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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.5

                        MUNICIPAL MORTGAGE & EQUITY, LLC

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                               [Earl W. Cole, III]

         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made as of the 1st day
of July, 2003 by and between MUNICIPAL MORTGAGE & EQUITY, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company ("Employer") and Earl W. Cole, III ("Employee").

         WHEREAS, Employer is engaged in the business of acquiring and providing
asset management services for real estate and debt and equity investments
therein, with a particular emphasis on investments generating tax-exempt income
and investments in, or secured by, multi-family properties, congregate care and
assisted living facilities and similar properties;

         WHEREAS, Employee has particular skill, experience and background in
investments and asset management services of the type in which the Employer
primarily engages; and

         WHEREAS, Employer and Employee desire to enter into an employment
relationship, the terms of which are to be set forth in this Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants
hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Employer and Employee
hereby agree as follows:

         1.       Employment and Duties. Employer agrees to hire Employee, and
Employee agrees to be employed by Employer, as Executive Vice President of
Employer on the terms and conditions provided in this Agreement. Employee shall
perform the duties and responsibilities reasonably determined from time to time
by the CEO or COO of the Employer consistent with the types of duties and
responsibilities typically performed by a person serving as Executive Vice
President of businesses similar to that of Employer. Employee agrees to devote
his best efforts and full time attention and skill in performing the duties of
Executive Vice President heading up Employer's real estate portfolio and credit
management function. Provided that such activity shall not violate any provision
of this Agreement (including the noncompetition provisions of Section 8 below)
or materially interfere with his performance of his duties hereunder, nothing
herein shall prohibit Employee (a) from participating in any other business
activities approved in advance by the CEO or COO in accordance with any terms
and conditions of such approval, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld
or delayed, (b) from engaging in charitable, civic, fraternal or trade group
activities, or (c) from investing in other entities or business ventures.

         2.       Compensation. As compensation for performing the services
required by this Agreement, and during the term of this Agreement, Employee
shall be compensated as follows:

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                  (a)      Base Compensation. Employer shall pay to Employee a
salary ("Base Compensation") at the annual rate of Two Hundred Twenty-Five
Thousand Dollars ($225,000), through June 30, 2004, payable in accordance with
the general policies and procedures of the Employer for payment of salaries to
executive personnel, but in any event no less frequently than every two weeks,
in substantially equal installments, subject to withholding for applicable
federal, state and local taxes. Employee's Base Compensation shall increase by
Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) per year on July 1, 2004 and on July 1,
2005 during the Initial Term of this Agreement. Additional increases in Base
Compensation, if any, shall be determined by the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors (the "Board") based on the recommendation of the CEO or COO
and on periodic reviews of Employee's performance conducted on at least an
annual basis. During the term of this Agreement, Employee's annual Base
Compensation shall not be reduced below the initial Base Compensation set forth
above.

                  (b)      Incentive Compensation.

                           (i)      In addition to Base Compensation, Employee
shall be eligible to receive additional compensation ("Incentive Compensation"),
pursuant to such Incentive Compensation Plan as may from time to time be adopted
by the Employer. The Incentive Compensation Plan will have two components.
First, the Plan will provide that Employee is eligible to receive an annual
bonus payable in cash, unrestricted shares or restricted shares of up to One
Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($125,000) during the first year of this
Agreement based on meeting goals for fiscal year 2003, up to One Hundred Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($150,000) during the second year of this Agreement based on
meeting goals for fiscal year 2004 and up to One Hundred Fifty-Five Thousand
Dollars ($155,000) during the third year of this Agreement based on meeting
goals for fiscal year 2005. This component of the Incentive Compensation Plan
will provide that the amount of the bonus will be based on a formula tied to the
Employee's performance and Employer's company-wide performance. The formula will
be initially determined (and may be modified from time to time) by the
Compensation Committee on the recommendation of the CEO or COO; provided,
however, that the formula will have criteria and metrics that are substantially
similar to that used to calculate incentive compensation for the Employer's
other senior executives. Second, the Plan will provide that Employee may earn
additional Incentive Compensation of up to Two Hundred Thousand Dollars
($200,000) per year for the Company's fiscal years 2004 and 2005 for Employer's
corporate performance measured by 8% CAD growth in each of fiscal years 2004 and
2005.

                           (ii)     Incentive Compensation may at the election
of the Compensation Committee take the form of cash or the stock of Municipal
Mortgage & Equity, LLC (the "Company") and, to the extent it consists of stock,
may be awarded under the Employer's Share Incentive Plan as in effect from time
to time. Employee acknowledges that the formula set forth in the Incentive
Compensation Plan may vary for each employee who participates therein. Incentive
Compensation for any given fiscal year (including the partial year 2003) shall
be determined no later than 60 days after the end of Employer's fiscal year and
paid no later than 75 days after the close of the fiscal year. Except as
otherwise specifically provided herein, if Employee shall be employed for only a
portion of a fiscal year for which Employee is eligible for Incentive
Compensation, no Incentive Compensation shall be payable.

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                           3.       Employee Benefits.

                  (a)      During the term of this Agreement, Employee and his
eligible dependents shall have the right to participate in any retirement,
pension, insurance, health or other benefit plan or program adopted by Employer
(or in which Employer participates) to the same extent as any other officer of
the Employer, subject, in the case of a plan or program, to all of the terms and
conditions thereof, and to any limitations imposed by law. To the extent that
Employee has similar benefits under a plan or program established by any other
entity, Employee shall nonetheless have the right to the benefits provided by
Employer's plan or program; provided, however, that where by the terms of any
plan or program, or under applicable law, Employee may only participate in one
such plan or program, Employee shall have the option to limit his participation
to the plan or program sponsored by Employer, or to such other plan or program.
Employee shall have the right, to the extent permitted under any applicable law,
to participate concurrently in plans or programs sponsored by others (including
self-employment plans or programs) and in plans or programs sponsored by
Employer.

                  (b)      Tax Benefit Adjustment. If, as a result of the
ownership of common shares by Employee, Employee shall either lose personal
income tax deductions, be required to report additional personal taxable income,
or be required to pay additional taxes or charges, which deductions, income or
taxes would not have been lost, reportable, or payable, as the case may be, had
Employee not owned any common shares, Employer shall pay Employee a bonus on
April 1 of each calendar year equal to all additional taxes or charges Employee
is required to pay, attributable to the prior calendar year, which would not
have been payable had Employee not owned common shares. THIS SECTION IS NOT
INTENDED TO COMPENSATE EMPLOYEE FOR THE INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF RECEIVING OR
EXERCISING OPTIONS FOR OR ACQUIRING COMMON SHARES.

         4.       Vacation, Sickness and Leaves of Absence. Employee shall be
entitled to the normal and customary amount of paid vacation provided to
officers of Employer, but in no event less than five (5) weeks during each
fiscal year. Employee shall provide Employer with reasonable notice of
anticipated vacation dates. Any vacation days that are not taken in a given
fiscal year shall accrue and carryover from year to year, and, upon any
termination of this Agreement for any reason whatsoever, all accrued and unused
vacation time will be paid to Employee within 10 days of such termination based
on his annual rate of Base Compensation in effect on the date of such
termination; provided, however, that no more than ten (10) days of accrued
vacation may be carried over at any time. In addition, Employee shall be
entitled to such sick leave and holidays, with pay, as Employer provides to
other officers. Up to ten (10) days of unused sick leave shall be carried
forward or compensated upon termination of employment. Employee may also be
granted leaves of absence with or without pay for such valid and legitimate
reasons as the Board on recommendation from the CEO or COO, in its sole and
absolute discretion, may determine.

         5.       Expenses. Employee shall be entitled to receive, within a
reasonable period of time after he has delivered to the Employer an itemized
statement thereof, and after presentation of such invoices or similar records as
the Employer may reasonably require, reimbursement for all necessary and
reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with the performance of his
duties.

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         6.       Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall be for three
years (3) years (the "Initial Term"), commencing on July 1, 2003 (the "Effective
Date") and ending on June 30, 2006. This Agreement shall automatically renew for
successive one-year periods after the end of the Initial Term, unless at least
thirty days prior to the commencement of any such extension period either party
shall give the other party written notice of its intention to terminate this
Agreement. This Agreement may also be terminated at the times and under the
circumstances set forth in section 7 below. The term of this Agreement in effect
at any given time is herein referred to as the "Term". Any termination of this
Agreement shall be subject to Section 8 below.

         7.       Termination and Termination Benefits.

                  (a)      Termination by Employer.

                           (i)      Without Cause. Employer may terminate this
Agreement and Employee's employment at any time upon ninety (90) days prior
written notice to Employee, during which period Employer shall have the option
to require Employee to continue to perform his duties under this Agreement.
Employee shall be paid his Base Compensation and all other benefits to which he
is entitled under this Agreement up through the effective date of termination,
plus a proportionate share of Incentive Compensation for the year in which the
termination occurs, based on the ratio which the number of calendar months
(including any partial months) worked bears to twelve (12) (the "Proportionate
Share"). In addition, Employee shall become fully vested in any and all
outstanding deferred share awards, share options or other type of award made to
Employee but not yet vested at the time of such termination under the Employer's
Share Incentive Plans.

                           (ii)     With Cause. Employer may terminate this
Agreement with cause upon ten (10) days prior written notice to Employee. In
such event, Employee shall be paid his Base Compensation and all other benefits
to which he is entitled under this Agreement up through the effective date of
termination. For purposes of this Section, termination for cause shall mean (A)
acts or omissions by the Employee with respect to the Employer which constitute
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (B) receipt by the
Employee of money, property or services from the Employer or from another person
dealing with Employer in violation of law or this Agreement, (C) breach by
Employee of the noncompetition provisions of this Agreement, (D) breach by the
Employee of his duty of loyalty to the Employer, (E) gross negligence by the
Employee in the performance of his duties, (F) repeated failure by the Employee
to perform services that have been reasonably requested of him by the CEO, COO
or Board, following thirty (30) days notice and opportunity to cure and if such
requests are consistent with this Agreement, (G) violation of Employer's
policies with respect to alcohol or drug use or abuse which could under those
policies result in an employee's termination, or (H) conviction of a crime
(other than minor traffic violations).

                           (iii)    Disability. If due to illness, physical or
mental disability, or other incapacity, Employee shall fail to perform the
duties required by this Agreement, Employer may terminate this Agreement upon 30
days written notice to Employee. In such event, Employee shall be paid his Base
Compensation and receive all benefits owing to him under this Agreement through
the effective date of termination and shall receive his Proportionate Share of
Incentive Compensation for the year in which the termination occurs. In
addition, Employee shall become

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fully vested in any and all outstanding deferred share awards, share options or
other type of award made to Employee but not yet vested at the time of such
termination under the Employer's Share Incentive Plans. Employee shall be
considered disabled under this paragraph if he is unable to work due to
disability for a total of 120 or more business days during any 12-month period.
Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit Employee's rights to the
benefits of any disability insurance policy provided by Employer and this
Section shall not be construed as varying the terms of any such policy in any
manner adverse to Employee.

                  (b)      Termination by Employee. Employee may terminate this
Agreement for good reason upon 30 days prior written notice to Employer. In such
event, Employee shall be paid his Base Compensation and shall receive all
benefits through the date of termination. In addition, Employee shall become
fully vested in any and all outstanding deferred share awards, share options or
other type of award made to Employee but not yet vested at the time of such
termination under the Employer's Share Incentive Plans. Employee shall have
"good reason" to terminate his employment if (i) his Base Compensation, as in
effect at any given time, shall be reduced without his consent, (ii) Employer
shall fail to provide any of the material payments or benefits provided for
under this Agreement, (iii) Employer shall, without Employee's consent,
materially reduce or alter Employee's duties as Executive Vice President having
the general responsibility of overseeing Employer's real estate portfolio and
credit management function or (iv) Employer shall require Employee to take any
action which would be a violation of federal, state or local criminal law. With
respect to clause (iii), Employee shall be deemed to have consented if such
consent is either expressly given or if no objection to any change in duties is
given in writing within sixty (60) days of such change being implemented.

                  (c)      Termination Compensation.

                           (i)      Termination Without Cause or for Good
Reason. In the event of a termination of this Agreement prior to the end of the
Term, pursuant to Section 7(a)(i), 7(a)(iii) or 7(b), Employer, in addition to
the Base Compensation, benefits and Incentive Compensation (if any) payable as
provided in such sections, shall pay to Employee additional compensation
("Termination Compensation") as follows. If the termination does not follow a
Change in Control (as defined in subparagraph (ii) below), Termination
Compensation shall be equal to the greater of (a) twelve (12) months Base
Compensation or (b) the Base Compensation that Employee would have received
during the remaining Term of this Agreement. Termination Compensation shall be
paid in four equal quarterly payments beginning on the first day of the first
calendar month following the termination date, unless Employer elects to make
such payments sooner. Such Termination Compensation shall be in addition to all
other compensation and benefits to which Employee is entitled for termination
relating to a Change of Control under Section 7(c)(ii) below.

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                           (ii)     Change in Control. The acquisition of voting
control of the Employer by any one or more persons or entities who are directly,
or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, under common control, or who
are related to each other within the meaning of Sections 267 and 707(b) of the
Internal Revenue Code, shall be deemed a "Change in Control." In the event
Employee is terminated within eighteen months of a Change in Control,
Termination Compensation shall be equal to two (2) years Base Compensation,
payable in a lump sum on the effective date of Employee's termination. In
addition, Employee shall become fully vested in any and all outstanding deferred
share awards, share options or other type of award made to Employee but not yet
vested at the time of such termination under the Employer's Share Incentive
Plans. Such Termination Compensation shall be in addition to all other
compensation and benefits to which Employee is entitled for a termination
without cause under Section 7(a)(i) above, and shall be payable even in the
event of a termination effective as of the end of the Term.

                  (d)      Death Benefit. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate on the date of Employee's death.
In such event, Employee's estate shall be paid two (2) years' Base Compensation
as follows: to the extent of any insurance carried by Employer on Employee's
life, the death benefit shall be payable in a lump sum within five (5) business
days' of Employer's receipt of the insurance proceeds; any portion of the death
benefit not covered by insurance shall be paid in eight equal installments
payable on the first day of each calendar quarter following Employee's death.
Employer shall carry as much life insurance on Employee's life as the Board on
recommendation of the CEO or COO may from time to time determine. In addition,
upon Employee's death, all outstanding deferred share awards, share options or
other type of award made to Employee but not yet vested at the time of death
under the Employer's Share Incentive Plans shall be considered vested and paid
out to the Employee's estate.

         8.       Covenant Not to Compete.

                  (a)      Noncompetition. From and after the Effective Date and
continuing for the longer of (i) 12 months following the expiration or
termination of this Agreement or (ii) the remainder of the Term of this
Agreement, Employee shall not without the prior written consent of the Board (w)
become employed by, or undertake to work for, directly or indirectly, whether as
an advisor, principal, agent, partner, officer, director, employee, shareholder,
associate or consultant of or to, any person, partnership, corporation or other
business entity which is a Major Competitor of Employer in the business of
offering, promoting or syndicating to any person, including developers,
investors, or project sponsors, low income housing tax credits under Section 42
of the Internal Revenue Code or the business of offering, promoting or providing
financing for multifamily properties to any person, including the developers,
sponsors and owners of such properties, (x) solicit any employee of Employer to
change employment or (y) solicit for the purpose of offering, providing or
syndicating low-income housing tax credits or offering or providing multifamily
debt financing, any client, customer or investor of Employer or any of its
subsidiaries which closed (in any capacity) a tax credit or debt financing
transaction with Employer or any of its subsidiaries during the thirty-six (36)
months preceding Employee's termination, or (z) disclose proprietary or
confidential information of the Employer or its subsidiaries, including without
limitation, tax, deal structuring, pricing, customer, client, revenue, expense,
or other similar information; provided, however, if Employer terminates

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Employee without cause under Section 7(a)(i) of this Agreement, or the Employee
resigns for good reason under Section 7(b), clause (2) of this paragraph (a)
shall not apply. As used herein "Major Competitor" shall mean Charter Mac and
its Affiliates, GMAC and its Affiliates, and any other person or entity whose
primary business lines include providing multifamily debt financing or
low-income housing tax credit equity to the developers, sponsors and owners of
such properties, unless the net worth of such person or entity (if privately
held) or the market capitalization of such company (if publicly held) is less
than $200 Million.

                  (b)      Reasonable Restrictions. Employee acknowledges that
the restrictions of subparagraph (a) above are reasonable, fair and equitable in
scope, term and duration, are necessary to protect the legitimate business
interests of the Employer, and are a material inducement to the Employer to
enter into this Agreement. Employer and Employee both agree that in the event a
court shall determine any portion of the restrictions in subparagraph (a) are
not reasonable, the court may change such restrictions, including without
limitation the geographical restrictions and the duration restrictions, to
reflect a restriction which the court will enforce as reasonable.

                  (c)      Specific Performance. Employee acknowledges that the
obligations undertaken by him pursuant to this Agreement are unique and that if
Employee shall fail to abide by any of the restrictions set forth in
subparagraph (a), Employer will suffer harm for which there is no adequate
remedy at law. Employee therefore confirms that Employer shall have the right,
in the event of a violation of subparagraph (a), to injunctive relief to enforce
the terms of this Section 8 in addition to any other remedies available at law
or in equity.

         9.       Indemnification and Liability Insurance. Employer hereby
agrees to defend, indemnify and hold Employee harmless, to the maximum extent
allowed by law, from any and all liability for acts or omissions of Employee
performed in the course of Employee's employment (or reasonably believed by
Employee to be within the scope of his employment) provided that such acts or
omissions do not constitute (a) criminal conduct, (b) willful misconduct, or (c)
a fraud upon, or breach of Employee's duty of loyalty to, the Employer. Employer
shall at all times carry Directors' and Officers' liability insurance in
commercially reasonable amounts, but in any event not less than Five Million
Dollars ($5,000,000).

         10.      Miscellaneous.

                  (a)      Complete Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the
entire agreement among the parties with respect to the matters set forth herein
and supersedes all prior understandings and agreements between the parties as to
such matters. No amendments or modifications shall be binding unless set forth
in writing and signed by both parties.

                  (b)      Successors and Assigns. Neither party may assign its
rights or interest under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the
other party, except that Employer's interest in this Agreement may be assigned
to a successor by operation of law or to a purchaser purchasing substantially
all of Employer's business, and Employee's benefits under this Agreement may be
assigned by operation of law to Employee's heirs, devisees and personal
representatives. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of each of the parties and their respective permitted successors and
assigns.

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                  (c)      Severability. Each provision of this Agreement is
severable, such that if any part of this Agreement shall be deemed invalid or
unenforceable, the balance of this Agreement shall be enforced so as to give
effect as to the intent of the parties.

                  (d)      Representations of Employer. Employer represents and
warrants to Employee that it has the requisite limited liability company power
to enter into this Agreement and perform the terms hereof and that the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized
by all appropriate company action.

                  (e)      Construction. This Agreement shall be governed in all
respects by the internal laws of the State of Maryland (excluding reference to
principles of conflicts of law). As used herein, the singular shall include the
plural, the plural shall include the singular, and the use of any pronoun shall
be construed to refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter, all as the context
may require.

                  (f)      Notices. All notices required or permitted under this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given on the date sent if
delivered by hand or by facsimile, and on the next business day if sent by
overnight courier or by United States mail, postage prepaid, to each party at
the following address (or at such other address as a party may specify by notice
under this section):

                  IF TO EMPLOYER:

                           Municipal Mortgage and Equity, LLC
                           621 East Pratt Street
                           Suite 300
                           Baltimore, Maryland  21202
                           Attention: Chief Operating Officer

                  IF TO EMPLOYEE:

                           Earl W. Cole, III
                           2618 Streamview Drive
                           Odenton, MD 21113

                  (g)      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one
or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of
which together shall constitute one instrument.

                            [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound, the parties have
executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

WITNESS:                                    EMPLOYER:

                                            MUNICIPAL MORTGAGE AND EQUITY, LLC

/s/ Janet E. McHugh                         By:      /s/ Michael L. Falcone
---------------------------                          ---------------------------
                                                     Michael L. Falcone
                                                     President & Chief Operating
                                                     Officer

                                            EMPLOYEE:

/s/ Janet E. McHugh                         /s/ Earl W. Cole III
---------------------------                 ------------------------------------
                                            Earl W. Cole, III

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