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Draft:Land Tejas Companies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Land Tejas Development is a privately held residential real estate development company headquartered in Houston. The company develops planned communities throughout the Houston metropolitan area. Land Tejas was founded in 1997 by partners Al Brende (1945–2025) and Courtney Grover (1947–2015); with the passing of Al Brende in 2025, leadership has transitioned to co-presidents Alan Brende and Melanie Ohl. Land Tejas has developed more than 30,000 acres across more than 25 communities to date.[1][2][3]

Land Tejas Companies, Ltd.
TypePrivate
IndustryReal estate development
Founded1997 (1997)
FounderAl Brende and Courtney Grover
ProductsMaster-planned communities
Websitelandtejas.com

Current communities

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Current, active community include the following:

  • River Ranch and adjacent Angel Lagoon[4]
  • Grand Magnolia[5]
  • Lago Mar East[6]
  • Wynserra[7]
  • Cardon[8]

History

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Land Tejas has developed or participated in the development of more than 25 master-planned communities in the Houston metropolitan area. Its developments have included Stone Gate, Canyon Gate at Northpointe, Harmony, Balmoral, Lago Mar, Sunterra and River Ranch.[9]

As demand for master-planned communities accelerated across the Houston region, Land Tejas expanded.

During 2006, Land Tejas reached an important milestone, with 10,000 homes sold in its communities. The next milestone came in 2010, with 15,000 homes sold. From 2014 to 2018, Canyon Lakes West was ranked among the nation’s 50 top-selling master planned communities. From 2017 to 2021, Land Tejas delivered several communities with similar amenities:

  • Balmoral – First Crystal Lagoons amenity in Texas
  • Sierra Vista – Heated lazy river
  • Wedgewood Forest – Resident fishing facility
  • Marvida – Lazy river
  • Lago Mar – The largest Crystal Lagoons amenity in Texas.[4]

In 2021, Land Tejas launched a joint venture with Starwood Land, ushering in new energy to the Houston development scene. At the time, Mike Moser, CEO of Starwood Land Advisors, called the transaction, ‘a tremendous opportunity to acquire a high-quality portfolio of mature residential communities built by a first-class developer in a leading growth market.’[6]

From the beginning, the company focused on building gated, monitored neighborhoods with lower prices than the industry standard.[10][11] In addition, Land Tejas communities included full service recreation centers with swimmng pools and at one location golf course integration. In 2003, Land Tejas introduced one of the Houston area’s earliest splash pad concepts in Stone Gate.

Lago Mar Recreation Center & Lagoon

Notable Communities from 2006–2015

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  • Canyon Lakes West
  • Harmony
  • Westheimer Lakes
  • Cardiff Ranch
  • Miramesa
  • Sterling Lakes
  • Community Features

Built-in technology

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Entering into a partnership with IBM in 1998,[12] Land Tejas launched the Smart Homes concept that mandated upgraded wiring. In 2008, the company presented its first solar-powered community when it partnered with General Electric (GE) in its Ecomagination campaign.[13][14]

Crystal Lagoon amenities

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Land Tejas introduced the first Crystal Lagoons amenity to Texas in 2018 with the opening of a lagoon in Balmoral, a master-planned community in Humble.[15][16] The concept was expanded to Lago Mar,[17] Sunterra,[18] River Ranch and Grand Magnolia.[19][20][21][22][23]

Awards and recognition

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Land Tejas was recognised nationally in 2014, with Canyon Lakes West was ranked on a list of the nation’s top-selling communities for 2013 new home sales.[24] The national recognition continued, with multiple communities ranked among the nation’s top-selling, including Balmoral.[25]

In addition, the Houston Business Journal named Land Tejas as Houston’s Largest Real Estate Developer in 2020 based on the number of local homesites developed the previous year.[26]

Beyond top-selling status, Land Tejas has won accolades for residential development in both the Texas Association of Builders’ Star Awards and the Greater Houston Builders Association’s Houston’s Best PRISM Awards. Notable awards include Lago Mar’s Master-Planned Community of the Year and Balmoral's Best Community Amenity Award.

Courtney Grover (left) and Al Brende (right)

Community involvement

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Land Tejas has assisted in the development of community organisations and educational programmes through initiatives including the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA) Benefit Homes Project and the Land Tejas Adopt-a-School program. The company first donated a homesite to the GHBA Benefit Homes Project in 1998 and in 2022 was named the project’s top donor with 18 lots donated.[27] Proceeds from the project support HomeAid Houston and Operation Finally Home.

Land Tejas established its Adopt-a-School program in 1997 to provide funding for educational materials and programs at schools serving its communities. The program is funded through a fee assessed when a home is sold, with funds administered by the homeowners association of each community.[28][29]

In 2007, Land Tejas made a $1 million gift to St. Luke’s Community Medical Center, of which $75,000 was designated for nursing scholarships. The previous year, Land Texas donated $352,000 to Cy-Fair College’s Associate Degree Nursing Program, a gift that allowed the program to add nursing faculty and more than triple student admission.[30]

External reading

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References

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  1. ↑ "See Houston's top-selling master-planned communities, updated for 2026". The Houston Chronicle. 2026-01-27. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  2. ↑ Report, Realty News (2026-07-31). "Houston Tops Master Planned Communities Rankings". Realty News Report. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  3. ↑ "Communities | Land Tejas". Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  4. 1 2 "Dayton's Angel Lagoon adds restaurant as its developer steps back from Houston projects". Houston Business Journal. 2026-09-17. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  5. ↑ "Land Tejas plans massive 8,200-home community near Magnolia with public lagoon amenity". Houston Business Journal. 2025-10-21. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  6. 1 2 Harris, Trace (2022-12-07). "Nearly 800 rooftops to rise on east side of Lago Mar in Texas City". The Daily News. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  7. ↑ "Land Tejas". projects.constructconnect.com. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  8. ↑ "Cardon Development Group". Cardon Development Group. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  9. ↑ "Our History | Land Tejas". Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  10. ↑ "| Houston Chronicle Archives". houstonchronicle.newsbank.com. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  11. ↑ "| Houston Chronicle Archives". houstonchronicle.newsbank.com. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  12. ↑ "Energy consolidation creates big holes in local office space market - Houston Business Journal". www.bizjournals.com. 1999-03-29. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  13. ↑ "GE to light up Land Tejas development - Houston Business Journal". www.bizjournals.com. 2008-01-18. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  14. ↑ "Houston opens the door on energy-efficient home model - Houston Business Journal". www.bizjournals.com. 2007-06-18. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  15. ↑ Contreras, By Kaila (2018-08-23). "Phelps helps christen first Texas crystal lagoon in Atascocita". Chron. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  16. ↑ "Balmoral named Houston's top-selling master-planned community for first half of 2021". Houston Business Journal. 2021-07-13. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  17. ↑ Trace, Harris (2022-12-07). "Nearly 800 rooftops to rise on east side of Lago Mar in Texas City". The Daily News. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  18. ↑ Sarnoff, By Nancy (2020-01-17). "Land Tejas planning 3,000-home community in Katy". Chron. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  19. ↑ Romero, Jhair (2025-07-01). "Why are artificial lagoons popping up all over Houston?". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  20. ↑ "Land Tejas plans massive 8,200-home community near Magnolia with public lagoon amenity". Houston Business Journal. 2025-10-21. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  21. ↑ Javiera (2020-03-03). "Crystal Lagoons Develops Most Ambitious U.S. Project To Date With Leading Houston Developer". Crystal Lagoons. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  22. ↑ Vora, Shivani (2023-11-03). "Artificial Lagoons Offer a Different Kind of Waterfront Living". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  23. ↑ Warren, Peter (2024-05-25). "A guide to Houston-area crystal lagoons open this summer". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  24. ↑ "Huge Year for Top 20 Master-Planned Communities". John Burns Research and Consulting. 2026-09-18. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  25. ↑ agalvin (2020-07-03). "The Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities of 2019 and "Best" of the Decade - RCLCO Real Estate Consulting". Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  26. ↑ "2020 largest Houston-area residential real estate developers". Houston Business Journal. 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  27. ↑ "GHBA Benefit Homes Project Inspires Philanthropic Spirit Within the Industry | GHBA". ghba.org. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  28. ↑ "Stone Gate HOA surprises Wilson ES teacher with $1,000 donation". Houston Chronicle. 2015-03-16. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  29. ↑ "Millsap teachers surprised with donation". Houston Chronicle. 2013-11-11. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  30. ↑ Luker, Julie (2007-11-29). "Nursing students receive $75,000 donation". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
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