Greater Houston · A home and a move plan
55+ communities in Houston, and how to get from your current home to the next one
Verified community sources. One-story housing data. A net-first plan for the move.
The practical starting point
A housing choice and a move plan
Eddie Weir helps Greater Houston homeowners compare verified 55+ communities, all-ages one-story homes and the financial steps between selling the current home and buying the next one. Start with the home, the ownership costs and your net proceeds.
A 55+ designation is an occupancy question. A one-story floor plan is a layout question. Keeping those separate gives you a wider, clearer set of options.
Know which kind of community you are comparing
HUD’s 55-or-older exemption generally requires at least 80% of occupied units to have one resident age 55 or older, along with published intent and reliable age verification. Communities may have stricter occupancy rules; the remaining percentage is not an automatic right to admission. HUD housing-for-older-persons regulations.
The verified list
Eight communities, with the source beside each one
This is a selected Greater Houston list, checked October 1, 2026 against developer, builder or association sources. It is not a complete inventory of every 55+ community. Availability, releases and community rules should be reconfirmed for the specific home.
| Community / area | Designation / status | What the source establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Del Webb FulshearFulshear | 55+ builder communityNew homes marketed | Del Webb identifies its Fulshear community as 55+ and offers new single-family homes. Confirm the specific lot, occupancy rules and completion date before choosing a home.Del Webb · Checked October 1, 2026 |
| Del Webb BridgelandCypress | 55+ enclaveAnnounced; confirm current release status | The master developer announced a gated 55+ Del Webb enclave within Bridgeland, with models planned for fall 2026. Confirm current releases and completion dates directly; the broader master plan is not age-restricted.Bridgeland / Howard Hughes, February 5, 2026 · Checked October 1, 2026 |
| Regency at SiennaMissouri City | 55+ enclaveNew homes marketed | Toll Brothers identifies Regency as Sienna’s 55+ community, with three single-family collections. The published page distinguishes future Regency amenities from the broader Sienna amenities.Toll Brothers · Checked October 1, 2026 |
| Fairway Pines at The HighlandsPorter | Age-restricted 55+ sectionNew homes marketed | Fairway Pines is the section name. Encore by David Weekley Homes is a homebuilder offering within it, alongside Caldwell Homes, so these are not two separate communities.The Highlands / Caldwell Communities · Checked October 1, 2026 |
| Chambers CreekWillis | 55+ master-planned communityHomes marketed by developer | The developer identifies Chambers Creek as a 55+ community in Willis. Compare the current builder offerings and each home’s association and ownership costs.Chambers Creek / Caldwell Communities · Checked October 1, 2026 |
| Trilogy EvergreenConroe | 55+ enclaveNew homes marketed | Shea Homes identifies Trilogy Evergreen as 55+ and publishes single-story designs. Trilogy is the age-designated enclave, not every home in the Evergreen master plan.Shea Homes · Checked October 1, 2026 |
| Bonterra at Cross Creek RanchFulshear | 55+ neighborhoodNew-home sellout confirmed; consider resale | Johnson Development reported that the last newly built home in Cross Creek Ranch sold in May 2026 and was in Bonterra. Resale availability changes by address.Johnson Development, May 4, 2026 · Checked October 1, 2026 |
| Del Webb SweetgrassRichmond | 55+ association communityEstablished community; new-home status unconfirmed | The homeowners association confirms the 55+ community. Del Webb’s former community URL now redirects to its Houston directory, which does not establish a closeout date or remaining new-home inventory. Check current resale listings and confirm any claimed builder availability.DW Sweetgrass HOA · Checked October 1, 2026 |
Dated local inventory
One-story options thin out as the price band rises
In the September 24, 2026 snapshot, listings reported as one story made up about 62% of homes under $350,000, 36% from $350,000 to under $700,000, and 26% from $700,000 through $1.5 million across Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery and Brazoria counties.
| Asking price | One-story | All listed | One-story share | Stories missing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $350,000 | 10,749 | 17,372 | 61.9% | 231 |
| $350,000 to under $700,000 | 4,875 | 13,625 | 35.8% | 124 |
| $700,000 to $1.5 million | 818 | 3,188 | 25.7% | 54 |
The denominator includes all eligible listings in each price band, including those without a usable story count. Missing story data can make the displayed share lower than the actual share. These counts include all ages; they do not measure 55+ inventory.
Where those one-story listings were located
| County | Reported one-story | All active residential |
|---|---|---|
| Brazoria | 1,488 | 2,389 |
| Fort Bend | 2,275 | 5,409 |
| Harris | 9,106 | 20,486 |
| Montgomery | 3,689 | 6,825 |
Browse location guides for Katy · Sugar Land · The Woodlands · Pearland · Cypress · Fulshear. These area guides are not lists of age-restricted homes.
Source and inventory method
Houston Association of REALTORS® MLS; September 24, 2026 active snapshot. HAR board 147, sale listings, both residential and condo MLS classes, residential property type, excluding Coming Soon; duplicate MLS numbers counted once. County uses the MLS address.area field. One story means a reported numeric Stories value of 1. The county table includes all asking prices; the price-band table stops at $1.5 million. This is a dated snapshot, not a live availability feed.
From this home to the next
Run the net sheet before choosing the next home
Current home: what is available to move?
Estimated sale price, less mortgage payoff, selling and closing costs, agreed credits and moving expenses, gives you an estimated amount available for the next purchase. Ask for a written net sheet using the terms and costs that apply to your home.
Next home: what is the full cost?
Set aside purchase closing costs, cash reserves and any work needed after closing. Compare taxes, insurance, association dues, maintenance obligations and a loan payment if financing is part of the plan.
A smaller home is not automatically a less expensive move. Compare staying put with both the upfront cost and ongoing cost of the next home. Then choose the order: selling first with a negotiated leaseback, a purchase with a suitable sale contingency, or financing reviewed with your lender. Each option has costs, deadlines and approval requirements. Read the plan for selling and buying at the same time in Houston.
Check the over-65 tax ceiling before moving
A qualifying Texas over-65 residence homestead can receive a school-district tax ceiling; it does not freeze every tax or guarantee the same bill after a move, and improvements can affect it. Ask the appraisal districts or your tax professional about transferring the percentage benefit to a qualifying new Texas homestead before relying on it in your budget.
Texas Comptroller: Property Tax Basics, page 17 · General information, not tax advice.
Houston homestead exemption guide · Over-65 tax ceiling and selling your home
Questions that come up before a move
Does every occupant have to be 55?
Not necessarily. The federal exemption and the community’s own rules are different questions. Obtain the current occupancy requirements for the home, including rules for other residents and guests, before relying on a marketing label.
Are all homes in Bridgeland, Sienna or The Highlands age-restricted?
No. The sources identify particular 55+ enclaves or sections. Verify the exact community and property documents rather than applying the designation to the full master plan.
Are Bonterra and Sweetgrass still selling new homes?
Johnson Development reported the final newly built Cross Creek Ranch home, in Bonterra, sold in May 2026. Sweetgrass’s association confirms the 55+ designation, but current new-home availability was not established in this check. Ask about specific resale listings and verify any claim of builder inventory.
Is a one-story home the same as an accessible home?
No. Look at entries, thresholds, door widths, bathroom layout and other features that matter to how you use the home. The MLS story count cannot answer those questions. For a condo, confirm the unit floor, stair or elevator access and building layout separately.
Should I sell before I buy?
Start with the net sheet, cash reserves, lender requirements and the timing of the next home. Eddie can help coordinate the real estate steps while your lender and title company confirm their requirements.
Plan the next step
Start with the home and the numbers.
Bring the current home, the layout you want next and your timing. We will start with the questions that make the move workable.
Book a 30-minute callEddie Weir, REALTOR® · REMAX Signature · TREC #560899 · Broker #9003718
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