Houston and Dallas continue to set the pace for master-planned communities (MPCs). The two markets led the nation in contract sales activity through 2Q26, with their combined volume matching the sales of more than half of the other markets in the top 20. Add in Austin, San Antonio, and other Texas markets, and the Lone Star State accounted for over one-third of all MPC sales over the past 12 months. More broadly, MPC sales volume remained heavily concentrated in the Sun Belt, where sustained population growth, a deeper supply of large developable land parcels, and a generally more favorable regulatory environment have supported large-scale projects. Nearly every market in the top 20 fell within the Sun Belt, with Denver and Provo the only exceptions. Other key takeaways from our latest rankings include: - Houston remained the nation's undisputed MPC leader. Houston's master-planned communities sold more than 15K new homes over the past 12 months across more than 700 active projects. That put Houston's sales volume roughly 21% ahead of Dallas, the second-place market with 13K sales. - Florida's breadth was unmatched. Seven Florida metros ranked among the top 20, led by Orlando (4th) and Sarasota (6th). Together, the state accounted for roughly a quarter of all MPC new home sales over the past year. - Texas captured four of the top eight spots. Houston (1st), Dallas (2nd), Austin (5th), and San Antonio (8th) demonstrated just how deep demand for MPCs runs across the state. - Phoenix remained in a league of its own outside Texas. It ranked third nationally with more than 10K sales within MPCs. After falling below that mark in 2025, Phoenix once again joined the very short list of markets to surpass the 10K-sales threshold. - Scale matters. Every market in the top 10 had at least 100 actively selling MPC projects, giving buyers a wide range of floor plans, communities, and price points to choose from. MPCs have continued to demonstrate their resilience as the new home market navigates affordability challenges, economic uncertainty, and softer consumer confidence. Part of their ongoing success stems from how well their offerings align with today's key buyer priorities: social connection, health and wellness, and a stronger sense of community identity. Subscribers to Zonda's Master Plan Outlook can access the report and full analysis in the client portal. Ali Wolf Eva Beeth Sarah Bonnarens Tim Sullivan Mollie Carmichael Peter Dennehy Kyle Cheslock Keith Hughes Cameron McIntosh #MasterPlannedCommunities #MPCs #Homebuilding #RealEstateDevelopment #NewHomeSales #SunBelt #Houston #Dallas #Phoenix
