BAY APARTMENT COMMUNITIES INC
424B5, 1996-07-08
OPERATORS OF NONRESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
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<PAGE>   1
 
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION      
                               DATED JULY 5, 1996       Filed Pursuant to Rule
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT                                   424(b)(5). Registration
                                                        Number 33-92688
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED JULY 5, 1996)
 
                                5,000,000 SHARES
 
                        BAY APARTMENT COMMUNITIES, INC.
 
LOGO                              COMMON STOCK
 
                            ------------------------
 
     Bay Apartment Communities, Inc. (the "Company") is a fully integrated
apartment company that has engaged in apartment community acquisition,
development, construction, reconstruction, marketing, leasing and management for
over 18 years. The Company owns and operates upscale apartment communities with
extensive landscaping and amenities, a broad range of tenant services,
well-maintained common facilities and convenient access to shopping areas,
transportation or other services.
 
     The Company owns, or holds substantially all of the ownership interests in,
and manages 27 multifamily communities (the "Communities") containing 7,093
apartment homes. The Company also has entered into contracts to acquire six
additional apartment communities, containing 1,409 apartment homes (the "Current
Acquisition Communities") and owns or has under contract four land parcels on
which it currently intends to construct apartment communities containing an
additional 1,574 apartment homes (the "Current Development Communities"). The
Company has already commenced development of one of the Current Development
Communities, which will be a 300 apartment home community expected to be
completed in the first quarter of 1997. If the Company acquires all of the
Current Acquisition Communities and develops all of the Current Development
Communities as currently contemplated, it will increase its apartment homes
portfolio by 2,983 apartment homes, or by 42%. Almost all of the Communities are
located in Northern California, primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area. See
"Performance Since the Initial Offering -- Acquisition and Development Activity"
and "The Communities."
 
     All the shares of common stock offered hereby (the "Shares") are being sold
by the Company (the "Offering"). The outstanding shares of the Company's common
stock (the "Common Stock") are, and the Shares will be, listed on the New York
Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and the Pacific Stock Exchange (the "PSE") under the
symbol "BYA." Since the Company's initial public offering in March, 1994, it has
paid regular quarterly dividends to the holders of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock and has increased dividends twice. On July 3, 1996, the reported
last sale price of the Common Stock on the NYSE was $25 7/8 per share.
 
SEE "RISK FACTORS" ON PAGE S-15 FOR CERTAIN FACTORS RELEVANT TO AN INVESTMENT IN
                                  THE SHARES.
 
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 SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS TO
     WHICH IT RELATES. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
     OFFENSE.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                      <C>               <C>               <C>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             UNDERWRITING
                                                             PRICE TO        DISCOUNTS AND      PROCEEDS TO
                                                              PUBLIC        COMMISSIONS(1)      COMPANY(2)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Share...............................................         $                 $                 $
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total...................................................         $                 $                 $
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Assuming Full Exercise of Over-Allotment(3).......         $                 $                 $
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
(1) The Company has agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters against certain
    liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
    amended. See "Underwriting."
(2) Before deducting estimated expenses of $650,000 payable by the Company.
(3) The Company has granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to
    an additional 750,000 shares of Common Stock to cover over-allotments, if
    any. If all such shares are purchased, the total Price to Public,
    Underwriting Discounts and Commissions and Proceeds to Company will be
    $    , $    and $    , respectively. See "Underwriting."
                            ------------------------
 
     The Shares offered hereby are offered by the several Underwriters, subject
to prior sale, when, as and if delivered to and accepted by them and subject to
approval of certain legal matters by counsel for the Underwriters. The
Underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify such offer and to
reject orders in whole or in part. It is expected that delivery of the Shares
offered hereby will be made in New York, New York on or about           , 1996.
                            ------------------------
 
PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
                      DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
                                         A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
                                                        SMITH BARNEY INC.
                            ------------------------
           THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT IS          , 1996.
 
     INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN DECLARED
     EFFECTIVE BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. A FINAL PROSPECTUS
     SUPPLEMENT AND ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS WILL BE DELIVERED TO PURCHASERS.
     THIS PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SHALL
     NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR
     SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH
     SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR
     QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH JURISDICTION.
<PAGE>   2
 
                        Bay Apartment Communities, Inc.
 
                                  [INSERT MAP]
 
                            ------------------------
 
     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.
 
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE SHARES AT A
LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN MARKET. SUCH
TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, THE PACIFIC STOCK
EXCHANGE, IN THE OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET OR OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF
COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
                                       S-2
<PAGE>   3
 
                         PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
 
     The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information included elsewhere in this Prospectus Supplement and the
accompanying Prospectus or incorporated herein and therein by reference. Unless
otherwise indicated, the information contained in this Prospectus Supplement
assumes (i) an offering price per Share of $25 7/8 (the reported last sale price
per Share on July 3, 1996 was $25 7/8), (ii) that all net proceeds of the
Offering are used to acquire the Current Acquisition Communities and repay
borrowings under the Company's unsecured line of credit, and (iii) that the
Underwriters' over-allotment option is not exercised. Unless the context
otherwise requires, all references in this Prospectus Supplement to the
"Company" refer to Bay Apartment Communities, Inc. and its subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis. This Prospectus Supplement contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The
Company's actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the
forward-looking statements. Certain factors that might cause such a difference
are discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" starting on page S-15 of
this Prospectus Supplement. The Company cautions the reader, however, that the
factors discussed in that section may not be exhaustive.
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
     The Company is a fully-integrated apartment company with in-house
acquisition, development, construction, reconstruction, financing, marketing,
leasing and management expertise and is one of the most experienced developers
and operators of upscale apartment communities in Northern California and, in
particular, in the San Francisco Bay Area (i.e., Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin,
Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Sonoma, Santa Clara and Solano Counties). The
Company has been in business for over 18 years and its senior executives have
overseen the development, acquisition or management of over 30,000 apartment
homes. With its experience and in-house capabilities, the Company believes it is
well-positioned to continue to take advantage of the strong demand for upscale
apartment homes and the development and acquisition opportunities presented by
the current economic conditions in Northern California.
 
     The Company is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment
trust (a "REIT") that owns, or holds substantially all of the ownership
interests in, and manages 27 multifamily communities (the "Communities")
containing 7,093 apartment homes. On average, the Communities contain 263
apartment homes. The largest apartment community has 544 apartment homes and the
smallest has 135 apartment homes. As of June 30, 1996, the Communities had an
average monthly rental rate per apartment home of approximately $940 and an
average physical occupancy rate of 97.9%. The average age of the Communities is
10 years. In addition to the Communities, the Company has under contract six
additional apartment communities, containing 1,409 apartment homes (the "Current
Acquisition Communities"). The Company also owns or has under contract four land
parcels on which it currently intends to develop four apartment communities with
an aggregate of 1,574 apartment homes (the "Current Development Communities").
The Company is currently developing a 300 apartment home community on one of
these land parcels, which it expects to complete in the first quarter of 1997.
If all of the Current Acquisition Communities are acquired and the Current
Development Communities are developed as currently anticipated, the Company will
increase its apartment homes portfolio by 2,983 apartment homes, or by 42%.
 
     The Communities are located primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area, where
the Company believes that apartment communities provide attractive long-term
investments. The high cost of home ownership and current economic conditions in
the San Francisco Bay Area, including limited new apartment construction,
continued population and household growth, and high income levels, make the
upscale apartment home community market particularly attractive. See "The
Markets -- San Francisco Bay Area."
 
     Since its initial public offering in March, 1994 (the "Initial Offering"),
the Company has pursued an aggressive growth strategy, developing and building
new apartment communities as well as acquiring and rebuilding well-located but
poorly maintained and managed communities. During this period, the Company has
completed the acquisition of 2,957 apartment homes in 12 Communities,
representing a total investment of approximately $190.2 million. The Company has
also invested approximately $10.9 million in construction
 
                                       S-3
<PAGE>   4
 
and reconstruction programs at these Communities as of March 31, 1996 and has
budgeted an additional $9.0 million to be invested principally in 1996 and 1997.
Additionally, the Company has completed the development and construction of
three Communities at a total cost of approximately $87.6 million: Larkspur
Woods, a 232 apartment home community in Sacramento, California (which the
Company purchased in a partially completed condition and subsequently completed
and sold at a $2.4 million profit); Carriage Square, a 324 apartment home
community located in San Jose, California; and Canyon Creek, a 348 apartment
home community in Campbell, California. Carriage Square and Canyon Creek are
both currently approximately 99% leased and occupied.
 
     The Company also seeks to grow internally by improving cash flow from
existing Communities through intensive, hands-on property management that
focuses on quality property maintenance and on resident satisfaction and
retention, increases in rents and occupancy levels, and control of operating
expenses. For example, the 13 Communities which the Company owned at the Initial
Offering and still owned on March 31, 1996 had, in the aggregate, revenue
increases of 11.67% for the period of seven quarters from the Company's first
full calendar quarter after the Initial Offering (the second quarter of 1994)
through the first quarter of 1996. For the same period these Communities had
increases in aggregate expenses of 1.71% and increases in earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") in the aggregate of
15.99%. On an annualized basis for the seven quarters ended March 31, 1996,
increases in revenues, expenses and EBITDA for these 13 Communities were 6.5%,
1.0% and 8.8%, respectively.
 
     The Company elected to be taxed as a REIT for federal income tax purposes
for the year ending December 31, 1995 and intends to continue to operate in a
manner that will enable it to qualify as a REIT. The Company was incorporated
under the laws of the State of California in 1978 and was reincorporated in the
State of Maryland in July, 1995. Its executive offices are located at 4340
Stevens Creek Boulevard, Suite 275, San Jose, California 95129 and its telephone
number is (408) 983-1500.
 
                       THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA MARKETS
 
     The Company believes that its Communities, 25 out of 27 of which are
located in the San Francisco Bay Area, are attractive long-term investments
because of the high demand for and the low supply of apartment homes coupled
with the high cost and relative unaffordability of housing alternatives in the
San Francisco Bay Area. Apartment demand in the San Francisco Bay Area markets
has historically been relatively strong, and has been particularly strong over
the past 18 months. The Company believes that demand for apartment homes in the
foreseeable future will remain strong as a result of the anticipated continued
growth in jobs and household formations, particularly rental households, in the
San Francisco Bay Area. Moreover, for the past few years, new apartment home
construction in the San Francisco Bay Area has been relatively low and the
Company believes that it will remain so for the foreseeable future.
 
     The Company's current primary markets in the San Francisco Bay Area are the
San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Alameda Counties (the "Primary
Markets"). The Company believes that the Primary Markets will continue to be
attractive markets in which to develop and build, or acquire and rebuild,
apartment communities for long-term investment. This belief is based upon the
following factors: (i) increasing rental rates, (ii) increasing demand for
rental households, (iii) the limited supply of new apartment homes, and (iv) the
high cost of alternatives to apartment homes.
 
     Increasing Rental Rates. Rental demand, as evidenced by market rental rates
for apartments in the San Francisco Bay Area, and particularly in the Primary
Markets, has increased significantly over the past 18 months. The following is a
summary of certain information set forth in a report prepared by Ann Roulac and
 
                                       S-4
<PAGE>   5
 
Company, which is based on a survey of property managers of 100 institutional
quality apartment communities in the Primary Markets (the "Roulac Report"):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           MONTHLY RENTAL RATES
                               ON NEW LEASES
                         -------------------------
                                         WEIGHTED            RENT INCREASES
                         WEIGHTED         AVERAGE             ON NEW LEASES
                          AVERAGE        EFFECTIVE       -----------------------        VACANCY RATES AS OF
                         EFFECTIVE         RENTS                      FIRST HALF       ----------------------
        COUNTY           RENTS(1)         PSF(1)          1995         OF 1996          1/1/96        6/30/96
- -----------------------  ---------       ---------       ------       ----------       --------       -------
<S>                      <C>             <C>             <C>          <C>              <C>            <C>
Alameda................   $ 1,019          $1.19          5.26%          5.93%           1.44%         0.40%
San Francisco..........   $ 1,382          $1.92          8.12%         11.18%           2.30%         0.58%
San Mateo..............   $ 1,254          $1.58          5.97%         12.88%           1.04%         0.32%
Santa Clara............   $ 1,321          $1.55         16.46%         12.04%           0.36%         0.42%
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) The Roulac Report defines "Effective Rent" as the average asking rent for a
    particular community less the value of all concessions, including, without
    limitation, moving allowances or discounts.
 
     The Company believes that the combination of increasing rental rates and
declining vacancy rates provides an opportunity for future revenue growth.
However, there are practical limitations on the Company's ability to increase
rental rates for existing residents and the Company currently has a policy of
limiting rent increases for most lease renewals by existing residents to no more
than 10% per annum. In addition, two of the Communities, Village Square and
Sunset Towers, are subject to rent control restrictions. Consequently, the
actual market rates for apartments in the Primary Markets have recently risen
more rapidly than the Company's rental rates. As a result, as of June 30, 1996,
the difference between the revenues generated by the Company's existing leases
and current market rents, known within the industry as the "loss to lease," was
approximately 8%, or $588,000 per month and more than $7.0 million per year.
 
     Increasing Demand. The demand for apartment homes in the San Francisco Bay
Area, and particularly in the Primary Markets, has been growing substantially
over the past 18 months. According to the Rosen Consulting Group, the population
of the San Francisco Bay Area (approximately 6.3 million people) and the Primary
Markets (approximately 4.4 million people) is expected to grow at a rate in
excess of 1% per year, or approximately 68,000 and 50,000 people per year,
respectively, from 1995 through 2000. In addition, the Rosen Consulting Group
estimates that over the next five years the San Francisco Bay Area will add on
average approximately 33,000 new households per year, 16,000 of which on average
will be formed each year in the Primary Markets. According to U.S. Census Bureau
1990 data, approximately 44% of the households in the San Francisco Bay Area and
47% of the households in the Primary Markets were rental households. Based on
these percentages, which the Company believes are consistent with the current
percentage of rental households, the San Francisco Bay Area is expected to add
on average approximately 15,000 new rental households each year between 1995 and
2000 and the Primary Markets are expected to add on average approximately 8,000
new rental households each year during the same period. In addition, the recent
job surge in high technology companies in Silicon Valley, located in the
southern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area, has contributed to this rental
household growth. The Rosen Consulting Group estimates that non-agricultural
jobs in Santa Clara County, which is the center of Silicon Valley, will grow
approximately 5.4%, representing approximately 45,000 jobs, in 1996 alone.
 
     Limited Supply. Notwithstanding the steady increase in demand for apartment
homes in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Primary Markets, the supply of new
rental housing in the San Francisco Bay Area and in the Primary Markets has
failed to keep pace with demand over the past 10 years. According to the Rosen
Consulting Group, the number of multifamily permits issued in the San Francisco
Bay Area declined from 25,197 in 1986 to an expected 5,800 in 1996, or
approximately 77%. During the same period, the number of multifamily permits
issued in the Primary Markets declined from 14,548 to an expected 3,461 in 1996,
or approximately 76%. The decline in multifamily permits issued is attributable
to a number of factors, including (i) the shortage and high cost of available
land, (ii) strict public planning procedures, (iii) high governmental fees, and
(iv) high development and construction costs. These factors, as well as others,
constrain the supply of rental housing in the San Francisco Bay Area and in the
Primary Markets.
 
                                       S-5
<PAGE>   6
 
     High-Cost Alternatives. The imbalance between the demand for and the supply
of apartment homes is not necessarily alleviated by alternative housing
opportunities, which are very expensive in the San Francisco Bay Area and in the
Primary Markets. According to the Rosen Consulting Group, the median cost of a
single-family home in the San Francisco Bay Area and in the Primary Markets, on
a weighted average basis, is expected to be approximately $250,719 and $259,315,
respectively, in 1996, compared to an estimated $117,500 for the U.S. for 1996.
Although the mean household income in 1996 in the San Francisco Bay Area and in
the Primary Markets is estimated to be $84,040 and $87,354, respectively,
compared to an estimated mean household income for the U.S. of $46,027 in 1996,
only 36% of the households in the San Francisco Bay Area and 41% in the Primary
Markets could afford the median priced single-family home in 1995.
 
                     PERFORMANCE SINCE THE INITIAL OFFERING
 
     Since the Initial Offering, the Company has achieved strong financial
results from both external and internal growth. The Company has aggressively
pursued external growth through its strategy of acquiring and substantially
reconstructing existing apartment communities as well as developing new
communities. The Company has enhanced returns on its existing Communities in
large part through rental rate increases, which reflect the high demand for
upscale apartment homes in the Primary Markets, and in part through favorable
tax-exempt financing. In view of the Company's activities with the Current
Acquisition Communities and the Current Development Communities, the Company
believes that it is well-positioned to continue to benefit from current and
projected favorable market conditions in its Primary Markets.
 
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
 
     Results of Operations. The Company's funds from operations ("FFO") (defined
as net income plus depreciation and amortization, excluding depreciation for
assets other than real estate and amortization of recurring financial costs) per
share has increased at a rate of approximately 12.0% per annum since the Initial
Offering. In its first full quarter as a public company, the second quarter of
1994, the Company reported FFO per share of $0.41. In the first quarter of 1996,
the Company reported FFO per share of $0.50. The Company's FFO per share has
grown for several reasons: (i) strong internal growth; (ii) accretive
acquisitions of Communities; and (iii) positive leverage from long-term,
fixed-rate, tax-exempt debt.
 
     - Internal Growth. The Company has had the benefit of strong internal
       growth since the Initial Offering. For example, on its initial 13
       Communities (i.e., the "same store" Communities), the Company has had
       same store EBITDA growth from the end of the second quarter of 1994 to
       the end of the first quarter of 1996, a period of seven quarters, of
       15.99%. This EBITDA growth is due to revenue increases of 11.67% during
       this period. In addition, average same store physical occupancy improved
       from 95.9% to 97.1% from the end of the second quarter of 1994 to the end
       of the first quarter of 1996. During the same period, expenses increased
       1.71%. On an annualized basis for the seven quarters ended March 31,
       1996, increases in revenues, expenses and EBITDA for these 13 Communities
       were 6.5%, 1.0% and 8.8%, respectively.
 
     - Accretive Additions. From the Initial Offering through June 30, 1996, the
       Company has added 3,629 apartment homes in 14 Communities, consisting of
       2,957 apartment homes in 12 Communities which it acquired and rebuilt and
       672 apartment homes in two Communities which it developed and built. The
       estimated EBITDA in 1996 as a percentage of cost is 9.9% for the
       portfolio of 14 Communities, 9.6% on the 12 acquired Communities and
       10.5% on the two newly developed Communities. See "Prospectus Supplement
       Summary -- Performance Since the Initial Offering -- Acquisition and
       Development Activity" for a description of the calculation of EBITDA on
       these Communities.
 
     - Positive Leverage. The Company has obtained $110.2 million of long-term,
       tax-exempt bond debt since the Initial Offering. Of this debt, $89.4
       million is fully amortizing 30-year bonds with an all-inclusive fixed
       interest rate for the first 15 years of 6.48% per annum. The remaining
       $20.8 million of bond debt has a remaining 22-year life and bears
       interest at the 30-day London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), reset
       weekly, plus 0.25%, which, including financing costs, is currently
       approximately 6.25% per annum. The Company intends to fix the interest
       rate on these floating rate bonds in the third
 
                                       S-6
<PAGE>   7
 
        quarter of 1996, subject to market conditions. This low-cost financing
        increases the return on the Company's acquisition and development
        communities.
 
     Increased Distributions and Lowered Payout Ratio. The Company's
distribution policy is to increase distributions at a rate of growth at or
slightly above inflation, but less than its growth in FFO per share. The
Company's FFO per share has increased at a rate of approximately 12% per annum
since the Initial Offering. The Company has increased its quarterly
distributions from $0.38 to $0.39 per share in the second quarter of 1995 and
from $0.39 to $0.40 per share in the first quarter of 1996, which represents an
increase of approximately 3.0% per annum over its beginning annualized
distribution based on a seven quarter period. The Company's distribution policy
has resulted in a reduction in its distributions as a percentage of its FFO from
91.7% in the second quarter of 1994 to 79.8% in the first quarter of 1996. See
"Prospectus Supplement Summary -- Summary Financial and Operating Data."
 
ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY
 
     Acquisition and Repositioning of Communities. Concurrently with the Initial
Offering, the Company acquired five Communities, with a total of 1,300 apartment
homes, for a combined acquisition cost of approximately $85.8 million. As of
March 31, 1996, the Company has invested approximately $9.5 million to
substantially reconstruct these Communities and expects to invest another
$475,000 in 1996. The Company's repositioning program varied for each Community
and included repairing and repainting building exteriors, repairing or replacing
foundations, roofs and plumbing and electrical systems, rebuilding apartment
home interiors, adding garages, upgrading landscaping, removing and adding
swimming pools, remodeling leasing and recreational facilities, and adding
electronic gate systems. After completing construction of the Larkspur Woods
Community, the Company sold the property for a gain of approximately $2.4
million, representing an approximately 16% profit over the amount it had
invested in the property. In the aggregate, the remaining four Communities that
were acquired concurrently with the Initial Offering and that are still owned by
the Company have projected EBITDA for 1996 as a percentage of total cost of
approximately 9.6% and projected EBITDA, less interest on tax-exempt financing,
for 1996, as a percentage of total cost, less tax-exempt financing, of
approximately 10.2%. Projected EBITDA as a percentage of total cost for the four
Communities is calculated by dividing total actual EBITDA through April, 1996
plus total projected EBITDA for the remainder of 1996 by total actual cost. For
purposes of the foregoing calculation, total cost consists of all capitalized
costs incurred to acquire and reposition the four Communities, determined in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP").
 
     Since the Initial Offering, the Company has acquired 12 Communities, with a
total of 2,957 apartment homes, for a combined acquisition cost of approximately
$190.2 million. As of March 31, 1996, the Company had invested an aggregate of
approximately $10.9 million in repositioning programs at the nine Communities
acquired prior to 1996 and currently intends to invest an additional $4.1
million, principally in 1996 and 1997, to further reposition these Communities.
For the three Communities acquired in May, 1996 (Park Centre, Parkside Commons
and Sunset Towers) the Company intends to invest $4.9 million, principally in
1996 and 1997, to reposition the Communities. In the aggregate, these 12
Communities have a projected EBITDA for 1996 as a percentage of total cost of
approximately 9.6% and a projected EBITDA, less interest on tax-exempt
financing, for 1996, as a percentage of total cost, less tax-exempt financing,
of approximately 10.9%. Projected EBITDA as a percentage of total cost for all
of the Communities purchased prior to 1996, with the exception of the Sea Ridge
and Rivershore Communities, is calculated by dividing the total actual EBITDA
through April, 1996, plus projected EBITDA for the remainder of 1996, by the
total actual cost of the Communities as of March 31, 1996. Projected EBITDA as a
percentage of total cost for the Sea Ridge and Rivershore Communities, which
were both under significant reconstruction during the first quarter of 1996 (Sea
Ridge was largely vacated during the first quarter of 1996), is calculated by
combining pro forma EBITDA for January, February and March, 1996 (based on
actual EBITDA for April, 1996), actual EBITDA for April, 1996, plus total
projected EBITDA for the remainder of 1996, and dividing it by the total actual
cost of the two Communities as of March 31, 1996. Projected EBITDA as a
percentage of total cost for the Communities purchased in 1996 is calculated by
dividing the total EBITDA anticipated after the related Communities are rebuilt
and restabilized by the total anticipated cost of the related Communities. The
Communities purchased
 
                                       S-7
<PAGE>   8
 
in 1996 will be considered stabilized in the first calendar month after the
related Community has completed its planned reconstruction and has a weighted
average physical occupancy of at least 95%. For purposes of the foregoing
calculations, total cost consists of all capitalized costs incurred or, with
respect to Communities acquired in 1996, projected to be incurred, as the case
may be, to acquire and rebuild these Communities, determined in accordance with
GAAP.
 
     There can be no assurance that the Company's budgets, leasing, occupancy or
earnings estimates used to calculate projected EBITDA and total costs will be
realized. The failure to achieve any one or more of such estimates could
significantly reduce the Company's projected EBITDA or increase total cost for
the Communities. EBITDA should not be construed as an alternative to operating
income, determined in accordance with GAAP, as an indicator of the Company's
operating performance, or as an alternative to cash flows from operating,
investing and financing activities, determined in accordance with GAAP, as a
measure of the Company's liquidity or ability to meet its cash needs. The
Company intends to update these projections from time to time to the extent that
the Company believes there may be or has been a material change in the
projections on an aggregate basis. Future acquisitions will likely have
different budgets, leasing, occupancy and earnings estimates and the investment
returns on future acquisitions may not be comparable to the projected yields on
these Communities. See "Risk Factors -- Development and Acquisition Risks" and
"-- Real Estate Investment Risks" for certain factors that could prevent the
Company from achieving its projected EBITDA as a percentage of total cost for
these Communities.
 
     Completed Development Communities. At the Initial Offering, the Company
owned one land parcel on which it developed the Carriage Square Community and,
shortly after the Initial Offering, acquired a second land parcel on which it
developed the Canyon Creek Community. Carriage Square (formerly known as Santa
Teresa), is a 324 apartment home Community located in San Jose, CA. The Company
completed construction of this Community in September, 1995 at a total cost of
approximately $36.8 million and it reached stabilized occupancy in October,
1995. Canyon Creek (formerly known as Creekside), is a 348 apartment home
community located in Campbell, CA. The Company completed construction of this
Community in December, 1995 at a total cost of approximately $35.6 million and
it reached stabilized occupancy in the same month. The Company has arranged
30-year, fully amortizing, tax-exempt bond financing for Canyon Creek in the
amount of $38.8 million, which has an all-inclusive interest rate of 6.48% per
annum fixed for 15 years.
 
     At the time of the Initial Offering, the Company projected that EBITDA,
expressed as a percentage of total projected capitalized costs, for Carriage
Square and Canyon Creek would be 9.6% and 9.7%, respectively, on an unleveraged
basis in the first year following stabilized occupancy. Carriage Square and
Canyon Creek currently have a total projected EBITDA for 1996 as a percentage of
total actual cost of approximately 10.2% and 10.8%, respectively, for a weighted
average of 10.5%. These Communities have a weighted average total projected
EBITDA, less interest on tax-exempt financing, for 1996, as a percentage of
total actual cost, less tax-exempt financing, of approximately 15.1%. Projected
EBITDA as a percentage of total cost is calculated by dividing total actual
EBITDA through April, 1996 plus total projected EBITDA for the remainder of 1996
for these two Communities by the total actual cost for these two Communities.
Total actual cost includes all capitalized costs incurred to develop these
Communities, determined in accordance with GAAP, including land acquisition
costs, construction costs, real estate taxes, interest and loan fees, permits,
professional fees, allocated development overhead and other regulatory fees.
There can be no assurance that the Company's budgets, leasing, occupancy or
earnings estimates used to calculate projected EBITDA and total cost will be
realized. Failure to achieve any one or more of such estimates could
significantly reduce the Company's projected EBITDA or increase total cost for
these Communities. The Company intends to update these projections from time to
time to the extent that the Company believes there may be or has been a material
change in the projections on an aggregate basis. See "Risk Factors -- Real
Estate Investment Risks."
 
     Current Acquisition Communities. The Company has entered into contracts to
acquire the six Current Acquisition Communities in the third quarter of 1996 for
a combined acquisition cost of approximately $116.6 million. These six
Communities have a total of 1,409 apartment homes. The closings of three of the
Current Acquisition Communities (The Fountains, Channing Heights and Mill Creek)
are subject to certain contingencies. For example, the Company must complete its
due diligence review, obtain approval of its Board
 
                                       S-8
<PAGE>   9
 
of Directors and receive certain third-party consents before acquiring these
three Current Acquisition Communities. These contingencies could prevent the
Company from acquiring one or more of these three Current Acquisition
Communities. See "Risk Factors -- Development and Acquisition Risks." In the
event that any Current Acquisition Community is acquired prior to the closing of
the Offering, the Company anticipates funding the acquisition with borrowings
under its $150 million unsecured line of credit. It is currently anticipated
that the purchase of any Current Acquisition Community acquired after the
closing of the Offering will be funded with the proceeds of the Offering. The
Company anticipates that it will implement repositioning programs at the Current
Acquisition Communities consistent with its strategy for previously acquired
properties.
 
     In the aggregate, the Current Acquisition Communities have a projected
EBITDA as a percentage of total budgeted cost of approximately 10% and a
projected EBITDA, less interest on tax-exempt financing, as a percentage of
total cost, less tax-exempt financing, of approximately 10.8%. Projected EBITDA
as a percentage of total budgeted cost is calculated for the Acquisition
Communities by dividing the total projected EBITDA by total budgeted cost of
acquisition and repositioning. Projected EBITDA for the Current Acquisition
Communities represents gross annual revenues projected to be achieved when the
Communities reach stabilized occupancy after the Company's planned
reconstruction, based on current rents prevailing in the respective Communities'
local markets, less projected stabilized property operating and maintenance
expenses, before interest, income taxes, amortization, depreciation and
extraordinary items. Stabilized occupancy is defined as the first calendar month
following reconstruction in which the Community has a weighted average physical
occupancy of at least 95%. There can be no assurance that the Company's budgets,
leasing, occupancy or earnings estimates used to calculate projected EBITDA and
total costs will be realized. Failure to achieve one or more of such estimates
could significantly reduce the Company's projected EBITDA or increase the total
cost of the Current Acquisition Communities. The Company intends to update these
projections from time to time to the extent that the Company believes that there
may be or has been a material change in the projections on an aggregate basis.
See "Risk Factors -- Development and Acquisition Risks" for certain factors that
could prevent the Company from achieving its projected EBITDA as a percentage of
total cost for the Current Acquisition Communities.
 
     The following is a description of the Current Acquisition Communities:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                          DATE EXPECTED      APARTMENT       PURCHASE             TOTAL
      CURRENT ACQUISITION COMMUNITIES     TO BE ACQUIRED       HOMES           PRICE         BUDGETED COST(1)
      --------------------------------    --------------     ---------     -------------     ----------------
                                                                           (IN MILLIONS)      (IN MILLIONS)
<C>   <S>                                 <C>                <C>           <C>               <C>
 1.   Countrybrook                        July, 1996             360          $  28.8             $ 31.2
      San Jose, CA
 2.   The Fountains                       July, 1996             226             27.8               28.7
      San Jose, CA
 3.   Channing Heights                    July, 1996             254             24.9               28.3
      San Rafael, CA
 4.   Mill Creek                          July, 1996             258             17.5               19.1
      Costa Mesa, CA
 5.   Villa Marguerite                    July, 1996             166             10.1               12.1
      Mission Viejo, CA
 6.   Martinique Gardens                  August, 1996           145              7.5               11.8
      Costa Mesa, CA
                                                              ------           ------             ------
      Totals                                                   1,409          $ 116.6             $131.2
                                                              ======           ======             ======
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Total Budgeted Cost includes all capitalized costs projected to be incurred,
    principally in 1996 and 1997, to acquire and reposition the Current
    Acquisition Communities, determined in accordance with GAAP.
 
     The Company is currently negotiating letters of intent or is in preliminary
evaluation periods on various potential additional acquisitions totaling
approximately 2,000 existing apartment homes. Several of these acquisitions
would require significant renovation programs consistent with the Company's
acquisition and repositioning strategy for prior acquisitions. If the Company
were to close on all of these acquisitions, the total
 
                                       S-9
<PAGE>   10
 
investment would be approximately $150 million. No assurances can be given that
the Company will acquire any or all of these properties.
 
     Current Development Communities. The Company has acquired three land
parcels, and has under contract one additional land parcel, on which it is
building or plans to commence building in the near future the Current
Development Communities with a total of 1,574 apartment homes. The following is
a description of the Current Development Communities:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                   PROJECTED
                                          ACTUAL/                                                 ESTIMATED        EBITDA/
        CURRENT           ESTIMATED      ESTIMATED                           ESTIMATED DATE         TOTAL           TOTAL
      DEVELOPMENT         APARTMENT     CONSTRUCTION     ESTIMATED FIRST     OF STABILIZED       CONSTRUCTION      BUDGETED
      COMMUNITIES           HOMES        INITIATION         OCCUPANCY          OCCUPANCY           COST(1)         COST(2)
- ------------------------  ---------     ------------     ---------------     --------------     --------------     --------
                                                                                                (IN MILLIONS)
<S>                       <C>           <C>              <C>                 <C>                <C>                <C>
1. Rosewalk                   300        4th Q, 1995      3rd Q, 1996         2nd Q, 1997           $ 30.4           11.7%
  San Jose, CA
2. Lawrence Expressway
  Site                        709        3rd Q, 1996      2nd Q, 1997         4th Q, 1998             95.7           10.0%
  Sunnyvale, CA
3. Stevens Creek Blvd.        315        2nd Q, 1997      1st Q, 1998         4th Q, 1998             44.1            9.8%
  Site
  San Jose, CA(3)
4. The Alameda Site(4)        250        4th Q, 1997      2nd Q, 1998         2nd Q, 1999             32.2           10.0%
  San Jose, CA
                            -----                                                                   ------           -----
Totals/Weighted Average     1,574                                                                   $202.4           10.2%
                            =====                                                                   ======           =====
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Estimated Total Construction Cost includes interest that is capitalized
    during the construction period. In accordance with GAAP, the Company
    capitalizes interest during the construction period on a per-building basis
    until the building is available for occupancy.
(2) Projected EBITDA as a percentage of total budgeted cost represents EBITDA
    projected to be received in the first calendar year after the community
    reaches stabilized occupancy (i.e., the first month when the community has a
    weighted average physical occupancy of at least 95%), based on current rents
    prevailing in the respective markets, less projected stabilized property
    operating and maintenance expenses, before interest, income taxes,
    depreciation and amortization. There is no assurance that projected EBITDA
    and total budgeted cost will not differ from actual results.
(3) The Company currently owns 2.5 acres of this site and has entered into a
    contract to acquire the continguous 5.4 acres.
(4) The Company has entered into a contract to acquire this site.
 
     The Company is conducting due diligence on The Alameda Current Development
Community site and there are certain conditions that must be satisfied prior to
acquisition. In addition, the Company must obtain construction permits and other
governmental approvals for all of the Current Development Communities, other
than Rosewalk which currently has certain of such permits, before commencing
development. There can be no assurance that the Company will acquire The Alameda
Current Development Community site or that the Company will be able to construct
the Current Development Communities as currently contemplated. See "Risk
Factors -- Development and Acquisition Risks."
 
     The Company is also negotiating various additional potential development
opportunities which collectively could represent the future development of more
than 1,000 new apartment homes. If the Company were to acquire and develop all
of these land parcels, the Company estimates that total development costs would
be approximately $125 million. No assurance can be given that the Company will
acquire any or all of these land parcels, that development will proceed or that,
if development does proceed, the land parcels can be developed at or under the
Company's cost estimates and within its proposed time-frame.
 
FINANCING ACTIVITY
 
     Initial Offering. The Company sold 10,889,742 shares of Common Stock
(including 1,420,401 shares sold pursuant to the underwriters' overallotment
option) to the public at a price of $20.00 per share in the Initial Offering on
March 10, 1994. The Company used the net proceeds of approximately $200 million
to acquire the Company's ownership interests in the then-existing Communities,
including the acquisition of five Communities concurrently with the Initial
Offering, and to acquire the Reflections and Village Square Communities shortly
after the Initial Offering.
 
     Tax-Exempt Bond Refinancing. In June, 1995, the Company completed an $89.4
million financing of both new and restructured tax-exempt bonds with a 30-year
credit enhancement provided by the Federal
 
                                      S-10
<PAGE>   11
 
National Mortgage Association ("FNMA"). The Company has effectively fixed the
interest rate on this debt for a 15-year period at an all-inclusive interest
rate of approximately 6.48% per annum through interest rate swap agreements. In
December, 1995, the Company reissued $20.8 million in tax-exempt debt
collateralized by the City Heights Community. The debt bears interest at a rate
of 30-day LIBOR, reset weekly, plus 0.25%, which, including financing costs, is
currently approximately 6.25% per annum. The Company intends to reissue the
bonds again in the third quarter of 1996 on a long-term, fixed-rate basis and to
obtain a long-term "AAA" guaranty for the bond reissuance through either the
Financial Guarantee Insurance Company ("FGIC") or one of the existing FNMA
guaranty agreements.
 
     The Credit Facilities and Construction Loans. In January, 1995, the Company
restructured its $40 million secured revolving credit facility with General
Electric Capital Corporation (the "GECC Credit Facility"), increasing the
availability to $80 million and reducing the borrowing cost from 30-day LIBOR
plus 3.75% per annum to 30-day LIBOR plus 2.25% per annum. In December, 1995,
the Company repaid a $26 million construction loan, which had an interest rate
of LIBOR plus 2.25% per annum, and replaced a $20.0 million construction credit
facility (the "Wells Fargo Credit Facility"), which also had an interest rate of
LIBOR plus 2.25% per annum, with a revolving facility (the "Union Bank Credit
Facility"). The Union Bank Credit Facility was a secured $47 million line of
credit for both acquisition and construction with an interest rate of LIBOR plus
1.6% per annum. In December, 1995, the Company also obtained a new construction
loan (the "Union Bank Construction Loan"), which provides for approximately
$25.5 million of borrowings at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.15% per annum.
 
     In May, 1996, the Company replaced both its $80 million secured credit
facility and its $47 million secured credit facility with a $150 million
unsecured line of credit from Union Bank of Switzerland and other banks (the
"Unsecured Credit Facility"). The Unsecured Credit Facility matures in May,
1999, and bears interest at a rate of LIBOR (based on a maturity selected by the
Company) plus 1.55% per annum. The margin over LIBOR will be reduced to 1.45%
per annum if the Company obtains an investment grade unsecured debt rating
equivalent to at least "BBB-", or 1.30% per annum if the Company obtains a
rating equivalent to at least "BBB", from Standard & Poor's Ratings Group,
Moody's Investors Service and/or another rating company acceptable to Union Bank
of Switzerland.
 
     Equity Offerings Since the Initial Offering. On September 18, 1995, the
Company entered into a purchase agreement to sell approximately $49.2 million of
newly issued convertible Series A Preferred Stock to an institutional investor.
The approximately 2.3 million shares of Series A Preferred Stock were sold at a
price of $21.325 per share, which was the average closing price of the Common
Stock during the 10 trading days immediately preceding September 18, 1995, which
was the date on which the sale was priced. The sale of the Series A Preferred
Stock closed on October 2, 1995. The proceeds of the sale were used to reduce
the Company's outstanding debt and to purchase The Promenade, City Heights and
The Pointe Communities. The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled
to receive a dividend equal to 103% of the dividend paid on the Common Stock.
The Series A Preferred Stock generally has no voting rights and, during the
first three years following issuance, generally cannot be converted into shares
of Common Stock. Thereafter, the Series A Preferred Stock may be converted on a
share-for-share basis into shares of Common Stock, subject to certain ownership
limitations. After 10 years following issuance, all outstanding shares of the
Series A Preferred Stock must be converted into shares of Common Stock. The
holders of the Series A Preferred Stock received registration rights for the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock.
 
     In May, 1996, the Company sold approximately $10 million of convertible
Series B Preferred Stock and $40.5 million of Common Stock to a number of
institutional investors. The Company sold 1,248,191 shares of Common Stock in a
direct placement at a price of $24.44 per share, which reflected a 1% discount
from the average closing price of the Common Stock during the 10 trading days
immediately preceding May 2, 1996, the last trading day prior to the date on
which the sale was priced. The Company also sold 405,022 shares of Series B
Preferred Stock together with 413,223 shares of Common Stock in an underwritten
offering at a weighted average sales price of $24.44 per share. The proceeds of
the sale were used to acquire the Park Centre, Parkside Commons and Sunset
Towers Communities and to repay borrowings under the Unsecured Credit Facility.
The Series B Preferred Stock has substantially the same dividend, voting and
conversion terms
 
                                      S-11
<PAGE>   12
 
as the Series A Preferred Stock. The holders of the Series B Preferred Stock
have registration rights for the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
of the Series B Preferred Stock.
 
                             FUNDING FUTURE GROWTH
 
     The Company believes that the strength of its balance sheet, coupled with
its access to capital through the Unsecured Credit Facility, the Union Bank
Construction Loan and its demonstrated expertise in utilizing tax-exempt debt
and direct placements of equity securities, provides the Company with the
financial flexibility to fund future growth using various financing
alternatives.
 
     Following the closing of the Offering and the purchase of the Current
Acquisition Communities, the Company's debt-to-total-market-capitalization ratio
will be approximately 32.4%. The outstanding balance on the $150 million
Unsecured Credit Facility will be approximately $38 million, resulting in an
available balance of approximately $112 million, which, together with the $25.5
million Union Bank Construction Loan, will result in an aggregate available
balance of approximately $137.5 million. In addition, the Company is currently
seeking to increase the maximum availability under the Unsecured Credit Facility
to $200 million. The Company has estimated that approximately $67 million will
be required in the next 12 months to fund the construction of the Current
Development Communities and the currently planned renovation programs for the
Communities and for the Current Acquisition Communities. In the event that the
Unsecured Credit Facility is increased to $200 million, the Company will have
approximately $120.5 million available in aggregate to fund future growth
opportunities. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able
to obtain an increase in the maximum availability under the Unsecured Credit
Facility.
 
     The Company is pursuing additional sources of capital to provide financing
for future growth. In addition to seeking an increase in the maximum
availability under the Unsecured Credit Facility, the Company may seek to obtain
an investment grade rating or raise additional equity through direct placements
with institutional investors.
 
                                  THE OFFERING
 
     All the Shares offered hereby are being sold by the Company. None of the
Company's stockholders is selling any Shares in the Offering.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                             <C>
     Shares Offered.........................    5,000,000
     Shares Outstanding After the               
       Offering.............................    18,227,351 shares(1)
     Use of Proceeds........................    To acquire the Current Acquisition
                                                Communities and to repay borrowings under
                                                the Unsecured Credit Facility
     NYSE and PSE Symbol....................    "BYA"
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Excludes 646,350 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the
    Company's 1994 Stock Incentive Plan.
 
                                      S-12
<PAGE>   13
 
                        SUMMARY FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
 
     The Company's results of operations are summarized as follows for the
quarters ended March 31, 1996 and 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
                                                              -----------------------------
                                                                 1996               1995
                                                              ----------         ----------
                                                              (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT
                                                              PER SHARE AND APARTMENT HOME
                                                                          DATA)
                                                                       (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                           <C>                <C>
Operating Data:
  Revenue:
     Rental.................................................  $   16,094         $   11,434
     Other..................................................         378                416
                                                              ----------         ----------
          Total Revenue.....................................      16,472             11,850
  Expenses:
     Property Operating (1).................................       3,737              2,728
     Property Taxes.........................................       1,222                963
     General and Administrative.............................         860                494
     Interest and Financing.................................       3,472              2,482
     Depreciation and Amortization..........................       3,971              3,260
                                                              ----------         ----------
          Total Expenses....................................      13,262              9,927
     Income before Minority Interest........................       3,210              1,923
     Minority Interest                                                15                  3
                                                              ----------         ----------
     Net Income.............................................  $    3,195         $    1,920
                                                              ==========         ==========
Per Share Information:
     Net Income per share...................................  $      .19         $      .17
     Dividends declared per share...........................         .40                .38
Other Information:
     Funds from operations(2)...............................  $    6,982         $    4,970
     Cash available for distribution(3).....................       6,916              4,977
     Debt service coverage ratio(4).........................        2.75x              2.19x
     FFO payout ratio.......................................        79.8%              88.3%
     CAD payout ratio.......................................        80.5%              88.1%
     Gross operating margin(5)..............................        69.9%              68.9%
     Average "same store" monthly rental rate per apartment
       home(6)(7)...........................................  $      954         $      893
     Average "same store" monthly expenses per apartment
       home(6)(8)...........................................         263                276
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Property operating expenses are defined as property-related repair and
    maintenance expenses, utilities, on-site property management costs, and
    exclude interest, depreciation and amortization.
(2) Industry analysts generally consider FFO to be an appropriate measure of the
    performance of an equity REIT. FFO for the period presented is calculated as
    follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
                                                                                     -------------------------------------
                                                                                          1996                   1995
                                                                                     --------------         --------------
                                                                                            (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
                                                                                                  (UNAUDITED)
    <S>                                                                              <C>                    <C>
    Net income.....................................................................    $    3,195             $    1,920
    Depreciation -- real estate assets.............................................         3,692                  2,930
    Non-recurring adjustments to net income:
        Amortization of non-recurring costs, primarily legal, from the issuance of
          tax-exempt bonds.........................................................            95                    120
                                                                                            -----                  -----
            Subtotal -- FFO........................................................    $    6,982             $    4,970
                                                                                            =====                  =====
</TABLE>
 
                                      S-13
<PAGE>   14
 
(3) Cash available for distribution ("CAD") for the period presented is
    calculated as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
                                                                                     -------------------------------------
                                                                                          1996                   1995
                                                                                     --------------         --------------
                                                                                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
                                                                                                 (UNAUDITED)

    <S>                                                                              <C>                    <C>
    FFO............................................................................    $    6,982             $    4,970
    Recurring adjustments to net income:
        Amortization of origination fees on credit facilities......................           111                    148
        Amortization of credit enhancement costs...................................            38                     38
        Depreciation -- non real estate assets.....................................            35                     24
        Capital improvements.......................................................          (162)                  (141)
        Loan principal repayments..................................................           (88)                   (62)
                                                                                     --------------         --------------
            Subtotal -- CAD........................................................    $    6,916             $    4,977
                                                                                      ===========            ===========
</TABLE>
 
(4) Debt service coverage represents EBITDA divided by the sum of interest
    expense, capitalized interest and loan principal amortization payments
    (excluding balloon payments).
(5) Gross operating margin represents the excess of total property revenue over
    the sum of property operating expenses and property taxes as a percentage of
    total property revenue.
(6) Same store Communities are those Communities owned for all of 1995, less
    those to which the Company made major renovations after January 1, 1995.
    They comprise a total of 3,330 apartment homes.
(7) Average "same store" monthly rental rate per apartment home is calculated by
    dividing gross potential rent (i.e., actual rental rates on occupied
    apartment homes plus assumed rental rates on vacant apartment homes at
    market ) as of the end of the period by the total number of apartment homes.
(8) Property operating expenses and property taxes for same store apartment
    homes divided by the total number of same store apartment homes.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      AT MARCH 31, 1996
                                                              ---------------------------------
                                                              HISTORICAL         AS ADJUSTED(1)
                                                              ----------         --------------
                                                                    (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
                                                                         (UNAUDITED)

<S>                                                           <C>                <C>
Balance Sheet Information:
     Real estate, before accumulated depreciation...........  $  505,240           $  633,630
     Total assets...........................................     481,582              696,106
     Line of credit.........................................      36,720               44,587(2)
     Long term debt.........................................     197,214              225,167
     Total debt.............................................     233,934              269,754
     Minority interest......................................          --                7,300
     Shareholders' equity...................................     235,384              406,209
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) Reflects the issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock and Common Stock
    issued in May, 1996, and as adjusted to give effect to the Offering,
    including the use of the net proceeds therefrom as described in "Use of
    Proceeds."
 
(2) The "as adjusted" balance for the line of credit was approximately $38
    million, as of June 30, 1996.
 
                                      S-14
<PAGE>   15
 
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
     An investment in the Company involves various risks. Prospective
stockholders should consider the following risk factors:
 
DEVELOPMENT AND ACQUISITION RISKS
 
     The Company intends to continue to pursue the development and construction
of apartment home communities in accordance with the Company's development and
underwriting policies. Risks associated with the Company's development and
construction activities may include: the abandonment of development and
acquisition opportunities explored by the Company; construction costs of a
community may exceed original estimates due to increased materials, labor or
other expenses, which could make completion of the community uneconomical;
occupancy rates and rents at a newly completed community are dependant on a
number of factors, including market and general economic conditions, and may not
be sufficient to make the community profitable; financing may not be available
on favorable terms for the development of a community; and construction and
lease-up may not be completed on schedule, resulting in increased debt service
expense and construction costs. Development activities are also subject to risks
relating to the inability to obtain, or delays in obtaining, all necessary
zoning, land-use, building, occupancy, and other required governmental permits
and authorizations. The occurrence of any of the events described above could
adversely affect the Company's ability to achieve its projected yields on
communities under development or reconstruction and could prevent the Company
from making expected distributions. See "-- Real Estate Investment Risks."
 
     Acquisitions entail risks that investments will fail to perform in
accordance with expectations and that judgments with respect to the costs of
improvements to bring an acquired community up to standards established for the
market position intended for that community will prove inaccurate, as well as
general investment risks associated with any new real estate investment.
Although the Company undertakes an evaluation of the physical condition of each
new community before it is acquired, certain defects or necessary repairs may
not be detected until after the community is acquired, which could significantly
increase the Company's total acquisition costs.
 
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT RISKS
 
     General Risks. Real property investments are subject to varying degrees of
risk. The yields available from equity investments in real estate depend on the
amount of income generated and expenses incurred. If the Communities do not
generate revenues sufficient to meet operating expenses, including debt service
and capital expenditures, the Company's cash flow and ability to pay
distributions to its stockholders will be adversely affected.
 
     An apartment community's revenues and value may be adversely affected by a
number of factors, including the national economic climate; the local economic
climate (which may be adversely impacted by plant closings, industry slowdowns,
military base closings and other factors); local real estate conditions (such as
an oversupply of or a reduced demand for apartment homes); the perceptions by
prospective residents of the safety, convenience and attractiveness of the
community; the ability of the owner to provide adequate management, maintenance
and insurance; and increased operating costs (including real estate taxes and
utilities). Certain significant expenditures associated with each equity
investment (such as mortgage payments, if any, real estate taxes, insurance and
maintenance costs) are generally not reduced when circumstances cause a
reduction in income from the investment. If a community is mortgaged to secure
payment of indebtedness, and if the Company is unable to meet its mortgage
payments, a loss could be sustained as a result of foreclosure on the community
or the exercise of other remedies by the mortgagee. In addition, real estate
values and income from communities are also affected by such factors as the cost
of compliance with government regulation, including zoning and tax laws,
interest rate levels and the availability of financing.
 
     Operating Risks. Each of the Communities is subject to all operating risks
common to apartment communities in general, any and all of which might adversely
affect unit occupancy or rental rates. Increases in unemployment and a decline
in household formation in the San Francisco Bay Area or Northern California
 
                                      S-15
<PAGE>   16
 
generally might adversely affect occupancy or rental rates. Increases in
operating costs due to inflation and other factors may not be offset by
increased rents. Residents may be unable or unwilling to pay rent increases.
Rent control or rent stabilization laws or other laws regulating housing are
applicable in certain of the cities in the Primary Markets where the Company
owns Communities and intends to acquire Current Acquisition Communities and may
be enacted in the future in the jurisdictions in which one or more communities
are located or may be acquired; if enacted, compliance with these laws may
increase operating costs. If operating expenses increase, the local rental
market may limit the extent to which rents may be increased to meet increased
expenses without decreasing occupancy rates. If any of the above occurs, the
Company's ability to achieve its projected yields on the Communities and to make
expected distributions to stockholders could be adversely affected.
 
     Market Illiquidity. Equity real estate investments are relatively illiquid.
Such illiquidity will tend to limit the ability of the Company to vary its
portfolio promptly in response to changes in economic or other conditions. In
addition, the Code limits the Company's ability to sell properties held for
fewer than four years, which may affect the Company's ability to sell properties
without adversely affecting returns to holders of Common Stock.
 
     Competition. There are numerous housing alternatives that compete with the
Communities in attracting residents. The Communities compete directly with other
rental apartments and single-family homes that are available for rent in the
markets in which the Communities are located. The Communities also compete for
residents with the new and existing home market. The number of competitive
residential properties in a particular area could have a material effect on the
Company's ability to lease apartment homes and on the rents charged. In
addition, competitors for acquisitions and development projects may have greater
resources than the Company.
 
     Affordable Housing Laws or Restrictions. A number of the Communities and
Current Acquisition Communities are, and will be in the future, subject to
Federal, state and local statutes or other restrictions requiring that a
percentage of apartment homes be made available to residents satisfying certain
income requirements. These laws and restrictions, as well as any changes thereto
making it more difficult to meet such requirements, or a reduction in or
elimination of certain financing advantages available in some instances to
persons satisfying such requirements, could adversely affect the Company's
profitability and its development and acquisition projects in the future. See
"Unsecured Credit Facility, Mortgage Debt and Bond Financing."
 
DEPENDENCE ON NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND PRIMARY MARKETS
 
     Although the Company may expand further outside of Northern California into
markets such as the southern portion of Orange County, currently most of the
Communities are located in the San Francisco Bay Area where the Company has most
of its acquisition, development, construction and marketing expertise. The
Company's performance, therefore, is dependent upon economic conditions in these
markets. A decline in the economy in these markets may adversely affect the
ability of the Company to make expected distributions to stockholders. The
Northern California economy has suffered from a recession which began in 1990.
National trends, such as a decline in demand for discretionary consumer goods
and leisure travel as well as heightened competition in high technology
industries, have had an adverse impact upon Northern California. Further
reductions in the level of government spending in the defense industry may have
an impact upon employment and demand for residential real estate in the Primary
Markets.
 
NEW SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARKETS
 
     The Company currently intends to acquire the Mill Creek, Villa Marguerite
and Martinique Gardens Current Acquisition Communities, which are located in the
southern portion of Orange County in Southern California, in the third quarter
of 1996, and to make other selective acquisitions in Southern California from
time to time thereafter. The Company's historical experience is in Northern
California, primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area, and it is possible that the
Company's expertise in those markets may not assist it in Southern California.
In such event, the Company may be exposed to, among others, risks associated
with (i) a lack of market knowledge and understanding of the local economy, (ii)
an inability to access land and
 
                                      S-16
<PAGE>   17
 
property acquisition opportunities, (iii) an inability to obtain construction
tradespeople, (iv) sudden adverse shifts in supply and demand factors and (v) an
unfamiliarity with local governmental procedures.
 
NATURAL DISASTERS
 
     Many of the Communities are located in the general vicinity of active
earthquake faults. In July, 1996, the Company obtained a seismic risk analysis
from an engineering firm which estimated the probable maximum loss ("PML") for
each of the Communities individually and for all of the Communities combined. To
establish a PML, the engineers first define a severe earthquake event for the
applicable geographic area, which is an earthquake that has only a 10%
likelihood of occurring over a 50-year period. The PML is determined as the
structural and architectural damage and business interruption loss that has a
10% probability of being exceeded in the event of such an earthquake. Because
the Communities are concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area, the engineers'
analysis defined an earthquake on the San Andreas Fault with a Richter Scale
magnitude of 8.0 as a severe earthquake with a 10% probability of occurring
within a 50-year period, and established an aggregate PML of $45.9 million for
the 27 Communities, which is a PML level that is expected to be exceeded only
10% of the time in the event of such a severe earthquake. This aggregate PML
could be higher as a result of variations in soil classifications and structural
vulnerabilities. One Community's individual PML was 30%, while four Communities
had PMLs of 25%, and the remaining 22 Communities each had PMLs of 20% or less.
However, no assurance can be given that an earthquake would not cause damage or
losses greater than the PML assessments indicate, or that future acquisitions or
developments will not have PML assessments indicating the possibility of greater
damage or losses. The Company has not yet obtained PML assessments for all of
the Current Acquisition Communities but is in the process of obtaining such
assessments as part of its normal due diligence.
 
     The Company has recently obtained earthquake insurance, both for physical
damage and lost revenues, with respect to the Communities. For any single
occurrence, the Company self-insures the first $20 million of loss, and has in
place $25 million of coverage above this amount, with a 20% deductible. In
addition, the Company's general liability and property casualty insurance
provides coverage for personal liability and fire damage. In the event that an
uninsured disaster or a loss in excess of insured limits were to occur, the
Company could lose its capital invested in the affected Community, as well as
anticipated future revenues from such Community, and would continue to be
obligated to repay any mortgage indebtedness or other obligations related to the
Community. Any such loss could materially and adversely affect the business of
the Company and its financial condition and results of operations.
 
REAL ESTATE FINANCING RISKS
 
     Risks Relating to the Credit Enhancement. The Company is obligated for
certain mortgage indebtedness funded by tax-exempt bonds (the "Bonds") in the
aggregate principal amount of approximately $197.2 million on 10 Communities
(Waterford Apartments, Villa Mariposa, Fairway Glen Apartments, Foxchase
Apartments, Barrington Hills, Crossbrook, Rivershore, Canyon Creek, Sea Ridge
and City Heights). Principal and interest payments due to holders of the Bonds
(the "Bondholders") are secured by a first deed of trust on the Community
associated with the respective Bond issue.
 
     Scheduled principal and interest payments due on the Bonds financing
Foxchase, Fairway Glen, Waterford and Villa Mariposa (the "1994 Bonds"), are
guaranteed by an insurance policy (the "FGIC Credit Enhancement") issued by
FGIC. The FGIC Credit Enhancement will terminate on March 17, 2004 and, if the
FGIC Credit Enhancement is not renewed or replaced, the 1994 Bond documents may
require balloon payments in 2004 aggregating approximately $87.4 million, less
any unscheduled principal amortization. Scheduled interest and principal
payments due on the Bonds financing Barrington Hills, Crossbrook, Rivershore,
Canyon Creek and Sea Ridge (the "1995 Bonds"), to the Bondholders are supported
by a 30-year credit enhancement provided by FNMA (the "FNMA Credit Enhancement"
and, together with the FGIC Credit Enhancement, the "Credit Enhancements"). See
"Unsecured Credit Facility, Mortgage Debt and Bond Financing."
 
                                      S-17
<PAGE>   18
 
     Each of the Credit Enhancements contains certain provisions under which a
default of certain payment obligations or covenants would entitle FGIC or FNMA,
as the case may be, to declare a default under its respective Credit Enhancement
documents and exercise its remedies (including foreclosure) under mortgages that
encumber nine of the 10 Bond-financed Communities and eight additional
Communities, with a consequent loss of income and asset value to the Company. In
addition, gross rents collected from the residents of these 17 Communities have
been and will continue to be deposited in cash collateral accounts established
with a financial institution acceptable to FGIC or FNMA, as applicable. The
Company does not have access to these funds until all required monthly debt
service payments due on the Bonds and certain other payments are made. A default
under either of the Credit Enhancements or the Bond documents may adversely
affect the ability of the Company to make expected distributions to
shareholders, including distributions required to maintain its REIT status. See
"Risk Factors -- Adverse Consequences of Failure to Qualify as a REIT" and
"Unsecured Credit Facility, Mortgage Debt and Bond Financing."
 
     Bond Compliance Requirements. The 10 Bond-financed Communities are subject
to deed restrictions or restrictive covenants relating to tax-exempt bond
financing. In addition, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), and the regulations promulgated thereunder impose various restrictions,
conditions and requirements relating to the exclusion from gross income for
Federal income tax purposes of interest on qualified bond obligations, including
requirements that at least 20% of apartment homes be made available to residents
with gross incomes that do not exceed 80% of the median income (50% in the case
of the Canyon Creek and Sea Ridge Communities) in the area, measured annually.
The Communities financed with Bonds are also subject to a requirement that the
rental rates for the 20% of the apartment homes that are subject to the
foregoing requirement may not exceed 30% of one-half of the applicable median
income. In addition to Federal requirements, certain state and local authorities
may impose rental restrictions. The Bond compliance requirements and the
requirements of any future tax-exempt bond financing utilized by the Company may
have the effect of limiting the Company's income from the Bond-financed
Communities if the Company is required to lower its rental rates materially to
attract residents who satisfy the median income test. If the required number of
apartment homes are not reserved for residents satisfying these income
requirements, the tax-exempt status of the Bonds may be terminated, the
obligations of the Company under the Bond documents may be accelerated and other
contractual remedies against the Company may be available.
 
     Risk of Rising Interest Rates. The Company had variable rate indebtedness
aggregating approximately $99.2 million outstanding as of June 30, 1996
consisting of $20.8 million of tax-exempt financing and $78.4 million of
borrowings under the Unsecured Credit Facility. Additional indebtedness that the
Company may incur under the Unsecured Credit Facility will also bear interest at
a variable rate. To the extent the Company uses variable rate debt for future
financings, and with respect to the portion of the Company's outstanding
indebtedness that will bear interest at a variable rate, increases in these
interest rates could adversely affect the Company's ability to make
distributions to stockholders. Consideration will be given to acquiring interest
rate hedging or protection agreements, if appropriate and cost effective, with
respect to future variable rate indebtedness to reduce exposure to interest rate
increases on such debt. See "Unsecured Credit Facility, Mortgage Debt and Bond
Financing."
 
POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES
 
     Under various Federal, state and local environmental laws, a current or
previous owner or operator of real estate may be required (typically regardless
of knowledge or responsibility) to investigate and remediate the effects of
hazardous or toxic substances or petroleum product releases at such property,
and may be held liable to a governmental entity or to third parties for property
damage and for investigation and remediation costs incurred by such parties in
connection with the contamination, which costs may be substantial. The presence
of such substances (or the failure to properly remediate the contamination) may
adversely affect the owner's ability to borrow against, sell or rent such
property.
 
     Certain federal, state and local laws and regulations govern the removal,
encapsulation or disturbance of asbestos-containing materials ("ACMs") when such
materials are in poor condition or in the event of construction, remodeling,
renovation or demolition of a building. Such laws may impose liability for
release of ACMs and may provide for third parties to seek recovery from owners
or operators of real properties for
 
                                      S-18
<PAGE>   19
 
personal injury associated with ACMs. In connection with its ownership and
operation of the Communities, the Company potentially may be liable for such
costs. The Company is not aware that any ACMs were used in connection with (i)
the construction of the Communities developed by the Company, all of which were
constructed after 1983, or (ii) the construction of any of the Communities
acquired by the Company or the Current Acquisition Communities other than
Regatta Bay, Sea Ridge, Village Square, Sunset Towers, Mill Creek, Channing
Heights and Martinique Gardens. The Company does not anticipate that it will
incur any material liabilities in connection with the presence of ACMs at the
Communities or any of the Current Acquisition Communities. The Company currently
has an operations and maintenance program in place for ACMs at the Regatta Bay,
Sea Ridge, Village Square and Sunset Towers Communities and intends to implement
similar programs at the Mill Creek, Channing Heights and Martinique Gardens
Current Acquisition Communities if acquired.
 
     All of the Communities, two of the Current Acquisition Communities, and the
Current Development Communities have been subjected to a Phase I or similar
environmental assessments (which involves general inspections without soil
sampling or groundwater analysis and generally without radon testing). These
assessments have not revealed any environmental liability that the Company
believes would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, assets
or results of operations. The Company is in the process of having environmental
assessments prepared on the balance of the Current Acquisition Communities.
However, one Community and one Current Development Community are subject to soil
and groundwater remediation of contamination from adjacent landowners. In the
case of one of the Current Development Communities, the Lawrence Expressway
Site, National Semiconductors Corporation is causing remediation to occur and
has provided an indemnity which the Company may rely upon for certain
environmental liabilities. Additionally, another Current Development Community,
The Alameda Site, may require underground storage tank removal and other
environmental cleanup. Nevertheless, it is possible that the assessments do not
reveal all environmental liabilities or there are material environmental
liabilities of which the Company is unaware. No assurances can be given that (i)
future laws, ordinances or regulations will not impose material environmental
liability, or (ii) the current environmental condition of the Communities, the
Current Acquisition Communities or the Current Development Communities will not
be affected by the condition of land or operations in the vicinity of such
communities (such as the presence of underground storage tanks), or by third
parties unrelated to the Company.
 
ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO QUALIFY AS A REIT
 
     The Company intends to operate in a manner that will enable it to qualify
as a REIT under the Code. Although management of the Company believes that the
Company is organized and operates in such a manner, no assurance can be given
that the Company qualifies or will remain qualified as a REIT. Qualification as
a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex Code provisions
for which there are only limited judicial and administrative interpretations.
The determination of various factual matters and circumstances not entirely
within the Company's control may affect the Company's ability to qualify as a
REIT. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT, it will be subject to Federal
income tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on its taxable
income at regular corporate rates. In addition, unless entitled to relief under
certain statutory provisions, the Company will be disqualified from treatment as
a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification
is lost. The additional tax would significantly reduce the cash flow available
for distribution to stockholders.
 
                                      S-19
<PAGE>   20
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     The net proceeds to the Company from the Offering are estimated to be
approximately $121.6 million (approximately $139.9 million if the Underwriters'
over-allotment option is exercised in full). The Company will use approximately
$81.3 million of the net proceeds from the Offering to acquire the Current
Acquisition Communities (or to repay any borrowings under the Unsecured Credit
Facility that may be incurred to acquire any Current Acquisition Communities
that are purchased prior to the closing of the Offering), and the remaining net
proceeds will be used to repay borrowings under the Unsecured Credit Facility.
The Unsecured Credit Facility bears interest at a rate of LIBOR (based on a
maturity selected by the Company) plus 1.55% per annum and matures in May, 1999.
 
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
     The following table sets forth the historical capitalization of the Company
as of March 31, 1996 and the pro forma capitalization of the Company as of such
date to reflect the issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock and Common Stock
issued in May, 1996, and as adjusted to give effect to the Offering, including
the use of the net proceeds therefrom as described in "Use of Proceeds."
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   MARCH 31, 1996
                                                        -------------------------------------
                                                                       PRO
                                                        HISTORICAL    FORMA       AS ADJUSTED
                                                        --------     --------     -----------
                                                                   (IN THOUSANDS)
    <S>                                                 <C>          <C>          <C>
    Notes payable.....................................  $233,934     $310,366      $ 269,754
    Minority interest.................................        --        7,300          7,300
    Shareholders' equity:
      Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 25,000,000
         authorized, outstanding: 2,308,800 at March
         31, 1996, 2,713,822 pro forma and as
         adjusted.....................................        23           27             27
      Common Stock, $.01 par value, 40,000,000
         authorized, outstanding: 11,558,087 at March
         31, 1996, 13,219,501 pro forma and 18,219,501
         as adjusted(1)...............................       116          132            182
      Dividends in excess of accumulated earnings.....   (16,100)     (16,388)       (16,388)
      Paid in capital.................................   251,345      300,826        422,388
         Total shareholders' equity...................   235,384      284,597        406,209
                                                        --------     --------       --------
         Total capitalization.........................  $469,318     $602,263      $ 683,263
                                                        ========     ========       ========
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Excludes 646,350 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 1994
    Stock Incentive Plan.
 
                                      S-20
<PAGE>   21
 
                 PRICE RANGE OF SHARES AND DISTRIBUTION HISTORY
 
     The Common Stock has been traded on the NYSE under the symbol "BYA" since
the Initial Offering in March, 1994 and has been traded on the PSE under the
same symbol since May, 1996. On July 3, 1996, the reported last sale price of
the shares of Common Stock on the NYSE was $25 7/8 per share, and there were
approximately 89 holders of record of shares of Common Stock. The following
table sets forth the quarterly high and low sales prices per share reported on
the NYSE and the distributions paid (or declared in the case of June 30, 1996)
by the Company with respect to each quarterly period since the Initial Offering.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         QUARTER ENDED                     HIGH      LOW      DISTRIBUTION
       --------------------------------------------------  -----    ------    ------------
<S>    <C>                                                 <C>      <C>       <C>
1994
       March 31..........................................  $21 1/2  $20 3/8      $   (1)
       June 30...........................................  $22 3/4  $20          $  .44
       September 30......................................  $22 1/8  $19 3/4      $  .38
       December 31.......................................  $21 1/8  $17 3/4      $  .38
                                                                                 ------
       Total 1994........................................                        $ 1.20
                                                                              =========
1995
       March 31..........................................  $20 7/8  $18          $  .38
       June 30...........................................  $20      $16 3/4      $  .39
       September 30......................................  $21 3/4  $19 1/8      $  .39
       December 31.......................................  $24 1/2  $19 7/8      $  .39
                                                                                 ------
       Total 1995........................................                        $ 1.55
                                                                              =========
1996
       March 31..........................................  $25 3/4  $22 5/8      $  .40
       June 30...........................................  $26      $23          $  .40
       September 30 (through July 3).....................  $25 7/8  $25 1/2          NA
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) A distribution for the period March 17, 1994 through March 31, 1994 was paid
    concurrently with the June 30, 1994 distribution based on an annual
    distribution rate of $1.52 per share outstanding.
 
     On March 19, 1996, the Company announced an increase of approximately 2.5%
in its quarterly distribution, increasing the quarterly distribution on its
Common Stock from $0.39 per share to $0.40 per share, which, on an annualized
basis, is equal to an annual distribution of $1.60 per share. The Company
currently expects to continue to pay a regular quarterly distribution at this
increased level for the remainder of 1996. Future distributions by the Company
will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and there can be no
assurance that any such distributions will be made by the Company.
 
                                      S-21
<PAGE>   22
 
                              BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY
 
     The Company's primary business is to own and operate upscale apartment
communities with extensive landscaping and amenities, well-maintained common
facilities and convenient access to shopping areas, transportation or other
services. The Company has consistently followed this philosophy since it was
founded in 1978. In operating the Company, management emphasizes the following
business philosophies:
 
     - Quality and Reputation. The Company believes that by setting high
       standards with respect to the design, development, construction and
       operation of its Communities, it has established an excellent reputation
       and tradition of service in each of its primary markets. This dedication
       to service and quality is designed to minimize resident turnover, reduce
       operating expenses, and enhance the occupancy levels of its Communities.
 
     - Long-Term Competitive Advantage. The Company, operating primarily in the
       fully-developed metropolitan areas of Northern California, has
       consistently aimed to build or acquire and own apartment community sites
       which, as a result of their location and design, give the Company a
       long-term competitive advantage. The Company seeks sites in urban
       settings where no other comparable apartment can be built in the
       foreseeable future. The Company takes advantage of the general planning
       and zoning laws in California, which preplan the use of every parcel of
       property for particular purposes, by seeking to obtain the only available
       apartment sites in a micromarket. The Company also purchases sites with
       non-residential buildings on them, then removes the old structures and
       builds new apartment homes in otherwise fully developed neighborhoods. As
       a result, the Company can frequently provide new apartment homes, usually
       on the last available site in an area, at a higher quality than any other
       apartment community in that market area and thereby gain a relatively
       long-term competitive advantage. The Company also buys existing
       apartments in fully developed neighborhoods and substantially rebuilds
       them to a quality higher than any existing apartment in the area, which
       frequently results in the Company owning the highest quality apartment
       community or the best rental value apartment community in a neighborhood.
 
     - Successful In-fill Development Strategy. The Company also favors in-fill
       development sites that make its apartment locations very attractive to
       the largest possible segment of the rental market. The Company
       selectively seeks opportunities to acquire development sites or existing
       apartment communities that have high drive-by traffic volume, very good
       transportation access, convenient shopping and schools, close proximity
       to major employment centers, lower than normal land or improvement costs,
       significant public financial assistance, favorable tax-exempt financing
       and other significant advantages which make the Company's apartment
       locations very attractive. Management believes that the in-fill
       characteristics and superior locations of its communities and the strict
       growth controls in the Primary Markets are likely to limit new
       competition and enhance the current and long-term value of the Company's
       overall portfolio.
 
     - Attractive Communities. The Company designs its communities for maximum
       long-term investment value and resident appeal. Substantially all of the
       Communities include attractive leasing pavilions and community centers,
       solar-heated swimming pools and spas, large high-tech fitness facilities,
       lush and extensive landscaping, indoor or covered, and often secured,
       parking, ample private storage spaces, both in the parking areas and in
       the apartments. A growing number of Communities also have business
       centers with computers, printers, fax machines and copiers available for
       residents. The apartment homes offer spacious, open living areas where
       living, dining and kitchen areas read as one space, and, in most cases,
       there is a bathroom with every bedroom. A two or three bedroom apartment
       typically has two or three bathrooms, high or vaulted ceilings, a patio
       or balcony, a separate in-home laundry room, often including washing
       machines and dryers and a fully-equipped kitchen, often with a built-in
       buffet, wine rack, microwave, disposal and dishwasher.
 
     - Service Ethic. The Company believes that the best way to attract and
       retain residents is to provide comprehensive personal service. The
       Company has well-trained property managers, leasing agents and
       maintenance managers each of whose objective is to be courteous and
       responsive to resident needs 24 hours a day and to ensure that the
       Communities are always maintained in their best condition. These
 
                                      S-22
<PAGE>   23
 
       employees frequently attend educational programs to improve their
       management and marketing skills. The Company also offers or makes
       available many services to residents that make living in the Communities
       more convenient, including package and laundry pick up and delivery
       services, aerobics classes, community social activities and, for certain
       communities, business centers with computers, printers, fax and copy
       machines.
 
     - Hands-on Construction. The Company carefully designs each development
       project and serves as its own general contractor for new construction and
       renovation work. It designs each community with full participation of key
       Company development, construction, marketing, financial, and property
       management personnel, as well as with building and landscape architects,
       civil, soil, structural, mechanical, electrical, sound and environmental
       engineers and a wide variety of major subcontractors that will be
       involved in the construction and maintenance of the communities. In its
       construction design and specifications, the Company includes as many
       long-term, durable materials and equipment as are financially feasible to
       minimize future maintenance costs. The Company takes significant steps to
       control costs and schedules, such as widely bidding all phases of the
       construction project and negotiating detailed contracts with
       subcontractors so that the construction process is less likely to have
       change orders or unanticipated costs. The Company maintains detailed
       budgets, budget to actual cost analyses and construction schedules to
       control all phases of the construction operation at its communities.
 
     - New or Like-New Strategy. The Company aims to keep all of its Communities
       in new or like-new condition. Of the Company's 27 Communities, six
       Current Acquisition Communities and four Current Development Communities,
       the Company will have built 15 new communities and substantially rebuilt
       or rehabilitated 20 others. Once it has built new or restored communities
       to like-new condition, the Company diligently maintains them. The Company
       has developed a detailed capital improvement and preventive maintenance
       program that emphasizes the importance of maintaining the high-quality of
       its communities. The Company capitalizes approximately $125 per apartment
       home per year of the approximately $855 that it spends per apartment home
       per year for repairs, replacements and reconstruction. Management
       believes that physical repair and cleanliness of the Company's
       communities are vital parts of the quality of the communities and
       positive resident relationships. At the same time, management believes
       that the great majority of maintenance and repair expenditures should be
       expensed as incurred. In fact, management expenses all repair and
       replacement expenditures that cost individually $5,000 or less. This
       proactive maintenance and expense philosophy results in lower, long-terms
       operating costs, maintains the high quality of the communities and
       maximizes their future value.
 
     - Extensive Experience in Tax-Exempt Bond Indebtedness. Historically, the
       Company has financed a large portion of its Communities with tax-exempt
       bond indebtedness and has developed substantial expertise in this area.
       Through the strategic use of tax-exempt bonds, the Company has been able
       to borrow an aggregate of $197.2 million amortizing over an average
       period of 22 years with an all inclusive average interest rate of
       approximately 6.2% per annum, effectively fixed for an average remaining
       term of approximately 11 years. The Company intends to continue using
       similar tax-exempt permanent financing strategies in connection with new
       development projects and communities acquired in the future, including
       the Countrybrook and Villa Marguerite Current Acquisition Communities,
       where such favorable opportunities exist. See "Growth Strategies."
 
                               GROWTH STRATEGIES
 
     The Company's primary business objectives are to maximize the current
return to stockholders through increases in current distributions and to
increase long-term total returns to stockholders through appreciation in value
of the Company's Common Stock. The Company is committed to achieving these
objectives by pursuing the following internal and external growth strategies.
 
     The Company has aggressively pursued growth through the acquisition and
repositioning, or planned repositioning, of over 2,957 apartment homes, the
development of an additional 672 apartment homes which the Company still owns
and 232 more which it sold in June, 1995, and the initiation or planning of
construction of 1,574 apartment homes. To facilitate its growth strategies, the
Company has raised
 
                                      S-23
<PAGE>   24
 
approximately $99.7 million of equity and has in place acquisition, development
and construction financing in the aggregate amount of approximately $175.5
million of which approximately $97.2 million is currently available to the
Company. See "Unsecured Credit Facility, Mortgage Debt and Bond Financing."
 
     The Company intends to maintain a conservative balance sheet and currently
has a policy of incurring debt in the future only if upon such incurrence its
debt-to-total-market-capitalization ratio (i.e., total consolidated debt of the
Company as a percentage of the market value of outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Company plus total consolidated debt) is 50% or less. The Company's
debt-to-total-market-capitalization ratio as of June 30, 1996 was 40.1%. Upon
the closing of the Offering, the Company's debt-to-total-market-capitalization
ratio is expected to be approximately 26.7% prior to the purchase of any of the
Current Acquisition Communities and 32.4% assuming the acquisition of all of the
Current Acquisition Communities.
 
IN-FILL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
 
     The Company intends to generate external growth through the continued
development of upscale apartment home communities located in in-fill areas in
Northern California. The Company believes that the barriers to new development
in its markets caused by governmental growth controls (including difficult
permitting processes and high governmental and quasi-governmental fees),
significant equity requirements, and the limited availability of construction
financing, have reduced the number of potential acquirers of undeveloped land
and contributed to the decrease in the rate of apartment home community
construction. This decline in construction, coupled with the trend toward strong
population growth and household formations, presents an excellent opportunity
for the Company to achieve favorable returns on the development of well-located,
upscale apartment home communities. During the past 18 years, the Company and
its affiliates have developed and constructed or acquired and rebuilt
approximately 10,000 residential units in Northern California, primarily in the
San Francisco Bay Area. The Company believes that the size and quality of its
portfolio, as well as the relationships it has developed with local permitting
and governmental authorities and its experience with the development,
construction and financing process, have minimized barriers to development often
faced by less experienced developers. The Company believes that these factors
will also assist the Company in connection with obtaining permits in new markets
in the future.
 
     In analyzing a potential development community, the Company evaluates
certain geographic, demographic, economic and financial data, including
prevailing rental and occupancy rates in the area, income levels and employment
base, traffic volume, transportation access, proximity to shopping, schools, and
commercial centers and the availability of favorable tax-exempt financing. The
Company also uses creativity in the site-selection process, often looking for
sites in in-fill locations that are currently used for other than apartment
purposes and that can sometimes be refurbished, but, more often, can be built on
or rebuilt for apartment purposes. Assuming the development project satisfies
the Company's review, the Company determines whether the most prudent course is
to acquire the land outright or to secure an option to purchase the land. The
Company's decision is based on, among other criteria, the zoning status of the
land, the availability of financing and the pricing for the various ownership
alternatives. The Company designs each of its Communities in a manner that is
aesthetically pleasing, while controlling costs both during the construction and
operation of the Community. During the construction process, the Company serves
as the general contractor to better ensure that the project will be completed on
time and within budget projections. The last component of the development
process is creating and implementing the marketing and leasing program. The
Company's marketing and leasing specialists are involved throughout the
development process to ensure that the appropriate apartment home mix and
community amenities are incorporated into the design.
 
     When evaluating new development opportunities, the Company targets
development communities with projected EBITDA of at least 10% of estimated total
capitalized costs of development in the first calendar year after stabilization.
For purposes of estimating total capitalized costs, the Company includes land
acquisition costs, governmental and quasi-governmental fees, hard construction
costs, architectural and engineering fees, on-site supervision costs, real
estate taxes, interest and loan fees and other fees associated directly with
construction. For the 11 Communities developed by the Company which it still
owns, EBITDA as a percentage of total capitalized cost (weighted according to
capitalized costs) was approximately 10.0% in the first calendar year after
stabilized occupancy of each such Community.
 
                                      S-24
<PAGE>   25
 
SELECTIVE ACQUISITION AND PROPERTY REPOSITIONING
 
     The Company also intends to grow externally by acquiring existing apartment
communities from third parties. The Company presently believes that there are
attractive acquisition opportunities in Northern California particularly in
light of management's experience and the Company's in-house capability in all
aspects of real estate acquisition, construction, reconstruction and design. The
Company seeks to acquire well-located apartment communities that can be improved
to meet the quality and performance standards of the Company through development
expertise, capital improvement programs and proactive property management and
that: (i) are in need of physical improvements, (ii) are held, primarily as a
result of repossession, by financial institutions, insurance companies, pension
fund advisors or other similar property managers, or (iii) are held by owners
unable to satisfy their obligations.
 
     The continued limited availability of real estate financing from
conventional sources causes property owners who are unable to refinance maturing
mortgages to sell their properties at prices that provide attractive acquisition
opportunities. Generally, the Company targets a 9.5% cash on cash return for
acquired communities in the first calendar year after the Company has completed
all reconstruction and refurbishing. The Company believes that the pressure for
existing owners to sell, coupled with the numerous financial institutions that
are disposing of real estate assets, has created an opportunity to acquire
properties that will meet or exceed the Company's targeted return.
 
STRATEGIC USE OF TAX-EXEMPT BOND INDEBTEDNESS
 
     The Company also seeks to increase FFO per share and long-term total
returns to stockholders through the strategic use of tax-exempt bond
indebtedness, which enables the Company to fix and lower its cost of capital as
a result of the lower interest rates associated with tax-exempt financing. As of
June 30, 1996, the Company has outstanding approximately $197.2 million of
tax-exempt indebtedness. The Company intends to continue to use its expertise in
low interest tax-exempt bond financing in an effort to lower its cost of capital
and obtain favorable long-term financing for new development and acquisition
opportunities. The use of low interest tax-exempt financing for 10 of the
Communities has substantially contributed to the investment returns to the
Company.
 
     Historically, the Company has been able to take advantage of this low cost
tax-exempt indebtedness without significant rental loss that ordinarily is
attributable to compliance with certain rental restrictions imposed in
connection with such indebtedness. The Company will continue to utilize low
interest tax-exempt indebtedness in markets where the reduction in rental
revenues caused by compliance with such restrictions is substantially less than
the savings realized through lower interest rates. As a result of certain
amendments in the Code, communities financed by tax-exempt indebtedness in the
future will be required to satisfy more stringent rental restrictions. There can
be no assurance that the rental revenue from communities that incur tax-exempt
indebtedness in the future will not be adversely affected; however, the Company
intends to seek such financing in the future only if economically advantageous
to the Company.
 
PROACTIVE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
 
     The Company believes managing its Communities with an intensive hands-on
approach is a fundamental component of its internal growth. The Company has
developed aggressive property management and leasing programs over the past 18
years that are designed to maximize revenues and minimize expenses thereby
increasing the Company's net income per share. For example, the Company's
management has authorized and implemented a compensation structure for its
on-site property managers that provides for quarterly bonus compensation tied
directly to the Community's quarterly performance relative to budgeted
performance. The Company believes that its proactive approach to property
management results in consistently higher occupancy and rental revenue levels,
and a more stable resident base than the overall market.
 
     The Company believes that the continued increase in the formation of new
households, combined with the limited supply of newly constructed upscale
apartment home communities in the Primary Markets, positions these markets for
increases in rental rates. The Company intends to generate internal growth by
(i) increasing average occupancy and rental rates, as market conditions permit,
and minimizing resident
 
                                      S-25
<PAGE>   26
 
turnover of the Communities, and (ii) continuing to operate as a low cost
producer with an efficient general and administrative staff and with senior
management providing direction and supervision of the on-site Community
management team. To the extent, however, that certain Communities are financed
by Bonds, bond compliance requirements may have the effect of mitigating any
rental rate increase if the Company is required to lower rental rates to attract
residents who satisfy the median income test. See "Risk Factors -- Real Estate
Financing Risks -- Bond Compliance Requirements."
 
     Each Community's management team consists of a property manager, several
leasing specialists and maintenance personnel. The on-site property manager is
both the Company's representative to the residents and the manager of the
leasing and maintenance staff. The Company believes that its property managers
play an integral role in its management team as well as in each Community's
success. Management personnel undergo an extensive training program and attend
continuing education classes to improve their marketing and management skills.
The Company's employees perform all property management functions, including
leasing and rent collection and delinquencies. For the year ended December 31,
1995, the Company's average for collections lost to bad debt was 0.46%, due in
large part to extensive credit reviews of prospective residents and a diligent
collections policy. In addition, the Company's employees perform most of the
on-site maintenance functions, including, for example, painting, plumbing and
electrical repair, pool maintenance and general clean up, as well as major
repairs including repairs of leasing pavilions, recreation buildings, kitchens
and bathrooms.
 
     To control costs, the Company has established a sophisticated property
management computer system which tracks leasing, rent collection and expense
activity on a daily basis at each of the Communities. The Company's on-line
computer network, using both customized and conventional software programs,
provides the Company's management with immediate information about rent
collections, new rentals, credit review of prospective residents, delinquencies,
30-day termination notices, occupancy levels and resident profiles. Both
marketing and accounting information are carefully and continuously monitored by
management. Additionally, the geographic concentration of the Communities allows
senior management to visit each of the Communities frequently and to closely
supervise the implementation of the leasing and maintenance programs.
 
                     PERFORMANCE SINCE THE INITIAL OFFERING
 
     Since the Initial Offering, the Company has achieved strong financial
results from both external and internal growth. The Company has aggressively
pursued external growth through its strategy of acquiring and substantially
reconstructing existing apartment communities as well as developing new
communities. The Company has enhanced returns on its existing Communities in
large part through rental rate increases, which reflect the high demand for
upscale apartment homes in the Primary Markets, and in part through favorable
tax-exempt financing. In view of the Company's activities with the Current
Acquisition Communities and the Current Development Communities, the Company
believes that it is well-positioned to continue to benefit from current and
projected favorable market conditions in the Primary Markets.
 
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
 
     Results of Operations. The Company's FFO per share has increased at a rate
of approximately 12% per annum since the Initial Offering. In its first full
quarter as a public company, the second quarter of 1994, the Company reported
FFO per share of $0.41. In the first quarter of 1996, the Company reported FFO
per share of $0.50. The Company's FFO per share has grown for several reasons:
(i) strong internal growth; (ii) accretive acquisitions of Communities; and
(iii) positive leverage from long-term, fixed-rate, tax-exempt debt.
 
     - Internal Growth. The Company has had the benefit of strong internal
       growth since the Initial Offering. For example, on its initial 13
       Communities (i.e., the "same store" Communities), the Company has had
       same store EBITDA growth from the end of the second quarter of 1994 to
       the end of the first quarter of 1996, a period of seven quarters, of
       15.99%. This EBITDA growth is due to revenue increases of 11.67% during
       this period. In addition, average same store physical occupancy improved
       from 95.9% to 97.1% from the end of the second quarter of 1994 to the end
       of the first quarter
 
                                      S-26
<PAGE>   27
 
       of 1996. During the same period, expenses increased 1.71%. On an
       annualized basis for the seven quarters ended March 31, 1996, increases
       in revenues, expenses and EBITDA for these 13 Communities for 1996 were
       6.5%, 1.0% and 8.8%, respectively.
 
     - Accretive Additions. From the Initial Offering through June 30, 1996, the
       Company has added 3,629 apartment homes in 14 Communities, consisting of
       2,957 apartment homes in 12 Communities which it acquired and rebuilt and
       672 apartment homes in two Communities which it developed and built. The
       estimated EBITDA in 1996 as a percentage of cost is 9.9% for the
       portfolio of 14 Communities, 9.6% on the 12 acquired Communities and
       10.5% on the two newly developed Communities. See "Prospectus Supplement
       Summary -- Performance Since the Initial Offering -- Acquisition and
       Development Activity" for a description of the calculation of EBITDA on
       these Communities.
 
     - Positive Leverage. The Company has obtained $110.2 million of long-term,
       tax-exempt bond debt since the Initial Offering. Of this debt, $89.4
       million is fully amortizing 30-year bonds with an all-inclusive fixed
       interest rate for the first 15 years of 6.48% per annum. The remaining
       $20.8 million of bond debt has a remaining 22-year life and bears
       interest at a rate of 30-day LIBOR, reset weekly, plus 0.25%, which,
       including financing costs, is currently approximately 6.25% per annum.
       The Company intends to fix the interest rate on these floating rate bonds
       in the third quarter of 1996, subject to market conditions. This low-cost
       financing increases the return on the Company's acquisition and
       development communities.
 
     Increased Distributions and Lowered Payout Ratio. The Company's
distribution policy is to increase distributions at a rate of growth at or
slightly above inflation, but less than its growth in FFO per share. The
Company's FFO per share has increased at a rate of approximately 12% per annum
since the Initial Offering. The Company has increased its quarterly
distributions from $0.38 to $0.39 per share in the second quarter of 1995 and
from $0.39 to $0.40 per share in the first quarter of 1996, which represents an
increase of approximately 3.0% per annum over its beginning annualized
distribution based on a seven quarter period. The Company's distribution policy
has resulted in a reduction in its distributions as a percentage of its FFO from
91.7% in the second quarter of 1994 to 79.8% in the first quarter of 1996. See
"Prospectus Supplement Summary -- Summary Financial and Operating Data."
 
ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY
 
     Repositioning of Communities Acquired at the Initial Offering. Concurrently
with the Initial Offering, the Company acquired five Communities, with a total
of 1,300 apartment homes, for a combined acquisition cost of approximately $85.8
million and completed a substantial reconstruction of each of these Communities.
After completing construction of the Larkspur Woods Community, the Company sold
the property for a gain of approximately $2.4 million, representing an
approximately 16% profit over the amount it had invested in the property.
 
     The following is a description of the five Communities acquired
concurrently with the Initial Offering:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        AT JUNE 30, 1996
                                                   ---------------------------                         TOTAL
              COMMUNITY             APT. HOMES     % LEASED     % OCCUPIED(1)      PURCHASE PRICE     COST(2)
      --------------------------    ----------     --------     --------------     --------------     -------
                                                                                         (IN MILLIONS)
<C>   <S>                           <C>            <C>          <C>                <C>                <C>
  1.  Barrington Hills(3)                188        100.0%           97.3%             $ 14.8          $15.6
      Hayward, CA
  2.  Hacienda Gardens                   456         98.9            98.9                34.0           34.3
      Pleasanton, CA
  3.  Larkspur Woods(4)                  232        N/A             N/A                  10.2           15.2
      Sacramento, CA
  4.  Regatta Bay(5)                     288        100.0            98.3                20.3           23.5
      Foster City, CA
  5.  Sommerset                          136         99.3            97.8                 6.5            6.7
      Vacaville, CA
                                       -----        -----           -----              ------          -----
         Totals/Weighted Average       1,300         99.4%           98.3%             $ 85.8          $95.3
                                       =====        =====           =====              ======          =====
</TABLE>
 
                                      S-27
<PAGE>   28
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Represents physical occupancy.
(2) Total Cost consists of all capitalized costs incurred as of March 31, 1996
    to acquire and reposition the Community, determined in accordance with GAAP.
(3) Barrington Hills was formerly known as The Foothills. In connection with
    purchasing this Community, the Company assumed $13.6 million in tax-exempt
    bonds currently bearing interest at an all-inclusive interest rate of 6.48%
    per annum, which is fixed until June, 2010 pursuant to an interest rate swap
    agreement.
(4) This Community was sold in June, 1995 and was formerly known as Cambridge
    Square.
(5) Regatta Bay was formerly known as Shelter Cove.
 
     Consistent with the Company's strategy of acquiring and rebuilding
well-located but poorly maintained and managed communities, as of March 31, 1996
the Company had invested approximately $9.5 million, and expects to invest
another $475,000 in 1996, to implement the following repositioning programs at
these Communities:
 
     - Barrington Hills, Hayward, CA. The Company invested $737,000 in
       repositioning this Community under a program which included remodeling
       the leasing facility, replacing the fitness center, adding an
       electronically controlled gate system, refurbishing and repainting the
       exterior of all buildings and upgrading the Community's landscaping and
       paved areas.
 
     - Hacienda Gardens, Pleasanton, CA. The Company has invested $262,000 and
       expects to invest an additional $475,000 in 1996 to reposition this
       Community. The Company upgraded the leasing and recreational facilities,
       added over 100 sets of washers and dryers, built approximately 330
       enclosed garages and enhanced the Community's landscaping and water
       features.
 
     - Larkspur Woods, Sacramento, CA. The Company acquired this
       partially-completed community for approximately $10.2 million and
       subsequently completed construction of 115 apartment homes, upgraded the
       leasing and recreational facilities, improved the landscaping and
       installed a gate system at an aggregate cost of approximately $5.0
       million. The Company sold this community to an institutional buyer in
       June, 1995 for approximately $17.6 million and realized an approximately
       $2.4 million gain on the sale.
 
     - Regatta Bay, Foster City, CA. The Company invested approximately $3.2
       million in repositioning this Community under a program which included
       remodeling the leasing, recreational and laundry facilities, repairing
       foundations, replacing all of the plumbing and most of the electrical
       systems, replacing the roof, removing one swimming pool and substantially
       rebuilding the other, repairing and repainting the building's exterior,
       moving and rebuilding trash enclosures and replacing most of the
       landscaping.
 
     - Sommerset, Vacaville, CA. The Company invested $242,000 in repositioning
       this Community under a program which included remodeling the leasing and
       recreational facilities, refurbishing and painting the building siding
       and upgrading the Community's landscaping and paved areas.
 
     Acquisitions and Repositionings After the Initial Offering. Since the
Initial Offering, the Company has acquired 12 Communities for a combined
acquisition cost of approximately $190.2 million. These 12 Communities have a
total of 2,957 apartment homes. Many of these Communities were acquired from
lenders after foreclosure or in other circumstances that allowed the Company to
purchase the Communities at a significant discount to the Company's estimate of
replacement cost. Three of these Communities have tax-exempt bond financing
totaling approximately $36.8 million with an all-inclusive interest rate of
6.48% per annum, which the Company has fixed for a period of 15 years, and one
Community has $20.8 million of tax-exempt debt bearing interest at a rate of
30-day LIBOR, reset weekly, plus 0.25%, which, including financing costs, is
currently approximately 6.25% per annum. The Company intends to fix the rate on
these floating rate bonds in the third quarter of 1996, subject to market
conditions.
 
                                      S-28
<PAGE>   29
 
     The following is a description of the 12 Communities acquired since the
Initial Offering:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               AT JUNE 30, 1996
                                     DATE                   -----------------------  PURCHASE   TOTAL ACTUAL/
           COMMUNITY               ACQUIRED     APT. HOMES  % LEASED  % OCCUPIED(1)   PRICE    BUDGETED COST(2)
- ------------------------------- --------------- ----------  --------  -------------  --------  ----------------
                                                                                     (IN MILLIONS)
<S>                             <C>             <C>         <C>       <C>            <C>       <C>
 1.  Reflections                June, 1994           516       95.0%       94.0%      $ 18.2        $ 19.3
     Fresno, CA
 2.  Village Square             June, 1994           154      100.0       100.0         12.7          12.8
     San Francisco, CA
 3.  Blairmore(3)               July, 1994           252       97.6        96.8          9.5          10.6
     Rancho Cordova, CA
 4.  Crossbrook                 October, 1994        226       97.8        97.4         12.9          13.5
     Rohnert Park, CA
 5.  Sea Ridge(4)               February, 1995       220      100.0        99.1         10.3          17.3
     Pacifica, CA
 6.  Rivershore                 April, 1995          245       99.2        97.1         13.2          13.9
     Bay Point, CA
 7.  The Promenade              October, 1995        220      100.0        97.7         18.2          18.4
     Sunnyvale, CA
 8.  City Heights               October, 1995        185       99.5        97.3         15.9          15.9
     San Francisco, CA
 9.  The Pointe                 December, 1995       296       99.0        98.0         18.1          18.2
     Fairfield, CA
10.  Park Centre                May, 1996            208      100.0        97.1         11.4          14.2
     Union City, CA
11.  Parkside Commons           May, 1996            192       98.4        97.9         25.5          25.5
     Sunnyvale, CA
12.  Sunset Towers              May, 1996            243       99.6        99.6         24.3          26.4
     San Francisco, CA
                                                 -------    -------      -------     -------   -----------
        Totals/Weighted Average                    2,957       98.4%       97.3%      $190.2        $206.0
                                                 -------    -------      -------     -------   -----------
                                                 -------    -------      -------     -------   -----------
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Represents physical occupancy.
(2) Total Actual/Budgeted Cost consists of all capitalized costs incurred as of
    March 31, 1996 or, for those Communities acquired in May, 1996, projected to
    be incurred principally in 1996 and 1997, as the case may be, to acquire and
    reposition the Community, determined in accordance with GAAP.
(3) This Community was formerly known as Brandywine.
(4) This Community was formerly known as Kimberly Woods.
 
     As of March 31, 1996, the Company had invested approximately $10.9 million
in construction and reconstruction programs at the 12 Communities acquired since
the Initial Offering, and expects to invest an additional amount of
approximately $9.0 million principally in 1996 and 1997. The Company's
construction and reconstruction programs vary from Community to Community as
follows:
 
     - Reflections, Fresno, CA. The Company has invested $1.1 million and
       expects to invest an additional $340,000 to make significant structural
       repairs to this Community, re-side part or all of each building in the
       Community, repaint the exterior of the Community and significantly
       upgrade the landscaping. The Company is currently also substantially
       refurbishing the leasing facility and two fitness centers.
 
     - Village Square, San Francisco, CA. The Company has invested approximately
       $113,000 and expects to invest an additional $104,000 to repair apartment
       decks and water intrusion problems affecting the foundations.
 
     - Blairmore, Rancho Cordova, CA. The Company has invested approximately
       $1.1 million to make significant structural repairs, rebuild several
       apartment homes damaged by a fire prior to the Company's acquisition,
       substantially demolish and rebuild the Community's leasing and
       recreational facilities, repair and paint the building siding, gate the
       Community and significantly upgrade the Community's landscaping.
 
                                      S-29
<PAGE>   30
 
     - Crossbrook, Rohnert Park, CA. The Company is currently in the process of
       a significant repositioning program at this Community. The Company has
       invested $617,000 and expects to invest an additional $816,000 to rebuild
       the leasing and recreational facilities, add enclosed garages and
       significantly upgrade the landscaping and paved areas. The Company is
       still in the process of repairing water infiltration problems in the
       Community's roof and siding and intends thereafter to paint the entire
       exterior of the Community.
 
     - Sea Ridge, Pacifica, CA. The Company has invested approximately $6.9
       million and expects to invest an additional $272,000 to substantially
       rebuild this Community by replacing its roof and exterior siding,
       entirely rebuilding the interior of every apartment home and the leasing,
       fitness and laundry facilities, adding approximately 150 garages,
       removing one swimming pool and repairing the other, and replacing the
       landscaping. The Company began releasing the apartment homes on October
       1, 1995; the last apartment home was reoccupied by approximately March
       31, 1996.
 
     - Rivershore, Bay Point, CA. The Company has invested $730,000 and expects
       to invest an additional $234,000 to repair the roof, repair and repaint
       the entire exterior siding of the Community, gate the Community and
       rebuild the leasing and fitness centers.
 
     - The Promenade, Sunnyvale, CA. The Company has invested $205,000 and
       expects to invest an additional $955,000 to make significant structural
       repairs to the Community's stairs and rebuild the leasing facility, add a
       fitness center, repaint the entire Community's exterior and substantially
       refurbish its landscaping.
 
     - City Heights, San Francisco, CA. The Company expects to invest
       approximately $1.1 million to replace the leasing facility and fitness
       center, repair major water intrusion problems, redecorate all interior
       hallways and substantially modify the Community's exterior.
 
     - The Pointe, Fairfield, CA. The Company has invested $137,000 and expects
       to invest an additional $287,000 to repaint the Community's entire
       exterior, replace its leasing and fitness centers and repair its indoor
       pool building and its foundations.
 
     - Park Centre, Union City, CA. The Company expects to invest approximately
       $2.8 million to replace this Community's roof, repair and repaint its
       siding, substantially refurbish its landscaping, redecorate the interior
       of all apartment homes, rebuild its leasing facility and fitness center
       and gate the Community.
 
     - Parkside Commons, Sunnyvale, CA. No significant renovations are planned
       for this Community.
 
     - Sunset Towers, San Francisco, CA. The Company expects to invest
       approximately $2.0 million to repair the roof and substantially refurbish
       the Community's exterior, its leasing facility and interior hallways.
 
     Completed Development Communities. At the Initial Offering the Company
owned one land parcel on which it developed the Carriage Square Community and,
shortly after the Initial Offering, acquired a second land parcel on which it
developed the Canyon Creek Community. Carriage Square (formerly known as Santa
Teresa), is a 324 apartment home Community located in San Jose, CA. The Company
completed construction of this Community, at a total cost of approximately $36.8
million, in September, 1995, and it reached stabilized occupancy in October,
1995. Canyon Creek (formerly known as Creekside), is a 348 apartment home
Community located in Campbell, CA. The Company completed construction of this
Community in December, 1995 at a total cost of approximately $35.6 million, and
it reached stabilized occupancy in the same month. The Company has arranged
30-year, fully amortizing, tax-exempt bond financing for this Community in the
amount of $38.8 million, which has an all-inclusive interest rate of 6.48% per
annum fixed for 15 years.
 
     Current Acquisition Communities. The Company has entered into contracts to
acquire the six Current Acquisition Communities in the third quarter of 1996 for
a combined acquisition cost of approximately $116.6 million. These six
communities have a total of 1,409 apartment homes. The Company's purchase of
three of the Current Acquisition Communities (Channing Heights, Mill Creek and
The Fountains) is subject to certain conditions, including completing the
Company's due diligence review, obtaining approval of the Company's Board of
Directors, and receiving certain third party consents. There can be no assurance
that any
 
                                      S-30
<PAGE>   31
 
or all of the conditions to closing these three Current Acquisition Communities
will be satisfied or that the Company will acquire any or all of the Current
Acquisition Communities. In the event that any Current Acquisition Community is
acquired prior to the closing of the Offering, the Company anticipates funding
the acquisition with borrowings under the Unsecured Credit Facility. It is
currently anticipated that the purchase of any Current Acquisition Community
acquired after the closing of the Offering will be funded with the proceeds of
the Offering.
 
     The following is a description of the Current Acquisition Communities:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         
              CURRENT                   DATE EXPECTED                     
            ACQUISITION                     TO BE        APARTMENT       PURCHASE             TOTAL
            COMMUNITIES                   ACQUIRED         HOMES           PRICE         BUDGETED COST(1)
- ------------------------------------    -------------    ---------     -------------     ----------------
                                                                        (IN MILLIONS)      (IN MILLIONS)

<S>                                     <C>              <C>           <C>               <C>
1. Countrybrook(2)
   San Jose, CA                         July, 1996           360          $  28.8             $ 31.2
2. The Fountains
   San Jose, CA                         July, 1996           226             27.8               28.7
3. Channing Heights
   San Rafael, CA                       July, 1996           254             24.9               28.3
4. Mill Creek
   Costa Mesa, CA                       July, 1996           258             17.5               19.1
5. Villa Marguerite(3)
   Mission Viejo, CA                    July, 1996           166             10.1               12.1
6. Martinique Gardens
   Costa Mesa, CA                       August, 1996         145              7.5               11.8
                                                          ------           ------             ------
          Totals                                           1,409          $ 116.6             $131.2
                                                          ======           ======             ======
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Total Budgeted Cost includes all capitalized costs projected to be incurred,
    principally in 1996 and 1997, to acquire and reposition the Current
    Acquisition Communities determined in accordance with GAAP.
(2) As part of the purchase price, the Company will assume approximately $20.3
    million of the seller's tax-exempt bond debt secured by the property, and
    will pay the seller approximately $7.3 million in operating partnership
    units of a special purpose limited partnership formed by the Company. The
    tax-exempt bonds have an all-inclusive fixed interest rate of 7.87% per
    annum through April, 2002.
(3) The Company will assume $7.6 million in long-term, tax-exempt bond debt
    secured by the property in connection with the acquisition of this Current
    Acquisition Community. The bonds currently float in a seven-day put bond
    mode with a current variable interest rate of approximately 5.0% per annum.
 
     The Company intends to invest up to $14.6 million, principally in 1996 and
1997, to repair and refurbish the six Current Acquisition Communities. The
Company's efforts will vary for the Current Acquisition Communities as follows:
 
     - Countrybrook, San Jose, CA. The Company has negotiated a purchase price
       for this community of approximately $28.8 million. The Company intends to
       repair and repaint the exterior of this community, replace the leasing
       pavilion and fitness center, upgrade the landscaping and gate the
       community, all at an estimated total cost of approximately $2.4 million.
 
     - The Fountains, San Jose, CA. The Company has negotiated a purchase price
       for this community of approximately $27.8 million. The Company intends to
       repaint the entire exterior of this community and make other minor
       repairs, all at an estimated total cost of approximately $900,000.
 
     - Channing Heights, San Rafael, CA. The Company has negotiated a purchase
       price for this community of approximately $24.9 million. The Company
       intends to replace its roof, repair and repaint its exterior siding,
       upgrade its interiors, replace its leasing facility and fitness center
       and substantially upgrade its landscaping, all at an estimated total cost
       of approximately $3.4 million.
 
     - Mill Creek, Costa Mesa, CA. The Company has negotiated a purchase price
       for this community of approximately $17.5 million. The Company intends to
       repair and repaint the community's exterior, add washers and dryers to
       the apartment home interiors, rebuild its leasing facility and fitness
       center and upgrade its landscaping, all at an estimated total cost of
       approximately $1.6 million.
 
     - Villa Marguerite, Mission Viejo, CA. The Company has negotiated a
       purchase price for this community of approximately $10.1 million. The
       Company intends to repair and repaint the commu-
 
                                      S-31
<PAGE>   32
 
       nity's exterior, replace the leasing facility and fitness center, add
       garages and a gate system, all at an
      estimated total cost of approximately $2.0 million.
 
     - Martinique Gardens, Costa Mesa, CA. The Company has negotiated a purchase
       price for this community of approximately $7.5 million. The Company
       expects to substantially rebuild this community, including replacing its
       roof, repairing and repainting its exterior siding, replacing all
       apartment home interiors, rebuilding its leasing facility and fitness
       center, adding a substantial number of new garages, repaving its roadways
       and replacing the swimming pool and all of the landscaping, all at an
       estimated total cost of approximately $4.3 million.
 
     The Company is currently negotiating letters of intent or is in preliminary
evaluation periods on various potential additional apartment home community
acquisitions totaling approximately 2,000 existing apartment homes. Several of
these acquisitions would require significant renovation programs consistent with
the Company's acquisition and repositioning strategy for prior acquisitions. If
the Company were to close on all of these acquisitions, the total investment
would be approximately $150 million. No assurances can be given that the Company
will acquire any or all of these properties.
 
     Current Development Communities. The Company has acquired three land
parcels and has under contract one additional land parcel on which it is
building, or plans to commence building in the near future, the Current
Development Communities with a total of 1,574 apartment homes. The Company
estimates that the total construction costs for all four Current Development
Communities will be approximately $202.4 million.
 
     The following is a description of the Current Development Communities:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                     
                                               ACTUAL/                                                 ESTIMATED
          CURRENT              ESTIMATED      ESTIMATED                           ESTIMATED DATE         TOTAL
        DEVELOPMENT            APARTMENT     CONSTRUCTION     ESTIMATED FIRST     OF STABILIZED      CONSTRUCTION
        COMMUNITIES              HOMES        INITIATION         OCCUPANCY          OCCUPANCY           COST(1)
- ---------------------------    ---------     ------------     ---------------     --------------     -------------
                                                                                                     (IN MILLIONS)
<S>                            <C>           <C>              <C>                 <C>                <C>
1. Rosewalk                        300        4th Q, 1995       3rd Q, 1996         2nd Q, 1997         $  30.4
  San Jose, CA
2. Lawrence Expressway Site        709        3rd Q, 1996       2nd Q, 1997         4th Q, 1998            95.7
  Sunnyvale, CA
3. Stevens Creek Blvd. Site        315        2nd Q, 1997       1st Q, 1998         4th Q, 1998            44.1
  San Jose, CA(2)
4. The Alameda Site(3)             250        4th Q, 1997       2nd Q, 1998         2nd Q, 1999            32.2
  San Jose, CA
                               ---------                                                             -------------
  Totals/Weighted Average        1,574                                                                  $ 202.4
                               =========                                                             ============
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Estimated Total Construction Cost includes interest that is capitalized
    during the construction period. In accordance with GAAP, the Company
    capitalizes interest during the construction period on a per-building basis
    until the building is available for occupancy.
(2) The Company currently owns 2.5 acres of this site and has entered into a
    contract to acquire the contiguous 5.4 acres.
(3) The Company has entered into a contract to acquire this site.
 
     - Rosewalk, San Jose, CA. The Company purchased the 10.8 acre parcel in
       October, 1995, began construction immediately, and is currently building
       a 300 apartment home community. The site is located approximately five
       miles south of downtown San Jose, on a major expressway at its
       intersection with Highway 85 and a light rail station, and immediately
       adjacent to both neighborhood and regional shopping. The community will
       contain a large leasing facility and business center, a fitness center, a
       75 foot lap pool, secure parking and a perimeter gate system.
 
     - Lawrence Expressway Site, Sunnyvale, CA. The Company purchased this
       partially built and abandoned 17.8 acre site in May, 1996. Prior to its
       purchase, the Company obtained all necessary public approvals for the
       construction of a 709 apartment home community. The site, located
       approximately at the intersection of Highway 101 and Lawrence Expressway,
       is at the center of Silicon Valley. Approximately 225,000 cars pass the
       site every business day. Approximately 150,000 people work within a 3.5
       mile radius surrounding the site. As currently planned, this Current
       Development Community will contain a large leasing pavilion, business
       center, fitness center, two swimming pools,
 
                                      S-32
<PAGE>   33
 
       including one 75 foot lap pool, a small commercial area, secure
       underground parking and a perimeter gate system.
 
     - Stevens Creek Blvd. Site, San Jose, CA. The Company purchased 2.5 acres
       of this 7.9 acre site in May, 1996. The Company has the remainder of this
       site under contract and intends to purchase it after obtaining the
       necessary public approvals for development of the community. The Company
       is currently in the process of obtaining the necessary public approvals
       for this 315 apartment home community. The site is located at the
       intersection of Stevens Creek Blvd. and Interstate 280, in the northwest
       corner of San Jose, almost immediately adjacent to the City of Cupertino.
       The community will include a large leasing facility, business center,
       fitness center, 75 foot lap pool, secure underground parking and
       perimeter gate system.
 
     - The Alameda Site, San Jose, CA. The Company is under contract to purchase
       this 7.4 acre parcel after it obtains the necessary public approvals for
       development of the community. The site is located on a major street,
       approximately one mile from downtown San Jose. The Company intends to
       build a 250 apartment home community with a large leasing pavilion,
       business center, fitness center, 75 foot lap pool, a small commercial
       area and secure underground parking.
 
     The Company is conducting due diligence on The Alameda Current Development
Community site and there are certain conditions that must be satisfied prior to
acquisition by the Company. There can be no assurance that the Company will
acquire this site or that the Company will be able to construct apartment home
communities on the Current Development Community sites as currently
contemplated. See "Risk Factors -- Development and Acquisition Risks."
 
     The Company is also negotiating various additional potential development
opportunities which, if acquired and built, could permit the future development
of more than 1,000 new apartment homes. If the Company were to acquire and
develop all of these land parcels, the Company estimates that total development
costs would be approximately $125 million. No assurances can be given that the
Company will acquire any or all of these land parcels, that permits can be
obtained, that development will proceed or that, if development does proceed,
the land parcels can be developed at or under the Company's cost estimates and
within its proposed time-frame.
 
FINANCING ACTIVITY
 
     Initial Offering. The Company sold 9,469,341 shares of Common Stock to the
public at a price of $20.00 per share in the Initial Offering on March 10, 1994.
The gross proceeds totaled approximately $189.4 million, and the Company
received net proceeds of approximately $173.9 million after the payment of
offering expenses. The net proceeds were used to acquire the Company's ownership
interests in the then-existing Communities, including the acquisition of five
Communities concurrently with the Initial Offering.
 
     Exercise of Over-Allotment Option. Concurrently with the Initial Offering,
the Company issued an additional 1,420,401 shares of Common Stock pursuant to
the underwriters' over-allotment option granted in connection with the Initial
Offering and received net proceeds of approximately $26.1 million. These
proceeds were used to purchase the Reflections and Village Square Communities.
 
     Tax-Exempt Bond Refinancing. In June, 1995, the Company completed an $89.4
million financing of both new and restructured tax-exempt bonds with a 30-year
credit enhancement provided by FNMA. The Company has effectively fixed the
interest rate on this debt for a 15-year period at an all-inclusive interest
rate of approximately 6.48% per annum through interest rate swap agreements. The
FNMA credit support is collateralized by liens on five Bond-financed Communities
(Barrington Hills, Canyon Creek, Crossbrook, Rivershore and Sea Ridge) and four
other Communities (Reflections, Blairmore, Village Square and Willow Creek).
 
     In December, 1995, the Company reissued $20.8 million in tax-exempt debt,
collateralized by the City Heights Community. The debt bears interest at a rate
of 30-day LIBOR, reset weekly, plus 0.25%, which, including financing costs, is
currently approximately 6.25% per annum. The Company intends to reissue the
bonds again in the third quarter of 1996 on a long-term, fixed-rate basis and to
obtain a long-term "AAA" guaranty for the bond reissuance through either the
FGIC or one of the existing FNMA guaranty agreements.
 
     The Credit Facilities and Construction Loans. In January, 1995, the Company
restructured the GECC Credit Facility, increasing the availability from $40
million to $80 million, reducing the borrowing cost from
 
                                      S-33
<PAGE>   34
 
30-day LIBOR plus 3.75% per annum to 30-day LIBOR plus 2.25% per annum and
providing the Company with an option to extend the term for one additional year
until January, 1998.
 
     In December, 1995, the Company repaid a $26 million construction loan,
which had an interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.25% per annum, and replaced the Wells
Fargo Credit Facility, which also had an interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.25% per
annum, with the Union Bank Credit Facility, which was a secured $47 million line
of credit for both acquisition and construction with an interest rate of LIBOR
plus 1.6% per annum. In December, 1995, the Company also obtained the Union Bank
Construction Loan, which provides for approximately $25.5 million of borrowings
at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.15% per annum.
 
     In May, 1996, the Company replaced both the $80 million secured GECC Credit
Facility and the $47 million secured Union Bank Credit Facility with the $150
million Unsecured Credit Facility. The Unsecured Credit Facility matures in May,
1999, and bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 1.55% per annum. The margin
over LIBOR will be reduced to 1.45% per annum if the Company obtains an
investment grade unsecured debt rating equivalent to at least "BBB-", or 1.30%
per annum if the Company obtains a rating equivalent to at least "BBB", from
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, Moody's Investors Service and/or another rating
company acceptable to Union Bank of Switzerland.
 
     Equity Offerings Since the Initial Offering. On September 18, 1995, the
Company entered into a purchase agreement to sell approximately $49.2 million of
newly issued convertible Series A Preferred Stock to an institutional investor.
The approximately 2.3 million shares of Series A Preferred Stock were sold at a
price of $21.325 per share, which was the average closing price of the Company's
Common Stock during the 10 trading days immediately preceding September 18,
1995. The sale of the Series A Preferred Stock closed on October 2, 1995. The
proceeds of the sale were used to acquire The Promenade, City Heights, and The
Pointe Communities and to reduce the Company's outstanding debt. The holders of
the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to receive a dividend equal to 103% of
the dividend paid on the Common Stock. The Series A Preferred Stock generally
has no voting rights and, during the first three years following issuance,
generally cannot be converted into shares of Common Stock. Thereafter, the
Series A Preferred Stock may be converted on a share-for-share basis into shares
of Common Stock, subject to certain ownership limitations. After ten years
following issuance, all outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock must
be converted into shares of Common Stock. The holders of the Series A Preferred
Stock received registration rights for the shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock.
 
     In May, 1996, the Company sold approximately $10 million of convertible
Series B Preferred Stock and $40.5 million of Common Stock to a number of
institutional investors. The Company sold 1,248,191 shares of Common Stock in a
direct placement at a price of $24.44 per share, which reflected a 1% discount
from the average closing price of the Common Stock during the 10 trading days
immediately preceding May 2, 1996, the last trading day prior to the date on
which the sale was priced. The Company also sold 405,022 shares of Series B
Preferred Stock together with 413,223 shares of Common Stock in an underwritten
offering at a weighted average sales price of $24.44 per share. The proceeds of
the sale were used to acquire the Park Centre, Parkside Commons and Sunset
Towers Communities and to repay borrowings under the Unsecured Credit Facility.
The Series B Preferred Stock has substantially the same terms as the Series A
Preferred Stock. The holders of the Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to
receive a dividend equal to 103% of the dividend paid on the Common Stock. The
Series B Preferred Stock generally has no voting rights and, except in certain
limited circumstances, cannot be converted into Common Stock prior to October,
1998. Thereafter, the Series B Preferred Stock may be converted on a
share-for-share basis into shares of Common Stock, subject to certain ownership
limitations. In October, 2005, all outstanding shares of the Series B Preferred
Stock will be automatically converted into shares of Common Stock. The holders
of the Series B Preferred Stock have registration rights for the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock.
 
                                      S-34
<PAGE>   35
 
                                THE COMMUNITIES
 
THE COMMUNITIES
 
     The Company owns, or holds substantially all of the ownership interests in,
and manages 27 apartment communities containing 7,093 apartment homes, most of
which are located in Northern California, primarily in the San Francisco Bay
Area. The Company has designed, developed and constructed 11 of the Communities,
each of which has operated at an average occupancy rate of greater than 95%
since stabilized occupancy, and has acquired and redeveloped or initiated
redevelopment programs at 16 of the Communities. Stabilized occupancy is defined
as the first month in which the Community achieves 95% occupancy, which
typically occurs between six and nine months after completion of construction,
depending on the size of the Community. All of the Communities are managed by
the Company.
 
     The Communities generally are in locations that provide them with a
competitive advantage. The Company frequently selects in-fill, urban locations
where no other comparable, competitive apartment community can be built.
Similarly, the Company's high quality standards for the development and
construction of new communities as well as the reconstruction of acquired
communities often results in the Communities being the most attractive and
having the best rental value within their immediate market. Generally, the
Communities also have the advantage of being located in high visibility areas in
close proximity to major transportation arteries, mass transit lines, commercial
districts, shopping or other services. Apartment communities located in high
visibility areas not only provide many conveniences to residents, but also
encourage greater walk-in traffic and, consequently, improve leasing
opportunities and allow the Company to operate with reduced marketing costs.
 
     With the exception of those mid-rise Communities located in the most urban
areas of San Francisco, the Communities typically are contemporary two- and
three-story buildings in extensively landscaped settings with lush gardens,
fountains or waterscapes. The objectives of the site layout and building design
are to provide residents with convenient indoor or covered parking, ample
private storage areas and a comfortable living environment. Most of the
Communities feature solar-heated swimming pools, hydro-jet spas, high-tech
fitness facilities, and expansive community areas. The apartment homes typically
offer spacious, open living areas with an abundance of natural light, and many
of the following amenities: ceiling fans, vaulted ceilings, patios or balconies,
fireplaces, designer coordinated carpeting and window treatment, separate
in-home laundry rooms with washing machines and dryers, and fully-equipped
kitchens often with built-in buffets, wine racks, microwaves, disposals and
dishwashers. In many cases, the Company makes certain other services available
to residents such as business centers, aerobics classes, dry cleaning pick-up
and delivery, and mail drops and package acceptance.
 
     In addition to the physical advantages of the Communities, the Company
attributes its success to a highly-trained professional on-site management and
maintenance staff that provides courteous and responsive service to the
residents of each Community. Management believes that excellent design and
intensive, service-oriented property management that is focused on the specific
needs of residents create a very desirable living environment for residents.
This combination of features allows the Company to achieve higher rental rates
and occupancy levels while minimizing resident turnover and operating expenses
and maximizing current and long-term cash flow and the value of the Communities.
 
     The Company designs its Communities to control costs both during
construction and operation and to provide maximum long-term investment value and
resident appeal. In connection with the preparation of the design and plans for
each Community and the apartment homes therein, the Company's employees have
regular meetings with all of the major trade contractors associated with the
project to ensure that the Communities are well-planned and construction is
well-coordinated, thereby minimizing the possibility for construction cost
overruns. The Company takes additional steps to control construction costs, such
as widely bidding all phases of the construction project and negotiating
detailed contracts with subcontractors so that the construction process has
little or no change orders or unanticipated costs.
 
                                      S-35
<PAGE>   36
 
     The Company includes many long-term durable features in the design of
Communities that it constructs to maximize the useful life of the Communities.
For example, on newly constructed Communities, the Company typically uses
concrete tile roofs or heavy duty fire resistent composition shingles, cast iron
drains, waste and vent pipes, copper water pipes, extra deep base rock and
asphalt lifts. In addition, extensive measures are employed to minimize noise
between apartment homes. The Company uses condominium standards for this
purpose, including the use of double walls and double insulation between
apartment homes, lightweight concrete on floors and insulation between ceilings
and floors. Whenever possible, the Company locates closets, bathrooms, and
laundries against common walls to minimize sound transmission.
 
                                      S-36
<PAGE>   37
 
     The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
Communities:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      YEAR OF        NUMBER
                                                                      ORIGINAL         OF       1 BR/     1 BR/    2 BR/    2 BR/
        COMMUNITY                    LOCATION           OWNERSHIP   CONSTRUCTION   APT. HOMES   JUNIOR   1 BATH    1 BATH   2 BATH
- --------------------------  --------------------------  ---------   ------------   ----------   ------   -------   ------   ------
<S>                         <C>                         <C>         <C>            <C>          <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>
Rivershore                  Bay Point, CA                  100%         1986            245         0        46        0      143
Canyon Creek                Campbell, CA                   100%         1995            348         0       156        0      180
The Pointe                  Fairfield, CA                  100%         1991            296         0       130       28      138
Regatta Bay                 Foster City, CA                100%         1973            288        40       125      123        0
Alicante                    Fremont, CA                    100%         1992            135         0        42        0       81
Hampton Place               Fremont, CA                    100%         1992            308         0        88        0      175
Willow Creek                Fremont, CA                    100%         1995            235         0        99        0      136
Reflections                 Fresno, CA                     100%         1991            516         0       193      193      130
Barrington Hills            Hayward, CA                    100%         1986            188         0        48        0      140
Waterford                   Hayward, CA                    100%         1986            544         0       208        0      336
Glen Creek                  Morgan Hill, CA                100%         1989            138         0        58        0       79
Villa Mariposa              Mountain View, CA               94%(2)      1986            248         0       108        0       88
Sea Ridge                   Pacifica, CA                   100%         1971            220         0        58      106       56
Hacienda Gardens            Pleasanton, CA                 100%         1988            456         0       238        0      218
Blairmore                   Rancho Cordova, CA             100%         1986            252         0       114       40       98
Crossbrook                  Rohnert Park, CA               100%         1986            226         0        88       30      108
City Heights                San Francisco, CA              100%         1990            185        46       114        0       25
Sunset Towers               San Francisco, CA              100%         1961            243        20       179       20       24
Village Square              San Francisco, CA              100%         1973            154         0        90        0       49
Carriage Square             San Jose, CA                   100%         1995            324         0        90        0      210
Fairway Glen                San Jose, CA                   100%         1986            144         0        64        0       80
Foxchase                    San Jose, CA                   100%         1987            396         0       155        0      241
San Marino                  San Jose, CA                   100%         1988            248         0       101        0      147
Parkside Commons            Sunnyvale, CA                  100%         1991            192         0        60        0       96
Promenade                   Sunnyvale, CA                  100%         1987            220        44       112       10       54
Park Centre                 Union City, CA                 100%         1973            208         0       125       83        0
Sommerset                   Vacaville, CA                  100%         1987            136         0        32       56       48
                                                                                     ------       ---     -----      ---      ---
       Totals/Average                                                                 7,093       150     2,921      689    3,080
                                                                                     ======       ===     =====      ===      ===
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                             AVERAGE      AVERAGE
                                                                              RENT        RENT PER
                                                               AVERAGE      FOR APT.       SQUARE     PHYSICAL
                                               APPROXIMATE    UNIT SIZE       HOMES         FOOT     OCCUPANCY
                            3 BR/    3 BR/    RENTABLE AREA    (SQUARE         AT            AT          AT
        COMMUNITY           2 BATH   3 BATH    SQUARE FEET      FEET)      6/30/96(1)     6/30/96     6/30/96
- --------------------------  ------   ------   -------------   ---------   -------------   --------   ----------
<S>                         <C>      <C>      <C>             <C>         <C>             <C>        <C>
Rivershore                     56        0        206,275         842        $   648       $ 0.77       97.14%
Canyon Creek                    0       12        321,480         924          1,177         1.27       98.85
The Pointe                      0        0        259,248         876            781         0.89       97.97
Regatta Bay                     0        0        222,458         772          1,002         1.30       98.26
Alicante                        0       12        128,519         952          1,172         1.23       99.26
Hampton Place                   0       45        322,036       1,046          1,236         1.18       99.03
Willow Creek                    0        0        192,595         820            961         1.17       98.72
Reflections                     0        0        422,040         818            561         0.69       93.99
Barrington Hills                0        0        168,557         897            871         0.97       97.34
Waterford                       0        0        448,208         824            817         0.99       95.77
Glen Creek                      1        0        113,037         819            928         1.13       98.55
Villa Mariposa                 52        0        209,314         844          1,237         1.47       99.19
Sea Ridge                       0        0        186,800         849            968         1.14       99.09
Hacienda Gardens                0        0        366,062         803            959         1.19       98.90
Blairmore                       0        0        212,340         843            560         0.66       96.83
Crossbrook                      0        0        164,900         730            683         0.94       97.35
City Heights                    0        0        109,335         591          1,050         1.78       97.30
Sunset Towers                   0        0        172,044         708          1,029         1.45       99.59
Village Square                 15        0        123,047         799          1,078         1.35      100.00
Carriage Square                 0       24        323,256         998          1,280         1.28       98.77
Fairway Glen                    0        0        118,876         826            963         1.17       98.61
Foxchase                        0        0        334,288         844          1,023         1.21       98.74
San Marino                      0        0        208,470         841            978         1.16       98.39
Parkside Commons               36        0        199,296       1,038          1,373         1.32       97.92
Promenade                       0        0        160,398         729            992         1.36       97.73
Park Centre                     0        0        165,640         796            752         0.94       97.12
Sommerset                       0        0        102,080         751            656         0.87       97.79
                              ---      ---      ---------       -----
       Totals/Average         160       93      5,960,599         840
                              ===      ===      =========       =====
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Excludes washer/dryer hookup fees, covered parking fees, credit check and
    application fees and other similar charges.
 
(2) This Community is owned in fee by a partnership in which the Company holds a
    94% general partnership interest and an unrelated third party owns the
    remaining 6% limited partner interest.
 
                                      S-37
<PAGE>   38
 
SUMMARY OF AMENITIES OF THE COMMUNITIES
The following table presents certain amenities of the Communities:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   APARTMENT AMENITIES (1)
                          NUMBER  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            OF     PATIO    WASH/   INSTALLED   INDOOR/
                           APT.     OR       DRY     WASHER/    COVERED     MICRO-    CEILING   VAULTED   FIRE-    ACTIVITY
        COMMUNITY         HOMES   BALCONY  HOOK-UP    DRYER     PARKING    WAVES(3)   FANS(3)   CEILING   PLACES    CENTER
- ------------------------- ------  -------  -------  ---------   -------    --------   -------   -------   ------   --------
<S>                       <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>
Rivershore                  245     100%       --        --        100%        --         --        50%      --        1
Canyon Creek                348     100%      100%       80%       100%       100%       100%       33%      --        1
The Pointe                  296     100%      100%       45%       100%        47%       100%       --       34%       1
Regatta Bay                 288     100%       --        --        100%        --         --        --       --        1
Alicante                    135     100%      100%      100%       100%       100%       100%       33%      33%       1
Hampton Place               308     100%      100%      100%       100%(5)    100%       100%       33%      33%       1
Willow Creek                235     100%      100%       43%       100%       100%       100%       --       --       --
Reflections                 516     100%      100%      100%       100%        --         --        63%     100%       3
Barrington Hills            188     100%      100%      100%       100%       100%        --        33%      --        1
Waterford                   544     100%        2%        1%       100%       100%       100%       44%      --        1
Glen Creek                  138     100%      100%      100%       100%       100%        80%       32%      --       --
Villa Mariposa              248     100%      100%       60%       100%       100%       100%       29%      --       --
Sea Ridge                   220     100%       --        --         99%        14%        --        --       27%      --
Hacienda Gardens            456     100%      100%      100%       100%        --         --        33%      69%       1
Blairmore                   252     100%      100%       41%       100%        75%       100%       --       39%       1
Crossbrook                  226     100%       --        --        100%        --         --        50%      --       --
City Heights                185      16%       --        --         57%        --         --        --       --       --
Sunset Towers               243      41%       --        --         49%        --         --        --       --       --
Village Square              154     100%       --        --        100%         3%        --        33%      --        1
Carriage Square             324     100%      100%      100%       100%       100%       100%       33%      --       --
Fairway Glen                144     100%      100%       50%       100%       100%        97%       24%      --       --
Foxchase                    396     100%      100%       50%       100%       100%       100%       43%      --       --
San Marino                  248     100%      100%       42%       100%       100%       100%        5%      --        1
Parkside Commons            192      86%      100%       --        100%        --         --        33%      40%       1
Promenade                   220     100%       55%       --        100%        --         --        --       --        1
Park Centre                 208     100%       --        --        100%        --         --        --       41%       1
Sommerset                   136     100%       --        --         95%        --        100%       --       --       --
 
<CAPTION>
                                         RECREATIONAL AMENITIES(2)
                           -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                    FOUNTAINS OR
                           SWIMMING   FITNESS   HYDROJET   PICNIC      WATER-      WALK TO    WALK TO
        COMMUNITY           POOLS     CENTER      SPAS      AREA       SCAPES      SHOPPING   RAIL(4)
- -------------------------  --------   -------   --------   ------   ------------   --------   -------
<S>                       <<C>
Rivershore                     1         1          1        1          Yes          Yes        Yes
Canyon Creek                   1         1          1        --          --          Yes        --
The Pointe                     3         1          1        --          --          Yes        --
Regatta Bay                    1         1         --        --          --          Yes        --
Alicante                       1         1          1        --         Yes          Yes        Yes
Hampton Place                  1         1          1        --          --          Yes        Yes
Willow Creek                   1         1          1        1           --          Yes        --
Reflections                    3         1          3        --         Yes          Yes        --
Barrington Hills               1         1          1        --          --          Yes        Yes
Waterford                      2         1          4        --         Yes          Yes        --
Glen Creek                     1         1          2        --         Yes          Yes        --
Villa Mariposa                 1         1          1        1           --          Yes        Yes
Sea Ridge                      1         1          1        --          --          Yes        --
Hacienda Gardens               2         1          2        --         Yes           --        Yes
Blairmore                      1         1          1        3          Yes          Yes        --
Crossbrook                     1         1          1        4           --          Yes        --
City Heights                   1         1         --        1           --          Yes        Yes
Sunset Towers                 --        --         --        --          --          Yes        Yes
Village Square                 1         1         --        --          --          Yes        --
Carriage Square                1         1          1        --         Yes          Yes        Yes
Fairway Glen                   1        --          2        1           --          Yes        --
Foxchase                       2         1          2        --         Yes          Yes        Yes
San Marino                     2         1          2        1           --          Yes        --
Parkside Commons               1         1          1        1           --           --        --
Promenade                      1         1          1        1          Yes          Yes        Yes
Park Centre                    2         1         --        1           --          Yes        Yes
Sommerset                      1        --          1        3           --          Yes        --
 
<CAPTION>
 
        COMMUNITY                       OTHER
- -------------------------  --------------------------------
Rivershore                 Playground, BART Opens Soon
Canyon Creek               Aerobics
The Pointe                 Sauna, Playground
Regatta Bay                Playground, Walk to Bus
Alicante                   Aerobics, Walk to Downtown
Hampton Place              Aerobics, Walk to Downtown
Willow Creek               --
Reflections                Volleyball, Walk to Bus
Barrington Hills           Playground, Walk to BART
Waterford                  Walk to Park
Glen Creek                 Sauna, Walk to Downtown
Villa Mariposa             Adjacent Park, Walk to Downtown
Sea Ridge                  Open Areas
Hacienda Gardens           Playground, BART Opens Soon
Blairmore                  Open Areas
Crossbrook                 Walk to Park
City Heights               Walk to Union Square, BART
Sunset Towers              Walk to UC Medical Center
Village Square             Sauna, Playground
Carriage Square            Aerobics, Walk to Regional Mall
Fairway Glen               Adjacent Country Club, Park
Foxchase                   Walk to Regional Mall
San Marino                 Sauna, Walk to Regional Mall
Parkside Commons           Playground, Walk to Park
Promenade                  Aerobics
Park Centre                Sauna, Walk to BART
Sommerset                  Playground
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Reflects the percentage of apartment homes containing the specified amenity
    at each Community.
(2) Reflects the number of the specified amenity at each Community.
(3) The Company intends to add this amenity to each apartment home that
    currently does not contain this amenity upon the next vacancy of the
    apartment home.
(4) A rapid transit line, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), is expected to be in
    operation near certain of the Communities in 1997.
(5) Hampton Place offers 308 garage parking spaces and 76 additional covered
    parking spaces.
 
                                      S-38
<PAGE>   39
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
     Neither the Company nor any of the Communities are presently subject to any
material litigation nor, to the Company's knowledge, is any litigation
threatened against the Company or any of the Communities, other than routine
litigation and administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of
business, some of which are expected to be covered by liability insurance and
none of which individually or in the aggregate is expected to have a material
adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of
the Company.
 
                                  THE MARKETS
 
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
 
     Twenty-five of the 27 Communities are located in the nine county San
Francisco Bay Area. The Company believes that the markets in Northern
California, and particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area, are attractive
markets in which to expand its upscale apartment community operations. The high
cost of home ownership and current economic conditions in the San Francisco Bay
Area, including high income levels, limited new apartment construction and
continued population and household growth, make the upscale apartment community
market particularly attractive.
 
     The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the wealthiest regions in the United
States with an expected 1996 mean household income of $84,040, or approximately
83% greater than the expected 1996 national average of $46,027. In addition, the
San Francisco Bay Area has the State of California's highest percentage of
college graduates, highest percentage of managerial and professional occupations
and lowest unemployment rate. Nevertheless, in 1995, only 36% of the households
in the San Francisco Bay Area could afford the median priced, single-family
home. These factors, coupled with the limited construction of new apartment
homes, increase rental demand. The Rosen Consulting Group has projected that the
reduced rate of new construction, coupled with expected low vacancy rates and
stable demand, will fuel growth in rental revenues and apartment values in the
San Francisco Bay Area in the next decade.
 
     Increasing Rental Rates.  Rental demand, as evidenced by market rental
rates for apartments in the San Francisco Bay Area, and particularly in the
Primary Markets, has increased significantly over the past 18 months. The
following is a summary of certain information set forth in the Roulac Report:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           MONTHLY RENTAL RATES
                               ON NEW LEASES
                         -------------------------
                                         WEIGHTED            RENT INCREASES
                         WEIGHTED         AVERAGE             ON NEW LEASES
                          AVERAGE        EFFECTIVE       -----------------------        VACANCY RATES AS OF
                         EFFECTIVE         RENTS                      FIRST HALF       ----------------------
        COUNTY           RENTS(1)         PSF(1)          1995         OF 1996          1/1/96        6/30/96
- -----------------------  ---------       ---------       ------       ----------       --------       -------
<S>                      <C>             <C>             <C>          <C>              <C>            <C>
Alameda................   $ 1,019          $1.19          5.26%          5.93%           1.44%         0.40%
San Francisco..........   $ 1,382          $1.92          8.12%         11.18%           2.30%         0.58%
San Mateo..............   $ 1,254          $1.58          5.97%         12.88%           1.04%         0.32%
Santa Clara............   $ 1,321          $1.55         16.46%         12.04%           0.36%         0.42%
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) The Roulac Report defines "Effective Rent" as the average asking rent for a
    particular community less the value of all concessions, including, without
    limitation, moving allowances or discounts.
 
     The Company believes that the combination of increasing rental rates and
declining vacancy rates provides an opportunity for future revenue growth.
However, there are practical limitations on the Company's ability to increase
rental rates for existing residents and the Company currently has a policy of
limiting rent increases for most lease renewals by existing residents to no more
than 10% per annum. In addition, two of the Communities, Village Square and
Sunset Towers, are subject to rent control restrictions. Consequently, the
actual market rates for apartments in the Primary Markets have recently risen
much more rapidly than the Company's rental rates. As a result, as of June 30,
1996, the difference between the revenues generated by the Company's existing
leases and current market rents, known within the industry as the "loss to
lease," was approximately 8%, or $588,000 per month and more than $7.0 million
per year.
 
     Increasing Demand.  The demand for apartment homes in the San Francisco Bay
Area, and particularly in the Primary Markets, has been growing substantially
over the past 18 months. According to the Rosen
 
                                      S-39
<PAGE>   40
 
Consulting Group, the population of the Primary Markets (approximately 4.4
million) is expected to grow at a rate in excess of 1% per year, or
approximately 50,000 people per year, from 1995 through 2000.
 
   [GRAPH - Historical and Projected Population Growth in the Primary Markets] 
                         
 
     In addition, according to the Rosen Consulting Group, from 1990 through
2000 the Primary Markets are expected to gain on average approximately 13,000
new households per year with the majority of growth expected to occur from 1995
through 2000.
 
   [GRAPH - Historical and Projected Household Growth in the Primary Markets] 
               
                                      S-40
<PAGE>   41
 
     Limited Supply.  Notwithstanding the steady increase in demand for
apartment homes in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Primary Markets, the
supply of new rental housing in the San Francisco Bay Area and in the Primary
Markets has failed to keep pace with demand over the past 10 years. According to
the Rosen Consulting Group, the number of multifamily permits issued in the San
Francisco Bay Area declined from 25,197 in 1986 to an expected 5,800 in 1996, or
approximately 77%. During the same period, the number of multifamily permits
issued in the Primary Markets declined from 14,548 to an expected 3,461 in 1996,
or approximately 76%.
 
          [GRAPH - Multifamily Permits Issued in the Primary Markets]
 
     The decline in multifamily permits issued is attributable to a number of
factors, including (i) the shortage and high cost of available land, (ii) strict
public planning procedures, (iii) high governmental fees, and (iv) high
development and construction costs. These factors, as well as others, constrain
the supply of rental housing in the San Francisco Bay Area and in the Primary
Markets.
 
                                      S-41
<PAGE>   42
 
     High-Cost Alternatives.  The imbalance between the demand for and the
supply of apartment homes is not necessarily alleviated by alternative housing
opportunities, which are very expensive in the San Francisco Bay Area and in the
Primary Markets. According to the Rosen Consulting Group, the median cost of a
single-family home in the San Francisco Bay Area and in the Primary Markets, on
a weighted average basis, is expected to be approximately $250,719 and $259,315,
respectively, in 1996, compared to an estimated $117,500 for the U.S. for 1996.
Although the mean household income in 1996 in the San Francisco Bay Area and in
the Primary Markets is estimated to be $84,040 and $87,354, respectively, only
36% of the households in the San Francisco Bay Area and 41% in the Primary
Markets could afford the median priced single-family home in 1995.

     [GRAPH - Percentage of Households in 1995 that could Afford the Median
              Priced Single-Family Home]
 
     According to U.S. Census Bureau 1990 data, approximately 44% of the
households in the San Francisco Bay Area and 47% of the households in the
Primary Markets were rental households. This compares favorably to the 36% of
rental households in the U.S. in 1990.
 
                   [GRAPH - Percentage of Rental Households]
 
                                      S-42
<PAGE>   43
 
ORANGE COUNTY
 
     The Company is considering buying and rebuilding existing apartment
communities in Orange County, beginning in the third quarter of 1996. The
Company has selected Orange County as a potential new submarket because it
believes that Orange County, particularly the area around Newport Beach and the
Pacific Ocean, is poised for rapid growth in the coming years. The Company is
basing this belief upon the increased demand for and limited supply of upscale
apartment homes. The Company believes that Orange County's current economic
situation, particularly in the southern portion of the county, is very similar
to that of the San Francisco Bay Area in the middle of 1994 at the time of the
Initial Offering. The Company believes that it can purchase apartment
communities in Orange County at less than 65% of replacement cost and
substantially rebuild the communities to "almost like-new condition" at a total
cost of less than 80% of replacement cost.
 
     Demand Growth. The Company believes that Orange County's economy,
particularly in the southern portion of Orange County, has recovered from the
recession of the early 1990s and from the county's 1994 bankruptcy. According to
the Rosen Consulting Group, household formation will grow 1.4% per year between
1995 and 2000. The Rosen Consulting Group further anticipates that total
non-agricultural employment will grow at an annual compounded rate of 2.5%
through the year 2000. Consequently, the Company sees population, job and
household growth increasing in the southern portion of Orange County in the
coming years. The Rosen Consulting Group estimates that 22,400 new renter
households will be created in Orange County during the second half of this
decade as a result of this growth.
 
     Limited Supply. Construction on new apartment homes in Orange County fell
off significantly during the first half of the 1990s. New apartments delivered
fell from 5,871 in 1989 to 1,759 in 1995. Consequently, the Company believes
that demand will continue to outpace supply in the foreseeable future.
 
          UNSECURED CREDIT FACILITY, MORTGAGE DEBT AND BOND FINANCING
 
UNSECURED CREDIT FACILITY
 
     To facilitate its growth strategies, the Company has in place acquisition,
development and construction financing in the aggregate amount of approximately
$175.5 million, of which approximately $97.2 million was available as of June
30, 1996.
 
     In May, 1996, the Company entered into the Unsecured Credit Facility, which
provides for borrowings of up to $150 million and has an interest rate of LIBOR
(with a maturity selected by the Company) plus 1.55% per annum. The margin over
LIBOR will be reduced to 1.45% per annum if the Company obtains an investment
grade unsecured debt rating equivalent to at least "BBB-", or 1.30% per annum if
the Company obtains a rating equivalent to at least "BBB", from Standard &
Poor's Ratings Group, Moody's Investors Service and/or another rating company
acceptable to Union Bank of Switzerland. The Unsecured Credit Facility matures
in May, 1999.
 
TAX-EXEMPT FINANCING
 
     Ten of the Communities and two of the Current Acquisition Communities are
currently financed with obligations issued by various local government agencies
or instrumentalities, the interest on which is excludable from the gross income
of the recipient for federal and California income tax purposes. These
obligations are commonly referred to as tax-exempt bonds.
 
     In order for the Bonds to be tax-exempt, the Company must comply with
various federal tax restrictions on the use of the Communities. The Company has
agreed to these restrictions and will agree to similar restrictions in the
future where management believes that the economic benefits received outweigh
the economic costs of these restrictions. Each of the Communities that is
financed with Bonds is subject to the requirement that at least 20% of the
apartment homes must be occupied or held available for occupancy by residents
with gross incomes that do not exceed 80% of the median income (50% of the
median income in the case of the Canyon Creek and Sea Ridge Communities) in the
area during, in certain cases, the entire period
 
                                      S-43
<PAGE>   44
 
in which the related Bonds remain outstanding, but in no event less than ten
years after the date on which at least 50% of the apartment homes in the related
Community were first occupied, or such longer period as determined in accordance
with the Code or the related Bond documents. The Communities financed with Bonds
are also subject to a requirement that the rental rates for the 20% of the
apartment homes that are subject to the foregoing requirement may not exceed 30%
of one-half of the applicable median income. In the areas in which the
Bond-financed Communities are located, the Department of Housing and Community
Development uses a median income for purposes of the foregoing requirements that
ranges from $49,200 to $67,400. Because the median income for these requirements
is relatively high, the Company believes that the rental requirements have been
satisfied without significant reduction in aggregate rental rates. In order to
achieve a lower interest cost on the Bonds, the Company has obtained the Credit
Enhancements described below. The purpose of the Credit Enhancements is to
guarantee scheduled interest and principal payments due to the holders of the
Bonds, enabling the Bonds to receive an investment grade rating.
 
     In June, 1995, the Company completed an $89.4 million financing of both new
and restructured tax-exempt bonds with a 30-year credit enhancement provided by
FNMA. The Company has effectively fixed the interest rate on this debt for a
15-year period at an all-inclusive interest rate of approximately 6.48% per
annum through interest rate swap agreements. The FNMA credit support is
collateralized by liens on five Bond-financed Communities, Barrington Hills,
Canyon Creek, Crossbrook, Rivershore and Sea Ridge, and four other Communities,
Reflections, Blairmore, Village Square and Willow Creek.
 
     In December, 1995, the Company reissued $20.8 million in tax-exempt debt
collateralized by the City Heights Community. The debt bears interest at a rate
of 30-day LIBOR, reset weekly, plus 0.25%, which, including financing costs, is
currently approximately 6.25% per annum. The Company intends to reissue the
bonds again in the third quarter of 1996 on a long-term, fixed-rate basis and to
obtain a long-term "AAA" guaranty through either the FGIC or one of the existing
FNMA guaranty agreements.
 
MORTGAGE DEBT
 
     The following table summarizes the mortgage indebtedness of the Company as
of March 31, 1996:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                PROJECTED     PROJECTED
                                    PRINCIPAL    INTEREST        INTEREST     PRINCIPAL     BOND CREDIT
                                     BALANCE       RATE          PAYMENT     AMORTIZATION   ENHANCEMENT                BALANCE
                                      AS OF        AS OF         4/1/96-       4/1/96-      EXPIRATION    MATURITY     DUE ON
      COMMUNITY AND LOCATION         3/31/96      3/31/96        3/31/97       3/31/97         DATE         DATE      MATURITY
- ---------------------------------- -----------  -----------     ----------   ------------   -----------   --------   -----------
<S>                                <C>          <C>             <C>          <C>            <C>           <C>        <C>
TAX-EXEMPT FIXED RATE-FGIC(1)
Fairway Glen, San Jose, CA         $ 9,580,000        5.88%(1)  $  563,000     $      0       03/17/04     11/1/07   $ 9,580,000
Foxchase, San Jose, CA              26,400,000        5.88%(1)   1,552,000            0       03/17/04     11/1/07    26,400,000
Villa Mariposa, Mountain View, CA   18,300,000        5.88%(1)   1,076,000            0       03/17/04      3/1/17    18,300,000
Waterford, Hayward, CA              33,100,000        5.88%(1)   1,946,000            0       03/17/04      8/1/14    33,100,000
                                   -----------                  ----------   ------------                            -----------
        Subtotal                    87,380,000                   5,137,000            0                               87,380,000
TAX-EXEMPT FIXED RATE-FNMA(2)
Barrington Hills, Hayward, CA       13,447,000        6.48%(2)     867,000      145,000        6/15/25     6/15/25             0
Crossbrook, Rohnert Park, CA         8,645,000        6.48%(2)     557,000       89,000        6/15/25     6/15/25             0
Rivershore, Bay Point, CA           10,541,000        6.48%(2)     679,000      128,000       11/15/22    11/15/22             0
Canyon Creek, Campbell, CA          38,800,000        6.48%(2)   2,514,000            0        6/15/25     6/15/25             0
Sea Ridge, Pacifica, CA             17,600,000        6.48%(2)   1,140,000            0        6/15/25     6/15/25             0
                                   -----------                  ----------   ------------                            -----------
        Subtotal                    89,033,000                   5,757,000      362,000                                        0
TAX-EXEMPT VARIABLE RATE
City Heights, San Francisco, CA(3)  20,800,000  LIBOR+0.25%      1,416,000            0            N/A     12/1/18    20,800,000
CONSTRUCTION FLOATING RATE
Rosewalk                                20,000  LIBOR+2.15%          1,000            0            N/A     10/1/97        20,000
                                   -----------                  ----------   ------------                            -----------
        Total/Weighted Average     $197,233,000       6.25%     $12,311,000    $362,000                              $108,200,000
                                   -----------          ---     ----------    ---------                              -----------
                                   -----------          ---     ----------    ---------                              -----------
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Interest rates include annual costs associated with FGIC credit enhancement
    as well as related expenses. Alicante, Glen Creek, Hacienda Gardens and San
    Marino serve as additional collateral for the tax-exempt financing. These
    bonds bear interest at variable rates determined weekly by the remarketing
    agent which will not be less that the rate necessary for the market value of
    the bonds to equal the principal amount outstanding. The Company has entered
    into ten-year interest rate swap agreements under which the interest rate
    was effectively converted to a fixed rate of 5.88% per annum (which includes
    the annual costs of the FGIC credit enhancement and related costs). Such
 
                                      S-44
<PAGE>   45
 
    swap agreements are with a financial institution rated "AAA" by Standard &
    Poor's and mature March 31, 2004. Terms of the debt call for monthly
    payments of interest only and a balloon payment at maturity of approximately
    $87.4 million less any unscheduled payments of principal.
 
(2) Interest rates include annual costs associated with FNMA credit enhancement
    as well as related expenses. Blairmore, Willow Creek, Reflections and
    Village Square serve as additional collateral for the tax-exempt financing.
    These bonds bear interest at variable rates determined weekly by the
    remarketing agent which will not be less than the rate necessary for the
    market value of the bonds to equal the principal amount outstanding. The
    Company has entered into fifteen year interest rate swap agreements under
    which the interest rate was effectively converted to a fixed rate of 6.48%
    per annum (which includes the annual costs of the FNMA credit enhancement
    and related costs). Such swap agreements are with a financial institution
    rated "AAA" by Standard & Poors and mature June 30, 2010. Terms of the debt
    call for monthly payments of principal and interest (fully amortizing)
    through maturity.
 
(3) In December, 1995, these tax-exempt bonds were privately placed with an
    institutional investor without a third party credit enhancement. The Company
    has agreed to repurchase these bonds on or prior to September 10, 1996. The
    bonds bear interest at a rate of 30-day LIBOR, reset weekly, plus 0.25%,
    which as of March 31, 1996, was, including financing costs, approximately
    6.81% per annum. The Company intends to reissue these bonds prior to
    September 10, 1996 on a long-term basis and to obtain "AAA" credit
    enhancement from either FGIC or FNMA.
 
                                      S-45
<PAGE>   46
 
                            MANAGEMENT AND DIRECTORS
 
     The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
Directors and senior executive officers of the Company:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        NAME          AGE                               OFFICE
- --------------------  ---       -------------------------------------------------------
<S>                   <C>       <C>
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Gilbert M. Meyer      51        Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
                                Officer
Max L. Gardner        44        Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
                                Officer
Geoffrey L. Baker     35        Director and Chief Development and Acquisition Officer
Jeffrey B. Van Horn   36        Chief Financial Officer and Vice President
                                Accounting/Finance
Morton L. Newman      59        Vice President-Construction
Debra Lynn Shotwell   34        Vice President-Human Resources
Ronald Mukai          37        Controller
Richard Mehrer        50        Director of Management Information Systems
Daniel E. Murphy      37        Director of Apartment Development
Timothy J. Stanley    30        Director of Apartment Reconstruction
Brian J. Wirtz        32        Director of Apartment Acquisition
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
Bruce A. Choate       48        Director
John J. Healy, Jr.    49        Director
Brenda J. Mixson      43        Director
Thomas H. Nielsen     65        Director
</TABLE>
 
     The following is a biographical summary of the experience of each of the
Directors and senior executive officers of the Company:
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
     Gilbert M. Meyer is the founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors,
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and, since 1978,
continuously has been involved with the Company as an executive officer,
director and shareholder. Mr. Meyer also was the founder and shareholder of
certain affiliates of the Company. Prior to founding the Company, Mr. Meyer was
Chief Financial Officer for BAS Homes and prior to that was a Vice President
responsible for real estate workouts for Boise Cascade Credit Corporation. Mr.
Meyer is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and General Contractor, and
holds an M.B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
 
     Max L. Gardner has been Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer of the Company since December, 1995. From 1988 to 1995, Mr. Gardner
served as President and Chief Executive Officer of West RS, Inc. (d/b/a Trammell
Crow Residential Services -- West), a company which specializes in the
development, construction, finance and management of residential apartment
properties. Mr. Gardner graduated from Duke University with a degree in
Political Science, and he received a Master of Professional Accountancy from
Georgia State University.
 
     Geoffrey L. Baker has been a Director of the Company since December, 1993,
and he served as the Company's Chief Operating Officer from December, 1993 until
December, 1995. Mr. Baker resigned as the Company's Chief Operating Officer in
order to become the Company's Chief Development and Acquisition Officer in
December, 1995. From April, 1992 to December, 1993, Mr. Baker was a Project
Manager for the Company. From 1989 to 1992, Mr. Baker was a Vice President in
the commercial real estate group of Bank of America. Prior to 1989, Mr. Baker
was Director of Acquisitions and Finance for Anthony Brown Development Company.
Mr. Baker holds B.A. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor.
 
     Jeffrey B. Van Horn has been Chief Financial Officer and Vice President
Accounting/Finance of the Company since June, 1996. Prior to joining the
Company, Mr. Van Horn was a partner in the real estate
 
                                      S-46
<PAGE>   47
 
services group with the accounting firm Arthur Andersen LLP. Mr. Van Horn joined
Arthur Andersen in June 1982, was promoted to partner in September, 1995 and has
worked with a wide variety of West Coast REITs and real estate companies. He has
been involved in a number of initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions
and other audit, business and tax advisory services. In addition, Mr. Van Horn
was a member of Arthur Andersen's national REIT tax specialty team. Mr. Van Horn
earned a B.A. degree in Accounting from California State
University -- Stanislaus and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.
 
     Morton L. Newman has been a Vice President -- Construction of the Company
since 1985. In that capacity, Mr. Newman has managed the design, construction,
and warranty services for over 5,000 apartments and single-family homes that the
Company and its affiliates have built during that period. Previously, Mr. Newman
was President of Newman Construction Company and has over 30 years experience in
all aspects of residential and commercial construction. Mr. Newman is a graduate
of the University of Pennsylvania and is a registered Civil Engineer in
Pennsylvania and California.
 
     Debra Lynn Shotwell has been a Vice President -- Human Resources of the
Company since June, 1995. From July, 1990 to June, 1995, she was the
Director -- Corporate Human Resources of PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc. Ms.
Shotwell graduated from California State University -- Sacramento with a degree
in Business Administration.
 
     Ronald Mukai has been Controller of the Company since August, 1995. From
August, 1995 to June, 1996, Mr. Mukai also served as Chief Financial Officer of
the Company. Mr. Mukai served as Chief Operating Officer of another multifamily
residential company in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1989 to 1995. Mr. Mukai
is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and is a graduate of the University of
California, Berkeley.
 
     Richard Mehrer has been the Director of Management Information Services of
the Company since December, 1995. From April, 1994 to October, 1995 he was the
Director of Management Information Services for Pinnacle Realty Management
Company and prior to that he was the Director of Management Information Services
for J.B. McLoughlin. Mr. Mehrer graduated from Western Washington University
with a B.A. degree in Economics and received a Masters in Organizational
Psychology degree from the University of Southern California.
 
     Daniel E. Murphy has been Director of Apartment Development of the Company
since September, 1994. From 1990 to 1994, Mr. Murphy served as Vice
President -- Development of Rosewood Property Company. Mr. Murphy also completed
various development projects with Prometheus Development Company and Lincoln
Property Company. Mr. Murphy received a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from
Cleveland State University and he received an M.S. degree in Civil
Engineering/Construction Management from Stanford University.
 
     Timothy J. Stanley has been Director of Apartment Reconstruction of the
Company since August, 1994. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Stanley was a
Project Manager for Belanger and Associates. Mr. Stanley received a B.S. degree
in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and an M.B.A.
degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.
 
     Brian J. Wirtz has been Director of Apartment Acquisition of the Company
since July, 1994. From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Wirtz was a commercial appraiser with
Carneghi-Bautovich & Partners, Inc., a San Francisco Bay Area consulting and
appraisal firm, where he appraised over $500 million worth of Northern
California commercial real estate. Mr. Wirtz was also Senior Project Manager and
Acquisitions Manager for two Southern California commercial development firms.
Mr. Wirtz graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison with a B.B.A.
degree in real estate and urban land economics.
 
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
 
     Bruce A. Choate is a Director of the Company and has been Chief Financial
Officer of Watson Land Company, a privately-held REIT in Carson, California
since 1991. Prior to joining Watson Land Company, Mr. Choate was employed by
Bixby Ranch Company, a privately-held real estate investment company in Seal
Beach, California as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr.
Choate graduated from the
 
                                      S-47
<PAGE>   48
 
University of California, Los Angeles and attended the Graduate School of
Business at the University of Southern California.
 
     John J. Healy, Jr. was a founder and has been a managing principal of the
Hanford/Healy Companies, a national commercial real estate services company,
since 1988. He is also a managing principal of Hanford/Healy Appraisal Company,
a national real estate appraisal and consulting firm, and a principal of
Hanford/Healy Asset Management Company, a national real estate management firm.
Mr. Healy graduated from Hofstra University with a B.B.A. in Finance, Investment
and Banking and a M.B.A.
 
     Brenda J. Mixson is a Director of the Company and has been Managing
Director of the Emerging Markets, Fixed Income Department for ING (U.S.) Capital
Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Internationale Nederladen Group N.V.,
since February, 1996. Ms. Mixson previously served as Vice President -- Real
Estate Finance of ING Capital Corporation from March, 1995 to February, 1996.
She served as an Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of
Reichmann International from April, 1994 to March, 1995. From 1989 to 1994, she
was an Executive Vice President and Managing Director and a Regional Manager,
Northeast Region, of Travelers Realty Investment Company. Prior to joining
Travelers Realty Investment Company, Ms. Mixson was employed by Chemical Bank as
a Vice President and Regional Manager. Ms. Mixson graduated from the University
of Minnesota with a B.S. degree in Economics.
 
     Thomas H. Nielsen is a Director of the Company and has been a self-employed
consultant for large-scale real estate development projects since 1991. In 1993,
Mr. Nielsen was named a Managing Director of the Orange County Office of U.S.
Trust of California, N.A., and he held that position until July, 1995, at which
time he was named Consulting Director. He also served as Chief Executive Officer
of the Orange County Performing Arts Center from 1993 to 1995. From 1978 to
1990, Mr. Nielsen served in various positions for The Irvine Company, a
privately-held real estate development company, including President and Vice
Chairman, and he presently serves as a director. Mr. Nielsen holds a B.S. degree
in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington and an M.B.A. degree from
Stanford University.
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
     Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement
(the "Underwriting Agreement") among the Company and the Underwriters named
below (the "Underwriters") the Company has agreed to sell to each of the
Underwriters named below, for whom PaineWebber Incorporated ("PaineWebber"),
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. and Smith Barney Inc. are
acting as representatives (the "Representatives"), and each of the Underwriters
has severally agreed to purchase from the Company, the number of Shares set
forth below opposite its name. Under the Underwriting Agreement, the
Underwriters are committed to purchase all of such Shares if any are purchased.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            NUMBER OF
                                  UNDERWRITER                                SHARES
        ----------------------------------------------------------------    ---------
        <S>                                                                 <C>
        PaineWebber Incorporated........................................
        Dean Witter Reynolds Inc........................................
        A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc........................................
        Smith Barney Inc................................................
                                                                            ---------
                  Total.................................................    5,000,000
                                                                            =========
</TABLE>
 
     The Representatives have advised the Company that they propose initially to
offer such Shares to the public at the public offering price set forth on the
cover page of this Prospectus Supplement, and to certain dealers at such price
less a concession not in excess of $.     per Share. The Underwriters may allow,
and such dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of $.     per Share on
sales to certain other dealers. After the Offering, the public offering price,
concession and discount may be changed.
 
     The Company has granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days
after the date of this Prospectus Supplement, under which the Underwriters may
purchase up to 750,000 additional Shares to cover over-allotments, if any, at
the Offering price less the underwriting discount set forth on the cover page of
this Prospectus Supplement. If the Underwriters exercise this option, each of
the Underwriters will have a firm
 
                                      S-48
<PAGE>   49
 
commitment, subject to certain conditions, to purchase approximately the same
percentage thereof which the number of Shares to be purchased by it shown in the
foregoing table bears to the Shares initially offered hereby.
 
     In the Underwriting Agreement, the Company has agreed to indemnify the
several Underwriters against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments the
Underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
     Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Company by Goodwin,
Procter & Hoar LLP, Boston, Massachusetts as securities and tax counsel to the
Company and for the Underwriters by O'Melveny & Myers LLP, San Francisco,
California.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     Certain demographic and market information included in this Prospectus
Supplement has been prepared by Rosen Consulting Group and is set forth in a
report dated June 28, 1996 (the "Rosen Report"). The Rosen Report has been filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") as an exhibit to the
Company's Form 8-K dated July 5, 1996 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Certain information from the Rosen Report is included herein in reliance upon
the authority of such firm as an expert in, among other things, urban economics.
Kenneth T. Rosen is the sole shareholder of Rosen Consulting Group and is a
member of AMB Rosen Real Estate Securities L.L.C., which is the beneficial owner
of 92,900 shares of the Company's Common Stock.
 
     Certain demographic and market information included in this Prospectus
Supplement has been prepared by Ann Roulac and Company and is set forth in a
report dated June 30, 1996 (the "Roulac Report"). The Roulac Report has been
filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the Company's Form 8-K dated July 5, 1996
and is incorporated herein by reference. Certain information from the Roulac
Report is included herein in reliance upon the authority of such firm as an
expert in, among other things, urban economics.
 
                                      S-49
<PAGE>   50
 
                      [THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
<PAGE>   51
 
PROSPECTUS
 
                                  $200,000,000
 
                        BAY APARTMENT COMMUNITIES, INC.
                                PREFERRED STOCK
                                  COMMON STOCK
                            ------------------------
 
     Bay Apartment Communities, Inc. ("Bay" or the "Company") may offer from
time to time in one or more series (i) shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value
per share ("Preferred Stock") and (ii) shares of common stock, $.01 par value
per share ("Common Stock"), with an aggregate public offering price of up to
$200,000,000 in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of
offering. The Preferred Stock and Common Stock (collectively, the "Securities")
may be offered separately or together, in separate series, in amounts, at prices
and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to this Prospectus (each
a "Prospectus Supplement").
 
     The specific terms of the Securities for which this Prospectus is being
delivered will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement and will
include, where applicable: (i) in the case of Preferred Stock, the specific
designation and stated value per share, any dividend, liquidation, redemption,
conversion, voting and other rights, and any initial public offering price and
(iii) in the case of Common Stock, any initial public offering price. In
addition, such specific terms may include limitations on direct or beneficial
ownership and restrictions on transfer of the Securities, in each case as may be
consistent with the Company's Articles of Incorporation or otherwise appropriate
to preserve the status of the Company as a real estate investment trust ("REIT")
for federal income tax purposes. See "Restrictions on Transfers of Capital
Stock."
 
     The applicable Prospectus Supplement will also contain information, where
appropriate, about certain United States federal income tax considerations
relating to, and any listing on a securities exchange of, the Securities covered
by such Prospectus Supplement.
 
     The Securities may be offered by the Company directly to one or more
purchasers, through agents designated from time to time by the Company or to or
through underwriters or dealers. If any agents or underwriters are involved in
the sale of any of the securities, their names, and any applicable purchase
price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them, will be
set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in an
accompanying Prospectus Supplement. See "Plan of Distribution." No Securities
may be sold without delivery of a Prospectus Supplement describing the method
and terms of the offering of such Securities.
 
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 is July 5, 1996.
<PAGE>   52
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC" or "Commission") a Registration Statement on Form S-3 under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the Securities.
This Prospectus, which constitutes part of the Registration Statement, omits
certain of the information contained in the Registration Statement and the
exhibits thereto on file with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. The Registration
Statement, including exhibits thereto, may be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's Regional Offices at 7
World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048, and Northwestern
Atrium Center, 500 W. Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511,
and copies may be obtained at the prescribed rates from the Public Reference
Section of the Commission at its principal office in Washington, D.C. Statements
contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other
document referred to are not necessarily complete, and in each instance
reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in
all respects by such reference.
 
     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 and proxy statements and other information with the
Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and other information can be
inspected and copied at the locations described above. Copies of such materials
can be obtained by mail from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.
In addition, the Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the
"NYSE") and the Pacific Stock Exchange (the "PSE"), and such materials can be
inspected and copied at the NYSE, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
     The following documents previously filed by the Company with the Commission
pursuant to the Exchange Act are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus:
(i) Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 1995,
June 30, 1995, and September 30, 1995, (ii) Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 1994 and December 31, 1995, (iii) Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 1996, (iv) Current
Report on Form 8-K dated September 15, 1995, (v) Current Report on Form 8-K
dated May 6, 1996, (vi) Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 23, 1996, as
amended by the Current Report on Form 8-K/A, dated May 23, 1996, (vii) Current
Report on Form 8-K dated July 5, 1996, and (viii) the description of the
Company's Common Stock contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form
8-A dated December 7, 1993.
 
     All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to 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. The Company will provide, without charge, to
each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this Prospectus
is delivered, at the request of such person, a copy of any or all of the
documents incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits thereto, unless
such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents).
Written requests for such copies should be directed to Jeffrey B. Van Horn,
Chief Financial Officer, Bay Apartment Communities, Inc., 4340 Stevens Creek
Blvd., Suite 275, San Jose, California 95129, telephone (408) 983-1500.
 
     Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein
(or in an applicable Prospectus Supplement) or in any subsequently filed
document that is incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed to
constitute a part of this Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement, except as so
modified or superseded.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   53
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
     The Company has engaged in apartment community acquisition, development,
construction, reconstruction, marketing, leasing and management for over 18
years and is one of the most experienced developers and operators of upscale
apartment communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a self-administered and
self-managed REIT, the Company owns, or holds substantially all of the ownership
interests in, and manages 27 apartment communities (the "Communities")
containing approximately 7,093 apartment homes, principally in the San Francisco
Bay Area and Northern California.
 
     The Company is a fully-integrated real estate organization with in-house
development, construction, acquisition, reconstruction, financing, marketing,
leasing and management expertise. This in-house expertise has allowed the
Company to maintain its reputation for developing and constructing apartment
communities on time and on budget. With its experience and in-house
capabilities, the Company is well-positioned to continue to take advantage of
the strong demand for upscale apartment homes and the development and
acquisition opportunities presented by the current economic conditions in
Northern California. The Company has elected to qualify as a REIT for Federal
income tax purposes commencing with the year ended December 31, 1994. The
Company pays regular quarterly dividends to its shareholders.
 
     The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of California in
1978 and reincorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland, pursuant to a
reincorporation merger, in July 1995. Its executive offices are located at 4340
Stevens Creek Boulevard, Suite 275, San Jose, California 95129, and its
telephone number is (408) 983-1500.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     Unless otherwise described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of Securities for general
corporate purposes, which may include the acquisition of additional properties,
the repayment of outstanding debt or the improvement of certain properties
already in the Company's portfolio.
 
                  RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES
                         AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
 
     The following table sets forth the Company's consolidated ratios of
earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the periods
shown:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                      ---------------------------------------
                          YEAR ENDED                   JANUARY
            JANUARY 1-     DECEMBER     MARCH 17-     1- MARCH
            MARCH 31,        31,       DECEMBER 31,      16,
               1996          1995          1994        1994(1)    1993(1)   1992(1)   1991(1)   1990(1)
           ------------   ----------   ------------   ---------   -------   -------   -------   -------
    <S>    <C>            <C>          <C>            <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>    
    Ratio..     1.39x        1.26x         1.76x         .71x       .96x      .71x      .68x      .71x
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) Ratios for the period January 1 - March 16, 1994 and the years ended 1993,
    1992, 1991 and 1990 reflect periods prior to the recapitalization and
    initial public offering of the Company on March 17, 1994. The earnings for
    these periods were inadequate to cover fixed charges as follows:
 
<TABLE>
            <S>                                                        <C>
            Period January 1 - March 16, 1994........................  $   716,000
            Year ended December 31, 1993.............................      447,000
            Year ended December 31, 1992.............................    3,916,000
            Year ended December 31, 1991.............................    3,969,000
            Year ended December 31, 1990.............................    3,336,000
</TABLE>
 
     The ratios of earnings to fixed charges were computed by dividing earnings
by fixed charges. For this purpose, earnings consist of pre-tax income from
continuing operations plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest
expense, capitalized interest and the amortization of debt issuance costs. The
Company issued 2,308,800 shares of Series A Preferred Stock in October 1995 and
405,022 shares of Series B Preferred Stock in May 1996.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   54
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
 
     The description of the Company's preferred stock, par value $.01 per share
("Preferred Stock"), set forth below does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Company's Articles of
Incorporation (the "Articles of Incorporation") and Bylaws (the "Bylaws").
 
GENERAL
 
     Under the Company's Articles of Incorporation, the Company has authority to
issue twenty-five (25) million shares of Preferred Stock, of which 2,308,800
shares have been designated Series A Preferred Stock and are currently
outstanding and 405,022 shares have been designated Series B Preferred Stock and
are currently outstanding. Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to
time, in one or more series, as authorized by the Board of Directors of the
Company. Prior to issuance of shares of each series, the Board of Directors is
required by the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended (the "MGCL"), and
the Company's Articles of Incorporation to fix for each series, subject to the
provisions of the Company's Articles of Incorporation regarding excess stock,
$.01 par value per share ("Excess Stock"), the terms, preferences, conversion or
other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other
distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption, as are
permitted by Maryland law. The Preferred Stock will, when issued, be fully paid
and nonassessable and will have no preemptive rights. The Board of Directors
could authorize the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock with terms and
conditions that could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other
transaction that holders of Common Stock might believe to be in their best
interests or in which holders of some, or a majority, of the shares of Common
Stock might receive a premium for their shares over the then market price of
such shares of Common Stock.
 
TERMS
 
     The following description of the Preferred Stock sets forth certain general
terms and provisions of the Preferred Stock to which any Prospectus Supplement
may relate. The statements below describing the Preferred Stock are in all
respects subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the
applicable provisions of the Company's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and
any applicable amendment to the Articles of Incorporation designating terms of a
series of Preferred Stock (a "Designating Amendment").
 
     Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Preferred
Stock offered thereby for specific terms, including:
 
          (1) The title and stated value of such Preferred Stock;
 
          (2) The number of shares of such Preferred Stock offered, the
     liquidation preference per share and the offering price of such Preferred
     Stock;
 
          (3) The dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s) or
     method(s) of calculation thereof applicable to such Preferred Stock;
 
          (4) The date from which dividends on such Preferred Stock shall
     accumulate, if applicable;
 
          (5) The procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any, for such
     Preferred Stock;
 
          (6) The provision for a sinking fund, if any, for such Preferred
     Stock;
 
          (7) The provision for redemption, if applicable, of such Preferred
     Stock;
 
          (8) Any listing of such Preferred Stock on any securities exchange;
 
          (9) The terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which such Preferred
     Stock will be convertible into Common Stock, including the conversion price
     (or manner of calculation thereof);
 
          (10) Any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or
     restrictions of such Preferred Stock;
 
          (11) A discussion of federal income tax considerations applicable to
     such Preferred Stock;
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   55
 
          (12) The relative ranking and preference of such Preferred Stock as to
     dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
     the affairs of the Company;
 
          (13) Any limitations on issuance of any series of Preferred Stock
     ranking senior to or on a parity with such series of Preferred Stock as to
     dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
     the affairs of the Company; and
 
          (14) Any limitations on direct or beneficial ownership and
     restrictions on transfer, in each case as may be appropriate to preserve
     the status of the Company as a REIT.
 
RANK
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement, the Preferred
Stock will, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company, rank (i) senior to all classes or
series of Common Stock of the Company, and to all equity securities ranking
junior to such Preferred Stock with respect to dividend rights or rights upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company; (ii) on a parity with all
equity securities issued by the Company the terms of which specifically provide
that such equity securities rank on a parity with the Preferred Stock with
respect to dividend rights or rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the Company; and (iii) junior to all equity securities issued by the Company
the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior
to the Preferred Stock with respect to dividend rights or rights upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. The term "equity
securities" does not include convertible debt securities.
 
DIVIDENDS
 
     Holders of the Preferred Stock of each series will be entitled to receive,
when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the Company, out of assets
of the Company legally available for payment, cash dividends at such rates and
on such dates as will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Each
such dividend shall be payable to holders of record as they appear on the share
transfer books of the Company on such record dates as shall be fixed by the
Board of Directors of the Company.
 
     Dividends on any series of the Preferred Stock may be cumulative or
non-cumulative, as provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Dividends,
if cumulative, will be cumulative from and after the date set forth in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. If the Board of Directors of the Company fails
to declare a dividend payable on a dividend payment date on any series of the
Preferred Stock for which dividends are non-cumulative, then the holders of such
series of the Preferred Stock will have no right to receive a dividend in
respect of the dividend period ending on such dividend payment date, and the
Company will have no obligation to pay the dividend accrued for such period,
whether or not dividends on such series are declared payable on any future
dividend payment date.
 
     If Preferred Stock of any series is outstanding, no dividends will be
declared or paid or set apart for payment on any capital stock of the Company of
any other series ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the
Preferred Stock of such series for any period unless (i) if such series of
Preferred Stock has a cumulative dividend, full cumulative dividends have been
or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for
the payment thereof is set apart for such payment on the Preferred Stock of such
series for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period or
(ii) if such series of Preferred Stock does not have a cumulative dividend, full
dividends for the then current dividend period have been or contemporaneously
are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof
is set apart for such payment on the Preferred Stock of such series. When
dividends are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not
so set apart) upon Preferred Stock of any series and the shares of any other
series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with the Preferred
Stock of such series, all dividends declared upon Preferred Stock of such series
and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with
such Preferred Stock shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends
declared per share of Preferred Stock of such series and such other series of
Preferred Stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that
accrued dividends per share on the Preferred Stock of such series (which shall
not include any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend
periods if such
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   56
 
Preferred Stock does not have a cumulative dividend) and such other series of
Preferred Stock bear to each other. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of
interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on
Preferred Stock of such series which may be in arrears.
 
     Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph, unless (i) if
such series of Preferred Stock has a cumulative dividend, full cumulative
dividends on the Preferred Stock of such series have been or contemporaneously
are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof
is set apart for payment for all past dividend periods and the then current
dividend period, and (ii) if such series of Preferred Stock does not have a
cumulative dividend, full dividends on the Preferred Stock of such series have
been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient
for the payment thereof is set apart for payment for the then current dividend
period, no dividends (other than in shares of Common Stock or other shares of
capital stock ranking junior to the Preferred Stock of such series as to
dividends and upon liquidation) shall be declared or paid or set aside for
payment nor shall any other distribution be declared or made upon the Common
Stock, or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a
parity with the Preferred Stock of such series as to dividends or upon
liquidation, nor shall any shares of Common Stock, or any other shares of
capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with the Preferred
Stock of such series as to dividends or upon liquidation be redeemed, purchased
or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made
available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such shares) by the
Company (except by conversion into or exchange for other capital stock of the
Company ranking junior to the Preferred Stock of such series as to dividends and
upon liquidation).
 
     Any dividend payment made on shares of a series of Preferred Stock shall
first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividend due with
respect to shares of such series which remains payable.
 
REDEMPTION
 
     If so provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Preferred Stock
will be subject to mandatory redemption or redemption at the option of the
Company, as a whole or in part, in each case upon the terms, at the times and at
the redemption prices set forth in such Prospectus Supplement.
 
     The Prospectus Supplement relating to a series of Preferred Stock that is
subject to mandatory redemption will specify the number of shares of such
Preferred Stock that shall be redeemed by the Company in each year commencing
after a date to be specified, at a redemption price per share to be specified,
together with an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (which
shall not, if such Preferred Stock does not have a cumulative dividend, include
any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods) to
the date of redemption. The redemption price may be payable in cash or other
property, as specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. If the
redemption price for Preferred Stock of any series is payable only from the net
proceeds of the issuance of shares of capital stock of the Company, the terms of
such Preferred Stock may provide that, if no such shares of capital stock shall
have been issued or to the extent the net proceeds from any issuance are
insufficient to pay in full the aggregate redemption price then due, such
Preferred Stock shall automatically and mandatorily be converted into the
applicable shares of capital stock of the Company pursuant to conversion
provisions specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless (i) if a series of Preferred Stock
has a cumulative dividend, full cumulative dividends on all shares of such
series of Preferred Stock shall have been or contemporaneously are declared and
paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for
payment for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period, and
(ii) if a series of Preferred Stock does not have a cumulative dividend, full
dividends on all shares of the Preferred Stock of such series have been or
contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the
payment thereof set apart for payment for the then current dividend period, no
shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be redeemed unless all
outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of such series are simultaneously
redeemed; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase
or acquisition of Preferred Stock of such series to preserve the REIT status of
the Company or pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms
to holders of all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of such series. In
addition, unless (i) if such
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   57
 
series of Preferred Stock has a cumulative dividend, full cumulative dividends
on all outstanding shares of such series of Preferred Stock have been or
contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the
payment thereof set apart for payment for all past dividend periods and the then
current dividend period, and (ii) if such series of Preferred Stock does not
have a cumulative dividend, full dividends on the Preferred stock of such series
have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum
sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for the then current
dividend period, the Company shall not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or
indirectly any shares of Preferred Stock of such series (except by conversion
into or exchange for capital shares of the Company ranking junior to the
Preferred Stock of such series as to dividends and upon liquidation); provided,
however,that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase or acquisition of
shares of Preferred Stock of such series to preserve the REIT status of the
Company or pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to
holders of all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of such series.
 
     If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of any
series are to be redeemed, the number of shares to be redeemed will be
determined by the Company and such shares may be redeemed pro rata from the
holders of record of such shares in proportion to the number of such shares held
or for which redemption is requested by such holder (with adjustments to avoid
redemption of fractional shares) or by any other equitable manner determined by
the Company.
 
     Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60
days before the redemption date to each holder of record of Preferred Stock of
any series to be redeemed at the address shown on the stock transfer books of
the Company. Each notice shall state: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number
of shares and series of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (iii) the redemption
price; (iv) the place or places where certificates for such Preferred Stock are
to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; (v) that dividends on the
shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date; and (vi) the
date upon which the holder's conversion rights, if any, as to such shares shall
terminate. If fewer than all the shares of Preferred Stock of any series are to
be redeemed, the notice mailed to each such holder thereof shall also specify
the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be redeemed from each such holder. If
notice of redemption of any Preferred Stock has been given and if the funds
necessary for such redemption have been set aside by the Company in trust for
the benefit of the holders of any Preferred Stock so called for redemption, then
from and after the redemption date dividends will cease to accrue on such
Preferred Stock, and all rights of the holders of such shares will terminate,
except the right to receive the redemption price.
 
LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE
 
     Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the affairs of the Company, then, before any distribution or payment shall be
made to the holders of any Common Stock or any other class or series of capital
stock of the Company ranking junior to the Preferred Stock in the distribution
of assets upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the
holders of each series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive out of
assets of the Company legally available for distribution to stockholders
liquidating distributions in the amount of the liquidation preference per share,
if any, set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, plus an amount equal
to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon (which shall not include any
accumulation in respect of unpaid noncumulative dividends for prior dividend
periods). After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to
which they are entitled, the holders of Preferred Stock will have no right or
claim to any of the remaining assets of the Company. In the event that, upon any
such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the
available assets of the Company are insufficient to pay the amount of the
liquidating distributions on all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock and the
corresponding amounts payable on all shares of other classes or series of
capital stock of the Company ranking on a parity with the Preferred Stock in the
distribution of assets, then the holders of the Preferred Stock and all other
such classes or series of capital stock shall share ratably in any such
distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to
which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.
 
     If liquidating distributions shall have been made in full to all holders of
Preferred Stock, the remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed among
the holders of any other classes or series of capital stock ranking junior to
the Preferred Stock upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, according to
their respective
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   58
 
rights and preferences and in each case according to their respective number of
shares. For such purposes, the consolidation or merger of the Company with or
into any other corporation, trust or entity, or the sale, lease or conveyance of
all or substantially all of the property or business of the Company, shall not
be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.
 
VOTING RIGHTS
 
     Holders of the Preferred Stock will not have any voting rights, except as
set forth below or as otherwise from time to time required by law or as
indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
     Unless provided otherwise for any series of Preferred Stock, so long as any
shares of Preferred Stock of a series remain outstanding, the Company will not,
without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of
the shares of such series of Preferred Stock outstanding at the time, given in
person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (such series voting
separately as a class), (i) authorize or create, or increase the authorized or
issued amount of, any class or series of capital stock ranking prior to such
series of Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the
distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up or reclassify
any authorized capital stock of the Company into such shares, or create,
authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the
right to purchase any such shares; or (ii) amend, alter or repeal the provisions
of the Company's Articles of Incorporation or the Designating Amendment for such
series of Preferred Stock, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise (an
"Event"), so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference,
privilege or voting power of such series of Preferred Stock or the holders
thereof; provided, however, with respect to the occurrence of any of the Events
set forth in (ii) above, so long as the Preferred Stock remains outstanding with
the terms thereof materially unchanged, taking into account that upon the
occurrence of an Event the Company may not be the surviving entity, the
occurrence of any such Event shall not be deemed to materially and adversely
affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting power of holders of
Preferred Stock, and provided further that (x) any increase in the amount of the
authorized Preferred Stock or the creation or issuance of any other series of
Preferred Stock, or (y) any increase in the amount of authorized shares of such
series or any other series of Preferred Stock, in each case ranking on a parity
with or junior to the Preferred Stock of such series with respect to payment of
dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding
up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights,
preferences, privileges or voting powers.
 
     The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time
when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall
be effected, all outstanding shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall have
been redeemed or called for redemption and sufficient funds shall have been
deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
 
CONVERSION RIGHTS
 
     The terms and conditions, if any, upon which any series of Preferred Stock
is convertible into Common Stock will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement relating thereto. Such terms will include the number of shares of
Common Stock into which the shares of Preferred Stock are convertible, the
conversion price (or manner of calculation thereof), the conversion period,
provisions as to whether conversion will be at the option of the holders of the
Preferred Stock or the Company, the events requiring an adjustment of the
conversion price and provisions affecting conversion in the event of the
redemption of such series of Preferred Stock.
 
RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP
 
     For the Company to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code"), not more than 50% in value of its outstanding
capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals
(as defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a
taxable year. To assist the Company in meeting this requirement, the Company may
take certain actions to limit the beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly,
by a single person of the Company's outstanding equity securities, including any
Preferred Stock of the Company. Therefore, the Designating Amendment for each
series of
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   59
 
Preferred Stock may contain provisions restricting the ownership and transfer of
the Preferred Stock. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will specify any
additional ownership limitation relating to a series of Preferred Stock. See
"Restrictions on Transfers of Capital Stock."
 
TRANSFER AGENT
 
     The transfer agent and registrar for the Preferred Stock will be set forth
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
                          DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
 
     The description of the Company's Common Stock set forth below does not
purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
Company's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.
 
GENERAL
 
     Under the Articles of Incorporation, the Company has authority to issue 40
million shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share. Under Maryland law,
stockholders generally are not responsible for the Company's debts or
obligations. The Company currently has outstanding 13,227,351 shares of Common
Stock. The Common Stock is listed on the NYSE and the PSE under the symbol
"BYA."
 
TERMS
 
     Subject to the preferential rights of any other shares or series of stock
and to the provisions of the Company's Articles of Incorporation regarding
Excess Stock, holders of shares of Common Stock will be entitled to receive
dividends on shares of Common Stock if, as and when authorized and declared by
the Board of Directors of the Company out of assets legally available therefor
and to share ratably in the assets of the Company legally available for
distribution to its stockholders in the event of its liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up after payment of, or adequate provision for, all known debts and
liabilities of the Company.
 
     Subject to the provisions of the Company's Articles of Incorporation
regarding Excess Stock, each outstanding share of Common Stock entitles the
holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including
the election of Directors and, except as otherwise required by law or except as
provided with respect to any other class or series of stock, the holders of
Common Stock will possess the exclusive voting power. There is no cumulative
voting in the election of Directors, which means that the holders of a majority
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock can elect all of the Directors then
standing for election, and the holders of the remaining shares of Common Stock
will not be able to elect any Directors.
 
     Holders of Common Stock have no conversion, sinking fund or redemption
rights, or preemptive rights to subscribe for any securities of the Company.
 
     The Company intends to furnish its stockholders with annual reports
containing audited consolidated financial statements and an opinion thereon
expressed by an independent public accounting firm and quarterly reports for the
first three quarters of each fiscal year containing unaudited financial
information.
 
     Subject to the provisions of the Company's Articles of Incorporation
regarding Excess Stock, all shares of Common Stock will have equal dividend,
distribution, liquidation and other rights, and will have no preference,
appraisal or exchange rights.
 
     Pursuant to the MGCL, a corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its
Articles of Incorporation, merge, sell all or substantially all of its assets,
engage in a share exchange or engage in similar transactions outside the
ordinary course of business unless approved by the affirmative vote of
stockholders holding at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the
matter unless a lesser percentage is set forth in the Company's Articles of
Incorporation. The Company's Articles of Incorporation do not provide for a
lesser percentage in such situations.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   60
 
RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP
 
     For the Company to qualify as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% in
value of its outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by
five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities)
during the last half of a taxable year. To assist the Company in meeting this
requirement, the Company may take certain actions to limit the beneficial
ownership, directly or indirectly, by a single person of the Company's
outstanding equity securities. See "Restrictions on Transfers of Capital Stock."
 
TRANSFER AGENT
 
     The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company of New York, New York.
 
                   RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
     For the Company to qualify as a REIT under the Code, among other things,
not more than 50% in value of its outstanding capital stock may be owned,
directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (defined in the Code to
include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year, and such
capital stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least
335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a
shorter taxable year (in each case, other than the first such year). To ensure
that the Company remains a qualified REIT, the Articles of Incorporation,
subject to certain exceptions, provide that no holder may own, or be deemed to
own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than nine percent
(9%) (the "Ownership Limit") of the Company's capital stock. The Board of
Directors may waive the Ownership Limit if evidence satisfactory to the Board of
Directors and the Company's tax counsel is presented that the changes in
ownership will not then or in the future jeopardize the Company's status as a
REIT. Any transfer of capital stock or any security convertible into capital
stock that would create a direct or indirect ownership of capital stock in
excess of the Ownership Limit or that would result in the disqualification of
the Company as a REIT, including any transfer that results in the capital stock
being owned by fewer than 100 persons or results in the Company being "closely
held" within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, shall be null and void,
and the intended transferee will acquire no rights to the capital stock. The
foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply if the
Board of Directors determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the
Company to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT.
 
     Capital stock owned, or deemed to be owned, or transferred to a stockholder
in excess of the Ownership Limit will automatically be exchanged for shares of
Excess Stock that will be transferred, by operation of law, to the Company as
trustee of a trust for the exclusive benefit of the transferees to whom such
capital stock may be ultimately transferred without violating the Ownership
Limit. While the Excess Stock is held in trust, it will not be entitled to vote,
it will not be considered for purposes of any stockholder vote or the
determination of a quorum for such vote and, except upon liquidation, it will
not be entitled to participate in dividends or other distributions. Any dividend
or distribution paid to a proposed transferee of Excess Stock prior to the
discovery by the Company that capital stock has been transferred in violation of
the provisions of the Company's Articles of Incorporation shall be repaid to the
Company upon demand. The Excess Stock is not treasury stock, but rather
constitutes a separate class of issued and outstanding stock of the Company. The
original transferee-stockholder may, at any time the Excess Stock is held by the
Company in trust, transfer the interest in the trust representing the Excess
Stock to any individual whose ownership of the capital stock exchanged into such
Excess Stock would be permitted under the Ownership Limit, at a price not in
excess of the price paid by the original transferee-stockholder for the capital
stock that was exchanged in Excess Stock. Immediately upon the transfer to the
permitted transferee, the Excess Stock will automatically be exchanged for
capital stock of the class from which it was converted. If the foregoing
transfer restrictions are determined to be void or invalid by virtue of any
legal decision, statute, rule or regulation, then the intended transferee of any
Excess Stock may be deemed, at the option of the Company, to have acted as an
agent on behalf of the Company in acquiring the Excess Stock and to hold the
Excess Stock on behalf of the Company.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   61
 
     In addition to the foregoing transfer restrictions, the Company will have
the right, for a period of 90 days during the time any Excess Stock is held by
the Company in trust, to purchase all or any portion of the Excess Stock from
the original transferee-stockholder for the lesser of the price paid for the
capital stock by the original transferee-stockholder or the market price (as
determined in the manner set forth in the Articles of Incorporation) of the
capital stock on the date the Company exercises its option to purchase. The
90-day period begins on the date on which the Company receives written notice of
the transfer or other event resulting in the exchange of capital stock for
Excess Stock.
 
     Each stockholder shall upon demand be required to disclose to the Company
in writing any information with respect to the direct, indirect and constructive
ownership of beneficial interests as the Board of Directors deems necessary to
comply with the provisions of the Code applicable to REITs, to comply with the
requirements of any taxing authority or governmental agency or to determine any
such compliance.
 
     This ownership limitation may have the effect of precluding acquisition of
control of the Company unless the Board of Directors determines that maintenance
of REIT status is no longer in the best interests of the Company.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
     The Company may sell Securities to or through one or more underwriters or
dealers for public offering and sale by or through them, directly to one or more
purchasers, through agents or through any combination of these methods of sale.
Direct sale to investors may be accomplished through subscription rights
distributed to the Company's stockholders on a pro-rata basis. In connection
with any distribution of subscription rights to stockholders, if all of the
underlying Securities are not subscribed for, the Company may sell the
unsubscribed Securities directly to third parties or may engage the services of
one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, including standby underwriters, to
sell the unsubscribed Securities to third parties.
 
     The distribution of the Securities may be effected from time to time in one
or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market
prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing
market prices, or at negotiated prices (any of which may represent a discount
from the prevailing market prices).
 
     In connection with the sale of Securities, underwriters or agents may
receive compensation from the Company or from purchasers of Securities, for whom
they may act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions.
Underwriters may sell Securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may
receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from
the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as
agents. Underwriters, dealers, and agents that participate in the distribution
of Securities may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act, and any
discounts or commissions they receive from the Company and any profit on the
resale of Securities they realize may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and
commissions under the Securities Act. Any such underwriter or agent will be
identified, and any such compensation received from the Company will be
described, in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, each
series of Securities will be a new issue with no established trading market,
other than the Common Stock which is listed on the NYSE and the PSE. Any shares
of Common Stock sold pursuant to a Prospectus Supplement will be listed on the
NYSE and the PSE, subject to official notice of issuance. The Company may elect
to list any series of Preferred Stock on an exchange, but is not obligated to do
so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a series
of Securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market
making at any time without notice. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to
the liquidity of, or the trading market for, the Securities.
 
     Under agreements into which the Company may enter, underwriters, dealers
and agents who participate in the distribution of Securities may be entitled to
indemnification by the Company against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   62
 
     Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or
perform services for, or be tenants of, the Company in the ordinary course of
business.
 
     If so indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company will
authorize dealers acting as the Company's agents to solicit offers by certain
institutions to purchase Securities from the Company at the public offering
price set forth in such Prospectus Supplement pursuant to delayed delivery
contracts ("Contracts") providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates
stated in such Prospectus Supplement. Each Contract will be for an amount not
less than, and the aggregate principal amount of Securities sold pursuant to
Contracts shall be not less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. Institutions with whom Contracts, when
authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance
companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable
institutions, and other institutions, but will in all cases be subject to the
approval of the Company. Contracts will not be subject to any conditions except
(i) the purchase by an institution of the Securities covered by its Contracts
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 (ii)
if the Securities are being sold to underwriters, the Company shall have sold to
such underwriters the total principal amount of the Securities less the
principal amount thereof covered by Contracts. The underwriters and such other
agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or
performance of such contracts.
 
     In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if
applicable, the Securities offered hereby will be sold in such jurisdictions
only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain
states Securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified
for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or
qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
 
     Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person
engaged in the distribution of the Securities offered hereby may not
simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the Securities
for a period of two business days prior to the commencement of such
distribution.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
     Certain legal matters, including the legality of the Securities, will be
passed upon for the Company by Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP, Boston,
Massachusetts.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The financial statements and schedule thereto incorporated by reference in
this Prospectus or elsewhere in the Registration Statement, to the extent and
for the periods indicated in their report have been audited by Coopers & Lybrand
L.L.P., independent accountants, and are incorporated herein in reliance upon
the authority of said firm as experts in giving said reports.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   63
 
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  NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT. IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE
RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR THE UNDERWRITERS. THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF
AN OFFER TO BUY, THE SHARES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE, OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM,
IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY CHANGE IN THE
FACTS SET FORTH IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY
SINCE THE DATE HEREOF.
 
                               ------------------
 
                           SUMMARY TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        PAGE
                                        -----
<S>                                     <C>
            PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Prospectus Supplement Summary.........   S-3
Risk Factors..........................  S-15
Use of Proceeds.......................  S-20
Capitalization........................  S-20
Price Range of Shares and Distribution
  History.............................  S-21
Business Philosophy...................  S-22
Growth Strategies.....................  S-23
Performance Since the Initial
  Offering............................  S-26
The Communities.......................  S-35
The Markets...........................  S-39
Unsecured Credit Facility, Mortgage
  Debt
  and Bond Financing..................  S-43
Management and Directors..............  S-46
Underwriting..........................  S-48
Legal Matters.........................  S-49
Experts...............................  S-49
                 PROSPECTUS
Available Information.................     2
Incorporation of Certain Documents By
  Reference...........................     2
The Company...........................     3
Use of Proceeds.......................     3
Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges...     3
Description of Preferred Stock........     4
Description of Common Stock...........     9
Restrictions on Transfers of Capital
  Stock...............................    10
Plan of Distribution..................    11
Legal Matters.........................    12
Experts...............................    12
- ---------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
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- ------------------------------------------------------
 
                                5,000,000 SHARES
 
                                      LOGO
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
 
                            ------------------------
                             PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
                            ------------------------
 
                            PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
 
                           DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
 
                           A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
 
                               SMITH BARNEY INC.
 
                                           , 1996
 
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