What New Housing Developments and Master Planned Communities Are Being Built in the Sacramento Area in 2026

Sacramento is one of the fastest-growing metros in California. The region added roughly 25,000 new residents between 2024 and 2026, driven partly by remote workers relocating from the Bay Area and partly by natural population growth in Sacramento, Placer, and El Dorado counties. That sustained demand has pushed builders to accelerate permitting and break ground on communities that were in the planning stages for years.

Population Growth and Regional Demand

Sacramento's median home price as of September 2026 sits around $480,000 to $510,000 for existing resale homes, depending on the submarket. New construction gives buyers an alternative, particularly in the $450,000 to $750,000 range, where builder inventory has grown more than in any other price tier this year. Buyers who cannot find the right resale home in East Sacramento or Midtown are increasingly looking at new communities in the suburbs where they can get more square footage and modern finishes at a comparable or lower price point. For more on how the broader market is shaping buyer decisions right now, see the Sacramento real estate market guide published on this site.

Sacramento County's Active Planning Pipeline

Sacramento County has several designated new growth areas that have been in various stages of environmental review and entitlement for years, and many of those projects are now moving into active construction. The county's planning department tracks these formally as New Growth Areas and Master Plans, and that resource is worth bookmarking if you want to track a specific project through the approval and construction process. Areas like Vineyard, Jackson Township, and the Cordova Hills specific plan area are all in various stages of development activity as of September 2026.

2. Major Master Planned Communities Being Built in the Sacramento Area in 2026

Several large master planned communities are actively under construction across the Sacramento region right now. Each has its own character, price range, commute profile, and builder mix. Here is a detailed look at the most significant ones.

Elk Grove: Wildhawk West and South Elk Grove Expansion

Elk Grove continues to be one of the most active new construction markets in the Sacramento region. The Wildhawk West area, located in the southwestern portion of Elk Grove near Bruceville Road and Whitelock Parkway, has multiple builder collections releasing new phases in 2026. Homes in this corridor range from approximately $520,000 for a 1,800-square-foot single-story plan up to around $720,000 for larger two-story homes with four or five bedrooms. The area sits roughly 20 miles south of downtown Sacramento via Highway 99, putting the drive to the Capitol at approximately 25 to 35 minutes depending on traffic.

South Elk Grove, closer to the Cosumnes River Preserve boundary, is also seeing new phases open. These neighborhoods tend to feature larger lots, some exceeding 6,000 square feet, and include community parks, walking trails, and connections to the city's existing greenbelt system. Elk Grove Unified School District serves this area; for school performance data, the California Department of Education's website at cde.ca.gov is the appropriate place to research that independently.

Rancho Cordova: Sunrise Douglas and Anatolia Expansion

Rancho Cordova is home to one of the Sacramento region's most established master planned communities, Anatolia, and new phases continue to open there in 2026. Anatolia sits east of Sunrise Boulevard near Douglas Road and offers a mix of single-family detached homes, a community recreation center, and a network of parks and trails. New homes in the latest Anatolia phases are pricing from the mid $500,000s to the upper $600,000s for homes ranging from roughly 2,000 to 3,200 square feet. The community is approximately 15 miles east of downtown Sacramento, with light rail access at the Sunrise station providing a car-free commute option into the urban core.

The broader Sunrise Douglas specific plan area is also seeing new residential phases break ground in 2026. This area, which stretches along the Douglas Road corridor east of Sunrise Boulevard, is planned for thousands of additional units over the coming decade. Current active phases include detached single-family homes and some attached townhome-style products, giving buyers at different price points an entry into the community.

Lincoln: Lincoln Crossing and Twelve Bridges Growth

Lincoln, located in Placer County about 30 miles northeast of Sacramento, remains one of the region's most active new construction cities. Lincoln Crossing is a large master planned community that has been building out for over a decade and still has active phases in 2026. The community includes a private clubhouse with a pool, fitness center, and tennis courts, along with miles of walking and biking trails that connect to open space areas. New homes here currently range from approximately $490,000 for smaller plans to over $800,000 for larger premium lots.

Twelve Bridges, another Lincoln-area master planned community, is also seeing continued new construction activity. Positioned along Ferrari Ranch Road, Twelve Bridges features a mix of production homes and semi-custom lots. The drive from Lincoln to Sacramento's central business district takes approximately 40 to 50 minutes via Interstate 80, which is a meaningful consideration for buyers who commute in person several days a week.

West Sacramento and Broderick Area Infill

Not all new Sacramento-area construction is happening on the suburban fringe. West Sacramento, directly across the Sacramento River from downtown, has seen a wave of infill development along the riverfront and in the Broderick and Bryte neighborhoods. New townhome and small-lot single-family projects are delivering homes in the $420,000 to $580,000 range, with some riverfront condominiums priced higher. The commute to downtown Sacramento from West Sacramento is typically under 15 minutes by car or bicycle, and the city has invested heavily in its riverfront trail system connecting to Old Sacramento and beyond.

3. What to Expect From New Construction Pricing and Home Sizes in 2026

New construction pricing in the Sacramento area in 2026 varies significantly by location, builder, and product type. Understanding the range helps you narrow your search before you start visiting model homes and signing up for interest lists.

Entry-Level and Move-Up Price Ranges

The most affordable new construction in the Sacramento region right now starts around $390,000 to $430,000 for attached townhomes or smaller detached homes in communities like those in West Sacramento or certain Elk Grove phases. The move-up segment, which is where most of the builder activity is concentrated, runs from roughly $500,000 to $700,000 and covers three-to-four-bedroom detached homes with two-car garages and standard builder finishes. Above $700,000, buyers can find larger homes on premium lots, homes with additional structural options like bonus rooms or multi-generational suites, and communities in Placer County markets like Rocklin, Roseville, and Lincoln where lot sizes tend to be more generous.

Lot Sizes and Home Square Footage Across Communities

Lot sizes in new Sacramento-area communities range considerably. Infill and attached products in West Sacramento or Rancho Cordova may sit on lots of 2,500 to 4,000 square feet, while single-family detached homes in Elk Grove or Lincoln typically occupy 5,000 to 8,000-square-foot lots. Some premium phases in Lincoln and Roseville offer lots exceeding 10,000 square feet. Home sizes generally run from 1,600 square feet for a compact three-bedroom plan up to 3,800 square feet for the largest production home models. Buyers should note that builder base prices often do not include upgrades, lot premiums for corner or cul-de-sac positions, or solar systems, which are now required on new California construction.

For a broader look at how new construction pricing compares to the resale market and whether now is the right time to buy, the article on whether it is a good time to buy a home in Sacramento covers the current market conditions in detail.

4. Key Builders Active in Sacramento's New Communities Right Now

A handful of national and regional builders are responsible for most of the new housing development activity in the Sacramento area in 2026. Knowing who is building where helps you understand what you are getting in terms of construction quality, warranty coverage, and the buying process itself.

National Builders With Local Footprints

Lennar, KB Home, Meritage Homes, Taylor Morrison, and Woodside Homes are all actively selling in the Sacramento region as of September 2026. Lennar is particularly active in Elk Grove and Rancho Cordova, with several communities offering their Everything's Included model where upgrades like quartz countertops, stainless appliances, and smart home technology are bundled into the base price. KB Home has a strong presence in the Natomas area north of downtown Sacramento, where several new phases have opened in 2026 along the North Natomas Regional Park corridor. Meritage Homes has been active in Roseville and Rocklin, where their energy-efficient construction methods have been a selling point given California's energy cost environment.

Taylor Morrison has communities in both Elk Grove and the Lincoln area, while Woodside Homes continues to build in Natomas and select Placer County locations. For a broader overview of communities from multiple builders in one place, NewHomeSource maintains a regularly updated list of master planned communities near Sacramento that can help you compare communities side by side before visiting model homes.

What Builder Contracts Actually Mean for Buyers

Builder contracts are not the same as standard California residential purchase agreements, and that distinction matters. Most builder contracts are written to protect the builder first. They typically include limited contingencies, strict timelines for option selections and loan approval, and clauses that allow the builder to adjust pricing on certain items. Earnest money deposits on new construction in the Sacramento area currently run between 1% and 3% of the purchase price and are often non-refundable after a short cancellation window. Understanding what you are signing before you hand over a deposit is critical.

5. Practical Steps for Buying Into a New Sacramento Development in 2026

Buying a new construction home in Sacramento involves a different process than buying a resale property. The steps below reflect how the process actually works with Sacramento-area builders right now.

How to Get on a Builder's Interest List

Most builders in the Sacramento area manage demand through interest lists or VIP lists that give registered buyers early access to lot releases and pricing announcements. To get on a list, you typically visit the community's sales office or register online through the builder's website. Some communities in Elk Grove and Rancho Cordova have had waitlists of 50 to 100 households for popular floor plans, so registering early matters. Builders will generally want to see a pre-approval letter before they take your registration seriously, so having your financing in order before you start visiting model homes puts you in a stronger position.

Once a lot release happens, the builder typically gives registered buyers a short window, sometimes 24 to 72 hours, to select a lot and sign a purchase agreement. After signing, you will go through a design center appointment to select finishes and upgrades, followed by a construction timeline that currently runs six to ten months for most Sacramento-area builders depending on the plan and phase.

Why You Still Need Your Own Agent

The sales agent at a builder's model home represents the builder, not you. Having your own buyer's agent at no cost to you means you have someone reviewing the contract terms, advising on which lot premiums are worth paying, flagging upgrade costs that exceed what you could add after closing for less money, and helping you understand the builder's reputation in the Sacramento market. Builders in California are required to cooperate with buyer's agents, and your agent's commission is paid by the builder, so there is no financial reason to go it alone.

The article on how to find a trustworthy buyer's agent in Sacramento covers what to look for and what questions to ask before you commit to working with anyone.

One more practical note: closing timelines on new construction differ from resale. If you are buying a home that is already framed or nearly complete, closing can happen in 30 to 60 days from contract. If you are buying from the ground up, you may be waiting six to twelve months. The article on how long it takes to close on a house in Sacramento explains the full timeline in detail.