Three Sarasota-area master-planned communities ranked among the nation's top four for home sales in RCLCO's midyear 2026 report.
Since 1994, RCLCO, a real estate consulting firm, has conducted a survey identifying top-selling master-planned communities in the country. Its mid-year update ranks the top 50 to show the current trends and rankings.
Lakewood Ranch in Sarasota and Manatee counties ranks No. 2, Wellen Park in southern Sarasota County ranks No. 3, and Babcock Ranch in Charlotte and Lee counties ranks No. 4 among the nation's top-selling master-planned communities.
Overall, the top 50 have seen a 2.9% year-over-year increase in sales despite a challenging U.S. housing market in the first half of 2026.
The University of Michigan measures
consumer confidence through its index, which hit a June low of 49.5 and improved only slightly to 54.4 in July, well below its long-run average of 84. The report says the weak consumer confidence partly reflects higher energy prices and broader economic uncertainty tied in part to global political concerns.
Despite this, local communities have continued to perform well in 2026, with Lakewood Ranch having 1,064 sales, making it the top-selling multigenerational community in the country.
“In uncertain markets, proven places stand apart,” RCLCO Principal Karl Pischke said in a press release. “Lakewood Ranch is a trusted, high-performing community with the planning discipline, lifestyle infrastructure and long-term momentum to give buyers confidence in their decision.”
Wellen Park has had 727 sales in 2026, a 37% increase over its mid-2025 pace.
“Reaching No. 3 nationally reflects the continued strength of Wellen Park and the confidence homebuyers have in the lifestyle we’ve created,” Wellen Park President Rick Severance said to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
“Our growth is supported by a wide range of home choices, new neighborhoods and continued investment in parks, trails, Downtown Wellen, healthcare, education and the services residents want close to home. Just as important, we're creating opportunities for neighbors to connect and build a true sense of place and pride.”
Babcock Ranch in Punta Gorda has had 659 sales, a 28% year-over-year increase in sales.
“Babcock Ranch’s continued ascent, building from its resilience story following Hurricane Ian and its distinctive sustainability focus, presents one of the most compelling master-planned community development stories in the country,” according to the RCLCO report.
RCLCO said it remains "cautiously constructive" about sales in these communities for the remainder of 2026, noting ongoing economic challenges but saying their long-term advantages should help them continue to outperform the broader housing market.
Michaela Galligan is an intern covering a variety of topics for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. She can be reached at MGalligan@usatodayco.com. Support local journalism bysubscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 3 Sarasota-area communities rank among nation's top home sellers
