What New Housing Developments and Master-Planned Communities Are Being Built in the Austin Area Right Now

Austin's growth corridor is still one of the most active in the country. The metro added roughly 50,000 new residents in 2025 alone, and builders responded by pushing development further into Williamson, Hays, and Travis counties, where large tracts of land can support the kind of phased, amenity-rich communities that attract buyers who want something new but do not want to manage a custom build.

Land Availability and Builder Activity

Inside Austin's city limits, infill lots are scarce and expensive. That has pushed the biggest master-planned activity to suburban rings: Georgetown and Liberty Hill to the north, Buda and Kyle to the south, Pflugerville and Manor to the east, and Leander and Cedar Park to the northwest. Builders including Lennar, Taylor Morrison, Meritage, David Weekley, and KB Home are all active across these corridors simultaneously, which gives buyers genuine choices in price point, floor plan, and community size.

What the Numbers Show

Master-planned communities have consistently posted strong new home sales numbers across Texas metros, and the Austin area is no exception. HousingWire reported that master-planned communities continue to outperform the broader new-home market in terms of sales velocity, a trend that has carried into 2026 as buyers seek finished amenities, trail systems, and community pools that are built before they move in rather than promised for a future phase.

As of September 2026, the Austin metro has more than 20 active master-planned communities in various stages of build-out, ranging from communities with a few hundred planned homesites to mega-developments with 4,000 or more lots. Understanding which ones are actually delivering homes now, versus which are in early phases with years of construction ahead, matters a great deal if you have a firm move-in timeline.

2. The Largest New Master-Planned Communities Being Built Right Now

These are the communities with active sales offices, move-in-ready inventory, or homes under construction as of September 2026. Each one has a distinct location, price range, and character worth understanding before you schedule tours.

Sunfield in Buda

Sunfield sits along FM 967 in Buda, roughly 20 miles south of downtown Austin via I-35. The community is planned for approximately 4,000 homesites across multiple phases, and several phases are actively selling right now. Builders currently active in Sunfield include Lennar, Meritage, and Scott Felder, with base prices ranging from the mid-$280,000s for smaller attached plans to the upper-$400,000s for larger single-family homes on 50-foot and 60-foot lots. The community's signature amenity is a lazy river pool complex, along with miles of hike-and-bike trails that connect to Onion Creek. Buda's downtown square, with its locally owned restaurants and Saturday farmers market, is about a five-minute drive from the Sunfield entrance.

Whisper Valley in East Austin

Whisper Valley is one of the most talked-about new developments in the Austin area right now because of its geothermal energy infrastructure. Located along FM 973 near the intersection with US-290 East, the community is roughly 15 miles from downtown Austin and about 10 miles from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Every home in Whisper Valley is connected to a community-wide geothermal grid, which builders claim can reduce monthly energy costs significantly compared to conventional homes. Taylor Morrison is the primary builder, with homes ranging from approximately $320,000 to $550,000 depending on the plan and phase. The community is planned for 7,500 homesites at full build-out, making it one of the largest master-planned developments in Travis County.

Goodnight Ranch in South Austin

Goodnight Ranch occupies a large tract in the 78748 zip code, south of Slaughter Lane and west of Manchaca Road. This is one of the few master-planned communities that sits inside Austin city limits, which means city of Austin utilities, trash pickup, and direct access to the Austin metro bus network. Builders including Lennar and Milestone Community Builders are active here, with pricing generally running from the low-$400,000s to the mid-$600,000s. The community includes a central park, a dog park, and a community pool, and it is within a few miles of the Southpark Meadows retail corridor, which has a Target, multiple grocery options, and a range of restaurants. The proximity to the South Congress and Slaughter Lane intersection puts residents about 20 minutes from downtown Austin in off-peak traffic.

Rancho Sienna in Georgetown

Georgetown has become one of the most active new-construction markets in the entire Austin metro, and Rancho Sienna is one of its anchor communities. Located off Ronald Reagan Boulevard in western Georgetown, the community sits about 35 miles from downtown Austin and roughly 12 miles from the major employment hubs along US-183A and the Domain area in north Austin. Builders active in Rancho Sienna include Perry Homes, Meritage, and Scott Felder, with base prices ranging from the low-$400,000s to the low-$600,000s. The community features a resort-style pool, a fitness center, and a network of trails. Georgetown's historic downtown square, with its Victorian-era architecture and local dining scene, is about a 10-minute drive from the community entrance.

Wolf Ranch in Georgetown

Wolf Ranch is Georgetown's other major master-planned community, located along Wolf Ranch Parkway just off I-35 at the southern edge of Georgetown. The community is planned for more than 3,000 homesites, and multiple phases are actively delivering homes as of September 2026. Builders include Lennar, Pulte, and David Weekley, with pricing from the mid-$300,000s to the upper-$600,000s. Wolf Ranch has a direct I-35 connection, which makes the commute to Round Rock's tech employment corridor or to the Domain in north Austin more straightforward than communities accessed via surface roads. The on-site amenity center includes a lazy river, a splash pad, and a covered outdoor pavilion.

Northline in Pflugerville

Northline is a newer master-planned community in Pflugerville, located along Kelly Lane just east of TX-130. It is planned for roughly 2,400 homes and is currently in its early-to-mid phases, with Lennar and Brightland Homes actively building. Base prices start in the low-$300,000s, making it one of the more accessible entry points among the larger Austin-area master-planned communities right now. Pflugerville's Stone Hill Town Center, which includes a Walmart, multiple restaurants, and a movie theater, is about a 10-minute drive. The TX-130 toll road provides a direct path to Austin's eastern employment zones and to the airport, with commutes to downtown Austin typically running 30 to 40 minutes in normal traffic.

3. What These Communities Actually Cost in September 2026

Pricing across Austin-area master-planned communities spans a wide range depending on location, lot size, builder, and phase. Here is a honest look at where things stand right now.

Entry-Level to Mid-Range Pricing

The most accessible new construction in master-planned communities around Austin currently starts in the high-$270,000s to low-$300,000s. These are typically attached townhome-style products or smaller detached homes on 35-foot lots in communities like Sunfield and Northline. The sweet spot for a detached single-family home on a standard 50-foot lot in an amenity-rich community tends to run from the mid-$350,000s to the low-$500,000s, with Pflugerville and Kyle offering more inventory in that range than Georgetown or south Austin. Builders are also offering mortgage rate buydowns and closing cost contributions in September 2026, which can meaningfully affect the effective monthly payment even when the sticker price holds firm.

Upper-Mid and Luxury Pricing

For buyers seeking larger lots, higher-end finishes, or more premium locations, master-planned communities in Georgetown, Dripping Springs, and south Austin are delivering homes priced from the $600,000s into the low $800,000s. Developments in the Dripping Springs corridor, including communities along US-290 West, are targeting buyers who want larger acreage-style lots, with some plans on quarter-acre and half-acre homesites. Forbes noted in 2025 that Austin's new-build luxury segment has grown bolder, with builders incorporating features like outdoor kitchens, three-car garages, and dedicated home office suites as standard rather than upgrades in communities at this price tier.

One important note: the base price a builder advertises is rarely the price you pay. Lot premiums for greenbelt or cul-de-sac positions, structural upgrades, and design center selections can add $40,000 to $120,000 to the final contract price depending on the community and the builder. Knowing how to read a builder's pricing sheet before you walk into a sales office is a skill worth having.

4. How Commute Times and Location Shape Your Decision

Where a master-planned community sits relative to your workplace matters as much as the amenity package. Austin's traffic is concentrated on I-35, MoPac, and US-183, and commute times can vary dramatically depending on which direction you travel and what time you leave.

South and Southeast Corridors

Communities in Buda and Kyle, including Sunfield, sit along I-35 south, which connects directly to downtown Austin and the South Congress corridor. In off-peak hours, Sunfield is about 25 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin. During peak morning commute hours, that can stretch to 45 to 55 minutes. Goodnight Ranch, being inside Austin city limits, has a shorter raw distance to downtown but faces similar I-35 and Mopac congestion. The TX-130 toll road offers an alternative for buyers in Pflugerville and Manor who work at employers along the US-183 corridor or near the airport, with commutes often running 20 to 30 minutes in that direction.

North and Northeast Corridors

Georgetown communities like Wolf Ranch and Rancho Sienna serve buyers whose employment is in the Domain, the Apple campus off Parmer Lane, or the Round Rock tech corridor. Wolf Ranch's I-35 access puts the Domain about 25 to 35 minutes away in normal traffic. Rancho Sienna's Ronald Reagan Boulevard location connects to US-183A, which runs through Cedar Park and Leander and links to the Domain area in roughly 30 to 40 minutes. Georgetown also has a Capital Metro commuter rail station, which provides a car-free option into downtown Austin for buyers who want it. If your office is in downtown Austin and you are considering Georgetown, build the commute time honestly into your decision, because 35 miles on I-35 during peak hours is a real daily commitment.

For a broader look at how Austin's different submarkets compare on price and location, the Austin Neighborhoods Compared guide on this site covers the core city neighborhoods alongside the suburban corridors in detail.

5. What to Know Before Buying New Construction in a Master-Planned Community

Buying a home in a master-planned community is a different process than buying a resale home, and several of the differences work against buyers who go in unprepared.

Builder Contracts Are Not the Same as Resale Contracts

Builders use their own contracts, which are written to protect the builder, not the buyer. Key differences include limited inspection rights, restricted ability to back out if your financing changes, and clauses that allow the builder to extend the closing date by 30, 60, or even 90 days without penalty. Earnest money in new construction contracts is often 1 to 3 percent of the purchase price and may be non-refundable after a short option period. Having a buyer's agent who understands builder contracts, and who has negotiated with that specific builder before, can make a meaningful difference in what you agree to on day one.

HOA Structure and Long-Term Costs

Nearly every master-planned community in the Austin area has a homeowners association, and many have a public improvement district or a municipal utility district layered on top. MUD taxes in communities like Sunfield and Wolf Ranch can add $1,500 to $3,500 per year to your effective property tax burden, depending on the assessed value and the specific MUD rate. These charges fund the infrastructure the developer built, including roads, water lines, and utility systems, and they typically run for 20 to 30 years before the district is dissolved or annexed. Always ask the builder's sales representative for the current MUD tax rate and the estimated number of years remaining on the district's bonds before you sign anything.

HOA fees in these communities typically run between $600 and $1,800 per year, covering common area maintenance, amenity operations, and community landscaping. Some communities have tiered fees where homes closer to the amenity center pay a premium. Read the HOA documents, called the CC&Rs and the bylaws, before you close, not after.

Phase Timing and Completion Risk

Master-planned communities are built in phases over many years, and the amenities shown in the marketing materials are often tied to future phases that have not broken ground yet. If you buy in Phase 1 of a community where the resort pool is planned for Phase 3, you may live next to a construction site for two to four years before that amenity opens. Ask the sales office for a phasing map and a realistic timeline for each phase's completion. Communities that are further along in their build-out, like Goodnight Ranch and the later phases of Sunfield, carry less of this risk because the infrastructure and amenities are already in place.

There is also a longer-term question about how these communities hold their value as they age. HousingWire has examined how master-planned communities fare over time, noting that communities with strong amenity packages and proximity to employment tend to maintain resale value better than those that rely solely on low price points. That is a useful frame when comparing communities across the Austin metro.

If you are weighing whether now is the right time to buy new construction or wait for more inventory, the Austin market timing guide on this site walks through the current conditions in detail.

And if you are also considering resale homes alongside new construction, the full Austin real estate market overview covers pricing, inventory levels, and what buyers are competing against across all home types right now.