<ARTICLE>                          5
<LEGEND>
                            THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                            EXTRACTED FROM THE RYLAND GROUP INC. FORM 10-Q FOR
                            THE PERIOD ENDED 6/30/99 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
                            ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                   1,000

                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                        6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                  JUN-30-1999
<CASH>                                                     51,055
<SECURITIES>                                               90,299
<RECEIVABLES>                                             116,050
<ALLOWANCES>                                                    0
<INVENTORY>                                               731,300
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                0
<PP&E>                                                     27,101
<DEPRECIATION>                                                  0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          1,228,762
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                           0
<BONDS>                                                   235,977
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                           0
<PREFERRED>                                                   385
<COMMON>                                                   14,903
<OTHER-SE>                                                359,355
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                            1,228,762
<SALES>                                                   880,623
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                          906,444
<CGS>                                                     736,204
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                             837,550
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                            8,501
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                         14,946
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                            45,447
<INCOME-TAX>                                               17,724
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                        27,723
<DISCONTINUED>                                                  0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                 0
<CHANGES>                                                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                               27,723
<EPS-BASIC>                                                1.84
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                1.76