PulteGroup says it launched its first 55-and-over community in the Austin, Texas, area in more than 30 years.
Del Webb Lost Pines will feature more than 500 homes within The Colony master-planned community next to the Colorado River in Bastrop, Texas, the company said. Bastrop is about 30 miles northwest of Austin, the Texas state capital.
The project's first phase of more than 260 residences is under construction, with sales expected in the first quarter of 2026. A PulteGroup spokesperson didn't immediately respond to a request for information about home prices and the company's previous 55-and-over development in the region.
In a statement, PulteGroup called the Austin area one of the nation's fastest-growing retirement markets. So-called "active adult" communities target baby boomers, the largest generation in history to hit retirement, design firm Gensler said last year in a report on active adult housing.
"Austin's growth, combined with Texas' appeal to retirees, creates an ideal opportunity for Del Webb to serve this underserved market with our resort-style amenities and engaging community lifestyle," said Matt Koart, executive vice president and chief operating officer of PulteGroup, in the statement.
Still, a Homes.com analysis of the 40 largest U.S. markets shows that Austin had the second-largest annual price decline in July at 4.2%. Only San Antonio was higher at 5%.
Oversupply a short-term problem
Overbuilding and a rising supply of homes for sale have plagued Austin and other areas of the country, but those are only short-term concerns, according to analyst Brad Hunter of Hunter Housing Economics in West Palm Beach, Florida. Over the long term, the U.S. needs more homes to address a persistent housing shortage, he noted.
"To some extent, builders got out a little over their skis, but ultimately that will come back to equilibrium," he told Homes.com. "In 12- to 18 months from now, it will feel a lot different."
Atlanta-based PulteGroup is the nation's third-largest U.S. homebuilder based on 31,219 sales last year, according to Builder magazine, and Del Webb is its 55-and-over brand. PulteGroup also builds under the DiVosta, Pulte Homes, Centex, American West and the John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods brands.
Del Webb Lost Pines will have an amenity center due to open in late 2026, according to PulteGroup. A clubhouse will include a fitness center, aerobics classes, hobby rooms, a golf simulator and social spaces. Outdoor options include a pool, bocce and pickleball courts and miles of walking trails.
A full-time lifestyle director will organize programs and events.
