For the 19^th consecutive year, The Woodlands is ranked among the top 10 best-selling communities in the country. In an annual report compiled by the John Burns Real Estate Consulting firm, The Woodlands ranked eighth in the country among master-planned communities in home sales in 2013.

Last year, 649 homes were sold in The Woodlands, according to the report. That number, however, represents a 36 percent decrease from 2012 when 1,007 homes were sold in The Woodlands and the community ranked third in the country in sales.

"In the past, we had ample land inventory for building homes in all price ranges," said Tim Welbes, co-president of The Woodlands Development Company.

Welbes said as The Woodlands has matured, land has become increasingly scarce to accommodate the volume needed for entry-level homebuyers.

"So we are focused on middle- and upper-end homes with prices ranging from the high $200's to just over $1 million," he said. "Our goal of 650 new home sales in 2013, which we nearly met with 649, was based on the decrease in land inventory and was right on target with our projections."

Houston communities were well-represented on this year's list. Of the 20 communities ranked, the Houston area featured eight master-planned communities, including Cinco Ranch in Katy. Cinco Ranch ranked third, with 845 homes sold in 2013.

Other Houston area communities ranked among the top 20 are Riverstone (sixth, with 791 homes sold), Cross Creek Ranch (13^th with 509 homes sold), Aliana (15^th with 464 homes sold), Woodforest in Montgomery (16^th with 457 homes sold) and Canyon Lakes West (18^th with 378 homes sold).

In all, the top 20 master-planned communities on the list sold 15,338 homes last year, an increase of 11 percent from 2012. The top-selling community for the second consecutive year was The Villages, an active adult community in Florida, with 3,419 homes sold.