Houston led the nation in master-planned community home sales in the first half of this year, solidifying its position as a key market for residential development.
More than 4,500 homes were sold in Greater Houston master-planned communities, making up nearly a quarter of all sales in the top 50 communities across the country, the Houston Business Journal reported, citing RCLCO Real Estate Consulting.
Houston is infamous for its lack of zoning regulations, and while that’s partly a misconception, it is also a factor in the popularity of master-planned communities. As residential development sprawled away from the city, master-planned communities laid out their own land-use rules.
The Houston metro boasts 13 communities ranked among the top 50 nationwide, an increase from 11 last year.
Sunterra, Land Tejas’ development in Katy, ranked third nationally with 774 sales, a 16 percent increase from the previous year. Following closely is Howard Hughes Holdings’ Bridgeland in Cypress, which ranks No. 8 with 498 sales. D.R. Horton’s Tamarron development in Katy completes the top three for Houston, ranking 15th nationally with 394 sales.
Two prominent Texas-based developers, D.R. Horton and Johnson Development, each have three communities in the top 50, underscoring their substantial influence in the Houston market. Johnson Development’s top-selling communities in the Houston area are Sienna, Cross Creek Ranch and Jordan Ranch.
New home sales nationally dipped by 1.1 percent in the first half of 2024, but sales in the top 50 master-planned communities decreased by just 0.3 percent. This stability reflects the continued appeal of these amenity-rich neighborhoods amid economic challenges.
These are the master-planned communities in the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area included in the report.
No. 3: Sunterra in Katy, developed by Land Tejas/Starwood Land — 774 homes sold, a 16% increase.
No. 8: Bridgeland in Cypress, developed by Howard Hughes Holdings — 498 homes sold, down 3%.
No. 15: Tamarron in Katy, developed by D.R. Horton — 394 homes sold, a 7% decrease.
No. 18: Tavola in New Caney, developed by Friendswood Development Co. — 362 homes sold, a 15% increase.
No. 21: Breckenridge Forest in Spring, developed by D.R. Horton — 336 homes sold, down 7%.
No. 23: Marvida in Cypress, developed by Land Tejas/Starwood Land — 324 homes sold, a 32% decrease.
No. 26: Sienna in Missouri City, developed by Johnson Development Corp./Toll Bros. — 310 homes sold, down 5%.
No. 27: Meridiana in Iowa Colony, developed by Rise Communities — 302 homes sold, a 4% increase.
No. 30: Elyson in Katy, developed by Brookfield Properties — 274 homes sold, a 22% increase.
No. 31: Caldwell Ranch in Brazoria County, developed by D.R. Horton — 272 homes sold, a 38% decrease.
No. 35: Baytown Crossings in Baytown, developed by Friendswood Development Co. — 264 homes sold, down 14%.
No. 46: Cross Creek Ranch in Fulshear, developed by Johnson Development Corp. — 222 homes sold, a 7% increase.
No. 49: Jordan Ranch in Fulshear, developed by Johnson Development Corp. — 211 homes sold, down 3%.
— Andrew Terrell
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