EXHIBIT 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Each person whose signature appears below appoints Larry A. Mizel,
Paris G. Reece, III, Michael Touff and Joseph H. Fretz, and each of them, his
attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, for him in any and all
capacities, to sign a registration statement to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on Form S-3 in connection with the
offering by M.D.C. Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), of
$300,000,000 of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, Preferred
Stock, par value $.01 per share and/or Debt Securities (including the guaranties
of such Debt Securities by the subsidiaries of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. listed
below), and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Commission; and to sign all documents in connection with the
qualification and sale of the Common Stock with Blue Sky authorities and with
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact full power and authority to perform any other act on behalf of
the undersigned required to be done in the premises, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.




                               
Date:  July 25, 2002              /s/ Larry A. Mizel
                                  -----------------------
                                  Larry A. Mizel

Date:  July 25, 2002              /s/ David D. Mandarich
                                  -----------------------
                                  David D. Mandarich

Date:  July 25, 2002              /s/ David Blackford
                                  -----------------------
                                  David Blackford

Date:  July 25, 2002              /s/ Steven J. Borick
                                  -----------------------
                                  Steven J. Borick

Date:  July 25, 2002              /s/ Herbert T. Buchwald
                                  -----------------------
                                  Herbert T. Buchwald

Date:  July 25, 2002              /s/ William B. Kemper
                                  -----------------------
                                  William B. Kemper








GUARANTORS OF DEBT SECURITIES


Richmond American Homes of California, Inc.
Richmond American Homes of Maryland, Inc.
Richmond American Homes of Nevada, Inc.
Richmond American Homes of Virginia, Inc.
Richmond American Homes of Arizona, Inc.
Richmond American Homes of Colorado, Inc.
M.D.C. Land Corporation
RAH of Texas, LP
RAH Texas Holdings, LLC
Richmond American Construction, Inc.
Richmond American Homes of California (Inland Empire), Inc.
Richmond American Homes of Texas, Inc.
Richmond American Homes of Utah, Inc.
Richmond American Homes of West Virginia, Inc.