Cypress was one of the last northwest Houston areas to transform from rural farmland into suburban splendor. But starting in the 1980s and continuing through the present day, the region’s open land has quickly been shaped into some of Houston’s most well-regarded master-planned communities, including Towne Lake and Bridgeland, which was developed by the same team that manages The Woodlands. Many of these master-planned communities are still being built, with plenty of options for custom new construction. Developers have made an effort to offer a variety of architectural styles, so that each house is visually distinct. New construction dominates in Cypress—whether it’s part of a master-planned community or an individual home in the more rural parts of the region—so that almost every residence here is built to order. Cypress’s communities are packed with resort-style amenities, with busy shopping areas, recreational trails, game courts, and waterparks available to residents.