FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * MANDARICH DAVID D   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol MDC HOLDINGS INC [MDC] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) President, COO and Director (Last) (First) (Middle) 3600 S YOSEMITE STREET SUITE 900 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 07/18/2005 (Street) DENVER, CO 80237 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock $.01 par value 07/18/2005   M   100,000 A $ 15.36 (1) 2,938,863 D   Common Stock $.01 par value 07/18/2005   S   100,000 D $ 87.41 (2) 2,838,863 D   Common Stock $.01 par value               1,886 I Minor Children Common Stock $.01 par value               2,802 (3) I 401(k) Plan

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Non-Statutory Stock Option (4)

$ 15.36

07/18/2005

M

100,000

12/01/2001

12/01/2005

Common Stock $.01 par value

285,499

$ 0

185,499

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
MANDARICH DAVID D 3600 S YOSEMITE STREET SUITE 900 DENVER, CO 80237	X		President, COO and Director

Signatures

David D. Mandarich		07/18/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	All share amounts, exercise prices and option grants have been adjusted to reflect a 1.3 for 1 stock split on January 10, 2005.
(2)	Shares sold at an average price of $87.41 per share. See Table of Transactions attached hereto for details of sales.
(3)	Shares are held in Reporting Person's 401(k) Savings Plan account which changes on a monthly basis.
(4)	Granted on December 1, 2000 under the Company's Employee Equity Incentive Plan. This option vests as to 25% of the shares covered thereby on December 1, 2001 and cumulatively as to an additional 25% on each of December 1, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

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