Exhibit 24 Power of Attorney



KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned  directors and officers of
The Ryland  Group,  Inc.,  a  Maryland  corporation,  constitute  and  appoint
Timothy  J.  Geckle  the true and  lawful  agent and  attorney-in-fact  of the
undersigned  with full power and authority in said agent and  attorney-in-fact
to sign  for the  undersigned  in their  respective  names  as  directors  and
officers  of The Ryland  Group, Inc.,  the  Annual  Report on Form 10-K of The
Ryland Group,  Inc.,  for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1999 to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange  Commission under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934. We hereby  confirm all acts taken by such agent and  attorney-in-fact
as herein authorized.

DATED: March 14, 2000


                                    /s/   Chad Dreier
                                    Chad Dreier, Chairman of the Board,
                                    President and Chief Executive Officer
                                    (Principal Executive Officer)


                                    /s/   James A. Flick, Jr.
                                    James A. Flick, Jr., Director


                                    /s/   Leslie M. Frecon
                                    Leslie M. Frecon, Director


                                    /s/   William L. Jews
                                    William L. Jews, Director


                                    /s/   William G. Kagler
                                    William G. Kagler, Director


                                    /s/   Robert E. Mellor
                                    Robert E. Mellor, Director


                                    /s/   Charlotte St. Martin
                                    Charlotte St. Martin, Director


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