1. The Established Inner Ring: McKinney & Surrounds

If you’ve driven through McKinney, TX recently, you’ve probably passed right by these without even realizing they’re new developments. They are great examples of what happens when dirt turns into a thriving housing market.

• Painted Tree (McKinney): Developed by Oxland Group, this massive 1,100-acre community will feature around 3,400 homes. It opened in 2023 and boasts a 20-acre lake, nearly 200 acres of open space, and 28 miles of trails. Right now, active builder inventory, cottage homes, and resale listings are all competing side-by-side.
• Trinity Falls (McKinney): Johnson Development’s 2,000-acre master plan sits alongside a 350-acre natural park on the East Fork of the Trinity River. It calls for 5,000 homes. While it's mature and well-established, builders are still actively selling detached homes, townhomes, and age-targeted residences.
• The Benchmarks: Almost everyone knows top-tier developments like Windsong Ranch, Star Trail, and Light Farms in the Prosper, TX and Celina areas. These established communities show us what a master plan looks like once all amenities are delivered, phase construction stabilizes, and a healthy resale market operates alongside new builds.

2. The Active Middle Ring: Celina & Aubrey

While the inner ring feels established, Celina, TX is in total motion. This area represents hyper-growth.

• Legacy Hills (Celina): Centurion American’s massive project near Legacy Drive and Celina Parkway is the largest single community on our list. Spanning 3,200 acres, it plans for 7,000 homes, an 18-hole golf course, a 27-acre sports park, and seven amenity centers. D.R. Horton and M/I Homes are actively finishing inventory here right now.
• Ramble (Celina): Hillwood’s 1,380-acre development includes plans for over 4,000 homes and 30 miles of trails. Model homes opened this year, with pricing starting in the $400s and stretching over $1 million. Hillwood’s buildout timeline runs all the way to 2044, proving how strongly developers are betting on Celina's long-term future.
• Serenade (Celina): Huffines broke ground on this 468-acre community anchored by a 16-acre lake. Phase one includes 543 lots, with target home pricing ranging from the low $400s to $900s.
• Wild Horse (Celina): Planned for roughly 770 homes with parks and sports fields. It’s listed as "coming soon" with D.R. Horton.
• Mosaic (Celina): Located north of Windsong Ranch, this 1,700-home community by Telus Group is open and selling everything from townhomes to large single-family layouts.
• Chapel Ridge (Aubrey): Located in Aubrey, TX, this 160-acre, 450-lot neighborhood features around $30.7 million in Public Improvement District (PID) bonds for early infrastructure.

3. The Northern Expansion: Pilot Point, Van Alstyne & Beyond

As we push farther north along the expansion corridor, developers are placing major long-term bets on land for homes that are still years away from delivery.

• Cubby Creek (Aubrey): A 168-acre development with 828 lots planned by Centurion American, with D.R. Horton and First Texas on board. Target lot delivery isn't until 2028.
• Pilot Point Triple Threat: Near Pilot Point, TX, three projects show how different construction timelines can be. Bryson Ranch (3,100+ homes planned) is currently doing preliminary site grading. Creek View Meadows (2,400 homes) is actively selling today. Moberly Farms (nearly 2,000 lots) has active model homes from Lennar, Century Communities, and M/I Homes.
• High Point Village (Van Alstyne): Sitting in Van Alstyne, TX, this 667-acre master plan includes over 2,200 single-family homes, 300 townhomes, and 64 acres of commercial space.
• Cottonwood (Sherman / Dorchester): A 1,500-acre project planned for 4,000 homes in Sherman, TX. This community is tied directly to Texas Instruments' new $40 billion semiconductor campus, placing housing right next to thousands of incoming tech jobs.
• Preston Harbor (Denison): Located right on Lake Texoma in Denison, TX, this multi-billion-dollar lakefront destination features a 550-acre residential footprint with 1,300 homes ranging from standard suburban lots to 7-acre luxury custom estates.

What Does This Mean for You as a Buyer?

Navigating early-stage developments versus finished communities comes down to your personal strategy:

• Buying Early in New Communities: Gives you first pick on prime lots and initial floor plan pricing. However, you’ll be living through ongoing construction, waiting on unfinished road infrastructure, and buying before there is established resale market history.
• Buying in Mature Communities: Offers certainty. You know what the neighborhood looks like, amenities are open, and schools and retail are established—though you’ll have fewer blank-canvas lot choices.

Key Construction Milestones Every Buyer Should Track

When buying new construction, always monitor these four distinct phases instead of relying on an estimated completion date:

1. Land Acquisition: The developer secures the parcel.
2. Horizontal Infrastructure: Roads, drainage, and utilities are installed.
3. Lot Hand-Off: Builders take possession of finished lots.
4. Model Openings & First Closings: Official sales begin and home keys are handed over.

Ready to grab your piece of North Dallas? Schedule a Zoom meeting with our team here or give us a call at 469-949-4292 and let's make your smoothest move yet! 📅✨