<ARTICLE>                    5
<LEGEND>
                    THIS  SCHEDULE   CONTAINS  SUMMARY   FINANCIAL   INFORMATION
                    EXTRACTED  FROM THE  RYLAND  GROUP  INC.  FORM  10-K FOR THE
                    PERIOD  ENDED  12/31/99  AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
                    REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>             1,000


                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                           DEC-31-1999
<CASH>                                          69,926
<SECURITIES>                                    99,249
<RECEIVABLES>                                   40,520
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    822,681
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                          26,619
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,248,323
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                        194,797
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                        350
<COMMON>                                        13,851
<OTHER-SE>                                     372,336
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,248,323
<SALES>                                      1,958,832
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,009,266
<CGS>                                        1,633,094
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,848,231
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                23,332
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              28,367
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                109,336
<INCOME-TAX>                                    42,641
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             66,695
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    66,695
<EPS-BASIC>                                       4.49
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.30