Texas had a strong presence among the top-selling master-planned communities in the United States last year, with 20 out of the 50 leading developments located in the state. According to data from real estate consultancy RCLCO, Houston’s suburbs stood out, placing 10 communities on the list. Sunterra and Tamarron, both situated in Katy, were among the nation’s top ten sellers. Sunterra, developed by Land Tejas and Starwood Land, recorded 1,024 home sales in 2025—the highest for any Texas community—while D.R. Horton’s Tamarron followed closely with 974 sales.
Despite challenges such as increased competition from resale homes and higher mortgage rates that kept some buyers on the sidelines—as reported by the Houston Chronicle—several Houston-area developments still posted gains. Florida was the only other state to approach Texas’ performance in this sector, with 16 communities making it into the top 50.
Sunterra spans approximately 2,300 acres and offers amenities like a crystal lagoon with a manmade beach that opened last year. Residents also have access to a pool, lazy river, splash pad, walking trails, and are within zoning for Katy Independent School District or Royal ISD.
Todd LaRue, managing director at RCLCO based in Texas, commented on Houston’s continued dominance: “It is unlikely to be dethroned as the ‘Top-Selling Metro Area’ for master-planned communities in the near future,” LaRue said.
In North Texas, Oxland Group’s Painted Tree development in McKinney led Dallas-Fort Worth area entries with 643 home sales. The project includes three districts centered around wooded lakes and parks about 30 miles north of Dallas. In Denton County, D.R. Horton’s Silverado community sold 446 homes last year.
San Antonio was represented by Riverstone—a D.R. Horton project near Alamo Ranch—which saw 529 homes sold. Near Austin in Liberty Hill, Santa Rita Ranch from Platform Ventures and Capitol Realty recorded sales of 483 homes according to RCLCO data.
