DENVER , April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MDC) today announced a net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 of $72.8 million , or $1.58 per diluted share, which included pre-tax charges of $54.8 million for asset impairments and $1.7 million for write-offs of deposits and pre-acquisition costs associated with land option contracts the Company does not intend to pursue. This 2008 first quarter net loss also was impacted adversely by a significant decline in our effective tax rate to 5.7%, compared with 34.3% for the same period in 2007. The decrease in the effective tax rate primarily resulted from the loss of certain manufacturing deduction benefits received in prior years and a $10.6 million increase in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance. The net loss for the first quarter of 2007 was $94.4 million , or $2.07 per diluted share, including pre-tax charges of $141.4 million for asset impairments and $4.0 million for write-offs of option deposits and pre-acquisition costs. Total revenue for the first quarter of 2008 was $406.1 million , compared with revenue of $745.1 million for the same period in 2007.

Larry A. Mizel, MDC's chairman and chief executive officer, stated, 'We remain committed to strengthening our balance sheet and reengineering our business practices as we await a recovery for the homebuilding industry. After generating positive operating cash flow for seven consecutive quarters, including over $230 million in this first quarter, we accumulated $1.2 billion in cash on hand as of March 31, 2008 , with no borrowings outstanding on our $1.25 billion line of credit. In addition, we have continued to aggressively manage our exposure to performance bonds and letters of credit related to various land development activities. At the end of the 2008 first quarter, our estimated cost to complete these activities was less than $50 million .'

Mizel continued, 'We believe the strength of our balance sheet is established and, therefore, we are comfortable expanding our focus on continued business process improvements in 2008. During the first quarter, we laid the framework for such improvements through a Company-wide initiative to transform and streamline our business practices, with a goal of enhancing efficiency across our Company in preparation for future growth. This initiative is intended to contribute to the long-term value of our Company as we continue to look for opportunities to invest the substantial capital available to us.'

Homebuilding Results

Homebuilding loss before taxes for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 improved to $77.3 million , compared with $138.9 million for the same period in 2007. The improvement in 2008 was driven in large part by a 61% decline in asset impairment charges and a 43% decline in homebuilding commissions, marketing and general and administrative expenses ('SG&A'). These decreases in expenses and charges were offset partially by reductions in home closings, average selling prices and home gross margins from the levels achieved during the same period in 2007.

The Company closed 1,136 homes and produced home gross margins of 11.5% in the 2008 first quarter, compared with 2,001 home closings and home gross margins of 15.8% for the same period in 2007. The average selling price for the 2008 first quarter was $313,200 , down $42,500 year-over-year. Homebuilding SG&A decreased to $65.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 , compared with $113.3 million for the same period in the prior year.

Paris G. Reece III, MDC's executive vice president and chief financial officer, said, 'The $55 million in asset impairments we recognized this quarter was nearly 70% lower than the charge recognized in the 2007 fourth quarter and was our lowest quarterly impairment charge since the third quarter of 2006. We impaired our land inventory by $30 million and our work-in-process inventory and other assets by $25 million , impacting approximately 2,600 lots in 94 subdivisions. The quarter-end book value of the impaired subdivisions after the impairments was $219 million , consisting of $50 million of land and $169 million of work-in-process. As has been the case in each of the last five quarters, the impairments this quarter primarily occurred in our West homebuilding segment, with almost 90% applicable to subdivisions in our Arizona , Nevada and California markets. Over the last seven quarters, we have impaired approximately 60% of the 13,100 lots we owned at the end of our 2008 first quarter.'

Reece continued, 'We reduced our lots owned, excluding lots with homes completed or under construction, by 13% in the first quarter alone. We accomplished this reduction in large part through the sale of more than 800 lots primarily located in Arizona and California . While these land sales had little impact on our book income for this quarter, they contributed almost $30 million in proceeds and generated a tax loss in excess of $70 million , which should increase the tax refund we expect to receive early next year.'

Reece concluded, 'During the 2008 first quarter, our homebuilding general and administrative expenses declined by 47% year-over-year, primarily due to our efforts to right-size our homebuilding operations in 2007. However, despite these successful efforts, we continued to make adjustments to our operating structure throughout the first quarter, and we intend to make further adjustments during the remainder of the year as we streamline our operations. Through our commitment to improving our processes and procedures during this downturn in homebuilding activity, we hope to better leverage our overhead during future periods of growth.'

Financial Services and Other and Corporate Results

Income before taxes from the Company's Financial Services and Other segment for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 was $4.1 million , compared with $7.5 million for the same period in the previous year. The decrease primarily resulted from lower gains on sales of mortgage loans, as the dollar volumes of mortgage loan originations and mortgage loans sold declined in conjunction with builder home closings. Also, insurance revenue for the first quarter of 2008 decreased year-over-year due to lower insurance premiums collected from our homebuilding subcontractors as a result of the decline in home construction levels. These decreases were offset partially by year-over-year reductions in financial services general and administrative expenses.

Loss before taxes from the Company's Corporate segment for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 was $4.1 million , compared with $12.3 million for the same period in the previous year. The improvement primarily resulted from an increase in interest income generated from significantly higher cash balances in 2008 and a year-over-year reduction in compensation-related expenses.

Home Orders and Backlog

MDC received orders, net of cancellations, for 1,098 homes with an estimated sales value of $324.0 million during the 2008 first quarter, compared with net orders for 2,558 homes with an estimated sales value of $902.0 million during the same period in 2007. During the 2008 first quarter, the Company's approximate order cancellation rate was 43%, compared with a rate of 35% experienced during the same period in 2007. The Company ended the first quarter of 2008 with a backlog of 1,909 homes with an estimated sales value of $623.0 million , compared with a backlog of 4,195 homes with an estimated sales value of $1.50 billion at March 31, 2007 .

Since 1972, MDC has built and financed the American dream for more than 150,000 families. MDC's commitment to customer satisfaction, quality and value is reflected in each home it builds. As one of the largest homebuilders in the United States , the Company has homebuilding divisions across the country, including Denver, Colorado Springs , Salt Lake City , Las Vegas , Phoenix , Tucson, California , Chicago , Northern Virginia , Maryland , Philadelphia/Delaware Valley and Jacksonville . The Company also provides mortgage financing, insurance and title services, primarily for MDC homebuyers, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation, American Home Insurance Agency and American Home Title and Escrow, respectively. M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'MDC.' For more information, visit http://www.richmondamerican.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release, including statements regarding our business, financial condition, results of operation, cash flows, strategies and prospects, constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things, (1) general economic and business conditions, including changes in cancellation rates, net home orders, home gross margins, and land and home values; (2) changes in interest rates, mortgage lending programs and the availability of credit; (3) the relative stability of debt and equity markets; (4) competition; (5) the availability and cost of land and other raw materials used by the Company in its homebuilding operations; (6) the availability and cost of performance bonds and insurance covering risks associated with our business; (7) shortages and the cost of labor; (8) weather related slowdowns; (9) slow growth initiatives; (10) building moratoria; (11) governmental regulation, including the interpretation of tax, labor and environmental laws; (12) changes in consumer confidence and preferences; (13) terrorist acts and other acts of war; and (14) other factors over which the Company has little or no control. Additional information about the risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company's business is contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 , which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the risk that actual results will differ materially from expectations expressed in this press release will increase with the passage of time. The Company undertakes no duty to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. However, any further disclosures made on related subjects in our subsequent filings, releases or presentations should be consulted.


                            M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                    Consolidated Statements of Operations
                   (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                                         Three Months
                                                        Ended March 31,
                                                    2008              2007
    REVENUE

       Home sales revenue                         $355,792          $711,800
       Land sales revenue                           28,568             6,034
       Other revenue                                21,785            27,290
          Total Revenue                            406,145           745,124

    COSTS AND EXPENSES

       Home cost of sales                          315,037           599,199
       Land cost of sales                           27,949             5,107
       Asset impairments                            54,832           141,422
       Marketing expenses                           19,203            29,079
       Commission expenses                          13,433            23,250
       General and administrative expenses          52,912            90,657
       Related party expenses                            5                91
          Total Costs and Expenses                 483,371           888,805

    Loss before income taxes                       (77,226)         (143,681)

    Benefit from income taxes                        4,406            49,283

    NET LOSS                                      $(72,820)         $(94,398)

    LOSS PER SHARE

         Basic                                      $(1.58)           $(2.07)

         Diluted                                    $(1.58)           $(2.07)

    WEIGHTED-AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING

         Basic                                      45,953            45,501

         Diluted                                    45,953            45,501

    DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE                     $0.25             $0.25



                            M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                         Consolidated Balance Sheets
               (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                                 March 31,        December 31,
                                                   2008              2007
    ASSETS
      Cash and cash equivalents                 $1,193,849        $1,004,763
      Restricted cash                                1,936             1,898
      Receivables
        Home sales receivables                      29,174            33,647
        Income taxes receivable, net                     -            36,988
        Other receivables                           15,596            16,796
      Mortgage loans held for sale, net             56,630           100,144
      Inventories, net
        Housing completed or under construction    778,281           902,221
        Land and land under development            470,522           554,336
      Property and equipment, net                   41,972            44,368
      Deferred income taxes, net                   125,208           160,565
      Related party assets                          28,627            28,627
      Prepaid expenses and other assets, net        65,404            71,884

        Total Assets                            $2,807,199        $2,956,237

    LIABILITIES
      Accounts payable                             $49,388           $71,932
      Accrued liabilities                          313,228           339,353
      Income taxes payable, net                     13,005                --
      Related party liabilities                         --             1,701
      Homebuilding line of credit                       --                --
      Mortgage line of credit                       32,416            70,147
      Senior notes, net                            997,198           997,091
        Total Liabilities                        1,405,235         1,480,224

    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES                       --                --

    STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
      Preferred stock, $0.01 par value;
       25,000,000 shares authorized; none
       issued or outstanding                            --                --
      Common stock, $0.01 par value;
       250,000,000 shares authorized;
       46,389,000 and 46,344,000 issued and
       outstanding, respectively, at March 31,
       2008, and 46,084,000 and 46,053,000
       issued and outstanding, respectively,
       at December 31, 2007                            464               461
      Additional paid-in-capital                   767,324           757,039
      Retained earnings                            635,504           719,841
      Accumulated other comprehensive loss            (669)             (669)
      Treasury stock, at cost; 45,000 and
       31,000 shares at March 31, 2008 and
       December 31, 2007, respectively                (659)             (659)
        Total Stockholders' Equity               1,401,964         1,476,013

          Total Liabilities and Stockholders'
           Equity                               $2,807,199        $2,956,237



                            M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                           Information on Segments
                            (Dollars in thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                                        Three Months
                                                       Ended March 31,
                                                    2008               2007
    REVENUE
    Homebuilding
       West                                       $223,506           $454,654
       Mountain                                     70,495            145,191
       East                                         54,091             61,355
       Other Homebuilding                           40,354             64,860
           Total Homebuilding                      388,446            726,060

    Financial Services and Other                    11,172             19,570
    Corporate                                        9,368              5,433
    Inter-company adjustments                       (2,841)            (5,939)
           Consolidated                           $406,145           $745,124

    (LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    Homebuilding
       West                                       $(61,391)         $(125,391)
       Mountain                                    (11,608)            10,971
       East                                         (2,335)            (4,386)
       Other Homebuilding                           (1,940)           (20,131)
           Total Homebuilding                      (77,274)          (138,937)

    Financial Services and Other                     4,148              7,517
    Corporate                                       (4,100)           (12,261)
           Consolidated                           $(77,226)         $(143,681)

    ASSET IMPAIRMENTS
       West                                        $48,310           $121,903
       Mountain                                      3,954                654
       East                                          1,533              2,567
       Other Homebuilding                            1,035             16,298
           Consolidated                            $54,832           $141,422

                                                  March 31,       December 31,
                                                    2008              2007
    TOTAL ASSETS
    Homebuilding
       West                                       $605,268          $747,835
       Mountain                                    450,492           474,203
       East                                        215,056           250,658
       Other Homebuilding                          107,909           125,003
           Total Homebuilding                    1,378,725         1,597,699

    Financial Services and Other                   128,320           174,617
    Corporate                                    1,343,611         1,229,178
    Inter-company adjustments                      (43,457)          (45,257)
           Consolidated                         $2,807,199        $2,956,237



                            M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                           Selected Financial Data
                            (Dollars in thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                              Three Months
                                             Ended March 31,         Change
                                            2008        2007     Amount     %
    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
      General and Administrative
       Expenses
        Homebuilding Segments            $32,426     $60,999   $(28,573)  -47%
        Financial Services and Other
         Segment                          $7,023     $12,058    $(5,035)  -42%
        Corporate Segment (1)            $13,468     $17,691    $(4,223)  -24%
             Total                       $52,917     $90,748   $(37,831)  -42%

      SG&A as a % of Home Sales Revenue
        Homebuilding Segments               18.3%       15.9%       2.4%
        Corporate Segment (1)                3.8%        2.5%       1.3%

      Depreciation and Amortization       $8,612     $11,820    $(3,208)  -27%

      Home Gross Margins (2)                11.5%       15.8%      -4.3%
      Interest in Home Cost of Sales
       as a % of Home Sales Revenue          4.4%        1.9%       2.5%

      Cash Provided by Operating
       Activities                       $230,733    $149,323    $81,410    55%
      Cash Used in Investing
       Activities                           $(43)      $(710)      $667   -94%
      Cash Used in Financing
       Activities                       $(41,604)   $(25,879)  $(15,725)   61%

      Ending Unrestricted Cash and
       Available Borrowing Capacity   $2,430,471  $1,868,783   $561,688    30%

    Corporate and Homebuilding
     Interest
      Interest Capitalized During
       the Period                        $14,453     $14,441        $12     0%
      Previously capitalized interest
       included in home cost of sales
       during the period                 $15,773     $13,285     $2,488    19%
      Interest Capitalized in
       Inventories at End of Period      $52,167     $51,811       $356     1%

    (1) Includes related party expenses.

    (2) Home sales revenue less home cost of sales (excluding commissions,
        amortization of deferred marketing, project cost write offs and asset
        impairments) as a percent of home sales revenue.  During the three
        months ended March 31, 2008, we closed homes on lots for which we had
        previously recorded $49.9 million of asset impairments.  During the
        three months ended March 31, 2007, we closed homes on lots for which
        we had previously recorded $9.2 million of asset impairments.



                            M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                           Selected Financial Data
                            (Dollars in thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                            Three Months
                                           Ended March 31,           Change
                                            2008      2007      Amount      %
    HOMEAMERICAN OPERATING ACTIVITIES
    Principal amount of mortgage loans
     originated                           $164,743  $351,033  $(186,290)  -53%

    Principal amount of mortgage loans
     brokered                              $59,571  $118,342   $(58,771)  -50%

    Capture Rate                                61%       58%         3%
          Including brokered loans              79%       77%         2%
    Mortgage products (% of mortgage
     loans originated)
          Fixed rate                            94%       69%        25%
          Adjustable rate - interest only        2%       27%       -25%
          Adjustable rate - other                4%        4%         0%

          Prime loans (3)                       63%       59%         4%
          Alt A loans (4)                        0%       35%       -35%
          Government loans (5)                  37%        5%        32%
          Sub-prime loans (6)                    0%        1%        -1%

    (3)  Prime loans are defined as loans with Fair, Isaac and Company
         ('FICO') scores greater than 620 and that comply with the
         documentation standards of the government sponsored enterprise
         guidelines.

    (4)  Alt-A loans are defined as loans that would otherwise qualify as
         prime loans except that they do not comply with the documentation
         standards of the government sponsored enterprise guidelines.

    (5)  Government loans are loans either insured by the Federal Housing
         Administration or guaranteed by the Department of Veteran Affairs.

    (6)  Sub-prime loans are loans that have FICO scores of less than or equal
         to 620.



                            M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                        Homebuilding Operational Data
                            (Dollars in thousands)
                                 (unaudited)

                                            March 31,  December 31,  March 31,
                                              2008        2007         2007
    HOMES COMPLETED OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION
       Unsold Home Under Construction -
        Final                                    449         515         422
       Unsold Home Under Construction -
        Frame                                    516         656         480
       Unsold Home Under Construction -
        Foundation                               134         229         310
          Total Unsold Homes Under
           Construction                        1,099       1,400       1,212
       Sold Homes Under Construction           1,340       1,350       2,677
       Model Homes                               640         730         792
          Homes Completed or Under
           Construction                        3,079       3,480       4,681

    LOTS OWNED (excluding homes completed
     or under construction)
       Arizona                                 2,423       2,969       5,701
       California                              1,150       1,491       2,508
       Nevada                                  1,241       1,549       2,416
          West                                 4,814       6,009      10,625

       Colorado                                2,890       2,992       3,274
       Utah                                      830         863         987
          Mountain                             3,720       3,855       4,261

       Maryland                                  287         302         492
       Virginia                                  336         369         600
          East                                   623         671       1,092

       Delaware Valley                           138         151         261
       Florida                                   561         638       1,033
       Illinois                                  165         191         268
          Other Homebuilding                     864         980       1,562

               Total                          10,021      11,515      17,540



                            M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                        Homebuilding Operational Data
                            (Dollars in thousands)
                                 (unaudited)

                                            March 31,  December 31,  March 31,
                                              2008        2007         2007
    LOTS CONTROLLED UNDER OPTION
       Arizona                                   400         512         575
       California                                157         157         157
       Nevada                                     --           4         117
          West                                   557         673         849

       Colorado                                  255         262         931
       Utah                                       --          --          91
          Mountain                               255         262       1,022

       Maryland                                  449         558         992
       Virginia                                1,072       1,311       2,148
          East                                 1,521       1,869       3,140

       Delaware Valley                           327         327         644
       Florida                                   470         484       1,436
       Illinois                                   --          --          --
          Other Homebuilding                     797         811       2,080

               Total                           3,130       3,615       7,091

    NON-REFUNDABLE OPTION DEPOSITS
       Cash                                   $6,476      $6,292     $15,649
       Letters of Credit                       4,221       6,547      14,422
    Total Non-Refundable Option Deposits     $10,697     $12,839     $30,071



                            M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                        Homebuilding Operational Data
                            (Dollars in thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                             Three Months
                                            Ended March 31,       Change
                                             2008     2007    Amount     %
    HOMES CLOSED (UNITS)
       Arizona                                351      652     (301)   -46%
       California                             154      328     (174)   -53%
       Nevada                                 180      313     (133)   -42%
            West                              685    1,293     (608)   -47%

       Colorado                               117      164      (47)   -29%
       Utah                                    82      228     (146)   -64%
            Mountain                          199      392     (193)   -49%

       Maryland                                49       49       --      0%
       Virginia                                65       68       (3)    -4%
            East                              114      117       (3)    -3%

       Delaware Valley                         31       46      (15)   -33%
       Florida                                 95      128      (33)   -26%
       Illinois                                12       14       (2)   -14%
       Texas                                   --       11      (11)  -100%
            Other Homebuilding                138      199      (61)   -31%

                Total                       1,136    2,001     (865)   -43%

    AVERAGE SELLING PRICES PER
     HOME CLOSED
       Arizona                             $232.2   $262.5   $(30.3)   -12%
       California                           444.6    540.0    (95.4)   -18%
       Colorado                             354.4    352.5      1.9      1%
       Delaware Valley                      425.8    489.6    (63.8)   -13%
       Florida                              233.4    280.9    (47.5)   -17%
       Illinois                             400.5    311.3     89.2     29%
       Maryland                             496.9    530.8    (33.9)    -6%
       Nevada                               247.3    305.3    (58.0)   -19%
       Texas                                   --    135.5   (135.5)  -100%
       Utah                                 340.1    350.0     (9.9)    -3%
       Virginia                             453.5    492.0    (38.5)    -8%
          Company Average                  $313.2   $355.7   $(42.5)   -12%



                            M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                        Homebuilding Operational Data
                            (Dollars in thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                             Three Months
                                            Ended March 31,         Change
                                             2008      2007      Amount    %
    ORDERS FOR HOMES, NET (UNITS)
       Arizona                                282       754       (472)  -63%
       California                             159       415       (256)  -62%
       Nevada                                 181       380       (199)  -52%
            West                              622     1,549       (927)  -60%

       Colorado                               163       300       (137)  -46%
       Utah                                    44       210       (166)  -79%
            Mountain                          207       510       (303)  -59%

       Maryland                                47        99        (52)  -53%
       Virginia                                70       112        (42)  -38%
            East                              117       211        (94)  -45%

       Delaware Valley                         22        62        (40)  -65%
       Florida                                115       179        (64)  -36%
       Illinois                                15        41        (26)  -63%
       Texas                                    -         6         (6) -100%
            Other Homebuilding                152       288       (136)  -47%

                Total                       1,098     2,558     (1,460)  -57%

    Estimated Value of Orders for
       Homes, net                        $324,000  $902,000  $(578,000)  -64%
    Estimated Average Selling Price of
       Orders for Homes, net               $295.1    $352.6     $(57.5)  -16%
    Cancellation Rate(7)                       43%       35%         8%

    (7)  We define 'Cancellation Rate' as the approximate number of cancelled
         home order contracts during a reporting period as a percent of total
         home orders received during such reporting period.



                            M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                        Homebuilding Operational Data
                            (Dollars in thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)


                                            March 31,  December 31,  March 31,
                                              2008        2007         2007
    BACKLOG (UNITS)
       Arizona                                  523        592        1,606
       California                               208        203          514
       Nevada                                   308        307          382
            West                              1,039      1,102        2,502

       Colorado                                 259        213          389
       Utah                                     140        178          447
            Mountain                            399        391          836

       Maryland                                 124        126          237
       Virginia                                 105        100          180
            East                                229        226          417

       Delaware Valley                           48         57          135
       Florida                                  145        125          248
       Illinois                                  49         46           50
       Texas                                     --         --            7
            Other Homebuilding                  242        228          440

                Total                         1,909      1,947        4,195

    Backlog Estimated Sales Value          $623,000   $650,000   $1,500,000
    Estimated Average Selling Price of
     Homes in Backlog                        $326.3     $333.8       $357.6

    ACTIVE SUBDIVISIONS
    Arizona                                      62         66           70
    California                                   34         41           47
    Nevada                                       34         39           45
       West                                     130        146          162

    Colorado                                     49         47           49
    Utah                                         24         23           26
       Mountain                                  73         70           75

    Maryland                                     17         15           18
    Virginia                                     19         18           22
       East                                      36         33           40

    Delaware Valley                               2          4            4
    Florida                                      15         20           28
    Illinois                                      4          5            6
       Other Homebuilding                        21         29           38

          Total                                 260        278          315
       Average for quarter ended                272        287          311



                            M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
                            (Dollars in thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                            March 31,  December 31,  March 31,
                                              2008        2007         2007
    CORPORATE AND HOMEBUILDING
     DEBT-TO-CAPITAL, NET OF CASH
      Total Debt                           $1,029,614  $1,067,238  $1,097,485
      Less Mortgage Line of Credit            (32,416)    (70,147)   (100,703)
         Total Corporate and Homebuilding
          Debt                                997,198     997,091     996,782
      Less Cash (Including Restricted
       Cash)                               (1,195,785) (1,006,661)   (633,227)
         Total Corporate and Homebuilding
          Debt, Net of Cash                  (198,587)     (9,570)    363,555
      Stockholders' Equity                  1,401,964   1,476,013   2,079,410
         Total Corporate and Homebuilding
          Capital, Net of Cash             $1,203,377  $1,466,443  $2,442,965

      Ratio of Corporate and Homebuilding
       Debt to Capital, Net of Cash             (0.17)      (0.01)       0.15

NOTE: From time to time, MDC discloses selected non-GAAP financial measures. While non-GAAP financial measures are not a substitute for the comparable GAAP measures, we believe that certain non-GAAP information is useful to investors and management in comparing current results to historical periods and to competitor results, and that it provides additional information on the performance of MDC's businesses. The above is a presentation of and reconciliation of a selected non-GAAP measure with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

'Ratio of corporate and homebuilding debt to capital, net of cash' is a non-GAAP financial measure. MDC's management and investors use this ratio to help assess the risk associated with debt in the Company's capital structure. It excludes debt incurred under MDC's mortgage line of credit from both the numerator and denominator, as this debt is directly collateralized by mortgage loans held in inventory, which are typically liquidated within 60 days of origination, thereby reducing the risk associated with this type of debt. The ratio's numerator and denominator are also reduced by MDC's cash position, as this balance could be used to reduce MDC's exposure to debt outstanding.

SOURCE M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.