January 28, 2025
In Summary
- New home sales among the 20 Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities in Florida remained similar to the pace set in 2023, a sign of resilient demand despite headwinds that included election uncertainty, hurricane impacts, higher-for-longer mortgage rates and continued affordability challenges.
- Limited resale inventory and the “lock-in” effect caused by elevated mortgage rates continue to make new homes an attractive option for consumers, particularly with builders willing to offer incentives.
- The Villages active adult community is once again the top-selling community in the country as well as the state of Florida with 3,208 sales, including sales in the new all-ages Middleton neighborhood.
- Sarasota, Florida’s Lakewood Ranch claimed the number two spot in both the country and the state with 2,110 sales. Lakewood Ranch had the most sales of any majority multi-generational community in the country.
- Wellen Park in Venice, Florida ranked third in the state with 960 sales, an 8% increase over 2023.
- Rounding out the Top-5 also includes Hutson Companies’ Silverleaf in St. Augustine, Florida with 960 sales, and Mirada by Metro Development Group / Encore / GTIS in San Antonio Florida, with an impressive 24% increase in sales over 2023.
- The state of Florida represented 38% of sales among the Top-50 MPCs in the country.
RCLCO has produced the Top-Selling Master-Planned Community Report since 1994, making it the longest-running publication on master-planned community performance in the industry. The ranking of communities is based on total new home contracts, net of cancellations, as reported by each individual community. Preliminary sales numbers are typically provided by communities in early December, with final sales figures provided during the first week of January. In some cases, sales figures are updated periodically throughout the month of January as communities finalize their records.
To be included in RCLCO’s ranking, MPCs must have several key features. True MPCs are developed from a comprehensive plan by a master developer, and incorporate a variety of housing types, sizes, and prices, with shared common space, amenities, and a vital public realm. The best examples of MPCs are developed with a strong vision and comprehensive plan that guide development and unify the community through distinctive signage, wayfinding, entry features, landscaping, and architectural/design standards. MPCs differentiate themselves from typical suburban subdivisions in terms of scale, as well as in how they provide a means for interaction among neighbors in the sense of the word “community.” They foster an environment within which generations can live better in terms of housing and the community environment, and many MPCs also offer educational opportunities, neighborhood shopping and services, and even employment centers to complement the residential neighborhoods. Although rooted in a vision, the most resilient MPCs have flexible master plans that are environmentally sensitive, market responsive, and nurture the lifestyles of their residents.
Given the above criteria, we do not include the collective sales of multiple, separate communities that are unified only through marketing efforts rather than a preconceived community vision, nor do we include communities that are a collection of subdivisions that have few unifying elements other than name.
More on the Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities
Article and research prepared by Karl Pischke, Principal, and Gregg Logan, Managing Director. Additional research support was provided by Kimberly Asbell, Christopher Bitter, Shanren Brienen, Maggie Henderson, and Jameson Logan.
Disclaimer: Reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the data contained in this Advisory reflect accurate and timely information, and the data is believed to be reliable and comprehensive. The Advisory is based on estimates, assumptions, and other information developed by RCLCO from its independent research effort and general knowledge of the industry. This Advisory contains opinions that represent our view of reasonable expectations at this particular time, but our opinions are not offered as predictions or assurances that particular events will occur.
