Exhibit 4.3

                                   EXHIBIT "B"

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE


$                                                               October 8, 1999
 --------------                                               Chicago, Illinois

         FOR VALUE  RECEIVED,  M.D.C.  HOLDINGS,  INC.,  a Delaware  corporation
("Maker"),   hereby   promises   and   agrees   to   pay   to   the   order   of
                                   ("Payee"),    the    principal    sum   of
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                                    DOLLARS ($           ) in lawful money
- ----------------------------------            -----------
of the United States of America,  or, if less than such  principal  amount,  the
aggregate  unpaid  principal  amount of all Advances  made to Maker by the Payee
pursuant to the Credit Agreement hereinafter  referenced.  Such payment shall be
made on the Facility Termination Date, as defined in the Credit Agreement.

         Maker shall pay interest  from the date hereof on the unpaid  principal
amount of this Note from time to time  outstanding  during the  period  from the
date hereof until such principal amount is paid in full at the rates, determined
in the manner, and on the dates or occurrences specified in the Credit Agreement
(as hereinafter defined).

         This promissory note is one of the Notes referred to in the Amended and
Restated Credit  Agreement dated as of October 8, 1999,  among Maker,  Bank One,
NA, as Administrative Agent, and the Banks that are parties thereto (as the same
may be amended,  modified,  replaced,  or renewed from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement") and is entitled to the benefits of the Credit Agreement and the Loan
Documents. Capitalized terms used in this Note without definition shall have the
same meanings as are ascribed to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

         Both principal and interest are payable to Administrative Agent for the
account of Payee  pursuant to the terms of the Credit  Agreement.  All  Advances
made by Payee pursuant to the Credit Agreement and all payments of the principal
amount of such  Advances,  shall be  endorsed  by the holder of this Note on the
schedule  attached hereto.  Failure to record such Advances or payment shall not
diminish  any rights of Payee or relieve  Makers of any  liability  hereunder or
under the Credit Agreement.  This Note is subject to prepayment and its maturity
is subject to  acceleration,  in each case upon the terms provided in the Credit
Agreement.

         This  Note may not be  modified  or  discharged  orally,  by  course of
dealing or otherwise, but only by a writing duly executed by the holder hereof.



         In the event  that any  action,  suit or  proceeding  is brought by the
holder hereof to collect this Note,  Maker agrees to pay and shall be liable for
all costs and expenses of collection,  including without limitation,  reasonable
attorneys' fees and disbursements.

         Maker and all sureties,  guarantors  and/or endorsers hereof (or of any
obligation hereunder) and accommodation parties hereon (all of which,  including
Maker, are each hereinafter  called a "Surety") each: (a) waive any homestead or
exemption laws and right thereunder  affecting the full collection of this Note;
(b) waive any and all  formalities  in connection  with this Note to the maximum
extent  allowed  by law,  including  (but not  limited  to)  demand,  diligence,
presentment for payment, protest and demand, and notice of extension,  dishonor,
protest,  demand and  nonpayment  of this Note;  and (c) consent that Holder may
extend the time of payment or otherwise  modify the terms of payment of any part
or the whole of the debt  evidenced  by this Note,  at the  request of any other
person  liable  hereon,  and such  consent  shall  not alter  nor  diminish  the
liability of any person hereon.

         In addition, each Surety waives and agrees not to assert: (a) any right
to require the holder  hereof to proceed  against any other  Surety,  to proceed
against  or  exhaust  any  security  for the Note,  to pursue  any other  remedy
available to the holder hereof,  or to pursue any remedy in any particular order
or manner; (b) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting its liability
hereunder or the enforcement  hereof; (c) the benefits of any legal or equitable
doctrine or principle of marshalling;  (d) notice of the existence,  creation or
incurring of new or additional  indebtedness  of Maker to the holder hereof;  or
(e) any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of Maker or
by reason of the  cessation  from any cause  whatsoever  (other than  payment in
full) of the liability of Maker for payment of this Note.  Until payment in full
of this  Note and the  holder  hereof  has no  obligation  to make  any  further
advances of the proceeds  hereof,  no Surety shall have any right of subrogation
and each hereby  waives any right to enforce any remedy which the holder  hereof
now has, or may hereafter  have,  against Maker or any other Surety,  and waives
any benefit of, and any right to  participate  in, any security now or hereafter
held by the holder hereof.

         Maker  agrees  that to the extent any Surety  makes any  payment to the
holder hereof in connection  with the  indebtedness  evidenced by this Note, and
all or any part of such  payment is  subsequently  invalidated,  declared  to be
fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid by Holder or paid
over to a trustee,  receiver or any other entity,  whether under any  bankruptcy
act or otherwise (any such payment is hereinafter referred to as a "Preferential
Payment"),  then the  indebtedness  of Maker  under this Note shall  continue or
shall be  reinstated,  as the case may be, and, to the extent of such payment or
repayment by the holder hereof, the indebtedness  evidenced by this Note or part
thereof intended to be satisfied by such  Preferential  Payment shall be revived
and continued in full force and effect as if said  Preferential  Payment had not
been made.

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                  This Note has been  delivered in the City of Chicago and State
of Illinois,  and shall be enforced  under and governed by the laws of the State
of Illinois  applicable to contracts  made and to be performed  entirely  within
said state, without references to any choice or conflicts of law principles.







                                         M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware
                                         corporation



                                         By:
                                             ---------------------------------
                                         Name:    John J. Heaney
                                         Title:   Senior Vice President








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