Real Estate

Two Central Texas communities—Santa Rita Ranch in Liberty Hill and Sonterra in Jarrell—earned national recognition in RCLCO’s annual list of the Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities (MPCs) of 2025, a prestigious ranking now in its third decade of publication.

RCLCO’s widely respected report tracks and analyzes new home sales across MPCs nationwide. Despite broader market challenges, master-planned communities outperformed standard housing developments in 2025, with sales at the top 50 MPCs down just 3% year-over-year—compared to a 6% mid-year decline across the general new home market.

Santa Rita Ranch (Liberty Hill, TX) – No. 29

Santa Rita Ranch ranked 29th in the nation, with 483 new home sales in 2025. Located in Liberty Hill, this award-winning community continues to attract a wide range of homebuyers thanks to its exceptional blend of amenities, education, and lifestyle appeal. Although sales were down from 644 in 2024, the community's enduring popularity reflects the Austin metro’s steady growth. Santa Rita Ranch currently includes more than 4,200 homes built across its 3,800-acre master plan, and developers project roughly 10,000 total homes at full build-out.

With eight on-site schools, 50+ planned miles of trails, resort-style pools, a fitness campus, and a lifestyle director organizing events year-round, Santa Rita Ranch offers family-friendly living with a strong sense of community. The development continues to be a top pick for families seeking access to Georgetown ISD and Liberty Hill ISD, and is home to a diverse mix of builders including Perry Homes, Toll Brothers, Highland Homes, and more.

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Sonterra (Jarrell, TX) – No. 43

Making its first-ever appearance on the national list, Sonterra secured the 43rd spot with 400 new home sales in 2025. Situated along the I-35 corridor, this master-planned community in Jarrell has become one of the fastest-growing developments north of Austin. Sonterra is a large master-planned community in northern Williamson County near Jarrell, developed over multiple phases since the mid-2000s and continuing to expand today.

Built by a mix of builders including DR Horton, Lennar, KB Home, Centex, CastleRock Communities, Century Communities, LGI Communities and Starlight Homes, the neighborhood offers affordable new-construction homes, community pools, parks, trails, and on-site schools within Jarrell ISD, making it especially attractive to first-time buyers and growing families. Williamson County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, driven in part by communities like Sonterra that attract buyers priced out of Austin’s urban core.

Texas and the Sunbelt Lead the Nation

According to the RCLCO report, Texas accounted for 33% of total sales among the top 50 communities nationwide—second only to Florida at 42%. The state’s strong showing reaffirms the importance of regional affordability, job growth, and lifestyle amenities as key drivers of housing demand.

The report also highlights several national trends shaping buyer preferences in 2025:

• MPCs outperformed the general new home market, thanks to attainably priced options and enhanced amenities.
• Communities offering diverse housing types, including smaller-lot single-family homes and townhomes, captured more buyers across multiple segments.
• Lifestyle features—from pools and parks to trails and schools—are proving essential to sales success.

Looking ahead to 2026, RCLCO projects a modest 5% increase in new home sales and continued dominance of master-planned communities, especially in Sunbelt metros like Austin. With mortgage rates stabilizing and job growth expected to pick up slightly, well-positioned MPCs are expected to remain resilient.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.