EXHIBIT 27
EXHIBIT 24

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                      

      KNOW  ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned directors
or  officers  of Washington Homes, Inc., a Maryland corporation, does  hereby
constitute  and appoint Geaton A. DeCesaris, Jr. his or her true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power to act, for him or her, in his or
her  name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to do any and all acts
and  things and execute any and all instruments which said attorney and agent
may  deem  necessary or desirable to enable Washington Homes, Inc. to  comply
with  the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  and  any  rules,
regulations  and  requirements of the Securities and Exchange  Commission  in
respect  thereof,  in connection with the filing with said Commission  of  an
Annual  Report  on  Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July  31,  1997;  but
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, power and authority to sign
the  name  of  the  undersigned to such Report, and any  and  all  amendments
thereto,  and  to  any  instruments and documents filed  as  part  of  or  in
connection with such Report or amendments thereto; and the undersigned hereby
ratifies  and confirms all that said attorney and agent shall do or cause  to
be done by virtue hereof.

      IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has subscribed  to  these
presents as of the 21st day of October, 1997.



/s/ GEATON A. DECESARIS, SR.                         /s/ PAUL C. SUKALO
Geaton A. DeCesaris, Sr.                             Paul C. Sukalo


/s/ THOMAS CONNELLY                                  /s/ RICHARD S. FRARY
Thomas Connelly                                      Richard S. Frary


/s/                                                  ____________________
Clayton Miller                                       Christopher Spendley


/s/ RICHARD B. TALKIN
Richard B. Talkin


_____________________
Ronald M. Shapiro