Master-Planned Communities LMC – Discussion Highlights
2023
- December 2023 Holiday mixer / social
- November 2023 Wilding MPC’s Presentation by Blackland Collaboration (Emily Manderson)
- Challenges to implementation:
- regulatory approvals (slower)
- financial (will buyers pay the premium it takes; will financial partners accept impact)
- more projects need to prove the business model before more will pursue it
- buyers: some will pay the premium – but not all
- education of public (complaints from some about what they perceive as “cheapskate” developer when they see more native landscape even though it likely cost more!)
- Challenges to implementation:
- October 2023 Wilding MPC’s Presentation by Blackland Collaboration (Emily Manderson)
- Emily inspired us to have the Ecosystem in our subconscious as we approach our various roles in development. She talked about ‘Wilding a MPC on a Spectrum’, including wilding our parking lots. Her projects show 25% savings per EPA and this makes it interesting for privatization. We learned about Savanna and Grassland restoration and grasses vs trees as options to wild that in some cases may be more ecological sound.
- September 2023 Economic Update w Todd LaRue
- Todd LaRue from RCLCO shared an economic update and his slide deck was provided after. Growth is strong, rates will push one more time, possible light recession if at all. 22 of Top 50 MPC’s are in TX. MPC’s still perform better than general market homes in time of economic uncertainty. New homes are on rise to fill supply gap created by lack of existing inventory. Large land deals of 1,000 to over 5,000 acres are in play in area. Seeing rise of attached for sale product in edge locations. Multi-family rental hard to underwrite sentiments down in that sector.
- August 2023 New Member Intro (what have done lately – learned lately)
- Diversity of the services and projects our members are working on. The range of resources our members can offer to support each other.
- July 2023 Babara Wray presented findings from Home Buyer Satisfaction Survey
- We learned about the Trust Gap that has been created between consumers and builders/developers during these post pandemic rate hikes and rising prices and constrained supply. The loss of relationship selling in COVID needs to be restored to help cure the Trust Gap that has now been revealed. Satisfaction is at an all time low.
- June 2023 National Trends / Spring Meeting Update
- Impact of Disney getting in MPC business around the country and seeking developer partners; Changes in Community Assn Model of Mgmt. ; A focus on the year of wellness; Capital Panel indicated slow down in deals since last national meeting; Discussion on when office inventory will get marked to market.
- May 2023 Ideas for Future Meetings; General sense of the market: good. Design and construction slowed but planning is up.
- April 2023 Consumers & Amenities They Want with Member Monica Hollins
- 10 Trends in MPC Amenities around the country. Detailed discussion and photos regarding Agrihoods, Naturehoods, Pickleball, Multi-use space designs, Pools, Luxury brands making their way into amenities closer to home and more.
- Member Frank Carroll gave an update on bills impacting MPC’s that are working their way through legislature. Watch for Chickens and Street Parking y’all.
- March 2023 Kissing Tree Tour & Lunch
- Fellow Council Members from CoHere and Brookfield provided breakfast and Tour of Kissing Tree Amenity Program. A Kissing Tree agent shared insight about the history of the development, the sales and the consumer.
- February 2023 New member Welcome & Market +’s
- Met at The Codependent. Enjoyed Big Circle Discussion with Coffee on the sofas! Introductions by all to discover the unique contribution we all make to our companies/organizations.
- Discussed Market Positives – Feel Recession is Mild. Land prices are not distressed. Home sales are rising (10 sales/week reported by one builder in Kyle), Active Adult sales also very strong w cash buyers now feeling market is normalizing. Conventional buyers adjusting to IR and getting back in also.
- Majority of Council Members said their companies are still hiring. Consultants are using a slight reprieve in the market to catch up on back-log. Projects coming in but a little delayed and a little slower.
- January 2023 Met at Core Spaces at The Domain, Member Greg Gonzales shared insight about BTR vs SFR, metrics BTR uses to evaluate opportunities, projects Core Spaces is working on
2022
- December 2022 Holiday Mixer
- November 2022 Coffee hour at Littlefields, Discussion centered around Public access lagoons, surf parks and land deals. Acquisition teams are slowing down, There are deals out there but land prices are still too high.
- October 2022 State of the Market – Todd Larue – RCLCO
- Economic Update in a destabilized market. Interest rates rising through year end. Inflation fueled by consumption. Community Traffic in New Home Developments Down 55%. Mdn Monthly payment in ATX doubled in 2 yrs. Home Values creeped up 20%. 6 month supply of housing is considered a Balanced market; Nationally there is 8 mo supply in New homes and 3 months in resale.
- September 2022 Deed Restrictions with Frank Carroll, Winstead PC
- Presentation from LMC member Frank Carroll on creating, implementing, modifying, and terminating enforceable documents.
- August 2022 Housing Slowdown Happy Hour Event
- July 2022 The Grove Review – Housing slowdown, LMC Virtual Discussion Time about what’s happening in the market. Lots of market confusion.
- June 2022 Grove – Project Walking Tour by LMC Member Claire Grady of Milestone
- LMC Member Claire Grady of Milestone Builders organized a walking tour of The Grove. Shared stories about the zoning challenges and the ultimate success of absorption and pricing with the ATX Market timing. We all loved the story about moving the incredible Trees that are the Signature of The Grove.
- May 2022 Tour of Easton Park Amenities with sponsored breakfast and presentation by CoHere.
- Presentation about a unique model to MPC visioning and management. Co-Here is managing several MPC’s in Austin and around the country.
- They get involved in the design phase b/c they understand utilization and activation. They focus on Resident engagement as soon as consumers buy or lease; focus on how they build community with people and get them to engage with the infrastructure.
- April 2022 Land Advisors – Cooper Glass and Hal Guggolz, Presentation from local brokerage and land capital provider regarding the growth of Austin and the path of land sales to fringe communities. Discussion about locations of MPC’s over time and the areas that are most prepared for the growth now.
- March 2022 Barbara Wray – Marketing Solutions
- Welcomed Karin Montgomery to Council representing Brookfield.
- Logan Kimble announced his move back into Single Family Dev work with Landsea Homes.
- Barbara Wray shared MPC award winning lifestyle marketing strategies based on Wick Marketing’s recent work around the country.
- Discussed the importance of managing social media, Mature consumers engage in dialogue with the brand, Younger consumers ‘watch’ the brand.
- February 2022 New Member Introductions – discuss topics for 2022 calendar year
- January 2022 Caldwell County Judge Haden / Mustang Ridge Mayor Bunn /John Littlefield – SW Engineers / Lockhart EDC Executive Director Mike Kamerlander / Greater San Marcos Partnership – Jessica Inacio and Charles Simon Uhland
- Caldwell Leaders urgently preparing infrastructure & services for dynamic MPC growth.
- Development Agreements are Norm for new lot types/density in this environment.
- Interest coming from Larger Companies and National Builders. Lockhart specifically is well prepared and positioned.
2021
- February 2021 Topic: MPC Branding (benefits of the charrette process); Guest speaker: Tom Woliver, Oxland Group; Takeaways: 1) Start the vision/canvas session (2-3 days) at the beginning of the development and not as an afterthought once all cost, plans, and engineering has been completed; 2) For resistant municipalities, invite them to the canvas process so they can buy-in to the vision; 3) Have a strong team (planners, architects, marketing, creative types, etc.) and trust them to do their work; you can “bring everything back to earth” at the end of the session.
- January 2021 Topic: Reflection upon 2020 and what’s on the horizon for 2021; Takeaways: 1) Discovery Land developing private golf course community in Driftwood near the Salt Lick with homesites starting at $1MM; 2) City of Austin and Travis County still very unpredictable and slow in responding to plan submissions; 3) Class A apartments doing fine but Classes B and C suffering.
2020
- September 2020 Topic: Amenities; Takeaways: 1) Trails remain highly popular, especially in light of COVID; 2) Fitness stations at trails sound good but not used very often; 3) Consider fitness amenities near the amenity center, as well as outdoor events.
- August 2020 Topic: BDX to discuss how housing preferences are changing both generally and in light of the pandemic. Takeaways: 1) How home shoppers preferences are changing both before and during the pandemic; 2) Consumer preferences for community amenities; 3) Virtual home shopping and how it affects master planned community developments.
- July 2020 Topic: Entitlements; Takeaways: 1) Entitlements are important to the development process; 2) Each municipality has it’s own process; 3) Not all municipalities are as open to deviations from their standards.
- June 2020 Topic: Hipsturbia; Takeaways: 1) Hipsters and Millennials are looking for more from their neighborhoods/homes; 2) More inclusive and diverse neighborhoods, amenities, and services; 3) More purpose to the spaces; 4) More access to delivery options for food, groceries, and other necessities.
- May 2020 Topic: How the current pandemic situation is affecting development world; Takeaways: 1) Development projects are being pushed forward; 2) Companies are taking safety steps to keep employees and guests as safe as possible; 3) MPCs will mostly remain the same, but will likely have more outdoorsy areas and more shared spaces going forward.
- April 2020 The council released and then reviewed a survey.
- January 2020 Continued discussion of outcomes from meeting with City of San Marcos and planned topics for future meetings
2019
- December 2019 Reviewed outcomes from meeting with elected officials and city staff at City of San Marcos
- November 2019 Met with representatives from City of San Marcos