Fueled by a population surge to 2.7 million in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area, master-planned communities are reshaping the region’s residential landscape.
Developers like Southstar, Forestar Group and Bitterblue Inc. are driving growth in high-demand areas like the I-35 corridor and Far West Side, delivering thousands of homes alongside amenities to attract families, professionals and retirees.
From expansion on San Antonio’s South Side to luxury estates in the Hill Country, here are five master-planned communities in San Antonio and nearby cities that are emerging. These projects integrate housing with schools, parks, and commercial hubs to meet a diverse range of needs.
VIDA
Adjacent to Texas A&M University-San Antonio, VIDA, developed by Southstar, supports the South Side’s growth in manufacturing, health care and education.
By the end of September, VIDA will close its 500th home, with 650 lots delivered and over 400 residences occupied by mid-2025.
Phase 5, which involves adding 500 homes, is scheduled to begin this year with delivery expected in 18 months. Sitterle Homes completed townhomes in spring 2025. Multifamily includes the 320-unit Los Arcos, featuring 300 market-rate apartments and duplex rentals, which are set to start construction this fall, with over 1,000 apartments planned.
Vida San Antonio is a master-planned community on the city’s South Side. The 600-acre development will deliver 4,000 single- and multifamily living units upon completion.
The VIDA Clinic, also opening this fall, offers urgent care and behavioral health, while the Palo Alto Hospital, under construction since July, targets 2027 completion. A pool and clubhouse, featuring amenities such as a kids’ splash area, are scheduled for completion in late 2025. Parks nearby include over 40 acres between the Wise de Valdez Park and Madla Greenway.
Mayfair
Located north of Kohlenberg Road in New Braunfels along I-35, the 1,900-acre Mayfair community, developed by Southstar, began in 2022 and emphasizes walkable design.
The second neighborhood opened this year, featuring builders David Weekley Homes, Scott Felder Homes, Perry Homes, Highland Homes, Toll Brothers and Coventry Homes.
Homes start at $290,000, offering a diverse range of floor plans to suit various demographics.
In early 2026, D.R. Horton will introduce homes from $300,000, and the Village at Mayfair will offer single-family rentals.
Builders Wes Peoples, Empire, and Novak are set for late 2026 to early 2027. Mayfair Elementary opened in August with 200 students. A middle school is slated for 2027.
Offering access to green space, Fairway Park opened this spring, which is part of the 300 acres and 35 miles of trails to be built in all of Mayfair. A $37 million Costco broke ground in September with an opening date in 2026, driving job creation and retail growth.
Midtown Mayfair’s Phase 1, which includes an event pavilion, swim club and café, is scheduled for the summer of next year.
Weatherwood
Arlington-based Forestar Group, a D.R. Horton subsidiary, broke ground in earlier this year on Weatherwood, a 425-acre master-planned community in Medina County near Highway 211 and Culebra Road.
The project plans to build 1,300 homes across multiple phases on 40-, 50-, and 60-foot lots, with prices starting in the high $300,000s, targeting first-time homebuyers.
The first homes, built by D.R. Horton, were delivered this summer, and a model home opened this fall. Additional builders are expected to join, though none have been announced.
Amenities include a resort-style pool, private clubhouse, pocket parks and walking trails, with the groundbreaking of the amenity center slated for late this year.
Medina Valley Independent School District plans to build a new elementary school in mid-to-late 2026 on a donated parcel, and the Medina Volunteer Fire Department has acquired land for a future station.
“Our vision draws inspiration from the Schuchart family’s mid-1800s legacy, creating a place families will call home,” said Emiliano Guerrero, Forestar’s San Antonio division land director.
Centero
Houston-based Chesmar Homes began sales in June for Centero at Stone Oak, a single-family home community in San Antonio’s upscale Stone Oak neighborhood at 20675 Huebner Road.
It’s a rare development for the Stone Oak neighborhood, as there have been no other significant home developments in the area for some time.
The development offers modern, energy-efficient homes with three and four bedrooms and two to three bathrooms, ranging from 1,658 to 2,300 square feet. Prices start at $400,000, with seven floor plans available. These plans feature open-concept kitchens, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, covered patios and additional amenities, including 50-inch electric fireplaces and security systems.
Construction is underway, with homes now available for sale and an estimated completion date in late 2027. Zoned for North East Independent School District, it serves Las Lomas Elementary, Barbara Bush Middle School and Reagan High School.
The Business Journal reached out to Chesmar for more information, but did not hear back by publishing.
Thornebrook
San Antonio-based Bitterblue Inc. is developing Thornebrook, a 497-acre master-planned community in Bulverde, which will deliver at least 100 luxury homes on one-acre lots. Toll Brothers and David Weekley Homes are key builders, joined by Perry Homes.
Toll Brothers at Thornebrook, a gated neighborhood located at 1018 Rapidan Lane, offers approximately 50 homes starting in the upper $900,000s. These homes feature four to five bedrooms, four to six bathrooms and three to five-car garages, with sales set to open in fall 2025. David Weekley Homes, now selling, offers approximately 50 homes with open-concept floor plans ranging from 3,250 to 5,250 square feet.
The community includes 90 acres of open space, a six-acre park and over four miles of trails. Served by Comal Independent School District, it includes Rahe Bulverde Elementary, Spring Branch Middle School and Smithson Valley High School. Thornebrook supports Comal County’s estimated 9.9% population growth from 2022 to 2024.
This article was originally published by Shay Khan for the San Antonio Business Journal.