Exhibit 99.1

                Certification Required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
     (as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)

I, Gerald D. Kelfer, as President and Chief Executive Officer of Avatar Holdings
Inc. (the "Company"), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), that to my
knowledge:

(1)      the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the
         annual period ended December 31, 2002 (the "Report"), filed with the
         U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, fully complies with the
         requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
         of 1934, as amended; and

(2)      the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
         material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
         the Company.

Dated: March 24, 2003

                                           /s/  Gerald D. Kelfer
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Gerald D. Kelfer
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer



A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been
provided by Avatar Holdings Inc. and will be retained by Avatar Holdings Inc.
and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon
request.