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

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

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Anderson Christopher M   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol MDC HOLDINGS INC [MDC] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Sr. VP, CFO, PAO (Last) (First) (Middle) 4350 S. MONACO STREET, SUITE 500 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 12/30/2008 (Street) DENVER, CO 80237 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock $.01 Par Value 12/30/2008   A   5,093 (1) A $ 0 30,093 D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

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

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

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

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

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

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

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

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

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

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Non-Statutory Stock Option (right to buy) (2)

$ 29.45

12/30/2008

A

70,000

12/30/2011

12/30/2018

Common Stock $.01 Par Value

70,000

$ 0

70,000

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Anderson Christopher M 4350 S. MONACO STREET SUITE 500 DENVER, CO 80237			Sr. VP, CFO, PAO

Signatures

Christopher M. Anderson		12/31/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Shares of restricted stock granted December 30, 2008 for no cash consideration pursuant to the Company's 2001 Equity Incentive Plan and a Restricted Stock Agreement. Pursuant to the Restricted Stock Agreement, the restrictions will lapse as to 25% of the shares on December 30, 2009, and cumulatively as to an additional 25% on each of December 30, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
(2)	Granted on December 30, 2008 under the Company's 2001 Equity Incentive Plan. This option vests as to 33-1/3% of the shares covered thereby on December 30, 2011 and cumulatively as to an additional 33-1/3% on each of December 30, 2012 and 2013. This option was granted at the December 30, 2008 market close price.

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