With the massive rise in large-scale communities like those in The Woodlands and Cypress, it’s no secret that Houston is one of the kings of master-planned communities. But now there’s proof. Robert Charles Lesser & Co. Real Estate Consulting recently released its list of the top 50 master-planned communities in the U.S., and Clutch City made up 20% of the roster.
Cross Creek Ranch entryway. Photo courtesy Johnson Development Corp.
Furthermore, Texas master-planned communities came in second only to Florida in terms of total sales, with 30%, preceded by the Sunshine State, with 34%. Other Texas communities that made the list included one in El Paso, six in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area, and one in Austin. The complete list can be found here.
Rankings are based on total net home sales. Only true master-planned communities that have been developed from a comprehensive master plan and feature a variety of housing types, sizes, prices and amenities are included, according to RCLCO.
The 10 master-planned communities that made the shortlist include the following, with their respective rankings and developers:
- 12th place – Balmoral in Houston, developed by Land Tejas.
- 14th place – Bridgeland in Cypress, developed by Howard Hughes Corp.
- 17th place – Tamarron in Katy, developed by D.R. Horton.
- 20th place – Sierra Vista/Sterling Lakes in Arcola, developed by Land Tejas.
- 26th place – Sienna in Missouri City, developed by Johnson Development Corp./Toll Brothers
- 36th place – Lago Mar in Texas City, developed by Land Tejas.
- 37th place – Breckenridge Forest in Spring, developed by D.R. Horton.
- 39th place – Meridiana in Rosharon, developed by Rise Communities.
- 42nd place – Cross Creek Ranch in Fulshear, developed by Johnson Development.
- 49th place – Woodforest in Montgomery, developed by Johnson Development.
Model home in Balmoral. Photo courtesy Land Tejas.
Houston-based developer Land Tejas had three communities that made the cut, with Balmoral topping the list in Houston. “All three of these developments have key components that families are looking for when purchasing a home in the Houston area,” said Land Tejas chief operating officer James Henrie in a press release. “They offer access to good schools, convenient locations with easy access to major thoroughfares, resort-style amenities and an excellent line-up of home builders.”
Johnson Development grabbed four spots on the list, more than any other developer in Texas, with three master-planned communities in Houston and one in Arlington.
“We saw a surge in home sales last year that continued into this year as people sought communities with a natural landscape, abundant amenities and great schools,” said Larry Johnson, chairman and CEO of Johnson Development, in a press release. “And we’ve been able to keep up with the pace of development so our builders have enough homesites to meet demand.”