A master planned community is, simply put, a large-scale residential community that has been carefully planned from its inception and includes a great many amenities, such as golf courses, fitness centers, playgrounds, swimming pools, and clubhouses. It may be near natural green spaces, such as lakes, parks, and trails.
The average master planned community stretches over more than 200 acres and is located in a suburban area near major thoroughfares, schools, churches, hospitals, salons, shopping, and recreation centers.
Developers of master planned communities often adhere to strict architectural guidelines for the construction of new homes—and for any alterations of homes that have already been built—to ensure the character and curb appeal of the entire neighborhood. Most have a homeowners association or HOA to help preserve the nature and beauty of the community, as well as covenants for maintaining landscaping and common areas.
Master planned communities may consist of a single large residential area, or they may be broken down into multiple subdivisions or neighborhoods. These subdivisions often boast their own unique personalities and offer residents different housing styles, home sizes, prices, and lot options.
Thanks to their size and the fact that they have been planned from day one, master planned communities can offer residents greater assurance as to what their future surroundings will look like years down the road.
Because of this reliability and their numerous amenities, master planned communities attract a wide variety of residents, from first-time home buyers to move-up buyers and those who want to scale down.
According to RCLCO, a leading authority on master planned communities, a home in a master planned community is an excellent investment. Thanks to their amenities, conveniences, options, and the basic protections offered by their covenants and homeowners associations, master-planned communities can protect and grow property values better than many residential subdivisions.
Along with physical amenities such as tennis courts and swimming pools, master planned communities often feature social and recreational events for all ages, planned by an on-site events coordinator or “lifestyle director.” In this way, master planned communities become more than a place to call home; they become a true community and even a lifestyle.
There are many master planned communities located in spots throughout the world, including many urban and suburban areas in the United States. At Santa Rita Ranch, our master planned community near Austin, we have brought together all the best aspects of master planned communities with the values of Ranch living to provide a community like no other.
Founded in 2013, we’ve already sold more than 7,000 homes, and we’re looking forward to welcoming lots more neighbors into our community!
Upon completion, our Ranch will include about 10,000 homes among nine distinct villages and more than 200 acres of commercial and multifamily development. To date, developers have invested upward of $80 million in amenities for their community, including pools, parks, trails, on-site schools, and family sports complexes for each village.
All of our amenities were developed and implemented with the needs and dreams of our residents firmly in mind, to ensure that everyone who lives on the Ranch gets much more than a home—they get a life of fun, friends, stimulation, and adventure!
The amenities at the Santa Rita Ranch master planned community in Austin are generous, with numerous pools, parks, and gathering areas. The Ranch House has a pool, water slides, and a splash park, and three more pools can be found at Ranch Camp, as well as a splash pad, pickleball court, and more. The Hub has another community pool, a clubhouse, a BBQ barn, a food truck lot, and a catering kitchen. Green Play Park keeps residents active with basketball courts, a fitness zone, sand volleyball, and a playground.
Just for residents at our 55+ Regency neighborhood, there is a well-appointed clubhouse, resort-style pool, bocce ball, pickleball courts, and indoor and outdoor gathering spaces. Coming in 2026 is The Paddock, with another resort-style pool, playscape, indoor and outdoor pickleball, a trike track, and a covered pavilion.
Residents can enjoy the fitness center in our Wellness Barn, have a drink at the Ranch House, or enjoy movies, live music, and lawn games on the Great Lawn, to name just a few of the many things to do and see in Santa Rita Ranch. Plus, miles of nature trails cross our more than 400 acres of Texas Hill Country, as well as trails that loop around the San Gabriel River.
We worked hard to build a community that we know residents will love, and all our hard work has been noticed. We were awarded the 2021 Community of the Year by the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin and have been listed as Austin’s top-selling community since 2020. In 2024, we were ranked No. 19 in the nation and No. 7 in Texas by RCLCO. The previous year, RCLCO ranked us No. 16 among the nation’s top-selling master planned communities and again No. 7 in the state. We were also named the Best of the Best in Amenities by the Austin American-Statesman.
At Santa Rita Ranch, we’re more than just a master planned community or the sum of our many parts. We blaze our trail, take pride in our work, and always make time to have some fun along the way—and we help our residents do the same! A community is only as good as the people in it, and there’s no way we could be the best master planned community in Austin if we didn’t have some of the best residents around!
Thinking about buying a new home in a master planned community? Fill out the form above for more info. We’re waiting to hear from you and ready to help you call Santa Rita Ranch home!
