The center of North Texas is shifting further north, and Anna’s about to benefit. With bustling Sherman and McKinney on either side of Anna, the once-sleepy suburb’s in a sweet spot. We sat down with North Texas’ leading real estate experts who describe Anna not just as a middle ground between county seats, but as a destination suburb. And just like Anna, these experts are defining their place on the
“Anna is a really attractive small town experiencing rapid growth, and it is well-positioned between county seats and employment centers,” says Rane Pearson, founder and principal at RPRE, a regional brokerage representing landowners and developers in the sale, acquisition, and entitlement of raw land for residential communities.
“From Anna, you can get to Dallas in 40 minutes, but you don’t really need Dallas because you have direct Highway 75 access to nearby amenities in McKinney, Allen, and Plano without a toll road. And soon, there'll be even more retail, housing, employment, and dining options in Anna.”
“Anna is one of the few North Texas communities where you get a rural atmosphere without a terrible commute,” adds Pearson, who is optimistic about Anna's future but notes that flexibility and adaptability must be part of the plan. “A lot of people don’t see how much time is spent on the front-end to transform and grow communities. We’ve brokered deals that have developed over a decade. Adaptability to the market, to deadlines, to trends is critical to ensure the best possible outcome.”
To stay adaptable in the face of challenges and opportunities, Pearson devours data. He shared several signals of Anna’s growth: infrastructure is here, 21 builders are here, the population is growing about 10 percent annually, and Anna is filling an affordability gap, coming in under McKinney and Frisco for new-construction pricing. With an eye on zoning changes, permit activity, infrastructure investment, builder absorption, and more, Pearson doesn’t just guess when a geographic area will take off; he knows. “Anna’s stepping into its next chapter,” says Pearson.
As the next chapter in Anna’s story unfolds, one background operator comes to mind: Teague Griffin, a seventh-generation North Texan and partner at Old Prosper Partners. Griffin purchased about 1,700 acres of land in Anna and is a visionary behind much of what will come to fruition over the next decade, including about 300 acres of commercial development fronting Highway 75, along with single- and multi-family residential projects.
“The City has done a good job of long-range planning and partnering with builders and developers to position Anna as one of the great contributors to Collin County and North Texas,” says Griffin. “I’ve tried to be the elbow grease for what the City wants and what the market demands.”
Griffin, who is also contributing to downtown Anna’s future dining scene, takes pride in being from Texas, doing business in Texas, and honoring the relationships he’s building along the way.
“Relationships are big. From surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you, to admitting your failures, to showing up responsibly for others who place their trust in you, I take these things very seriously. I’m ingrained here in North Texas; I sold my first property when I was 20 years old, and since then, I’ve kept my ear to the ground. In ten years, I want to look back at what we’ve done together in Anna and be proud of a great project.”
Kevin Lazares, co-founder and managing member of Veritas Communities, also looks forward to the day he can revel in Anna’s place on the map. Kevin, alongside Ryan Gaughan, fellow co-founder and VP of land acquisition at Veritas Communities, says, “We’re here for the long term. This is exactly the kind of community we set out to build, and Anna is exactly the kind of city we want to build it in.” The duo is preparing to deliver Liberty Hills, a master-planned community with about 2,000 homes, open space, mature trees, and connected amenities alongside commercial space.
“The location of Liberty Hills is beautiful. We’re designing an incredible community event lawn and social gathering space that highlights our amazing views of the lake and Hurricane Creek Country Club. Private amenities will include a clubhouse, resort-style pool, pickleball, putting course, and more, so residents can enjoy this location and get to know each other,” says Lazares. “This space will be within minutes of new homes, grocery stores, retail, and dining. Everything’s here. We’re excited to bring this to Anna.”
For Lazares, Liberty Hills is a dream decades in the making, inspired by childhood afternoons trailing his father across construction sites. “Watching my Dad’s work fueled my love of development and homebuilding,” he says. “And just like him, I focus on the details.”
When managing a multi-year, multi-million dollar development like Liberty Hills, details abound. While Kevin masterfully minds the minutiae, his colleague Ryan maintains a tight schedule and consistent communication. Interviewing them side-by-side, it’s easy to see how their strengths complement each other for a development moment such as this.
Currently, they are leading the way on $50 million in infrastructure improvements at Liberty Hills in Anna. Also on deck for the duo: “We’re working with exceptional homebuilders on initial phases of residential development with new homes sales beginning in early 2027, and gearing up to welcome some great commercial tenants to the neighborhood at the end of 2027,” says Gaughan.
“There are lots of moving parts at Liberty Hills, and that’s because we intend to deliver a multi-faceted, all-in-one destination for residents,” he adds.
Between Liberty Hills’ residential and commercial development, major updates to the adjacent Hurricane Creek Country Club and golf course, and downtown revitalization efforts underway, could Anna have it all?
“In 10 to 20 years, I hope the city of Anna will be known as a place that was really proactive about the growth going on, and really attracted high-quality development. It’s not just about how close it is to Dallas,” says Andre Ferrari, Chief Operating Officer of Tellus Group.
Ferrari and his firm are the visionaries behind Sherley Farms, which broke ground in December 2025, debuting a farm-focused residential community in Anna. The $1.5 billion project will deliver about 3,000 homes with a 65-acre organic farm at the heart of it all.
“The way we approach development is using our design and lifestyle programming to enrich people’s lives. Beyond a neighborhood, we want to add a lot of value to residents’ lives by encouraging wellness and community. It’s really about getting people together over a shared interest.”
The working, managed farm and a massive central green will be a way for neighbors to meet in an organic way, notes Ferrari, who says the concept fits perfectly in the city of Anna. “There’s this rich agricultural history in Anna, being met by modern amenities. The farm is a nod to some of the city’s history.”
Ferrari also shared his personal connection to Sherley Farms, drawing from his experience of moving to new cities as a child.
“I know what it’s like to move and not know anyone. We love the idea of a family moving to the city of Anna and having very easy ways to meet their neighbors. I would have loved to have something like this.”
As he works on developing connection-focused communities throughout Texas and now in Anna, Ferrari credits meeting his wife as a catalyst in his career. “If you’re marrying me, you’re marrying Texas,” said his wife, whom he met on his second day in Dallas. Since then, he’s been “chasing experiences, positioning myself to learn, and doing what I’m passionate about.”
If Ferrari, Lazares, Gaughan, Griffin, and Pearson have one thing in common, it’s passion. Not just for development, but for showing up for people, getting things done the right way, learning, adapting, and growing. As Anna continues into its next phase, that kind of approach matters.
With new roads, expanding neighborhoods, a thriving organic farm, and miles of retail development, experts carefully map out Anna’s promising next chapter.