BRE PROPERTIES INC /MD/
8-K, 1999-01-29
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549



                                    FORM 8-K



                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934


     Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 29, 1999 
                                                      (January 26, 1999)
                                        

                              BRE Properties, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



         Maryland                     0-5305                  94-1722214
(State or other jurisdiction        (Commission              (IRS Employer 
      of incorporation)             File Number)           Identification No.)

        44 Montgomery Street, 36th Floor                      94104-4809
           San Francisco, California                          (Zip Code)
    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                (415) 445-6530
             (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


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<PAGE>
 
Item 5. Other Events.
        
        On January 26, 1999, BRE Properties, Inc. (the "Company") executed an
Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") in connection with the
public offering of up to 2,300,000 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's 8 1/2%
Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
Series A "Series A Preferred Stock"), including 300,000 shares subject to an
over-allotment option granted to the underwriters, under the Company's shelf
registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-47469) which was declared
effective April 28, 1998.

        This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not constitute an offer to sell or
the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be an offer of the Shares in
any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to
the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.


Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit No.   Description 
- -----------   -----------
 1.1          Underwriting Agreement dated January 26, 1999 between the
              Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, A.G. Edwards &
              Sons, Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and
              Salomon Smith Barney Inc. as representatives of the underwriters
              named in Schedule A thereto.
 4.1          Articles Supplementary to the Amended and Restated Articles of
              Incorporation of the Registrant classifying and designating the
              Series A Preferred Stock.
 4.2          Form of Certificate for Series A Preferred Stock.
12.1          Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock 
              Dividends.
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                    BRE Properties, Inc.
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    By:  /s/ LeRoy E. Carlson
                                        --------------------------------
                                        LeRoy E. Carlson
                                        Executive Vice President,
                                        Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
 

Date:  January  29, 1999
<PAGE>
 
                                EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.   Description
- -----------   -----------
 1.1          Underwriting Agreement dated January 26, 1999 between the
              Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, A.G. Edwards &
              Sons, Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and
              Salomon Smith Barney Inc. as representatives of the underwriters
              named in Schedule A thereto.
 4.1          Articles Supplementary to the Amended and Restated Articles of
              Incorporation of the Registrant classifying and designating the
              Series A Preferred Stock.
 4.2          Form of Certificate for Series A Preferred Stock.
12.1          Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock 
              Dividends.

<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.1
 
                              BRE PROPERTIES, INC.

                              2,000,000 Shares of
             8 1/2% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock

                           (Par Value $.01 Per Share)

                     (Liquidation Preference $25 Per Share)

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                             ----------------------

                                                            January 26, 1999

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
             Incorporated
Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
c/o  Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
  1585 Broadway
  New York, New York  10036

Dear Sirs and Mesdames:

        1. Introductory. BRE Properties, Inc., a corporation organized under the
           ------------                                         
laws of the State of Maryland (the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell,
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, to the several Underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto (the "Underwriters" which term also shall include any
underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10), an aggregate of
2,000,000 shares of 8 1/2% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Series A Preferred Stock"), of the Company (the "Firm
Securities"). The Company also proposes to issue and sell to the several
Underwriters on a pro rata basis, at the option of the Underwriters, an
aggregate of not more than 300,000 additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock
(the "Optional Securities") as provided in Section 3 of this Agreement. The Firm
Securities and the Optional Securities are collectively referred to herein as
the "Securities." Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
are acting as representatives of the several Underwriters and in such capacity
are hereinafter referred to as the "Representatives."

        The terms of the Series A Preferred Stock will be set forth in articles
supplementary ("Articles Supplementary") to be filed by the Company with the
Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation ("SDAT").

        2. (a) Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
               ---------------------------------------------
represents and warrants to each Underwriter, as of the date hereof and as of the
First Closing

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<PAGE>
 
Date (as defined in Section 3), and as of the Option Closing Date (as defined in
Section 3), if any, and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:

                (i) The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 
     (No. 333-47469) for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
     amended (the "1933 Act"), of the Securities and certain other securities
     and has filed such amendments thereto, if any, as may have been required to
     the date hereof. Such registration statement (including all exhibits
     thereto, and all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
     reference therein and the information, if any, deemed to be a part thereof
     pursuant to Rule 430A(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission
     under the 1933 Act (the "Rules and Regulations")), as amended (if
     applicable) at the time such registration became effective, and as from
     time to time amended or supplemented pursuant to the 1933 Act, the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), or otherwise,
     is hereinafter referred to as the "Registration Statement." The Company
     proposes to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) ("Rule
     424(b)") of the Rules and Regulations the Prospectus Supplement (as defined
     in Section 4(j) hereof) and, if required pursuant to Rule 424(b), the
     related prospectus dated April 16, 1998 (the "Base Prospectus"), and has
     previously advised you of all information (financial and other) set forth
     therein. The Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, each in the
     form first provided to the Underwriters by the Company for use in
     connection with the offering of the Securities, including all documents
     incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, are
     hereinafter referred to, collectively, as the "Prospectus", except that if
     any revised prospectus or prospectus supplement shall be provided to the
     Underwriters by the Company for use in connection with the offering and
     sale of the Securities which differs from the Prospectus first provided to
     the Underwriters for such purpose (whether or not such revised prospectus
     or prospectus supplement is required to be filed by the Company with the
     Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations), the term
     "Prospectus" shall refer to such revised prospectus or prospectus
     supplement, as the case may be, from and after the time it is first
     provided to the Underwriters for such use. Unless the context otherwise
     requires, all references in this Agreement to documents, financial
     statements and schedules and other information which is "contained",
     "included", "stated", "described in" or "referred to" in the Registration
     Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall
     be deemed to mean and include all such documents, financial statements and
     schedules and other information which is or is deemed to be incorporated by
     reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may
     be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to
     the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and
     include the filing of any document under the 1934 Act after the date of
     this Agreement which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be. For purposes
     of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any
     preliminary prospectus supplement, any preliminary prospectus, the
     Prospectus Supplement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment
     or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy
     filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering,
     Analysis and Retrieval system ("EDGAR").

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<PAGE>
 
                (ii) The Registration Statement has become effective under the
     1933 Act, and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
     Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no
     proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the
     knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any
     request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been
     complied with.

                At the respective times the Registration Statement and any post-
     effective amendments thereto became or become effective, as the case may
     be, and at the First Closing Date (and, if any Optional Securities are
     purchased, at the Option Closing Date), the Registration Statement complied
     and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933
     Act and the Rules and Regulations and with the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
     as amended (the "1939 Act"), and the rules and regulations of the
     Commission under the 1939 Act (the "1939 Act Regulations"), and did not and
     will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
     material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
     statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus does not and will not
     include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
     fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
     circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided,
     however, that the foregoing representations, warranties and agreements
     shall not apply to information contained in or omitted from the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus in reliance upon, and in
     conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by or on
     behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives, specifically for use
     in the preparation thereof.

                Any preliminary prospectus supplement, any preliminary
     prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto
     delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of
     the Securities was and will be identical to the respective electronically
     transmitted copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR,
     except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

                (iii) The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
     reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, when they were
     filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects to the
     requirements of the 1934 Act and the published rules and regulations of the
     Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue
     statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
     to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the
     light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and
     any further documents so filed and incorporated or deemed to be
     incorporated by reference, when they are filed with the Commission, will
     comply in all material respects to the requirements of the 1934 Act and the
     published rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not
     contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
     fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
     therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
     misleading.

                (iv) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any
     development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the
     condition, financial or otherwise, 

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its
     subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Prospectus
     (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date
     of this Agreement). Since the respective dates as of which information is
     given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (exclusive of any
     amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this
     Agreement), except as otherwise stated therein or contemplated thereby, (A)
     there has been no change in the consolidated capital stock or the
     consolidated long-term debt of the Company, (B) there have been no
     transactions entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries which
     are material to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
     enterprise, other than those entered into in the ordinary course of
     business, and (C) except for regular quarterly dividends, there has been no
     dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company
     on its shares of capital stock.

                (v) The financial statements of the Company included in the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus, together with the related notes
     and supporting schedules (if any), present fairly the consolidated
     financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries at the dates
     indicated and the consolidated results of operations, cash flows and
     shareholders' equity of the Company and its subsidiaries for the respective
     periods therein indicated, and such financial statements and related notes
     and supporting schedules have been prepared in conformity with generally
     accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis
     throughout the periods involved, except as may be set forth therein or in
     the Prospectus. The selected financial data and, if applicable, the summary
     financial information included in the Prospectus present fairly the
     information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with
     that of the Company's audited financial statements included in the
     Registration Statement. The Company's ratios of earnings to fixed charges
     and ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock
     dividends (actual and, if any, pro forma) included in the Prospectus and
     included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and, if applicable, to
     certain of the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
     reference therein have been calculated in compliance with Item 503(d) of
     Regulation S-K of the Commission.

                (vi) The accountants who have certified the financial statements
     and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act
     and the Rules and Regulations.

                (vii)  [Intentionally omitted]

                (viii) The Company has been duly organized and is validly
     existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
     Maryland; the Company has power and authority to own, lease and operate its
     properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration
     Statement and the Prospectus; the Company is duly qualified as a foreign
     corporation to transact business and is in good standing in the State of
     Arizona, the State of California, the State of Colorado, the State of
     Nevada, the State of New Mexico, the State of Oregon, the State of
     Washington and the State of Utah; and the Company is duly qualified as a
     foreign corporation to transact business and is in good 

                                       4
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     standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is
     required, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing
     would not have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or
     otherwise, or the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the
     Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.

                (ix) Attached hereto as Schedule C is a true and complete list
     of all subsidiaries of the Company and all other corporations,
     partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and other
     entities in which the Company directly or indirectly owns capital stock or
     any other equity or ownership interest. Schedule C accurately sets forth
     the jurisdiction of organization of, and the Company's approximate
     percentage ownership interest in, each such subsidiary and other entity.
     The Company does not have any subsidiaries other than those listed on
     Schedule C and, except as set forth in Schedule C, the Company does not
     directly or indirectly own any capital stock or other equity or other
     ownership interests in any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited
     liability company or other entity. Schedule C also correctly indicates
     whether each such subsidiary and other entity listed thereon is a
     corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other type of
     entity.

                (x) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly organized and
     is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction
     of its organization, has power and authority to own, lease and operate its
     property and conduct its business as described in the Registration
     Statement and the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to transact business
     and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is
     required, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing
     would not have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or
     otherwise, or on the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of
     the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; and (A) all
     of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each such
     subsidiary that is a corporation have been duly authorized and validly
     issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and, except as set forth on
     Schedule C, are and, at all times since the date on which such subsidiary
     was organized, have been owned by the Company, directly or through wholly-
     owned subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage,
     pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity, (B) all of the issued and
     outstanding limited liability company interests of each such subsidiary
     that is a limited liability company have been duly authorized and validly
     issued (under applicable law and the limited liability company agreement of
     such subsidiary), are fully paid and non-assessable and, except as set
     forth on Schedule C, are owned by the Company, directly or through
     subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge,
     lien, encumbrance, claim or equity, and (C) all of the issued and
     outstanding limited and general partnership interests of each such
     subsidiary that is a partnership have been duly authorized (if applicable)
     and validly issued and, except as set forth on Schedule C, are owned by the
     Company, directly or through subsidiaries free and clear of any security
     interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity.

                (xi) The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess or have
     obtained all material governmental licenses, permits, consents, orders,
     approvals and other authorizations necessary to lease or own, as the case
     may be, and to operate their 

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     respective properties and to carry on their respective businesses as
     contemplated in the Prospectus.

                (xii) The Company is not required to be registered under the
     Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                (xiii) The authorized, issued and outstanding shares of capital
     stock of the Company are as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption
     "Capitalization" (except for subsequent issuances, if any, of the Company's
     common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock") pursuant to
     employee benefit, employee and director stock option and dividend
     reinvestment plans or upon exchange of exchangeable securities referred to
     in the Prospectus or other subsequent issuances of Common Stock referred to
     in the Prospectus, and except for the issuance of the Securities pursuant
     to this Agreement). The shares of issued and outstanding Common Stock have
     been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable,
     and none of the outstanding shares of Common Stock was issued in violation
     of any preemptive or other similar rights arising by operation of law,
     under the charter or by-laws of the Company, under any agreement or
     instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiary is a party or
     otherwise. The Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and sale
     to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and
     delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the
     consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-
     assessable; the Common Stock, the Company's authorized preferred stock, par
     value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), the Company's charter and
     bylaws, the Securities, the Articles Supplementary, and the Rights
     Agreement dated as of August 14, 1989, as supplemented (the "Rights
     Agreement"), between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
     L.L.C. conform in all material respects to all of the respective statements
     relating thereto contained in the Prospectus; the form of certificate used
     to evidence the Securities is in due and proper form and complies with all
     applicable statutory requirements; and the issuance and sale of the
     Securities is not subject to any preemptive or other similar rights arising
     by operation of law, under the charter or by-laws of the Company, under any
     agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
     a party or otherwise; and the Articles Supplementary will have been duly
     filed with SDAT prior to the First Closing Date.

                (xiv) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
     violation of its charter or by-laws, certificate of limited partnership,
     limited partnership agreement, certificate of formation of a limited
     liability company, limited liability company agreement or other similar
     organizational certificates, instruments, agreements or documents
     (collectively, "Organizational Documents"), as the case may be; neither the
     Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in default in the performance or
     observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in
     any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other
     instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its property or
     assets may be bound, except for such defaults which would not, individually
     or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the condition
     (financial or otherwise) or on the earnings, business affairs or business
     prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise;
     and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
     Articles Supplementary, 

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     the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein
     (including, without limitation, the issuance and sale of the Securities),
     and compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder and
     thereunder, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and
     will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or
     result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance
     upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
     pursuant to, any Subject Agreement (as defined below) or any other material
     contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other
     instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by
     which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of
     the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
     subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of
     the Organizational Documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
     any applicable law, administrative regulation or administrative or court
     decree; and no filing with, or consent, approval, authorization or order of
     any court or governmental authority or agency is required in connection
     with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the
     Articles Supplementary by the Company (including the issuance and sale of
     the Securities to the Underwriters) or for the consummation by the Company
     of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as
     may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction
     or real estate syndication laws in connection with the purchase and
     distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters and except for the
     filing of the Articles Supplementary with SDAT. "Subject Agreements" means
     (i) the Loan Agreement dated as of January 31, 1994 between The Prudential
     Insurance Company of America and the Company (as successor by merger to
     Real Estate Investment Trust of California), as amended by the First
     Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of July 7, 1995, the Second Amendment
     to Loan Agreement dated as of April 30, 1996, the Third Amendment to Loan
     Agreement dated as of November 20, 1996, the Fourth Amendment to Loan
     Agreement dated as of February 25, 1997 and the Fifth Amendment to Loan
     Agreement dated as of June 30, 1997, (ii) the Loan Agreement dated as of
     July 7, 1995 between The Prudential Insurance Company of America and the
     Company (as successor by merger to Real Estate Investment Trust of
     California), as amended by the First Agreement to Loan Agreement dated as
     of April 30, 1996, the Second Agreement to Loan Agreement dated as of
     November 20, 1996, the Third Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of
     February 25, 1997 and the Fourth Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of
     June 30, 1997, (iii) the Amended and Restated Unsecured Line of Credit Loan
     Agreement dated as of October 21, 1998 (the "Credit Agreement") between
     Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association ("Bank of America"),
     as agent, the financial institutions party thereto and the Company,
     together with all guarantees entered into by any subsidiaries of the
     Company in connection therewith, (iv) the Contribution Agreement dated as
     of September 29, 1997, as amended (the "Contribution Agreement"), between
     the TCR signatories named on Schedule A thereto, the Company and BRE
     Property Investors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
     "Operating Company"), together with the guarantee entered into by the
     Company pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, as amended by Amendment No.
     1 to the Contribution Agreement dated November 18, 1997 and (v) the Amended
     and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Operating Company
     (the "LLC Agreement"); and "Prudential Agreements" means the Loan
     Agreements, as amended, referred to in clauses 

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
     (i) and (ii) of this sentence. All amendments, supplements and restatements
     of the Subject Agreements are listed in clauses (i) through (v) of the
     preceding sentence. Except as otherwise described in the Prospectus, no
     subsidiary of the Company is a guarantor of, or is a party to or bound by
     any instrument or agreement pursuant to which it has guaranteed or may be
     required to guarantee or cause another subsidiary of the Company to
     guarantee, any borrowings or other indebtedness of the Company. Except as
     otherwise described in the Prospectus, the Company is not a party to or
     bound by any instrument or agreement pursuant to which it is or may be
     required to cause any of its subsidiaries to guarantee any borrowings or
     other indebtedness of the Company.

                (xv) The Company was and is organized to qualify as a "real
     estate investment trust" under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
     amended (the "Code"); the Company at all times since its organization has
     elected to be taxed as a "real estate investment trust"; the Company has
     qualified as a "real estate investment trust" under the Code for its
     taxable year ended July 31, 1995, its short taxable year ended December 31,
     1995, its taxable year ended December 31, 1996, its taxable year ended
     December 31, 1997 and its taxable year ended December 31, 1998, and will
     continue to qualify as a "real estate investment trust" under the Code
     after consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Prospectus; and
     the Company's present and contemplated operations, assets and income will
     enable the Company to meet the requirements for qualification as a "real
     estate investment trust" under the Code. United States Federal income tax
     returns of the Company have been closed through the fiscal year of the
     Company ended July 31, 1994; and the Company has filed United States
     Federal Income Tax Returns for each of its fiscal years through and
     including the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 but has not yet filed a
     United States Federal Income Tax Return for the fiscal year ended December
     31, 1998. As used in this paragraph (xv), the term "Company" includes
     BankAmerica Realty Investors, a California business trust, and BRE
     Properties, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which are both predecessors to
     BRE Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation.

                (xvi) Each entity listed on Schedule C, other than BRE/Alliance
     Services Inc., a Maryland corporation ("BRE/Alliance"), either qualifies as
     a partnership for federal, state and local income tax purposes or as a
     "qualified REIT subsidiary" within the meaning of Section 856(i) of the
     Code or qualifies to be disregarded as an entity separate from the Company
     or one of its subsidiaries for federal, state and local income tax purposes
     and the securities the Company owns of BRE/Alliance will not cause the
     Company to be treated as owning securities of BRE/Alliance in excess of the
     permissible limits under Section 856(c)(4)(B) of the Code.

                (xvii) There is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any
     court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or,
     to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries, which is required to be disclosed in
     the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (other than as disclosed
     therein) or which might result in any material adverse change in the
     condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or
     business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
     enterprise, or which might materially and adversely affect the properties
     or assets of the Company or any of its

                                       8
<PAGE>
     
     subsidiaries; and there are no contracts or documents of the Company or any
     of its subsidiaries which are required to be filed as exhibits to the
     Registration Statement or any document incorporated or deemed to be
     incorporated therein by the 1933 Act, the Rules and Regulations, the 1934
     Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder which have
     not been so filed.

                (xviii)  The Company is eligible to use a Form S-3 registration 
     statement under the 1933 Act. The Company is also eligible to use Form S-3
     pursuant to the standards for that Form in effect immediately prior to
     October 21, 1992.
                
                (xix) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor any of
     their respective officers or directors has taken nor will any of them take,
     directly or indirectly, any action resulting in a violation of Regulation M
     under the 1934 Act, or designed to cause or result in, or which has
     constituted or which reasonably might be expected to constitute, the
     stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities or
     facilitation of the sale or resale of the Securities.

                (xx) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is required
     to own or possess any trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights
     in order to conduct the business now operated by it.

                (xxi) The Company has full right, power and authority to enter
     into this Agreement and this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
     and delivered by the Company.

                (xxii) The outstanding shares of Common Stock are listed on the
     New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and the Securities have been approved
     for listing, subject to official notice of issuance, on the NYSE.

                (xxiii) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus: (A) the
     Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple
     to all real property and improvements described in the Prospectus as being
     owned by the Company (none of which is leased by the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries, as lessee); (B) all liens, charges, encumbrances, claims or
     restrictions on or affecting the real property and improvements of the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries which are required to be disclosed in
     the Prospectus are disclosed therein; (C) neither the Company nor any of
     its subsidiaries nor any lessee of any portion of the real property or
     improvements of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in default under
     any of the leases pursuant to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
     leases (as lessor) its real property or improvements and the Company knows
     of no event which, but for the passage of time or the giving of notice, or
     both, would constitute a default under any of such leases, except such
     defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material
     adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or on earnings,
     business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
     considered as one enterprise; (D) no tenant under any of the leases
     pursuant to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries leases any of its
     real property or improvements has an option or right of first refusal to
     purchase the premises demised under such lease; (E) all of the real
     property and improvements of the Company 

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
     and its subsidiaries comply with all applicable codes and zoning laws and
     regulations, except for such failures to comply which would not,
     individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
     condition, financial or otherwise, or on the earnings, business affairs or
     business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
     enterprise; and (F) the Company has no knowledge of any pending or
     threatened condemnation, zoning change or other proceeding or action that
     would in any manner affect the size of, use of, improvements on,
     construction on, or access to any of the real property of the Company or
     any of its subsidiaries, except such proceedings or actions that would not,
     individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
     condition, financial or otherwise, or earnings, business affairs or
     business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
     enterprise.

                (xxiv) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting
     controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions
     are executed in accordance with management's general or specific
     authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
     preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
     accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access
     to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or
     specific authorizations; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is
     compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate
     action is taken with respect to any differences. Neither the Company nor
     any of its subsidiaries nor any of their respective employees or agents has
     made any payment of funds of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
     received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation
     which payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to
     be disclosed in the Prospectus.

                (xxv) Except as otherwise set forth in the Registration
     Statement, (A) to the best knowledge and information of the Company,
     neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has at any time, and no
     other party has at any time, handled, buried, stored, retained, refined,
     transported, processed, manufactured, generated, produced, spilled, allowed
     to seep, leak, escape or leach, or pumped, poured, emitted, emptied,
     discharged, injected, dumped, transferred or otherwise disposed of or dealt
     with Hazardous Materials (hereinafter defined) on, to or from real property
     owned, leased or otherwise utilized by the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries or in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries has any
     ownership interest, including without limitation any subsurface soils and
     ground water (the "Premises"), except for such cases as (u) are not
     required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement and (v) would not,
     individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
     condition (financial or otherwise) or the earnings, business affairs or
     business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
     enterprise, (B) to the best knowledge and information of the Company, no
     seepage, leak, escape, leach, discharge, injection, release, emission,
     spill, pumping, pouring, emptying or dumping of Hazardous Materials from or
     to the Premises has occurred, except for such cases as (w) are not required
     to be disclosed in the Registration Statement and (x) would not,
     individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
     condition (financial or otherwise) or the earnings, business affairs or
     business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
     enterprise, (C) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
     received notice of any claim, or has knowledge of any

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
     occurrence or circumstance which with notice or passage of time or both
     would give rise to a claim, under or pursuant to any Environmental Statute
     (as hereinafter defined), except for such claims as (y) are not required to
     be disclosed in the Registration Statement and (z) would not, individually
     or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the condition
     (financial or otherwise) or the earnings, business affairs or business
     prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
     and (D) to the best of Company's knowledge and information, no part of the
     Premises is included or proposed for inclusion on the National Priorities
     List issued pursuant to CERCLA (hereinafter defined) by the United States
     Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA") or on the inventory of other
     potential "problem" sites issued by the EPA and has not otherwise been
     identified by the EPA as a potential CERCLA site or included or proposed
     for inclusion on any list or inventory issued pursuant to any other
     Environmental Statute or issued by any other Governmental Authority (as
     hereinafter defined). As used herein "Hazardous Material" shall include
     without limitation, any flammable explosives, radioactive materials,
     hazardous materials, hazardous wastes, hazardous or toxic substances, or
     related materials, asbestos or any material containing asbestos, or any
     other substance or material as defined by any Federal, state or local
     environmental law, ordinance, rule, or regulation including, without
     limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
     Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. Sections 9601, et seq.)
                                                                 -- --- 
     ("CERCLA"), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended (49
     U.S.C. Sections 1801, et seq.), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act,
                           -- ---
     as amended (42 U.S.C. Sections 6901 et seq.) and in the regulations adopted
                                         -- ---
     and publications promulgated pursuant to each of the foregoing
     (individually, an "Environmental Statute") or by any Federal, state or
     local governmental authority having or claiming jurisdiction over the
     Premises (a "Governmental Authority").

                (xxvi) The issuance, sale and public offering of the Securities
     have been approved by a majority of all of the "Continuing Directors" and
     do not constitute a "Business Combination" (as such terms are defined in
     Article VIII of the Company's charter).

                (xxvii) To the extent applicable, the Company has complied and
     will comply with the provisions of that certain Florida act relating to
     disclosure of doing business with Cuba, codified as Section 517.075 of the
     Florida statutes, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively,
     the "Cuba Act") or is exempt therefrom.

                (xxviii) The terms and provisions of the Prudential Agreements
     do not require the Company to notify the Lender (as defined in the
     Prudential Agreements) of the terms and conditions of the Securities or the
     offering made hereby or to obtain a consent or waiver from the Lender with
     respect to the issuance of the Securities.

                (xxix) No portion of the proceeds from the issuance of the
     Securities will be applied to make any Managing Member Loan (within the
     meaning of the LLC Agreements).

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
                (xxx) Immediately prior to the issuance of the Securities on the
     Closing Date, securities with an aggregate initial public offering price of
     $58,685,000 will have been issued under the Registration Statement.

                (xxxi) The Company has previously issued and sold all of the
     securities registered under its Registration Statement on Form S-3
     (Registration No. 333-24915).

                (xxxii) The Securities and the Articles Supplementary conform
     and will conform in all material respects to the respective statements
     relating thereto contained in the Prospectus and will be in substantially
     the respective forms filed or incorporated by reference, as the case may
     be, as exhibits to the Registration Statement or a document filed by the
     Company pursuant to the 1934 Act and incorporated or deemed to be
     incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

                (xxxiii) The Securities rank and will rank, with respect to the
     payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation,
     dissolution and winding up of the Company, senior to the Common Stock.

     (b) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to
the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters
covered thereby.

     3. Purchase by, and Sale and Delivery to, the Underwriters; Closing Date. 
        ---------------------------------------------------------------------
On the basis of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
herein contained, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the
Company hereby agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly,
and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the
Company, at the price set forth in Schedule B hereto, the aggregate number of
Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A,
subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 10 hereof.

     The Company will deliver the Securities to the Representatives, for the
respective accounts of the several Underwriters (in the form of temporary or
definitive certificates, issued in such names and in such denominations as the
Representatives may direct by notice in writing to the Company given not later
than one full business day prior to the Closing Date or, if no such direction is
received, in the name of the Cede & Co.), against payment of the purchase price
therefor by wire transfer of immediately available funds, at the offices of
Brown & Wood LLP, 555 California Street, San Francisco, California 94104.  The
time and date of delivery and closing shall be at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on
the third (fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (Eastern time) on any
given day) business day after the date hereof; provided, however, that such date
                                               --------                         
and time may be accelerated or extended by agreement between the Company and the
Representatives or postponed pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof.
The time and date of such payment and delivery are herein referred to as the
"Closing Date".  The Company shall make the certificates for the Securities
available to the Representatives for examination on behalf of the Underwriters
not later than 10:00 A.M., New York time, on the business day preceding the
First Closing Date in New York, New York.

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
     In addition, on the basis of the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements herein contained, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Company hereby grants the Underwriters an option to purchase,
severally and not jointly, up to an additional 300,000 shares of Series A
Preferred Stock for the purpose of covering any over-allotments in connection
with the distribution and sale of the Firm Securities as contemplated by the
Prospectus.  The purchase price per share to be paid for the Optional Securities
shall be the same price per share as for the Firm Securities, less an amount per
share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and
payable on any Firm Securities and not payable on such Optional Securities.  The
option granted hereby may be exercised as to all or any part of the Optional
Securities at any time not more than 30 days subsequent to the date of this
Agreement.  No Optional Securities shall be sold and delivered unless the Firm
Securities previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered.  The
right to purchase the Optional Securities or any portion thereof may be
surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by the Representatives to the
Company.

     The option granted hereby may be exercised by the Representatives on behalf
of the Underwriters by giving written notice to the Company setting forth the
number of Optional Securities to be purchased by them and the date and time for
delivery of and payment for the Optional Securities.  Such date and time for
delivery of and payment for the Optional Securities (which may be the First
Closing Date) is herein called the "Option Closing Date" (the First Closing Date
and the Option Closing Date are herein called, collectively, the "Closing Dates"
and, individually, a "Closing Date") and shall not be later than seven full
business days after written notice is given.  Optional Securities shall be
purchased for the account of each Underwriter in the same proportion as the
number of Firm Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter's name in Schedule
A hereto bears to the total number of Firm Securities (subject to adjustment by
the Representatives to eliminate fractional shares or odd lots).  Upon exercise
of the option by the Representatives, the Company agrees to sell to the
Underwriters the number of Optional Securities set forth in the written notice
of exercise and the Underwriters agree, subject to the terms and conditions
herein set forth, to purchase such Optional Securities.

     The Company will deliver the Optional Securities to the Representatives for
the respective accounts of the several Underwriters (in the form of temporary or
definitive certificates, issued in such names and in such denominations as the
Representatives may direct by notice in writing to the Company given not later
than one full business day prior to the Option Closing Date or, if no such
direction is received, in the name of the Cede & Co.), against payment of the
purchase price therefor by wire transfer of immediately available funds, at the
offices of Brown & Wood LLP, 555 California Street, San Francisco, California
94104.  The Company shall make the certificates for the Optional Securities
available to the Representatives for examination on behalf of the Underwriters
not later than 10:00 A.M., New York time, on the business day preceding the
Option Closing Date in New York, New York.

     After the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the several
Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities at the initial
public offering price set forth in Schedule B hereto.

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
     4. Covenants and Agreements of the Company. The Company covenants and
        ---------------------------------------
agrees with the several Underwriters that:

     (a) The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of the issuance by
the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or of the institution of any proceedings for that
purpose, and will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop
order and to obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof, if issued. The
Company will advise the Representatives promptly of any request by the
Commission for any amendment of or supplement to the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus or for additional information, and will not at any time file any
amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus which
shall not previously have been submitted to the Representatives a reasonable
time prior to the proposed filing or use thereof or to which the Representatives
shall reasonably object in writing or which is not in compliance with the 1933
Act and the Rules and Regulations or the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations
of the Commission thereunder, as applicable. The Company will advise the
Representatives promptly when the Prospectus has been filed pursuant to Rule
424(b) of the Rules and Regulations.

     (b) The Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon
the request of the Representatives, any amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in the opinion of the
Representatives may be necessary to enable the several Underwriters to continue
the distribution of the Securities and, in the case of any such amendments to
the Registration Statement, will use its best efforts to cause the same to
become effective as promptly as possible. The Company will promptly file all
reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed
with the Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act for so
long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering
or sale of the Securities.

     (c) If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required
to be delivered under the 1933 Act any event occurs as a result of which the
Prospectus would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary
at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the 1933 Act or the Rules and
Regulations, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives thereof and
will prepare an amended or supplemented Prospectus (in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to counsel to the Underwriters) or, with the consent of
counsel to the Underwriters, make an appropriate filing pursuant to Section 13
or 14 of the 1934 Act which will correct such statement or omission; and, in
case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus relating to the
Securities nine months or more after the date of this Agreement, the Company
upon the request of the Representatives and at the expense of such Underwriter
will prepare promptly such prospectus or prospectuses as may be necessary to
permit compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act.

     (d) The Company will deliver to the Representatives, at or before the First
Closing Date, signed copies of the Registration Statement and all amendments
thereto (including all financial statements and exhibits thereto and all
documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and
will deliver to the Representatives such number of copies of the Registration
Statement, including such financial statements and all documents

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein but without
exhibits, and of all amendments thereto, as the Representatives may reasonably
request. The Company will deliver or mail to or upon the order of the
Representatives on the date of the initial public offering, and thereafter from
time to time during the period when delivery of a prospectus relating to the
Securities is required under the 1933 Act, as many copies of the Prospectus, in
final form or as thereafter amended or supplemented, as the Representatives may
reasonably request; provided, however, that the expense of the preparation and
                    --------  -------
delivery of any prospectus required for use nine months or more after the date
of this Agreement shall be borne by the Underwriters required to deliver such
prospectus. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto
and the copies of any preliminary prospectus and any preliminary prospectus
supplement and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto
furnished to the Representatives will be identical to the electronically
transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except
to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

     (e) The Company will make generally available to its security holders as
soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 60 days after the close of
the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with the
provisions of Rule 158 under the 1933 Act) which will be in reasonable detail
(but which need not be audited) and which will comply with Section 11(a) of the
1933 Act, covering a period of at least twelve months beginning not later than
the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter next following the "effective
date" (as defined in said Rule 158) of the Registration Statement.

     (f) The Company will cooperate with the Representatives to enable the
Securities to be qualified for sale under the securities laws and real estate
syndication laws of such states and other jurisdictions as the Representatives
may reasonably designate and at the request of the Representatives will make
such applications and furnish such information as may reasonably be required of
it as the issuer of the Securities for that purpose; provided, however, that the
                                                     --------  -------
Company shall not be required to qualify to do business or to file a general
consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction. The Company will, from
time to time, prepare and file such statements and reports as are or may be
required of it as the issuer of the Securities to continue such qualifications
in effect for so long a period as the Representatives may reasonably request for
the distribution of the Securities.

     (g) The Company will furnish to its shareholders annual reports containing
financial statements certified by independent public accountants and with
quarterly summary financial information, in reasonable detail which may be
unaudited. During the period of five years from the date hereof, the Company
will deliver to the Representatives copies of each annual report of the Company
and each other report furnished by the Company to its shareholders; and will
deliver to the Representatives, as soon as they are available, copies of any
other reports (financial or other) which the Company shall publish or otherwise
make available to any of its security holders as such and, as soon as they are
available, copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed
with the Commission or any national securities exchange.

     (h)  The Company will use its best efforts to effect the listing of the
Securities on the NYSE.

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
     (i) The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of
the Securities sold by it in the manner specified in the Prospectus Supplement
under "Use of Proceeds".

     (j) Immediately following the execution of this Agreement, the Company will
prepare a prospectus supplement, dated the date hereof (the "Prospectus
Supplement"), containing the public offering price of the Securities, the
underwriting discounts and commissions, the plan of distribution of the
Securities and such other information as may be required by the 1933 Act or the
Rules and Regulations or as the Representatives and the Company deem
appropriate, and will file or transmit for filing with the Commission in
accordance with Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations copies of such
Prospectus Supplement and, if required by Rule 424(b) or requested by the
Representatives, the Base Prospectus.

     (k) During the period of 30 days from the date of this Agreement, the
Company agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of the Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters, directly or
indirectly, (i) offer, issue, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or
contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of any
shares of Series A Preferred Stock (other than the Securities to be sold to the
Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement) or other shares of the Company's
Preferred Stock, any shares of any other class or series of capital stock of the
Company which is substantially similar to the Series A Preferred Stock or any
depositary shares or depositary receipts representing or evidencing any of the
foregoing, or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
Series A Preferred Stock, any other Preferred Stock of the Company or any such
substantially similar capital stock or depositary shares or depositary receipts,
or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the
foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement, transaction or
arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, directly or
indirectly, any of the economic consequences of ownership of Series A Preferred
Stock, any other Preferred Stock of the Company, any shares of any other class
or series of capital stock of the Company which is substantially similar to the
Series A Preferred Stock or any depositary shares or depositary receipts
representing or evidencing any of the foregoing, whether any such transaction
described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Series A
Preferred Stock, other securities, in cash or otherwise.

     (l) The Company will use its best efforts to continue to meet the
requirements to qualify as a "real estate investment trust" under the Code.

     (m) In accordance with the provisions of the Cuba Act, if applicable, and
without limitation to the provisions of Section 6 hereof, the Company will
indemnify each Underwriter against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and expenses (including attorneys' fees) arising out of or based
upon any violation by the Company of the Cuba Act.

     5. Payment of Expenses. The Company will pay (directly or by reimbursement)
        ------- -- --------
all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this
Agreement, including but not limited to all expenses and taxes incident to
delivery of the Securities to the Representatives, all expenses incident to the
registration of the Securities under the 1933 Act and the printing of copies of
the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, any preliminary
prospectus 

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
supplement, the Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, all expenses
incident to the preparation, word processing, printing and delivery of all "Blue
Sky" memoranda and this Agreement and furnishing the same to the Underwriters
and dealers except as otherwise provided in Sections 4(c) and 4(d), the fees and
disbursements of the Company's counsel and accountants, all filing and printing
fees and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Underwriter) incurred in connection with qualification or exemption of
the Securities for sale under securities laws and real estate syndication laws
of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate, all fees and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with any filings made with the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., the fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the listing of the Securities on the NYSE, the costs of
preparing certificates evidencing the Securities, the costs and fees of any
custodian, registrar or transfer agent, the fees charged by any nationally
recognized statistical rating organizations for rating of the Securities and all
other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations
hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section.

     6.  Indemnification and Contribution.
         --------------------------------

     (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and
each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation,
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or
investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus, any preliminary
prospectus supplement or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the
Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused
by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any
such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based
upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing
by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein; provided, however,
                                                           --------  -------
that the foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary
prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the
person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased
Securities, or any person controlling such Underwriter, if a copy of the
Prospectus (excluding documents incorporated by reference therein) was not sent
or given by or on behalf of such Underwriter to such person, if required by law
so to have been delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale
of the Securities to such person, and if the Prospectus (excluding documents
incorporated by reference therein) would have cured the defect giving rise to
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities.

     (b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act
to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such
Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter
furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly
for 

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, any preliminary
prospectus supplement or the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto.

     (c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall
be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought
pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 6, such person (the
"indemnified party") shall promptly notify the person against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and
shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.
In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its
own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense
of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party
shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in
connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction,
be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition
to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees
and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be
designated in writing by Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, in the case of
parties indemnified pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 6, and by the Company
in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to paragraph (b) of Section 6. The
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if
there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to
indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason
of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at
any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to
reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated
by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected
without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30
days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii)
such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect
of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could
have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement
includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability
on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.

     (d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or (b)
of this Section 6 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in
respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then
each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company on the 

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the
Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand
in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand
and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the
Securities shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net
proceeds from the offering of the Securities (before deducting expenses)
received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions
received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the
cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price (as defined
in Schedule B hereto) of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company on
the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters' respective
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 6 are several in proportion
to the respective number of Securities they have purchased hereunder, and not
joint.

     (e) The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6 were determined by pro rata
                                                                        --- ----
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) of this Section 6. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party
in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6, no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933
Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 6
are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise
be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

     (f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 6,
and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company
contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect
regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made
by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter or
by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person
controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the
Securities.

7.  Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.  The respective obligations of the
    ---------------------------------------
several Underwriters hereunder shall be subject to the accuracy, at and as of
the date of this 

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
Agreement and the First Closing Date, and if applicable, the Option Closing
Date, of the representations and warranties made herein by the Company and of
the statements of the Company's officers or directors in any certificates
furnished pursuant to the provisions hereof, to compliance at and as of the
First Closing Date and the Option Closing Date (if any), as the case may be, by
the Company with the covenants and agreements herein contained and other
provisions hereof to be satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date, and to the
following additional conditions:

     (a) The Registration Statement shall be effective and, at such Closing Date
(i) no stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued
and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or, to the
knowledge of the Company or the Representatives, threatened by the Commission,
and any request for additional information on the part of the Commission (to be
included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise) shall
have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives,
and (ii) there shall not have come to the attention of the Representatives any
facts that would cause them to believe that the Prospectus, at the time it was
required to be delivered to a purchaser of the Securities, contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. If the Company has elected to rely upon
Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, the price of the Securities and any
price related information previously omitted from the Registration Statement
pursuant to Rule 430A shall have been transmitted to the Commission for filing
pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations within the prescribed time
period, and before the First Closing Date the Company shall have provided
evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing, or a post-
effective amendment providing such information shall have been promptly filed
and declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A of the
Rules and Regulations.

     (b) At the date of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received
from Ernst & Young LLP a letter, dated the date of this Agreement, in form and
substance previously approved by the Representatives, together with signed or
reproduced copies of such letter for each of the Underwriters containing
statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants'
"comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and
certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus (including without limitation, as to any pro forma financial
statements and as to all historical financial statements of the Company).

     (c) The Representatives shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP a letter
dated the Closing Date to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in
the letter furnished pursuant to Section 7(b) above, except that the specified
date referred to therein shall be a date not more than three business days prior
to the First Closing Date.

     (d) The Representatives shall have received from Paul, Hastings, Janofsky &
Walker LLP, counsel for the Company, a favorable opinion dated the First Closing
Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect
that:

                (i) The shares of issued and outstanding Common Stock are not
     subject to any preemptive or other similar rights arising under any
     resolution adopted by the board 

                                       20
<PAGE>

     
     of directors of the Company or any committee thereof or, to the best of
     such counsel's knowledge, otherwise.

                (ii) The issuance of the Securities is not subject to preemptive
     or other similar rights arising under any resolution adopted by the board
     of directors of the Company or any committee thereof or, to the best of
     such counsel's knowledge, otherwise.

                (iii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, the Company and
     its subsidiaries are operating in compliance with all material franchises,
     grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, consents,
     certificates and orders required for the conduct of their respective
     businesses, all of which are valid and in full force and effect.

                (iv) The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to
     transact business and is in good standing in the State of Arizona, the
     State of California, the State of Colorado, the State of Nevada, the State
     of New Mexico, the State of Oregon, the State of Washington and the State
     of Utah; the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact
     business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such
     qualification is required, except where the failure to be so qualified or
     in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the condition,
     financial or otherwise, or the earnings, business affairs or business
     prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.

                (v) Each Covered Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) has been
     duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws
     of the jurisdiction of its organization and has power and authority as a
     corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company, as the case
     may be, to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
     business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;
     each Covered Subsidiary is duly qualified to transact business and is in
     good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required,
     except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not
     have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or
     the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
     subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; and (A) all of the issued and
     outstanding shares of capital stock of each Covered Subsidiary that is a
     corporation have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid
     and non-assessable and, to the best knowledge of such counsel and except as
     otherwise set forth on Schedule C, are and, at all times since the date on
     which such subsidiary was organized, have been owned by the Company,
     directly or through wholly-owned subsidiaries, free and clear of any
     security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity,
     and (B) all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company
     interests of each Covered Subsidiary that is a limited liability company
     have been duly authorized and validly issued (under applicable law and the
     limited liability company agreement of such Covered Subsidiary), are fully
     paid and non-assessable and, to the best knowledge of such counsel and
     except as set forth on Schedule C, are owned by the Company, directly or
     through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage,
     pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity, and (C) all of the issued and

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
     outstanding partnership interests of each Covered Subsidiary that is a
     partnership have been duly authorized (if applicable) and validly issued
     and, to the best knowledge and information of such counsel and except as
     set forth on Schedule C, are owned by the Company, directly or through
     subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge,
     lien, encumbrance, claim or equity. As used herein, the term "Covered
     Subsidiary" means each corporation, limited partnership, limited liability
     company and other entity listed under Item A of Schedule C, other than
     those entities designated on Schedule C as an "Excluded Subsidiary."

                (vi) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
     and the Articles Supplementary, the consummation of the transactions
     contemplated herein and therein (including, without limitation the issuance
     and sale of the Securities), and compliance by the Company with its
     obligations hereunder and thereunder, will not result in a breach or
     violation of any of the terms or provisions of or constitute a default
     under (A) any Subject Agreement, (B) any other material contract,
     indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan agreement or other agreement
     or instrument known to such counsel to which the Company or any subsidiary
     is a party or by which the Company or any subsidiary is bound or to which
     any of their respective properties or assets are subject, (C) the Company's
     charter or by-laws, (D) the Organizational Documents of the Covered
     Subsidiaries, or (E) to the best of such counsel's knowledge, any law,
     order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body
     having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of
     their respective properties (provided that such counsel need express no
     opinion as to state securities or real estate syndication laws of the
     various jurisdictions where the Securities are to be offered).

                (vii) Assuming that the net proceeds from the issuance of the
     Securities are used solely to repay indebtedness under the Credit
     Agreement, none of the proceeds from the Securities will constitute a
     Managing Member Loan.

                (viii) The Registration Statement is effective under the 1933
     Act and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending
     the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the
     1933 Act or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission.

                (ix) At the time the Registration Statement became effective and
     at the date of this Agreement, the Registration Statement (other than the
     financial statements and supporting schedules and other financial and
     statistical data included or incorporated by reference therein or omitted
     therefrom and any trustee's Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 (a "Form 
     T-11"), as to which no opinion need be rendered) complied as to form in all
     material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the Rules and
     Regulations; and nothing has come to such counsel's attention that would
     lead them to believe that the Registration Statement, at the time it became
     effective or at the date of this Agreement, contained an untrue statement
     of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
     stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
     or that the Prospectus, at the date of the Prospectus Supplement or at the
     date of such opinion, included or includes an untrue statement of a
     material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in
     order to make the statements therein, in the light of the

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
     circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (except that no
     statement need be made as to financial statements or supporting schedules
     or other financial or statistical data included or incorporated by
     reference in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
     or any Form T-1).

                (x) The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
     reference in the Prospectus (other than the financial statements and
     supporting schedules and other financial and statistical data included or
     incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom, as to which no
     opinion need be rendered), as of the dates they were filed with the
     Commission (or, if such incorporated documents were amended, when such
     amendment was filed), complied as to form in all material respects with the
     requirements of the 1934 Act and the published rules and regulations
     thereunder.

                (xi) No filing with, or consent, approval, authorization,
     license, registration, qualification, decree or order of, any court or
     governmental authority or agency is required in connection with the
     execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the Articles
     Supplementary by the Company, or in connection with the issuance or sale of
     the Securities to the Underwriters, except such as has been obtained under
     the 1933 Act, the Rules and Regulations, the 1939 Act or the 1939 Act
     Regulations or such as may be required under state securities laws or real
     estate syndication laws (provided that such counsel need express no opinion
     as to filings with, or consents, approvals, authorizations, licenses,
     registrations, qualifications, decrees or orders of, any foreign court or
     foreign governmental authority or agency) and except for the filing of the
     Articles Supplementary with the SDAT (which filing has been made in
     accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland).

                (xii) The Company is not required to be registered under the
     Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                (xiii) The Company is eligible to use a Form S-3 registration
     statement under the 1933 Act and is also eligible to use a Form S-3
     registration statement pursuant to the standards for that Form as in effect
     immediately prior to October 21, 1992.

                (xiv) The Company has all legal right, power and authority
     necessary to qualify as a "real estate investment trust" under the Code;
     the Company was reorganized in Delaware in 1987 and reincorporated in
     Maryland in 1996; the Company has elected to be treated as a "real estate
     investment trust" since its original organization; the Company has
     qualified as a "real estate investment trust" for its fiscal years ended
     July 31, 1995, its short taxable year ended December 31, 1995, its taxable
     year ended December 31, 1996 and its taxable year ended December 31, 1997
     (which years are, to the best knowledge of such counsel, together with the
     taxable year ended December 31, 1998, the only years that are still subject
     to audit by the Internal Revenue Service); it is anticipated that the
     Company will qualify to be taxed as a "real estate investment trust" under
     the Code for its taxable year ended December 31, 1998; and the Company was
     and is organized and was operated and is operating in a manner that enabled
     and will enable it to qualify to be taxed as a "real estate investment
     trust" under the Code for its taxable year ended December 31, 1998 and its
     taxable years ending December 31, 1999 and thereafter provided the Company
     met (in the case of its taxable year ended December 31, 1998) and continues
     to meet (in the case of its taxable years ending December 31, 1999 and

                                       23
<PAGE>
 
     thereafter), through actual annual operating results, distribution levels
     and diversity of stock ownership, the various qualification tests imposed
     by the Code necessary for the Company to qualify as a "real estate
     investment trust". As used in this paragraph (xviii) and paragraph (xix)
     below, the term "Company" includes BankAmerica Realty Investors, a
     California business trust and BRE Properties, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
     which are both predecessors to BRE Properties, Inc., a Maryland
     corporation.

                (xv) Each entity listed on Schedule C, other than BRE/Alliance,
     either qualifies as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and for
     California, Maryland or Delaware, as the case may be, income tax purposes
     or as a "qualified REIT subsidiary" within the meaning of Section 856(i) of
     the Code or qualifies to be disregarded as an entity separate from the
     Company or one of its subsidiaries for federal income tax purposes and for
     California, Maryland or Delaware, as the case may be, income tax purposes
     and the securities the Company owns of BRE/Alliance will not cause the
     Company to be treated as owning securities of BRE/Alliance in excess of the
     permissible limits under Section 856(c)(4)(B) of the Code.

                (xvi) The information in the Prospectus and in the Company's
     Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 (the "1997
     10-K") under the captions "Risk Factors--Real Estate Investment Risks--
     Restrictions in the Operations of the Operating Company", "Risk Factors--
     Real Estate Investment Risks--Limited Indemnification" (only with respect
     to the first, second and third paragraphs under such caption), "Risk
     Factors--Provisions Which Could Limit a Change in Control or Deter a
     Takeover", the information in the Prospectus under the captions "The
     Operating Company", "Description of the Series A Preferred Stock,"
     "Description of Preferred Shares" and "Restrictions on Transfers of Capital
     Stock; Redemption", the information in the Base Prospectus and Prospectus
     Supplement under the captions "Federal Income Tax Considerations", and the
     information in the Company's 1997 10-K under the caption "Legal
     Proceedings", to the extent that it constitutes matters of law or legal
     conclusions, or summaries of provisions of the Company's charter or by-
     laws, the Subject Agreements, the Articles Supplementary, the Series A
     Preferred Stock or of other documents, agreements or instruments, has been
     reviewed by such counsel and is correct in all material respects; and the
     opinions of such counsel in the Base Prospectus under the caption "Federal
     Income Tax Considerations" are confirmed.

                (xvii) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending
     or, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, threatened against the Company
     or any of its subsidiaries which are required to be disclosed in the
     Registration Statement, other than those disclosed therein, and all pending
     legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries is a party or of which any of the property of the Company or
     any of its subsidiaries is the subject which are not described in the
     Registration Statement, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to
     the business, are, considered in the aggregate, not material.

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
                (xviii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, there are no
     contracts, indentures, mortgages, loan agreements, notes, leases or other
     instruments required to be described or referred to in the Registration
     Statement or in the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
     reference therein or to be filed as exhibits thereto other than those
     described or referred to therein or filed or incorporated by reference as
     exhibits thereto, the descriptions thereof and references thereto are
     correct in all material respects, and, to the best of such counsel's
     knowledge, no default exists in the due performance or observance of any
     obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any material
     contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other
     instrument so described, referred to or filed.

                (xix) The issuance, sale and public offering of the Securities
     have been approved by the "Continuing Directors" and do not constitute a
     "Business Combination" (as such terms are defined in Article VIII of the
     Company's charter).

     Such opinion shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the
Company and shall so state therein.  In giving their opinion, Paul, Hastings,
Janofsky & Walker LLP (A) shall state that such opinion covers matters arising
under the laws of the State of California, the General Corporation Law of the
State of Maryland, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the
Limited Liability Company Act of the State of Delaware and, for purposes of
paragraph (xv), the tax laws of the States of Delaware and Maryland, (B) shall
state that insofar as such opinion concerns any instruments, agreements or other
documents which by their terms are not governed by the laws of the State of
California, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or the Limited
Liability Company Act of the State of Delaware, such counsel has assumed that
such instruments, agreements and other documents are governed by the laws of the
State of California, (C) may rely (i) as to the qualification of the Company and
its subsidiaries to do business in any state or jurisdiction, upon certificates
of appropriate government officials and (ii) as to matters of fact, upon
certificates and written statements of officers of and accountants for the
Company, and (D) shall state that, with respect to the opinions set forth in
paragraphs (xvi) and (xix) above, insofar as such opinions concern matters
arising under or governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, such counsel has
relied upon the opinion of Piper & Marbury L.L.P. delivered pursuant to Section
7(e) hereof.

     (e) The Representatives shall have received from Piper & Marbury L.L.P.,
special Maryland counsel for the Company, a favorable opinion dated the First
Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the
effect that:

                (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
     existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
     Maryland.
                (ii) The Company has the corporate power and authority to own,
     lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in
     the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

                (iii) The authorized, issued and outstanding shares of capital
     stock of the Company are as set forth in the Prospectus under
     "Capitalization" (except for subsequent issuances, if any, of Common Stock
     pursuant to employee benefit, employee and director 

                                       25
<PAGE>
 
     stock option and dividend reinvestment plans or upon exchange of
     exchangeable securities referred to in the Prospectus or other subsequent
     issuances of Common Stock referred to in the Prospectus and except for the
     issuance of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement); and the shares of
     issued and outstanding Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly
     issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, and are not subject to any
     preemptive or other similar rights arising by operation of law, under the
     charter or by-laws of the Company or, to the best of such counsel's
     knowledge, under any resolution adopted by the board of directors of the
     Company or any committee thereof or otherwise.

                (iv) The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company for
     issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when
     issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against
     payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued and
     fully paid and non-assessable; and the issuance of the Securities is not
     subject to preemptive or other similar rights arising by operation of law,
     under the charter or by-laws of the Company or, to the best of such
     counsel's knowledge, under any resolution adopted by the board of directors
     of the Company or any committee thereof or otherwise.

                (v) The Securities and the Articles Supplementary conform to the
     descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus in all material respects,
     and the form of certificate used to evidence the Securities is in due and
     proper form and complies in all material respects with all applicable
     Maryland statutory requirements.

                (vi) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
     delivered by the Company.

                (vii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
     and the Articles Supplementary, the consummation of the transactions
     contemplated herein and therein (including, without limitation the issuance
     and sale of the Securities), and compliance by the Company with its
     obligations hereunder and thereunder, will not result in a breach or
     violation of any of the terms or provisions of or constitute a default
     under (A) the Company's charter or by-laws or (B) of such counsel's
     knowledge, any law, order, rule or regulation of any Maryland court or
     governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of
     its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties.

                (viii) No filing with, or consent, approval, authorization,
     license, registration, qualification, decree or order of, any Maryland
     court or governmental authority or agency is required in connection with
     the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the Articles
     Supplementary by the Company or in connection with the issuance or sale of
     the Securities to the Underwriters, except such as may be required under
     Maryland securities laws or real estate syndication laws and except for the
     filing of the Articles Supplementary with SDAT (which filing has been made
     in accordance with the Maryland General Corporation Law).

                                       26
<PAGE>
 
                (ix) The Company has all legal right, power and authority under
     the laws of the State of Maryland necessary to qualify as a "real estate
     investment trust" under the Code.

                (x) The information in the Prospectus under the captions
     "Description of the Series A Preferred Stock", "Description of Preferred
     Shares", "Description of Common Shares", and "Restrictions on Transfers of
     Capital Stock; Redemption", and the information in the Prospectus and the
     Company's 1997 10-K under the caption "Risk Factors Provisions Which Could
     Limit a Change in Control or Deter a Takeover", to the extent that it
     constitutes matters of Maryland law or legal conclusions under Maryland
     law, or summaries of provisions of the Company's charter or by-laws, the
     Articles Supplementary, the Securities or of other documents, agreements or
     instruments specifically referred to therein, has been reviewed by such
     counsel and is correct in all material respects .

                (xi) The issuance, sale and public offering of the Securities
     have been approved by the "Continuing Directors" and do not constitute a
     "Business Combination" (as such terms are defined in Article VIII of the
     Company's charter).

                (xii) The Securities will rank, with respect to the payment of
     dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or
     winding up of the Company, senior to the Common Stock.

     Such opinion shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the
Company and shall so state therein.  In giving their opinion, Piper & Marbury
L.L.P. (A) shall state that such opinion covers matters arising under the laws
of the State of Maryland, (B) shall state that insofar as such opinion concerns
any instruments, agreements or other documents which by their terms are not
governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, such counsel has assumed that
such instruments, agreements and other documents are governed by the laws of the
State of Maryland, (C) may rely as to matters of fact, upon certificates and
written statements of officers of and accountants for the Company, and (D) shall
state that Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP and Brown & Wood LLP, may rely
upon such opinion (as if such opinion were addressed to each of them) as to all
matters governed by or arising under the laws of the State of Maryland in
rendering their respective opinions pursuant to this Agreement.

     (f) The Representatives shall have received from Brown & Wood LLP, counsel
for the Underwriters, their favorable opinion or opinions dated the First
Closing Date with respect to the organization of the Company, the validity of
the Securities to be sold by the Company, this Agreement, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus and such other related matters as the Representatives
may require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents
as they may request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

     (g) Prior to the First Closing Date, the Securities shall have been
approved for listing on the NYSE.

     (h)  At the date of this Agreement and at all times thereafter through the
applicable Closing Date, the Securities shall be rated at least Baa3 by
Moody's Investor's Service Inc. 

                                       27
<PAGE>
 
     ("Moody's") and at least BBB- by Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P"), and
     the Company shall have delivered to the Representatives a letter, dated as
     of the applicable Closing Date, from each such rating agency, or other
     evidence satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming that the
     Securities have such ratings. Subsequent to the execution and delivery of
     this Agreement and prior to the applicable Closing Date (1) there shall not
     have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any
     intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change
     that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating
     accorded the Securities or any of the Company's other securities by any
     "nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as such term is
     defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act; and (2) there
     shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a
     prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
     earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken
     as a whole, from that set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any
     amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement)
     that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in your
     judgment, impracticable to market the Securities on the terms and in the
     manner contemplated in the Prospectus. At the applicable Closing Date (i)
     the Registration Statement and the Prospectus shall contain all statements
     which are required to be stated therein in accordance with the 1933 Act and
     the Rules and Regulations and in all material respects shall conform to the
     requirements of the 1933 Act and the Rules and Regulations, and neither the
     Registration Statement nor the Prospectus shall contain any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to
     be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
     misleading and no action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity shall be
     pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company
     or any of its subsidiaries which would be required to be set forth in the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus other than as set forth therein,
     (ii) no proceeding shall be pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
     threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries before or by any
     Federal, state or other court, commission, board or administrative agency
     wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding would materially and
     adversely affect the business, property, financial condition or income of
     the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise other than as
     set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (iii) neither
     the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall be in default in the
     performance or observance of any contract to which it is a party, except
     such defaults that would not have a material adverse effect on the
     condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company and its subsidiaries
     considered as one enterprise or the earnings, business affairs or business
     prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
     (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
     Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceeding
     therefor shall have been instituted or threatened by the Commission and (v)
     the Representatives shall have received, at the First Closing Date, a
     certificate of the President and the Chief Financial Officer of the
     Company, dated as of the First Closing Date, evidencing compliance with the
     provisions of this subsection.

     (i) The Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated the First
Closing Date, of the President and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to
the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
Section 2(a) are true and correct with the same force and effect as though
expressly made at and as of the First Closing Date.

     (j) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such additional
certificates as the Representatives may have reasonably requested as to the
accuracy, at and as of 

                                       28
<PAGE>
 
the relevant Closing Date, of the representations and warranties made herein by
the Company, as to compliance at and as of such Closing Date by the Company with
its covenants and agreements herein contained and other provisions hereof to be
satisfied at or prior to such Closing Date and as to other conditions to the
obligations of the Underwriters hereunder.

     (k) In the event the Underwriters exercise the option granted in Section 3
hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Optional Securities, the
representations and warranties of the Company contained herein and the
statements in any certificates furnished by the Company or any of its officers
or directors hereunder shall be true and correct as of the Option Closing Date,
and the Representatives shall have received:

                (i) A letter from Ernst & Young LLP in form and substance
     satisfactory to the Representatives and dated the Option Closing Date,
     substantially the same in scope and substance as the letter furnished to
     the Representatives pursuant to Section 7(c), except that the specified
     date in the letter furnished pursuant to this subparagraph shall be a date
     not more than five days prior to the Option Closing Date.

                (ii) The favorable opinion of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
     LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the
     Representatives, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Optional
     Shares and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section
     7(d).

                (iii) The favorable opinion of Piper & Marbury L.L.P., Maryland
     counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the
     Representatives dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Optional
     Shares and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section
     7(e).

                (iv) The favorable opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, counsel for the
     Underwriters, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Optional
     Shares and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section
     7(f).

                (v) A certificate, dated the Option Closing Date, of the
     President and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company confirming that
     the certificate or certificates delivered at the First Closing Date
     pursuant to Section 7(h) and Section 7(i) remains or remain true as of the
     Option Closing Date.

                (vi) Such additional certificates, dated the Option Closing
     Date, as the Underwriter may have reasonably requested pursuant to Section
     7(j).

     (l) At the First Closing Date the Representatives shall have received
evidence, in form and substance satisfactory to them, that the Articles
Supplementary shall have been duly filed with, and accepted for record by, the
SDAT.

     If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section shall not
have been satisfied when and as required by this Agreement, (i) this Agreement
may be terminated by the Representatives by notifying the Company of such
termination in writing or by telegram or telecopy at or prior to the First
Closing Date, and (ii) the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Optional
Securities may be terminated by the Representatives by notifying the 

                                       29
<PAGE>
 
Company of such termination in writing or by telegram or by telecopy at or prior
to the Option Closing Date.

     8. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination by notice
        -----------
given by you to the Company at or prior to the First Closing Date, and the
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Optional Securities shall be subject
to termination by notice given by you to the Company at or prior to the Option
Closing Date, if (a) after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
prior to the First Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
(i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by,
as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock
Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., the Chicago
Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board
of Trade, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been
suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a general
moratorium on commercial banking activates in New York or California shall have
been declared by either Federal, New York State or California State authorities
or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or
any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in your
judgment, is material and adverse and (b) in the case of any of the events
specified in clauses (a)(i) through (iv), such event, singly or together with
any other such event, makes it, in your judgment, impracticable to market the
Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

     9. Reimbursement of Underwriters. Notwithstanding any other provisions
        -----------------------------
hereof, if this Agreement shall be terminated by the Representatives or shall
otherwise terminate under Section 7 or Section 8, the Company will bear and pay
the expenses specified in Section 5 hereof and, in addition to its obligations
pursuant to Section 6 hereof, the Company will reimburse the reasonable out-of-
pocket expenses of the several Underwriters (including reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters) incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the proposed purchase and offers of the Securities, and promptly
upon demand the Company will pay such amounts to you as Representatives. In
addition, the provisions of Section 6 hereof will survive any termination of
this Agreement.

     10. Default by Underwriters. If, on the Firm Closing Date or the Option
         -----------------------
Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail
or refuse to purchase the Securities that it has or they have agreed to purchase
hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of Securities which such
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase
is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of the Firm Securities to be
purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in
the proportions that the number of Firm Securities set forth opposite their
respective names in Schedule A bear to the aggregate number of Securities set
forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such
other proportions as you may specify, to purchase the Securities which such
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase
on such date; provided that in no event shall the number of Securities that any
Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased
pursuant to this Section 10 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such number
of Securities without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the First
Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase
Firm Securities and the aggregate number of Firm Securities with respect to
which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm
Securities to be 

                                       30
<PAGE>
 
purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to you and the Company for
the purchase of such Firm Securities are not made within 36 hours after such
default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any 
non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for expenses to be paid or
reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 5 and except for the provisions of
Section 6. In any such case either you or the Company shall have the right to
postpone the First Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in
order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and in
the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If, on
the Option Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to
purchase Option Securities and the aggregate number of Option Securities with
respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate
number of Option Securities to be purchased, the non-defaulting Underwriters
shall have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase
Option Securities or (ii) purchase not less than the number of Option Securities
that such non-defaulting Underwriters would have been obligated to purchase in
the absence of such default.

     11. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, if
         -------
sent to the Underwriters shall be mailed, delivered or telecopied and confirmed
to Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated at 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036,
attention: Michael Fusco, except that notices given to any Underwriter pursuant
to Section 6 hereof shall also be sent to such Underwriter at the address
furnished by the Representatives or, if sent to the Company shall be mailed,
delivered or telecopied and confirmed at BRE Properties, Inc., 44 Montgomery
Street, Suite 3600, San Francisco, California 94104-4602, attention: LeRoy E.
Carlson.

     12. Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
         ----------
binding upon the several Underwriters, the Company and their respective
successors and legal representatives. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this
Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person other than the
persons mentioned in the preceding sentence any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or any provisions herein
contained, this Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being
intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive benefit of such persons and
for the benefit of no other person, except that the representations, warranties,
covenants, agreements and indemnities of the Company contained in this Agreement
shall also be for the benefit of the person or persons, if any, who control any
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act, and the indemnities of the several Underwriters shall also be for
the benefit of each director of the Company, each of the Company's officers who
has signed the Registration Statement and the person or persons, if any, who
control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section
20 of the 1934 Act.

     13. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
         --------------
accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made
and to be performed in said state. Unless otherwise expressly stated, specified
times of day refer to New York City time.

                                       31
<PAGE>
 
     If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please indicate
your acceptance thereof in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon
this letter and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement between us.

                                    Very truly yours,
        
                                    BRE PROPERTIES, INC.

                                    By:  /s/ Frank C. McDowell
                                        -----------------------------
                                        Name: Frank C. McDowell
                                        Title: President


Accepted and delivered, as of the date first above written:

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
             INCORPORATED
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.

Acting severally on behalf of themselves and the several Underwriters named in
 Schedule A hereto.

By:  MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED

By:  /s/ Michael Fusco
    ----------------------------------
    Name: Michael Fusco
    Title: Vice President

                                       32
<PAGE>
 
                                   SCHEDULE A

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  Number of
                                                                                 Securities
                                                                                    to be
                                                                                  Purchased
                                                                              ----------------
<S>                                                                          <C>
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated..........................................       400,000
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc...................................................       390,000
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith                                             
Incorporated...............................................................       390,000
Salomon Smith Barney Inc...................................................       390,000
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc....................................................        20,000
BT Alex. Brown Incorporated................................................        20,000
CIBC Oppenheimer Corp......................................................        20,000
Goldman, Sachs & Co........................................................        20,000
Schroder & Co. Inc.........................................................        20,000
SG Cowen Securities Corporation............................................        20,000
Sutro & Co. Incorporated                                                           20,000
George K. Baum & Company...................................................        10,000
J.C. Bradford & Co.........................................................        10,000
Crowell, Weedon & Co.......................................................        10,000
Dain Rauscher Incorporated.................................................        10,000
Davenport & Company LLC....................................................        10,000
Fahnestock & Co. Inc.......................................................        10,000
Ferris, Baker Watts, Incorporated..........................................        10,000
Fidelity Capital Markets, A Division of National                                  
   Financial Services Corp.  ..............................................        10,000
Fifth Third/The Ohio Company...............................................        10,000
First Albany Corporation...................................................        10,000
Hilliard Lyons Inc.........................................................        10,000
Janney Montgomery Scott Inc................................................        10,000
Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated.......................................        10,000
McDonald Investments Inc., A KeyCorp Company...............................        10,000
Mesirow Financial, Inc.....................................................        10,000
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc...............................................        10,000
OLDE Discount Corporation..................................................        10,000
Piper Jaffray Inc..........................................................        10,000
Raymond James & Associates, Inc............................................        10,000
The Robinson-Humphrey Company, LLC.........................................        10,000
Roney Capital Markets, A Division of First Chicago                                
   Capital Markets, Inc....................................................        10,000
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc..................................................        10,000
Scott & Stringfellow, Inc..................................................        10,000
Southwest Securities, Inc..................................................        10,000
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated...................................        10,000
Tucker Anthony Incorporated................................................        10,000
Van Kasper & Company.......................................................        10,000
</TABLE> 

                                       33
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  Number of
                                                                                 Securities
                                                                                    to be
                                                                                  Purchased
                                                                              ----------------
<S>                                                                          <C>
Wedbush Morgan Securities..................................................        10,000
Wheat First Securities, Inc................................................        10,000
                                                                              ----------------
                                                                                2,000,000
                                                                              ================
</TABLE>

                                       34
<PAGE>
 
                                   SCHEDULE B



        1.  The initial public offering price per share for the Securities shall
be $25 (the "Public Offering Price") plus accrued dividends from January 29,
1999.

        2.  The purchase price per share for the Securities to be purchased by
the several Underwriters shall be $24.2125, being an amount equal to the Public
Offering Price set forth above less $.7875 per share; provided that the purchase
price per share for any Optional Securities purchased upon the exercise of the
over-allotment option described in Section 3 shall be reduced by an amount per
share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and
payable on any Firm Securities but not payable on the Optional Securities.

                                       35
<PAGE>
 
                                   SCHEDULE C

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
A.  Subsidiaries of the Company                                                   Company's
    ---------------------------
                                                                                  Percentage
                                                                                  Ownership
                                                                                   Interest
                                                                               ----------------
<S>                                                                            <C> 
1.  Corporate Subsidiaries of the Corporation
    -----------------------------------------
 
      BRE Camino Seco, Inc., a Delaware corporation                                 100%
      BRE Colonia Del Rio, Inc., a Delaware corporation                             100%
      BRE Fountain Plaza, Inc., a Delaware corporation                              100%
      BRE Hacienda Del Rio, Inc., a Delaware corporation                            100%
      BRE Oracle Village, Inc., a Delaware corporation                              100%
      BRE Springhill, Inc., a Delaware corporation                                  100%
      Alliance Property Management Company, a Delaware corporation                  100%
      BRE Builders, Inc., a Delaware corporation                                    100%
      BRE/Alliance Services Inc., a Maryland corporation                             95%
 
2.  Partnerships Subsidiaries of the Company:
    ----------------------------------------
 
      Vallejo Highlands Associates, a California limited partnership                100%
      Vallejo Somerset Limited Partnership, a Texas limited partnership*            100%
      ITCR Villa Verde Limited Partnership, a Texas limited partnership*            100%
 
3.  Limited Liability Company Subsidiaries of the Company:
    ----------------------------------------------------- 

      BRE Property Investors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company               74%
      Palm Shadows LLC, a California limited liability company                      100%
      Riverview LLC, a California limited liability company                         100%
      Woodlake Holdings LLC, an Arizona limited liability company*                  100%
      Cambridge Park LLC, a California limited liability company                  81.86%
 
B.  Non-Subsidiary Entities in Which the Company Owns an Interest
    ------------------------------------------------------------- 

      Westbar Limited Partnership, an Arizona limited partnership*                   25%
      Metro Village Limited Partnership, an Arizona limited partnership*           37.5%
</TABLE>
- --------------
*  Excluded Subsidiary

                                       36

<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1
 
                            BRE PROPERTIES, INC.

                           ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY

     BRE PROPERTIES, INC., a Maryland corporation having its principal Maryland
office in Baltimore City, Maryland (the "Corporation"), hereby certifies to the
Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation that:

     FIRST:  Pursuant to authority expressly vested in the board of directors
(the "Board of Directors") of the Corporation by the charter of the Corporation
(as the same may be amended, supplemented, corrected or restated from time to
time and including these Articles Supplementary and any other articles
supplementary forming a part thereof from time to time, the "Charter"), the
Board of Directors of the Corporation has duly reclassified 2,300,000 shares of
preferred stock (par value $0.01 per share) ("Preferred Stock") of the
Corporation into 2,300,000 shares of a series designated as 8 1/2% Series A
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (par value $0.01 per share) of the
Corporation ("Series A Preferred Stock"), and has provided for the issuance of
such shares.

     SECOND:  The reclassification increases the number of shares classified as
Series A Preferred Stock from no shares immediately prior to the
reclassification to 2,300,000 shares immediately after the reclassification.
The reclassification decreases the number of shares classified as Preferred
Stock (par value $0.01 per share) from 10,000,000 shares immediately prior to
the reclassification to 7,700,000 shares immediately after the reclassification.

     THIRD:  The following is a description of the preferences, conversion and
other rights, powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications
and terms and conditions of redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock of the
Corporation:

     1.  Designation and Amount.  A series of Preferred Stock of the 
         ----------------------                                     
Corporation, designated as the "8 1/2% Series A Cumulative Redeemable
Preferred Stock (par value $0.01 per share)" (the "Series A Preferred Stock"),
is hereby established. The number of authorized shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall be 2,300,000.

     2.  Ranking.  In respect of rights to the payment of dividends and the
         -------                                                           
distribution of assets in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the Corporation, the Series A Preferred Stock shall rank (i) senior to the
Corporation's common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), and
senior to any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation other
than capital stock referred to in clauses (ii) and (iii) of this sentence, (ii)
on a parity with any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation the
terms of which specifically provide that such class or series of capital stock
ranks on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock in respect of rights to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, and (iii) junior to
any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation the terms of which
specifically provide that such class or series of capital stock ranks senior to
the Series A 
<PAGE>
 
Preferred Stock in respect of rights to the payment of dividends and the
distribution of assets in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the Corporation. The term "capital stock" does not include convertible
debt securities.

     3.  Dividends.
         --------- 

         (a)  Subject to the preferential rights of the holders of any class
     or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking prior to the Series
     A Preferred Stock as to dividends, the holders of the outstanding shares
     of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if
     declared by the board of directors of the Corporation (the "Board of
     Directors"), out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends,
     cumulative cash dividends at the rate of 8 1/2% per annum of the $25.00
     per share liquidation preference of the Series A Preferred Stock
     (equivalent to an annual rate of $2.125 per share). Such dividends shall
     accrue daily, shall accrue and be cumulative from January 29, 1999 (the
     "Original Issue Date") and shall be payable quarterly in arrears in cash
     on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 (each, a "Dividend
     Payment Date") of each year, commencing March 31, 1999; provided that if
     any Dividend Payment Date is not a Business Day (as hereinafter defined),
     then the dividend which would otherwise have been payable on such
     Dividend Payment Date may be paid on the next succeeding Business Day
     with the same force and effect as if paid on such Dividend Payment Date
     and no interest or additional dividends or other sum shall accrue on the
     amount so payable for the period from and after such Dividend Payment
     Date to such next succeeding Business Day. The period from and including
     the Original Issue Date to but excluding the first Dividend Payment Date,
     and each subsequent period from and including a Dividend Payment Date to
     but excluding the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date, is hereinafter
     called a "Dividend Period". Dividends shall be payable to holders of
     record as they appear in the stock transfer books of the Corporation at
     the close of business on the applicable record date (each, a "Record
     Date"), which shall be the 15th day of the calendar month in which the
     applicable Dividend Payment Date falls or such other date designated by
     the Board of Directors of the Corporation for the payment of dividends
     that is not more than 30 nor less than ten days prior to such Dividend
     Payment Date. The amount of any dividend payable for any Dividend Period,
     or portion thereof, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year
     consisting of twelve 30-day months (it being understood that the dividend
     payable on March 31, 1999 shall be for less than a full Dividend Period).
     The dividends payable on any Dividend Payment Date or any other date
     shall include dividends accrued to but excluding such Dividend Payment
     Date or other date, as the case may be.

         "Business Day" shall mean any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday,
     that is not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York
     are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to
     close. All references herein to "accrued and unpaid" dividends on the
     Series A Preferred Stock (and all references of like import) shall
     include, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise
     requires, 

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     accumulated dividends, if any, on the Series A Preferred Stock; and all
     references herein to "accrued and unpaid" dividends on any other class or
     series of capital stock of the Corporation shall include, if (and only
     if) such class or series of capital stock provides for cumulative
     dividends and unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise
     requires, accumulated dividends, if any, thereon.

         (b)  If any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, no full
     dividends will be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any capital
     stock of the Corporation of any other class or series ranking, as to
     dividends, on a parity with or junior to the Series A Preferred Stock for
     any period unless full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously
     are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment
     thereof set apart for such payment on the Series A Preferred Stock for all
     past Dividend Periods and the then current Dividend Period.  When dividends
     are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not set
     apart therefor) upon the Series A Preferred Stock and the shares of any
     other class or series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation ranking on a
     parity as to dividends with the Series A Preferred Stock, all dividends
     declared upon the Series A Preferred Stock and any other class or series of
     Preferred Stock of the Corporation ranking on a parity as to dividends with
     the Series A Preferred Stock shall be declared pro rata so that the amount
     of dividends declared per share of Series A Preferred Stock and such other
     class or series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation shall in all cases
     bear to each other the same ratio that accrued and unpaid dividends per
     share on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and such other class or
     series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation bear to each other.

         Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph, unless
     full cumulative dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock have been or
     contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient
     for the payment thereof set apart for such payment on the Series A
     Preferred Stock for all past Dividend Periods and the then current
     Dividend Period, no dividends (other than in shares of Common Stock or
     shares of any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation
     ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends and as to
     the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up
     of the Corporation) shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment
     nor shall any other distribution be declared or made upon the Common
     Stock of the Corporation or any other class or series of capital stock of
     the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series A
     Preferred Stock as to dividends or as to the distribution of assets upon
     liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, nor shall any
     shares of Common Stock of the Corporation or shares of any other class or
     series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a
     parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends or as to the
     distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
     Corporation be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any
     consideration (or any monies paid to or made available for a sinking fund
     for the redemption of any such shares of junior or parity stock) by the
     Corporation (except by 

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     conversion into or exchange for shares of any other class or series of
     capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series A Preferred
     Stock as to dividends and as to the distribution of assets upon
     liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Corporation and except for
     the redemption of capital stock of the Corporation pursuant to Article
     VII (or any similar provisions) of the Charter allowing the Corporation
     to redeem or repurchase shares of its capital stock to preserve its
     status as a real estate investment trust (a "REIT") for federal income
     tax purposes).

         (c)  No dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock shall be declared by
     the Board of Directors or paid or set apart for payment by the
     Corporation at such time as any agreement of the Corporation, including
     any agreement relating to its indebtedness, prohibits such declaration,
     payment or setting apart for payment or provides that such declaration,
     payment or setting apart for payment would constitute a breach thereof or
     a default thereunder, or if such declaration, payment or setting apart
     for payment shall be restricted or prohibited by applicable law.

         Anything in these Articles Supplementary to the contrary
     notwithstanding (including, without limitation, the provisions set forth
     in the immediately preceding paragraph), dividends on the Series A
     Preferred Stock will accrue and be cumulative from the Original Issue
     Date whether or not the Corporation has earnings, whether or not there
     are funds legally available for the payment of such dividends and whether
     or not such dividends are declared.

         (d)  No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be
     payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on the Series A
     Preferred Stock which may be in arrears, and holders of the Series A
     Preferred Stock will not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in
     cash, securities or other property, in excess of the full cumulative
     dividends described herein. 

         (e)  Any dividend payment made on the Series A Preferred Stock shall
     first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividend due
     with respect to such shares.

         (f)  If, for any taxable year, the Corporation elects to designate as
     "capital gain dividends" (as defined in Section 857 of the Internal
     Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")), any portion (the "Capital
     Gains Amount") of the dividends (within the meaning of the Code) paid or
     made available for the year to holders of all classes and series of the
     Corporation's capital stock (the "Total Dividends"), then the portion of
     the Capital Gains Amount that shall be allocable to the holders of the
     Series A Preferred Stock shall be an amount equal to (A) the total
     Capital Gains Amount multiplied by (B) a fraction (1) the numerator of
     which is equal to the total dividends (within the meaning of the Code)
     paid or made available to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock for
     that year and (2) the denominator of which is the Total Dividends for
     that year.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
     4.  Liquidation Preference.
         ---------------------- 

         (a)  Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
     winding up of the Corporation, then, before any distribution or payment
     shall be made to the holders of any Common Stock of the Corporation or
     shares of any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation
     ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the
     distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
     Corporation, but subject to the preferential rights of the holders of
     shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking
     prior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to such distribution
     of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of the
     shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to
     receive and to be paid out of the assets of the Corporation legally
     available for distribution to its shareholders liquidating distributions
     in cash or property at its fair market value as determined by the Board
     of Directors in the amount of $25.00 per share, plus an amount equal to
     all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date of payment.

         (b)  After payment to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock of
     the full amount of the liquidating distributions (including accrued and
     unpaid dividends) to which they are entitled, the holders of Series A
     Preferred Stock, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the
     remaining assets of the Corporation.

         (c)  If, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution
     or winding up of the Corporation, the assets of the Corporation legally
     available therefor are insufficient to pay the full amount of liquidating
     distributions on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and
     the full amount of the liquidating distributions payable on all
     outstanding shares of any other classes or series of capital stock of the
     Corporation ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock with
     respect to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or
     winding up of the Corporation, then the holders of the Series A Preferred
     Stock and all such other classes or series of capital stock will share
     ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full
     liquidating distributions (including, if applicable, accrued and unpaid
     dividends) to which they would otherwise respectively be entitled.

         (d)  If liquidating distributions shall have been made in full to all
     holders of Series A Preferred Stock, the remaining assets of the
     Corporation shall be distributed among the holders of any other classes
     or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the
     Series A Preferred Stock as to the distribution of assets upon
     liquidation, dissolution or winding up, according to their respective
     rights and preferences.

         (e)  For purposes of this Section 4, neither the consolidation or
     merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation, trust or
     other entity, nor the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially
     all of the property or business of the 

                                       5
<PAGE>

     Corporation, shall be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or
     winding up of the Corporation.
 
     5.  Redemption.
         ---------- 

         (a)  The Series A Preferred Stock is not redeemable prior to January
     29, 2004, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c) of this Section
     5. Any date fixed for the redemption of shares of Series A Preferred
     Stock is hereinafter called a "Redemption Date".

         (b)  Subject to Article IX of the Charter, on and after January 29,
     2004, the Corporation may, at its option, upon not less than 30 nor more
     than 60 days' prior written notice to the holders of record of the Series
     A Preferred Stock to be redeemed, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in
     whole or from time to time in part, for a cash redemption price equal to
     $25.00 per share together with (except as provided in Section 6(f) below)
     all accrued and unpaid dividends to the date fixed for redemption (the
     "Optional Redemption Price"). The Optional Redemption Price of any shares
     of Series A Preferred Stock (other than the portion thereof consisting of
     accrued and unpaid dividends) redeemed pursuant to this Section 5(b)
     shall be payable solely out of the proceeds received by the Corporation
     from the sale of other capital stock of the Corporation and not from any
     other source. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term "capital
     stock" means any equity securities (including Common Stock of the
     Corporation and any class or series of Preferred Stock (other than Series
     A Preferred Stock) of the Corporation), shares, interests, participations
     or other ownership interests (however designated), depositary shares
     representing interests in any of the foregoing, and any rights (other
     than debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity
     securities) or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

         (c)  The Series A Preferred Stock is also redeemable by the
     Corporation, in whole or from time to time in part, on the terms and
     subject to the conditions set forth in Article VII of the Charter;
     provided that any such redemption is made in accordance with the further
     terms and conditions set forth in this Section 5(c) and Section 6 of
     these Articles Supplementary. If the Corporation shall call for
     redemption any shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to and in
     accordance with the provisions of Article VII of the Charter and this
     Section 5(c), the redemption price for such shares shall be an amount in
     cash equal to $25.00 per share together with (except as provided in
     Section 6(f) below) all accrued and unpaid dividends to the date fixed
     for redemption (the "Charter Redemption Price").

         (d)  Any redemption of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, whether
     pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section 5, shall be made in
     accordance with the applicable provisions set forth in Section 6 below.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
     6.  Procedures for Redemption; Limitations on Redemption.
         ---------------------------------------------------- 

         (a)  If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of Series A
     Preferred Stock are to be redeemed at the option of the Corporation
     pursuant to Section 5(b) above, the number of shares to be redeemed will
     be determined by the Corporation and the shares to be so redeemed shall
     be selected pro rata from the holders of record of such shares in
     proportion to the number of such shares held by such holders (as nearly
     as may be practicable without creating fractional shares) or by lot or by
     any other equitable manner determined by the Corporation that will not
     give the Corporation the right to redeem shares of Series A Preferred
     Stock pursuant to Article VII of the Charter. Shares of Series A
     Preferred Stock to be redeemed pursuant to Section 5(c) shall be selected
     as provided in Article VII of the Charter.

         (b)  Notice of redemption will be given by publication in The Wall
     Street Journal or, if such newspaper is not then being published, another
     newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York, such
     publication to be made at least once a week for two successive weeks
     commencing not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption
     Date, except that no such notice need be published in the case of a
     redemption pursuant to Section 5(c) of these Articles Supplementary.
     Notice of any redemption (whether pursuant to Section 5(b) or 5(c) of
     these Articles Supplementary, as the case may be) will also be mailed by
     or on behalf of the Corporation, first class postage prepaid, not less
     than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the applicable Redemption Date,
     addressed to each holder of record of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
     to be redeemed at the address set forth in the share transfer records of
     the Corporation; provided that if the Corporation shall have reasonably
     concluded, based upon the advice of independent tax counsel experienced
     in such matters, that any redemption made pursuant to Section 5(c) must
     be made on a date (the "Subject Date") which is earlier than 30 days
     after the date of such mailing in order to preserve the status of the
     Company as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes
     or to comply with federal tax laws relating to the Company's
     qualification as a real estate investment trust, then the Corporation may
     give such shorter notice as is necessary to effect such redemption on the
     Subject Date. Any notice which has been mailed in the manner provided for
     in the preceding sentence shall be conclusively presumed to have been
     duly given on the date mailed whether or not the applicable holder
     receives such notice. In addition to any information required by law or
     by the applicable rules of any exchange upon which Series A Preferred
     Stock may be listed or admitted to trading, such notice shall state: (1)
     the Redemption Date; (2) the Optional Redemption Price or the Charter
     Redemption Price, as the case may be (the "Redemption Price"); (3) the
     number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed and whether
     such shares are being redeemed at the option of the Corporation pursuant
     to Section 5(b) or in order to preserve the Corporation's status as a
     real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes pursuant to
     Section 5(c); (4) the place or places (which shall include a place in the
     Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) where certificates for 

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
     such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price;
     and (5) that dividends on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be
     redeemed will cease to accrue on such Redemption Date. If fewer than all
     of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock are to be redeemed,
     the notice mailed to each holder of shares to be redeemed shall also
     specify the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed
     from such holder. No failure to mail or defect in such mailed notice or
     in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for
     the redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock except as to the
     holder to whom notice was defective or not given.

         (c)  If notice has been published (with respect to a redemption
     pursuant to Section 5(b) only) and mailed in accordance with Section 6(b)
     above and provided that on or before the Redemption Date specified in
     such notice all funds necessary for such redemption have been irrevocably
     set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other funds, in
     trust for the benefit of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock so
     called for redemption, so as to be, and to continue to be, available
     therefor, then, from and after the Redemption Date, dividends on the
     shares of Series A Preferred Stock so called for redemption shall cease
     to accrue, such shares shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding, and
     all rights of the holders thereof as holders of such shares (except the
     right to receive the Redemption Price together with , if applicable,
     accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the Redemption Date) shall
     terminate. In the event any Redemption Date shall not be a Business Day,
     then payment of the Redemption Price need not be made on such Redemption
     Date but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same
     force and effect as if made on such Redemption Date and no interest,
     additional dividends or other sum shall accrue on the amount payable for
     the period from and after such Redemption Date to such next succeeding
     Business Day.

         (d)  Upon surrender, in accordance with such notice, of the
     certificates for any shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be so redeemed
     (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Corporation shall so
     require and the notice shall so state), such shares of Series A Preferred
     Stock shall be redeemed by the Corporation at the Redemption Price. In
     case fewer than all the shares of Series A Preferred Stock represented by
     any such certificate are redeemed, a new certificate or certificates
     shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares of Series A Preferred
     Stock without cost to the holder thereof.

         (e)  Any deposit of monies with a bank or trust company for the
     purpose of redeeming Series A Preferred Stock shall be irrevocable and
     such monies shall be held in trust for the benefit of the holders of
     Series A Preferred Stock entitled thereto, except that (1) the
     Corporation shall be entitled to receive from such bank or trust company
     the interest or other earnings, if any, earned on the monies so deposited
     in trust; and (2) any balance of the monies so deposited by the
     Corporation and unclaimed by the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock
     entitled thereto at the 

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
     expiration of two years from the applicable Redemption Date shall be
     repaid, together with any interest or other earnings earned thereon, to
     the Corporation and, after any such repayment, the holders of the shares
     entitled to the funds so repaid to the Corporation shall look only to the
     Corporation for payment without interest or other earnings thereon.

         (f)  Anything in these Articles Supplementary to the contrary
     notwithstanding, the holders of record of shares of Series A Preferred
     Stock at the close of business on a Record Date will be entitled to
     receive the dividend payable with respect to such shares on the
     corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption of
     such shares after such Record Date and on or prior to such Dividend
     Payment Date or the Corporation's default in the payment of the dividend
     due on such Dividend Payment Date, in which case the amount payable upon
     redemption of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock will not include
     such dividend (and the full amount of the dividend payable for the
     applicable Dividend Period shall instead be paid on such Dividend Payment
     Date to the holders of record on such Record Date as aforesaid). Except
     as provided in this Section 6(f) and except to the extent that accrued
     and unpaid dividends are payable as part of the Redemption Price pursuant
     to Section 5, the Corporation will make no payment or allowance for
     unpaid dividends, regardless of whether or not in arrears, on shares of
     Series A Preferred Stock called for redemption.

         (g)  Unless full cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of
     Series A Preferred Stock shall have been or contemporaneously are
     declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment
     thereof set apart for payment for all past Dividend Periods and the then
     current Dividend Period, no shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
     redeemed unless all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock are
     simultaneously redeemed; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not
     prevent the redemption of shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to
     Article VII of the Charter (so long as such redemption is made in
     accordance with the applicable provisions of Article VII of the Charter
     and of Sections 5 and 6 of these Articles Supplementary) or pursuant to a
     purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to the holders of all
     outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock. In addition, unless full
     cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred
     Stock have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared
     and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for
     all past Dividend Periods and the then current Dividend Period, the
     Corporation shall not purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or
     indirectly, any shares of Series A Preferred Stock (except by conversion
     into or exchange for capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior to
     the Series A Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and with
     respect to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution and
     winding up of the Corporation); provided, however, that the foregoing
     shall not prevent the redemption of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
     pursuant to Article VII of the Charter (so long as such redemption is
     made in accordance with applicable provisions of the Article 

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
     VII of the Charter and of Sections 5 and 6 of these Articles
     Supplementary) or pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the
     same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred
     Stock.

     7.  Voting Rights.  Except as required by law and as set forth below in 
         -------------                                                  
this Section 7, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall not have any
voting rights.

         (a)  Whenever dividends on any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
     shall be in arrears for six or more Dividend Periods, whether or not such
     Dividend Periods are consecutive, the number of directors then
     constituting the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be
     automatically increased by two (if not already increased by two by reason
     of the election of directors by the holders of any other class or series
     of capital stock of the Corporation upon which like voting rights have
     been conferred and are exercisable and with which the Series A Preferred
     Stock is entitled to vote as a class with respect to the election of such
     two directors) and the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
     (voting separately as a class with all other classes or series of capital
     stock of the Corporation upon which like voting rights have been
     conferred and are exercisable and which are entitled to vote as a class
     with the Series A Preferred Stock in the election of such two directors)
     will be entitled to vote for the election of such two directors of the
     Corporation at a special meeting called by an officer of the Corporation
     at the request of the holders of record of at least 10% of the
     outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock or by the holders of any
     other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation upon which like
     voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which is
     entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock in the
     election of such two directors (unless such request is received less than
     90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of
     shareholders, in which case the vote for such two directors shall be held
     at the earlier of the next such annual or special meeting of
     shareholders), and at each subsequent annual meeting of shareholders
     until all dividends accumulated on the Series A Preferred Stock for all
     past Dividend Periods and the then current Dividend Period shall have
     been fully paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof
     set aside for payment, whereupon the right of the holders of Series A
     Preferred Stock to elect such two directors shall cease and (unless there
     are one or more other classes or series of capital stock of the
     Corporation upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are
     exercisable) the term of office of such directors previously so elected
     shall automatically terminate, such directors shall no longer be
     qualified to serve and the authorized number of directors of the
     Corporation shall thereupon return to the number of authorized directors
     otherwise in effect, but subject always to the same provisions for the
     reinstatement and divestment of the right to elect such two additional
     directors in the case of any such future dividend arrearage.

         In the case of any such request for a special meeting (unless such
     request is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next
     annual or special meeting of shareholders), such meeting shall be held on
     the earliest practicable date at the 

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
     place designated by the holders of capital stock requesting such meeting
     or, if none, at a place designated by the Secretary of the Corporation,
     upon notice similar to that required for an annual meeting of
     shareholders. If such special meeting is not called by an officer of the
     Corporation within 30 days after such request, then the holders of record
     of at least 10% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock may
     designate in writing a holder of Series A Preferred Stock to call such
     meeting at the expense of the Corporation, and such meeting may be called
     by the holder so designated upon notice similar to that required for an
     annual meetings of shareholders and shall be held at the place designated
     by the holder calling such meeting. At all times that the voting rights
     conferred by this Section 7(a) are exercisable, the holders of Series A
     Preferred Stock shall have access to the stock transfer records of the
     Corporation. The Corporation shall pay all costs and expenses of calling
     and holding any meeting and of electing directors pursuant to this
     Section 7(a), including, without limitation, the cost of preparing,
     reproducing and mailing the notice of such meeting, the cost of renting a
     room for such meeting to be held, and the cost of collecting and
     tabulating votes.

         The procedures in this Section 7(a) for the calling of meetings and the
     election of directors shall, to the extent permitted by law, supersede
     anything inconsistent contained in the Charter or by-laws of the
     Corporation.

         So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding,
     the number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors of the
     Corporation shall at all times be such so that the exercise, by the
     holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of any other
     classes or series of capital stock of the Corporation upon which like
     voting rights have been conferred, of the right to elect directors under
     the circumstances provided above will not contravene any provision of the
     Corporation's Charter or by-laws restricting the number of directors
     which may constitute the entire Board of Directors of the Corporation.

         If at any time when the voting rights conferred upon the Series A
     Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 7(a) are exercisable any vacancy
     in the office of a director elected pursuant to this Section 7(a) shall
     occur, then such vacancy may be filled only by the remaining such
     director or by vote of the holders of record of the outstanding Series A
     Preferred Stock and any other classes or series of capital stock of the
     Corporation upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are
     exercisable and which are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A
     Preferred Stock in the election of directors pursuant to this Section
     7(a). Any director elected or appointed pursuant to this Section 7(a) may
     be removed only by the holders of the outstanding Series A Preferred
     Stock and any other classes or series of capital stock of the Corporation
     upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and
     which are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock
     in the election of directors pursuant to this Section 7(a), and may not
     be removed by the holders of the Common Stock.

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
         (b)  So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain
     outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote or
     consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of Series A
     Preferred Stock outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy
     (with the Series A Preferred Stock voting separately as a class), (A)
     authorize, create or issue, or increase the authorized or issued amount
     of, any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking prior
     to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends
     or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up
     of the Corporation or reclassify any authorized capital stock of the
     Corporation into such shares, or create, authorize or issue any
     obligation or security convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for,
     or evidencing the right to purchase, any such shares, or (B) amend, alter
     or repeal any provisions of the Charter (including, without limitation,
     any provision of these Articles Supplementary), so as to materially and
     adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the
     Series A Preferred Stock or the holders thereof, or (C) enter into any
     share exchange that affects shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or
     consolidate with or merge into any other entity, or permit any other
     entity to consolidate with or merge into the Corporation, unless in each
     such case described in this clause (C) each share of Series A Preferred
     Stock then outstanding remains outstanding without a material adverse
     change to its terms and rights or is converted into or exchanged for
     preferred stock of the surviving or resulting entity having preferences,
     rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends,
     qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption identical to those
     of the Series A Preferred Stock; provided, however, that any amendment to
     the Charter to authorize any increase in the amount of the authorized
     Preferred Stock or Common Stock or the creation or issuance of any other
     class or series of Preferred Stock or any increase in the amount of
     authorized or outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock or any other
     class or series of Preferred Stock, in each case ranking on a parity with
     or junior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of
     dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or
     winding up of the Corporation, shall not be deemed to materially and
     adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers.
     For purposes of this paragraph, the filing in accordance with applicable
     law of articles supplementary or any similar document setting forth or
     changing the designations, preferences, conversion or other rights,
     voting powers, restrictions, limitation as to dividends, qualifications
     or other terms of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation
     shall be deemed an amendment to the Charter.

         (c)  The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior
     to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise
     be required shall be effected, all outstanding Series A Preferred Stock
     shall have been redeemed or called for redemption and sufficient funds
     shall have been deposited in trust in accordance with the terms of
     Section 6 hereof to effect such redemption.

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
         (d)  On any matter submitted to a vote of the holders of Series A
     Preferred Stock or on which the Series A Preferred Stock otherwise is
     entitled to vote (as expressly provided in the Charter, including these
     Articles Supplementary, or as may be required by law), including any
     action by written consent, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall
     be entitled to one vote, except that when shares of any other class or
     series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation have the right to vote with
     the Series A Preferred Stock as a single class on any matter, the Series
     A Preferred Stock and the shares of each such other class or series will
     have one vote for each $25.00 of liquidation preference.

     8.  Conversion.  The Series A Preferred Stock is not convertible into or
         ----------                                                          
exchangeable for any other property or securities of the Corporation.

     9.  Office or Agency in New York City.  The Corporation will at all times
         ---------------------------------                                    
maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York,
where shares of Series A Preferred Stock may be surrendered for payment
(including upon redemption), registration of transfer or exchange.

    10.  The Series A Preferred Stock shall have no preemptive rights.

    11.  Status of Redeemed and Reacquired Series A Preferred Stock.  In the 
         ----------------------------------------------------------
event any shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be redeemed pursuant to
Section 5 hereof or otherwise reacquired by the Corporation, the shares so
redeemed or reacquired shall become authorized but unissued shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, available for future issuance and reclassification by the
Corporation.

    12.  If any preference, right, voting power, restriction, limitation as to
dividends, qualification, term or condition of redemption or other term of the
Series A Preferred Stock is invalid, unlawful or incapable of being enforced by
reason of any rule of law or public policy, then, to the extent permitted by
law, all other preferences, rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as
to dividends, qualifications, terms or conditions of redemption and other terms
of the Series A Preferred Stock which can be given effect without the invalid,
unlawful or unenforceable preference, right, voting power, restriction,
limitation as to dividends, qualification, term or condition of redemption or
other term of the Series A Preferred Stock shall remain in full force and effect
and shall not be deemed dependent upon any other such preference, right, voting
power, restriction, limitation as to dividends, qualification, term or condition
of redemption or other term of the Series A Preferred Stock unless so expressed
herein.

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, BRE PROPERTIES, INC. has caused these presents to be
signed in its name and on its behalf by its President, and witnessed by its
Secretary on January 28, 1999.



Witness:                                     BRE PROPERTIES, INC.


By: /s/ LeRoy E. Carlson                     By: /s/ Frank C. McDowell
   ---------------------------                  -------------------------------
   Name:  LeRoy E. Carlson                      Name:  Frank C. McDowell
   Title: Secretary                             Title: President



    THE UNDERSIGNED, Frank C. McDowell of BRE Properties, Inc., who executed
on behalf of the Corporation the Articles Supplementary of which this
certificate is made a part, hereby acknowledges in the name and on behalf of
said Corporation the foregoing Articles Supplementary to be the corporate act
of said Corporation and hereby certifies that the matters and facts set forth
herein with respect to the authorization and approval thereof are true in all
material respects under the penalties of perjury.

 
                                             By: /s/ Frank C. McDowell
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Name:  Frank C. McDowell
                                                Title: President

                                      14

<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2
 
8  1/2% Series A Cumulative                          8  1/2% Series A Cumulative
Redeemable Preferred Stock                           Redeemable Preferred Stock



                            BRE PROPERTIES, INC.
            INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND


THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE IN SAN FRANCISCO                SEE REVERSE FOR
NEW YORK OR RIDGEFIELD PARK, NEW JERSEY                             RESTRICTIONS

          PAR VALUE $.01
             PER SHARE
                                                             CUSIP 05564E 20 5

     This Certifies that ______________________ is the owner of
___________________ Fully paid and Non-Assessable Shares of 8 1/2% Series A
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock of BRE Properties, Inc., transferable on
the books of the Corporation in person or by duly authorized attorney upon
surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed.  This Certificate is not valid
until countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar.

     The holder and every transferee or assignee of this Certificate or of the
Shares represented hereby or of any interest therein accepts and agrees to be
bound by the terms, conditions and limitations of the Articles of Incorporation
and all amendments thereof and supplements thereto.

     Witness the facsimile seal of the Corporation, and the facsimile signatures
of its duly authorized officers.

DATED:


      /s/ LeRoy E. Carlson                         /s/ Frank McDowell
- -------------------------------------      -------------------------------------
SECRETARY AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER                   PRESIDENT



Countersigned and Registered:
     CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.
                    Transfer Agent and Registrar.


                    Authorized Signature


<PAGE>
 
     In order to maintain qualification of the corporation as a real estate
investment trust under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, the
Board of Directors of the Corporation may, in accordance with the terms of the
Articles of Incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time, redeem
or restrict the transfer of the Shares represented by this Certificate.  The
Corporation will furnish information about those restrictions to any stockholder
on request and without charge.

     The Corporation will furnish to any stockholder on request and without
charge a full statement of the designations and any preferences, conversion and
other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends,
qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of the stock of each class
which the Corporation is authorized to issue of the differences in the relative
rights and preferences between the shares of each series of a preferred or
special class in series which the Corporation is authorized to issue, to the
extent they have been set, and the authority of the Board of Directors to set
the relative rights and preferences of subsequent series of a preferred or
special class of stock.  Such request may be made to the Secretary of the
Corporation or to its transfer agent.

     Keep this Certificate in a safe place.  If it is lost, stolen, or
destroyed, the Corporation will require a bond of indemnity as a condition to
the issuance of a replacement certificate.

     The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of
this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations:
 
 TEN COM   - as tenants in common    UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - ______Custodian_______
 TEN ENT   - as tenants by the                           (Cust)         (Minor)
             entireties  
 JT TEN    - as joint tenants with                       under Uniform Gifts to 
             right of survivorship and                   Minors Act ____________
             not as tenants in common                                 (State)
     COM PROP  - as community property

  Additional abbreviations may also be used through not in the above list.

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _________________________ hereby sell, 
                          assign and transfer unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
  IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
_______________________________________
|                                      |
|______________________________________|
 

________________________________________________________________________________
          (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE)

________________________________________________________________________________


_____________________________________________________________Shares of Preferred
Stock represented by the within Certificate and do hereby irrevocably constitute
and appoint

________________________________________________________________________Attorney
to transfer the same on the books of the within-named Corporation, with full
power of substitution in the premises.

Dated _______________________

                               (SIGN HERE) ___________________________________



<PAGE>

                                                                  EXHIBIT 12.1

                              BRE PROPERTIES, INC.
                       STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF RATIOS
                     OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES
                         AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

                                        
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                              Nine months         Nine months ended 
                                                      YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,              ended September 30,       September 30,  
(DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)                1993     1994      1995     1996     1997           1997                   1998
                                            -------  -------  --------  -------  -------   -------------------    -----------------
<S>                                         <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>                   <C>
Income before gain on sales of
 investments in rental properties,
 minority interest and provision for
 investment loss..........................  $19,531  $22,566  $23,789   $37,014  $49,345       $35,603              $48,123
Provision for investment loss.............       --       --   (2,000)       --       --            --                   --
                                            -------  -------  --------  -------  -------   -------------------    -----------------
Income before gain (loss) on sales of       
 investments in rental properties and                
 minority interest........................  $19,531  $22,566  $21,789   $37,014  $49,345       $35,603              $48,123 
                                            =======  =======  ========  =======  =======   ===================    =================

Fixed charges:                                                                                                 
   Interest...............................  $ 5,656  $ 5,599  $ 7,973   $16,325  $21,606       $15,344              $25,966
   Capitalized Interest...................       --       --       --       269    1,178            --                8,695
   Minority Interest......................       --       --       --        --      972            --                   --
   Other..................................       98      101      105       108      112            84                   84
                                            -------  -------  --------  -------  -------   -------------------    -----------------
                                            $ 5,754  $ 5,700  $ 8,078   $16,702  $23,868       $15,428              $34,745
                                            =======  =======  ========  =======  =======   ===================    =================
                                                                                                               
Income before gain (loss) on sales of       
 investments in rental properties,                      
 minority interest and provision for                                                                          
 investment loss and fixed charges,                                                                           
 excluding capitalized interest and                                                                           
 minority interest........................  $25,285  $28,266  $31,867   $53,447  $71,063       $51,031              $74,173
                                            =======  =======  ========  =======  =======   ===================    =================
                                                                                                               
Divided by fixed charges..................  $ 5,754  $ 5,700  $ 8,078   $16,702  $23,868       $15,428              $34,745
                                            =======  =======  ========  =======  =======   ===================    =================
                                                                                                               
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed         
 charges and preferred share dividends....      4.4      5.0      4.0       3.2      3.0           3.3                  2.1
                                            =======  =======  ========  =======  =======   ===================    =================
</TABLE>


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