Consideration.
Lennar has provided to the Company a true and complete copy of a letter from
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. regarding financing of the cash required for the
Merger, to refinance the Company's existing debt and for related fees and
expenses.

          (r) When shares of Lennar Common Stock are issued as Stock
Consideration, or otherwise as a result of the Merger with regard to shares of
U.S. Home Common Stock,


                                       28
<PAGE>   31
those shares of Lennar Common Stock will be duly authorized and issued, fully
paid and non-assessable, and will not be subject to preemptive rights of any
stockholders of Lennar.

          (s) Except as is described in the Lennar 1998 10-K or a subsequent
report filed with the SEC, neither Lennar nor any subsidiary is a party to any
litigation which is required to be disclosed in an Annual Report on Form 10-K of
Lennar.

     3.3 Termination of Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties in this Agreement or in any certificate delivered pursuant to this
Agreement will terminate at the Effective Time, and none of the Company, Lennar
or Acquisition, nor any of their respective stockholders, will have any rights
or claims as a result of any of those representations or warranties after the
Effective Time.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                           ACTIONS PRIOR TO THE MERGER

     4.1 Company's Activities Until Effective Time. From the date of this
Agreement to the Effective Time, or such earlier time as this Agreement is
terminated in accordance with Article VI, the Company will, and will cause each
of its subsidiaries to, except with the written consent of Lennar:

          (a) Operate its business in the ordinary course and in a manner
consistent with the manner in which it is being operated at the date of this
Agreement.

          (b) Take all reasonable steps available to it to maintain the goodwill
of its business and the continued employment of its executives and other
employees and to maintain good relationships with the vendors, suppliers,
contractors and others with which it does business.


                                       29
<PAGE>   32
          (c) At its expense, maintain all its assets in good repair and
condition, except to the extent of reasonable wear and use and damage by fire or
other casualty.

          (d) Not make any borrowings other than borrowings in the ordinary
course of business under working capital lines which are disclosed in the notes
to the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 1998 included in the U.S. Home
1998 10-K or under the Company's Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
with lenders for which Bank One, N.A. is the agent (the "Fourth Amended
Agreement").

          (e) Not enter into any contractual commitments (other than the Fourth
Amended Agreement) involving capital expenditures, loans or advances, and not
voluntarily incur any contingent liabilities, except in each case in the
ordinary course of business.

          (f) Not redeem or purchase any of its stock and not declare or pay any
dividends, or make any other distributions or repayments of debt to its
stockholders (other than payments by subsidiaries of the Company to the Company
or to other wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company).

          (g) Not make any loans or advances (other than advances for travel and
other normal business expenses) to stockholders, directors, officers or
employees.

          (h) Maintain its books of account and records in the usual manner, in
accordance with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with the basis on which they
were applied in prior years, subject to normal year-end adjustments and
accruals.

          (i) Comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and
regulations of governmental agencies.


                                       30
<PAGE>   33
          (j) Not purchase, sell or otherwise dispose of or encumber any
property or assets, or engage in any activities or transactions, except in each
case in the ordinary course of business.

          (k) Not enter into or amend any employment, severance or similar
agreements or arrangements, or increase the salaries of any employees, other
than through normal annual increases.

          (l) Not adopt, become an employer with regard to, or amend any
employee compensation, employee benefit or post-employment benefit plan.

          (m) Not amend its certificate of incorporation or by-laws.

          (n) Not (i) issue or sell any of its stock (except upon exercise of
options which are outstanding on the date of this Agreement or in accordance
with the Company's Stock Payment Plan as in effect on the date of this
Agreement) or any options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities or
(ii) split, combine, or reclassify its outstanding stock.

          (o) Not knowingly take any action that would prevent the Merger from
qualifying as a "reorganization" under Section 368 (a) of the Code.

          (p) Not authorize or enter into any agreement to take any of the
actions referred to in subparagraphs (a ) through (o) above.

     4.2 Lennar's Activities Until Effective Time. From the date of this
Agreement to the Effective Time, or such earlier time as this Agreement is
terminated in accordance with Article VI, Lennar will, and will cause each of
its subsidiaries to, except with the written consent of the Company:


                                       31
<PAGE>   34
          (a) Operate its business in the ordinary course and in a manner
consistent with the manner in which it is being operated at the date of this
Agreement.

          (b) Take all reasonable steps available to it to maintain the goodwill
of its business and the continued employment of its executives and other
employees and to maintain good relationships with the vendors, suppliers,
contractors and others with which it does business.

          (c) At its expense, maintain all its assets in good repair and
condition, except to the extent of reasonable wear and use and damage by fire or
other casualty.

          (d) Maintain its books of account and records in the usual manner, in
accordance with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with the basis on which they
were applied in prior years, subject to normal year-end adjustments and
accruals.

          (e) Comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and
regulations of governmental agencies.

          (f) Not purchase, sell or otherwise dispose of or encumber any
property or assets, or engage in any activities or transactions, except in each
case in the ordinary course of business.

          (g) Not redeem or purchase any of its stock and not declare or pay any
dividends (other than regular quarterly dividends at the rate prevailing prior
to the date of this Agreement) or make any other distributions or repayments of
debt to its stockholders (other than payments by subsidiaries of Lennar to
Lennar or to other wholly-owned subsidiaries of Lennar).

          (h) Not issue or sell any of its stock (except upon exercise of
options which are outstanding on the date of this Agreement or in accordance
with Lennar's stock option plans


                                       32
<PAGE>   35
which are in effect on the date of this Agreement) or any options, warrants or
convertible or exchangeable securities.

          (i) Not split, combine or reclassify its outstanding stock.

          (j) Not knowingly take any action that would prevent the Merger from
qualifying as a "reorganization" under Section 368 (a) of the Code.

          (k) Not amend its certificate of incorporation or by-laws.

          (l) Not purchase shares of U.S. Home Common Stock if the purchase
would cause Lennar and its subsidiaries and affiliates to own in aggregate more
than 5% of the U.S. Home Common Stock which is then outstanding.

          (m) Not authorize or enter into any agreement to take any of the
actions referred to in subparagraphs (a) through (l) above.

     4.3 Amendment to Rights Plan. Not later than February 29, 2000, the
Company, and First Chicago Trust will enter into the amendment to the Rights
Plan described in Paragraph 3.1(h).

     4.4 HSR Act Filings. The Company and Lennar will each make as promptly as
practicable the filing it is required to make under the HSR Act with regard to
the transactions which are the subject of this Agreement and each of them will
take all reasonable steps within its control (including providing information to
the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice) to cause the waiting
periods required by the HSR Act to be terminated or to expire as promptly as
practicable. The Company and Lennar will each provide information and cooperate
in all other respects to assist the other of them in making its filing under the
HSR Act.


                                       33
<PAGE>   36
     4.5 Stockholders' Meeting. Each of Lennar and the Company will take all
action which is necessary in accordance with applicable law and its Certificate
of Incorporation and By-Laws to call and convene a special meeting of its
stockholders (a "Merger Stockholders Meeting") as soon as practicable to
consider and vote upon adoption of this Agreement and approval of the Merger.
The proxy statement distributed by each of Lennar and the Company with respect
to its Merger Stockholders Meeting will include the recommendation of its Board
of Directors that its stockholders vote to adopt this Agreement and approve the
Merger, unless the Board of Directors of Lennar or the Company determines in
good faith, after consultation with its counsel about the nature of the
directors' fiduciary duties, that it is required by its fiduciary duties to
state that it no longer recommends that the stockholders of Lennar or the
Company, as the case may be, vote in favor of adoption of this Agreement and the
Merger. Each of Lennar and the Company will use all commercially reasonable
efforts to solicit from its stockholders proxies or votes in favor of adoption
of this Agreement and approval of the Merger.

     4.6 Registration Statement and Proxy Statement. (a) Lennar will prepare and
file with SEC as soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement a
Registration Statement on Form S-4 relating to the shares of Lennar Common Stock
to be issued as a result of the Merger (the "Registration Statement"). The
Registration Statement will include a joint proxy statement (the "Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus") of Lennar and the Company relating to the Merger
Stockholders Meetings. Lennar and the Company will cooperate to provide all
information which is required to be included in the Registration Statement or in
the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus in a timely manner so the Registration
Statement can be filed with the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable. Lennar
will cause the Registration Statement, and Lennar and the Company will cause the
Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, to comply as to form in all material respects
with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and
the rules under them. Lennar will use its best efforts, and the Company will
cooperate with


                                       34
<PAGE>   37
Lennar, to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective by the
staff of the SEC as promptly as practicable after it is filed (including without
limitation, responding to any comments received from the SEC with respect to the
Registration Statement) and to keep the Registration Statement effective as long
as is necessary to consummate the Merger. Each of Lennar and the Company will,
as promptly as practicable, provide to the other of them copies of any written
comments received from the SEC with regard to the Registration Statement or the
Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and will advise the other of them of any
comments with respect to the Registration Statement or the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus which are received orally from the staff of the SEC. Lennar
will use its best efforts to obtain, prior to the effective date of Registration
Statement, any qualifications, permits or approvals which are necessary under
any state securities laws in order to carry out the Merger and Lennar will pay
all expenses incident to obtaining those qualifications, permits or approvals.

          (b) Lennar and Acquisition each represents and warrants to the
Company, and the Company represents and warrants to Lennar, that none of the
information supplied by it for inclusion, or included in a document filed by it
which is incorporated by reference, in the Registration Statement or the Joint
Proxy Statement/Prospectus will (i) in the case of the Registration Statement
and each amendment, at the time the Registration Statement is filed or becomes
effective and at the Effective Time, and (ii) in the case of the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus and each amendment or supplement to it, at the time it is
mailed to stockholders and at the time of the Merger Stockholders Meetings,
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If at any
time before the Effective Time an event occurs with respect to the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, or with respect to Lennar or any of its subsidiaries,
as the case may be, which is required to be described in the Registration
Statement or in the Joint


                                       35
<PAGE>   38
Proxy Statement/Prospectus, an amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement or the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be filed with the SEC as
promptly as practicable and, to the extent required by law, will be distributed
to the stockholders of Lennar, the Company or both of them. Neither Lennar nor
the Company will make any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement
or the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus without the approval of the other of
them, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld (and will under no
circumstances be withheld to the extent the amendment or supplement is required
to cause the Registration Statement or the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to
comply with applicable law). Lennar will advise the Company promptly after it
receives notice that the Registration Statement has become effective or that any
supplement or amendment to it has been filed, that any stop order relating to
the Registration Statement has been issued, or that the qualification or
registration of the Lennar Common Stock issuable in connection with the Merger
under any state securities law has been suspended, of any request by the staff
of the SEC for an amendment of the Registration Statement or the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus, or of the receipt of comments or requests for additional
information from the staff of the SEC or the response to any such comments or
requests for additional information.

          (c) The Company and Lennar each will cause its Merger Stockholders
Meetings to be held not later than 45 days after the day on which the
Registration Statement becomes effective.

          (d) The Company's Board of Directors will not take any action, other
than causing the Company to terminate this Agreement if it is entitled to do so
under Article VI, which prevents the Company's stockholders from voting upon the
Merger, and Lennar's Board of Directors will not take any action, other than
causing Lennar to terminate this Agreement if it is entitled to do so under
Article VI, which prevents Lennar's stockholders from voting upon the Merger.


                                       36
<PAGE>   39
     4.7 No Solicitation of Offers; Notice of Proposals from Others. (a) Neither
the Company nor any of its subsidiaries will, and the Company will use its best
efforts to cause its and its subsidiaries' respective directors, officers,
employees, investment bankers, attorneys and other agents and representatives
not to, directly or indirectly (x) solicit, initiate or knowingly facilitate or
encourage (including by way of furnishing or disclosing information) any inquiry
or the making of any offer or proposal by any corporation, partnership, trust,
person or other entity or group (a "Third Party") with respect to, or that could
reasonably be expected to lead to, any merger, consolidation, share acquisition,
asset purchase, share exchange, business combination, tender offer, exchange
offer or similar transaction involving the acquisition of all or a substantial
portion of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or
a significant equity interest in (including by way of tender offer), or a
recapitalization or restructuring of, the Company or any of its material
subsidiaries (any of those transactions being an "Acquisition Transaction", or
(y) negotiate, explore or otherwise communicate in any way with any Third Party
with respect to any possible Acquisition Transaction, or enter into, approve or
recommend any agreement, arrangement or understanding requiring it to abandon,
terminate or otherwise fail to consummate the Merger or any other of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided however, that the Company
may, in response to a proposal which was not solicited after the date of this
Agreement furnish information to, and engage in discussions or negotiations
with, a Third Party, if, but only if, (A) the Company's Board of Directors
determines in good faith, after consultation with a financial advisor of
nationally recognized reputation, that the Third Party is financially capable of
completing the transaction which is the subject of the proposal and that, if
completed, that transaction would result in greater value to the Company's
stockholders than the Merger and would be more favorable to the Company and its
stockholders than the Merger and (B) before furnishing or disclosing any
non-public information to, or entering into discussions or negotiations with,
the Third Party, the Company receives from the Third Party an executed
confidentiality agreement with terms no less


                                       37
<PAGE>   40
favorable in the aggregate to the Company than those contained in the
Confidentiality Agreements, each dated as of February 11, 2000, between Lennar
and the Company, which confidentiality agreement does not provide for any
exclusive right to negotiate with the Company or any payments by the Company.
Nothing in this Paragraph will prohibit the Board of Directors of the Company
from complying with Rule 14e-2 and Rule 14d-9 under the Exchange Act with regard
to a tender offer or an exchange offer or prohibit the Company from selling
assets or properties in the ordinary course of business.

          (b) The Company will (w) no later than the end of the first business
day after the Company receives an inquiry, proposal or offer with respect to a
possible Acquisition Transaction or a request for non-public information
relating to the Company in connection with a possible Acquisition Transaction or
for access to its or any of its subsidiaries' properties, books or records by
any Third Party that informs the Company's Board of Directors that the Third
Party is considering making, or has made, a proposal or offer with respect to an
Acquisition Transaction (any such inquiry proposal, offer or request being an
"Acquisition Proposal"), notify Lennar in writing of the inquiry, proposal,
offer or request, (x) in that written notice, indicate in reasonable detail the
identity of the Third Party (including the name of the Third Party) and the
terms and conditions of the proposal or offer, (y) promptly notify Lennar of any
determination by the Company's Board of Directors that the Company should
furnish information to, or engage in discussions of negotiations with, any Third
Party, and (z) keep Lennar informed of the progress of any discussions or
negotiations with any Third Party.

          (c) The Company will immediately cease and cause to be terminated any
existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any parties (other than
Lennar) which have been conducted before the date of this Agreement with respect
to any possible Acquisition Transaction, and will inform any such parties of the
Company's obligations under this Paragraph 4.6.


                                       38
<PAGE>   41
     4.8 Lennar's and Acquisition's Efforts to Fulfill Conditions. Lennar and
Acquisition each will use its best efforts to cause all the conditions set forth
in Paragraph 5.1 to be fulfilled on or before the Merger Date.

     4.9 Company's Efforts to Fulfill Conditions. The Company will use its best
efforts to cause all the conditions set forth in Paragraph 5.2 to be fulfilled
on or before the Merger Date.

                                    ARTICLE V

                         CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO MERGER

     5.1 Conditions to the Company's Obligations. The obligations of the Company
to complete the Merger are subject to satisfaction on or before the Merger Date
of the following conditions (any or all of which may be waived by the Company):

          (a) The representations and warranties of Lennar and Acquisition
contained in this Agreement will, except as contemplated by this Agreement, be
true and correct in all material respects (except that the representations and
warranties of Lennar and Acquisition which are qualified as to materiality, or
absence of Material Adverse Effect, will be true and correct in all respects) on
the Merger Date with the same effect as though made on that date (except that
representations or warranties which relate expressly to a specified date or a
specified period need only have been true and correct with regard to the
specified date or period), and Lennar will have delivered to the Company a
certificate dated that date and signed by the President or a Vice President of
Lennar to that effect.

          (b) Lennar and Acquisition will have fulfilled in all material
respects all their obligations under this Agreement required to have been
fulfilled on or before the Merger Date, and Lennar will have delivered to the
Company a certificate dated that date and signed by the President or a Vice
President of Lennar to that effect.


                                       39
<PAGE>   42
          (c) No order will have been entered by any court or governmental
authority and be in force which invalidates this Agreement or restrains the
Company from completing the transactions which are the subject of this
Agreement.

          (d) The Merger will have been approved by the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares of U.S. Home Common Stock.

          (e) Since the date of this Agreement, no events shall have occurred
and no circumstances shall have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate,
have resulted in or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect on Lennar.

          (f) Any waiting period under the HSR Act with regard to the Merger
will have expired or been terminated.

          (g) The shares of Lennar Common Stock issuable to the Company's
stockholders as a result of the Merger will have been authorized for listing on
the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.

          (h) The Registration Statement will have become effective under the
Securities Act and will not be the subject of any stop order or any pending
proceeding seeking a stop order, and any other federal and material state
securities laws applicable to the issuance of Lennar Common Stock as a result of
the Merger have been complied with.

          (i) The Company will have received a written opinion of Kaye, Scholer,
Fierman, Hays & Handler, LLP, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Company, dated on or about the Merger Date, to the effect that the Merger
will constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Code, and that Lennar, Acquisition and the Company will each be a party to a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code. In rendering


                                       40
<PAGE>   43
this opinion, counsel shall be entitled to rely upon, among other things,
reasonable assumptions as well as customary representations of Lennar,
Acquisition and the Company.

          (j) The Market Value of a share of Lennar Common Stock will not be
$11.55 or less, unless Lennar has delivered its written agreement prior to the
Effective Time stating that the Stock Consideration with regard to a share of
U.S. Home Common Stock pursuant to Paragraph 1.7(a) and 1.7(b) will be the
number of shares of Lennar Common Stock with a Market Value of $14.72.

          (k) The number of shares of U.S. Home Common Stock as to which the
holders give timely and proper notice of intention to exercise dissenters'
rights will not exceed 4% of the shares of U.S. Home Common Stock which are
outstanding on the date of this Agreement, provided that the foregoing will be a
condition to the Merger only if the total cash which holders of U.S. Home Common
Stock would receive as Merger Consideration (treating all stockholders who give
the Company timely and proper notices of intention to exercise dissenters'
rights as receiving Merger Consideration consisting of cash equal to $36 per
share to which the notices relate) would exceed 55% of the total Merger
Consideration.

          (l) Warburg Pincus Investors L.P. will have consented in writing to
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation,
the Merger.

          (m) Robert J. Strudler, Isaac Heimbinder and two other members of the
Board of Directors of the Company designated by the Company will have been
elected to the Board of Directors of Lennar, effective immediately after the
Effective Time. One of these directors will be in the class the term of which
expires at the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Lennar, one will be in the
class the term of which expires at the 2002 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
Lennar, and two will be in the class the term of which expires at the 2003
Annual Meeting of


                                       41
<PAGE>   44
Stockholders of Lennar (with the person or persons in each class to be as
specified by the Company).

     5.2 Conditions to Lennar's and Acquisition's Obligations. The obligations
of Lennar and Acquisition to complete the Merger are subject to satisfaction on
or before the Merger Date of the following conditions (any or all of which may
be waived by Lennar):

          (a) The representations and warranties of the Company contained in
this Agreement will, except as contemplated by this Agreement, be true and
correct in all material respects (except that the representations and warranties
of the Company which are qualified as to materiality, or absence of Material
Adverse Effect, will be true and correct in all respects) on the Merger Date
with the same effect as though made on that date (except that representations or
warranties which relate expressly to a specified date or a specified period need
only have been true and correct with regard to the specified date or period),
and the Company will have delivered to Lennar a certificate dated that date and
signed by the President or a Vice President of the Company to that effect.

          (b) The Company will have fulfilled in all material respects all its
obligations under this Agreement required to have been fulfilled on or before
the Merger Date.

          (c) No order will have been entered by any court or governmental
authority and be in force which invalidates this Agreement or restrains Lennar
or Acquisition from completing the transactions which are the subject of this
Agreement and no action will be pending against the Company, Lennar or
Acquisition relating to the transactions which are the subject of this Agreement
which presents a reasonable likelihood of resulting in an award of damages
against the Company, Lennar or Acquisition which would be material after the
Merger to Lennar and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.


                                       42
<PAGE>   45
          (d) The Merger will have been approved by the holders of at least a
majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of Lennar Common Stock and
Lennar class B common stock, voting together as a single class.

          (e) Since the date of this Agreement, no events shall have occurred
and no circumstances shall have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate,
have resulted in or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company.

          (f) Any waiting period under the HSR Act with regard to the Merger
will have expired or been terminated.

          (g) The shares of Lennar Common Stock issuable to the Company's
stockholders as a result of the Merger will have been authorized for listing on
the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.

          (h) The Registration Statement will have become effective under the
Securities Act and will not be the subject of any stop order to any pending
proceeding seeking a stop order.

          (i) The Market Value of a share of Lennar Common Stock will not be
$11.55 or less, unless Lennar has delivered its written agreement prior to the
Effective Time stating that the Stock Consideration with regard to a share of
U.S. Home Common Stock pursuant to Paragraph 1.7(a) and 1.7(b) will be the
number of shares of Lennar Common Stock with a Market Value of $14.72.


                                       43
<PAGE>   46
                                   ARTICLE VI

                                   TERMINATION

     6.1 Right to Terminate. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior
to the Effective Time (whether or not the Company's or Lennar's stockholders
have approved the Merger):

          (a) By mutual written consent of the Company and Lennar.

          (b) By the Company if (i) it is determined that any of the
representations and warranties of Lennar and Acquisition contained in this
Agreement was not complete and accurate in all material respects (or that any of
those representations and warranties which are qualified as to materiality or
absence of Material Adverse Effect were not true and correct in all respects) on
the date of this Agreement, (ii) any of the conditions in Paragraph 5.1 is not
satisfied or waived by the Company on or before the Merger Date or (iii) if
Lennar or Acquisition has breached in a material respect any covenant or
agreement contained in this Agreement and has not cured that breach within ten
business days after written notice from the Company, or by the Merger Date, if
earlier.

          (c) By Lennar if (i) it is determined that any of the representations
and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement was not complete and
accurate in all material respects (or that any of those representations and
warranties which are qualified as to materiality or absence of Material Adverse
Effect were not true and correct in all respects) on the date of this Agreement,
(ii) any of the conditions in Paragraph 5.2 is not satisfied or waived by Lennar
on or before the Merger Date or (iii) if the Company has breached in a material
respect any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement and has not cured
that breach within ten business days after written notice from Lennar, or by the
Merger Date, if earlier.


                                       44
<PAGE>   47
          (d) By either Lennar or the Company if, without fault of the
terminating party, the Merger Date is later than August 31, 2000, which date may
be extended by mutual consent of the parties; provided, however, that the right
to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this subparagraph will not be available
to any party whose failure to perform or observe in any material respect any of
its obligations under this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the
failure of the Merger Date to occur on or before that date.

          (e) By either Lennar or the Company if any court of competent
jurisdiction or other governmental authority issues an order (other than a
temporary restraining order), decree or ruling, or takes any other action,
restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger, and that order,
decree, ruling or other action becomes final and nonappealable.

          (f) By either Lennar or the Company, if its stockholders fail to adopt
this Agreement and approve the Merger at the applicable Merger Stockholders
Meeting.

          (g) By Lennar if the Company's Board of Directors (i) withdraws,
changes or modifies in any manner its recommendation that its stockholders vote
to adopt this Agreement and approve the Merger or (ii) adopts resolutions
approving or otherwise authorizing or recommending an Acquisition Transaction
(other than the Merger) to its stockholders; or

          (h) By the Company if (i) before this Agreement is adopted by the
Company's stockholders, the Company receives an Acquisition Proposal in which a
person or group (a "Potential Acquiror") makes a specific proposal for an
Acquisition Transaction on specific terms (a "Firm Proposal"), or a Potential
Acquiror commences a cash tender offer or exchange offer for all the Company's
outstanding stock (other than any already owned by the Potential Acquiror), (ii)
within 15 business days after the Company receives the Firm Proposal or the
tender offer or exchange offer is commenced, the Company's Board of Directors
determines that the Firm Proposal or the tender offer or exchange offer is a
Superior Proposal and resolves


                                       45
<PAGE>   48
to accept the Superior Proposal, or to recommend that stockholders vote for,
authorize, or tender their shares in response to, the Superior Proposal, unless
Lennar and Acquisition agree within five business days to increase the Merger
Price to an amount per share at least as great as the consideration per share
the Company's stockholders would receive as a result of the Superior Proposal,
(iii) the Company has given Lennar at least five business days' prior notice (A)
of the terms of the Superior Proposal (including the consideration per share,
valuing non-cash consideration as described below, which the Company's
stockholders would receive as a result of the Superior Proposal), and (B) that
unless Lennar agrees in writing within the five business day period to increase
the Merger Price to an amount per share at least as great as the consideration
per share the Company's stockholders would receive as a result of the Superior
Proposal, as set forth in the notice, this Agreement will terminate, and (iv)
the Company has (x) paid Lennar $19 million, (y) reimbursed Lennar for all the
expenses which Lennar or its subsidiaries (including Acquisition) incurred in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by it
(including reasonable fees and expenses of professionals and other consultants,
commitment fees and other financing costs, and out of pocket costs incurred by
employees in investigating the business and financial condition of the Company
and in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement and efforts to carry
out the transactions which are the subject of this Agreement) ("Lennar
Expenses") regarding which Lennar has presented reasonable documentation to the
Company, and (z) agreed in writing to reimburse Lennar for all Lennar Expenses
for which Lennar subsequently presents reasonable documentation to the Company
(up to a total reimbursement of Lennar Expenses under clauses (y) and (z) not
exceeding $6 million). A "Superior Proposal" is a proposal for an Acquisition
Transaction or a tender offer or exchange offer which (A) would result in the
Company's stockholders' receiving consideration which is greater than the Merger
Price (valuing non-cash consideration at its fair value as determined in good
faith by the Company's Board of Directors after consultation with its financial
advisor), (B) is not subject to the outcome of due diligence or


                                       46
<PAGE>   49
any other form of investigation, and (C) is not subject to a financing
contingency and is from a Proposed Acquiror which the Company's Board of
Directors determines in good faith after consultation with its independent
financial advisor has the financial resources necessary to carry out the
transaction and (D) the Company's Board of Directors determines in good faith
after consultation with its independent financial advisor to be more favorable
to the Company's stockholders than the Merger. A notice that this Agreement will
terminate given pursuant to clause (iii) of the first sentence of this
subparagraph will be irrevocable (unless Lennar consents in writing to its being
withdrawn by the Company) and will result in the termination of this Agreement
on the later of the date specified in the notice or the date the Company makes
the payments and provides the agreement described in clause (iv) of the first
sentence of this subparagraph.

     6.2 Manner of Terminating Agreement If at any time the Company or Lennar
has the right under Paragraph 6.1 to terminate this Agreement, it can terminate
this Agreement by a written notice to the other of them that it is terminating
this Agreement.

     6.3 Effect of Termination. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to
Paragraph 6.1, after this Agreement is terminated, neither party will have any
further rights or obligations under this Agreement other than the Company's
obligations under (i) Paragraph 8.1, and (ii) the agreement to reimburse
expenses described in Paragraph 6.1(h). Nothing contained in this Paragraph
will, however, relieve either party of liability for any breach of this
Agreement which occurs before this Agreement is terminated.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                               ABSENCE OF BROKERS

     7.1 Representations and Warranties Regarding Brokers and Others. The
Company and Lennar each represents and warrants to the other of them that nobody
acted as a broker, a


                                       47
<PAGE>   50
finder or in any similar capacity in connection with the transactions which are
the subject of this Agreement, except that Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. acted
as a financial adviser to Lennar and Acquisition and Warburg Dillon Read LLC
acted as a financial advisor to the Company. Lennar will pay all the fees and
other charges of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and the Company will pay all the
fees and other charges of Warburg Dillon Read LLC. The Company indemnifies
Lennar and Acquisition against, and agrees to hold each of them harmless from,
all losses, liabilities and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel and costs of investigation) incurred because of any
claim by anyone for compensation as a broker, a finder or in any similar
capacity by reason of services allegedly rendered to the Company in connection
with the transactions which are the subject of this Agreement. Lennar
indemnifies the Company against, and agrees to hold it harmless from, all
losses, liabilities and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable fees
and expenses of counsel and costs of investigation) incurred because of any
claim by anyone for compensation as a broker, a finder or any similar capacity
by reason of services allegedly rendered to Lennar or Acquisition in connection
with the transactions which are the subject of this Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                OTHER AGREEMENTS

     8.1 Payment to Lennar. (a) If at any time prior to or at the meeting of the
Company's stockholders at which the Company's stockholders vote upon the Merger
(i) the Company's Board of Directors withdraws its recommendation that the
Company's stockholders vote in favor of the Merger, but (ii) the Company does
not terminate this Agreement before the Company's Merger Stockholders Meeting
and (iii) at that Merger Stockholders Meeting, the Merger is not approved by
holders of the majority of the outstanding shares of the U.S. Home Common Stock,
within three business days after the day on which that Merger Stockholders
Meeting is held, the Company will (x) pay Lennar $19 million, (y) reimburse
Lennar for all the Lennar Expenses


                                       48
<PAGE>   51
regarding which Lennar has presented reasonable documentation to the Company and
(z) agree in writing to reimburse Lennar for all Lennar Expenses for which
Lennar subsequently presents reasonable documentation to the Company (up to a
total reimbursement of Lennar Expenses under clauses (y) and (z) not exceeding
$6 million).

          (b) If this Agreement is terminated by Lennar pursuant to clause (iii)
of Section 6.1(c) and within 12 months after such termination the Company
consummates a transaction constituting a change of control transaction or enters
into a definitive agreement for such a transaction, then within three business
days after consummation of the change of control transaction, the Company shall
pay Lennar $19 million. A "change of control transaction" means an Acquisition
Transaction which results in the common stockholders of the Company immediately
prior to the transaction owning less than 50% of the equity or voting power of
the surviving or successor entity resulting from the transaction.

          (c) If the Company's Board of Directors does not withdraw its
recommendation that the Company's stockholders adopt this Agreement and approve
the Merger, but nonetheless, at the Company's Merger Stockholders Meeting, the
Merger is not approved by holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
U.S. Home Common Stock, within three business days after the day on which the
Company's Merger Stockholder Meeting is held, the Company will reimburse Lennar
for all the Lennar Expenses regarding which Lennar has presented reasonable
documentation to the Company and will agree in writing to reimburse Lennar for
all Lennar Expenses for which Lennar subsequently presents reasonable
documentation to the Company (up to a total reimbursement of Lennar Expenses not
exceeding $6 million).


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<PAGE>   52
          (d) If Lennar recovers damages for breach of this Agreement, the
amount recovered by Lennar will be credited against the payment the Company is
required to make under Paragraph 8.1.

     8.2 Protection of Reorganization. Neither Lennar nor the Company will take,
or cause or permit to be taken, any action, whether before or after the
Effective Time, that would disqualify the Merger as a "reorganization" within
the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

     8.3 Stock Exchange Listing. Lennar will promptly file a listing application
with the New York Stock Exchange with regard to the shares of Lennar Common
Stock which will be issued as a result of the Merger and will use its best
efforts to cause the listing of those shares to be approved by the New York
Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance, prior to the Merger
Date.

     8.4 Other Actions; Filings; Consents. Subject to the terms and conditions
contained in this Agreement, Lennar and the Company each will (i) use its
commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and
to do, or cause to be done, all other things, which are necessary, proper or
appropriate under applicable laws and regulations, or are required to be taken
by any governmental authorities, to consummate the Merger as promptly as
practicable, (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to make as promptly as
practicable all necessary filings, and subsequently make any other required
submissions, with regard to this Agreement or the Merger under (A) the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any other applicable federal or state
securities laws or regulations, (B) the HSR Act and any related governmental
requests under that Act and (C) any other applicable or federal, state, local or
foreign statutes, laws, rules or regulations, (iii) use its commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain from governmental authorities any consents,
licenses, permits, waivers, approvals, authorizations and orders required to be
obtained by the Company or Lennar or any of their


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<PAGE>   53
respective subsidiaries in connection with the authorization, execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iv) use its commercially
reasonable efforts to resolve any objections which may be asserted by any
governmental authority with regard to the Merger or any other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement under any anti-trust, trade or regulatory laws or
regulations, (v) furnish the other of them, upon request, with copies of all
correspondence, filings and communications between it and its affiliates and
representatives, on the one hand, and any governmental authority or member of
the staff of any governmental authority, on the other hand, with respect to this
Agreement, the Merger or any other of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, (vi) furnish the other of them with all information and reasonable
assistance which the other of them may reasonably request in connection with the
preparation of filings, registrations or submissions of information required by
any governmental authorities and (vii) use its commercially reasonable efforts
to cause any injunction, restraining order or other order of any court or
governmental authority which adversely effects the ability of the parties to
consummate the Merger to be dissolved, and to defend vigorously any litigation
seeking to enjoin, prevent or delay the consummation of the Merger or seeking
material changes in the terms of the Merger or any other transaction which is
the subject to this Agreement.

     8.5 Notification of Certain Matters. Each party will cause one or more of
its representatives to confer on a regular and frequent basis with
representatives of the other party and to report to the other party on the
general status of its ongoing operations. Each party will give prompt notice to
the other party of (i) any written notice or other communication from any third
party alleging that the consent of that third party is or may be required in
connection with the Merger or other transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
(ii) its receipt of written notice of any governmental complaint, investigation
or hearing, or any litigation, which may impair the parties' ability to
consummate the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this


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<PAGE>   54
Agreement or may have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or Lennar, as the
case may be, (iii) any change or event that in the party's good faith judgment
is reasonably likely to impair the party's ability to consummate the Merger or
is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the party or (iv) the
occurrence or the existence of any event that would, or could with a passage of
time or otherwise, make any representation or warranty in this Agreement untrue.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                     GENERAL

     9.1 Expenses. Except as provided in Paragraphs 6.1(h) and 8.1, the Company
and Lennar will each pay its own expenses (and Lennar will pay Acquisition's
expenses) in connection with the transactions which are the subject of this
Agreement, including legal fees.

     9.2 Employee Benefit Plans. Lennar agrees to consult with the senior
executive officers of the Company between the date of this Agreement and the
Merger Date to develop employee benefit plans (which may be continuations of
some or all of the Company's current employee benefit plans) which will provide
the Company's employees with benefits which are substantially as great as those
they are receiving under the Company's employee benefit plans which exist at the
date of this Agreement and to maintain those plans in effect for at least one
year. Lennar also agrees to discuss with the senior executive officers of the
Company between the date of this Agreement and the Merger Date a program under
which employees of the Company or its subsidiaries who hold options granted
under the Company's stock option plans which have an exercise price greater than
the Merger Price, and therefore which will be cancelled as a result of the
Merger without any payment to the employees, will be granted options to purchase
Lennar Common Stock which will be reasonably equivalent to the options to
purchase U.S. Home Common Stock which those employees hold at the date of this


                                       52
<PAGE>   55
Agreement. The Surviving Corporation will fulfill the obligations of the Company
under its Severance Pay Plan.

     9.3 Directors' and Officers' Insurance and Indemnification. (a) Lennar and
the Surviving Corporation will at all times after the Effective Time indemnify
and hold harmless each person who is at the date of this Agreement, or has been
at any time prior to the date of this Agreement, a director, officer or employee
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries ("Indemnified Parties"), in each case
to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, with respect to any claim,
liability, loss, damage, cost or expense (whenever asserted or claimed) based in
whole or in part, or arising in whole or in part out of, any act or omission by
that person at or prior to the Effective Time in connection with that person's
duties as a director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates, to the same extent and on the same terms (including
with respect to advancement of expenses) provided in the Company's Certificate
of Incorporation or By-Laws, or in any indemnification agreements, in effect on
the date of this Agreement. Lennar or the Surviving Corporation will pay all
reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, that may be incurred by any
Indemnified Party in enforcing the indemnity and other obligations of Lennar and
the Surviving Corporation under this Paragraph.

          (b) Lennar will cause the Surviving Corporation to keep in effect for
at least six years after the Effective Time the policies of directors' and
officers' liability insurance maintained by the Company and its subsidiaries at
the date of this Agreement; provided that (i) Lennar may substitute policies
having the same coverage and amounts and containing terms and conditions which
are no less advantageous to the persons who are currently covered by the
Company's policies and with carriers comparable in terms of credit worthiness to
those which have written the policies maintained by the Company at the date of
this Agreement and (ii) neither Lennar nor the Surviving Corporation will be
required to pay an annual premium for that insurance in excess of three times
the annual premium relating to the year during which this Agreement is


                                       53
<PAGE>   56
executed, but if they are not able to maintain the required insurance for an
annual premium for that amount, they will purchase as much coverage as it can
obtain for that amount.

     9.4 Benefit of Provisions. The provisions of Paragraphs 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3
are intended for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, the parties who
are entitled to benefits or rights under those Paragraphs.

     9.5 Reorganization. The Merger is intended to be a "reorganization" within
the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. Lennar and the Company each agrees
not to take any position on any Tax Return or otherwise which is inconsistent
with that intention.

     9.6 Access to Properties, Books and Records. From the date of this
Agreement until the Effective Time, the Company will, and will cause each of its
subsidiaries to, give representatives of Lennar full access during normal
business hours to all of their respective properties, books and records. Lennar
will, and will cause its representatives to, hold all information it receives as
a result of its access to the properties, books and records of the Company or
its subsidiaries in confidence, except to the extent that information (i) is or
becomes available to the public (other than through a breach of this Agreement),
(ii) becomes available to Lennar or a subsidiary from a third party which,
insofar as Lennar is aware, is not under an obligation to the Company, or to a
subsidiary of the Company, to keep the information confidential, (iii) was known
to Lennar or a subsidiary before it was made available to Lennar or its
representative by the Company or a subsidiary, (iv) otherwise is independently
developed by Lennar or a subsidiary, or (v) Lennar reasonably believes is
required to be included in the Registration Statement. If this Agreement is
terminated prior to the Effective Time, Lennar will, at the request of the
Company, deliver to the Company all documents and other material obtained by
Lennar from the Company or a subsidiary in connection with the transactions
which are the subject of this Agreement or evidence that that material has been
destroyed by Lennar.


                                       54
<PAGE>   57
     9.7 Press Releases. The Company and Lennar will consult with each other
before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statement with
respect to this Agreement or the Merger, except that nothing in this Paragraph
will prevent either party from making any statement when and as required by law
or by the rules of any securities exchange or securities quotation or trading
system on which securities of that party or an affiliate are listed, quoted or
traded.

     9.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents to be delivered in
accordance with this Agreement contain the entire agreement among the Company,
Lennar and Acquisition relating to the transactions which are the subject of
this Agreement and those other documents, all prior negotiations, understandings
and agreements between the Company and either Lennar or Acquisition are
superseded by this Agreement and those other documents, and there are no
representations, warranties, understandings or agreements concerning the
transactions which are the subject of this Agreement or those other documents
other than those expressly set forth in this Agreement or those other documents.

     9.9 Effect of Disclosures. Any information disclosed by a party in any
representation or warranty contained in this Agreement (including exhibits to
this Agreement) will be treated as having been disclosed in connection with each
representation and warranty made by that party in this Agreement.

     9.10 Captions. The captions of the articles and paragraphs of this
Agreement are for reference only, and do not affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

     9.11 Prohibition Against Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any right
of any party under it may be assigned.


                                       55
<PAGE>   58
     9.12 Notices and Other Communications. Any notice or other communication
under this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed given when it is
delivered in person or sent by facsimile (with proof of receipt at the number to
which it is required to be sent), on the business day after the day on which it
is sent by a major nationwide overnight delivery service, or on the third
business day after the day on which it is mailed by first class mail from within
the United States of America, to the following addresses (or such other address
as may be specified after the date of this Agreement by the party to which the
notice or communication is sent):

         If to Lennar or Acquisition:

                  Lennar Corporation
                  700 N.W. 107th Avenue
                  Miami, Florida 33172
                  Attention: Bruce Gross
                  Facsimile No.: 305-229-7115
                            and
                  Attention: David McCain
                  Facsimile No.: 305-229-6650

         with a copy to:

                  David W. Bernstein
                  Clifford Chance Rogers & Wells LLP
                  200 Park Avenue
                  New York, New York  10166
                  Facsimile: 212-878-8375

         If to the Company.:

                  U.S. Home Corporation
                  10707 Clay Road
                  Houston, Texas 77041
                  Attention: Robert J. Strudler
                  Facsimile No.: 713-877-2335

         with a copy to:

                  Stephen C. Koval
                  Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays & Handler, LLP
                  425 Park Avenue
                  New York, New York 10022
                  Facsimile: 212-836-8689

     9.13 Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed
under, the substantive laws of the State of Delaware.


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<PAGE>   59
     9.14 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended only by a document in
writing signed by both the Company and Lennar.

     9.15 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, some of which may be signed by fewer than all the parties or may
contain facsimile copies of pages signed by some of the parties. Each of those
counterparts will be deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement, but all of
them together will constitute one and the same agreement.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, Lennar and Acquisition have executed
this Agreement, intending to be legally bound by it, on the day shown on the
first page of this Agreement.

                                       U.S. HOME CORPORATION

                                       By: /s/ Robert J. Strudler
                                           ------------------------------
                                       Title:


                                       LENNAR CORPORATION


                                       By: /s/ Stuart A. Miller
                                           ------------------------------
                                       Title:


                                          LEN  ACQUISITION CORPORATION


                                       By: /s/ Stuart A. Miller
                                           ------------------------------
                                       Title:


                                       57