Houston boasted the most housing starts in the nation last year, and one-third of those starts were in master planned communities (MPC), a growing sector for the homebuilding industry.

In the U.S., the top 50 master planned communities captured 5.4 percent of new-home sales in 2013 – a 12 percent increase over 2012, according to John Burns Real Estate Consulting. One-third of the top 50 master planned communities are in Texas alone.

MPCs have been growing in demand nationwide. Among the top 20 MCPs, the average pricing of homes in these developments has increased 16 percent over the past year, and by more than 24 percent in the past two years, according to Metrostudy.

“Historically, we’ve found that during a recession, home values in master planned communities have held up better because of thoughtful planning that includes mixed-use development with jobs, retail, and professional services,” says David Jarvis, Metrostudy’s regional director in the Houston market.

Builders with Johnson Development, which has opened up some of the nation’s best-selling MCPs in the past year, say that the MCPs nowadays are different from two decades ago. They’ve moved beyond just family-oriented housing to accommodate broader demographic needs.



Everything is bigger in Texas, including its master-planned communities, and 2013 was no exception. This year’s list of top 50 masterplans included 17 from the state of Texas (one-third of all entries) and 13 from Houston alone. There were nine Florida masterplans in the top 50 in 2013, seven California communities, four Phoenix communities, and four Washington, DC masterplans. And while Las Vegas was represented by just three masterplans, all of them were in the nation’s top 20.

Newland Communities has five of the nation’s top 50 in 2013, the most of any individual developer. The San Diego-based developer’s masterplans were located in four different metro areas, easily making them the most geographically diversified developer in the country. Houston-based Johnson Development was represented by four masterplans in the top 50, and Sunrise, FL-based GL Homes and Shea Homes in Walnut, CA both had three.

Read more about the report at realestateconsulting.com

About Vijaianand Thirnageswaram

I am a Proud Realtor of Texas, trying to guide and help clients to find their dream home and educate them to buy them for right price. I am also a Candidate for CFP who has more financial knowledge which allows me share and educate clients in any financial decision making process.

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