EXHIBIT 23  CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) 
of The Ryland Group, Inc. of our report dated February 1, 1995, included in 
the 1994 Annual Report to the Shareholders of the Ryland Group, Inc. 

Our audit also included the financial statement schedule of The Ryland Group, 
Inc. listed in Item 14(a).  This schedule is the responsibility of the 
Company's management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on 
our audits.  In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to 
above, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as 
a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth 
therein.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration 
Statements (Form S-8 No. 33-16774, Form S-3 No. 33-28692, Form S-8 No. 33 -
32431, Form S-3 No. 33-48071, Form S-3 No. 33-50933, Form S-8 No. 33-56905, 
Form S-8 No. 33-56917) of the Ryland Group, Inc. and in the related 
Prospectuses of our report dated February 1, 1995, with respect to the 
consolidated financial statements incorporated herein by reference, and our 
report included in the preceding paragraph with respect to the financial 
statement schedule included in this Annual Report (form 10-K) of The Ryland 
Group, Inc.




                                                  /s/Ernst & Young LLP




Baltimore, Maryland
March 27, 1995