According to a recent consulting firm report, home sales in master planned communities grew at a healthy pace in 2015. In particular, Houston master planned communities are, in particular, sticking out among the rest.
In Houston, five planned communities made the list that was compiled by John Burns Real Estate Consulting, LLC (JBREC).
Using data from a variety of sources, JBREC staffers reviewed information about more than 230 communities nationwide. They did not use confidential information from single builder communities.
Texas had the greatest number of communities on the list, with eight; five of those are in Houston.
The JBREC researchers noted that continued low oil prices and slowing economic growth remain concerns in Houston. They also pointed out tensions that may have delayed additional sales volume: lot shortages and delays associated with heavy rain and flooding earlier in 2015.
The five Houston-area communities on the list, with their ranking, owner and units sold, are:
- Riverstone (5), Johnson Development Corp., 609
- Aliana (17), Aliana Development Co., 443
- Canyon Lakes West (18), Land Tejas Co., 440
- Wildwood at Northpointe (18), Friendswood Development Co., 440
- Woodforest (20), Johnson Development Corp., 415.
The two entries at no. 18 on the list represent one of two ties. Woodforest, at no. 20, tied for that spot with a community in Utah.
The other three spots in Texas listed were Alamo Ranch in San Antonio, and Westridge and Paloma Creek on the north side of Dallas.
Master planned communities adding to Houston inventory
In total, the list chronicles that in 2015, 14,081 homes were sold in just these 21 communities. That’s a 12 percent increase over the more than 12,600 sold in masterplanned communities in 2014.
A total of eight states were represented in the top 21. Texas had the greatest number of developments, but Florida had dominance in the sheer numbers of homes sold.
For example, the no. 1 community on the list is The Villages in Central Florida, which itself saw sales of close to 2,300 units in 2015. The Villages is the only community in the nation to surpass 2,000 sales in one year. And, that volume is all produced by one builder/developer.
The top three communities on the list all had 2015 sales well eclipsing the 1,000 unit mark. Two of those communities are in Florida, and the other in California.
What’s more, the JBREC Top 21 communities list represents 3 percent of new, single-family home sales nationwide.
