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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2


THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A
NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED
IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE
LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THIS SECURITY AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED
EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE
DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS
AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE
ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO
CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL IN AS MUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

                             THE RYLAND GROUP, INC.

                            8% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2006

CUSIP. 783764AH6

NO. R-1                                                             $100,000,000

       THE RYLAND GROUP, INC., a Maryland corporation (herein called the
"Company," which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture
hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede &
Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of One Hundred Million Dollars on
August 15, 2006, at the office or agency of the Company referred to below, and
to pay interest thereon on February 15, 2002 and semi-annually thereafter on
February 15 and August 15 in each year, accruing from August 16, 2001, at the
rate of 8% per annum until the principal hereof is paid or made available for
payment. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on
any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the
Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such
interest, which shall be February 1 or August 1 (whether or not a Business Day),
as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest
not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable
to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person
in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of
such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be
given to Holders of the Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to
such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the
Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required
by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

       Payment of the principal of, and interest on, this Security will be made
at the office of the Trustee in such coin or currency of the United States of
America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of
interest may be made (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled
thereto as such address


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shall appear in the Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer to an account
maintained by the Person entitled thereto.

       Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set
forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

       Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the
Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security
shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose.



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                                                                               3

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.

Dated:  August 16, 2001                       THE RYLAND GROUP, INC.

                                              By:
                                                   ---------------------------
                                                   David L. Fristoe
                                                   Senior Vice President


Attest:


------------------------------
Sheri L. Markham
Assistant Secretary


                     TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

              This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.


                      -------------------------------------
     The Chase Manhattan Bank (formerly known as Chemical Bank), as Trustee

                    By:
                        ----------------------------------------------
                               Authorized Officer


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                               REVERSE OF SECURITY

       This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more
series under an Indenture, dated as of June 28, 1996 (herein called the
"Indenture), between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank (formerly known as
Chemical Bank), as Trustee, herein called the "Trustee," which term includes any
successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures
supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective
rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of
the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon
which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The terms
of this Security include the covenants and terms established by the Certificate
of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer dated August 16,
2001, pursuant to the authority granted under the Indenture (such terms and
covenants shall be referred to herein collectively with the terms and covenants
set out in the Indenture that are applicable to the Securities of this series as
the "Indenture Terms"). Defined terms used herein that are not otherwise defined
shall have the meanings given such terms in the Indenture Terms. This Security
is one of the series designated on the face hereof, in an aggregate principal
amount of $100,000,000. The Company may subsequently issue additional securities
as part of this series of Securities under the Indenture.

       The Securities of this series are not subject to redemption prior to
maturity.

       The Indenture Terms contain provisions for defeasance at any time of the
entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance with certain conditions set
forth therein.

       The Company may not consolidate with or merge into, or transfer or lease
all or substantially all of its assets as an entirety to another person unless
the person is a corporation, such corporation assumes by a supplemental
indenture all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and the
Indenture and after giving effect to the transaction no Event of Default shall
exist.

       The following constitute Events of Default: default for 30 days in
payment of any interest on any Security when due; default in payment of
principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security when due; default in
performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement of the Company in the
Indenture Terms which continues for 60 days after written notice to the Company
by the Trustee or by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
Securities of this series; the occurrence of any event that results in the
acceleration of any Indebtedness (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that has an outstanding principal
amount of $10,000,000 or more in the aggregate; a default in the payment of any
principal or interest in respect of any Indebtedness of the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) that has an
outstanding principal amount of $10,000,000 or more and the continuation of such
default for ten business days from the date such principal or interest payment
became due and payable (after giving effect to any applicable grace period set
forth in the documents governing such Indebtedness) and certain events of
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization as provided in the Indenture Terms. If
any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at
least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of this series may
declare the principal of all of the Securities of that series to be due and
payable immediately. Holders of Securities may not enforce the Indenture or the
Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require
indemnity satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the Securities.
Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Securities of this series may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or
power conferred upon the Trustee with respect to such Securities. The Trustee
may withhold from Holders of the Securities of this series notice of any
continuing default (except a default in payment of principal or interest) if it
determines that withholding notice is in their interests. The Company must
furnish an annual compliance certificate to the Trustee.


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       The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at
the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. Without the consent of any
Holder of Securities, the Indenture or the Securities may be amended to cure any
ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency or to make any change that does not
adversely affect the rights of any Holder of Securities in any material respect.
The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified
percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time
Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive
compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain
past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or
waiver by the Holders of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such
Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued
upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange or in lieu hereof,
whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

       No reference herein to the Indenture Terms and no provision of this
Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the
Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any
premium and interest on this Security at the times, places and rates, and in the
coin or currency, herein prescribed.

       As provided in the Indenture Terms and subject to certain limitations
therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security
Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the
office or agency appointed by the Company in any place where the principal of
and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his
attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of
this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same
aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees.

       The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $1,000.00 and any integral multiple thereof.
As provided in the Indenture Terms and subject to certain limitations set forth
therein, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate
principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different
authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

       No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or
exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

       A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company
shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the
Securities or the Indenture Terms or for any claim based on, in respect of or by
reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Securities of this
series by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The
waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the
Securities of this series.

       Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer,
the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat
the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all
purposes, whether or not this Security is overdue, and neither the Company, the
Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.


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       No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest on this Security, or for any claim based hereon, or
otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture Terms or
any indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator, stockholder,
officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any
successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of
law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such
liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for
the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

       The Chase Manhattan Bank (formerly known as Chemical Bank), the Trustee
under the Indenture, or any banking institution serving as successor Trustee
thereunder, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept
deposits from and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may
otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates as if it were not Trustee.

       The Company will furnish to any Holder of the Securities of this series
upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be
made to: The Ryland Group, Inc., 24025 Park Sorrento, Suite 400, Calabasas,
California 91302, Attention: Treasurer.