Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (this "Agreement") is made as of
March 1, 2000, effective as of January 1, 2000 (the "Effective Date"), by and
between NEWMARK HOME CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation (the "Employer"), and
MIKE BECKETT, an individual residing in Missouri City, Texas (the "Employee").

                                    RECITALS

The Employer, its divisions, subsidiaries, and other affiliated entities are
primarily engaged in the business of constructing single-family residences. The
Employer and the Employee entered into an Employment Agreement dated January 1,
1998 (the "Employment Agreement"), the intent and purpose being to specify the
terms and conditions of Employee's employment with the Employer. The Employer
and the Employee desire to amend the terms and conditions of the employment with
the Employer and hereby enter into this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

                                    AGREEMENT

The parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1.       DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings
specified or referred to in this Section 1.

         "Agreement"--the Employment Agreement, as amended from time to time,
including this Agreement.

         "Base Salary"--as defined in Section 3.1(a).

         "Basic Compensation" means Base Salary and Benefits.

         "Benefits"--as defined in Section 3.1(b).

         "Board of Directors" means the board of directors of the Employer.

         "Confidential Information" means any and all intellectual property of
         the Employer (or any of its affiliates), including but not limited to:

          (a)  trade secrets concerning the business and affairs of the Employer
               (or any of its affiliates), product specifications, data,
               know-how, formulae, compositions, processes, designs, sketches,
               photographs, graphs, drawings, samples, inventions and ideas,
               past, current, and planned research and development, current and
               planned manufacturing or distribution methods and processes,
               customer lists, current and anticipated customer requirements,
               price lists, market studies, business plans, computer software
               and programs (including object code and

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               source code), computer software and database technologies,
               systems, structures, and architectures (and related formulae,
               compositions, processes, improvements, devices, know-how,
               inventions, discoveries, concepts, ideas, designs, methods and
               information), and any other information, however documented, that
               is a trade secret under federal, state or other applicable law;
               and

          (b)  information concerning the business and affairs of the Employer
               (or any of its affiliates) (which includes historical financial
               statements, financial projections and budgets, historical and
               projected sales, capital spending budgets and plans, the names
               and backgrounds of key personnel, personnel training and
               techniques and materials), however documented; and

          (c)  notes, analysis, compilations, studies, summaries, and other
               material prepared by or for the Employer (or any of its
               affiliates) containing or based, in whole or in part, on any
               information included in the foregoing.

         "Disability"-- as defined in Section 4.2.

         "Effective Date" means the date stated in the first paragraph of this
         Agreement or, if applicable for the period prior to January 1, 2000,
         the Effective Date set forth in the Employment Agreement.

         "Employee Invention" means any idea, invention, technique,
         modification, process, or improvement (whether patentable or not), any
         industrial design (whether registerable or not), any mask work, however
         fixed or encoded, that is suitable to be fixed, embedded or programmed
         in a semiconductor product (whether recordable or not), and any work of
         authorship (whether or not copyright protection may be obtained for it)
         created, conceived, or developed by the Employee, either solely or in
         conjunction with others, during the Employment Period or at any time
         prior to the Employment Period that Employee was an employee of
         Employer, or a period that includes a portion of the Employment Period,
         that relates in any way to, or is useful in any manner in, the business
         then being conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Employer, and
         any such item created by the Employee, either solely or in conjunction
         with others, following termination of the Employee's employment with
         the Employer, that is based upon or uses Confidential Information.

         "Employment Period" means the term of the Employee's employment under
         this Agreement.

         "Fiscal Year" means the Employer's fiscal year, as it exists on the
         Effective Date or as changed from time to time.

         "For cause"--as defined in Section 4.3.

         "Person" means any individual, corporation (including any nonprofit
         corporation), general or limited partnership, limited liability
         company, joint venture, estate, trust, business trust, association,
         organization, or governmental body.

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         "Post-Employment Period"-- as defined in Section 5.2.

2.       EMPLOYMENT TERMS AND DUTIES

2.1      EMPLOYMENT

         The Employer hereby employs the Employee, and the Employee hereby
         accepts employment by the Employer, upon the terms and conditions set
         forth in this Agreement.

2.2      TERM

         The term of the Employee's employment with Employer pursuant to the
         Employment Agreement commenced on January 1, 1998 and shall continue
         pursuant to this Agreement on the Effective Date and end on December
         31, 2003, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the provisions
         of Section 4 herein. Employer and Employee may extend the term of this
         Agreement by execution of a written amendment hereto, setting forth the
         terms of such extension. If the parties fail to execute such written
         amendment, but the employment relationship has continued by mutual
         consent, then the terms of such employment shall be deemed to be on a
         month-to-month basis.

2.3      DUTIES

         The Employee served as Senior Vice President of the Employer until
         December 31, 1999 and will serve as Executive Vice President -
         Purchasing/Product Development for the Employer as of January 1, 2000
         and for the remaining term of this Agreement and will have such duties
         as are assigned or delegated to the Employee by the Chief Executive
         Officer of Employer, the Chief Executive Officer's designee, or
         Employee's immediate supervisor. The Employee will devote his full
         business time, attention, skill, and energy exclusively to the business
         of the Employer, will use his best efforts to promote the success of
         the Employer's business, and will cooperate fully with the management
         and Board of Directors of Employer in the advancement of the best
         interests of the Employer. Nothing in this Section 2.3, however, will
         prevent the Employee from engaging in additional activities in
         connection with personal investments and community affairs that are not
         inconsistent with the Employee's duties under this Agreement. If the
         Employee is elected an officer of any of Employer's affiliates, the
         Employee will fulfill his duties as such officer without additional
         compensation.

3.       COMPENSATION

         The compensation and other benefits payable to the Employee under this
         Agreement shall constitute the full consideration to be paid to the
         Employee for all services to be rendered by the Employee for the
         Employer, its divisions, subsidiaries and other affiliated entities.

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3.1      BASIC COMPENSATION

         (a)      The Employee will be paid an annual salary as set forth below
                  ("Base Salary"), which will be payable in equal periodic
                  installments according to the Employer's customary payroll
                  practices, but no less frequently than monthly.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                            Calendar Year                   Base Salary
                            -------------                   -----------
<S>                                                         <C>
                            1998                            $155,000
                            1999                            $170,000
                            2000                            $210,000
                            2001                            $240,000
                            2002                            $270,000
                            2003                            $300,000
</TABLE>

         (b)      The Employee will, during the Employment Period, be permitted
                  to participate in such pension, profit sharing, life
                  insurance, hospitalization, major medical and other employee
                  benefit plans of the Employer that may be in effect from time
                  to time, to the extent Employee is eligible under the terms of
                  those plans (collectively, the "Benefits").

         (c)      Employee will be eligible to participate in an annual bonus
                  plan, which will be consistent with previous bonus plans,
                  except as agreed to between Employee and Employer at the
                  beginning of each calendar year (the "Bonus Plan").

4.       TERMINATION

4.1      EVENTS OF TERMINATION

         The Employment Period, the Employee's Basic Compensation, and any and
         all other rights of the Employee under this Agreement or otherwise as
         an employee of the Employer will terminate (except as otherwise
         provided in this Section 4):

         (a)      upon the death of the Employee;

         (b)      upon the disability of the Employee (as defined in
                  Section 4.2) immediately upon notice from either party to the
                  other;

         (c)      for cause (as defined in Section 4.3), immediately upon
                  notice from the Employer to the Employee, or at such later
                  time as such notice may specify; or

         (d)      on December 31, 2003.

4.2      DEFINITION OF DISABILITY

         For purposes of Section 4.1, the Employee will be deemed to have a
         "disability" if, for physical or mental reasons, the Employee is unable
         to perform the essential functions of the Employee's duties under this
         Agreement for 120 consecutive days, or 180 days during any twelve (12)
         month period, as determined in accordance with this Section 4.2. The
         disability of the Employee will be determined by a medical doctor
         selected by

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         written agreement of the Employer and the Employee upon the request of
         either party by notice to the other. If the Employer and the Employee
         cannot agree on the selection of a medical doctor, each of them will
         select a medical doctor and the two (2) medical doctors will select a
         third medical doctor who will determine whether the Employee has a
         disability. The determination of the medical doctor selected under
         this Section 4.2 will be binding on both parties. The Employee must
         submit to a reasonable number of examinations by the medical doctor
         making the determination of disability under this Section 4.2, and the
         Employee hereby authorizes the disclosure and release to the Employer
         of such determination and all supporting medical records. If the
         Employee is not legally competent, the Employee's legal guardian or
         duly authorized attorney-in-fact will act in the Employee's stead,
         under this Section 4.2, for the purposes of submitting the Employee to
         the examinations, and providing the authorization of disclosure,
         required under this Section 4.2.

4.3      DEFINITION OF "FOR CAUSE"

         For purposes of Section 4.1, the phrase "for cause" means: (a) the
         commission of fraud, theft, embezzlement, or similar malfeasance
         involving moral turpitude or the conviction of, or plea of nolo
         contendere to, any felony; (b) gross negligence, nonfeasance,
         dishonesty, willful misconduct or substantial failure to perform
         employment duties in a manner consistent with normal standards of job
         performance after prior evaluation and warning related to such
         standards of job performance; or (c) the appropriation (or attempted
         appropriation) of a material business opportunity of the Employer.

4.4      TERMINATION PAY

         Effective upon the termination of this Agreement, the Employer will be
         obligated to pay the Employee (or, in the event of his death, his
         designated beneficiary as defined below) only such compensation as is
         provided in this Section 4.4, and in lieu of all other amounts and in
         settlement and complete release of all claims the Employee may have
         against the Employer. For purposes of this Section 4.4, the Employee's
         designated beneficiary will be such individual beneficiary or trust,
         located at such address, as the Employee may designate by notice to the
         Employer from time to time or, if the Employee fails to give notice to
         the Employer of such a beneficiary, the Employee's estate.

         (a)      Termination by the Employer for Cause. If the Employer
                  terminates this Agreement for cause, the Employee will be
                  entitled to receive his accrued, but unpaid, Base Salary
                  only through the date such termination is effective. If the
                  Employer terminates this Agreement for cause, as defined in
                  Section 4.3(a) or 4.3(c), Employee shall forfeit his rights
                  to any payment under any Bonus Plan in which Employee
                  participated at the time of termination, whether or not
                  payments under such Bonus Plan have been accrued by
                  Employer. If the Employer terminates this Agreement for
                  cause, as defined in Section 4.3(b), Employee shall be
                  entitled to receive a pro-rated portion of any payment under
                  any Bonus Plan in which Employee participated at the time of
                  termination, based on the actual days worked by the Employee
                  during the fiscal year on which the Bonus Plan is based.
                  Employee shall not be released from the covenants contained
                  in Section 5 hereof.

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         (b)      Termination upon Disability. If this Agreement is terminated
                  by either party as a result of the Employee's disability, as
                  determined under Section 4.2, the Employer will pay the
                  Employee (i) his Base Salary through the remainder of the
                  calendar month during which such termination is effective and
                  (ii) a pro-rated portion of any payment under any Bonus Plan
                  in which Employee participated at the time of termination,
                  based on the actual days worked by the Employee during the
                  fiscal year on which the Bonus Plan is based.

         (c)      Termination upon Death. If this Agreement is terminated
                  because of the Employee's death, the Employee's estate will be
                  entitled to receive (i) his Base Salary through the end of the
                  calendar month in which his death occurs and (ii) a pro-rated
                  portion of any payment under any Bonus Plan in which Employee
                  participated at the time of termination, based on the actual
                  days worked by the Employee during the fiscal year on which
                  the Bonus Plan is based.

         (d)      Termination on December 31, 2003. If on December 31, 2003,
                  this Agreement terminates because the parties have not
                  extended the Term (as provided in Section 2.2 hereof), the
                  Employee shall be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid Base
                  Salary accrued through December 31, 2003, and (ii) a
                  pro-rated portion of any payment under any Bonus Plan in
                  which Employee participated at the time of termination,
                  based on the actual months worked by the Employee during the
                  fiscal year on which the Bonus Plan is based. Employee shall
                  not be released from the covenants contained in Section 5
                  hereof; provided however, that Employer shall pay Employee
                  an amount equal to one year's Base Salary. Such amount shall
                  be payable in twelve (12) equal monthly installments,
                  determined by dividing Employee's Base Salary, on the last
                  day of Employee's employment with Employer, by 12, with the
                  first such installment being due and payable on the last day
                  of Employee's employment with Employer, and the remaining
                  installments being due and payable on the same date in each
                  succeeding month. Employer shall have the right, at any
                  time, to release Employee from the covenants contained in
                  Section 5 hereof, at which time Employee's right to receive
                  and Employer's obligation to make any installment payment
                  shall terminate.

         (e)      Termination after December 31, 2003. In the event Employer
                  and Employee agree to continue Employee's employment with
                  Employer after December 31, 2003, pursuant to the terms of
                  Section 2.2 hereof, such employment shall be continued,
                  unless otherwise agreed in writing, on a month-to-month
                  basis and on the same terms and conditions as set forth
                  herein, and may be terminated by Employer (i) at any time
                  upon thirty (30) days notice, or (ii) immediately, provided
                  that Employer shall pay Employee in a lump sum, an amount
                  equal to one (1) month's Base Salary. Employee shall be
                  entitled to receive a pro-rated portion of any payment under
                  any Bonus Plan in which Employee participated at the time of
                  termination, based on the actual months worked by the
                  Employee during the fiscal year on which the Bonus Plan is
                  based. Employee shall not be released from the covenants
                  contained in Section 5 hereof, provided however, that
                  Employer shall pay Employee an amount equal to one year's
                  Base Salary. Such

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                  amount shall be payable in twelve (12) equal monthly
                  installments, determined by dividing Employee's Base Salary,
                  on the last day of Employee's employment with Employer, by
                  12, with the first such installment being due and payable on
                  the last day of Employee's employment with Employer, and the
                  remaining installments being due and payable on the same
                  date in each succeeding month. Employer shall have the
                  right, at any time, to release Employee from the covenants
                  contained in Section 5 hereof, at which time Employee's
                  right to receive and Employer's obligation to make any
                  installment payment shall terminate.

                  In the event that Employer terminates Employee for cause, as
                  defined in Section 4.3, then the provisions of this Section
                  4.4(e)(i) and (ii) shall not apply, and Employee will be
                  entitled to receive only his accrued, but unpaid, Base Salary
                  through the date such termination is effective and Employee
                  shall not be released from the covenants contained in Section
                  5 hereof. If the Employer terminates this Agreement for cause,
                  as defined in Section 4.3(a) or 4.3(c), Employee shall forfeit
                  his rights to any payment under any Bonus Plan in which
                  Employee participated at the time of termination, whether or
                  not payments under such Bonus Plan have been accrued by
                  Employer. If the Employer terminates this Agreement for cause,
                  as defined in Section 4.3(b), Employee shall be entitled to
                  receive a pro-rated portion of any payment under any Bonus
                  Plan in which Employee participated at the time of
                  termination, based on the actual days worked by the Employee
                  during the fiscal year on which the Bonus Plan is based.

         (f)      Benefits. The Employee's accrual of, or participation in plans
                  providing for, Benefits, will cease at the effective date of
                  the termination of this Agreement, except as otherwise
                  specifically provided in writing in the documentation for any
                  such Benefit. The Employee will not receive, as part of his
                  termination pay pursuant to this Section 4, any payment or
                  other compensation for any vacation, holiday, sick leave, or
                  other leave unused on the date the notice of termination is
                  given under this Agreement, unless Employer's written
                  personnel policies provide otherwise.

5.       NON-COMPETITION AND NON-INTERFERENCE

5.1      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS BY THE EMPLOYEE

         The Employee acknowledges that: (a) the services to be performed by him
         under this Agreement are of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary,
         and intellectual character, and (b) the provisions of this Section 5
         are reasonable and necessary to protect the goodwill and other business
         interests of Employer.

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5.2      COVENANTS OF THE EMPLOYEE

         In consideration of the acknowledgments by the Employee, and in
         consideration of the compensation and benefits to be paid or provided
         to the Employee by the Employer, the Employee covenants that he will
         not, directly or indirectly:

         (a)      during the Employment Period, except in the course of his
                  employment hereunder, and during the Post-Employment Period
                  (as defined below), without the express prior written
                  consent of Employer (as authorized by its board of
                  directors), as owner, officer, director, employee,
                  stockholder, principal, consultant, agent, lender,
                  guarantor, cosigner, investor or trustee of any corporation,
                  partnership, proprietorship, joint venture, association or
                  any other entity of any nature, engage, directly or
                  indirectly, in any business of siting, permitting,
                  developing, constructing, or selling single-family homes in
                  (i) the following counties in the State of Texas: (1) Harris
                  County and all contiguous counties, (2) Travis County and
                  all contiguous counties, (3) Bexar County and all contiguous
                  counties, (4) Dallas County and all contiguous counties, and
                  (5) any county in which Employer has homebuilding activity
                  during the Employment Period, and (ii) the following
                  counties in the State of Tennessee: (1) Williamson County
                  and all contiguous counties, and (2) any county in which
                  Employer engages in business during the Employment Period;
                  provided, however, that the Employee may purchase or
                  otherwise acquire up to (but not more than) one percent (1%)
                  of any class of securities of any enterprise (but without
                  otherwise participating in the activities of such
                  enterprise) if such securities are listed on any national or
                  regional securities exchange or have been registered under
                  Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;

         (b)      whether for the Employee's own account or for the account of
                  any other person, at any time during the Employment Period
                  (except for the account of Employer and its affiliates) and
                  the Post-Employment Period, solicit business of the same or
                  similar type being carried on by the Employer, from any person
                  known by the Employee to be a customer of the Employer,
                  whether or not the Employee had personal contact with such
                  person during and by reason of the Employee's employment with
                  the Employer;

         (c)      whether for the Employee's own account or the account of any
                  other person (i) at any time during the Employment Period
                  and the Post-Employment Period, solicit, employ, or
                  otherwise engage as an employee, independent contractor, or
                  otherwise, any person who is an employee of the Employer, or
                  in any manner induce, or attempt to induce, any employee of
                  the Employer to terminate his employment with the Employer;
                  or (ii) at any time during the Employment Period and Post
                  Employment Period, interfere with the Employer's
                  relationship with any person, including any person, who at
                  any time during the Employment Period, was an employee,
                  contractor, supplier, or customer of the Employer; provided,
                  however, that nothing in this Section 5.2(c)(ii) shall
                  preclude Employee from soliciting or employing any person,
                  who was employed by Employer, after six (6)

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                  months have lapsed from the last date of the former
                  employee's employment with Employer; or

         (d)      at any time during or after the Employment Period, disparage
                  the Employer or any of its shareholders, parents, affiliates,
                  directors, officers, employees, or agents.

         The term "Post-Employment Period" means the one (1) year period
         beginning on the date of termination of the Employee's employment with
         the Employer.

         If any covenant in this Section 5.2 is held to be unreasonable,
         arbitrary, or against public policy, such covenant will be considered
         to be divisible with respect to scope, time, and geographic area, and
         such lesser scope, time, or geographic area, or all of them, as a court
         of competent jurisdiction may determine to be reasonable, not
         arbitrary, and not against public policy, will be effective, binding,
         and enforceable against the Employee. Employee hereby agrees that this
         covenant is a material and substantial part of this Agreement and that
         (i) the geographic limitations are reasonable; (ii) the one (1) year
         term of the covenant is reasonable; and (iii) the covenant is not made
         for the purpose of limiting competition per se and is reasonably
         related to a protectable business interest of the Employer.

         The period of time applicable to any covenant in this Section 5.2 will
         be extended by the duration of any violation by the Employee of such
         covenant.

         The Employee will, while the covenant under this Section 5.2 is in
         effect, give notice to the Employer, within ten (10) days after
         accepting any other employment, of the identity of the Employee's
         employer. The Employer may notify such employer that the Employee is
         bound by this Agreement and, at the Employer's election, furnish such
         employer with a copy of this Agreement or relevant portions thereof.

6.       NON-DISCLOSURE COVENANT; EMPLOYEE INVENTIONS

6.1      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS BY THE EMPLOYEE

         The Employee acknowledges that (a) during the Employment Period and as
         a part of his employment, the Employee will be afforded access to
         Confidential Information; (b) public disclosure of such Confidential
         Information could have an adverse effect on the Employer and its
         business; (c) because the Employee possesses substantial technical
         expertise and skill with respect to the Employer's business, the
         Employer desires to obtain exclusive ownership of each Employee
         Invention, and the Employer will be at a substantial competitive
         disadvantage if it fails to acquire exclusive ownership of each
         Employee Invention; and (d) the provisions of this Section 6 are
         reasonable and necessary to prevent the improper use or disclosure of
         Confidential Information and to provide the Employer with exclusive
         ownership of all Employee Inventions.

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6.2      AGREEMENTS OF THE EMPLOYEE

         In consideration of the compensation and benefits to be paid or
         provided to the Employee by the Employer under this Agreement, the
         Employee covenants as follows:

         (a)      Confidentiality.

                  (i)      During and following the Employment Period, the
                           Employee will hold in confidence the Confidential
                           Information and will not disclose it to any person
                           other than in connection with the performance of his
                           duties and obligations hereunder, except with the
                           specific prior written consent of the Employer or
                           except as otherwise expressly permitted by the terms
                           of this Agreement.

                  (ii)     Any trade secrets of the Employer will be entitled
                           to all of the protections and benefits under the
                           federal and state trade secret and intellectual
                           property laws and any other applicable law. If any
                           information that the Employer deems to be a trade
                           secret is found by a court of competent jurisdiction
                           not to be a trade secret for purposes of this
                           Agreement, such information will, nevertheless, be
                           considered Confidential Information for purposes of
                           this Agreement. The Employee hereby waives any
                           requirement that the Employer submit proof of the
                           economic value of any trade secret or post a bond or
                           other security.

                  (iii)    None of the foregoing obligations and restrictions
                           applies to any part of the Confidential Information
                           that the Employee demonstrates was or became
                           generally available to the public other than as a
                           result of a disclosure by the Employee.

                  (iv)     The Employee will not remove from the  Employer's
                           premises (except to the extent such removal is for
                           purposes of the performance of the Employee's duties
                           at home or while traveling, or except as otherwise
                           specifically authorized by the Employer) any
                           document, record, notebook, plan, model, component,
                           device, or computer software or code, whether
                           embodied in a disk or in any other form belonging to
                           the Employer or used in Employer's business
                           (collectively, the "Proprietary Items"). The
                           Employee recognizes that, as between the Employer
                           and the Employee, all of the Proprietary Items,
                           whether or not developed by the Employee, are the
                           exclusive property of the Employer. Upon
                           termination of this Agreement, or upon the request
                           of the Employer during the Employment Period, the
                           Employee will return to the Employer all of the
                           Proprietary Items in the Employee's possession or
                           subject to the Employee's control, and the Employee
                           shall not retain any copies, abstracts, sketches, or
                           other physical embodiment of any of the Proprietary
                           Items.

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         (b)      Employee Inventions. Each Employee Invention will belong
                  exclusively to the Employer. The Employee acknowledges that
                  all of the Employee's writing, works of authorship and other
                  Employee Inventions are works made for hire and the property
                  of the Employer, including any copyrights, patents, or other
                  intellectual property rights pertaining thereto. If it is
                  determined that any such works are not works made for hire,
                  the Employee hereby assigns to the Employer all of the
                  Employee's right, title, and interest, including all rights
                  of copyright, patent, and other intellectual property
                  rights, to or in such Employee Inventions. The Employee
                  covenants that he will promptly:

                  (i)      disclose to the Employer in writing any Employee
                           Invention;

                  (ii)     assign to the Employer or to a party designated by
                           the Employer, at the Employer's request and without
                           additional compensation, all of the Employee's right
                           to the Employee Invention for the United States and
                           all foreign jurisdictions;

                  (iii)    execute and deliver to the Employer such
                           applications, assignments, and other documents as the
                           Employer may request in order to apply for and obtain
                           patents or other registrations with respect to any
                           Employee Invention in the United States and any
                           foreign jurisdictions;

                  (iv)     sign all other papers necessary to carry out the
                           above obligations; and

                  (v)      give testimony and render any other assistance but
                           without expense to the Employee in support of the
                           Employer's rights to any Employee Invention.

6.3      DISPUTES OR CONTROVERSIES

         The Employee recognizes that should a dispute or controversy arising
         from or relating to this Agreement be submitted for adjudication to any
         court, arbitration panel, or other third party, the preservation of the
         secrecy of Confidential Information may be jeopardized. All pleadings,
         documents, testimony, and records relating to any such adjudication
         will be maintained in secrecy and will be available for inspection by
         the Employer, the Employee, and their respective attorneys and experts,
         who will agree, in advance and in writing, to receive and maintain all
         such information in secrecy, except as may be limited by them in
         writing.

7.       GENERAL PROVISIONS

7.1      INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AND ADDITIONAL REMEDY

         The Employee acknowledges that the injury that would be suffered by the
         Employer as a result of a breach of the provisions of this Agreement
         (including any provision of Sections 5 and 6) would be irreparable and
         that an award of monetary damages to the Employer for such a breach
         would be an inadequate remedy. Consequently, the Employer will have the
         right, in addition to any other rights it may have, to obtain

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         injunctive relief to restrain any breach or threatened breach or
         otherwise to specifically enforce any provision of this Agreement.
         Without limiting the Employer's rights under this Section 7 or any
         other remedies of the Employer, if the Employee breaches any of the
         provisions of Sections 5 and 6 and such breach is proven in a court of
         competent jurisdiction, the Employer will have the right to cease
         making any payments otherwise due to the Employee under this Agreement.

7.2      COVENANTS OF SECTIONS 5 AND 6 ARE ESSENTIAL AND INDEPENDENT COVENANTS

         The covenants by the Employee in Sections 5 and 6 are essential
         elements of this Agreement, and without the Employee's agreement to
         comply with such covenants, the Employer would not have entered into
         this Agreement or continued the employment of the Employee. The
         Employer and the Employee have independently consulted their respective
         counsel and have been advised in all respects concerning the
         reasonableness and propriety of such covenants, with specific regard to
         the nature of the business conducted by the Employer.

         The Employee's covenants in Sections 5 and 6 and 6 are independent
         covenants and the existence of any claim by the Employee against the
         Employer under this Agreement or otherwise will not excuse the
         Employee's breach of any covenant in Sections 5 or 6.

         If the Employee's employment hereunder expires or is terminated, this
         Agreement will continue in full force and effect as is necessary or
         appropriate to enforce the covenants and agreements of the Employee in
         Sections 5 and 6.

7.3      LEGAL RECOURSE

         Employee further agrees that these covenants are made to protect the
         legitimate business interests of the Employer. Employee understands as
         a part of these covenants that the Employer intends to exercise
         whatever legal recourse against him for any breach of this Agreement
         and in particular, for any breach of these covenants.

8.       GENERAL PROVISIONS

8.1      WAIVER

         The rights and remedies of the parties to this Agreement are cumulative
         and not alternative. Neither the failure nor any delay by either party
         in exercising any right, power, or privilege under this Agreement will
         operate as a waiver of such right, power, or privilege, and no single
         or partial exercise of any such right, power, or privilege will
         preclude any other or further exercise of such right, power, or
         privilege or the exercise of any other right, power, or privilege. To
         the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, (a) no claim or right
         arising out of this Agreement can be discharged by one party, in whole
         or in part, by a waiver or renunciation of the claim or right unless in
         writing signed by the other party; (b) no waiver that may be given by a
         party will be applicable except in the specific instance for which it
         is given; and (c) no notice to or demand on one party

                                      -12-

<PAGE>   13

         will be deemed to be a waiver of any obligation of such party or of
         the right of the party giving such notice or demand to take further
         action without notice or demand as provided in this Agreement.

8.2      BINDING EFFECT; DELEGATION OF DUTIES PROHIBITED

         This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding
         upon, the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns,
         heirs, and legal representatives, including any entity with which the
         Employer may merge or consolidate or to which all or substantially all
         of its assets may be transferred. The duties and covenants of the
         Employee under this Agreement, being personal, may not be delegated.

8.3      NOTICES

         All notices, consents, waivers, and other communications under this
         Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given
         when (a) delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt), (b)
         sent by facsimile (with written confirmation of receipt), provided that
         a copy is mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, or (c)
         when received by the addressee, if sent by a nationally recognized
         overnight delivery service, in each case to the appropriate addresses
         and facsimile numbers set forth below (or to such other addresses and
         facsimile numbers as a party may designate by notice to the other
         parties):

         If to Employer:

                  Newmark Home Corporation
                  1200 Soldiers Field Drive
                  Sugar Land, TX 77479
                  Facsimile No.:  281/243-0132

                  With a copy to:

                  Holly A. Hubenak
                  Technical Olympic USA, Inc.
                  1200 Soldiers Field Drive
                  Sugar Land, TX 77479
                  Facsimile No.:  281/243-0116

         If to the Employee:

                  Mike Beckett
                  4731 Diamond Spring
                  Missouri City, Texas 77459

                                      -13-

<PAGE>   14

8.4      ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS

         Employee and Employer have entered into a Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate
         Claims (the "Arbitration Agreement") incorporated herein for all
         purposes as if set forth in full. This Agreement, together with the
         Arbitration Agreement, contains the entire agreement between the
         parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
         prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, between the
         parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, including,
         but not limited to, the Employment Agreement dated November 1, 1996
         between Employer and Employee. This Agreement may not be amended
         orally, but only by an agreement in writing signed by the parties
         hereto.

8.5      GOVERNING LAW

         This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Texas
         without regard to conflicts of laws principles.

8.6      SEVERABILITY

         If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by
         any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this
         Agreement will remain in full force and effect. Any provision of this
         Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree will
         remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or
         unenforceable.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of
the date first above written.

                                    "EMPLOYER"

                                    NEWMARK HOME CORPORATION

                                    By:  /s/ Lonnie M. Fedrick
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Lonnie M. Fedrick
                                    Title:    President/Chief Executive Officer

                                    "EMPLOYEE"

                                    /s/ Mike Beckett
                                    -------------------------------------------
                                    MIKE BECKETT

                                      -14-<PAGE>   1

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.10

                            TAX ALLOCATION AGREEMENT

         This Tax Allocation Agreement, made this 15th day of March, 2000, by
and between Technical Olympic USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"),
Newmark Homes Corp., a Nevada corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and
affiliates, whether presently existing or hereafter acquired (individually as
"Subsidiary" and collectively as "Subsidiaries"), for the taxable years
commencing on and after December 15, 1999.

         Whereas, Parent, Subsidiaries, and any other corporation which together
with Parent form an affiliated group (the "Group") within the meaning of Section
1504(a) of the Internal Revenue Code ("Code") desire to file a consolidated
Federal income tax return for the taxable period beginning December 16, 1999 and
ending December 31, 1999, and for any subsequent taxable period for which the
Group is required or permitted to file a consolidated tax return; and

         Whereas, Parent and Subsidiaries wish to preserve the economic rights
and privileges which would accrue to each from the filing of separate Federal
income tax returns and, further, wish to set forth their agreement regarding
those rights and privileges, in writing:

         Now, therefore, Parent and Subsidiaries hereby agree as follows:

I.       Consolidated Return

         A.       It would be to the mutual advantage to the parties hereto, and
                  could result in a smaller aggregate Federal income tax
                  liability for all parties, if a consolidated Federal income
                  tax return is filed which will include any subsidiary and
                  affiliate of the parties in accordance with the terms of the
                  Code and related Income Tax Regulations ("Regulations").

         B.       Parent and Subsidiaries shall file consents and other
                  documents and take such action as may be necessary to file and
                  to continue to file a consolidated tax return for the Group.

         C.       Parent and Subsidiaries shall cause any corporation which
                  hereafter becomes an affiliate of any of them and a member of
                  the Group to join in this Agreement.

         D.       Parent and Subsidiaries shall maintain, and shall cause any
                  subsidiaries subsequently formed or acquired to maintain,
                  concurrent fiscal years.

         E.       Parent shall make all elections under the consolidated return
                  Regulations or required to be made for the consolidated Group
                  and shall approve all elections made with respect to each
                  member of the Group.

<PAGE>   2

II.      Calculation of Individual Corporate Income Tax Liability

         A.       Beginning with the period beginning December 16, 1999 and
                  ending December 31, 1999 and for each tax year thereafter,
                  each member of the Group will calculate its Federal income tax
                  liability as if it were to file a separate Federal income tax
                  return for such period.

         B.       In so computing the individual Federal income tax liability of
                  each member of the Group:

                  (1)      Except as otherwise provided herein, "separate
                           company taxable income" shall be determined as if
                           Parent and each Subsidiary were filing a separate tax
                           return, and the term will not have the same meaning
                           as set forth in Section 1.1502-12 of the Regulations;

                  (2)      Any dividends received by Parent from Subsidiaries,
                           or by one Subsidiary from another, will be assumed to
                           qualify for the 100% dividend received deduction of
                           Code Section 243, or shall be eliminated from the
                           calculation of separate company taxable income in
                           accordance with Regulation 1.1502-14(a)(1):

                  (3)      Gain or loss on intercompany transactions, whether
                           deferred or not, shall be treated by each member of
                           the Group in the manner required by Regulation
                           1.1502-13:

                  (4)      Limitations on the calculation of a deduction, the
                           utilization of credits, or the calculation of a
                           liability shall be made on a consolidated basis.
                           Accordingly, the limitations provided in Code
                           Sections 170(b)(2), 172(b)(2), 38(c), 53(c) and
                           similar limitations shall be applied on a
                           consolidated basis;

                  (5)      The corporate alternative minimum tax ("AMT") imposed
                           in Code Section 55 and AMT limitations and
                           adjustments provided in Code Sections 56 through 59,
                           shall be determined on a consolidated basis;

                  (6)      The amounts in each taxable income bracket in the tax
                           table in Code Section 11(b) shall be allocated in any
                           given year to members of the Group as Parent shall
                           elect. Such election shall be made on an annual basis
                           and shall be binding upon all parties to this
                           Agreement; and

                  (7)      In calculating any carryback or carryover of net
                           operating losses, adjustments shall be made to such
                           prior and/or subsequent year's separate company tax
                           liability as determined under Code Section 172(b).

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

III.     Liability for Tax Payments

         A.       Parent will pay the Federal income tax liabilities of the
                  Group for any period in which the Group is required to file a
                  consolidated Federal income tax return.

         B.       If any Subsidiary would be subject to Federal income tax if it
                  filed a separate Federal income tax return, that Subsidiary
                  shall pay to Parent that sum which shall result from the
                  calculations required by Paragraph II above.

         C.       If any Subsidiary would be entitled to a refund of Federal
                  income tax if it filed a separate Federal income tax return,
                  Parent shall pay that Subsidiary that sum which shall result
                  from the calculation required by Paragraph II above. No
                  payments shall be made if currently generated losses or
                  credits of any Subsidiary reduce the current tax liability of
                  the consolidated Group until the Subsidiary can utilize the
                  loss or credits against its separate company taxable income by
                  way of a carryback or carryforward. In the event that a
                  Subsidiary's separate company taxable income is a loss in any
                  given year as calculated under Paragraph II, the Subsidiary
                  will first offset this loss against prior years' taxable
                  income. If the loss is greater than prior years' taxable
                  income, the excess will be carried forward against future
                  years' taxable income. The tax repayment from Parent to
                  Subsidiary under this paragraph will be calculated on the
                  amount of the loss carried back to prior years, and no further
                  amount will be payable by Subsidiary to Parent until the
                  losses carried forward are fully utilized against the
                  Subsidiary's future years' income.

         D.       With the exception of payment provided for under subparagraphs
                  B and C of this Paragraph III, neither Parent nor any
                  Subsidiary shall pay or credit any amount to the other
                  hereunder, even though the Federal income tax liability of the
                  Group may have been reduced by reason of the inclusion of a
                  particular Subsidiary as a member of the Group.

         E.       Payments to Parent by any Subsidiary must not include any
                  deferred tax liability incurred by the Subsidiary.

         F.       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated herein, Parent
                  shall indemnify Subsidiaries on an after-tax basis (taking
                  into account, when realized, any tax detriment or tax benefit
                  to Subsidiaries of (i) a payment hereunder or (ii) the
                  liability to the Internal Revenue Service giving rise to such
                  a payment), with respect to and in the amount of:

                  (1)      Any liability for Federal income tax incurred by
                           Subsidiary or any subsidiary of Subsidiary for any
                           taxable year with respect to which Subsidiary is
                           included in the Parent's consolidated Federal income
                           tax return; provided that Subsidiary shall have made
                           payments to Parent as provided in this Agreement in
                           complete satisfaction of the Subsidiary's individual
                           corporate income tax liability for such taxable year;

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

                  (2)      Any liability for Federal income tax incurred by a
                           Subsidiary or any subsidiary of Subsidiary to the
                           extent attributable to any member of the Group (other
                           than Subsidiary or any subsidiary of Subsidiary) and
                           for which Subsidiary or such subsidiary is liable as
                           a result of being included in a consolidated Federal
                           income tax return of the Group; and

                  (3)      Interest, penalties and additions to tax, and costs
                           and expenses in connection with any liabilities
                           described in subsections (1) or (2), above.

         Parent shall pay to Subsidiary amounts due under subsections (1), (2),
         or (3) to the extent such amounts are related to amounts under
         subsections (1), (2) or (3) above, no later than seven (7) days after
         the date of a final determination with respect thereto; provided,
         however, that no such indemnification shall be made to the extent that
         Subsidiary has failed to make a payment to Parent under the provisions
         of this Agreement.

IV.      Method and Time of Payment

Payments by Parent of consolidated estimated Federal income tax for the
consolidated Group at the normal quarterly due dates will be reimbursed by the
Subsidiaries at those quarterly due dates. Each Subsidiary shall make/receive
these quarterly payments/receipts of estimated tax liability/repayment on
account to/from Parent based on the Subsidiary's separate company taxable income
calculated under Paragraph II above, as of the close of the appropriate quarter.
As soon as the Group's consolidated tax liability for the year is determined,
such Subsidiary shall make/receive payment to/from Parent pursuant to Paragraph
III above, less amounts already paid for estimated tax.

V.       Adjustment of Tax Liability

In the event of any adjustment of the tax liability shown on the Federal income
tax returns of the Group, by reason of the filing of an amended return or claim
for refund, or arising out of an audit by a taxing authority, the liability of
Parent and any Subsidiary hereunder shall be predetermined after fully giving
effect to such adjustment as if such adjustment had been made as part of the
original computation.

VI.      Earnings and Profits Adjustments

This Agreement is not intended to establish the method by which the earnings and
profits of each member of the Group will be determined. Parent reserves the
right to elect the method for allocating tax liability for the purposes of
determining earnings and profits as set forth in Income Tax Regulations Sections
1.1552-1(a) and 1.1502-33(d).

VII.     Financial Statement Tax Provision

In consolidated financial statements of Parent and its Subsidiaries, the
financial reporting policy for tax provision allocations shall be based upon a
separate entity. The difference between the separate tax return basis and the
consolidated financial reporting allocation basis shall be charged or credited
to Parent's separate tax provision.

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

VIII.    Successors Assigns

The provisions and terms of this Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the
benefit of any successor, by merger, acquisition of assets or otherwise, or any
of the parties hereto.

IX.      New Members

If, at any time, any other company becomes a member of the Group, the parties
hereto agree that such member may become a party to this Agreement by executing
a duplicate copy of this Agreement. Unless otherwise specified, such named
member shall have all the rights and obligations of a Subsidiary under this
Agreement.

X.       Duration

Unless earlier terminated by mutual agreement of the parties, this Agreement
shall remain in effect with respect to any tax year for which consolidated tax
returns are filed by the Group.

Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement, its provisions will remain in
effect with respect to any period of time during the tax year in which
termination occurs, for which the income of the terminating party must be
included in the consolidated return. The preceding sentence shall not be
construed, however, to require a Subsidiary to contribute to consolidated tax
liability for any period for which it files a separate return. Allocations of
consolidated tax liability shall be made hereunder only for periods covered by a
consolidated Federal income tax return.

XI.      General

All material including, but not limited to, returns, supporting schedules,
workpapers, correspondence and other documents relating to the consolidated
Federal income tax return shall be made available to any party to this Agreement
during regular business hours.

         This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and there
are no agreements, representations, or warranties not contained herein. This
Agreement may not be modified or amended except by written instrument executed
with the same formality as this Agreement.

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

         In Witness Whereof, the parties hereto have caused their names to be
subscribed and executed by their respective authorized officers on the dates
indicated, effective as of the date first written above.

TECHNICAL OLYMPIC USA, INC.

By:  /s/ Tommy L. McAden            Date:  March 20, 2000
Name:  Tommy L. McAden
Title:  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

NEWMARK HOMES CORP.

By:  /s/ Lonnie M. Fedrick          Date:  March 22, 2000
Name:  Lonnie M. Fedrick
Title:  President and Chief Executive Officer

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

                       JOINDER IN TAX ALLOCATION AGREEMENT

         The undersigned entity hereby joins in the Tax Allocation Agreement
dated ____________ by and among Technical Olympic USA, Inc. and Newmark Homes
Corp. and such of their affiliates, whether presently existing or hereafter
acquired, as are or shall be part of the Group for taxable years commencing on
or after December 15, 1999. A copy of the Tax Allocation Agreement is attached
hereto as Exhibit A.

         Dated effective the ____________________.

                                   SUBSIDIARY

                                   By:
                                      -----------------------------------------

                                   Name:
                                        ---------------------------------------

                                   Title:
                                         --------------------------------------

                                       7

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