GCU News & Blog

Tag: Centurion American

  • Thousands of homes planned in Gunter, Texas as semiconductor industry expands

    GUNTER, Texas — Across the quiet prairie of Grayson County, a sweeping transformation is underway. Land once held by generations of ranchers is being reimagined as what could become North Texas’s next major master-planned community, a bold move driven by a regional tech boom and the promise of thousands of new jobs.

    Centurion American Development Group, a leading developer based in North Texas, completed the acquisition of 1,061 acres on June 10. This purchase is a cornerstone of the 1,998-acre “Platinum Ranch” project. Led by CEO Mehrdad Moayedi, the development aims to create not just housing, but a fully integrated urban environment in response to surging demand north of Dallas.

    The catalyst for this expansion is the construction of large semiconductor manufacturing facilities in nearby Sherman. With billions of dollars in investment from global tech firms such as Texas Instruments and GlobiTech, the region is bracing for a wave of new residents. Centurion American is betting that towns like Gunter will become the next frontier of metropolitan growth.

    “Gunter is next in line for major developments along the golden corridor,” said Rex Glendenning of Rex Real Estate, who brokered the land deal. He was referring to the explosive growth along Preston Road and the Dallas North Tollway, which has transformed the area over the past decade.

    Platinum Ranch Master-Planned Community – Gunter, TX

    Platinum Ranch is planned on a grand scale: 4,200 single-family homes, nearly 300 residential villas across 29 acres, and up to 3,000 apartments. The project also includes 277 acres for mixed-use development and 223 acres of green space, featuring parks, lakes, and trails. Several amenity centers are planned, along with enhanced lakes and pedestrian pathways. A school campus will be built within the community, served by the award-winning Gunter Independent School District, a key draw for families.

    Strategically located less than a mile from Preston Road and with direct frontage on the Grayson County Toll Road, Platinum Ranch offers easy access to the wider North Texas region. The multifamily and commercial zones will be concentrated along Marilee Road and the tollway, ensuring accessibility and visibility.

    The project has been zoned to accommodate a diverse mix of residential and commercial uses, reflecting Centurion’s commitment to building a balanced and sustainable community. The 223-acre green space allocation underscores the developer’s focus on enhancing quality of life through open areas, recreational amenities, and environmental stewardship. Several natural lakes within the property will be enhanced and integrated into the community’s design, supporting both aesthetics and ecological value.

    Centurion American emphasizes that Platinum Ranch aims to offer families thoughtful planning, access to quality education, and abundant recreational opportunities. The inclusion of multiple amenity centers and expansive green zones reflects a vision for a vibrant, active, and socially connected community.

    According to company statements, the acquisition was two years in the making. Financing was secured through a consortium of lenders including UBank, Liberty Bankers, and Chambers Bank. Meanwhile, Trez Capital served as the lender for Centurion’s adjacent Taylor Ranch project, a 500-acre development acquired in 2022.

    Centurion has been deeply rooted in Gunter for over a decade, having developed The Bridges at Preston Crossings since 2012, which features a Fred Couples-designed golf course. These projects highlight confidence in the region’s sustained demand for high-quality homes, supported by strong infrastructure and schools.

    “While we spent two years planning the acquisition and development of Platinum Ranch, our commitment to Gunter and Grayson County goes back much further,” Moayedi said in a statement. “We are proud to be a part of the growth story in Gunter and to bring exceptional communities to this beautiful city.”

    Caleb Lavey of Rex Real Estate described the project as a milestone for Gunter, calling it a “template for quality growth” along the Dallas North Tollway corridor.

    With excavation set to begin in Q4 2025, the Texas prairie will soon give way to streets, homes, and commercial centers. Platinum Ranch stands as a symbol of the demographic and economic shifts reshaping the American landscape, where the lines between city, suburb, and countryside continue to blur.

  • Developers Bet Big on Build-to-Rent Townhomes in North Texas, Launching Lewisville’s Frontera Shores

    A Townhouse Built by Wan Bridge

    LEWISVILLE, Texas — As the housing market continues to shift in North Texas, two big developers are working together to launch new rental townhomes, starting with a large project in Lewisville.

    Houston-based Wan Bridge, a leader in build-to-rent developments, is partnering with Centurion American Development Group, a prolific North Texas land developer, to roll out multiple rental home communities across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Their inaugural venture, Frontera Shores Townhomes, is planned for a 35.8-acre site near Interstate 35E, in what the companies describe as “the northern gateway to Lewisville.”

    The master-planned community will eventually comprise 201 townhomes, with construction slated to break ground as early as July or August. The first homes are expected to be ready for tenants by the third quarter, and full buildout is anticipated by December 2026.

    For Ting Qiao, co-founder and CEO of Wan Bridge, the decision to plant roots in Lewisville was as much about data as it was about demographics. “Lewisville stands out for its strong school district and strategic location,” Qiao said in an interview. “We see a gap in supply here, especially for families and professionals who want more space than an apartment offers, but aren’t ready or able to buy.”

    Qiao noted that his team relies on artificial intelligence to forecast rental trends in the area—a nod to the increasingly tech-driven nature of modern real estate. “We’re really excited about the projected returns and how fast the homes are getting leased,” he added. “Even though the numbers don’t pencil out for every project in today’s market, this one is a compelling opportunity.”

    The DFW region has emerged as a hotbed for build-to-rent communities, as high mortgage rates and surging home prices lock out many would-be buyers. Developers like Wan Bridge and Centurion American are betting that demand for quality rental homes will remain robust, particularly as families seek alternatives to dense apartment living.

    Frontera Shores will offer two-, three-, and four-bedroom townhomes, catering to a range of household sizes. Residents can expect amenities such as walking trails, green spaces, a private dog park, and a resort-style pool—a suite of features designed to rival the comforts of traditional homeownership.

    Rents for Wan Bridge’s existing communities start at $2,700 a month in Denton and $2,400 in Austin, according to the company’s website. While pricing for Frontera Shores has yet to be finalized, Qiao suggested it will be competitive within the submarket.

    Mehrdad Moayedi, president and CEO of Centurion American, described the partnership as a natural fit. “Wan Bridge’s established model and commitment to excellence align seamlessly with our vision to deliver premier luxury rental communities,” Moayedi said in a statement. Centurion American, which has developed more than 100,000 single-family lots across North Texas, recently expanded its holdings with an 82-acre purchase near Sherman.

    Scaling Back, But Moving Forward

    The partnership comes at a time of recalibration for Wan Bridge. The company recently revised its five-year goal from 30,000 to 12,500 build-to-rent homes in Texas by 2030, citing investor caution amid economic uncertainty and slower rent growth. “We need to scale back because there’s market uncertainty, and pretty much all the capital in today’s situation is on the sideline,” Qiao acknowledged. “But this new partnership is already factored into our updated numbers. Without it, our targets would be even lower.”

    Looking ahead, Wan Bridge and Centurion American envision Frontera Shores as the first of as many as ten similar projects across DFW, potentially adding more than 1,000 rental homes to the region’s inventory.

    For now, all eyes are on Lewisville, where the first shovels will soon hit the ground—a tangible sign that, for North Texas renters, new options are on the horizon.