EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. of our report dated June 28, 1999 appearing on page 1 of the Financial Statements of the M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan for the year ended December 31, 1998 which appears in this Form 11-K. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP - ------------------------------ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Denver, Colorado June 30, 1999