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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August&nbsp;8, 2011</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Registration No.&nbsp;333-<u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u></font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;">UNITED STATES</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;">WASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp; 20549</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM&nbsp;S-8</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">UNDER</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">THE RYLAND GROUP,&nbsp;INC.</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Maryland</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">52-0849948</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p align="center" style="margin:3.0pt 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(State or other   jurisdiction of</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:3.0pt 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:3.0pt 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(I.R.S. Employer   Identification No.)</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p align="center" style="margin:3.0pt 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">incorporation or   organization)</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:3.0pt 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:3.0pt 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p align="center" style="margin:3.0pt 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">24025   Park Sorrento</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:3.0pt 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:3.0pt 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Suite&nbsp;400</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:3.0pt 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:3.0pt 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Calabasas,   California</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:3.0pt 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:3.0pt 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">91302</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p align="center" style="margin:3.0pt 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Address of principal   executive offices)</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:3.0pt 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:3.0pt 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Zip Code)</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">THE RYLAND GROUP,&nbsp;INC. 2011 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK PLAN</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Full title of plan)</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Timothy J. Geckle</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">The Ryland Group,&nbsp;Inc.</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">24025 Park Sorrento, Suite&nbsp;400</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Calabasas, California 91302</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">818-223-7500</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Name, address and telephone</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">number of agent for service)</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:4.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of &#147;large accelerated filer,&#148; &#147;accelerated filer&#148; and &#147;smaller reporting company&#148; in Rule&nbsp;12b-2 of the Exchange Act.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Large accelerated filer </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">x</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Accelerated filer </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Non-accelerated filer </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;"><br>    </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Do not check if a smaller<br>   reporting company)</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Smaller reporting company </font><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Title&nbsp;of&nbsp;Securities&nbsp;to&nbsp;be<br>   Registered</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Amount<br>   to&nbsp;be<br>   Registered</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Proposed<br>   Maximum<br>   Offering<br>   Price&nbsp;Per&nbsp;Share&nbsp;(3)</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Proposed<br>   Maximum<br>   Aggregate<br>   Offering&nbsp;Price&nbsp;(3)</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-left:none;border-right:none;border-top:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.0%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Amount&nbsp;of<br>   Registration<br>   Fee</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:9.0pt;">Common Stock, $1.00 par   value (1)(2)</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="14%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:14.0%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:9.0pt;">176,000</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="14%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:14.0%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:9.0pt;">$12.98</font></p>    </td>
<td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;border-left:none;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="14%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:14.0%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:9.0pt;">$2,283,600</font></p>    </td>
<td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;border-left:none;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="14%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:14.0%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:9.0pt;">$266</font></p>    </td>
<td width="0%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:.5%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<tr>
<td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.76%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(1)</font></p>    </td>
<td width="96%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:96.26%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pursuant   to Rule&nbsp;416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#147;<b><i style="font-weight:bold;">Securities Act</i></b>&#148;), this   Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of shares of   Common Stock that may be offered or issued by reason of stock splits, stock   dividends or similar transactions.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.76%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="96%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:96.26%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.76%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(2)</font></p>    </td>
<td width="96%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:96.26%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Common   Stock being registered hereby includes associated preferred share purchase   rights attached to each share of common stock of The Ryland Group,&nbsp;Inc.   (&#147;<b><i style="font-weight:bold;">Ryland</i></b>&#148;).</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.76%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="96%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:96.26%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.76%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(3)</font></p>    </td>
<td width="96%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:96.26%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Estimated   solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to   Rule&nbsp;457(c)&nbsp;and (h)&nbsp;of the Securities Act.&nbsp; The proposed   maximum offering price per share, proposed maximum aggregate offering price   and the amount of the registration fee are based on the average of the high   and low sale prices of Ryland&#146;s Common Stock reported on the New York Stock   Exchange on August&nbsp;5, 2011 (i.e., $12.98).</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">PART&nbsp;I</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION&nbsp;10(a)&nbsp;PROSPECTUS</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Not required to be included in this Form&nbsp;S-8 Registration Statement pursuant to introductory Note to Part&nbsp;I of Form&nbsp;S-8.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">PART&nbsp;II</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 3.</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The following documents which have been filed by Ryland with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;<b><i style="font-weight:bold;">Commission</i></b>&#148;) are incorporated herein by reference:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(a)</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="93%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:93.6%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Ryland&#146;s Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the fiscal year ended   December&nbsp;31, 2010;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="93%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:93.6%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(b)</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="93%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:93.6%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Ryland&#146;s Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarter ended   March&nbsp;31, 2011;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="93%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:93.6%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(c)</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="93%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:93.6%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Ryland&#146;s Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q, as amended, for the   quarter ended June 30, 2011;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="93%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:93.6%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.26%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(d)</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="93%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:93.6%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">All other reports filed pursuant to Sections&nbsp;13(a)&nbsp;or   15(d)&nbsp;of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (&#147;<b><i style="font-weight:bold;">Exchange Act</i></b>&#148;),   since December&nbsp;31, 2010; and</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="93%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:93.6%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.26%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(e)</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="93%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:93.6%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Description of Ryland&#146;s Common Stock contained or incorporated in the   registration statements filed by Ryland under the Exchange Act, including any   amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">All documents subsequently filed by Ryland with the Commission pursuant to Sections&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d)&nbsp;of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part of this Registration Statement from the date of filing of such documents.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<td width="7%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:7.26%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item   4.</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="92%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:92.76%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Description of Securities.</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="92%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:92.76%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<td width="7%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:7.26%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="92%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:92.76%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Not   applicable.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="92%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:92.76%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<td width="7%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:7.26%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item   5.</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="92%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:92.76%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Timothy J. Geckle, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Ryland, provides the opinion regarding the legal validity of the shares of Common Stock being registered for issuance under the 2011 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan.&nbsp; As of the date of this filing, Mr.&nbsp;Geckle owns approximately 87,334 shares of Ryland&#146;s Common Stock, has 48,333 unvested restricted stock units and has the right to purchase up to 100,000 shares of Ryland&#146;s Common Stock pursuant to outstanding stock options awarded under the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan and its predecessor plans.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<td width="7%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:7.26%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 6.</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="92%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:92.74%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">As permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law (&#147;<b><i style="font-weight:bold;">MGCL</i></b>&#148;), Article&nbsp;Eighth, Paragraph&nbsp;(8)&nbsp;of Ryland&#146;s Articles of Restatement (the &#147;<b><i style="font-weight:bold;">Charter</i></b>&#148;) provides for indemnification of directors and officers of Ryland, as follows:</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(8)&nbsp; The Corporation shall indemnify its directors and officers, in all capacities in which such directors and officers serve the Corporation, to the full extent required or permitted by the General Laws of the State of</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Maryland now or hereafter in force, including the advance of expenses under the procedures and to the full extent permitted by law.&nbsp; The Corporation shall indemnify other employees and agents, in all capacities in which such employees and agents serve the Corporation, to such extent as shall be authorized by the Board of Directors or the By-laws and be permitted by law.&nbsp; The foregoing shall not limit in any manner the authority of the Corporation to indemnify directors, officers, employees or agents of the Corporation to the extent authorized by the Board of Directors or the stockholders and permitted by law.&nbsp; The Board of Directors may take such action as is necessary to carry out these provisions and is expressly empowered to adopt, approve and amend from time to time such By-laws, resolutions or contracts implementing these provisions or such further indemnification arrangements as may be permitted by law.&nbsp; No amendment or repeal of this Article&nbsp;EIGHTH, paragraph 8 of the Corporation&#146;s Charter shall apply to or have any effect on any right to indemnification provided hereunder with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The MGCL permits a corporation to indemnify its directors and officers (which include any person who, while a director of a corporation is or was, serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or employee benefit plan), among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceedings to which they may be a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities, unless it is established that (a)&nbsp;the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to such proceedings and (i)&nbsp;was committed in bad faith or (ii)&nbsp;was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b)&nbsp;the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services, or (c)&nbsp;in the case of any criminal proceedings, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the action or omission was unlawful.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">As permitted by the MGCL, Article&nbsp;Ninth of the Charter provides for limitation of liability of directors and officers of Ryland, as follows:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">To the fullest extent permitted by Maryland statutory or decisional law, as amended or interpreted, no director or officer of this Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for money damages.&nbsp; No amendment of the Charter of the Corporation or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate the benefits provided to directors and officers under this provision with respect to any act or omission which occurred prior to such amendment or repeal.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The MGCL permits the charter of a Maryland corporation to include a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages, except to the extent that (i)&nbsp;the person actually received an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (ii)&nbsp;a judgment or other final adjudication is entered in a proceeding based on a finding that the person&#146;s action, or failure to act, was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">As permitted under Section&nbsp;2-418(k)&nbsp;of the MGCL, Ryland has purchased and maintains insurance on behalf of its directors and officers against any liability asserted against such directors and officers in their capacities as such, whether or not Ryland would have the power to indemnify such persons under the provisions of Maryland law governing indemnification.</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exemption from Registration Claimed.</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Not   applicable.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 8.</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibits.</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">A list of exhibits is set forth on the Exhibit&nbsp;Index which immediately precedes the exhibits and which is incorporated by reference herein.</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 9.</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Undertakings.</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(1)</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(i)&nbsp;To include any prospectus required by Section&nbsp;10(a)(3)&nbsp;of the Securities Act;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(ii)&nbsp;To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement; and</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(iii)&nbsp;To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">provided, however</font></i><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">, that: Paragraphs (l)(i)&nbsp;and (l)(ii)&nbsp;above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or Section&nbsp;15(d)&nbsp;of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(2)</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial <i>bona fide</i> offering thereof.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(3)</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section&nbsp;13(a)&nbsp;or 15(d)&nbsp;of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section&nbsp;15(d)&nbsp;of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial <i>bona fide</i> offering thereof.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.&nbsp; In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURES</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form&nbsp;S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Calabasas, State of California, on the 8th day of August, 2011.</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">THE   RYLAND GROUP,&nbsp;INC.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/   Timothy J. Geckle</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 4.3pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Timothy   J. Geckle</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 4.3pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Senior   Vice President, General Counsel and</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.24%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="44%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.58%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 4.3pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Secretary</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Form&nbsp;S-8 Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.02%;">
<tr>
<td width="22%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:22.22%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Signature</font></u></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="54%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:54.1%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Title</font></u></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.34%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date</font></u></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="22%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:22.22%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="54%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:54.1%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.34%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="22%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:22.22%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="54%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:54.1%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Larry&nbsp;T. Nicholson</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.34%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="22%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:22.22%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/   Larry&nbsp;T. Nicholson</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="54%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:54.1%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">President and Chief Executive Officer</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.34%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">August&nbsp;8, 2011</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="22%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:22.22%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Larry&nbsp;T.   Nicholson</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="54%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:54.1%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Principal Executive Officer)</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.34%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="22%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:22.22%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="54%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:54.1%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.34%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="22%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:22.22%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="54%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:54.1%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Gordon A. Milne</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.34%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="22%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:22.22%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/   Gordon A. Milne</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="54%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:54.1%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.34%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">August&nbsp;8, 2011</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="22%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:22.22%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Gordon   A. Milne</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="54%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:54.1%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Principal Financial Officer)</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.34%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="22%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:22.22%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="54%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:54.1%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.34%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="22%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:22.22%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="54%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:54.1%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">David L. Fristoe</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.34%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="22%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:22.22%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/   David L. Fristoe</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="54%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:54.1%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.34%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">August&nbsp;8, 2011</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="22%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:22.22%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">David   L. Fristoe</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="54%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:54.1%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Principal Accounting Officer)</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.34%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">A majority of the Board of Directors:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Roland&nbsp;A. Hernandez, William&nbsp;L. Jews, Ned Mansour, Robert&nbsp;E. Mellor, Norman&nbsp;J. Metcalfe, Larry&nbsp;T. Nicholson, Charlotte St.&nbsp;Martin and Robert&nbsp;G. van&nbsp;Schoonenberg</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.02%;">
<tr>
<td width="22%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:22.22%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/   Timothy J. Geckle</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="54%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:54.1%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">As Attorney-in-Fact</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.34%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">August&nbsp;8, 2011</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="22%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:22.22%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Timothy   J. Geckle</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="54%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:54.1%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.34%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
</div>
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<br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">
<div>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">EXHIBIT&nbsp;INDEX</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">EXHIBIT&nbsp;<br>    <u>NUMBER</u></font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">DESCRIPTION</font></u></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4.1</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The   Ryland Group,&nbsp;Inc. Articles of Restatement (incorporated by reference   from Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarter ended March&nbsp;31, 2005)</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4.2</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The   Ryland Group,&nbsp;Inc. Articles of Amendment (incorporated by reference from   Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarter ended June&nbsp;30, 2009)</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4.3</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By-laws   of The Ryland Group,&nbsp;Inc., as amended (incorporated by reference from   Form&nbsp;8-K, filed December&nbsp;14, 2010)</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4.4</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Rights   Agreement, dated as of December&nbsp;18, 2008, between The Ryland   Group,&nbsp;Inc. and American Stock Transfer&nbsp;&amp; Trust   Company,&nbsp;LLC (incorporated by reference from Form&nbsp;8-A, filed   December&nbsp;29, 2008)</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4.5</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Amendment   to the Rights Agreement, dated as of May&nbsp;18, 2009, between The Ryland   Group,&nbsp;Inc. and American Stock Transfer&nbsp;&amp; Trust   Company,&nbsp;LLC (incorporated by reference from Form&nbsp;8-K, filed   May&nbsp;22, 2009)</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">5.1*</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Opinion   of Timothy J. Geckle, counsel for The Ryland Group,&nbsp;Inc., regarding the   legal validity of the shares of Common Stock being registered for issuance   under the Plan</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">23.1*</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Consent   of Counsel (contained in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1)</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">23.2*</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Consent   of Ernst&nbsp;&amp; Young LLP,&nbsp;Independent Registered Public Accounting   Firm</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">24.1*</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Powers   of Attorney</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.16%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">99.1</font></p>    </td>
<td width="4%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.06%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="87%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:87.78%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The   Ryland Group,&nbsp;Inc. 2011 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan (incorporated   by reference from Appendix B of the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule   14A, filed on March&nbsp;14, 2011)</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="left"></div>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">* Filed herewith.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
</div>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "RYLAND GROUP INC", "cik": "0000085974", "assigned-sic": "1531", "irs-number": "520849948", "state-of-incorporation": "MD", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-176156", "film-number": "111018485"}, "business-address": {"street1": "24025 PARK SORRENTO", "street2": "SUITE 400", "city": "CALABASAS", "state": "CA", "zip": "91302", "phone": "8182237500"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "RYAN JAMES P CO", "date-changed": "19720414"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2011
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
THE RYLAND GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland
52-0849948
(State or other   jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer   Identification No.)
incorporation or   organization)
24025   Park Sorrento
Suite 400
Calabasas,   California
91302
(Address of principal   executive offices)
(Zip Code)
THE RYLAND GROUP, INC. 2011 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK PLAN
(Full title of plan)
Timothy J. Geckle
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
The Ryland Group, Inc.
24025 Park Sorrento, Suite 400
Calabasas, California 91302
818-223-7500
(Name, address and telephone
number of agent for service)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
x
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o
(Do not check if a smaller
reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Securities to be
Registered
Amount
to be
Registered
Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per Share (3)
Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price (3)
Amount of
Registration
Fee
Common Stock, $1.00 par   value (1)(2)
176,000
$12.98
$2,283,600
$266
(1)
Pursuant   to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "
Securities Act
"), this   Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of shares of   Common Stock that may be offered or issued by reason of stock splits, stock   dividends or similar transactions.
(2)
Common   Stock being registered hereby includes associated preferred share purchase   rights attached to each share of common stock of The Ryland Group, Inc.   ("
Ryland
").
(3)
Estimated   solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to   Rule 457(c) and (h) of the Securities Act.  The proposed   maximum offering price per share, proposed maximum aggregate offering price   and the amount of the registration fee are based on the average of the high   and low sale prices of Ryland's Common Stock reported on the New York Stock   Exchange on August 5, 2011 (i.e., $12.98).
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Not required to be included in this Form S-8 Registration Statement pursuant to introductory Note to Part I of Form S-8.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3.
Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents which have been filed by Ryland with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "
Commission
") are incorporated herein by reference:
(a)
Ryland's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended   December 31, 2010;
(b)
Ryland's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended   March 31, 2011;
(c)
Ryland's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as amended, for the   quarter ended June 30, 2011;
(d)
All other reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or   15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("
Exchange Act
"),   since December 31, 2010; and
(e)
Description of Ryland's Common Stock contained or incorporated in the   registration statements filed by Ryland under the Exchange Act, including any   amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.
All documents subsequently filed by Ryland with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part of this Registration Statement from the date of filing of such documents.
Item   4.
Description of Securities.
Not   applicable.
Item   5.
Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Timothy J. Geckle, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Ryland, provides the opinion regarding the legal validity of the shares of Common Stock being registered for issuance under the 2011 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan.  As of the date of this filing, Mr. Geckle owns approximately 87,334 shares of Ryland's Common Stock, has 48,333 unvested restricted stock units and has the right to purchase up to 100,000 shares of Ryland's Common Stock pursuant to outstanding stock options awarded under the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan and its predecessor plans.
Item 6.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
As permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law ("
MGCL
"), Article Eighth, Paragraph (8) of Ryland's Articles of Restatement (the "
Charter
") provides for indemnification of directors and officers of Ryland, as follows:
(8)  The Corporation shall indemnify its directors and officers, in all capacities in which such directors and officers serve the Corporation, to the full extent required or permitted by the General Laws of the State of
Maryland now or hereafter in force, including the advance of expenses under the procedures and to the full extent permitted by law.  The Corporation shall indemnify other employees and agents, in all capacities in which such employees and agents serve the Corporation, to such extent as shall be authorized by the Board of Directors or the By-laws and be permitted by law.  The foregoing shall not limit in any manner the authority of the Corporation to indemnify directors, officers, employees or agents of the Corporation to the extent authorized by the Board of Directors or the stockholders and permitted by law.  The Board of Directors may take such action as is necessary to carry out these provisions and is expressly empowered to adopt, approve and amend from time to time such By-laws, resolutions or contracts implementing these provisions or such further indemnification arrangements as may be permitted by law.  No amendment or repeal of this Article EIGHTH, paragraph 8 of the Corporation's Charter shall apply to or have any effect on any right to indemnification provided hereunder with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.
The MGCL permits a corporation to indemnify its directors and officers (which include any person who, while a director of a corporation is or was, serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or employee benefit plan), among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceedings to which they may be a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities, unless it is established that (a) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to such proceedings and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services, or (c) in the case of any criminal proceedings, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the action or omission was unlawful.
As permitted by the MGCL, Article Ninth of the Charter provides for limitation of liability of directors and officers of Ryland, as follows:
To the fullest extent permitted by Maryland statutory or decisional law, as amended or interpreted, no director or officer of this Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for money damages.  No amendment of the Charter of the Corporation or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate the benefits provided to directors and officers under this provision with respect to any act or omission which occurred prior to such amendment or repeal.
The MGCL permits the charter of a Maryland corporation to include a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages, except to the extent that (i) the person actually received an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (ii) a judgment or other final adjudication is entered in a proceeding based on a finding that the person's action, or failure to act, was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding.
As permitted under Section 2-418(k) of the MGCL, Ryland has purchased and maintains insurance on behalf of its directors and officers against any liability asserted against such directors and officers in their capacities as such, whether or not Ryland would have the power to indemnify such persons under the provisions of Maryland law governing indemnification.
Item 7.
Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not   applicable.
Item 8.
Exhibits.
A list of exhibits is set forth on the Exhibit Index which immediately precedes the exhibits and which is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.
Undertakings.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;
provided, however
, that: Paragraphs (l)(i) and (l)(ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering thereof.
(3)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Calabasas, State of California, on the 8th day of August, 2011.
THE   RYLAND GROUP, INC.
By:
/s/   Timothy J. Geckle
Timothy   J. Geckle
Senior   Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Form S-8 Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
Larry T. Nicholson
/s/   Larry T. Nicholson
President and Chief Executive Officer
August 8, 2011
Larry T.   Nicholson
(Principal Executive Officer)
Gordon A. Milne
/s/   Gordon A. Milne
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
August 8, 2011
Gordon   A. Milne
(Principal Financial Officer)
David L. Fristoe
/s/   David L. Fristoe
Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
August 8, 2011
David   L. Fristoe
(Principal Accounting Officer)
A majority of the Board of Directors:
Roland A. Hernandez, William L. Jews, Ned Mansour, Robert E. Mellor, Norman J. Metcalfe, Larry T. Nicholson, Charlotte St. Martin and Robert G. van Schoonenberg
/s/   Timothy J. Geckle
As Attorney-in-Fact
August 8, 2011
Timothy   J. Geckle
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
DESCRIPTION
4.1
The   Ryland Group, Inc. Articles of Restatement (incorporated by reference   from Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005)
4.2
The   Ryland Group, Inc. Articles of Amendment (incorporated by reference from   Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009)
4.3
By-laws   of The Ryland Group, Inc., as amended (incorporated by reference from   Form 8-K, filed December 14, 2010)
4.4
Rights   Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2008, between The Ryland   Group, Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust   Company, LLC (incorporated by reference from Form 8-A, filed   December 29, 2008)
4.5
Amendment   to the Rights Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2009, between The Ryland   Group, Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust   Company, LLC (incorporated by reference from Form 8-K, filed   May 22, 2009)
5.1*
Opinion   of Timothy J. Geckle, counsel for The Ryland Group, Inc., regarding the   legal validity of the shares of Common Stock being registered for issuance   under the Plan
23.1*
Consent   of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2*
Consent   of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting   Firm
24.1*
Powers   of Attorney
99.1
The   Ryland Group, Inc. 2011 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan (incorporated   by reference from Appendix B of the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule   14A, filed on March 14, 2011)
* Filed herewith.