GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
8-K, 1998-10-09
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS
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<PAGE>   1
                       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):
                                 OCTOBER 8, 1998



                      GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)




           DELAWARE                     000-22683                58-2077966
(State or other jurisdiction         (Commission File         (I.R.S. Employer
      of incorporation)                  Number)             Identification No.)



                        2859 PACES FERRY ROAD, SUITE 1450
                             ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30339
              (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)



               Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                  770-436-4600


<PAGE>   2
         ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.

         On October 8, 1998, Gables Realty Limited Partnership (the
"Partnership"), the entity through which Gables Residential Trust (the
"Company") conducts substantially all of its business and owns (either directly
or through subsidiaries) substantially all of its assets, completed the
offering of an aggregate $15,000,000 principal amount of its 6.60% Senior Notes
due 2001 (the "Notes"). The offering of the Notes was made pursuant to a
Prospectus Supplement dated October 5, 1998 relating to the Prospectus dated
August 11, 1997 filed with the Partnership's and the Company's shelf
registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-30093).

         The Notes bear interest at 6.60% per annum from October 1, 1998, with
interest payable in arrears each April 1 and October 1 commencing April 1, 1999.
The entire principal amount of the Notes is due October 1, 2001. The Notes are
redeemable at any time at the option of the Partnership, in whole or in part, at
a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the principal amount of the Notes
being redeemed plus accrued interest thereon to the redemption date and (ii) the
Make-Whole Amount (as defined in Supplemental Indenture No. 3 referenced below),
if any, with respect to such Notes.

         The Notes were issued under an Indenture dated March 23, 1998 and a
Supplemental Indenture No. 3 dated October 8, 1998, each between the
Partnership and First Union National Bank, as trustee. The offering of the
Notes was underwritten by PaineWebber Incorporated. The underwriting discount
was  0.350% and the price to the public was 100% of the principal amount of the
Notes.

         The net proceeds to the Partnership from the sale of the Notes, after
deducting the underwriting discount and related issuance costs, were
approximately $14.9 million. The Partnership will use the net proceeds to reduce
borrowings under its credit facilities.

         Delivery of the Notes was made on October 8, 1998 through the
facilities of the Depository Trust Company, against payment therefor in
immediately available funds.

         ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND
                 EXHIBITS.

         (a)   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BUSINESS ACQUIRED:

               Not Applicable

         (b)   PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

               Not Applicable



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<PAGE>   3
         (c)   EXHIBITS:

Exhibit No.
- -----------

         1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated October 5, 1998.

         4.1    Indenture, dated as of March 23, 1998, between Gables Realty
                Limited Partnership and First Union National Bank (incorporated 
                herein by reference to the Partnership's Current Report on 
                Form 8-K dated March 23, 1998).

         4.2    Supplemental Indenture No. 3, dated October 8, 1998, between
                Gables Realty Limited Partnership and First Union National Bank,
                including a form of the 6.60% Senior Note due 2001.

         4.3    Gables Realty Limited Partnership 6.60% Senior Note due 2001.

         5.1    Opinion as to the legality of the Notes.

         12.1   Gables Realty Limited Partnership Calculation of Ratios of
                Earnings to Fixed Charges.

         12.2   Gables Realty Limited Partnership Calculation of Ratios of
                Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends.




                                        3

<PAGE>   4
                                   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.

Date: October 9, 1998                   GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


                                        By: Gables GP, Inc., its general partner



                                           /s/ Marvin R. Banks, Jr.
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           By: Marvin R. Banks, Jr.
                                               Chief Financial Officer




                                        4



<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.1




                                   $15,000,000



                        GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP



                          6.600% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2001





                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                              DATED OCTOBER 5, 1998




                            PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED













<PAGE>   2

                                   $15,000,000

                        GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                          6.600% Senior Notes due 2001

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT



October 5, 1998



PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  INTRODUCTORY. Gables Realty Limited Partnership, a Delaware
limited partnership (the "Operating Partnership") of which the sole general
partner is Gables GP, Inc. ("Gables GP"), a Texas corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Gables Residential Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust
(the "REIT" and, together with the Operating Partnership and Gables GP, the
"Company"), proposes to sell to the Underwriter named in SCHEDULE 1 hereto (the
"Underwriter") the aggregate principal amounts listed in SCHEDULE 1 hereto of
the Operating Partnership's debt securities identified in SCHEDULE 2 hereto (the
"Securities"), to be issued under that certain indenture, dated as of March 23,
1998, as supplemented by that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of
March 23, 1998, a Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 30, 1998,
and a Third Supplemental Indenture, to be dated as of October 8, 1998, each by
and between the Operating Partnership and First Union National Bank (the
"Trustee"), as trustee (as so supplemented, the "Indenture").

                  The REIT and the Operating Partnership confirm their
agreements with the Underwriter as follows.

                  1.       AGREEMENT TO SELL AND PURCHASE.

                  On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements
contained herein, but subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the
Operating Partnership agrees to issue and sell the Securities to the Underwriter
as hereinafter provided, and the Underwriter agrees to purchase from the
Operating Partnership the Securities at the purchase price set forth in SCHEDULE
2 hereto plus accrued interest, if any, from the date specified in SCHEDULE 2
hereto to the date of payment and delivery.

                  The Company understands that the Underwriter intends (i) to
make a public offering of the Securities, and (ii) initially to offer the
Securities upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus.



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<PAGE>   3


                  2.       DELIVERY AND PAYMENT.

                  Payment for the Securities shall be made to the Operating
Partnership or to its order in immediately available funds in the amount and on
the date and time set forth in SCHEDULE 2 hereto or at such place and at such
other time on the same date or such other date, not later than the eighth
Business Day thereafter, as the Underwriter and the Operating Partnership may
agree in writing (or if the NYSE or American Stock Exchange or commercial banks
in the City of New York are not open on such day, the next day on which such
exchanges and banks are open). Such payment will be made upon delivery to the
Underwriter of the Securities registered in such names and in such denominations
as the Underwriter shall request not less than two full Business Days prior to
the date of delivery, with transfer taxes, if any, payable in connection with
transfer to the Underwriter duly paid by the Company. As used herein, the term
"Business Day" means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or
required to be closed in New York City. The time and date of such payment and
delivery with respect to the Securities are referred to herein as the "Closing
Date." The Securities will be delivered through the book entry facilities of The
Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and, if requested by the Underwriter, will be
made available for inspection by the Underwriter no later than 1:00 P.M. New
York City time on the Business Day prior to the Closing Date at such place in
New York City as the Underwriter, DTC and the Operating Partnership shall agree.

                  The cost of original issue tax stamps, if any, in connection
with the issuance and delivery of the Securities by the Operating Partnership to
the Underwriter shall be borne by the Company. The Company will pay and save the
Underwriter and any subsequent holder of the Securities harmless from any and
all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any failure or delay in paying
Federal and state stamp and other transfer taxes, if any, which may be payable
or determined to be payable in connection with the original issuance or sale to
the Underwriter of the Securities.

                  3.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The 
REIT and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, represent, warrant
and covenant to the Underwriter that:

                           (a)      The Operating Partnership meets the
         requirements for use of Form S3 and a registration statement
         (Registration No. 333-30093) on Form S-3 relating to the Securities,
         including a prospectus (as amended, the "Base Prospectus"), has been
         carefully prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements
         of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules
         and regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of the Securities and
         Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder and has been filed
         with the Commission and has become effective; and on or prior to the
         Closing Date the Indenture shall have been qualified under the Trust
         Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (together with the rules and
         regulations of the Commission thereunder, the "Trust Indenture Act").
         Such registration statement and prospectus may have been amended or
         supplemented prior to the date of this Agreement; any such amendment or
         supplement was so prepared and filed, and any such amendment filed
         after the effective date of such registration statement has become
         effective. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
         registration statement has been issued, and no proceeding for that
         purpose has been instituted or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened
         by the Commission. Copies of such registration statement and
         prospectus, any such amendments or supplements and all documents
         incorporated by reference therein that were filed with the Commission
         on or prior to the date of this Agreement have been delivered or made
         available to the Underwriter. A prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus
         Supplement") setting forth the terms of the Securities and of their
         sale and distribution has been or


                                       3



<PAGE>   4


         will be so prepared and will be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the
         Rules and Regulations on or before the second business day after the
         date hereof (or such earlier time as may be required by the Rules and
         Regulations). The term "Registration Statement" means such registration
         statement as amended at the time it became effective (the "Effective
         Date"), including financial statements and all exhibits and any
         information deemed by virtue of Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations
         to be included in such Registration Statement at the Effective Date and
         any prospectus supplement filed thereafter with the Commission and
         shall include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant
         to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Securities Exchange
         Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). The term "Prospectus"
         means, collectively, the Base Prospectus together with any prospectus
         supplement, in the respective forms they are filed with the Commission
         pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations, and includes the
         documents incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus and in any
         prospectus supplement. Any reference herein to the terms "amend,"
         "amendment" or "supplement" with respect to the Registration Statement
         or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing
         after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission deemed
         to be incorporated by reference therein. For purposes of this
         Underwriting Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement,
         the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed
         to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its
         Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR), and
         such copy shall be identical (except to the extent permitted by
         Regulation S-T) to any Registration Statement or Prospectus, as the
         case may be, delivered to you for use in connection with the offering
         of the Securities by the Operating Partnership.

                           (b)      Each part of the Registration Statement,
         when such part became or becomes effective, and the Prospectus and any
         amendment or supplement thereto, on the date of filing thereof with the
         Commission and at the Closing Date, including the financial statements
         included or to be included or incorporated by reference or to be
         incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the
         Prospectus, conformed or will conform in all material respects with the
         requirements of the Act, the Rules and Regulations, the Exchange Act
         and the rules and regulations thereunder (the "Exchange Act Rules and
         Regulations") and will contain all statements required to be stated
         therein in accordance with the Act, the Rules and Regulations, the
         Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations; the Indenture,
         on the date of filing thereof with the Commission and at the Closing
         Date conformed or will conform in all material respects with the
         requirements of the Trust Indenture Act; each part of the Registration
         Statement, when such part became or becomes effective, did not or 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 not misleading; the Prospectus and any amendment or
         supplement thereto, on the date of filing thereof with the Commission
         and at the Closing Date, did not or will not include an untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
         to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
         which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing representations and
         warranties in this Section 3(b) do not apply to (i) that part of the
         Registration Statement which constitutes the Statement of Eligibility
         and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act (the "Form T-1") and
         (ii) any statements or omissions made in reliance on and in conformity
         with information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to
         the Company by such Underwriter specifically for inclusion in the
         Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
         thereto. The Company acknowledges that the only information furnished
         in writing to the Company by the Underwriter specifically for inclusion
         in the Registration Statement, any preliminary


                                       
                                       4



<PAGE>   5


         prospectus or the Prospectus is the information set forth in EXHIBIT A
         hereto. The Company has not distributed any offering material in
         connection with the offering or sale of the Securities other than the
         Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or other materials, if any,
         permitted by the Act.

                           (c)      The documents incorporated or to be
         incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the
         Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or from which
         information is so incorporated by reference, when they became or become
         effective or were or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be,
         complied or will comply in all material respects with the requirements
         of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, the Exchange Act Rules
         and Regulations and the Rules and Regulations.

                           (d)      The only subsidiaries (as defined in the
         Rules and Regulations) of the Company are the subsidiaries listed on
         SCHEDULE 3 hereto (the "subsidiaries"). The Company and each of its
         subsidiaries is, and at the Closing Date will be, an entity duly
         organized or formed, as the case may be, and, in the case of an entity
         that is not a general partnership, validly existing and in good
         standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or
         incorporation. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has, and at the
         Closing Date will have, full power and authority to conduct all the
         activities conducted by it, to own or lease all the assets owned or
         leased by it and to conduct its business as described in the
         Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company and each of its
         subsidiaries is, and at the Closing Date will be, duly licensed or
         qualified to do business and (except for subsidiaries that are general
         partnerships) in good standing as a foreign trust, limited partnership
         or corporation, as the case may be, in all jurisdictions in which the
         nature of the activities conducted by it or the character of the assets
         owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary
         except where the failure to be so qualified does not have a material
         adverse effect on the business, properties, financial position or
         results of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Except
         for the stock or partnership interests of the subsidiaries and as
         disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Company does not own, and
         at the Closing Date will not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of
         stock or any other equity or long-term debt securities of any
         corporation or have any equity interest in any firm, partnership, joint
         venture, association or other entity. Complete and correct copies of
         the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and the Second Amended
         and Restated By-laws of the Company and the charter documents of each
         of its subsidiaries and all amendments thereto have been delivered or
         made available to the Underwriter and no changes therein will be made
         subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the Closing Date.

                           (e)      The outstanding securities of the REIT, have
         been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and
         will not be subject to any preemptive or similar right. The description
         of the REIT's common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per
         share (the "Common Shares") in the Registration Statement and the
         Prospectus is, and at the Closing Date will be, in all material
         respects, complete and accurate. Except as set forth in the Prospectus,
         the REIT does not have outstanding, and at the Closing Date will not
         have outstanding, any options to purchase, or any rights or warrants to
         subscribe for, or any securities or obligations convertible into, or
         any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, any Common Shares, any
         preferred shares of the REIT, any shares of capital stock of any
         subsidiary or any such warrants, convertible securities or obligations
         other than (i) pursuant to the REIT's dividend reinvestment plan and
         (ii) the REIT's Third Amended and Restated 1994 Share Option and
         Incentive Plan, as amended.




                                       5



<PAGE>   6


                           (f)      The outstanding securities of the Operating
         Partnership, have been duly authorized and validly issued and will not
         be subject to any preemptive or similar right. Except as set forth in
         the Prospectus, the Operating Partnership does not have outstanding,
         and at the Closing Date will not have outstanding, any options to
         purchase, or any rights or warrants to subscribe for, or any securities
         or obligations convertible into, or any contracts or commitments to
         issue or sell, any shares of capital stock of the Operating
         Partnership. There are no requirements, restrictions or limitations in
         the terms of the preferred units of partnership interest in the
         Operating Partnership ("Preferred Units") applicable to the issuance
         and sale of the Securities.

                           (g)      The Securities will be, as of the Closing
         Date, duly authorized by the Operating Partnership for issuance and
         sale pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, and
         when duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in accordance with
         the terms of the Indenture (assuming the due authorization, execution
         and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee), and delivered to, and
         paid for in full by, the Underwriter pursuant to this Underwriting
         Agreement, will be valid and legally binding obligations of the
         Operating Partnership entitled to the benefit of the Indenture and will
         be enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms,
         subject to (a) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
         moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors' rights and remedies
         generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether
         enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or law), (c) the
         discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be
         brought, and (d) applicable Federal and state securities laws and
         public policy which may limit the application of provisions relating to
         indemnification and contribution with respect to securities law matters
         (clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) are collectively referred to as the
         "Enforceability Limitations"); the Indenture has been duly qualified
         under the Trust Indenture Act and prior to the issuance of the
         Securities will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
         Operating Partnership, and assuming due authorization, execution and
         delivery thereof by the Trustee, will constitute a valid and legally
         binding obligation of the Operating Partnership, enforceable against
         the Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms, subject to the
         Enforceability Limitations; the Securities and the Indenture will
         conform in all material respects to the statements relating thereto
         contained in the Prospectus; and the Securities will be, in all
         material respects, in the form contemplated by the Indenture.

                           (h)      The financial statements and schedules of
         the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
         Statement or the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial
         condition of the Company as of the respective dates thereof and the
         consolidated results of operations and cash flows of the Company for
         the respective periods covered thereby, all in conformity with
         generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis
         throughout the entire period involved, except as otherwise disclosed in
         the Prospectus. The pro forma financial statements of the Company, if
         any, included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply
         in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Rule 11-02
         of Regulation S-X of the Commission and the pro forma adjustments have
         been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of
         such statements. No other financial statements or schedules of the
         Company are required by the Act, the Exchange Act or the Rules and
         Regulations to be included in the Registration Statement or the
         Prospectus. Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants (the
         "Accountants"), who have reported on those of such financial statements
         and schedules which are audited, are independent accountants with
         respect to the Company as required by the Act and the Rules and
         Regulations. The statements included in the Registration Statement




                                       6



<PAGE>   7


         with respect to the Accountants pursuant to Rule_509 of Regulation S-K
         of the Rules and Regulations are true and correct in all material
         respects.

                           (i)      The Company maintains a system of internal
         accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that
         (i)_transactions are executed in accordance with management's general
         or specific authorization; (ii)_transactions are recorded as necessary
         to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with
         generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability
         for assets; (iii)_access to assets is permitted only in accordance with
         management's general or specific authorization; and (iv)_the recorded
         accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at
         reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to
         any differences.

                           (j)      Subsequent to the respective dates as of
         which information is given in the Registration Statement and the
         Prospectus and prior to the Closing Date, except as set forth in or
         contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
         (i)_there has not been and will not have been any change in the
         capitalization of the Company, or in the business, properties, business
         prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations
         of the Company and its subsidiaries, arising for any reason whatsoever,
         other than pursuant to the REIT's dividend reinvestment plan or by way
         of grants of Common Shares or options to purchase Common Shares or the
         exercise of such options, in any such case under the Company's Third
         Amended and Restated 1994 Share Option and Incentive Plan, as amended,
         (ii)_neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred nor
         will it incur any material liabilities or obligations, direct or
         contingent, nor has it entered into nor will it enter into any material
         transactions other than pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions
         referred to herein and (iii)_the Company has not and will not have paid
         or declared any dividends or other distributions of any kind on any
         class of its capital stock.

                           (k)      The Company is not an "investment company"
         or an "affiliated person" of, or "promoter" or "principal underwriter"
         for, an "investment company," as such terms are defined in the
         Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                           (l)      Except as set forth in the Registration
         Statement and the Prospectus, there are no actions, suits or
         proceedings pending or threatened against or affecting the Company or
         any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective officers in their
         capacity as such, before or by any Federal or state court, commission,
         regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body,
         domestic or foreign, wherein an unfavorable ruling, decision or finding
         might materially and adversely affect the Company or any of its
         subsidiaries or its business, properties, business prospects, condition
         (financial or otherwise) or results of operations.

                           (m)      The Company and each of its subsidiaries
         has, and at the Closing Date will have, (i)_all governmental licenses,
         permits, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations necessary
         to carry on its business as contemplated in the Prospectus, except
         where failure to obtain any of the foregoing will not have a material
         adverse effect on the business, properties, business prospects,
         condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the
         Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a "Material Adverse
         Effect"), (ii)_complied in all material respects with all laws,
         regulations and orders applicable to it or its business except where
         failure to comply with any of the foregoing would not have a Material
         Adverse Effect, and (iii)_performed all its material obligations
         required to be performed by it, and is not, and at the Closing Date
         will not be,



                                       7



<PAGE>   8


         in default, under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, voting trust
         agreement, loan agreement, bond, debenture, note agreement, lease,
         contract or other agreement or instrument (collectively, a "contract or
         other agreement") to which it is a party or by which its property is
         bound or affected, the violation of which would have a Material Adverse
         Effect. To the best knowledge of the Company and each of its
         subsidiaries, no other party under any contract or other agreement to
         which it is a party is in default thereunder in such a manner that,
         individually or in the aggregate, would have a reasonable likelihood of
         causing a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not, nor at the
         Closing Date will be, in violation of any provision of its Amended and
         Restated Declaration of Trust and Second Amended and Restated By-laws.
         No subsidiary of the Company is, nor at the Closing Date will any of
         them be, in violation of any provision in their respective charter
         documents.

                           (n)      No consent, approval, authorization or order
         of, or any filing or declaration with, any court or governmental agency
         or body is required for the consummation by the Company of the
         transactions on its part herein contemplated, except such as have been
         obtained under the Act or the Rules and Regulations and such as may be
         required under state or Canadian securities or blue sky laws or the
         by-laws and rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
         Inc. (the "NASD") in connection with the purchase and distribution by
         the Underwriter of the Securities to be sold by the Company.

                           (o)      The Operating Partnership has full power and
         authority to enter into this Agreement and the Indenture. The REIT has
         full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the
         Indenture. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
         delivered by the REIT and the Operating Partnership and constitutes a
         valid and binding agreement of the REIT and the Operating Partnership
         and is enforceable against the REIT and the Operating Partnership in
         accordance with the terms hereof. The performance of this Agreement and
         the Indenture and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
         hereby and thereby will not result in the creation or imposition of any
         lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the assets of the Company or
         any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the terms or provisions of, or
         result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of,
         or constitute a default under, or give any other party a right to
         terminate any of its obligations under, or result in the acceleration
         of any obligation under, the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
         or Second Amended and Restated By-laws of the REIT or the Partnership
         Agreement and any other organizational documents of the Operating
         Partnership or the charter documents of Gables GP or any of the
         Company's subsidiaries, any contract or other agreement to which the
         Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company
         or any of its subsidiaries or any of its properties is bound or
         affected, or violate or conflict with any judgment, ruling, decree,
         order, statute, rule or regulation of any court or other governmental
         agency or body applicable to the business or properties of the Company
         or any of its subsidiaries.

                           (p)      The Company and each of its subsidiaries has
         good and marketable title to all properties and assets described in the
         Prospectus as owned by it, free and clear of all liens, charges,
         encumbrances or restrictions, except such as (i) are described in the
         Prospectus or (ii) are not material to the business of the Company or
         its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The Company and each of its
         subsidiaries has valid, subsisting and enforceable leases for the
         properties described in the Prospectus as leased by it, with such
         exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the
         use made and proposed to be made of such properties by the Company and
         such subsidiaries; no tenant under any of the leases pursuant to which
         the Company leases its properties



                                      8



<PAGE>   9

         has an option or right of first refusal to purchase the premises
         demised under such lease; the use and occupancy of each of the
         properties of the Company complies in all material respects with all
         applicable codes and zoning laws and regulations; the Company has no
         knowledge of any pending or threatened condemnation or zoning change
         that will in any material respect affect the size of, use of,
         improvements of, construction on, or access to any of the properties of
         the Company; and the Company has no knowledge of any pending or
         threatened proceeding or action that will in any manner affect the size
         of, use of, improvements on, construction on, or access to any of the
         properties of the Company.

                           (q)      Title insurance in favor of the Company (or
         the subsidiary which holds title to such property) is maintained with
         respect to each of the properties owned by the Company in an amount at
         least equal to the greater of (i) the cost of acquisition of such
         property or (ii) the cost of construction by the Company of the
         improvements located on such property (measured at the time of such
         construction), except, in each case, where the failure to maintain such
         title insurance 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 taken as a
         whole. Title insurance in favor of the mortgagee is maintained in an
         amount equal to the maximum commitment of the related loan.

                           (r)      The mortgages and deeds of trust encumbering
         the properties and assets described in the Prospectus are not
         convertible nor does the Company hold a participating interest therein.

                           (s)      The Company has no knowledge of (i) the
         unlawful presence of any hazardous substances, hazardous materials,
         toxic substances or waste materials (collectively, "Hazardous
         Materials") on any of the properties owned by it, or (ii) any unlawful
         spills, releases, discharges or disposal of Hazardous Materials that
         have occurred or are presently occurring off such properties as a
         result of any construction on or operation and use of such properties,
         which presence or occurrence would have a Material Adverse Effect. In
         connection with the construction or operation and use of the properties
         owned by the Company, the Company represents that, as of the date of
         this Agreement, it has no knowledge of any failure to comply with all
         applicable local, state and federal environmental laws, regulations,
         ordinances and administrative and judicial orders relating to the
         generation, recycling, reuse, sale, storage, handling, transport and
         disposal of any Hazardous Materials, which failure would have a
         Material Adverse Effect.

                           (t)      Property and casualty insurance in favor of
         the Company is maintained with respect to each of the properties owned
         by it in an amount and on such terms as is reasonable and customary for
         businesses of this type.

                           (u)      There is no document or contract of a
         character required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
         Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
         which is not described or filed as required. All such contracts and all
         contracts relating to any tax exempt financings to which the Company or
         any subsidiary is a party have been duly authorized, executed and
         delivered by the Company or such subsidiary, constitute valid and
         binding agreements of the Company or such subsidiary and are
         enforceable against the Company or such subsidiary in accordance with
         the terms thereof.



                                       9



<PAGE>   10


                           (v)      No statement, representation, warranty or
         covenant made by the Company in this Agreement or made in any
         certificate or document required by this Agreement to be delivered to
         the Underwriter was or will be, when made, inaccurate, untrue or
         incorrect.

                           (w)      Neither the Company nor any of its trustees,
         officers or controlling persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any
         action intended, or which might reasonably be expected, to cause or
         result, under the Act or otherwise, in, or which has constituted,
         stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the
         Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

                           (x)      No holder of securities of the Company has
         rights to the registration of any securities of the Company because of
         the filing of the Registration Statement.

                           (y)      Neither the Company nor any of its
         subsidiaries is involved in any material labor dispute nor, to the
         knowledge of the Company, is any such dispute threatened.

                           (z)      The Company and its subsidiaries own, or are
         licensed or otherwise have the full exclusive right to use, all
         material trademarks and trade names which are used in or necessary for
         the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the
         Prospectus, including, without limitation, the name "Gables" for use in
         connection with residential communities. No claims have been asserted
         by any person to the use of any such trademarks or trade names or
         challenging or questioning the validity or effectiveness of any such
         trademark or trade name. The use, in connection with the business and
         operations of the Company and its subsidiaries of such trademarks and
         trade names does not, to the Company's knowledge, infringe on the
         rights of any person.

                           (aa)     Neither the Company nor any of its
         subsidiaries nor, to the Company's knowledge, any employee or agent of
         the Company or any subsidiary has made any payment of funds of the
         Company or any subsidiary or received or retained any funds in
         violation of any law, rule or regulation or of a character required to
         be disclosed in the Prospectus.


                           (bb)     The REIT has continuously been organized and
         operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a
         real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
         as amended (the "Code") for all taxable years commencing with its
         taxable year ended December 31, 1994. The REIT has filed an election to
         be taxable as a real estate investment trust for its taxable year ended
         December_31, 1994, and such election has not been terminated. The
         REIT's method of operation will permit it to continue to meet the
         requirements for taxation as a real estate investment trust under the
         Code. The REIT intends to continue to operate in a manner which would
         permit it to qualify as a real estate investment trust under the Code.

                  4.       AGREEMENTS OF THE REIT AND THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP.
The REIT and the Operating Partnership agree with the Underwriter as follows:

                           (a)      The Company will cause the Prospectus
         Supplement to be filed as required by Section 3(a) hereof (but only if
         the Underwriter has not reasonably objected thereto by notice to the
         Company after having been furnished a copy a reasonable time prior to
         filing) and will notify you promptly of such filing. The Company will
         not, during such period as the Prospectus is





                                       10



<PAGE>   11


         required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of the
         Securities by any Underwriter or dealer (the "Prospectus Delivery
         Period"), file any amendment or supplement to the Registration
         Statement or the Prospectus, unless a copy thereof shall first have
         been submitted to the Underwriter within a reasonable period of time
         prior to the filing thereof and the Underwriter shall not have objected
         thereto in good faith.

                           (b)      The Company will notify the Underwriter
         promptly, and will confirm such advice in writing, (1)_when any
         post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes
         effective, (2)_of any request by the Commission for amendments or
         supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for
         additional information, (3)_of the issuance by the Commission of any
         stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
         or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose or the threat
         thereof, (4)_of the happening of any event during the Prospectus
         Delivery Period that in the judgment of the Company makes any statement
         made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus untrue or that
         requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement or the
         Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
         circumstances in which they are made, not misleading and (5)_of receipt
         by the Company or any representative or attorney of the Company of any
         other communication from the Commission relating to the Company, the
         Registration Statement, or the Prospectus. If at any time the
         Commission shall issue any order suspending the effectiveness of the
         Registration Statement, the Company will make every reasonable effort
         to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest possible moment.

                           (c)      The Company will furnish to the Underwriter,
         upon request and without charge, two signed copies of the Registration
         Statement and of any post-effective amendment thereto, including
         financial statements and schedules, and all exhibits thereto (including
         any document filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated
         by reference into the Prospectus).

                           (d)      The Company will comply with all the
         provisions of any undertakings contained in the Registration Statement.

                           (e)      The Company will deliver to the Underwriter,
         without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus containing the
         Prospectus Supplement or any amendment or supplement thereto as the
         Underwriter may reasonably request. The Company consents to the use of
         the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by the
         Underwriter and by all dealers to whom the Securities may be sold, both
         in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities and for any
         period of time thereafter during which the Prospectus is required by
         law to be delivered in connection therewith. If during such period of
         time any event shall occur which in the judgment of the Company or
         counsel to the Underwriter should be set forth in the Prospectus in
         order to make any statement therein, in the light of the circumstances
         under which it was made, not misleading, or if it is necessary to
         supplement or amend the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will
         forthwith prepare and duly file with the Commission an appropriate
         supplement or amendment thereto, and will deliver to the Underwriter,
         without charge, such number of copies of such supplement or amendment
         to the Prospectus as the Underwriter may reasonably request. The
         Company shall not file any document under the Exchange Act before the
         termination of the offering of the Securities by the Underwriter if
         such document would be deemed to be incorporated by




                                       11



<PAGE>   12


         reference into the Prospectus which is not approved by the Underwriter
         after reasonable notice thereof.

                           (f)      Prior to any public offering of the
         Securities the Company will cooperate with the Underwriter and counsel
         to the Underwriter in connection with the registration or qualification
         of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky
         laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriter may request including,
         without limitation, jurisdictions outside of the United States;
         provided, that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to
         do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to
         take any action which would subject it to general service of process in
         any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

                           (g)      During the period of five years commencing
         on the date hereof, the Company will, upon request for such item by the
         Underwriter, furnish to the Underwriter such financial statements and
         other periodic and special reports as the Company may from time to time
         distribute generally to the holders of any class of its capital stock,
         and will, upon request for such item by the Underwriter, furnish to the
         Underwriter a copy of each annual or other report it shall be required
         to file with the Commission.

                           (h)      The Company will make generally available to
         holders of its securities as soon as may be practicable but in no event
         later than the last day of the fifteenth full calendar month following
         the end of the Company's current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement
         (which need not be audited but shall be in reasonable detail) for a
         period of 12 months beginning after the date upon which the Prospectus
         Supplement is filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, and satisfying
         the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act (including Rule 158 of the
         Rules and Regulations).

                           (i)      Whether or not the transactions contemplated
         by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the
         Company will pay, or reimburse if paid by the Underwriter, all fees,
         costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of
         the Company under this Agreement, including but not limited to fees,
         costs and expenses of or relating to (i)_the preparation, printing and
         filing of the Registration Statement and exhibits to it, the Prospectus
         and any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the
         Prospectus, (ii)_the preparation and delivery of notes representing the
         Securities, (iii)_the printing of this Agreement and any Dealer
         Agreements, (iv)_furnishing (including costs of shipping and mailing)
         such copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any
         preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, as
         may be requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of
         the Securities by the Underwriter or by dealers to whom Securities may
         be sold, (v)_filings required to be made by or on behalf of the Company
         or the Underwriter, including without limitation filings to be made by
         the Underwriter with the NASD, and the fees and disbursements and other
         charges (other than counsel for the Underwriter) in connection
         therewith and filings to be made by the Company with the Commission,
         and the fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel for the
         Company in connection therewith, (vi)_the registration or qualification
         of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky
         laws of such jurisdictions designated pursuant to Section 4(f),
         including the fees, disbursements and other reasonable charges of
         counsel to the Underwriter in connection therewith, and the preparation
         and printing of preliminary, supplemental and final blue sky memoranda,
         (vii)_counsel to the Company and any surveyors, engineers, appraisers,
         photographers, accountants and other professionals engaged by or



                                       12



<PAGE>   13


         on behalf of the Company, (viii)_the Trustee, (ix) preparation of
         slides, overheads and other presentation material to be used in any
         "road show" or other presentation to potential investors and the hotel,
         travel and other expenses of the Company's employees in connection with
         any such "road show" or presentation, and (x) Moody's Investors
         Service, Inc. ("Moody's") and Standard and Poor's Rating Services
         ("S&P" and, together with Moody's, the "Rating Agencies") in connection
         with the rating of the Securities at the request of the Company;
         provided, however, that with respect to any fees, disbursements and
         other charges of counsel for the Underwriter in connection with the
         registration and qualification of the Securities under blue sky laws
         and the preparation of blue sky memorandum, the Company shall not be
         responsible for counsel fees, disbursements and other charges in excess
         of $15,000. The filing fee paid to the NASD shall not be considered to
         be "fees, disbursements or other charges" for the purposes of this
         Section 4(i) and shall be paid by the Company.

                           (j)      If this Agreement shall be terminated by the
         Company pursuant to any of the provisions hereof (otherwise than
         pursuant to Section 8 hereof) or if for any reason the Company shall be
         unable to perform its obligations hereunder, the Company will reimburse
         the Underwriter for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees,
         disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Underwriter)
         reasonably incurred by it in connection herewith.

                           (k)      The Company will not at any time, directly
         or indirectly, take any action intended, or which might reasonably be
         expected, to cause or result in, or which will constitute,
         stabilization of the price of the Securities to facilitate the sale or
         resale of any of the Securities.

                           (l)      The Company will apply the net proceeds from
         the offering and sale of the Securities to be sold by the Company in
         the manner set forth in the Prospectus under "Use of Proceeds."

                           (m)      Unless the Board of Trustees of the REIT
         determines in its reasonable business judgment that continued
         qualification as a "real estate investment trust" under the Code is not
         in the Company's best interest, the REIT will not terminate its
         election to be taxed as a "real estate investment trust" under the
         Code, and the Company will use its best efforts to, and will continue
         to meet the requirements to, so qualify as a "real estate investment
         trust."

                           (n)      The Company will take all commercially
         reasonable action necessary to enable the Rating Agencies to provide
         their respective credit ratings of the Company, the Operating
         Partnership or the Securities, as the case may be.

                  5.       CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITER. In
addition to the execution and delivery of the Price Determination Agreement, the
obligations of the Underwriter hereunder are subject to the following
conditions:

                           (a)      The Prospectus shall have been filed as
         required by Section 3(a) and (i) no stop order suspending the
         effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and
         no proceedings for that purpose shall be pending or threatened by the
         Commission, (ii)_no order suspending the effectiveness of the
         Registration Statement or the qualification or registration of the
         Securities under the securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction
         shall be in effect and no




                                       13



<PAGE>   14


         proceeding for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened or
         contemplated by the Commission or the authorities of any such
         jurisdiction, (iii)_any request for additional information on the part
         of the staff of the Commission or any such authorities shall have been
         complied with to the satisfaction of the staff of the Commission or
         such authorities and (iv)_after the date hereof no amendment or
         supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall have
         been filed unless a copy thereof was first submitted to the Underwriter
         and the Underwriter did not object thereto in good faith.

                           (b)      Since the respective dates as of which
         information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
         (i) there shall not have been a material adverse change in the general
         affairs, business, business prospects, properties, management,
         condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of
         Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether
         or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, in
         each case other than as set forth in or contemplated by the
         Registration Statement and the Prospectus and (ii) neither the Company
         nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained any material loss or
         interference with its business or properties from fire, explosion,
         flood or other casualty, whether or not covered by insurance, or from
         any labor dispute or any court or legislative or other governmental
         action, order or decree, which is not set forth in the Registration
         Statement and the Prospectus, if in the judgment of the Underwriter any
         such development makes it impracticable or inadvisable to consummate
         the sale and delivery of the Securities by the Underwriter and at the
         public offering price.

                           (c)      Since the respective dates as of which
         information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
         there shall have been no litigation or other proceeding instituted
         against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their
         respective officers or directors or trustees, as the case may be, in
         their capacities as such, before or by any Federal, state or local
         court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other
         governmental body, domestic or foreign, in which litigation or
         proceeding it is reasonably probable that an unfavorable ruling,
         decision or finding would have a Material Adverse Effect.

                           (d)      Each of the representations and warranties
         of the REIT and the Operating Partnership contained herein shall be
         true and correct in all material respects at the Closing Date, as if
         made at the Closing Date, and all covenants and agreements contained
         herein to be performed on the part of the Company and all conditions
         contained herein to be fulfilled or complied with by the Company at or
         prior to the Closing Date, shall have been duly performed, fulfilled or
         complied with.

                           (e)      Subsequent to the execution and delivery of
         this Underwriting Agreement and prior to the Closing Date, there shall
         not have occurred any downgrading in the rating accorded the Securities
         or any other debt securities of the Company by any Rating Agency nor
         shall any notice have been given to the Company of (i) any intended or
         potential downgrading by any Rating Agency in such securities, or (ii)
         any review or possible change by any Rating Agency that does not
         indicate a stable, positive or improving rating accorded such
         securities.

                           (f)      The Underwriter shall have received one or
         more opinions, dated the Closing Date and satisfactory in form and
         substance to the Underwriter's counsel, from Goodwin, Procter & Hoar
         LLP, counsel to the Company, (i) to the effect set forth in EXHIBIT_B 
         and (ii)



                                       14



<PAGE>   15


         concerning the tax matters set forth below:

                                    (i)      Commencing with the Company's first
                  taxable year ended December 31, 1994, the Company has been
                  organized in conformity with the requirements for
                  qualification as a REIT under the Code, and the Company's
                  method of operation, as described in the Prospectus and in
                  company certificates delivered to such counsel, will enable it
                  to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and
                  taxation as a REIT under the Code; and

                                    (ii)     Subject to a discussion of the
                  Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, which may be included in such
                  opinion, the statements in the Prospectus Supplement and the
                  Prospectus under the captions "Certain Federal Income Tax
                  Consequences" and "Federal Income Tax Considerations," to the
                  extent such information constitutes matters of law, summaries
                  of legal matters, or legal conclusions, have been reviewed by
                  such counsel and are accurate in all material respects as of
                  the date of such opinion.

                           (g)      The Underwriter shall have received an
         opinion, dated the Closing Date, from O'Melveny & Myers LLP,
         Underwriter's counsel, with respect to the Registration Statement, the
         Prospectus and this Agreement, which opinion shall be satisfactory in
         all respects to the Underwriter.

                           (h)      Concurrently with the execution and delivery
         of this Agreement, the Accountants shall have furnished to the
         Underwriter a letter, dated the date of its delivery, addressed to the
         Underwriter and in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter,
         confirming that they are independent accountants with respect to the
         Company as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations and with
         respect to the financial and other statistical and numerical
         information contained in the Registration Statement or incorporated by
         reference therein. At the Closing Date, the Accountants shall have
         furnished to the Underwriter a letter, dated the date of its delivery,
         which shall confirm, on the basis of a review in accordance with the
         procedures set forth in the letter from the Accountants, that nothing
         has come to their attention during the period from the date of the
         letter referred to in the prior sentence to a date (specified in the
         letter) not more than three days prior to the Closing Date which would
         require any change in their letter dated the date hereof if it were
         required to be dated and delivered at the Closing Date.

                           (i)      At the Closing Date, there shall be
         furnished to the Underwriter an accurate certificate, dated the date of
         its delivery, signed by each of the Chief Executive Officer and the
         Chief Financial Officer of each of (a) Gables GP on behalf of the
         Operating Partnership and (b) the REIT, in form and substance
         satisfactory to the Underwriter, to the effect that:

                                    (i)      The Prospectus has been filed as
                  required by Section 3(a) and no stop order suspending the
                  effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act or
                  the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction has been issued and, to
                  the best of their knowledge, information and belief, no
                  proceeding for such purpose is pending before or threatened or
                  contemplated by the Commission or the authorities of any such
                  jurisdiction.

                                    (ii)     Any request for additional
                  information on the part of the staff of the




                                       15



<PAGE>   16


                  Commission or any such authorities has been complied with to
                  the satisfaction of the staff of the Commission or such
                  authorities.

                                    (iii)    Each signer of such certificate has
                  carefully examined the Registration Statement and the
                  Prospectus (including any documents filed under the Exchange
                  Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the
                  Prospectus) and (A) believes that as of the date of such
                  certificate, such documents are true and correct in all
                  material respects and do not omit to state a material fact
                  required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
                  the statements therein not untrue or misleading and (B) does
                  not know of any event that has occurred as a result of which
                  it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order
                  to make the statements therein not untrue or misleading in any
                  material respect and there has been no document required to be
                  filed under the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Rules and
                  Regulations that upon such filing would be deemed to be
                  incorporated by reference into the Prospectus that has not
                  been so filed.

                                    (iv)     Each of the representations and
                  warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement were,
                  when originally made, and are, at the time such certificate is
                  delivered, true and correct in all material respects.

                                    (v)      Each of the covenants required to
                  be performed by the Company herein on or prior to the delivery
                  of such certificate has been duly, timely and fully performed
                  and each condition herein required to be complied with by the
                  Company on or prior to the date of such certificate has been
                  duly, timely and fully complied with.

                                    (vi)     Since the execution and delivery of
                  the Underwriting Agreement and prior to the Closing Date,
                  there has not occurred any downgrading in the rating accorded
                  the Securities or any other debt securities of the Company by
                  any Rating Agency nor has any notice been given to the Company
                  of (A) any intended or potential downgrading by any Rating
                  Agency in such securities, or (B) any review or possible
                  change by any Rating Agency that does not indicate a stable,
                  positive or improving rating accorded such securities.

                           (j)      The Securities shall be qualified for sale
         in such states as the Underwriter may reasonably request, each such
         qualification shall be in effect and not subject to any stop order or
         other proceeding on the Closing Date.

                           (k)      The Company shall have furnished to the
         Underwriter such certificates, including, without limitation, one or
         more certificates of the Secretary of the REIT and the Secretary of
         Gables GP on behalf of the Operating Partnership, in addition to those
         otherwise specifically mentioned herein, as the Underwriter may have
         reasonably requested as to the accuracy and completeness at the Closing
         Date of any statement in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
         or any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be
         incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, as to the accuracy at
         the Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the Company
         herein as to the performance by the Company of its obligations
         hereunder or as to the fulfillment of the conditions concurrent and
         precedent to the obligations hereunder of the Underwriter.



                                       16



<PAGE>   17


                  6.       INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

                           (a)      The Operating Partnership and the REIT will
         indemnify and hold the Underwriter, its directors, officers, employees
         and agents and each person, if any, who controls it within the meaning
         of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act harmless
         from and against any and all losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and
         damages (including, but not limited to, any and all investigative,
         legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and
         any and all amounts paid in settlement of, any action, suit or
         proceeding between any of the indemnified parties and any indemnifying
         parties or between any indemnified party and any third party, or
         otherwise, or any claim asserted), as and when incurred, to which the
         Underwriter, or any such person may become subject under the Act, the
         Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at
         common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, liabilities,
         expenses or damages arise out of or are based on (i) any untrue
         statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
         any preliminary prospectus, the Registration Statement or the
         Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement
         or the Prospectus or in any documents filed under the Exchange Act and
         deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, or in any
         application or other document executed by or on behalf of the Company
         or based on written information furnished by or on behalf of the
         Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Securities
         under the securities or blue sky laws thereof or filed with the
         Commission, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in such
         document a material fact required to be stated in it or necessary to
         make the statements in it, in the light of the circumstances under
         which they were made, not misleading or (iii) any act or failure to act
         or any alleged act or failure to act by the Underwriter in connection
         with, or relating in any manner to, the Securities or the offering
         contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to in
         any loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action arising out of or
         based upon matters covered by clause (i) or (ii) above (provided that
         the Company shall not be liable under this clause (iii) to the extent
         it is finally judicially determined by a court of competent
         jurisdiction that such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or
         action resulted directly from any such acts or failures to act
         undertaken or omitted to be taken by the Underwriter through its gross
         negligence or willful misconduct); provided, that the Company will not
         be liable to the extent that such loss, claim, damage, liability,
         expense or action arises from the sale of the Securities in the public
         offering to any person by the Underwriter and is based on an untrue
         statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in
         reliance on and in conformity with information relating to the
         Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Underwriter
         expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
         prospectus or the Prospectus. This indemnity agreement will be in
         addition to any liability that the Operating Partnership or the REIT
         might otherwise have.

                           (b)      The Underwriter will indemnify and hold
         harmless the Operating Partnership, the REIT, each person, if any, who
         controls the Operating Partnership or the REIT within the meaning of
         Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, each trustee
         of the REIT and each officer of the REIT or the Operating Partnership
         who signs the Registration Statement to the same extent as the
         foregoing indemnity from the Operating Partnership and the REIT to the
         Underwriter, but only insofar as losses, claims, damages, liabilities,
         expenses or actions arise out of or are based on any untrue statement
         or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance on
         and in conformity with information relating to the Underwriter
         furnished in writing to the Company by the Underwriter expressly for
         use in the Registration Statement or the




                                       17



<PAGE>   18


         Prospectus. This indemnity will be in addition to any liability that
         the Underwriter might otherwise have; provided, however, that in no
         case shall the Underwriter be liable or responsible for any amount in
         excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
         Underwriter.

                           (c)      Any party that proposes to assert the right
         to be indemnified under this Section 6 will, promptly after receipt of
         notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of
         which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties
         under this Section 6, notify each such indemnifying party of the
         commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but
         the omission so to notify such indemnifying party will not relieve it
         from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the
         foregoing provisions of this Section_6 unless, and only to the extent
         that, such omission results in the forfeiture of substantive rights or
         defenses by the indemnifying party. If any such action is brought
         against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of
         its commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled to
         participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written
         notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the
         commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any
         other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of
         the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
         party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified
         party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party
         will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other
         expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs
         of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in
         connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right
         to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses
         and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such
         indemnified party unless (i) the employment of counsel by the
         indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying
         party, (ii) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on
         advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or
         other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to
         those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) a conflict or
         potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the
         indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying
         party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to
         direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party)
         or (iv) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel to
         assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after
         receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which
         cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel
         will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is
         understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in
         connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
         jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and
         other charges of more than one additional firm admitted to practice in
         such jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or
         parties. All such fees, disbursements and other charges will be
         reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly as they are incurred. An
         indemnifying party will not be liable for any settlement of any action
         or claim effected without its written consent (which consent will not
         be unreasonably withheld); provided, however, no indemnifying party
         shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party,
         settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any
         pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the
         matters contemplated by this Section 6 (whether or not any indemnified
         party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or
         consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party
         from all liability arising or that may arise out of such claim, action
         or proceeding.



                                       18



<PAGE>   19


                           (d)      In order to provide for just and equitable
         contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for
         in the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 6 is applicable in
         accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable
         from the Company or the Underwriter, the Company and the Underwriter
         will contribute to the total losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and
         damages (including any investigative, legal and other expenses
         reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in
         settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted,
         but after deducting any contribution received by the Company from
         persons other than the Underwriter, such as persons who control the
         Company within the meaning of the Act, officers of the Company who
         signed the Registration Statement and trustees of the Company, who also
         may be liable for contribution) to which the Company and the
         Underwriter may be subject in such proportion as shall be appropriate
         to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one
         hand and the Underwriter on the other. The relative benefits received
         by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other shall
         be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from
         the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear
         to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
         Underwriter, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page
         of the Prospectus. If, but only if, the allocation provided by the
         foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation
         of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to
         reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing
         sentence but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand,
         and the Underwriter, on the other, with respect to the statements or
         omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or
         damage, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant
         equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative
         fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged
         untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to
         state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or
         the Underwriter, the intent of the parties and their relative
         knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
         such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriter agree that
         it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this
         Section 6(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any
         other method of allocation which does not take into account the
         equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable
         by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability,
         expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in
         this Section 6(d) shall be deemed to include, for purpose of this
         Section 6(d), 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(d), the Underwriter shall not be required to contribute any amount in
         excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions received by it and
         no person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
         meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) will be entitled to contribution
         from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
         misrepresentation. The Underwriter's obligations to contribute as
         provided in this Section 6(d) are several in proportion to their
         respective underwriting obligations and not joint. For purposes of this
         Section 6(d), any person who controls a party to this Agreement within
         the meaning of the Act will have the same rights to contribution as
         that party, and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration
         Statement will have the same rights to contribution as the Company,
         subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to
         contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any
         action against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution
         may be made under this Section 6(d), will notify any such party or
         parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission so to
         notify will not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may
         be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this
         Section



                                       19



<PAGE>   20


         6(d). No party will be liable for contribution with respect to any
         action or claim settled without its written consent (which consent will
         not be unreasonably withheld).

                           (e)      The indemnity and contribution agreements
         contained in this Section 6 and the representations and warranties of
         the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in
         full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on
         behalf of the Underwriter, (ii) acceptance of the Securities and
         payment therefor or (iii) any termination of this Agreement.

                  7.       REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE DELIVERY.
All representations, warranties, agreements and covenants of the Company herein
or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto, and the agreements of the
Underwriter contained in Section 6 hereof, shall remain operative and in full
force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the
Underwriter or any controlling persons, or the Company or any of its officers,
trustees, or any controlling persons, and shall survive (i) termination of this
Agreement and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Securities hereunder.

                  8.       [Reserved]

                  9.       TERMINATION. The obligations of the Underwriter under
this Agreement may be terminated at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, by
notice to the Company from the Underwriter, without liability on the part of the
Underwriter to the Company, if, prior to delivery and payment for the
Securities, in the sole judgment of the Underwriter, (i) trading in any of the
equity securities of the Company shall have been suspended by the Commission, by
an exchange that lists such equity securities or by the National Association of
Securities Dealers Automated Quotation National Market System, (ii) trading in
securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or
limited or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on
such exchange, or additional material governmental restrictions, not in force on
the date of this Agreement, shall have been imposed upon trading in securities
generally by such exchange or by order of the Commission or any court or other
governmental authority, (iii) a general banking moratorium shall have been
declared by either Federal or New York State authorities or (iv) any material
adverse change in the financial or securities markets in the United States or in
political, financial or economic conditions in the United States or any outbreak
or material escalation of hostilities or declaration by the United States of a
national emergency or war or other calamity or crisis shall have occurred the
effect of any of which is such as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to
market the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the
Prospectus.

                  10.      NOTICES. Notice given pursuant to any of the
provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and, unless otherwise
specified, shall be mailed or delivered (a) if to the Company, at the office of
the Company, 2859 Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30339, Attention: Marcus E.
Bromley, or (b) if to the Underwriter, to the offices of PaineWebber
Incorporated, 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New_York, New York 10019, Attention:
Corporate Real Estate Department. Any such notice shall be effective only upon
receipt. Any notice under Section 10 hereof may be made by telex, facsimile or
telephone, but if so made shall be subsequently confirmed in writing.

                  11.      PARTIES. This Agreement has been and is made solely
for the benefit of the Underwriter, the Operating Partnership and the REIT and
of the controlling persons, directors, trustees, and officers referred to in
Section 6, and their respective successors and assigns, and no other person
shall



                                       20



<PAGE>   21


acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term
"successors and assigns" as used in this Agreement shall not include a
purchaser, as such purchaser, of Securities from the Underwriter.

                  12.      APPLICABLE LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  13.      COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be signed in two or
more counterparts with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto
were upon the same instrument.

                  14.      SEVERABILITY. In case any provision in this Agreement
shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby.

                  15.      WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY. The Operating Partnership,
the REIT and the Underwriter each hereby irrevocably waive any right they may
have to a trial by jury in respect of any claim based upon or arising out of
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.




                                        [Signature page follows.]





                                       21



<PAGE>   22


         Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
         among the REIT, the Operating Partnership and the Underwriter.


                                        Very truly yours,



                                        GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                        By:  GABLES GP, INC.,
                                             General Partner



                                        By: /s/ Marvin R. Banks, Jr.
                                            ----------------------------------- 
                                            Marvin R. Banks, Jr.,
                                            Chief Financial Officer



                                        GABLES RESIDENTIAL TRUST



                                        By: /s/ Marvin R. Banks, Jr.
                                            ----------------------------------- 
                                            Marvin R. Banks, Jr.,
                                            Chief Financial Officer



                 Confirmed as of the date first above mentioned:

                  PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED


                  By: /s/ Frederick T. Caven, Jr.
                      --------------------------------------
                      Frederick T. Caven, Jr.
                      Managing Director




                                       22



<PAGE>   23


                                   SCHEDULE 1



                            UNDERWRITING COMMITMENTS



<TABLE>
<S>                                               <C>

                                                       Aggregate Principal
Underwriter                                            Amount of Securities
                                                          to be Purchased

===============================================    =============================
PaineWebber Incorporated.......................              15,000,000

                                                   =============================
         Total.................................             $15,000,000

                                                   =============================
</TABLE>




                                       23



<PAGE>   24


                                   SCHEDULE 2



                          DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES AND
                               PRICING INFORMATION



TITLE OF SECURITIES:                6.600% Senior Notes due 2001



AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:         $15,000,000



MATURITY DATE:                      October 1, 2001



INTEREST RATE:                      6.600% per annum from October 1, 1998



COUPON PAYMENT DATES:               April 1 and October 1



PRICE TO PUBLIC:                    100.00% plus accrued interest from
                                    October 1, 1998 to the Delivery Date



UNDERWRITING DISCOUNT:              0.350%



NET PRICE TO OPERATING
   PARTNERSHIP:                     99.650% plus accrued interest from 
                                    October 1, 1998 to the Delivery Date
                                    
ACCRUED INTEREST FROM
   OCTOBER 1, 1998 TO THE
   DELIVERY DATE:                   $19,250.00



GROSS PROCEEDS TO BE PAID
   TO THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP:    $14,947,500.00 plus accrued interest from 
                                    October 1, 1998 to the Delivery Date






                                       24

<PAGE>   25


DELIVERY DATE AND TIME:             Thursday, October 8, 1998, 10:00 a.m. 
                                    (New York City time)





                                       25



<PAGE>   26


                                   SCHEDULE 3

                                  SUBSIDIARIES



Gables Realty Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership
Gables-Tennessee Properties, a Tennessee general partnership 
Gables GP, Inc., a Texas corporation 
Gables East Construction, Inc., a Georgia corporation 
East Apartment Management, Inc., a Georgia corporation 
Gables Central Construction, Inc., a Texas corporation 
Central Apartment Management, Inc., a Texas corporation 
Pin Oak Green, a Texas general partnership 
Pin Oak Park Apartments, a Texas general partnership 
Candlewood Gen Par, Inc., a Georgia corporation
Candlewood-Indian Creek Limited Partnership, a Georgia limited partnership 
GRT Villas Gen Par, Inc. (F.K.A. Candle Creek, Inc.), a Georgia corporation 
GRT Villas Limited Partnership, a Texas limited partnership 
Boca Place Associates, Ltd., a Florida limited partnership 
Boynton Beach I Limited Partnership, a Florida limited partnership 
CM Bay Associates, a Florida general partnership
Hampton Lakes Associates, a Florida general partnership 
Hampton Lakes II Associates, a Florida general partnership 
Hampton Place Joint Venture, a Florida general partnership 
Kings Colony Associates, Ltd., a Florida limited partnership
Mizner I Limited Partnership, a Florida limited partnership 
San Michele Joint Venture, a Florida general partnership 
San Remo Limited Partnership, a Florida limited partnership 
TCRDAD Vinings at Boynton Beach II Limited Partnership, a Florida limited 
partnership 
TCRDAD Wellington Limited Partnership, a Florida limited partnership 
Town Colony Associates, a Florida general partnership 
Town Colony II Associates, a Florida general partnership 
Gables Lions Head Limited Partnership, a Texas limited partnership 
Gables Rivercrest II Limited Partnership, a Texas limited partnership




                                       26



<PAGE>   27


                                    EXHIBIT_A



              INFORMATION IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS
                          FURNISHED BY THE UNDERWRITER



                  The following information appearing in the Prospectus has been
furnished by the Underwriter expressly for use in the preparation of the
Prospectus:

                  1.       The names of the Underwriter.

                  2.       The following information contained in the Prospectus
                           Supplement under the heading "Underwriting":

                           a.       The information in the second paragraph.







                                       27



<PAGE>   28


                                    EXHIBIT_B



                           OPINION OF COMPANY COUNSEL



         1.       The Registration Statement has been declared effective under
the 1933 Act. The Prospectus has been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424 under the 1933 Act. To the best of our knowledge (based solely on an oral
representation of a member of the Commission's staff), no stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933
Act and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or threatened by the
Commission.

         2.       Each part of the Registration Statement, when such part became
effective, and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, on the
date of filing thereof with the Commission and as of the date hereof, complied
as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and
the rules and regulations thereunder (other than (i) the financial statements
and schedules and other financial and statistical information and data included
therein or omitted therefrom, and (ii) any documents incorporated by reference
into the Registration Statement, as to which we express no opinion) it being
understood that, in passing upon compliance as to the form of the Registration
Statement, we assume that the statements made therein are correct and complete.

         3.       The descriptions in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus (other than the documents incorporated by reference and other than
with respect to the matters in the Prospectus under the captions "Federal Income
Tax Considerations," for which reference is made to our separate opinion
delivered to you this day) of statutes are accurate in all material respects and
fairly present the information required to be disclosed therein. We do not know
of any statutes or legal or governmental proceedings required to be described in
the Prospectus that are not described as required, or of any contracts or
documents of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement
or Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are
not so described or filed.

         4.       Neither the REIT nor the Operating Partnership (after giving
effect to the sale of the Securities) is required to be registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

         5.       The REIT has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
real estate investment trust in good standing under the laws of the State of
Maryland. Each of the REIT and the Operating Partnership has full power and
authority to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus.

         6.       The Operating Partnership has been duly formed and is validly
existing as a limited partnership in good standing under the laws of the State
of Delaware. All of the issued and outstanding partnership interests of the
Operating Partnership have been duly authorized and are validly issued.

         7.       Each Subsidiary has been duly organized and, except for
Subsidiaries which are general partnerships, is validly existing as a limited
partnership or corporation, as the case may be, in good standing under the laws
of its state of organization or formation as set forth on EXHIBIT 1 hereto.




                                       28




<PAGE>   29


         8.       Except as set forth in EXHIBIT 2 hereto, the REIT, directly or
through Subsidiaries, is the sole record owner of all of the capital stock or
partnership interests, as the case may be, of each Subsidiary.

         9.       Each of the Subsidiaries has corporate or partnership power,
as the case may be, and authority to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus.

         10.      Each of the Operating Partnership and the Subsidiaries,
respectively, is duly qualified or registered as a foreign corporation or
foreign partnership, as the case may be, to transact business and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction listed in EXHIBIT 1 hereto.

         11.      All of the outstanding shares of the Company identified in the
Prospectus have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and conform to the description thereof in the Prospectus.

         12.      (i)      The Securities have been duly authorized, executed
         and delivered by the Operating Partnership and, when duly authenticated
         in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered to and paid
         for by the Underwriter in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting
         Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company
         entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture and enforceable
         against the Operating Partnership in accordance with their terms;

                  (ii)     the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and
         delivered by the Operating Partnership and constitutes a valid and
         binding agreement of the Operating Partnership enforceable against the
         Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms;

                  (iii)    the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
         Indenture Act;

                  (iv)     the Indenture and the Securities conform in all
         material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Registration
         Statement and the Prospectus.

         13.      The REIT and the Operating Partnership have full power and
authority to enter into the Underwriting Agreement, and the Underwriting
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the REIT
and the Operating Partnership. To our knowledge, the issuance and sale of the
Securities to the Underwriter on the terms contemplated in the Underwriting
Agreement will not result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or
encumbrance upon any of the assets of the REIT, the Operating Partnership, or
any of the Subsidiaries, pursuant to the terms or provisions of, or result in a
breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a
default or result in the acceleration of any obligation under, (i) the
Declaration of Trust or Bylaws of the REIT, (ii) the articles or certificate of
incorporation, partnership agreement or bylaws of any of the Subsidiaries, (iii)
the limited partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership, (iv) any
agreement or instrument filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and
incorporated therein by reference to which the REIT, the Operating Partnership
or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by or pursuant to which any of them or
their respective properties is bound, affected or financed, or (v) any statute,
rule or regulation or judgment, ruling, decree or order, known to us, of any
court or other governmental agency or body applicable to the business or
properties of the REIT, the Operating Partnership or any of the Subsidiaries
(except that (i) we express no opinion as to the securities or blue sky laws of
any jurisdiction other than the United States and (ii) insofar as compliance
with



                                       29



<PAGE>   30


the federal securities laws of the United States is concerned, our opinions are
limited to numbered paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4) and (14) and (iii) our opinion
in this paragraph (13) should not be interpreted to address the disclosure
requirements of the securities laws, for which we make reference to our
statements following numbered paragraph (14) below), where such violation or
default, individually or in the aggregate, might have a material adverse effect
on the business, properties, business prospects, condition (financial or
otherwise) or results of operations of the REIT, the Operating Partnership and
the Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

         14.      To our knowledge, no consent, approval, authorization or order
of, or filing with, any court or governmental agency or body is required in
connection with the issuance or sale of the Securities by the Company, except
(i) such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, or (ii) such as may be required under state securities laws
or the bylaws or rules of the NASD in connection with the purchase and
distribution of the Securities by the Underwriter.

                  The limitations inherent in the independent verification of
factual matters and the character of determinations involved in the registration
process are such that we are not passing upon and do not assume any
responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements
contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and we make no
representation that we have independently verified the accuracy, completeness or
fairness of such statements. Without limiting the foregoing, we assume no
responsibility for, and have not independently verified, the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of the financial statements or notes thereto, financial
schedules and other financial and statistical data incorporated by reference
into the Registration Statement, and we have not examined the accounting,
financial or statistical records from which such statements and notes, schedules
and data are derived. However, in the course of our acting as counsel to the
Company in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and the public offering of the Securities we participated in
conferences and telephone conversations with representatives of the Company,
Arthur Andersen LLP, accountants for the Company, your representatives and
representatives of O'Melveny & Myers LLP, your counsel, during which conferences
and conversations the contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
and related matters were discussed. In addition, we reviewed certain documents
made available to us by the Company or otherwise in our possession.

                  Based on our participation in the above-mentioned conferences
and conversations, our review of the documents described above and our
understanding of applicable law, we advise you that:

         (a)      No facts have come to our attention which cause us to believe
                  that the Registration Statement (excluding the financial
                  statements and notes thereto, financial schedules and other
                  financial or statistical information and data included or
                  incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom and the
                  Trustee's Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form
                  T-1 (the "T-1") incorporated by reference therein, as to which
                  we make no statement), at the time it became effective,
                  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; and

         (b)      No facts have come to our attention which cause us to believe
                  that the Prospectus (excluding the financial statements and
                  notes thereto, financial schedules and other financial or
                  statistical information and data included or incorporated by
                  reference





                                       30



<PAGE>   31

                  therein or omitted therefrom and the T-1, as to which we make
                  no statement), as of its date or the date hereof, contained or
                  contains 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 light of the circumstances under which
                  they were made, not misleading.





                                      31





<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------






                        GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                     ISSUER

                                       to

                            FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK

                                     TRUSTEE





                            -------------------------


                          Supplemental Indenture No. 3

                         Dated as of October 8, 1998


                            -------------------------





                                   $15,000,000
                                       of
                         6.60% Senior Notes Due 2001



<PAGE>   2
         SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE NO. 3, dated as of October 8, 1998 (the
"Supplemental Indenture"), between GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a limited
partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the
"Partnership"), and FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, a national banking association,
as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee").

                           RECITALS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

         The Partnership has heretofore delivered to the Trustee an Indenture
dated as of March 23, 1998, as supplemented by Supplemental Indenture No.1,
dated as of March 23, 1998, and Supplemental Indenture No. 2, dated as of
September 30, 1998 (the "Senior Indenture"), a form of which has been filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, as an exhibit to the Partnership's Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (Registration No. 333-30093), providing for the issuance by the Partnership
from time to time of its senior debt securities evidencing its unsecured and
unsubordinated indebtedness (the "Securities").

         Section 301 of the Senior Indenture provides for various matters with
respect to any series of Securities issued under the Senior Indenture to be
established in an indenture supplemental to the Senior Indenture.

         Section 901(7) of the Senior Indenture provides for the Partnership and
the Trustee to enter into an indenture supplemental to the Senior Indenture to
establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as provided by Sections
201 and 301 of the Senior Indenture.

         The Board of Directors of Gables GP, Inc., the general partner of the
Partnership, has duly adopted resolutions authorizing the Partnership to execute
and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

         All the conditions and requirements necessary to make this Supplemental
Indenture, when duly executed and delivered, a valid and binding agreement in
accordance with its terms and for the purposes herein expressed, have been
performed and fulfilled.

             NOW, THEREFORE, THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

         For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the series
of Securities provided for herein by the Holders thereof, it is mutually
covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of
Securities of such series, as follows:

<PAGE>   3
                                   ARTICLE ONE

                    RELATION TO SENIOR INDENTURE; DEFINITIONS



         SECTION 1.1. RELATION TO SENIOR INDENTURE.

         This Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Senior
Indenture.

         SECTION 1.2. DEFINITIONS.

         For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise
expressly provided for or unless the context otherwise requires:

         (1)   Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the
     respective meanings assigned to them in the Senior Indenture; and

         (2)   All references herein to Articles and Sections, unless otherwise
     specified, refer to the corresponding Articles and Sections of this
     Supplemental Indenture.

         "Acquired Debt" means Debt of a Person (i) existing at the time such
Person becomes a Subsidiary or (ii) assumed in connection with the acquisition
of assets from such Person, in each case, other than Debt incurred in connection
with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Subsidiary or such
acquisition. Acquired Debt shall be deemed to be incurred on the date of the
related acquisition of assets from any Person or the date the acquired Person
becomes a Subsidiary.

         "Adjusted Total Assets" as of any date means the sum of (i) the amount
determined by multiplying the price at which the Common Shares of Gables were
offered in the initial public offering (the "IPO") of Common Shares of Gables by
the sum of (A) the Common Shares issued in the IPO and (B) the Units of the
Partnership not held by Gables that were issued in connection with the IPO, (ii)
the principal amount of outstanding Debt of the Partnership immediately
following the IPO and (iii) the purchase price or cost of any real estate assets
or mortgages receivable (or interests therein) acquired (including the value of
any Units issued in connection therewith) or developed after the IPO and the
amount of any securities offering proceeds and other proceeds of Debt received
after the IPO (to the extent such proceeds were not used to acquire real estate
assets or mortgages receivable or used to reduce Debt), adjusted for the
proceeds of any real estate assets disposed of by the Partnership. This
definition of "Adjusted Total Assets" values the assets owned by the Partnership
at the time of the IPO at the market capitalization of the Partnership at that
time, which the Partnership believes




                                       2
<PAGE>   4
to be a more appropriate measure of the value of those assets than undepreciated
book value, which reflects their pre-IPO cost before accumulated depreciation.

         "Annual Debt Service Charge" as of any date means the amount of any
interest expensed during the four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently
ended prior to such date.

         "Common Shares" mean the common shares of beneficial interest, par
value $0.01 per share, of Gables.

         "Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service" for any period means
Consolidated Net Income of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries plus amounts
which have been deducted for: (i) interest on Debt of the Partnership and its
Subsidiaries, (ii) provision for taxes of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries
based on income, (iii) amortization of debt discount, (iv) provisions for gains
and losses on properties, (v) depreciation and amortization, (vi) the effect of
any noncash charge resulting from a change in accounting principles in
determining Consolidated Net Income for such period and (vii) amortization of
deferred charges.

         "Consolidated Net Income" for any period means the amount of net income
(or loss) of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries for such period determined on
a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

         "Corporate Trust Office", including for purposes of the Place of
Payment provisions of Sections 305 and 1002 of the Senior Indenture, means the
office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust
business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is
located at 999 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309.

         "Debt" of the Partnership or any Subsidiary means any indebtedness of
the Partnership or any Subsidiary, whether or not contingent, in respect of (i)
borrowed money evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments,
(ii) indebtedness secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, encumbrance or
any security interest existing on property owned by the Partnership or any
Subsidiary, (iii) reimbursement obligations in connection with any letters of
credit actually issued or amounts representing the balance deferred and unpaid
of the purchase price of any property except any such balance that constitutes
an accrued expense or trade payable or (iv) any lease of property by the
Partnership or any Subsidiary as lessee which is reflected on the Partnership's
consolidated balance sheet as a capitalized lease in accordance with GAAP; in
the case of items of indebtedness incurred under (i) through (iii) above to the
extent that any such items (other than letters of credit) would appear as a
liability on the Partnership's consolidated balance sheet in accordance with
GAAP; and also includes, to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of
the Partnership or any Subsidiary to be liable




                                       3
<PAGE>   5
for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise (other than for purposes of
collection in the ordinary course of business), indebtedness of another Person
(other than the Partnership or any Subsidiary).

         "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Commission.

         "Gables" mean Gables Residential Trust, a Maryland real estate
investment trust.

         "Make-Whole Amount" means, in connection with any optional redemption
or accelerated payment of any Note, the excess, if any, of (i) the aggregate
present value as of the date of such redemption or accelerated payment of each
dollar of principal being redeemed or paid and the amount of interest (exclusive
of interest accrued to the date of redemption or accelerated payment) that would
have been payable in respect of such dollar if such redemption or accelerated
payment had not been made, determined by discounting, on a semi-annual basis,
such principal and interest at the Reinvestment Rate (determined on the third
Business Day preceding the date such notice of redemption is given or
declaration of acceleration is made) from the respective dates on which such
principal and interest would have been payable if such redemption or accelerated
payment had not been made, over (ii) the aggregate principal amount of the Notes
being re deemed or paid. Any Make-Whole Amount shall be determined by the
Partnership, when owing, in an Officers' Certificate to be filed with the
Trustee, which certificate shall set out the computation of such Make Whole
Amount.

         "Management Companies" means certain corporations, of which the
Partnership owns 100% of the nonvoting stock and 1% of the voting stock, which
do not qualify as "qualified REIT subsidiaries" under the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended.

         "Notes" has the meaning specified in Section 2.1 hereof.

         "Reinvestment Rate" means the yield on Treasury securities at a
constant maturity corresponding to the remaining life (as of the date of
redemption, and rounded to the nearest month) to stated maturity of the
principal being redeemed (the "Treasury Yield"), plus 0.25%. For purposes
hereof, the Treasury Yield shall be equal to the arithmetic mean of the yields
published in the Statistical Release (as defined below) under the heading "Week
Ending" for the "U.S. Government Securities--Treasury Constant Maturities" with
a maturity equal to such remaining life; provided, that if no published maturity
exactly corresponds to such remaining life, then the Treasury Yield shall be
interpolated or extrapolated on a straight-line basis from the arithmetic means
of the yields for the next shortest




                                       4
<PAGE>   6
and next longest published maturities. For purposes of calculating the
Reinvestment Rate, the most recent Statistical Release published prior to the
date of determination of the Make-Whole Amount shall be used. If the format or
content of the Statistical Release changes in a manner that precludes
determination of the Treasury Yield in the above manner, then the Treasury Yield
shall be determined in the manner that most closely approximates the above
manner, as reasonably determined by the Partnership.

         "Statistical Release" means the statistical release designated
"H.15(519)" or any successor publication which is published weekly by the
Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United
States government securities adjusted to constant maturities or, if such
statistical release is not published at the time of any determination of the
Make-Whole Amount, then such other reasonably comparable index which shall be
designated by the Partnership.

         "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or
other entity of which a majority of (i) the voting power of the voting equity
securities or (ii) the outstanding equity interests of which are owned,
directly or indirectly, by such Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"voting equity securi ties" means equity securities having voting power for the
election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class
of security has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

         "Unencumbered Total Asset Value" as of any date means the sum of (i)
the portion of Adjusted Total Assets allocable to the Partnership's real estate
assets and (ii) the value of all other assets of the Partnership and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP (but
excluding intangibles and accounts receivable), in each case which are
unencumbered by any mortgage, lien, charge, pledge or security interest.

         "Units" means units of limited partnership of the Partnership.




                                       5
<PAGE>   7
                                   ARTICLE TWO

                                    THE NOTES


         SECTION 2.1. TITLE OF THE SECURITIES.

         There shall be a series of Securities designated the "6.60% Senior
Notes Due 2001" (the "Notes").

         SECTION 2.2. LIMITATION ON AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT.

         The aggregate principal amount of the Notes shall be limited to
$15,000,000, and, except as provided in this Section and in Section 306 of the
Senior Indenture, the Partnership shall not execute and the Trustee shall not
authenticate or deliver Notes in excess of such aggregate principal amount.

         Nothing contained in this Section 2.2 or elsewhere in this Supplemental
Indenture, or in the Notes, is intended to or shall limit execution by the
Partnership or authentication or delivery by the Trustee of Notes under the
circumstances contemplated by Sections 303, 304, 305, 306, 906, 1107 and 1305
of the Senior Indenture.

         SECTION 2.3. INTEREST AND INTEREST RATES; MATURITY DATE OF NOTES.

         The Notes will bear interest at 6.60% per annum from October 1, 1998 or
from the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date (as defined below) to which
interest has been paid, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October
1 of each year, commencing April 1, 1999 (each, an "Interest Payment Date"), to
the persons (the "Holders") in whose name the applicable Notes are registered in
the Security Register at the close of business 15 calendar days prior to such
Interest Payment Date, i.e., March 15 and September 15, respectively (regardless
of whether such day is a Business Day, as defined below), as the case may be
(each, a "Regular Record Date"). Interest on the Notes will be computed on the
basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Any interest not punctually
paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date with respect to a Note
("Defaulted Interest") will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the
applicable Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the person in whose
name such Note is registered at the close of business on a special record date
(the "Special Record Date") for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be
fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holder of such Note
not less than ten days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any
time in any other lawful manner, as more particularly described in the
Indenture.




                                       6
<PAGE>   8
         If any Interest Payment Date or Maturity falls on a day that is not a
Business Day, the required payment shall be on the next Business Day as if it
were made on the date such payment was due and no interest shall accrue on the
amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date or
Maturity, as the case may be.

         The Notes will mature on October 1, 2001.

         SECTION 2.4. LIMITATIONS ON INCURRENCE OF DEBT.

         (a)   The Partnership will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to,
incur any Debt, other than intercompany Debt (representing Debt to which the
only parties are Gables, any of its Subsidiaries, the Partnership or the
Management Companies, but only so long as such Debt is held solely by any of the
foregoing), if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such
additional Debt and the application of the proceeds thereof, the aggregate
principal amount of all outstand ing Debt of the Partnership and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP is
greater than 60% of the sum of (without duplication) (i) the Partnership's
Adjusted Total Assets as of the end of the calendar quarter covered in the
Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as
the case may be, most recently filed with the Commission (or, if such filing is
not permitted under the Exchange Act, filed with the Trustee) prior to the
incurrence of such additional Debt, (ii) the purchase price of any real estate
assets or mortgages receivable (or interests therein) acquired by the
Partnership or any Subsidiary since the end of such calendar quarter, including
those obtained in connection with the incurrence of such additional Debt and
(iii) the amount of any securities offering proceeds received by the Partnership
or any Subsidiary since the end of such calendar quarter (to the extent that
such proceeds were not used to acquire such real estate assets or mortgages
receivable or used to reduce Debt).

         (b)   In addition to the limitation set forth in subsection (a) of this
Section 2.4, the Partnership will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to,
incur any Debt if the ratio of Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service to
the Annual Service Charge for the four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently
ended prior to the date on which such additional Debt is to be incurred shall
have been less than 1.5:1, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto and
to the application of the proceeds therefrom, and calculated on the assumption
that (i) such Debt and any other Debt incurred by the Partnership and its
Subsidiaries since the first day of such four-quarter period and the application
of the proceeds therefrom, including to refinance other Debt , had occurred at
the beginning of such period; (ii) the repayment or retirement of any other Debt
by the Partnership and its Subsidiaries since the first day of such four-quarter
period had been repaid or retired at the beginning of such period (except that,
in making such computation, the amount of Debt under any revolving credit
facility shall be computed based




                                       7
<PAGE>   9
upon the average daily balance of such Debt during such period); (iii) in the
case of Acquired Debt or Debt incurred in connection with any acquisition since
the first day of such four-quarter period, the related acquisition had occurred
as of the first day of such period with the appropriate adjustments with respect
to such acquisition being included in such pro forma calculation; and (iv) in
the case of any acquisition or disposition by the Partnership or its
Subsidiaries of any asset or group of assets since the first day of such
four-quarter period, whether by merger, stock purchase or sale, or asset
purchase or sale, such acquisition or disposition or any related repayment of
Debt had occurred as of the first day of such period with the appropriate
adjustments with respect to such acquisition or disposition being included in
such pro forma calculation.

         (c)   In addition to the limitations set forth in subsections (a) and
(b) of this Section 2.4, the Partnership will not, and will not permit any
Subsidiary to, incur any Debt secured by any mortgage, lien, charge, pledge,
encumbrance or security interest of any kind upon any of the property of the
Partnership or any Subsidiary ("Secured Debt"), whether owned at the date hereof
or thereafter acquired, if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of
such Secured Debt and the application of the proceeds therefrom, the aggregate
principal amount of all outstanding Secured Debt of the Partnership and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis is greater than 40% of the sum of (without
duplication) (i) the Partnership's Adjusted Total Assets as of the end of the
calendar quarter covered in the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K or
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, most recently filed with the
Commission (or, if such filing is not permitted under the Exchange Act, filed
with the Trustee) prior to the incurrence of such additional Debt, (ii) the
purchase price of any real estate assets or mort gages receivable (or interests
therein) acquired by the Partnership or any Subsidiary since the end of such
calendar quarter, including those proceeds obtained in connection with the
incurrence of such additional Debt and (iii) the amount of any securities
offering proceeds received by the Partnership or any Subsidiary since the end of
such calendar quarter (to the extent that such proceeds were not used to acquire
such real estate assets or mortgages receivable or used to reduce Debt).

         (d)   The Partnership and its Subsidiaries will at all times maintain
an Unencumbered Total Asset Value in an amount not less than 150% of the
aggregate principal amount of all outstanding unsecured Debt of the Partnership
and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

         (e)   For purposes of this Section 2.4, Debt shall be deemed to be
"incurred" by the Partnership or a Subsidiary whenever the Partnership or such
Subsidiary shall create, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect
thereof.




                                       8
<PAGE>   10
         SECTION 2.5. REDEMPTION.

         The Notes may be redeemed at any time at the option of the Partnership,
in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the principal
amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued interest thereon to the 
Redemption Date and (ii) the Make-Whole Amount, if any, with respect to such
Notes (the "Redemption Price").

         SECTION 2.6. PLACES OF PAYMENT.

         The Places of Payment where the Notes may be presented or surrendered
for payment, where the Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or
exchange and where notices and demands to and upon the Partnership in respect of
the Notes and the Senior Indenture may be served shall be in the City of
Atlanta, Georgia and the office or agency for such purpose shall initially be
located at c/o First Union National Bank, Corporate Trust Department, 999
Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309.

         SECTION 2.7. METHOD OF PAYMENT.

         Payment of the principal of and interest on the Notes will be made at
the office or agency of the Partnership maintained for that purpose in the City
of Atlanta, Georgia (which shall initially be an office or agency of the
Trustee), in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the
time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that at the option of the Partnership, payments of principal
and interest on the Notes (other than payments of principal and interest due at
Maturity) may be made (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled
thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (ii) by wire
transfer to an account maintained by the Person entitled thereto located within
the United States.

         SECTION 2.8. CURRENCY.

         Principal and interest on the Notes shall be payable in Dollars.

         SECTION 2.9. REGISTERED SECURITIES; GLOBAL FORM.

         The Notes shall be issuable and transferable in fully registered form
as Registered Securities, without coupons. The Notes shall be issued in the form
of one or more permanent Global Securities. The depository for the Notes shall
be The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"). The Notes shall not be issuable in
definitive form except as provided in Section 305 of the Senior Indenture.




                                       9
<PAGE>   11
         SECTION 2.10. FORM OF NOTES.

         The Notes shall be substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A
hereto.

         SECTION 2.11. REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT.

         The Trustee shall initially serve as Security Registrar and Paying
Agent for the Notes.

         SECTION 2.12. DEFEASANCE.

         The provisions of Sections 1402 and 1403 of the Senior Indenture,
together with the other provisions of Article Fourteen of the Senior Indenture,
shall be applicable to the Notes. The provisions of Section 1403 of the Senior
Indenture shall apply to the covenants set forth in Sections 2.4 and 2.14 of
this Supplemental Indenture and to those covenants specified in Section 1403 of
the Senior Indenture.

         SECTION 2.13. PROVISION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION.

         Whether or not the Partnership is subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, the Partnership will, to the extent permitted under the Exchange
Act, file with the Commission the annual reports, quarterly reports and other
documents which the Partnership would have been required to file with the
Commission pursuant to such Section 13 or 15(d) if the Partnership were so
subject, such documents to be filed with the Commission on or prior to the
respective dates (the "Required Filing Dates") by which the Partnership would
have been required so to file such documents if the Partnership were so subject.

         The Partnership will also in any event (x) within 15 days of each
Required Filing Date (i) if the Partnership is not then subject to Section 13 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act, transmit by mail to all Holders, as their names and
addresses appear in the Security Register, without cost to such Holders, copies
of the annual reports and quarterly reports which the Partnership would have
been required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act if the Partnership were subject to such Sections, and (ii) file
with the Trustee copies of annual reports, quarterly reports and other documents
which the Partnership would have been required to file with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act if the Partnership were
subject to such Sections and (y) if filing such documents by the Partnership
with the Commission is not permitted under the Exchange Act, promptly upon
written request and payment of the reasonable cost of duplication and delivery,
supply copies of such documents to any prospective Holder.




                                       10
<PAGE>   12
         SECTION 2.14. WAIVER OF CERTAIN COVENANTS.

         Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1010 of the Senior Indenture,
the Partnership may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term,
provision or condition set forth in Sections 1004 to 1007, inclusive, of the
Senior Indenture, with Sections 2.4 and 2.14 of this Supplemental Indenture and
with any other term, provision or condition with respect to the Notes or either
series thereof (except any such term, provision or condition which could not be
amended without the consent of all Holders of the Notes or such series thereof,
as applicable), if before or after the time for such compliance the Holders of
at least a majority in principal amount of all outstanding Notes or such series
thereof, as applicable, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in
such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition.
Except to the extent so expressly waived, and until such waiver shall become
effective, the obligations of the Partnership and the duties of the Trustee in
respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and
effect.


                                  ARTICLE THREE

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

         SECTION 3.1. RATIFICATION OF SENIOR INDENTURE.

         Except as expressly modified or amended hereby, the Senior Indenture
continues in full force and effect and is in all respects confirmed and
preserved.

         SECTION 3.2. GOVERNING LAW.

         This Supplemental Indenture and each Note shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. This
Supplemental Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939, as amended, and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such
provisions.

         SECTION 3.3. COUNTERPARTS.

         This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but
all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.




                                       11
<PAGE>   13
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental
Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers hereunto duly
authorized, all as of the day and year first written above.

                                        GABLES REALTY LIMITED
                                        PARTNERSHIP


                                        By: Gables GP, Inc.,
                                            its general partner



                                        By: /s/ Marvin R. Banks, Jr.
                                            ---------------------------
                                            Marvin Banks, Jr.
                                            Chief Financial Officer




                                        FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
                                         as Trustee


                                        By: /s/ Teresa L. Davis
                                            ---------------------------
                                            Name: Teresa L. Davis
                                            Title: Vice President




                                       12
<PAGE>   14
                                    EXHIBIT A

                             FORM OF SENIOR SECURITY

                               [Face of Security]


UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY ("DTC"), 55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK TO THE
ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND SUCH
SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO., OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO
CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL, SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF,
CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF DTC OR A NOMINEE OF
DTC. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A
PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED
IN THE INDENTURE, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY DTC TO A
NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY A NOMINEE OF DTC TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY DTC
OR ITS NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR ITS NOMINEE.

                        GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                           6.60% Senior Notes Due 2001

Register No. 1                                                  Principal Amount
CUSIP No. 362415 AC 5                                                $15,000,000



GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership (herein
referred to as the "Partnership", which term includes any successor entity under
the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby
promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns the principal sum of
$15,000,000 Dollars on October 1, 2001 (the "Stated Maturity Date") or earlier
at the option of the Partnership (the "Redemption Date", and together with the
Stated Maturity Date with respect to principal repayable on such date, the
"Maturity Date") and to pay interest thereon from October 1, 1998 or from the
most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly
provided for, semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 in each year (each, an
"Interest Payment Date"), commencing April 1, 1999, at the rate of 6.60% per
annum, until the principal



                                       A-1


<PAGE>   15
hereof is paid or duly provided for. The interest so payable, and punctually
paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in
such Indenture, be paid to the Holder in whose name this Security (or one or
more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the
Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be March 15 or September 15
(whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such
Interest Payment Date at the office or agency of the Partnership maintained for
such purpose; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such interest may be paid, at the
Partnership's option, by mailing a check to such Holder at its registered
address or by wire transfer of funds to an account main tained by such Holder
within the United States. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly
provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular
Record Date, and may be paid to the Holder in whose name this Security (or one
or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a
Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by
the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this
series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid
at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of
any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed,
and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully
provided in the Indenture. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day
year of twelve 30-day months.

The principal of this Security payable on the Stated Maturity Date or the
principal of, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and, if the Redemption Date is not an
Interest Payment Date, interest on this Security payable on the Redemption Date
will be paid against presentation of this Security at the office or agency of
the Partnership maintained for that purpose in the City of Atlanta, Georgia
(which initially shall be an office or agency of the Trustee), in such coin or
currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal
tender for the payment of public and private debts.

Interest payable on this Security on any Interest Payment Date and on the Stated
Maturity Date or Redemption Date, as the case may be, will include interest
accrued from and including the next preceding Interest Payment Date in respect
of which interest has been paid or duly provided for (or from and including
October 1, 1998, if no interest has been paid on this Security) to but excluding
such Interest Payment Date or the Stated Maturity Date or Redemption Date, as
the case may be. If any Interest Payment Date or the Stated Maturity Date or
Redemption Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, as defined below,
principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and/or interest payable with respect to
such Interest Payment Date or Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case
may be, will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and
effect as if it were paid on the date such payment was due, and no interest
shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such
Interest Payment Date or Stated Maturity Date or Redemption Date, as the case
may be. "Business Day" means any day, other than a



                                       A-2

<PAGE>   16
Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking
institutions in the City of New York are authorized by law, regulation or
executive order to close.

All payments of principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest in respect of
this Security will be made by the Partnership in immediately available funds.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on
the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the
same effect as if set forth at this place.

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security
Identification Procedures, the Partnership has caused "CUSIP" numbers to be
printed on the Securities of this series as a convenience to the Holders of such
Securities. No representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of such
CUSIP numbers as printed on the Securities, and reliance may be placed only on
the other identification numbers printed hereon.

Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee
by manual signature of one of its authorized signatories, this Security shall
not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture, or be valid or obligatory
for any purpose.



                                       A-3

<PAGE>   17
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Partnership has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under the facsimile corporate seal of its general partner.

Dated:

                                                 GABLES REALTY LIMITED
                                                 PARTNERSHIP


                                                 By: Gables GP, Inc.,
                                                     its general partner




                                                 By: __________________________
                                                     Marvin R. Banks, Jr.
                                                     Chief Financial Officer

Attest: ______________________________
        Name:
        Title:





TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION:

         This is one of Securities of the series designated therein referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                                 FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
                                                 as Trustee

                                                 By: _______________________
                                                     Name:
                                                     Title:




                                       A-4

<PAGE>   18
                              [Reverse of Security]

                        GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP



This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Partnership (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or
more series under an Indenture, dated as of March 23, 1998, as supplemented by
Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated as of March 23, 1998, Supplemental
Indenture No. 2, dated as of September 30, 1998, and Supplemental Indenture No.
3, dated as of October 8, 1998 (as so supplemented, herein called the
"Indenture") between the Partnership and First Union National Bank, as Trustee
(herein called the "Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee under
the Indenture with respect to the series of which this Security is a part), to
which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby
made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties
and immunities thereunder of the Partnership, the Trustee and the Holders of
the Securities, and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be,
authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the duly authorized series
of Securities designated on the face hereof (collectively, the "Securities"),
and the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be issued under such
series as limited to $15,000,000 (except for Securities authenticated and
delivered upon transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of other
Securities). All capitalized terms used in this Security which are defined in
the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities, as defined in the
Indenture, shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of
this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect
provided in the Indenture.

The Securities are subject to redemption at any time, as a whole or in part, at
the election of the Partnership, at a Redemption Price equal to the sum of (i)
the principal amount of the Securities being redeemed plus accrued interest
thereon to the Redemption Date and (ii) the Make-Whole Amount, if any, with
respect to such Securities.

Notice of redemption will be given by mail to Holders of Securities, not less
than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, all as provided in
the Indenture.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (a) the entire
indebtedness of the Partnership on this Security and (b) certain restrictive
covenants and the related defaults and Events of Default applicable to the
Partnership, in each case, upon compliance by the Partnership with certain
conditions set forth in the Indenture, which provisions apply to this Security.



                                       A-5

<PAGE>   19
In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or
Securities for the unredeemed portion hereof shall be issued in the name of the
Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Partnership and the rights of the Holders of the Securities under the Indenture
at any time by the Partnership and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders
of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of all Securities
issued under the Indenture at the time Outstanding and affected thereby. The
Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of not less than a
majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, on
behalf of the Holders of all such Securities, to waive compliance by the
Partnership with certain provisions of the Indenture. Furthermore, provisions in
the Indenture permit the Holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate
principal amount, in certain instances, of the Outstanding Securities of any
series to waive, on behalf of all of the Holders of Securities of such series,
certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such
consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding
upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and other
Securities issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange
herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is
made upon this Security.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the
Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Partnership, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and Make-Whole Amount, if
any) and interest on this Security at the times, places and rate, and in the
coin or currency, herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register of
the Partnership upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at
the office or agency of the Partnership in any place where the principal of (and
Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest on this Security are payable, duly
endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Partnership and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the
Holder hereof or by his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one
or more new Securities, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate
principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth, this Security is exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of
Securities of different authorized denominations but otherwise having the same
terms and conditions, as requested by the Holder hereof surrendering the same.



                                       A-6

<PAGE>   20
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without
coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or
exchange, but the Partnership may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the
Partnership, the Trustee and any agent of the Partnership or the Trustee may
treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof
for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the
Partnership, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, no recourse under or
upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in this
Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced hereby or thereby, or for any
claim based thereon or otherwise in respect hereof, shall be had for the payment
of the principal of or Make-Whole Amount, if any, or the interest on this
Security, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or
based on or in respect of the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto,
against (i) the Company or any other past, present or future partner in the
Partnership, (ii) against any other Person which owns an interest, directly or
indirectly, in any partner of the Partnership or (iii) against any past, present
or future stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, of the Company,
or of any successor, either directly or through the Partnership or the Company
or any successor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or
by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or
otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the
consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

The Indenture and the Securities 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 entirely in such State.



                                       A-7

<PAGE>   21
                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

                   FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby
                        sells, assigns and transfers unto



PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL
SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING
NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE


________________________________________
|                                       |
|                                       |   ....................................
|_______________________________________|

 ................................................................................
              (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address including
                              Zip Code of Assignee)

 ................................................................................
the within Security of Gables Realty Limited Partnership and hereby does
irrevocably constitute and appoint

 ....................................................................... Attorney
to transfer said Security on the books of the within-named Partnership with full
power of substitution in the premises.



Dated: .....................         ...........................................




                                     ...........................................
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as it
appears on the first page of the within Security in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.




                                       A-8



<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.3


                               [Face of Security]


UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY ("DTC"), 55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK TO THE
ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND SUCH
SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO., OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO
CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL, SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF,
CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF DTC OR A NOMINEE OF
DTC. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A
PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED
IN THE INDENTURE, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY DTC TO A
NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY A NOMINEE OF DTC TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY DTC
OR ITS NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR ITS NOMINEE.

                        GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                           6.60% Senior Notes Due 2001

Register No. 1                                                  Principal Amount
CUSIP No. 362415 AC 5                                                $15,000,000


GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership (herein
referred to as the "Partnership", which term includes any successor entity under
the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby
promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns the principal sum of
$15,000,000 Dollars on October 1, 2001 (the "Stated Maturity Date") or earlier
at the option of the Partnership (the "Redemption Date", and together with the
Stated Maturity Date with respect to principal repayable on such date, the
"Maturity Date") and to pay interest thereon from October 1, 1998 or from the
most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly
provided for, semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 in each year (each, an
"Interest Payment Date"), commencing April 1, 1999, at the rate of 6.60% per
annum, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for. The interest so
payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date
will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Holder in whose name this
Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of
business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be March 15
or September 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next
preceding such Interest Payment Date at the office or agency of the Partnership
maintained for such purpose; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such interest


<PAGE>   2
may be paid, at the Partnership's option, by mailing a check to such Holder at
its registered address or by wire transfer of funds to an account maintained by
such Holder within the United States. Any such interest not so punctually paid
or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such
Regular Record Date, and may be paid to the Holder in whose name this Security
(or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business
on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed
by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this
series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid
at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of
any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed,
and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully
provided in the Indenture. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day
year of twelve 30-day months.

The principal of this Security payable on the Stated Maturity Date or the
principal of, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and, if the Redemption Date is not an
Interest Payment Date, interest on this Security payable on the Redemption Date
will be paid against presentation of this Security at the office or agency of
the Partnership maintained for that purpose in the City of Atlanta, Georgia
(which initially shall be an office or agency of the Trustee), in such coin or
currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal
tender for the payment of public and private debts.

Interest payable on this Security on any Interest Payment Date and on the Stated
Maturity Date or Redemption Date, as the case may be, will include interest
accrued from and including the next preceding Interest Payment Date in respect
of which interest has been paid or duly provided for (or from and including
October 1, 1998, if no interest has been paid on this Security) to but excluding
such Interest Payment Date or the Stated Maturity Date or Redemption Date, as
the case may be. If any Interest Payment Date or the Stated Maturity Date or
Redemption Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, as defined below,
principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and/or interest payable with respect to
such Interest Payment Date or Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case
may be, will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and
effect as if it were paid on the date such payment was due, and no interest
shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such
Interest Payment Date or Stated Maturity Date or Redemption Date, as the case
may be. "Business Day" means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is
neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in the City of
New York are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to close.

All payments of principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest in respect of
this Security will be made by the Partnership in immediately available funds.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on
the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the
same effect as if set forth at this place.

<PAGE>   3
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security
Identification Procedures, the Partnership has caused "CUSIP" numbers to be
printed on the Securities of this series as a convenience to the Holders of such
Securities. No representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of such
CUSIP numbers as printed on the Securities, and reliance may be placed only on
the other identification numbers printed hereon.

Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee
by manual signature of one of its authorized signatories, this Security shall
not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture, or be valid or obligatory
for any purpose.

<PAGE>   4
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Partnership has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under the facsimile corporate seal of its general partner.

Dated: October 8, 1998                    GABLES REALTY LIMITED
                                          PARTNERSHIP

                                           By: Gables GP, Inc.,
                                               its general partner

                                                By: /s/ Marvin R. Banks, Jr.
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Marvin R. Banks, Jr.
                                                    Chief Financial Officer

Attest: /s/ Dawn H. Severt
        ------------------------
        Name: Dawn H. Severt
        Title: Vice President













TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION:

         This is one of Securities of the series designated therein referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture.




                                          FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
                                          as Trustee


                                          By: /s/ Teresa L. Davis
                                          --------------------------------------
                                              Name:
                                              Title:


<PAGE>   5
                              [Reverse of Security]

                        GABLES REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Partnership (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or
more series under an Indenture, dated as of March 23, 1998, as supplemented by
Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated as of March 23, 1998, Supplemental
Indenture No. 2, dated as of September 30, 1998, and Supplemental Indenture No.
3, dated as of October 8, 1998 (as so supplemented, herein called the
"Indenture") between the Partnership and First Union National Bank, as Trustee
(herein called the "Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee under
the Indenture with respect to the series of which this Security is a part), to
which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby
made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties
and immunities thereunder of the Partnership, the Trustee and the Holders of
the Securities, and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be,
authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the duly authorized series
of Securities designated on the face hereof (collectively, the "Securities"),
and the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be issued under such
series as limited to $15,000,000 (except for Securities authenticated and
delivered upon transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of other
Securities). All capitalized terms used in this Security which are defined in
the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities, as defined in the
Indenture, shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of
this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect
provided in the Indenture.

The Securities are subject to redemption at any time, as a whole or in part, at
the election of the Partnership, at a Redemption Price equal to the sum of (i)
the principal amount of the Securities being redeemed plus accrued interest
thereon to the Redemption Date and (ii) the Make-Whole Amount, if any, with
respect to such Securities.

Notice of redemption will be given by mail to Holders of Securities, not less
than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, all as provided in
the Indenture.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (a) the entire
indebtedness of the Partnership on this Security and (b) certain restrictive
covenants and the related defaults and Events of Default applicable to the
Partnership, in each case, upon compliance by the Partnership with certain
conditions set forth in the Indenture, which provisions apply to this Security.

In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or
Securities for the unredeemed portion hereof shall be issued in the name of the
Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and


<PAGE>   6
the modification of the rights and obligations of the Partnership and the rights
of the Holders of the Securities under the Indenture at any time by the
Partnership and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a
majority of the aggregate principal amount of all Securities issued under the
Indenture at the time Outstanding and affected thereby. The Indenture also
contains provisions permitting the Holders of not less than a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, on behalf of the
Holders of all such Securities, to waive compliance by the Partnership with
certain provisions of the Indenture. Furthermore, provisions in the Indenture
permit the Holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal
amount, in certain instances, of the Outstanding Securities of any series to
waive, on behalf of all of the Holders of Securities of such series, certain
past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or
waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such
Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and other Securities issued
upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu
hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this
Security.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the
Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Partnership, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and Make-Whole Amount, if
any) and interest on this Security at the times, places and rate, and in the
coin or currency, herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register of
the Partnership upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at
the office or agency of the Partnership in any place where the principal of (and
Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest on this Security are payable, duly
endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Partnership and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the
Holder hereof or by his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one
or more new Securities, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate
principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth, this Security is exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of
Securities of different authorized denominations but otherwise having the same
terms and conditions, as requested by the Holder hereof surrendering the same.

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without
coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or
exchange, but the Partnership may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the
Partnership, the Trustee and any agent of the Partnership or the Trustee may
treat the Person in whose name


<PAGE>   7
this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not
this Security be overdue, and neither the Partnership, the Trustee nor any such
agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, no recourse under or
upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in this
Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced hereby or thereby, or for any
claim based thereon or otherwise in respect hereof, shall be had for the payment
of the principal of or Make-Whole Amount, if any, or the interest on this
Security, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or
based on or in respect of the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto,
against (i) the Company or any other past, present or future partner in the
Partnership, (ii) against any other Person which owns an interest, directly or
indirectly, in any partner of the Partnership or (iii) against any past, present
or future stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, of the Company,
or of any successor, either directly or through the Partnership or the Company
or any successor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or
by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or
otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the
consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

The Indenture and the Securities 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 entirely in such State.


<PAGE>   8
                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

                   FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby
                        sells, assigns and transfers unto


PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL
SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING
NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

________________________________________
|                                       |
|                                       |   ....................................
|_______________________________________|

 ................................................................................


 ................................................................................
              (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address including
                              Zip Code of Assignee)

 ................................................................................
the within Security of Gables Realty Limited Partnership and hereby does
irrevocably constitute and appoint

 ....................................................................... Attorney
to transfer said Security on the books of the within-named Partnership with full
power of substitution in the premises.

Dated: .....................         ...........................................




                                     ...........................................
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as it
appears on the first page of the within Security in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.



<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


                          GOODWIN, PROCTER & HOAR LLP

                               COUNSELLORS AT LAW
                                 EXCHANGE PLACE
                        BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109-2881


                                                       TELEPHONE  (617) 570-1000
                                                       TELECOPIER (617) 523-1231



                                 October 8, 1998




Gables Residential Trust
Gables Realty Limited Partnership
2859 Paces Ferry Road
Overlook III, Suite 1450
Atlanta, Georgia 30339


Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to Gables Residential Trust, a Maryland real
estate investment trust (the "Company"), and Gables Realty Limited Partnership,
a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), in connection with the
offer and sale by the Partnership of $15,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
the Partnership's 6.60% Senior Notes due 2001 (the "Notes"). This opinion is
being delivered in connection with (i) the Company's and the Partnership's
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-30093) (the "Registration
Statement") relating to the registration of the offering and sale under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of up to $300,000,000 of securities of the
Company and up to $200,000,000 of debt securities of the Partnership, and (ii)
a prospectus supplement dated October 5, 1998 (the "Prospectus Supplement")
which supplements the prospectus included in such Registration Statement,
relating to the offering of the Notes by the Partnership. The Notes will be
offered by the Underwriter (as defined below) pursuant to that certain
Underwriting Agreement dated October 5, 1998 between the Partnership and the
Company and PaineWebber Incorporated (the "Underwriter"). The Notes will be
issued under an Indenture dated March 23, 1998 between the Partnership and
First Union National Bank, as trustee, as amended and supplemented by
Supplemental Indenture No. 3 dated October 8, 1998 (collectively, the
"Indenture").

         As the basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed, we have examined
such statutes, regulations, corporate records and documents, certificates of
public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable
for the purposes of this opinion. In such examination, we have assumed the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity
with the original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies.


<PAGE>   2
                          GOODWIN, PROCTER & HOAR LLP


Gables Residential Trust
Gables Realty Limited Partnership
October 8, 1998
Page 2



         The opinions expressed below are qualified to the extent that (i) the
validity or enforceability of any provision of the Notes and the Indenture or
any rights granted thereunder may be subject to or affected by any bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or similar law
relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, (ii) the remedy of
specific performance or any other equitable remedy may be unavailable in any
jurisdiction or may be withheld as a matter of judicial discretion, and (iii)
general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of
materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing may be applied in the
exercise of judicial discretion in construing or enforcing the provisions of any
instrument or document (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a
proceeding in equity or at law).

         We express no opinion concerning the laws of any jurisdictions other
than the laws of the United States of America, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
and the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.

         Based on the foregoing and on such legal considerations as we deem
relevant, we are of the opinion that the Notes have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Partnership and, assuming the due authentication
of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, when delivered to
and paid for by the Underwriter, will constitute valid and binding obligations
of the Partnership, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable
against the Partnership in accordance with their terms.

         We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Partnership's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 8, 1998 and the Company's
Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 8, 1998, which are incorporated by
reference into the Registration Statement.

                                                Very truly yours,


                                                /s/ Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP


                                                GOODWIN, PROCTER & HOAR  LLP



<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 12.1


Gables Realty Limited Partnership
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
Dollars in thousands


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                 Gables Realty Limited
                                                    Gables Realty Limited Partnership           Partnership Predecessor
                                          ---------------------------------------------------   -----------------------
                                          Six months        Years ended 12-31
                                             ended     ---------------------------   1-26-94-   1-1-94-      Year ended
                                            6-30-98      1997      1996      1995    12-31-94   1-25-94       12-31-93
                                          ----------   -------   -------   -------   --------   -------      ----------
<S>                                       <C>          <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>          <C>

Net income before gain on sale of
 real estate assets, loss on treasury
 lock extension and extraordinary items     $18,134    $31,931   $27,541   $18,369    $15,972     ($92)        $ 4,520
                                          ---------------------------------------------------   ----------------------

Plus Fixed Charges:
 Interest expense                            17,498     24,804    21,112    13,088      8,345    1,043          12,253
 Credit enhancement fees                        562        509       576       710        661       35             591
 Interest capitalized                         3,641      5,161     4,373     7,481      3,031       54           1,053
 Loan cost amortization expense                 507        992     1,348       932        893      234           1,132
 Loan cost amortization capitalized              98        182       285     1,508      1,176        0             110
                                          ---------------------------------------------------   ----------------------
Total fixed charges(1)                       22,306     31,648    27,694    23,719     14,106    1,366          15,139

Less:
Interest capitalized                          3,641      5,161     4,373     7,481      3,031       54           1,053
Loan cost amortization capitalized               98        182       285     1,508      1,176        0             110
                                          ---------------------------------------------------   ----------------------

Adjusted earnings(2)                         36,701     58,236    50,577    33,099     25,871    1,220          18,496
                                          ---------------------------------------------------   ----------------------

Ratio (2 divided by 1)                         1.65       1.84      1.83      1.40       1.83     0.89            1.22
                                          ===================================================   =======================
Coverage deficiency                                                                               (146)

</TABLE>


<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 12.2

Gables Realty Limited Partnership
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividends
Dollars in thousands

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                 Gables Realty Limited
                                                    Gables Realty Limited Partnership           Partnership Predecessor
                                          ---------------------------------------------------   -----------------------
                                          Six months        Years ended 12-31
                                             ended     ---------------------------   1-26-94-   1-1-94-      Year ended
                                            6-30-98      1997      1996      1995    12-31-94   1-25-94       12-31-93
                                          ----------   -------   -------   -------   --------   -------      ----------
<S>                                       <C>          <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>          <C>

Net income before gain on sale of
 real estate assets, loss on treasury
 lock extension and extraordinary items     $18,134    $31,931   $27,541   $18,369    $15,972     ($92)        $ 4,520
                                          ---------------------------------------------------   ----------------------

Plus Fixed Charges and Preferred
 Dividends:
 Interest expense                            17,498     24,804    21,112    13,088      8,345    1,043          12,253
 Credit enhancement fees                        562        509       576       710        661       35             591
 Interest capitalized                         3,641      5,161     4,373     7,481      3,031       54           1,053
 Loan cost amortization expense                 507        992     1,348       932        893      234           1,132
 Loan cost amortization capitalized              98        182       285     1,508      1,176        0             110
 Preferred Dividends                          4,780      4,163         0         0          0        0               0
                                          ---------------------------------------------------   ----------------------
Total fixed charges and preferred
 dividends(1)                                27,086     35,811    27,694    23,719     14,106    1,366          15,139

Less:
Interest capitalized                          3,641      5,161     4,373     7,481      3,031       54           1,053
Loan cost amortization capitalized               98        182       285     1,508      1,176        0             110
                                          ---------------------------------------------------   ----------------------

Adjusted earnings(2)                         41,481     62,399    50,577    33,099     25,871    1,220          18,496
                                          ---------------------------------------------------   ----------------------

Ratio (2 divided by 1)                         1.53       1.74      1.83      1.40       1.83     0.89            1.22
                                          ===================================================   =======================
Coverage deficiency                                                                               (146)

</TABLE>


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