After six consecutive years as the top-selling master-planned community in the nation, Summerlin in Las Vegas dropped to No. 2 in 2003 behind The Villages, an active-adult community between Orlando and Ocala, Fla., according to Robert Charles Lesser & Co., a real estate advisory company.
Del Webb placed five communities among the top 20, including No. 16 Sun City Palm Desert (Calif.), which sold out last year. RCL notes that most of the top sellers are in areas with rapid population growth, steady or strong employment growth, abundant housing options and large tracts of available land in desirable climates.
2003 Rank | 2002 Rank | Community | Metro Area | Developer | 2003 Sales | 2002 Sales | % Change |
1 | 2 | The Villages | Orlando/Ocala, Fla. | The Villages | 3,823 | 2,260 | 69.2 |
2 | 1 | Summerlin | Las Vegas | The Howard Hughes Corp. | 2,873 | 2,634 | 9.1 |
3 | 4 | Poinciana | Orlando, Fla. | Avatar Properties | 2,484 | 1,697 | 46.4 |
4 | 5 | Anthem Las Vegas | Las Vegas | Del Webb | 2,038 | 1,678 | 21.5 |
5 | 3 | Irvine Ranch | Orange County, Calif. | Irvine Community Development | 1,937 | 2,080 | -6.9 |
6 | 8 | St. Lucie West | Port St. Lucie, Fla. | St. Lucie West Development | 1,569 | 1,152 | 36.2 |
7 | 6 | The Woodlands | Houston | The Woodlands Operating Co. | 1,452 | 1,378 | 5.4 |
8 | 10 | Anthem Phoenix | Phoenix | Del Webb | 1,293 | 1,136 | 13.8 |
9 | 7 | Ladera Ranch | Orange County, Calif. | DMB Ladera | 1,212 | 1,415 | -14.3 |
10 | 11 | Sun City Grand | Phoenix | Del Webb | 1,204 | 1,100 | 9.5 |
