Increased 2020 home sales in Sierra Vista propelled our community onto two annual lists of the top-selling master-planned communities in the nation.

Each year, well-regarded research and consulting firms focused on the housing industry — John Burns Real Estate Consulting and Robert Charles Lesser & Co. (RCLCO) — publish annual lists of the top 50 master-planned communities. Sierra Vista landed on both of them. Rankings are determined by the previous year’s sales.

Sierra Vista nabbed the No. 43 spot on the John Burns list and was ranked at No. 45 by RCLCO. Our builders sold 474 homes in 2020 compared to 346 homes in 2019 — a 37 percent increase!

This was the first year Sierra Vista debuted on the John Burns list. In July, we made the RCLCO mid-year report.

Factors that led to increased home sales included historically low interest rates as well as a desire among home buyers for large homes, homes with offices and the presence of outdoor amenities such as hike-and-bike trails, pools and green spaces.

In Sierra Vista, residents have access to amenities in both our community and nearby Sterling Lakes, including a junior Olympic pool, the Splash Pad Texas Water Park, a fitness center and more. Plans to build a crystal clear lagoon are progressing.

Balmoral, our sister community, also landed on the lists, ranking No. 11 with 841 homes sold.

Building homes across the country for more than 30 years, Ashton Woods has garnered what it takes to position itself as a homebuilder for the future by providing homebuyers everything they are looking for and more at every opportunity. Design, quality and personalization are pillars of their company and each new home acts as a celebration of the three ideals.

Above and Beyond

Ashton Woods Homes is more than just another homebuilder, it is a trailblazer in the industry, creating unique and high-quality homes reflective of their owner. The company believes in delivering a buying experience based on collaboration and personalization, rather than simply picking a design. The results speak for themselves, earning Ashton Woods several awards over the years and many happy homeowners.

Sierra Vista is proud to offer Ashton Woods Homes starting in the $230,000s with five different home plans to start from. Each is customizable and varied in square footage, meaning you can help design your perfect home in both aesthetics and layout. Ashton Woods makes living in your dream home easier than you ever thought possible.

You do not have to wait for a quality-built home, though. Inventory homes are also available and are crafted with the same care and attention-to-detail homebuyers have come to expect from Ashton Woods.

Being built in an ideal location like Sierra Vista doesn’t hurt, either. Located just south of Houston, Sierra Vista offers its residents enjoy proximity to shopping, entertainment, dining and more. Ashton Woods Homes in Sierra Vista are a perfect match — all the convenience of living in a Land Tejas master-planned community and the comfort of an award-winning home.

Who says you can’t have it all? A stylish new Ashton Woods home crafted with quality in mind is waiting for you and your family in Sierra Vista.

When you move into a new house, it can take a while to feel like a home, no matter how modern and beautiful it is. Moving your furniture in helps, but it takes time to build the emotional connection that elevates that house into your home. Are there ways to accelerate the process? You bet. Here are some tips.

Designed for Happiness

You can start the process of creating a home at your builder’s design center. Choose paint colors, cabinetry, flooring and fixtures that make you feel happy. For some families, that can mean wood floors and cabinets; for others, tile floors and painted cabinets. Take your family’s needs into account. You won’t be happy if you choose items that make your home harder to clean or that inconvenience you.

Pay Attention to Communal Spaces

Where will your family be spending the most time? Probably the family room and the kitchen. This is where you will enjoy Sunday morning pancake breakfasts, help your kids with their homework and entertain guests. Make these spaces warm and welcoming with throw pillows and blankets, comfortable cushions on bar stools and shelves full of books.

Treasured Memories

Memories are what make a house a home, but if you’ve just moved in, there won’t be any associated with your new house. Adding items that remind your family of treasured moments will help bridge the gap. Shells collected during your last beach vacation can be attractively displayed on the fireplace mantle. Children’s artwork can be moved from the fridge at your old home to the one at your new place. Display your grandmother’s china. Anything that reminds you of happy times with your family.

Family Photos

We all have framed photos of family members and they should be given pride of place. Create collages or memory boards using loose photos or digital frames. If you have photos taken in your old home, put those up, as well. The point is to remind yourself that it is family members who make up a home.

Home is a Community

Your home is more than your house, it is the community you live in. It’s the place you feel you belong. Get out and meet the neighbors. Make friends. Get involved at your children’s schools. All of those things will help you to create new memories and add to the emotional attachment you feel to your house.

Ready to Build Your Home?

Are you ready to build a home? Sierra Vista is the perfect place to do that. Our community offers outstanding builders ready to listen to your needs and build a home where your family will thrive.

Anglia Homes is on a mission. A mission to help families create lifetime memories by embracing their wants and needs.

Our featured builder boasts a management team with more than 100 years of combined experience turning homebuyers into happy homeowners. They do this by offering thoughtful architectural designs, using high-quality materials and providing top-tier customer service.

In Sierra Vista, that means 11 floor plans to choose from. Floor plans that include flex spaces, spacious family rooms, gourmet kitchens, secluded owner’s suites, utility rooms with convenient garage access and upstairs game rooms. Plans that can be tailored to fit your needs with optional fireplaces, media rooms, additional bedrooms or studies.

Homes boast beautiful interior features such as hand-laid tile, granite countertops, maple cabinetry, recessed lighting, Whirlpool® appliances, arched doorways, ceiling fans and more. All of it is standard.

Anglia Homes’ designs in Sierra Vista are priced from the $240,000s. Visit the Anglia model home today and talk with a sales professional to discover how Anglia and Sierra Vista can make your new home dreams come true.

You probably know that low interest rates mean lower monthly payments, but did you know that they also affect your buying power? It’s true. Lower interests could allow you to buy a more expensive home in Sierra Vista than you originally thought while keeping your monthly mortgage payments reasonable.

What is buying power? Simply put, it’s how much home you can afford. When interest rates are low, buyers can often afford to take out a larger mortgage based on their income.

In September, Freddie Mac reported that the average for a 30-year fixed interest rate reached 2.90 percent. The rate was 3.64 percent a year ago. The 15-year fixed-rate average reached 2.40 percent compared with 3.16 percent a year ago. The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage averaged 2.96 percent. Last year, it was 3.38 percent.

What does that mean for your buying power? If you were to take out a 30-year loan, with 20 percent down, you might be able to afford a home valued at $400,000 and pay an average of $1,500 per month (not including taxes, insurance, or HOA fees).

That means you could afford a bigger home or load up your dream home with options and upgrades. Alternatively, you could qualify for a 15-year loan instead of a 30-year loan for the same or slightly higher monthly payment. Doing so, means you could own your home outright in less time and build equity much quicker.

Home equity is the amount of your home that you actually own. It is calculated by subtracting your mortgage balance from the home’s market value. Equity grows as you make your monthly payments. It is important because this represents a reserve you can draw on. Lenders often set borrowing amounts based on the amount of equity you own.

With a 15-year loan, you are paying more toward the principal, so you can pay off the loan faster. In doing so, you are building equity much faster than someone with a 30-year loan. How is that advantageous? It can help you get a substantial home equity loan or, if you decide to sell, you will receive more money that could be used to buy a more expensive home.

The bottom line is that buying a new home can actually save you money over the life of your loan. If you want to see what your buying power can net you, visit Sierra Vista today.