Master Plans

Florida, fueled partially by the Gulf Coast, continues to be a national leader in home sales within master-planned communities.

The Sunshine State combined with Texas and California to account for 60% of the top 20 master-planned communities in terms of total home sales volume, according to a new report from real estate research firm RCLCO. Texas reigns in the top 50 markets, with 32% of the total, or 16 communities — including nine in sprawling Houston, according to a separate survey from John Burns Real Estate Consulting. Florida posted 11 communities in the John Burns Top 50, for 22% of the total, followed by California, with eight communities for a 16% market share.

Five of the 11 Florida master-planned communities in the John Burns Top 50 are on the Gulf Coast. The West Villages in North Port, a city in south Sarasota County, made its debut on the 2016 list at No. 4 with 848 home sales in 2016. The West Villages comprises four existing neighborhoods: Sarasota National, Gran Paradiso, Grand Palm and Island Walk. Three new neighborhoods are starting this year, say West Villages officials.