SAN MARCOS, TX—Brookfield Residential Properties' Kissing Tree is the first baby boomer master-planned community for those aged 55 and beyond, and the first of its kind in San Marcos. The 3,200-home community is located on 1,332 acres in Central Texas, halfway between San Antonio and Austin in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.

Kissing Tree was designed to change the way baby boomers envision the next phase of their lives, including retirement. The community will feature not only a collection of indoor and outdoor amenities at the community's social focal point, called The Mix, but it will also include an 18-hole golf course, an 18-hole putting course and a clubhouse, opening later this year. Hundreds of acres will be reserved for parks, trails and green space. Upon completion, there will 15 scenic miles of trails for hiking and biking.

“Right now, there is a pent-up demand for age-qualified homes almost everywhere driven by the fact that 10,000 people a day will turn 65 until 2030 here in the US and the fact that we aren't building enough,” Manny Gonzalez, managing principal of KTGY Architecture + Planning's Los Angeles office and head of the firm's 55-plus studio, tells GlobeSt.com. “According to John Burns Real Estate Advisors, the top two things to motivate the 55-plus market to buy a new home are location and home design, and Kissing Tree excels in both, which is certainly helping to fuel the demand.”

Home design plans targeting the needs of active adults were recently unveiled at Kissing Tree, located at 201 Kissing Tree Lane.

“We designed the Colby, Emerson and Clarkson plans to appeal to a wide variety of 55-plus consumer preferences,” says Gonzalez. “Homebuyers have lots of options at Kissing Tree─not only on the inside of the home, but also what they want their home to look like on the outside. Buyers can personalize their new home to fit their needs and lifestyle, like adding an expanded cover patio, a den or study or a Casita for entertaining, as guest quarters, home office or hobby room.”

KTGY designed five very distinct architectural styles with exterior options: Modern Farmhouse, Texas Hill Country, Contemporary, Santa Barbara and Traditional.

“Over the last couple of decades, production housing tried to provide a varied street scene by including three or four traditional architectural styles like French Chateau, Italianate and English Cottage, but those really weren't indigenous styles of architecture,” Gonzalez tells GlobeSt.com. “Kissing Tree, on the other hand, features styles like Texas Hill Country, modern farmhouse and contemporary, all of which you will find throughout the region, in addition to the traditional elevation. But, it's not some form of Euro-traditional architecture, it's good ole' Texas traditional!”

Gonzalez also points out that the laundry room has been moved from its traditional location of the garage to a more useful location adjacent to the master suite closet or dressing area. This accomplishes two things: it creates an “owner's entry” that can also feature a drop zone to lay down keys, mail and cell phone, often with a recharging station. Because the home is generally occupied by only the 55-plus owners, having the laundry room adjacent to the master suite allows for the opportunity to provide a horizontal laundry chute so owners don't have to lug the laundry through the house to the old laundry room location.

The Colby, Emerson and Clarkson homes offer spacious floor plans from 1,850 square feet to 2,957 square feet. Home prices will range from approximately $275,000 to $500,000.

“Kissing Tree offers what today's active adults want in both a home and a community: homes that incorporate universal design and indoor-outdoor living, and have so many choices that the homes feel nearly like a custom home; plus being located in a resort-style, walkable community with trails and activities so it is a 'staycation' every day,” Gonzalez says.

Kissing Tree's community amenities include a fitness center, tennis courts, pickleball courts, bocce ball, indoor and outdoor pool, and a barbecue pit. Residents of Kissing Tree will be close to entertainment, shopping, freeways, transportation, jobs and education.

Texas State University is located in San Marcos along with the Tanger Outlets shopping center. Residents and tourists will also enjoy the San Marcos River, the art scene, live music and nightlife, athletic and community events, and festivals.

“We have enjoyed working with KTGY Architecture + Planning on Brookfield Residential's first baby boomer-centric new home community,” says Scott Turner, general manager of Kissing Tree. “Together, we collaborated to deliver thoughtful designs specifically geared to the 55-plus community, and we think our residents will genuinely feel at home. Our visitor numbers have been tremendous at Kissing Tree. Since the community opening, more than 300 prospects have signed up for the reservation program to select their lot and home site.”

The name Kissing Tree recalls Sam Houston's gubernatorial speech in 1857 in front of a mighty oak tree in San Marcos, where he famously kissed several of the female attendees, creating a bit of a local legend.

SAN MARCOS, TX—Brookfield Residential Properties' Kissing Tree is the first baby boomer master-planned community for those aged 55 and beyond, and the first of its kind in San Marcos. The 3,200-home community is located on 1,332 acres in Central Texas, halfway between San Antonio and Austin in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.

Kissing Tree was designed to change the way baby boomers envision the next phase of their lives, including retirement. The community will feature not only a collection of indoor and outdoor amenities at the community's social focal point, called The Mix, but it will also include an 18-hole golf course, an 18-hole putting course and a clubhouse, opening later this year. Hundreds of acres will be reserved for parks, trails and green space. Upon completion, there will 15 scenic miles of trails for hiking and biking.

“Right now, there is a pent-up demand for age-qualified homes almost everywhere driven by the fact that 10,000 people a day will turn 65 until 2030 here in the US and the fact that we aren't building enough,” Manny Gonzalez, managing principal of KTGY Architecture + Planning's Los Angeles office and head of the firm's 55-plus studio, tells GlobeSt.com. “According to John Burns Real Estate Advisors, the top two things to motivate the 55-plus market to buy a new home are location and home design, and Kissing Tree excels in both, which is certainly helping to fuel the demand.”

Home design plans targeting the needs of active adults were recently unveiled at Kissing Tree, located at 201 Kissing Tree Lane.

“We designed the Colby, Emerson and Clarkson plans to appeal to a wide variety of 55-plus consumer preferences,” says Gonzalez. “Homebuyers have lots of options at Kissing Tree─not only on the inside of the home, but also what they want their home to look like on the outside. Buyers can personalize their new home to fit their needs and lifestyle, like adding an expanded cover patio, a den or study or a Casita for entertaining, as guest quarters, home office or hobby room.”

KTGY designed five very distinct architectural styles with exterior options: Modern Farmhouse, Texas Hill Country, Contemporary, Santa Barbara and Traditional.

“Over the last couple of decades, production housing tried to provide a varied street scene by including three or four traditional architectural styles like French Chateau, Italianate and English Cottage, but those really weren't indigenous styles of architecture,” Gonzalez tells GlobeSt.com. “Kissing Tree, on the other hand, features styles like Texas Hill Country, modern farmhouse and contemporary, all of which you will find throughout the region, in addition to the traditional elevation. But, it's not some form of Euro-traditional architecture, it's good ole' Texas traditional!”

Gonzalez also points out that the laundry room has been moved from its traditional location of the garage to a more useful location adjacent to the master suite closet or dressing area. This accomplishes two things: it creates an “owner's entry” that can also feature a drop zone to lay down keys, mail and cell phone, often with a recharging station. Because the home is generally occupied by only the 55-plus owners, having the laundry room adjacent to the master suite allows for the opportunity to provide a horizontal laundry chute so owners don't have to lug the laundry through the house to the old laundry room location.

The Colby, Emerson and Clarkson homes offer spacious floor plans from 1,850 square feet to 2,957 square feet. Home prices will range from approximately $275,000 to $500,000.

“Kissing Tree offers what today's active adults want in both a home and a community: homes that incorporate universal design and indoor-outdoor living, and have so many choices that the homes feel nearly like a custom home; plus being located in a resort-style, walkable community with trails and activities so it is a 'staycation' every day,” Gonzalez says.

Kissing Tree's community amenities include a fitness center, tennis courts, pickleball courts, bocce ball, indoor and outdoor pool, and a barbecue pit. Residents of Kissing Tree will be close to entertainment, shopping, freeways, transportation, jobs and education.

Texas State University is located in San Marcos along with the Tanger Outlets shopping center. Residents and tourists will also enjoy the San Marcos River, the art scene, live music and nightlife, athletic and community events, and festivals.

“We have enjoyed working with KTGY Architecture + Planning on Brookfield Residential's first baby boomer-centric new home community,” says Scott Turner, general manager of Kissing Tree. “Together, we collaborated to deliver thoughtful designs specifically geared to the 55-plus community, and we think our residents will genuinely feel at home. Our visitor numbers have been tremendous at Kissing Tree. Since the community opening, more than 300 prospects have signed up for the reservation program to select their lot and home site.”

The name Kissing Tree recalls Sam Houston's gubernatorial speech in 1857 in front of a mighty oak tree in San Marcos, where he famously kissed several of the female attendees, creating a bit of a local legend.