EXHIBIT 99.1

                                  CERTIFICATION

         Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the
undersigned Chief Executive Officer of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (the "Company")
hereby certifies that the Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2002, accompanying this certification, fully complies with
the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and that information contained in the periodic report fairly presents, in
all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.

         Date: February 11, 2003.

                                             /s/ LARRY A. MIZEL
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                                             Larry A. Mizel
                                             Chief Executive Officer