Montgomery County has been growing for decades since the founding of The Woodlands in 1974. And the meticulously planned community approximately 28 miles north of Houston, continues to flourish as one of the most successful master-planned communities in the nation. Now, as new highways improve access and land costs rise elsewhere, developers are looking to adjacent counties for opportunity, pushing the edges of the metro farther west and northeast of Houston.
According to a recent Zonda report, Liberty County alone has more than 32,000 residential lots in the pipeline, with Waller County showing a similar trend. The desire for affordability, larger homesites, and contemporary conveniences is also fueling rapid expansion in both Austin and Fort Bend Counties.
Austin County
Collaborating with both local and national homebuilders, Windy Hill Development works to fulfill the ever-increasing demand for workforce housing while actively engaging with state and local government leaders to advocate for homeowners and the real estate industry. In that endeavor, Windy Hill recently announced the purchase of 300 acres in Austin County. There, it will build the master-planned community “The Grove,” west of Houston near Sealy.
While communities farther east face skyrocketing land prices, Windy Hill secured the Sealy land for around $30,000 an acre, far below the $90,000 per acre often seen in high-demand zones like Katy, reports Hampson Properties Home with Houston blog. The recent completion of I-10 improvements through Sealy enhances connectivity, making the location attractive for potential buyers.
At The Grove, Windy Hill Development and Connor Investment Real Estate will build a 1,300-home community. The neighborhood is located on the northwestern corner of FM 1094 and Frazer Road, about 55 miles from downtown Houston.
The developer currently has nine projects in active development, with more than 8,000 residential lots planned over more than 3,000 acres across Houston, including Sealy, Alvin, Needville, Crosby, Huntsville, and Dayton, Texas.
Fort Bend County
After partnering with the county and state to help move forward the Fort Bend Parkway and Grand Parkway extension, The Signorelli Co. is already making its mark in the Southwest Houston Corridor with the 4,700-acre Austin Point. There it has started the first phase of some some 14,000 homes and 15 million square feet of commercial space.
And Signorelli now begins construction on Holly Ridge, a 359-acre master-planned community further west in Fort Bend County. Situated along the southern edge of U.S. Highway 90 Alternate, Holly Ridge is about seven miles from Rosenberg, three miles from U.S. Highway 59, and roughly 40 miles from downtown Houston. All homes will be built by D.R. Horton on 40- and 50-foot lots, ranging from 1,200 to over 3,000 square feet. Prices are projected to start in the low $300,000s and reach up to about $450,000, aligning closely with Houston’s median home price, according to Redfin.
THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN VOL 4 2025 BUILDING SAVVY MAGAZINE.
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