<ARTICLE>                              5
<LEGEND>
              THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
              FROM THE RYLAND GROUP INC. FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED
              9/30/99 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
              SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                       1,000

                                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>                            9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                   DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                        SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                                               83,197
<SECURITIES>                                                         99,749
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        92,695
<ALLOWANCES>                                                              0
<INVENTORY>                                                         783,384
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                          0
<PP&E>                                                               26,123
<DEPRECIATION>                                                            0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    1,286,045
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                     0
<BONDS>                                                             262,848
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                             364
<COMMON>                                                             14,569
<OTHER-SE>                                                          367,153
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                      1,286,045
<SALES>                                                           1,376,489
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                  1,413,619
<CGS>                                                             1,148,112
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                     1,300,058
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                     16,332
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                   22,046
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                      75,183
<INCOME-TAX>                                                         29,321
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                  45,862
<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                         45,862
<EPS-BASIC>                                                            3.05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                          2.92