Houston has more than 40 gated communities spread across the metro, and the gap between them is bigger than the price tags suggest. Some are country-club estates starting at $1M. Others are suburban subdivisions where the gate is mostly symbolic. And one, as of 2026, is a brand-new neighborhood where you can still buy directly from the builder.
That last category is rare. Gated new construction in Houston under $400K is almost nonexistent right now. Alaia Crossing, built by Alaia Homes and Greyden Building Group in Northside Houston, offers nine floor plans, 3- and 4-bedroom options, and it’s the only active new-build gated community of its kind on Houston’s north side.
What Houston’s Gated Communities Actually Look Like
Not every gated community in Houston competes for the same buyer. They split into a few clear tiers, and knowing which one you’re shopping in saves a lot of wasted tours. At the top, there’s River Oaks: Houston’s most established gated enclave, inside the Loop, where homes have sold for generations and prices start well into seven figures. It’s not really a “buyer’s market” comparison so much as its own category. One step down, golf-anchored communities like Royal Oaks in West Houston and Carlton Woods in The Woodlands sell the country-club lifestyle: an 18-hole course, a clubhouse built for events, tennis, pools. These communities charge for that access through the home price and ongoing club dues, and most of the inventory is resale, not new construction. Then come the large master-planned communities: Sienna in Missouri City, Bridgeland in Cypress, Cinco Ranch in Katy. These aren’t single gated subdivisions, they’re small cities, 10,000 or more acres, with dozens of builders and price points from the low $300s to over $1M depending on the section. HOA fees usually land between $1,200 and $1,800 a year. Some pockets inside these master plans are gated, most aren’t. A newer pattern sits inside that last tier: gated micro-communities carved out of a bigger master plan. Towne Lake in Cy-Fair does this with Great Oaks and Water’s Edge, two gated sections built around the development’s private lake. Woodson’s Reserve, part of the same north Houston growth corridor, starts in the mid-$400s. These give buyers the gate and the amenities without the estate-level price tag, but they’re still resale-heavy and tied to the master plan’s HOA structure. Alaia Crossing sits in a gap none of the above fill. It’s gated, it’s brand new, and it’s not part of a 10,000-acre master plan with years of resale turnover ahead of it. It’s a standalone new-construction community in Northside Houston, built by one builder from the ground up. Buyers get the security and community feel of a gated master plan without paying master-plan pricing or waiting for someone else’s resale.Alaia Crossing, Northside Houston
Built by Alaia Homes and Greyden Building Group, Alaia Crossing is the only gated new-construction community in Northside Houston aimed at buyers who would otherwise be shopping resale. New home, full amenities, gated entry. Address: 7605 Inwood Grove Lane, Houston, TX 77088. The neighborhood sits in Northside / Inwood, with access to I-610 and US-290. Not West Houston. Northside, where land costs still make new construction viable. What you get: nine floor plans from 1,650 to 2,399 sq ft. Smart home tech standard. Energy-efficient construction. 3- and 4-bedroom options. Clubhouse, pool, workout trail, pet park, and food truck areas. What you don’t get: the renovation surprises that come with a resale home. You buy new from Alaia Homes, you know exactly what you’re walking into. See available homes and floor plans at Alaia CrossingLooking for a gated community in Houston where you can still buy new?
Most of the communities on this list are resale. Alaia Crossing is the exception: new construction, gated, in Northside Houston. The sales office is open at 7605 Inwood Grove Lane, Houston, TX 77088. Tours are available. Schedule a tour at Alaia CrossingFrequently Asked Questions
Is there a new-construction gated community in Houston under $400K?
Yes, but it’s rare. Alaia Crossing in Northside Houston is currently the only active one.
What's the difference between a golf-course gated community and a master-planned one?
Golf communities like Royal Oaks or Carlton Woods build the price around club access and course maintenance. Master-planned communities like Sienna or Bridgeland spread gated and non-gated sections across a much bigger development, with prices that vary a lot by section.
Are Sienna, Bridgeland, and Cinco Ranch fully gated?
No. They’re large master-planned communities with some gated sections inside them, not single gated neighborhoods. Most of the homes in these developments aren’t behind a gate.
Is Alaia Crossing part of a bigger master-planned community?
No. It’s a standalone new-construction gated community built by Alaia Homes and Greyden Building Group, not a section inside a larger development.
