RESOURCE MORTGAGE CAPITAL INC/VA
POS AM, 1997-03-05
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on

   
March 5, 1997
                                         
                                   Registration No. 33-50705
=================================================================
               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                --------------------------------
                                 Post-Effective
                               Amendment No. 2 to
                                    FORM S-3


                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                       ------------------
                         RESOURCE MORTGAGE CAPITAL, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



     VIRGINIA                                         52-1549373
(State or other jurisdiction of                      (I.R.S. Employer )
incorporation or organization)                         Identification No.)

                               10900 Nuckols Road
                           Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
                                 (804) 217-5800
  (Address,  including zip code, and telephone  number,  including area code, or
     registrant's principal executive offices)


                                 Thomas H. Potts
                                    President
                         Resource Mortgage Capital, Inc.
                               10900 Nuckols Road
                           Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
                                 (804) 217-5800
  (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                     including area code, of agent for service)


                                    Copy to:

                            Elizabeth R. Hughes, Esq.
                Venable, Baetjer and Howard, LLP
               1800 Mercantile Bank & Trust Bldg.
                                 2 Hopkins Plaza
                            Baltimore, Maryland 21201
                                 (410) 244-7400


    Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the
  public: As soon as practicable on or after the effective date
                of this Post-Effective Amendment.




<PAGE>



                              PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
                    (TO PROSPECTUS DATED ____________, 1997)

                                2,000,000 SHARES

                                [GRAPHIC OMITTED]


                         RESOURCE MORTGAGE CAPITAL, INC.

                             SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                           (PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE)


   Pursuant  to  the  terms  of a  Sales  Agency  Agreement  (the  Sales  Agency
Agreement) between Resource Mortgage Capital,  Inc., a Virginia corporation (the
Company),  and PaineWebber  Incorporated  (PaineWebber or the Agent),  a form of
which has been filed as an exhibit to the  Registration  Statement of which this
Prospectus  Supplement is a part and is  incorporated  herein by reference,  the
Company may issue and sell up to 2,000,000  shares (the  Maximum  Amount) of its
common stock, par value $.01 per share (Common Stock), from time to time through
PaineWebber,  as sales agent for the  Company,  which  shares are being  offered
under this Prospectus  Supplement.  Such sales, if any, will be made by means of
ordinary  brokers'  transactions on the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE). Such
sales will be effected  during a series of one or more pricing  periods (each, a
Pricing Period),  each consisting of five consecutive calendar days in duration,
unless a  shorter  period  has  otherwise  been  agreed  to by the  Company  and
PaineWebber.  During any  Pricing  Period,  the  Company  and  PaineWebber  will
designate  the  number  of shares of stock to be sold as  Average  Market  Price
Shares which shares shall not exceed 4% of the average daily  trading  volume of
the Common  Stock over the  preceding 60  consecutive  calendar  days.  For such
Pricing  Period,  an  Average  Market  Price (as  hereinafter  defined)  will be
computed.  With respect to any Pricing Period,  Average Market Price shall equal
the  average  of the  arithmetic  mean of the high and low  sales  prices of the
Common  Stock of the Company  reported on the NYSE for each  trading day of such
Pricing Period.

   The net proceeds to the Company with respect to sales of Average Market Price
Shares  will equal a  percentage  of the  Average  Market  Price (the  Company's
Percent)  for each share of Common  Stock sold  during the  Pricing  Period plus
Excess  Proceeds  (as defined  below),  if any,  plus  Alternative  Proceeds (as
defined  below),  if any. The Company's  Percent will be 97% with respect to the
first 600,000  shares that may be sold under the Sales Agency  Agreement,  97.5%
for  the  next  600,000  shares  that  may be sold  thereunder,  and 98% for the
remaining  800,000  shares  that may be sold  thereunder.  The  compensation  to
PaineWebber  for such sales in any  Pricing  Period  will  equal the  difference
between  the  aggregate  gross  sales  prices at which such  sales are  actually
effected and the net proceeds to the Company for such sales, but in no case will
exceed the maximum amount permitted  pursuant to any applicable  requirements of
the National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers,  Inc., as determined in good
faith by PaineWebber (the Maximum Commission). In the event that


THESE  SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED  BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAS NOT PASSED ON
OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THIS OFFERING.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO
THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL.


THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT IS ____________, 1997.

<PAGE>


the average  gross sales price for all Average  Market  Price Shares sold in any
Pricing  Period is equal to or less than the  Company's  Percent of the  Average
Market  Price,  all of the proceeds  from such sales would be for the account of
the Company  and no  compensation  would be payable to the Agent.  To the extent
that  PaineWebber's  compensation  under the foregoing  formula would  otherwise
exceed  the  Maximum  Commission,  the excess  will  constitute  additional  net
proceeds to the Company (the Excess Proceeds).

   During any Pricing  Period,  the Company  may  designate a minimum  price and
instruct  PaineWebber  not to transact  any sales  below such price.  If such an
instruction is given and as a result thereof PaineWebber is unable to sell, on a
daily basis,  shares of Common Stock in any amount  greater than or equal to the
daily pro rata  portion of Average  Market  Price  Shares to be sold during such
Pricing  Period,  then the prices reported on the NYSE for that day shall not be
computed in calculating the Average Market Price for such Pricing Period and the
net proceeds payable to the Company (the Alternative Proceeds) in respect of any
sales of Average Market Price Shares effected that day (the Alternative  Shares)
by  PaineWebber  shall be equal to the  Company's  Percent  times  the  weighted
average  gross sales prices at which  PaineWebber  has actually  effected  sales
during  that  day.  The  compensation  payable  to  PaineWebber  for the sale of
Alternative  Shares  shall be equal to the  difference  between  the gross sales
proceeds  and the net  proceeds to the Company for such sales.  The  Alternative
Shares shall be excluded  from  determining  the net proceeds to the Company for
sales of Average Market Price Shares for such Pricing Period.

   During any Pricing  Period,  the Company and  PaineWebber  may agree upon the
sale of shares  (the  Additional  Shares)  of Common  Stock in  addition  to the
Average  Market  Price  Shares,  such  Additional  Shares to be  included in the
computation of the Maximum Amount.  The compensation to PaineWebber with respect
to each one of the Additional Shares sold in any Pricing Period shall be a fixed
percentage   (PaineWebber's  Percent)  of  the  gross  sales  price  per  share.
PaineWebber's  Percent shall equal 3% with respect to the first  600,000  shares
that may be sold under the Sales  Agency  Agreement,  2.5% for the next  600,000
shares that may be sold thereunder and 2% for the remaining  800,000 shares that
may be sold  thereunder.  Unless  otherwise  indicated  in a further  Prospectus
Supplement, PaineWebber as sales agent will act on a reasonable efforts basis.

   Settlements  of sales of  Additional  Shares and Average  Market  Shares will
occur on the third  business day  following the date on which any such sales are
made.  Purchases of Common Stock from PaineWebber as sales agent for the Company
will  settle the  regular  way on the NYSE.  Compensation  to  PaineWebber  with
respect to sales of Average Market Price Shares will be paid out of the proceeds
of the Average  Market Price Shares that settle the third business day following
the last  day of a  Pricing  Period.  There is no  arrangement  for  funds to be
received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

   At the end of each  Pricing  Period,  the  Company  will  file an  additional
Prospectus  Supplement under the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) promulgated
under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended  (the  Act),  which  Prospectus
Supplement will set forth the dates included in such Pricing Period,  the number
of such  shares  of  Common  Stock  sold  through  PaineWebber  as  sales  agent
(identifying separately the number of Average Market Price Shares), the high and
low prices at which  Average  Market  Price Shares were sold during such Pricing
Period,  the net  proceeds to the Company  and the  compensation  payable by the
Company to  PaineWebber  with respect to such sales pursuant to the formulas set
forth above.

   In  connection  with the sale of the Common  Stock on behalf of the  Company,
PaineWebber  may be deemed to be an  underwriter  within the meaning of the Act,
and the compensation of PaineWebber may be deemed to be underwriting commissions
or discounts. The Company has agreed to provide indemnification and contribution
to PaineWebber  against certain civil liabilities,  including  liabilities under
the Act.  PaineWebber  may engage in  transactions  with, or perform
services for, the Company in the ordinary course of business.

   The offering of Common  Stock  pursuant to the Sales  Agency  Agreement  will
terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of all shares of Common Stock subject
thereto,  or (ii)  termination of the Sales Agency  Agreement.  The Sales Agency
Agreement may be terminated by the Company in its sole  discretion  after giving
ten days written notice. PaineWebber has the right to terminate the Sales Agency
Agreement  after  giving  ten  days  written   notice,   and  in  certain  other
circumstances specified in the Sales Agency Agreement.


                                       


<PAGE>




   PROSPECTUS

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
              Resource Mortgage Capital, Inc.

  Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities Warrants
       to Purchase Common Stock, Warrants to Purchase
              Preferred Stock and Warrants to
                            Purchase Debt Securities

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

   Resource Mortgage Capital, a Virginia corporation (the Company),  directly or
through agents, dealers or underwriters  designated from time to time, may issue
and sell from time to time one or more of the following  types of its securities
(the  "Securities"):  (i) shares of its common stock,  par value $0.01 per share
("Common Stock"); (ii) shares of its preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share,
in one or more series ("Preferred Stock"), (iii) debt securities, in one or more
series, any series of which may be either senior debt securities or subordinated
debt securities  (collectively,  "Debt Securities" and, as appropriate,  "Senior
Debt Securities" or "Subordinated Debt  Securities"),  (iv) warrants to purchase
shares of Common  Stock  ("Common  Stock  Warrants");  (v)  warrants to purchase
Preferred Stock  ("Preferred  Stock  Warrants");  (vi) warrants to purchase debt
securities  ("Debt Warrants) and (vii) any combination of the foregoing,  either
individually  or as units  consisting of one or more of the  foregoing  types of
Securities.  The Securities offered pursuant to this Prospectus may be issued in
one or more series,  in amounts,  at prices and on terms to be determined at the
time of the offering of each such series.  The Securities offered by the Company
pursuant to this Prospectus will be limited to  $200,000,000  aggregate  initial
public  offering  price,  including  the  exercise  price  of any  Common  Stock
Warrants, Preferred Stock Warrants and Debt Warrants (collectively,  "Securities
Warrants"). As of the date of this Prospectus,  the Company has issued 1,552,500
shares of its Series A 9.75% Cumulative  Convertible Preferred Stock,  2,196,824
shares  of its  Series  B  9.55%  Cumulative  Convertible  Preferred  Stock  and
1,840,000 shares of its Series C 9.73% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.

   The  specific  terms  of each  offering  of  Securities  in
respect of which this  Prospectus  is being  delivered are set
forth  in  an  accompanying  Prospectus  Supplement  (each,  a
"Prospectus   Supplement")   relating  to  such   offering  of
Securities.    Such   specific    terms    include,    without
limitation,  to the extent  applicable  (1) in the case of any
series  of  Preferred   Stock,   the  specific   designations,
rights,  preferences,  privileges  and  restrictions  of  such
series of Preferred  Stock,  including  the  dividend  rate or
rates or the method for  calculating  same,  dividend  payment
dates,  voting  rights,   liquidation  preferences,   and  any
conversion,  exchange,  redemption or sinking fund provisions;
(2)  in the  case  of  any  series  of  Debt  Securities,  the
specific   designations,   rights  and  restrictions  of  such
series  of  Debt  Securities,   including  without  limitation
whether  the Debt  Securities  are Senior Debt  Securities  or
Subordinated  Debt  Securities,  the  currency  in which  such
Debt  Securities are  denominated  and payable,  the aggregate
principal amount,  stated maturity,  method of calculating and
dates for payment of interest  and  premium,  if any,  and any
conversion,  exchange,  redemption or sinking fund provisions;
(3)  in  the  case  of  the  Securities  Warrants,   the  Debt
Securities,  Preferred  Stock or Common Stock,  as applicable,
for which each such warrant is  exercisable,  and the exercise
price,  duration,  detachability  and call  provisions of each
such  warrant;  and  (4)  in  the  case  of  any  offering  of
Securities,  to the  extent  applicable,  the  initial  public
offering   price  or  prices,   listing   on  any   securities
exchange,  certain  federal  income tax  consequences  and the
agents,  dealers or  underwriters,  if any,  participating  in
the  offering and sale of the  Securities.  If so specified in
the   applicable   Prospectus   Supplement,   any   series  of
Securities  may be  issued  in whole or in part in the form of
one or more  temporary  or  permanent  Global  Securities,  as
defined herein.
                       ----------------


  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY
     THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE
       SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND
    EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED
    UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
    REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
                       ----------------

 THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAS NOT PASSED ON OR
   ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THIS OFFERING. ANY REPRESENTATION
                 TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL.
                       ----------------


   The  Company  may sell all or a portion  of any  offering  of its  Securities
through  agents,  to or through  underwriters  or dealers,  or directly to other
purchasers.  See "Plan of Distribution." The related  Prospectus  Supplement for
each offering of Securities  sets forth the name of any agents,  underwriters or
dealers  involved  in the  sale  of such  Securities  and  any  applicable  fee,
commission,  discount or  indemnification  arrangement  with any such party. See
"Use of Proceeds."

   This  Prospectus  may not be used to consummate  sales of  Securities  unless
accompanied by a Prospectus Supplement. The delivery in any jurisdiction of this
Prospectus together with a Prospectus Supplement relating to specific Securities
shall not  constitute  an offer in such  jurisdiction  of any  other  Securities
covered by this Prospectus but not described in such Prospectus Supplement.

                       ----------------
The date of this Prospectus is ___________, 1997.


<PAGE>



                              

   NO  DEALER,  SALESMAN  OR ANY OTHER  PERSON HAS BEEN  AUTHORIZED  TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION  OR TO MAKE  ANY  REPRESENTATIONS  OTHER  THAN  THOSE  CONTAINED  OR
INCORPORATED  BY REFERENCE IN THIS  PROSPECTUS  OR THE  ACCOMPANYING  PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR  REPRESENTATIONS  MUST NOT
BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING  BEEN  AUTHORIZED  BY THE  COMPANY OR ANY  UNDERWRITER,
AGENT OR DEALER.  NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS  PROSPECTUS  OR THE  ACCOMPANYING
PROSPECTUS  SUPPLEMENT NOR ANY DISTRIBUTION OF SECURITIES BEING OFFERED PURSUANT
TO THIS PROSPECTUS AND AN  ACCOMPANYING  PROSPECTUS  SUPPLEMENT  SHALL UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS
OF THE  COMPANY  SINCE  THE DATE  HEREOF  OR  THEREOF  OR THAT  THE  INFORMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN OR THEREIN IS CORRECT AT ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF
OR THEREOF.  THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE ACCOMPANYING  PROSPECTUS  SUPPLEMENT DO NOT
CONSTITUTE  AN  OFFER  TO  SELL,  OR A  SOLICITATION  OF AN  OFFER  TO  PURCHASE
SECURITIES BY ANYONE IN ANY  JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS
NOT  AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING THE OFFER OR  SOLICITATION  IS NOT
QUALIFIED  TO DO SO OR TO ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS  UNLAWFUL  TO MAKE SUCH  OFFER OR
SOLICITATION.



                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

   The Company is subject to the  informational  requirements  of the Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"),  and in  accordance
therewith  files  reports,  proxy  statements  and  other  information  with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  (the  "Commission").  Such reports,  proxy
statements  and other  information  filed by the  Company may be  inspected  and
copied at the public reference  facilities  maintained by the Commission at Room
1024, 450 Fifth Street,  N.W., Judiciary Plaza,  Washington,  D.C. 20549, and at
the Commission's following regional offices:  Chicago Regional Office,  Citicorp
Center 500 West Madison Street,  Suite 1400,  Chicago,  Illinois 60661;  and New
York Regional Office, 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10045.  Copies of
such material can also be obtained at prescribed rates from the Public Reference
Section  of  the  Commission  at  450  Fifth  Street,   N.W.,  Judiciary  Plaza,
Washington,  D.C.  20549.  The Common  Stock of the Company is listed on the New
York Stock  Exchange  ("NYSE")  and such  reports,  proxy  statements  and other
information  concerning the Company may also be inspected at the offices of such
Exchange at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. The Commission  maintains
a Web site that contains  reports,  proxy and  information  statements and other
information regarding the Company at http://www.sec.gov.

   The Company has filed with the  Commission a  Registration  Statement on Form
S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act"),  with
respect to the Securities  offered hereby.  This Prospectus does not contain all
of the information  set forth in the  Registration  Statement,  certain parts of
which  are  omitted  in  accordance  with  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the
Commission.  For  further  information  with  respect  to the  Company  and  the
Securities offered hereby,  reference is made to the Registration  Statement and
the exhibits and schedules thereto.  Statements  contained in this Prospectus as
to the contents of any contract or other documents are not necessarily complete,
and in  each  instance,  reference  is made to the  copy  of  such  contract  or
documents filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement
being qualified in all respects by such reference.

       INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

   
The following documents  previously filed with the Commission by the Company are
incorporated in this Prospectus by reference: Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended  December  31,  1995;  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March  31,1996;  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June
30, 1996;  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
1996 as amended by Form 10-Q/A filed on March 5, 1997; current report on Form 
8-K dated February 27, 1997; and the description of the Company's Common Stock 
contained in the Company's  Registration Statement on Form 8-A under the  
Exchange  Act,  including  any  amendment or report filed to update the 
description.
    

   All documents filed by the Company  pursuant to Sections 13(a),  13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the  Exchange  Act after the date of this  Prospectus  and prior to the
termination of the offering of all Securities shall be deemed to be incorporated
by reference in this  Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing
of such documents.  Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed
to be  incorporated  by  reference  herein  shall be  deemed to be  modified  or
superseded  for  purposes  of this  Prospectus  to the extent  that a  statement
contained  herein or in any  accompanying  Prospectus  Supplement  relating to a
specific  offering of Securities  or in any other  subsequently  filed  document
which also is or is deemed to be  incorporated  by reference  herein modifies or
supersedes such statement.  Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be
deemed,  except as so  modified  or  superseded,  to  constitute  a part of this
Prospectus or any accompanying Prospectus Supplement.  Subject to the foregoing,
all information appearing in this Prospectus is qualified in its entirety by the
information appearing in the documents incorporated herein by reference.

   The  Company  will  furnish  without  charge  to each  person  to  whom  this
Prospectus  is delivered,  on the written or oral request of any such person,  a
copy of any and all of the documents  described  above under  "Incorporation  of
Certain Documents by Reference,"  other than exhibits to such documents,  unless
such  exhibits  are  specifically  incorporated  by reference  therein.  Written
requests should be directed to: Resource Mortgage  Capital,  Inc., 10900 Nuckols
Road, Glen Allen,  Virginia 23060,  Attention:  Investor  Relations,  Telephone:
(804) 217-5800.


<PAGE>


                                   THE COMPANY

   Resource  Mortgage  Capital,  Inc.  (the  Company) is a mortgage and consumer
finance company which uses its production  operations to create  investments for
its portfolio.  Currently,  the Company's primary production  operations include
the origination of loans secured by multi-family  properties and the origination
of loans secured by manufactured  homes. Since its inception in 1987 through May
13, 1996, the Company's principal production operations included the purchase or
origination of single-family  loans. The Company sold such operations on May 13,
1996 to Dominion Mortgage Services,  Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dominion
Resources, Inc. (NYSE: D).

    The  Company  will  generally  securitize  loans  funded as  collateral  for
collateralized bonds, limiting its credit risk and providing long-term financing
for its portfolio. The majority of the Company's current investment portfolio is
comprised of loans or  securities  that have coupon rates which adjust over time
(subject to certain  limitations)  in  conjunction  with  changes in  short-term
interest  rates.  The Company  intends to expand its  production  sources in the
future to include  other  financial  products,  such as  commercial  real estate
loans.

   The Company's  principal source of earnings is the net interest income on its
investment portfolio. The Company's investment portfolio consists principally of
collateral for collateralized bonds,  adjustable-rate  mortgage (ARM) securities
and loans held for securitization.  The Company funds its portfolio  investments
with both  borrowings and cash raised from the issuance of equity  capital.  For
the  portion of  portfolio  investments  funded  with  borrowings,  the  Company
generates  net  interest  income to the extent  that there is a positive  spread
between the yield on the earning assets and the cost of borrowed funds. For that
portion of the balance  sheet that is funded with equity  capital,  net interest
income is primarily a function of the yield generated from the interest  earning
asset.  The cost of the  Company's  borrowings  may be increased or decreased by
interest rate swap, cap, or floor agreements.

   Generally,  during a period of  rising  interest  rates,  the  Company's  net
interest spread earned on its investment  portfolio will decrease.  The decrease
of the net interest  spread  results from (i) the lag in resets of the ARM loans
underlying the ARM securities and collateral for  collateralized  bonds relative
to the rate resets on the associated  borrowings and (ii) rate resets on the ARM
loans which are generally  limited to 1% every six months,  while the associated
borrowings  have no such  limitation.  As interest  rates  stabilize and the ARM
loans reset,  the net interest margin may be restored to its former level as the
yields on the ARM loans adjust to market  conditions.  Conversely,  net interest
margin may increase following a fall in short-term interest rates. This increase
may be  temporary  as the  yields  on the ARM  loans  adjust  to the new  market
conditions after a lag period. In each case,  however,  the Company expects that
the  increase  or  decrease  in the net  interest  spread  due to changes in the
short-term  interest  rates is  temporary.  The net interest  spread may also be
increased or decreased by the cost or proceeds of the interest rate swap, cap or
floor agreements.

   The Company seeks to generate growth in earnings and dividends per share in a
variety  of  ways,  including  (i)  adding  investments  to its  portfolio  when
opportunities   in  the  market  are  favorable;   (ii)  developing   production
capabilities  to  originate  and  acquire  financial  assets  in order to create
attractively  priced  investments  for its  portfolio,  as well as  control  the
underwriting  and servicing of such financial  assets;  and (iii) increasing the
efficiency with which the Company utilizes its equity capital over time.

   The  Company  elects to be taxed as a real estate  investment  trust (a REIT)
and, as a result,  is required to distribute  substantially  all of its earnings
annually to its shareholders.  In order to grow its equity base, the Company may
issue  additional  preferred or common stock.  Management  strives to issue such
additional shares when it believes  existing  shareholders are likely to benefit
from such  offerings  through  higher  earnings and  dividends per share than as
compared  to the level of  earnings  and  dividends  the  Company  would  likely
generate without such offerings.



<PAGE>



                                Other Information

   The  Company,  and  its  qualified  real  estate  investment  trust  ("REIT")
subsidiaries,  have  elected  to be  treated  as a REIT for  federal  income tax
purposes.  A REIT must distribute  annually  substantially  all of its income to
shareholders.  The Company and its qualified  REIT  subsidiaries  (collectively,
"Resource  REIT")  generally  will not be subject  to federal  income tax to the
extent that  certain  REIT  qualifications  are met.  Certain  other  affiliated
entities  which  are  consolidated  with the  Company  for  financial  reporting
purposes,  are not  consolidated  for federal  income tax purposes  because such
entities  are not  qualified  REIT  subsidiaries.  All  taxable  income of these
affiliated  entities  are  subject  to federal  and state  income  taxes,  where
applicable. See "Federal Income Tax Considerations."

   The  principal  executive  office of the Company is located at 10900  Nuckols
Road, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060, telephone number: (804) 217-5800.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

   Unless otherwise  specified in the applicable  Prospectus  Supplement for any
offering of Securities,  the net proceeds from the sale of Securities offered by
the Company will be available for the general corporate purposes of the Company.
These general corporate purposes may include,  without limitation,  repayment of
maturing obligations,  redemption of outstanding indebtedness,  financing future
acquisitions   (including  acquisitions  of  loans,  mortgage  loans  and  other
mortgage-related  products),  capital expenditures and working capital.  Pending
any such uses,  the  Company  may invest the net  proceeds  from the sale of any
Securities  or may use them to reduce  short-term  indebtedness.  If the Company
intends  to use  the  net  proceeds  from a sale  of  Securities  to  finance  a
significant  acquisition,  the related Prospectus  Supplements will describe the
material terms of such acquisition.

   If Debt  Securities  are issued to one or more  persons in  exchange  for the
Company's  outstanding debt securities,  the accompanying  Prospectus Supplement
related  to such  offering  of Debt  Securities  will set  forth  the  aggregate
principal  amount of the  outstanding  debt  securities  which the Company  will
receive in such  exchange and which will cease to be  outstanding,  the residual
cash payment,  if any,  which the Company may receive from such persons or which
such persons may receive from the Company, as appropriate,  the dates from which
the Company will pay interest  accrued on the outstanding  debt securities to be
exchanged  for the offered  Debt  Securities  and an  estimate of the  Company's
expenses in respect of such offering of the Debt Securities.

         RATIO OF AVAILABLE EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

   The Company's ratio of available earnings to fixed charges was 1:1 or greater
in each of the last five fiscal years.
The ratios were as follows:


<TABLE>
                                    Year ended December 31,
<S>                             <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>    
                                1996    1995    1994      1993    1992

                                -------------------------------
Ratio of available
earnings to fixed               1.56:1  1.26:1  1.35:1   1.69:1   1.80:1
charges (1)


<FN>
(1) For purposes of computing the ratios,  "available  earnings"  consist of net
income  before  income taxes plus  interest and debt expense and excludes  fixed
charges  related  to  Collateralized  bonds  issued  by the  Company  which  are
nonrecourse to the Company. This sum is divided by fixed charges, which consists
of total interest and debt expense, to determine the ratio of available earnings
to fixed charges.
</FN>
</TABLE>

   These  ratios  represent  a  measure  of the  ability  to meet  debt  service
obligations from funds generated from operations.

                            DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

   The following is a brief  description  of the material terms of the Company's
capital stock.  This  description does not purport to be complete and is subject
in all  respects  to  applicable  Virginia  law  and to  the  provisions  of the
Company's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, copies of which are on file with
the Commission as described under  "Available  Information" and are incorporated
by reference herein.

                                     General

   The  Company  may offer under this  Prospectus  one or more of the  following
categories of its  Securities:  (i) shares of its Common Stock,  par value $0.01
per share; (ii) shares of its Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, in one
or more series;  (iii) Debt  Securities,  in one or more  series,  any series of
which may be either Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated Debt Securities; (iv)
Common Stock Warrants;  (v) Preferred Stock  Warrants;  (vi) Debt Warrants;  and
(vii)  any  combination  of  the  foregoing,  either  individually  or as  units
consisting  of one or more of the types of  Securities  described in clauses (i)
through (vi). The terms of any specific  offering of  Securities,  including the
terms  of any  units  offered,  will be set  forth  in a  Prospectus  Supplement
relating to such offering.

   The Company's authorized equity capitalization  consists of 50 million shares
of Common  Stock,  par value $0.01 per share and 50 million  shares of preferred
stock, par value $0.01 per share. Neither the holders of the Common Stock nor of
any  preferred  stock,  now or  hereafter  authorized,  will be  entitled to any
preemptive or other  subscription  rights. The Common Stock is listed on the New
York Stock Exchange.  The Company  intends to list any additional  shares of its
Common  Stock  which are issued and sold  hereunder.  The  Company  may list any
series of its Preferred Stock which are offered and sold hereunder, as described
in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series of Preferred Stock.

                                  Common Stock

   As of December 31, 1996, there were 20,653,593  outstanding  shares of Common
Stock held by 3,416  holders of record.  Holders of Common Stock are entitled to
receive  dividends  when, as and if declared by the Board of  Directors,  out of
funds  legally  available  therefor.  Dividends  on any  outstanding  shares  of
preferred  stock must be paid in full  before  payment of any  dividends  on the
Common  Stock.  Upon  liquidation,  dissolution  or winding  up of the  Company,
holders of Common Stock are entitled to share  ratably in assets  available  for
distribution after payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the
prior rights of any holders of any preferred stock then outstanding.

   Holders of Common  Stock are  entitled to one vote per share with  respect to
all  matters  submitted  to a vote of  shareholders  and do not have  cumulative
voting rights.  Accordingly,  holders of a majority of the Common Stock entitled
to vote in any election of directors may elect all of the directors standing for
election, subject to the voting rights (if any) of any series of preferred stock
that  may  be  outstanding  from  time  to  time.  The  Company's   Articles  of
Incorporation  and  Bylaws  contain no  restrictions  on the  repurchase  by the
Company  of shares of the Common  Stock.  All the  outstanding  shares of Common
Stock are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

                                 Preferred Stock

   The Board of Directors is authorized to designate with respect to each series
of preferred stock the number of shares in each such series,  the dividend rates
and  dates  of  payment,  voluntary  and  involuntary  liquidation  preferences,
redemption  prices,  whether  or not  dividends  shall  be  cumulative  and,  if
cumulative,  the date or dates  from  which the same  shall be  cumulative,  the
sinking fund  provisions,  if any,  for  redemption  or purchase of shares,  the
rights,  if any, and the terms and  conditions  on which shares can be converted
into or exchanged for shares of another class or series,  and the voting rights,
if any. As of the date  hereof,  there were  1,552,500  shares of Series A 9.75%
Cumulative  Convertible  Preferred  Stock,  2,196,824  shares  of Series B 9.55%
Cumulative  Convertible  Preferred Stock and 1,840,000  shares of Series C 9.73%
Cumulative  Convertible  Preferred  Stock  (collectively,  the Preferred  Stock)
issued and outstanding.

   Any  preferred  shares  issued  will  rank  prior to the  Common  Stock as to
dividends and as to  distributions  in the event of liquidation,  dissolution or
winding  up of the  Company.  The  ability  of the Board of  Directors  to issue
preferred  stock,  while  providing  flexibility  in  connection  with  possible
acquisitions and other corporate purposes,  could, among other things, adversely
affect the voting powers of holders of Common Stock.

                               Securities Warrants

General

    The Company may issue Securities  Warrants for the Purchase of Common Stock,
Preferred  Stock or Debt  Securities.  Such  warrants  are referred to herein as
Common  Stock  Warrants,   Preferred   Stock  Warrants  or  Debt  Warrants,   as
appropriate.  Securities  Warrants may be issued  independently or together with
any other Securities  covered by the Registration  Statement and offered by this
Prospectus and any accompanying  Prospectus Supplement and may be attached to or
separate from such other Securities.  Each series of Securities Warrants will be
issued under a separate agreement (each, a "Securities Warrant Agreement") to be
entered into between the Company and a bank or trust company,  as agent (each, a
"Securities  Warrant  Agent"),  all as set  forth in the  Prospectus  Supplement
relating to the particular issue of offered Securities  Warrants.  Each issue of
Securities  Warrants will be evidenced by warrant  certificates (the "Securities
Warrant Certificates"). The Securities Warrant Agent will act solely as an agent
of the Company in connection with the Securities  Warrant  Certificates and will
not assume any  obligation  or  relationship  of agency or trust for or with any
holders of Securities  Warrant  Certificates or beneficial  owners of Securities
Warrants.  Copies of the definitive Securities Warrant Agreements and Securities
Warrant  Certificates  will be filed with the  Commission  by means of a Current
Report on Form 8-K in connection  with the offering of such series of Securities
Warrants.

   If Securities Warrants are offered, the applicable Prospectus Supplement will
describe  the  terms  of such  Securities  Warrants,  including  in the  case of
Securities  Warrants for the purchase of Debt  Securities,  the following  where
applicable:  (i) the  offering  price;  (ii) the  currencies  in which such Debt
Warrants are being offered;  (iii) the designation,  aggregate principal amount,
currencies, denominations and terms of the series of Debt Securities purchasable
upon  exercise  of such Debt  Warrants;  (iv) the  designation  and terms of any
Securities  with which such Debt  Warrants  are being  offered and the number of
such Debt Warrants  being offered with each such  Security;  (v) the date on and
after which such Debt Warrants and the related  Securities  will be transferable
separately;  (vi)  the  principal  amount  of  the  series  of  Debt  Securities
purchasable  upon  exercise of each such Debt Warrant and the price at which the
currencies in which such principal  amount of Debt Securities of such series may
be purchased upon such  exercise;  (vii) the date on which the right to exercise
such Debt Warrants  shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire
(the  "Expiration  Date");  (viii)  whether the Debt  Warrant  will be issued in
registered or bearer form; (ix) certain federal income tax consequences; and (x)
any other material terms of such Debt Warrants.

   In the case of  Securities  Warrants for the  purchase of Preferred  Stock or
Common Stock,  the applicable  Prospectus  Supplement will describe the terms of
such  Securities  Warrants,  including the following where  applicable:  (i) the
offering price; (ii) the aggregate number of shares purchasable upon exercise of
such Securities  Warrants,  and in the case of Securities Warrants for Preferred
Stock,  the  designation,  aggregate number and terms of the series of Preferred
Stock  purchasable  upon  exercise  of  such  Securities  Warrants;   (iii)  the
designation and terms of the Securities with which such Securities  Warrants are
being offered and the number of such Securities Warrants being offered with each
such Security; (iv) the date on and after which such Securities Warrants and the
related Securities will be transferable separately;  (v) the number of shares of
Preferred Stock or shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of each such
Securities  Warrant  and the price at which such  number of shares of  Preferred
Stock of such  series  or shares of  Common  Stock  may be  purchased  upon such
exercise;  (vi) the date on which the right to exercise such Securities Warrants
shall commence and the Expiration  Date on which such right shall expire;  (vii)
certain federal income tax consequences;  and (viii) any other material terms of
such Securities Warrants.

   Securities  Warrant  Certificates may be exchanged for new Securities Warrant
Certificates  of  different  denominations,  may  (if  in  registered  form)  be
presented for  registration  of transfer,  and may be exercised at the corporate
trust  office  of the  appropriate  Securities  Warrant  Agent or  other  office
indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.  Prior to the exercise of any
Securities  Warrant to purchase Debt  Securities,  holders of such Debt Warrants
will not have any of the rights of Holders  of the Debt  Securities  purchasable
upon such  exercise,  including  the right to  receive  payments  of  principal,
premium,  if any, or interest,  if any, on the Debt Securities  purchasable upon
such exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable Indenture.  Prior to the
exercise of any Securities Warrants to purchase Preferred Stock or Common Stock,
holders of such Preferred  Stock Warrants or Common Stock Warrants will not have
any  rights  of  holders  of the  respective  Preferred  Stock or  Common  Stock
purchasable  upon such  exercise,  including  the right to receive  payments  of
dividends,  if any, on the Preferred Stock or Common Stock purchasable upon such
exercise or to exercise any applicable right to vote.

Exercise of Securities Warrants

   Each  Securities  Warrant  will entitle the holder  thereof to purchase  such
principal  amount of Debt  Securities or number of shares of Preferred  Stock or
shares of Common Stock,  as the case may be, at such exercise  price as shall in
each case be set  forth  in,  or  calculable  from,  the  Prospectus  Supplement
relating to the offered Securities Warrants.  After the close of business on the
Expiration  Date  (or  such  later  date to which  such  Expiration  Date may be
extended by the Company), unexercised Securities Warrants will become void.

   Securities  Warrants may be exercised by delivering to the Securities Warrant
Agent  payment,  as provided in the  applicable  Prospectus  Supplement,  of the
amount required to purchase the applicable Debt  Securities,  Preferred Stock or
Common Stock  purchasable upon such exercise  together with certain  information
set  forth on the  reverse  side of the  Securities  Warrant  Certificate.  Upon
receipt of such  payment  and the  definitive  Securities  Warrant  Certificates
properly  completed  and duly  executed  at the  corporate  trust  office of the
Securities  Warrant  Agent  or any  other  office  indicated  in the  applicable
Prospectus  Supplement,  the Company  will,  as soon as  practicable,  issue and
deliver  the  applicable  Debt  Securities,  Preferred  Stock  or  Common  Stock
purchasable  upon such exercise.  If fewer than all of the  Securities  Warrants
represented  by  such  Securities  Warrant  Certificate  are  exercised,  a  new
Securities  Warrant  Certificate  will be  issued  for the  remaining  amount of
Securities Warrants.

Amendments and Supplements to Securities Warrant Agreements

   Each Securities Warrant Agreement may be amended or supplemented  without the
consent of the holders of the Securities  Warrants  issued  thereunder to effect
changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Securities Warrants
and that do not adversely  affect the interests of the holders of the Securities
Warrants.

Common Stock Warrant Adjustments

      Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable  Prospectus  Supplement,  the
exercise price of, and the number of shares of Common Stock covered by, a Common
Stock Warrant are subject to adjustment in certain  events,  including:  (i) the
issuance of Common Stock as a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock; (ii)
subdivisions  and  combinations  of the Common Stock;  (iii) the issuance to all
holders  of  Common  Stock of  certain  rights  or  warrants  entitling  them to
subscribe for or purchase  Common Stock within the number of days,  specified in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement, after the date fixed for the determination
of the  stockholders  entitled to receive such rights or warrants,  at less than
the  current  market  price (as  defined  in the  Securities  Warrant  Agreement
governing such series of Common Stock  Warrants);  and (iv) the  distribution to
all  holders  of Common  Stock of  evidences  of  indebtedness  or assets of the
Company  (excluding  certain cash dividends and distributions  described below).
The terms of any such  adjustment  will be specified  in the related  Prospectus
Supplement for such Common Stock Warrants.

No Rights as Stockholders

   Holders of Common Stock Warrants will not be entitled by virtue of being such
holders,  to vote,  to  consent,  to receive  dividends,  to  receive  notice as
stockholders  with  respect to any meeting of  stockholders  for the election of
directors  of the  Company  of any  other  matter,  or to  exercise  any  rights
whatsoever as stockholders of the Company.

Existing Securities Holders

   The Company may issue, as a dividend at no cost, such Securities  Warrants to
holders  of record of the  Company's  Securities  or any  class  thereof  on the
applicable record date. If Securities Warrants are so issued to existing holders
of Securities,  the applicable  Prospectus Supplement will describe, in addition
to the  terms  of the  Securities  Warrants  and the  Securities  issuable  upon
exercise  thereof,  the  provisions,  if any,  for a holder  of such  Securities
Warrants who validly exercises all Securities  Warrants issued to such holder to
subscribe  for  unsubscribed   Securities   (issuable  pursuant  to  unexercised
Securities  Warrants  issued to other  holders)  to the extent  such  Securities
Warrants have not been exercised.

                                 Debt Securities

General

   The Company may offer one or more series of its Debt Securities  representing
general, unsecured obligations of the Company. Any series of Debt Securities may
either (1) rank prior to all  subordinated  indebtedness of the Company and pari
passu with all other unsecured  indebtedness  of the Company  outstanding on the
date of the issuance of such Debt Securities  ("Senior Debt  Securities") or (2)
be subordinated in light of payments to certain other obligations of the Company
outstanding on the date of issuance  ("Subordinated  Debt Securities").  In this
Prospectus,  any indenture  relating to Subordinated Debt Securities is referred
to as a "Subordinated  Indenture" and the term "Indenture"  refers to Senior and
Subordinated Indentures, collectively.

   The aggregate  principal amount of Debt Securities which may be issued by the
Company will be set from time to time by the Board of  Directors.  Further,  the
amount  of Debt  Securities  which may be  offered  by this  Prospectus  will be
subject to the aggregate  initial offering price of Securities  specified in the
Registration Statement.  Each Indenture will permit the issuance of an unlimited
amount of Debt  Securities  thereunder  from time to time in one or more series.
Additional  debt  securities  may be issued  pursuant  to  another  registration
statement for issuance under any Indenture.  Any offering of Debt Securities may
be denominated in any currency composite designated by the Company.

   The following  description of the Debt Securities which may be offered by the
Company  hereunder  describes  certain  general terms and provisions of the Debt
Securities to which any Prospectus  Supplement may relate.  The particular terms
and  provisions  of the Debt  Securities  and the extent to which the  following
general  provisions  may  apply  to such  offering  of Debt  Securities  will be
described in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement relating to such offering of
Debt  Securities.  The  following  descriptions  of  certain  provisions  of the
Indentures do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their  entirety by
reference  to the  form  of  Senior  Indenture  or  Subordinated  Indenture,  as
appropriate.  The  definitive  Indenture  relating  to  each  offering  of  Debt
Securities  will be filed with the  Commission  by means of a Current  Report on
Form 8-K in connection  with the offering of such Debt  Securities.  All article
and section  references  appearing  herein are  references  to the  articles and
sections  of  the  appropriate   Indenture  and,  unless  defined  herein,   all
capitalized  terms have the  respective  meanings  specified in the  appropriate
Indenture.
   The Prospectus  Supplement  relating to any offering of Debt  Securities will
set forth the following  terms and other  information  to the extent  applicable
with respect to the Debt Securities being offered thereby;  (1) the designation,
aggregate principal amount,  authorized  denominations and priority of such Debt
Securities;  (2) the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal
amount of such Debt  Securities) at which such Debt  Securities  will be issued;
(3) the  currency  or  currency  units  for  which  the Debt  Securities  may be
purchased  and in  which  the  principal  of , and any  interest  on  such  Debt
Securities may be payable;  (4) the stated  maturity of such Debt  Securities or
means by which a  maturity  date may be  determined;  (5) the rate at which such
Debt  Securities will bear interest or the method by which such rate of interest
is to be  calculated  (which  rate  may be zero  in the  case  of  certain  Debt
Securities  issued at a price  representing a discount from the principal amount
payable at  maturity);  (6) the periods  during which such interest will accrue,
the dates on which such  interest  will be payable  (or the method by which such
dates may be determined; including without limitation that such rate of interest
may  bear  an  inverse   relationship   to  some  index  or  standard)  and  the
circumstances  under  which the  Company  may defer  payment  of  interest;  (7)
redemption provisions,  including any optional redemption, required repayment or
mandatory  sinking fund provisions;  (8) any terms by which such Debt Securities
may be convertible into shares of the Company's Common Stock, Preferred Stock or
any other  Securities of the Company,  including a description of the Securities
into which any such Debt Securities are convertible;  (9) any terms by which the
principal of such Debt Securities will be exchangeable  for any other Securities
of the Company;  (10) whether such Debt  Securities  are issuable as  definitive
Fully-Registered  Securities  (as defined  below) or Global  Securities  and, if
Global Securities are to be issued,  the terms thereof,  including the manner in
which  interest  thereon will be payable to the  beneficial  owners  thereof and
other book-entry  procedures,  any terms for exchange of such Global  Securities
into  definitive   Fully-Registered   Securities  (as  defined  below)  and  any
provisions  relating to the issuance of a temporary  Global  Security;  (11) any
additional restrictive covenants included for the benefit of the holders of such
Debt Securities;  (12) any additional events of default provided with respect to
such Debt  Securities;  (13) the terms of any Securities  being offered together
with such Debt Securities,  (14) whether such Debt Securities represent general,
unsecured  obligations  of the Company and (15) any other material terms of such
Debt Securities.

   If any of the Debt  Securities  are  sold for  foreign  currency  units,  the
restrictions, elections, tax consequences, specific terms, and other information
with respect to such issue of Debt  Securities  and such  currencies or currency
units will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to thereto.

Indenture Provisions

   The Debt  Securities  may be  issued in  definitive,  fully  registered  form
without coupons ("Fully Registered  Securities"),  or in a form registered as to
principal  only with coupons or in bearer form with  coupons.  Unless  otherwise
specified in the Prospectus  Supplement,  the Debt Securities will only be Fully
Registered Securities.  In addition, Debt Securities of a series may be issuable
in the form of one or more Global  Securities,  which will be  denominated in an
amount equal to all or a portion of the aggregate  principal amount of such Debt
Securities. See "Global Securities" below.

   One or more series of Debt  Securities may be sold at a substantial  discount
below their stated principal  amount,  bearing no interest or interest at a rate
that  at the  time of  issuance  is  below  market  rates.  Federal  income  tax
consequences  and special  considerations  applicable to any such series will be
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.

   Unless otherwise indicated in the related Prospectus  Supplement for a series
of Debt  Securities,  there are no provisions  contained in the Indentures  that
would  afford  holders of Debt  Securities  protection  in the event of a highly
leveraged transaction involving the Company.

   Global Securities. Any series of Debt Securities may be issued in whole or in
part in the form of one or more Global  Securities  that will be deposited with,
or on behalf of, the Depository identified in the Prospectus Supplement relating
to such  series.  Unless and until it is  exchanged in whole or in part for Debt
Securities  in  individually  certificated  form,  a Global  Security may not be
transferred  except as a whole to a nominee of the  Depository  for such  Global
Security,  or by a  nominee  for  the  Depository  to  the  Depository,  or to a
successor of the Depository or a nominee of such successor.

   The specific terms of the Depository  arrangement  with respect to any series
of Debt  Securities and the rights of, and  limitations on, owners of beneficial
interests in a Global Security representing all or a portion of a series of Debt
Securities  will be  described  in the  Prospectus  Supplement  relating to such
series.

   Modification  of  Indentures.  Unless  otherwise  specified  in  the  related
Prospectus  Supplement,  each  Indenture,  the  rights  and  obligations  of the
Company,  and the rights of the Holders may be modified  with  respect to one or
more series of Debt  Securities  issued under such Indenture with the consent of
the Holders of not less than a majority in principal  amount of the  outstanding
Debt Securities of each such series  affected by the  modification or amendment.
No  modification  of the terms of  payment  of  principal  or  interest,  and no
modification  reducing the percentage  required for  modification,  is effective
against any Holder without his consent.

   Events of Default.  Unless  otherwise  specified  in the  related  Prospectus
Supplement,  each  Indenture,  will  provide  that the  following  are Events of
Default with respect to any series of Debt  Securities  issued  thereunder:  (1)
default in the payment of the principal of any Debt Security of such series when
and as the same shall be due and  payable;  (2) default in making a sinking fund
payment,  if any,  when and as the same shall be due and payable by the terms of
the Debt  Securities  of such series;  (3) default for 30 days in payment of any
installment of interest on any Debt Securities of such series; (4) default for a
specified  number of days after notice in the performance of any other covenants
in respect of the Debt Securities of such series contained in the Indenture; (5)
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or court appointment
of a receiver,  liquidator,  or trustee of the Company or its property;  and (6)
any other Event of Default  provided in the  applicable  supplemental  indenture
under which such series of Debt  Securities is issued.  An Event of Default with
respect to a particular series of Debt Securities issued under an Indenture will
not necessarily  constitute an Event of Default with respect to any other series
of Debt Securities  issued under such Indenture.  The trustee under an Indenture
may  withhold  notice to the  Holders  of any series of Debt  Securities  of any
default  with  respect to such  series  (except in the payment of  principal  or
interest) if it considers such withholding in the interests of such Holders.

   If an Event of Default  with respect to any series of Debt  Securities  shall
have occurred and be continuing,  the appropriate trustee under the Indenture or
the Holders of not less than 25% in the aggregate  principal  amount of the Debt
Securities  of  such  series  may  declare  the  principal,  or in the  case  of
discounted  Debt  Securities,  such  portion  thereof as may be described in the
Prospectus  Supplement,  of all the Debt Securities of such series to be due and
payable immediately.

   Within four months after the close of each fiscal year, the Company will file
with each  trustee  under the  indentures  a  certificate,  signed by  specified
officers,  stating  whether or not such officers have  knowledge of any default,
and, if so, specifying each such default and the nature thereof.

   Subject to  provisions  relating to its duties in case of default,  a trustee
under the Indentures  shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights
or powers under the applicable Indenture at the request,  order, or direction of
any Holder,  unless such Holders  shall have offered to such trustee  reasonable
indemnity.  Subject to such  provisions  for  indemnification,  the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series may direct the
time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the  appropriate  trustee,  or exercising any trust or power conferred upon such
trustee, with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.

   Payment and Transfer.  Principal  of, and premium and  interest,  if any, on,
fully Registered Securities will be payable at the Place of Payment as specified
in the applicable Prospectus  Supplement,  provided that payment of interest, if
any,  may be  made,  unless  otherwise  provided  in the  applicable  Prospectus
Supplement,  by check  mailed to the person in whose names such Debt  Securities
are  registered  at the close of  business on the day or days  specified  in the
Prospectus  Supplement or transfer to an account maintained by the payee located
inside the United  States.  The principal of, and premium and interest,  if any,
on,  Debt  Securities  in other  forms  will be payable in the manner and at the
place or places as  designated  by the Company and  specified in the  applicable
Prospectus  Supplement.  Unless otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement,
payment of interest may be made,  in the case of Bearer  Security by transfer to
an account maintained by the payee with a bank outside the United States.

   Fully Registered  Securities may be transferred or exchanged at the corporate
trust  office of the  trustee or any other  office or agency  maintained  by the
Company  for  such  purposes,  subject  to the  limitations  in  the  applicable
Indenture,  without  the  payment of any  service  charge  except for any tax or
governmental charge incidental thereto.  Provisions with respect to the transfer
and  exchange  of Debt  Securities  in  other  forms  will be set  forth  in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.

   Defeasance.  The  Indentures  provide  that each will  cease to be of further
effect with respect to a certain series of Debt  Securities  (except for certain
obligations  to register  the  transfer or  exchange of  Securities)  if (a) the
Company  delivers  to  the  Trustee  for  the  Securities  of  such  series  for
cancellation  of  all  Securities  of  all  series  and  the  coupons,  if  any,
appertaining thereto, or (b) if the Company deposits into trust with the Trustee
money or United  States  government  obligations,  that,  through the payment of
interest  thereon and  principal  thereof in accordance  with their terms,  will
provide  money in an  amount  sufficient  to pay all of the  principal  of,  and
interest on, the Securities of such series on the dates such payments are due or
redeemable in accordance with the terms of such Securities.

         Certain Charter and Virginia Law Provisions

   Unless the amendment  effects an extraordinary  transaction,  the Articles of
Incorporation  of the Company may be amended with the approval of the holders of
a majority  of the  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock,  subject to the voting
rights (if any) of any series of preferred  stock that may be  outstanding  from
time to time. Amendments that effect extraordinary  transactions,  which include
mergers, share exchanges, a sale of substantially all the assets of the Company,
the  dissolution of the Company or the share  ownership  restrictions  described
below,  require  the  approval  of the  holders of more than  two-thirds  of the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock  (subject to any voting rights of any series
of preferred stock outstanding).

   Special  meetings  of the  shareholders  of the  Company  may be  called by a
majority of the Board of Directors,  a majority of the  unaffiliated  directors,
the Chairman of the Board, the President or generally by shareholders holding at
least 25% of the outstanding  shares of Common Stock entitled to be voted at the
meeting.

   Virginia law and the Articles of  Incorporation  of the Company  provide that
the directors and officers of the Company shall have no liability to the Company
or its  shareholders  in certain actions brought by or on behalf of shareholders
of the Company unless such officer or director has engaged in willful misconduct
or violations of federal or state securities laws and certain other activities.

      Repurchase of Shares and Restrictions on Transfer

   Two of the requirements  for  qualification  for the tax benefits  accorded a
REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("the Code"),  are that
(i)  during  the  last  half of each  taxable  year  not  more  than  50% of the
outstanding  shares  may be  owned  directly  or  indirectly  by five  or  fewer
individuals  and (ii) there must be at least 100  shareholders  for at least 335
days in each taxable year. Those  requirements apply for all taxable years after
the year in which a REIT elects REIT status.

   The  Articles of  Incorporation  prohibit any person or group of persons from
acquiring or holding, directly or indirectly, ownership of a number of shares of
capital  stock in excess of 9.8% of the  outstanding  shares.  Shares of capital
stock  owned by a person  or group of  persons  in excess  of such  amounts  are
referred to as "Excess Shares." For this purpose the term "ownership" is defined
in accordance with the Code, the  constructive  ownership  provisions of Section
544 of the Code and Rule 13d-3  promulgated under the Exchange Act, and the term
"group"  is defined to have the same  meaning as that term has for  purposes  of
Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, shares of capital stock owned
or deemed to be owned by a person  who  individually  owns less than 9.8% of the
shares outstanding may nevertheless be Excess Shares.

   For purposes of determining whether a person holds Excess Shares, a person or
group will be treated as owning not only  shares of capital  stock  actually  or
beneficially  owned,  but also any shares of capital  stock  attributed  to such
person or group under the constructive ownership provisions contained in Section
544 of the Code.

   The Articles of  Incorporation  provide that in the event any person acquires
Excess  Shares,  each Excess Share may be redeemed at any time by the Company at
the closing price of a share of capital stock on the New York Stock  Exchange on
the last  business  day prior to the  redemption  date.  From and after the date
fixed for redemption of Excess Shares, such shares shall cease to be entitled to
any  distribution  and other  benefits,  except only the right to payment of the
redemption price for such shares.

   Under the  Articles of  Incorporation  any  acquisition  of shares that would
result in failure  to  qualify  as a REIT under the Code is void to the  fullest
extent  permitted by law, and the Board of Directors is  authorized to refuse to
transfer  shares to a person if, as a result of the transfer,  that person would
own Excess Shares.  Prior to any transfer or transaction  which, if consummated,
would cause a shareholder to own Excess Shares,  and in any event upon demand by
the Board of Directors,  a  shareholder  is required to file with the Company an
affidavit setting forth, as to that shareholder,  the information required to be
reported in returns filed by  shareholders  under  Treasury  Regulation  Section
1.857-9  under the Code and in reports filed under Section 13(d) of the Exchange
Act.  Additionally,  each proposed  transferee of shares of capital stock,  upon
demand of the Board of  Directors,  also may be required to file a statement  or
affidavit  with the Company  setting forth the number of shares already owned by
the transferee and any related person.

   The  Common  Stock may not be  purchased  by  nonresident  aliens or  foreign
entities.  In  addition,  the  Common  Stock  may not be  held by  "disqualified
organizations"  within  the  meaning of Section  860E(e)(5)  of the Code,  which
generally  includes  governmental  entities  and other  tax-exempt  persons  not
subject to the tax on unrelated business taxable income.

                          Transfer Agent and Registrar

   The  transfer  agent and the  registrar  for the  Company's
Common Stock is First Union  National Bank of North  Carolina,
Charlotte, North Carolina.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

   The Company may sell  Securities  (1) through  underwriters  or dealers,  (2)
directly  to  one or  more  purchasers,  or (3)  through  agents.  A  Prospectus
Supplement  will set forth the terms of the offering of the  Securities  offered
thereby, including the name or names of any underwriters,  the purchase price of
the Securities,  and the proceeds to the Company from the sale, any underwriting
discounts and other items constituting underwriters'  compensation,  any initial
public offering price, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid
to dealers,  and any securities  exchange on which the Securities may be listed.
Only  underwriters  so named  in the  Prospectus  Supplement  are  deemed  to be
underwriters in connection with the Securities offered thereby.

   If underwriters are used in the sale in a firm commitment  underwriting,  the
Securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be
resold  from  time to time in one or  more  transactions,  including  negotiated
transactions,  at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices  determined
at the time of  sale.  The  obligations  of the  underwriters  to  purchase  the
Securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters
will be obligated to purchase all the  Securities  of the series  offered by the
Company's  Prospectus  Supplement if any of the Securities  are  purchased.  Any
initial  public  offering  price and any  discounts  or  concessions  allowed or
reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

   Only  underwriters  named  in the  Prospectus  Supplement  are  deemed  to be
underwriting  in  connection  with the  Securities  in  respect  of  which  such
Prospectus  Supplement and this Prospectus are delivered and any firms not named
therein  are not  parties  to the  underwriting  agreement  in  respect  of such
Securities and will have no direct or indirect participation in the underwriting
thereof,  although they may  participate in the  distribution of such Securities
under circumstances where they may be entitled to a dealer's commission.

   Securities  may  also be sold  directly  by the  Company  or  through  agents
designated by the Company from time to time. The  Securities  offered hereby may
also be sold from time to time  through  agents for the  Company by means of (i)
ordinary  broker's  transactions,  (ii) block  transactions  (which may  involve
crosses) in accordance with the rules of the Exchanges, in which such agents may
attempt to sell Securities as agent but may purchase and resell all or a portion
of the blocks as principal, (iii) "fixed price offerings" in accordance with the
rules of the  Exchanges,  or (iv) a combination  of any such methods of sale. In
connection  therewith,  distributors'  or  sellers'  commissions  may be paid or
allowed  which  will not exceed  those  customary  in the types of  transactions
involved. A Prospectus  Supplement sets forth the terms of any such "fixed price
offering,"  "exchange  distributions"  and  "special  offerings."  If the  agent
purchases  Securities  as principal,  it may sell such  Securities by any of the
methods  described  above.  Any  agent  involved  in the  offering  and  sale of
Securities in respect of which this  Prospectus  is delivered is named,  and any
commissions  payable  by the  Company  to  such  agent  are  set  forth,  in the
Prospectus  Supplement.  Unless otherwise  indicated herein or in the Prospectus
Supplement,  any such agent is acting on a best-efforts  basis for the period of
its appointment.

   If so  indicated in the  Prospectus  Supplement,  the Company will  authorize
agents,  underwriters,  or dealers to  solicit  offers by certain  institutional
investors to purchase Securities  providing for payment and delivery on a future
date  specified in the  Prospectus  Supplement.  There may be limitations on the
minimum amount which may be purchased by any such  institutional  investor or on
the portion of the aggregate principal amount of the particular Securities which
may be sold pursuant to such arrangements. Institutional investors to which such
offers may be made,  when  authorized,  include  commercial  and savings  banks,
insurance  companies,  pension  funds,  investment  companies,  educational  and
charitable  institutions,  and such other institutions as may be approved by the
Company.  The  obligations  of any  such  purchasers  pursuant  to such  delayed
delivery and payment  arrangements  will not be subject to any conditions except
(1) the purchase by an institution of the particular Securities shall not at the
time of delivery be prohibited  under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United
States  to  which  such  institution  is  subject,  and  (2) if  the  particular
Securities are being sold to  underwriters,  the Company shall have sold to such
underwriters  the total  principal  amount of such Securities less the principal
amount  thereof  covered by such  arrangements.  Underwriters  will not have any
responsibility   in  respect  of  the  validity  of  such  arrangements  or  the
performance of the Company or such institutional investors thereunder.

   Agents and underwriters  may be entitled under  agreements  entered into with
the Company to indemnification by the Company against certain civil liabilities,
including  liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribution with
respect to payments which the agents or underwriters  may be required to make in
respect thereof.  Agents and  underwriters  may engage in transactions  with, or
perform services for, the Company in the ordinary course of business.

   If an agent or agents are utilized in the sale, such persons may be deemed to
be  "underwriters",  and any documents,  commissions or concessions  received by
them from the Company or any profit on the resale of  Securities  by them may be
deemed to be underwriting  discounts and  commissions  under the Securities Act.
Any such person who may be deemed to be an underwriter and any such compensation
received from the Company will be described in the Prospectus Supplement.



<PAGE>


              FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

Federal Income Taxation of Shareholders

   The  following  section is a general  summary of certain  federal  income tax
aspects of an investment in the Company that should be considered by prospective
shareholders.  The discussion in this section is based on existing provisions of
the Code, existing and proposed Treasury regulations,  existing court decisions,
and existing rulings and other administrative  interpretations.  There can be no
assurance that future Code provisions or other legal  authorities will not alter
significantly  the tax  consequences  described  below.  No  rulings  have  been
obtained  from  the  Internal  Revenue  Service  concerning  any of the  matters
discussed in this section.

   The Company  and its  qualified  REIT  subsidiaries  (collectively  "Resource
REIT") believes it has complied,  and intends to comply in the future,  with the
requirements for  qualification as a REIT under the Code. The federal income tax
provisions governing REITs and their shareholders are extremely complicated, and
what  follows is only a very  brief and  general  summary of the most  important
considerations for shareholders. ACCORDINGLY, PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE URGED TO
CONSULT  THEIR OWN TAX  ADVISORS  CONCERNING  THE  FEDERAL,  STATE AND LOCAL TAX
CONSEQUENCES  OF THE  PURCHASE,  OWNERSHIP  AND  DISPOSITION  OF  SHARES  OF THE
COMPANY.

General Considerations

   Resource REIT believes it has complied,  and intends to comply in the future,
with the  requirements  for  qualification  as a REIT  under the Code.  Venable,
Baetjer  and  Howard,  LLP,  counsel to the  Company,  has given the Company its
opinion  to the effect  that,  as of the date  hereof  and based on the  various
representations  made to it by the Company with  respect to its income,  assets,
and  activities  since its  inception,  and subject to certain  assumptions  and
qualifications stated in such opinion, (i) Resource REIT qualifies for treatment
as a REIT under the Code and (ii) the organization  and  contemplated  method of
operation of Resource REIT are such as to enable it to continue so to qualify in
subsequent years,  provided the various operational  requirements of REIT status
are satisfied in those years.  However,  investors should be aware that opinions
of counsel are not binding on the courts or the Internal Revenue Service. To the
extent that Resource REIT  qualifies as a REIT for federal  income tax purposes,
it  generally  will not be subject  to  federal  income tax on the amount of its
income  or  gain  that  is  distributed  to   shareholders.   However,   certain
nonqualified  REIT  subsidiaries  of the Company,  which  operate the  Company's
production  operations  and are  included  in the  Company's  consolidated  GAAP
financial statements, are not qualified REIT subsidiaries.  Consequently, all of
the  nonqualified  REIT  subsidiary's  taxable  income is subject to federal and
state income taxes.

   The  REIT  rules  generally  require  that a REIT  invest  primarily  in real
estate-related  assets,  its  activities be passive  rather than active,  and it
distribute annually to its shareholders a high percentage of its taxable income.
The Company  could be subject to a number of taxes if it failed to satisfy those
rules or if it acquired certain types of income-producing  real property through
foreclosure.  Although no complete assurances can be given, the Company does not
expect that it will be subject to material amounts of such taxes.

   Resource REIT's failure to satisfy certain Code requirements  could cause the
Company to lose its status as a REIT.  If  Resource  REIT failed to qualify as a
REIT for any taxable year, it would be subject to federal  income tax (including
any  applicable  minimum tax) at regular  corporate  rates and would not receive
deductions  for  dividends  paid to  shareholders.  As a result,  the  amount of
after-tax  earnings  available for  distribution to shareholders  would decrease
substantially.  While the Board of Directors  intends to cause  Resource REIT to
operate  in a manner  that will  enable it to  qualify  as a REIT in all  future
taxable  years,  there can be no certainty  that such intention will be realized
because, among other things, qualification hinges on the conduct of the business
of Resource REIT.

Taxation of Distributions by the Company

   Assuming that Resource REIT maintains its status as a REIT, any distributions
that are properly designated as "capital gain dividends" generally will be taxed
to shareholders as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long a shareholder
has owned his shares.  Any other  distributions  out of Resource REIT current or
accumulated  earnings and profits will be dividends  taxable as ordinary income.
Shareholders will not be entitled to dividends-received  deductions with respect
to any  dividends  paid by Resource  REIT.  Distributions  in excess of Resource
REIT's current or  accumulated  earnings and profits will be treated as tax-free
returns of capital,  to the extent of the  shareholder's  basis in his shares of
capital stock,  and as gain from the  disposition of shares,  to the extent they
exceed  such  basis.  Shareholders  may not  include on their own returns any of
Resource  REIT  ordinary  or  capital  losses.   Distributions  to  shareholders
attributable to "excess inclusion income" of Resource REIT will be characterized
as excess  inclusion income in the hands of the  shareholders.  Excess inclusion
income can arise from  Resource  REIT's  holdings of residual  interests in real
estate   mortgage   investment   conduits   and  in  certain   other   types  of
mortgage-backed  security structures created after 1991. Excess inclusion income
constitutes  unrelated business taxable income ("UBTI") for tax-exempt  entities
(including employee benefit plans and individual  retirement  accounts),  and it
may not be offset by current deductions or net operating loss carryovers. In the
unlikely event that the Company's  excess  inclusion  income is greater than its
taxable  income,  the  Company's  distribution  would be based on the  Company's
excess inclusion income. Although Resource REIT itself would be subject to a tax
on any excess  inclusion  income  that  would be  allocable  to a  "disqualified
organization"   holding  its  shares,   Resource  REIT's  by-laws  provide  that
disqualified organizations are ineligible to hold Resource REIT's shares.

   Dividends  paid by Resource REIT to  organizations  that generally are exempt
from federal  income tax under Section  501(a) of the Code should not be taxable
to them as UBTI  except to the extent  that (i)  purchase  of shares of Resource
REIT was financed by "acquisition  indebtedness," (ii) such dividends constitute
excess inclusion income or (iii) with respect to the trusts owning more than 10%
of the shares of Resource REIT,  under certain  circumstances  a portion of such
dividend is  attributable  to UBTI.  Because an  investment in Resource REIT may
give rise to UBTI or trigger the filing of an income tax return  that  otherwise
would  not  be   required,   tax-exempt   organizations   should  give   careful
consideration to whether an investment in Resource REIT is prudent.

Taxation of Dispositions of Shares of the Common Stock

   In general,  any gain or loss realized upon a taxable  disposition  of shares
will be treated as  long-term  capital gain or loss if the shares have been held
for more than twelve months and  otherwise as  short-term  capital gain or loss.
However,  any loss  realized upon a taxable  disposition  of shares held for six
months or less will be treated as  long-term  capital  loss to the extent of any
capital gain dividends received with respect to such shares. All or a portion of
any loss realized upon a taxable  disposition  of Shares of Resource REIT may be
disallowed  if other  shares of Resource  REIT are  purchased  (under a dividend
reinvestment plan or otherwise) within 30 days before or after the disposition.

Backup Withholding

   Resource  REIT  generally  is required  to  withhold  and remit to the United
States  Treasury 31% of the  dividends  or certain  gross  proceeds  paid to any
shareholder  who (i) fails to  furnish  Resource  REIT  with a correct  taxpayer
identification  number,  (ii)  is the  subject  of a  notification  received  by
Resource  REIT that such  shareholder  has  underreported  dividend  or interest
income to the Internal  Revenue Service,  or (iii) under certain  circumstances,
fails to certify to Resource REIT that he is not subject to backup  withholding.
An individual's taxpayer identification number is his social security number.



<PAGE>


Debt Securities

   The Debt  Securities will be taxable as  indebtedness.  Interest and original
issue discount, if any, on a Debt Security will be treated as ordinary income to
a holder. Any special tax  considerations  applicable to a Debt Security will be
described in the related Prospectus Supplement.

Exercise of Securities Warrants

   Upon a  holder's  exercise  of a  Securities  Warrant,  the holder  will,  in
general,  (i) not  recognize  any income,  gain or loss for  federal  income tax
purposes,  (ii) receive an initial tax basis in the Security  received  equal to
the sum of the holder's tax basis in the  exercised  Securities  Warrant and the
exercise  price paid for such  Security and (iii) have a holding  period for the
Security received beginning on the date of exercise.

Sale or Expiration of Securities Warrants

   If a holder of a  Securities  Warrant  sells or  otherwise  disposes  of such
Securities  Warrant  (other than by its  exercise),  the holder  generally  will
recognize  capital  gain or loss (long term capital gain or loss if the holder's
holding period for the Securities  Warrant  exceeds twelve months on the date of
disposition; otherwise, short term capital gain or loss) equal to the difference
between (i) the cash and fair market value of other  property  received and (ii)
the holder's tax basis (on the date of  disposition)  in the Securities  Warrant
sold. Such a holder  generally will recognize a capital loss upon the expiration
of an  unexercised  Securities  Warrant  equal to the  holder's tax basis in the
Securities Warrant on the expiration date.

State and Local Tax Considerations

   State  and  local  tax laws may not  correspond  to the  federal  income  tax
principles discussed in this section. Accordingly,  prospective investors should
consult their tax advisers concerning the state and local tax consequences of an
investment in Resource REIT.

                                 LEGAL OPINIONS

   The  validity  of the shares  will be passed upon for the Company by Venable,
Baetjer and Howard, LLP, Baltimore, Maryland.

                                     EXPERTS

      The  consolidated  financial  statements  and  schedules  of  the  Company
included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1995, and the consolidated  financial statements of the Company for the year
ended  December 31, 1996 included in the Company's  Form 8-K dated  February 27,
1997, have been audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent  auditors,  as set
forth in their reports included therein,  and incorporated  herein by reference.
Such  financial  statements and schedules  have been  incorporated  by reference
herein in reliance  upon the reports of that firm and upon the authority of that
firm as experts in auditing and accounting.




<PAGE>


                                     Part II

            INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS


       




   
Item 16. Exhibits (unless otherwise noted, all exhibits listed are filed.)
    

      1.1  Form of Sales Agency Agreement with PaineWebber
           Incorporated.

      5.1  Legal Opinion of Venable, Baetjer and Howard, LLP. 

   
      8.1  Tax opinion of Venable, Baetjer and
           Howard, LLP. (filed herewith)
    

      12.2  Ratio of Available Earnings to Fixed Charges.

      23.1 Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

      23.2  Consent of Venable, Baetjer and Howard,
            LLP (contained in Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1).

<PAGE>




                                   SIGNATURES


   
Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  the  Registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form  S-3 and has  caused  this  Amendment  to the
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto
duly  authorized,  in the city of Richmond and the State of Virginia on March 
5, 1997.
    


                                    RESOURCE MORTGAGE CAPITAL, INC.

                                    Thomas H.Potts
                                    --------------- 
                                    Thomas H. Potts,
                                    President
                                    (Principal Executive
                                    Officer)


   
      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
to the  Registration  Statement has been signed by the following  persons in the
capacities indicated on March 5, 1997.
    

Signature                                   Capacity

Thomas H. Potts                      President and Director
- -------------------
Thomas H. Potts                      (Principal Executive
                                     Officer)

Lynn K. Geurin                       Executive Vice President,
                                     Chief Financial Officer
- -------------------
Lynn K. Geurin                       (Principal Financial and
                                     Accounting Officer)


*
- -------------------
J. Sydney                            Director
Davenport, IV

*
- -------------------
Richard C. Leone                     Director

*
- -------------------
Paul S. Reid                         Director

*
- -------------------
Donald B. Vaden                      Director


*By  Thomas H. Potts
     -------------------
            Attorney-in-fact



<PAGE>






                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



   
EXHIBIT (Unless otherwise noted, all exhibits listed were filed previously)
    

1.1    Form of Sales Agency Agreement with PaineWebber
       Incorporated.

5.1    Legal Opinion of Venable, Baetjer and Howard, LLP.

   
8.1    Tax opinion of Venable, Baetjer and Howard, LLP. (filed herewith)
    

12.1   Ratio of Available Earnings to Fixed Charges.

23.1   Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

23.2   Consent of Venable,  Baetjer and Howard,  LLP  (contained in Exhibits 5.1
       and 8.1).




<PAGE>



       

                                                                    
   


                                                           Exhibit 8.1



                                March 5, 1997


Resource Mortgage Capital, Inc.
10900 Nuckols Road
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060

                                 Re: Tax Opinion

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          We have acted as counsel to Resource Mortgage Capital, Inc. ("RMC") in
connection with the preparation of a registration  statement (the  "Registration
Statement") to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect
to an offering of shares of RMC's common stock.  You have  requested our opinion
regarding  RMC's  qualification  as a  real  estate  investment  trust  ("REIT")
pursuant to sections  856 through 860 of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as
amended (the "Code"),  for its 1996 taxable year. Unless otherwise  stated,  all
section  references herein are to the Code. In addition,  you have requested our
opinion with respect to whether RMC's  organization and  contemplated  method of
operations  are such as to enable it to  continue  to  qualify as a REIT for its
1997 taxable year and subsequent taxable years.

          RMC  has  a  number  of  wholly-owned  subsidiaries  ("qualified  REIT
subsidiaries"),  the income,  liabilities,  and assets of which are consolidated
with those of RMC for federal  income tax  purposes.  This letter refers to RMC,
together with such subsidiaries,  as "Consolidated  RMC." In connection with the
opinions rendered below, we have examined the following:

          1.   The Articles of Incorporation of RMC, as amended;

          2.   The bylaws of RMC as restated on June 22, 1992;

          3.   Consolidated RMC's federal income tax returns for its
taxable years 1994 and 1995; and

          4.   The prospectus included in the registration statement
with which this letter has been filed.

          In connection with the opinions rendered below, we have assumed that:

          1.   Each of the documents referred to above has been duly
authorized, executed, and delivered, is authentic, if an original, or
accurate, if a copy, and has not been amended;

          2. During  Consolidated RMC's 1997 taxable year and subsequent taxable
years,  it will  continue  to conduct its affairs in a manner that will make the
representations set forth below true for such years;

          3. Neither RMC nor any  subsidiary of RMC will make any  amendments to
its  organizational  documents  after the date of this opinion that would affect
Consolidated RMC's qualification as a REIT for any taxable year; and

          4. No actions will be taken by  Consolidated  RMC or any subsidiary of
RMC after the date hereof that would have the effect of altering  the facts upon
which the opinions set forth below are based.

          Furthermore,  we have relied  upon the  correctness  of the  following
representations of Consolidated RMC and its authorized  representatives that, at
all times relevant hereto:
     
          From the date RMC and Consolidated RMC were organized through the date
 hereof:
          1. Neither RMC nor any subsidiary thereof has ever been subject by law
to the  supervision  or  examination  by state,  or federal  authorities  having
supervision over banking institutions.

          2.  Neither  RMC nor any  subsidiary  thereof  has ever been a savings
institution chartered or supervised as a savings and loan or similar association
under federal or state law.

          3.  Neither  RMC nor any  subsidiary  thereof  has  ever  been a small
business investment company operating under the Small Business Investment Act of
1958.

          4. Neither RMC nor any  subsidiary  thereof was created by or pursuant
to an act of a state  legislature  for purposes of promoting,  maintaining,  and
assisting  the economy and industry  within a state on a regional or  state-wide
basis by making loans to be used in trades or businesses  which would  generally
not be made by banks  within  such  region  or state in the  ordinary  course of
business.

          5.   Neither RMC nor any subsidiary thereof was an insurance
company to which Subchapter L of the Code applies.

          6.   Beneficial ownership of the shares of RMC (the
"Shares") was held by 100 or more persons.

          7.   RMC is a self-managed entity and its Shares, subject to certain
excess share limitations, are transferable.

          8. At no time during the last half of any  taxable  year was more than
50% in value of the outstanding stock of RMC owned,  directly or indirectly,  by
or for five or fewer  individuals.  For this purpose,  the Shares are treated as
owned  indirectly by or for an individual if such individual would be treated as
owning such Shares under section 544 as modified by section 856(h).

          9.   Consolidated RMC's election to be treated as a REIT was
properly made , has not been revoked, and RMC has not been notified that such 
election has been terminated.

          10. At the close of each  quarter  of each  taxable  year  
seventy-fivepercent (75%) or more of the value of Consolidated  RMC's total 
assets consistedof cash and cash items (including  receivables arising in the
ordinary course ofConsolidated RMC's operations),  government  securities, 
and real estate assets(including interests in real property,  interests in
mortgages on real property,and  interests in REMICs to the extent  provided in
section  856(c)(6)(E)),  and shares or transferable  certificates  of
beneficial interest in other qualifiedREITs) (the "75% test").

          11. With respect to any  consumer  installment  loans on  manufactured
housing,  which are assets of  Consolidated  RMC as described  in  paragraph 10
immediately above, that the associated manufactured housing units are secured to
a site and are inherently permanent structures.

          12. Not more than five percent (5%) of the value of Consolidated RMC's
total assets  consisted of securities of any one issuer unless such securities
are treated as real estate assets under the 75% test.

          13.  The only stock that has ever been held by Consolidated RMC in 
Dynex Holding, Inc., SMFC Holding,Inc., and Saxon Holding, Inc. (the "non-REIT  
subsidiaries"), is nonvoting preferred stock and Consolidated RMC does not have
any agreement with the holders of the voting stock of the non-REIT subsidiaries 
or the directors of the non-REIT subsidiaries as to (i) who will be elected as 
a director of a non REIT subsidiary; (ii) who can own the voting stock of a 
non-REIT subsidiary; or (iii)who can or will serve as an officer of a 
non-REIT subsidiary.  In addition, Consolidated RMC does not own, and has not 
owned, more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding voting securities of any 
other corporation (or entity treated as a corporation for federal income tax 
purposes) at any point in time since the formation of RMC, excluding for
 purposes of this representation such securities treated as real estate assets 
under the 75% test.


          14.  Consolidated RMC did not receive or accrue any rents (other than
an inmaterial amount received from sublease tenants)from either real or personal
property.

          15. Consolidated RMC did not receive or accrue as income,  directly or
indirectly,  any  interest or other amount  determined  in whole or in part with
reference to the income or profits derived by any person (excluding interest (A)
based solely on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales or (B) to
the extent described in section 856(f)(2)).

          16.  Consolidated RMC did not own any mortgage whose terms entitled it
to receive a specified  portion of any gain  realized on the sale or exchange of
the real  property  securing  the mortgage or any gain that would be realized if
such property were sold on a specified date(i.e. shared appreciation mortgages).

          17. At least  seventy-five  percent (75%) of Consolidated  RMC's gross
income  (excluding  gross income from prohibited  transactions)  for any taxable
year was derived from:

               (a)  interest  on  obligations  secured by  mortgages  (including
consumer  installment  loans on  manufactured  housing)  on real  property or on
interests in real property,

               (b) gain  from the sale or  other  disposition  of real  property
(including  interests  in real  property  and  interests  in  mortgages  on real
property)  which was not held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in
the ordinary course of its trade or business,

               (c)  dividends  or other  distributions  on, and gain (other than
gain  from  prohibited  transactions)  from the sale or  other  disposition  of,
transferable  shares (or  transferable  certificates of beneficial  interest) in
other REITs,

               (d)  abatements and refunds of taxes on real property,

               (e)  income and gain derived from foreclosure property,

               (f)  amounts  (other  than  amounts  the  determination  of which
depends in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person)  received or
accrued as consideration  for entering into agreements (i) to make loans secured
by mortgages  on real  property or on  interests  in real  property,  or (ii) to
purchase  or lease real  property  (including  interests  in real  property  and
interests in mortgages on real property),

               (g) gain from the sale or other disposition of real estate assets
which is not a prohibited transaction solely by reason of section 857(b)(6), and

               (h) income which was  attributable  to stock or debt  instruments
acquired through the temporary investment of new capital and received or accrued
during  the one year  period  beginning  on the date on which  Consolidated  RMC
received such capital.

          18. At least  ninety-five  percent (95%) of  Consolidated  RMC's gross
income  (excluding  gross income from prohibited  transactions)  for any taxable
year was derived from:

               (a)  sources which satisfy the seventy-five percent
(75%) income test described in paragraph 17 above,

               (b)  dividends,

               (c)  interest,

               (d) payments with respect to bona fide  interest rate swap,  cap,
or  floor  agreements   entered  into  to  hedge  any  variable   interest  rate
indebtedness  incurred or to be incurred to acquire or carry real estate  assets
("interest rate agreements"), and

               (e)  gain  from  the  sale or other  disposition  of  stocks  and
securities (including interest rate agreements).

          19. Less than thirty percent (30%) of Consolidated  RMC's gross income
for any taxable year was derived from the sale or other disposition of:

               (a)  stock or securities (including interest rate
agreements) held for less than one year,

               (b)  property in a transaction which is a prohibited
transaction, and

               (c) real  property  (including  interests  in real  property  and
interests  in mortgages  on real  property)  held for less than four years other
than (i) property compulsorily or involuntarily  converted within the meaning of
section 1033, and (ii) property which is foreclosure property.

          20. For each taxable year, the deduction for dividends paid during the
taxable year (determined  without regard to capital gains dividends)  equaled or
exceeded (i) the sum of  ninety-five  percent (95%) of  Consolidated  RMC's real
estate investment trust taxable income for the taxable year (determined  without
regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding any net capital gains),
and ninety-five  percent (95%) of the excess of the net income from  foreclosure
property over the tax imposed on such income by section 857(b)(4)(A), minus (ii)
any excess noncash income as determined under section 857(e).

          21. All  distributions  paid by  Consolidated  RMC with respect to its
Shares were pro rata with no preference to any share of stock as compared to any
other  shares of the same class and with no  preference  (other than as required
under the  Amended  Articles  of  Incorporation  of RMC  between  its common and
preferred stock) to one class of stock as compared to another class.

          22.  As of the close of any taxable year, Consolidated RMC
had no earnings and profits accumulated in any non-REIT year.

          23.  During  its  taxable  year  1996,  RMC  has  had  at  least  2000
shareholders  of record of its  Shares on any  dividend  record  date.  In prior
taxable years,  RMC had at least 201 shareholders of record of its Shares in any
dividend record date.

          24. Promptly after the end of each taxable  year,  RMC
demanded written  statements from  shareholders of record who on any dividend
record date owned 5% (or 1%, as the case may be), or more of the Shares 
disclosing (i) the actual owners of the Shares (those persons  required to 
include  RMC's  dividends  in gross  income),  (ii) and the maximum  number 
of Shares  (including  the number  and face value of  securities convertible 
into Shares) that were  considered  owned,  directly or  indirectly
(within the meaning of section 544 as modified by section  856(h)) by each
of the actual owners of the Shares.

          25. RMC  maintained  the  information  received  with  respect to such
written demands in its filing district  available for inspection by the Internal
Revenue Service at any time.

          26. RMC  maintained  sufficient  records to show that it complied with
the 75% test  described at paragraph 10 above for all taxable years in its
filingdistrict available for inspection by the Internal Revenue Service at any 
time.

          27. RMC and the plan administrator  under RMC's Dividend  Reinvestment
and Stock  Purchase Plan (the "Plan") have  administered  the Plan in accordance
with the terms of the prospectus describing the Plan.

          28. RMC has owned all the stock of each qualified  REIT  subsidiary at
all times during the period of such corporation's existence.

          29.  During  its 1997  taxable  year  and  subsequent  taxable  years,
Consolidated  RMC  expects to  continue  to satisfy  all of the  representations
described in paragraphs 1 through 27 above.

          As used herein,  the term "prohibited  transaction"  means the sale or
other  disposition  of  property  held as  inventory  or  primarily  for sale to
customers in the ordinary  course of Consolidated  RMC's trade or business.  The
term "foreclosure property" means any real property (including interests in real
property) and any personal property incident to such real property,  acquired by
Consolidated  RMC  as  the  result  of  its  having  bid  in  such  property  at
foreclosure,   or  having  otherwise  reduced  such  property  to  ownership  or
possession  by agreement or process of law after there was a default (or default
was  imminent)  on a lease of such  property  or on an  indebtedness  which such
property  secured.  Such term does not include property acquired by Consolidated
RMC as a result of  indebtedness  arising from the sale or other  disposition of
property  held as inventory or for sale in the ordinary  course of  Consolidated
RMC's  trade or  business  which  was not  originally  acquired  as  foreclosure
property.

          Based solely on the documents,  assumptions,  and  representations set
forth  above,  and without  further  investigation,  we are of the opinion  that
Consolidated  RMC  qualified  as a REIT in its  1996  taxable  year and that its
organization and contemplated method of operation are such that it will continue
to so qualify for its 1997 taxable year and subsequent taxable years.  Except as
described  herein we have  performed no further due  diligence  and have made no
efforts to verify the accuracy or genuineness of the documents, assumptions, and
representations set forth above.

          The foregoing  opinion is based on current  provisions of the Code and
Treasury  Regulations,  published  administrative  interpretations  thereof, and
published  court  decisions.  The  Internal  Revenue  Service has not yet issued
Regulations or administrative interpretations with respect to various provisions
of the Code relating to REIT  qualification.  No assurance can be given that the
law will not change in a way that will prevent  Consolidated RMC from qualifying
as a REIT or that the  Internal  Revenue  Service  will not  disagree  with this
opinion.

          The  foregoing  opinion  is limited  to  federal  income  tax  matters
addressed  herein,  and no other  opinions  are  rendered  with respect to other
federal  tax  matters or any issues  arising  under the tax laws of any state or
locality.  We undertake no  obligation  to update this opinion after the date of
this letter.  This opinion letter is solely for the  information  and use of the
addressee and may not be relied upon,  quoted, or otherwise used for any purpose
by any other person without our express written consent.

          We consent to the references to this firm in the prospectus filed with
the  Registration  Statement  and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to
the  Registration  Statement  in which the  prospectus  is  included.  We do not
thereby  admit that we are  within the  category  of  persons  whose  consent is
required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                Very truly yours,

                              VENABLE, BAETJER, AND HOWARD, LLP

    
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