<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from MDC Holdings, Inc. consolidated financial statements included in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 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-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999 <CASH> 38,930 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 3,496 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 645,709 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 2,909 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 877,008 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 264,623 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 282 <OTHER-SE> 388,741 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 877,008 <SALES> 1,537,563 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,567,638 <CGS> (1,375,305) <TOTAL-COSTS> (1,419,185) <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 148,453 <INCOME-TAX> (59,061) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 89,392 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 89,392 <EPS-BASIC> 4.02 <EPS-DILUTED> 3.95