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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Uh1Pcgdy/z4WiQlGr5YKNK2y9x04XuG7lKIIEiv+93w1Sb/dbDsZPuaaamCmXLe3
 7x3LpdhrPrDKNIaHYxwBLw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001213950-03-000025.txt : 20031028
<SEC-HEADER>0001213950-03-000025.hdr.sgml : 20031028
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031028145437
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001213950-03-000025
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031024
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031028

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WILSON JOHN OLIVER
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213280

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08029
		FILM NUMBER:		03960718

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 WEST SAN FERNANDO ST
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95113

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RYLAND GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000085974
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OPERATIVE BUILDERS [1531]
		IRS NUMBER:				520849948
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		24025 PARK SORRENTO
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			CALABASAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91302
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8182237500

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RYAN JAMES P CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19720414
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001213280d20031028f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-24</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000085974</issuerCik><issuerName>RYLAND GROUP INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>RYL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001213280</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>WILSON JOHN OLIVER</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>P. O. BOX 507</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>ST. HELENA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>94574</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDeriva
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/transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>699</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>84.15</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Rabbi Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercise
Price><value>33.35</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-24</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-06-30</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-12-31</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmou
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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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