Understanding Sales in the Top 50 New-Home Communities of 2025

Sales across the U.S. housing market were down in 2025, but sales among the 50 best-selling master planned communities (MPCs) remained stable throughout the year. According to a recent survey from John Burns Research & Consulting, home sales in these communities fell by just 4% year-over-year from 34,000 in 2024 to almost 33,000 in 2025.

The annual survey measures sales data across the 50 best-selling MPCs to find out which sold the most homes, and more importantly, what's working for them to drive sales. 

Sales across the housing market have generally cooled since the pandemic housing boom, but some communities are recording high levels of sales activity

Each of the top 50 MPCs in 2025 sold at least 360 new homes, including seven communities that sold 1,000 or more. Still, those numbers are lower than the peak recorded in 2021, when the top 50 master planned communities sold a collective 39,000 homes. 

What’s driving sales in these communities?

According to the survey, sales in these communities were largely driven by three factors: lifestyle, affordability strategy, and sales incentives.

Buyers continue to gravitate toward MPCs because they offer high-quality amenities, security, thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces, and a sense of connection to their neighbors.

At the same time, ongoing affordability pressures across the housing market have pushed builders to rethink their product mix and offer more flexible floor plans and lot sizes that ultimately help bring more buyers to the table.

Builders also are offering various incentives, especially mortgage rate buydowns on move-in ready homes, to remain competitive and secure more sales.