The new-home market had a soft 2026, but two kinds of communities kept selling: master-planned communities and communities built for buyers 55 and older.
They have something in common. In both, buyers are choosing a way of living as much as a house. The clubhouse, the fitness room, the pool deck, and community spaces where neighbors run into each other are part of what they are paying for. That makes shared space one of the most important rooms in the community, and one of the hardest to get right.
Master-Planned Communities are Outselling the Market
New home sales in the 50 top-selling master-planned communities rose 2.9% in the first half of 2026. Over the same stretch, national new home sales were down 5.6% year over year in June (RCLCO). In a year when most builders were working harder for every contract, the best MPCs gained ground.
Most of that activity is in our part of the country. Florida and Texas accounted for 75% of top-50 sales, and Houston alone placed nine communities on the list. D.R. Horton’s Tamarron, west of Houston, grew sales 16% to 594 homes. Wellen Park in Florida grew 37% to 727.
From a design perspective, these numbers point to something we see on every project. In a large community, the amenity center is often one of the first buildings buyers see. Before they settle on a floor plan, they have formed an impression of the place, and the shared spaces shape their decision.
Why MPCs Win: Read Through a Designer’s Eyes
Three things to credit MPCs with: place-making, amenity depth, and product diversity. Buyers see these communities as a safer place to invest. Two of those three are about the community, not the house.
Amenity depth is easy to misread as a long list of features. In our experience, it is more about how well each space gets used. A clubhouse that works as a coffee spot in the morning, a meeting room at noon, and an event space on Saturday does more for a community than three rooms that sit empty.
The industry is landing in the same place. Buyers are shopping for places and the lifestyle they support, not just homes. For designers, that means planning shared space around how residents will actually spend their days.
55+ Buyers Keep Showing Up
The top-selling community in the country is an active adult community. For example, according to Business Observer, The Villages in central Florida sold 1,800 homes in the first half of the year.
The builder data says the same. In the second quarter, PulteGroup’s active adult orders rose 12%, against 5% for first-time buyers and 4% for move-up buyers. Many of these buyers carry equity or pay cash, so they are less exposed to rate swings, and builders report needing fewer incentives to sell to them (HousingWire).
The rental side also shows steady demand. According to Senior Housing News, active adult rental occupancy reached 92.6% in the second quarter, while only about 1,000 new units opened in the first half of 2026. More residents are looking than there are new communities to choose from.
In a 55+ community, the clubhouse is not a perk. For many residents, it is the center of the week: fitness classes, card games, dinners, and the friendships that come with them. That is a different design brief than an amenity people visit once a month.
Designing for Residents Who Use the Space Every Day
When a space is used daily, the most important design decisions are often the ones nobody photographs.
- Seating people can get in and out of. Firmer cushions, supportive arms, and comfortable seat heights matter in every clubhouse. In a 55+ community, they decide whether a lounge gets used.
- Light and sound. Even, glare-free lighting and soft surfaces that absorb noise make a room comfortable for conversation, especially for residents who find echoing spaces tiring.
- Rooms that change roles. Movable tables, stackable chairs, and nearby storage let one space host a class, a meeting, and a party in the same week.
- Pieces built for year five. Contract-grade furniture holds up to daily traffic. Residential pieces often look right on opening day and wear out early, and the replacement cost lands on the community.
- Zones for different ages. In a multigenerational MPC, a family pool deck, a quiet work lounge, and a fitness studio may share one building. Clear zones keep each group comfortable.
None of this is decoration. It is what keeps a shared space working after the grand opening.
What This Means for 2027
The communities outperforming this year share a simple idea: the place matters as much as the house. Master-planned and 55+ communities have built their reputations on it, and the sales data shows buyers responding.
For developers and builders planning 2027 openings, that raises the stakes on shared space. Plan the amenity early, design it around how residents will really use it, and specify it to last. Buyers notice the difference on their first visit, and residents feel it every day after.
