5 Keys to Master Planned Community Success

Master planned communities (MPCs) are on the rise: Last year, the top 50 sold over 31,000 new homes. But figuring out the best way to configure an entire community is no walk in the park—though many MPCs have plenty of those. When it comes down to it, a stellar community cannot just be homes arranged in a row. They need practical amenities, health and wellness offerings, accessibility and more, all for a great price. John Burns Real Estate Consulting boiled down all the successful attributes of the top 50 MPCs into five easy takeaways that you can use in your next MPC development. 

The top 50 master-planned communities (MPCs) sold more than 31,000 new homes last year, a phenomenal 10% increase over 2018. Based on consulting and/or visiting almost all of the top 50, we identified 5 themes for success this year:

Lower prices thanks to smaller homes or higher densities

Clever community design elements

Exceptional amenities

Cutting-edge health and wellness offerings

Employment accessibility

Affordability concerns slowed sales volume in 4Q18, prompting many home builders and developers to pivot towards entry-level and high-density product at more attainable price points. Several masterplans on our top 50 list capitalized on the shift, offering both traditional single-family product and higher density configurations like townhomes or zero lot line plans.

Lesley Deutch, Principal Consultant managing the eastern region, notes that “Flowers Plantation highlights the strong demand for attainable housing in the Raleigh-Durham MSA, with most new homes selling in the $200K – $300K range. The Flowers Plantation masterplan continues to attract primarily families seeking larger homes with reasonable commute times to work.”

Adam Artunian, Vice President in Consulting, mentions: “The Great Park Neighborhoods have shifted to higher-density product, targeting a younger buyer demographic looking for (relatively) affordable homes in Orange County. The Great Park amenities and highly rated schools continue to be a big draw for buyers.”

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