-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NKycokYjleBOWCZY89/rAf9GFPNxsmNwFPWLenoTlrjjXxYVIRkzfg+Buj81l7t7
 3dVwp/IMYOO6pxuDSiyDag==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000902691-10-000005.txt : 20100330
<SEC-HEADER>0000902691-10-000005.hdr.sgml : 20100330
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100330134258
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000902691-10-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100330
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100330

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MIZEL LARRY A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000902691

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08951
		FILM NUMBER:		10713138

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4350 S. MONACO STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 500
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80237

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MDC HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000773141
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OPERATIVE BUILDERS [1531]
		IRS NUMBER:				840622967
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4350 S MONACO STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 500
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80237
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3037731100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4350 S MONACO STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 500
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80237
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000773141</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MDC HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MDC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000902691</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MIZEL LARRY A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4350 S. MONACO STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80237</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman of the Board and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>594000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.75</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By CLCD No. 2, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>297000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.75</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>297000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By CLCD Trust No. 2 fbo Courtney Mizel Green</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>297000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.75</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>297000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By CLCD Trust No. 2 fbo Cheston Mizel</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>180000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3183</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(k) Plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1362214</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By CGM Capital LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4352837</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By ARI Capital Partners, LLLP</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On March 1, 2010, in connection with estate planning, Reporting Person transferred 4,950 Class B LLC units of CLCD No. 2, LLC (&quot;CLCD2&quot;) to each of two trusts for the benefit of his adult children.  Reporting Person's spouse is the trustee of each of the trusts.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The aggregate purchase price for the 4,950 units transferred to each trust was $6,756,750, subject to final adjustment based upon a qualified business appraisal.  The purchase price was paid partly in cash and partly by a non-recourse promissory note which is secured by the units transferred.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reporting Person may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of these shares held by CLCD2.  The sole manager of CLCD2 is Reporting Person's spouse.  Reporting Person's spouse has a 1% equity interest in CLCD2.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Reporting Person may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of these shares held by this trust.  The trustee of this trust is Reporting Person's spouse.  The beneficiary of this trust is Reporting Person's adult child.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Shares are held in Reporting Person's 401(k) Savings Plan account which changes on a daily basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Reporting Person may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of these shares held by CGM Capital LLC (&quot;CGM Capital&quot;).  The sole manager of CGM Capital is CVentures, Inc., a corporation (&quot;CVentures&quot;).  A trust, of which Reporting Person's spouse is the sole beneficiary, is the only other member of CGM Capital, and has a 99.98% equity interest in CGM Capital.   Reporting Person is a trustee of this trust.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Reporting Person may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of these shares held by ARI Capital Partners, LLLP (&quot;Ari Capital&quot;).  The sole general partner of Ari Capital is CVentures.  Reporting Person is the beneficiary of various trusts which own 50.6885% of the stock of CVentures.  Also, Reporting Person is a director and president of CVentures and may be deemed to control the other 49.3115% of the common stock of CVentures.  A trust, of which Reporting Person is the sole beneficiary, is the sole limited partner of Ari Capital, and has a 99.85% partnership interest in Ari Capital.  Reporting Person and Reporting Person's spouse are trustees of the trust.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joseph H. Fretz, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----