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EXHIBIT 10.36  Employment Agreement with Michael Rich Dated August 29, 1999

                                 August 26, 1999



Michael Rich
2825 S.W. 132 Way
Davie, FL  33330


Dear Michael:

We at Oriole Homes ("Oriole") are pleased to extend you an offer and confirm
your acceptance of employment as our Vice President of Sales and Marketing for
Oriole at our Delray Beach Corporate Headquarters. This letter outlines the
principal terms of our relationship. Please verify that all issues have been
addressed to your satisfaction so that an announcement may be made (handwritten)
(as soon as appropriate).

START DATE:                October 4, 1999

BASE SALARY:               An annualized base salary of $175,000 for the period
                           of October 4, 1999 to October 3, 2000. Effective
                           October 4, 2000, your annualized base salary will be
                           reduced to $150,000. Salary is paid every other week
                           and is subject to the customary withholding.

BONUS:                     Assuming that you are an employee in good standing,
                           on October 4, 2000 you will receive a $25,000 bonus.
                           Thereafter, you will be eligible to receive an annual
                           bonus based upon the achievement of objective
                           targeted performance goals (the "Target Goals")
                           determined each calendar year by the President of
                           Oriole in consultation with you. The Target Goals may
                           be comprised of fixed financial criteria and
                           subjective non-financial criteria.

STOCK OPTIONS:             Upon starting, you will be granted 10,000 options
                           pursuant to the Employee Stock Option Plan ("The
                           Plan") to purchase Oriole Homes stock. The option
                           price of the stock options will be the market price
                           on October 4, 1999. These options will vest provided
                           that you are an employee in good standing on October
                           5, 2001. An additional 10,000 stock options may be
                           earned through the achievement of mutually agreed
                           upon goals. Should there be a change in control as
                           defined in Paragraph 8(b) of The Plan, prior to
                           October 5, 2001, and you are an employee in good
                           standing at the time, the stock options will
                           immediately vest. Thereafter, the stock options will
                           vest only in accordance with their terms.

TERM:                      Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to prohibit
                           Oriole from terminating your employment at any time
                           with or without notice for any reason whatsoever,
                           provided however, if Oriole should terminate your
                           employment for any reason other than Cause (as
                           defined below) prior to October 3, 2001, Oriole Homes
                           will pay






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Michael Rich
August 26, 1999


                           you one times your then current annual base salary.
                           Subject to your signing a release and cooperation
                           agreement with Oriole. For "Cause", is defined as (A)
                           willful acts or willful failures to act constituting
                           gross neglect or material insubordination regarding
                           your duties, responsibilities and limitations; (B)
                           your conviction of a felony; (C) a good faith finding
                           by the Board of Directors of Oriole of any act of
                           fraud or malicious action by you; (D) any other
                           material breach of your duties and responsibilities,
                           but only if, such breach has not been cured or
                           effectively commenced, in Oriole's discretion, within
                           15 days of written notice to you or (E) failure on
                           your part to initially pass drug testing and to
                           comply with Oriole's drug and alcohol free workplace
                           policy.

BENEFITS:                  You will receive a $500 per month car allowance, a
                           $100 per month cell phone allowance and two weeks
                           vacation. Oriole will pay your COBRA costs for
                           insurance until you are eligible to enroll in
                           Oriole's plan. All other benefits information will be
                           provided to you upon starting and will be on the same
                           basis and subject to the same qualifications as other
                           employees of Oriole.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call. We would appreciate
it if after reading this document you would execute the attached, indicating
your agreement with the terms and conditions stated herein and return it in the
enclosed envelope. There is an original enclosed for your records as well.


Sincerely,


/s/ Mark levy
-------------------------
Mark Levy
President


Agreed:



/s/ Michael Rich
-------------------------
Michael Rich



Date: 08/29/99