McKinney, Texas
Buying or selling a home in McKinney, TX?
McKinney is not just another suburb off US 75. It's the county seat, it's built around a real historic square, and it covers everything from Victorian homes downtown to master-planned communities and acreage on the eastern edge. Here's how I help you find your spot in it.
What makes it McKinney
A historic square, not just a master plan
Most North Texas suburbs grew up around a highway. McKinney grew up around a courthouse. The 1875 square downtown is still the heart of the city, with locally owned shops, restaurants and the performing-arts center in the old courthouse. That history is the thing you cannot build new, and it's a big part of why people fall for McKinney.
Around that core, the city has grown fast in every direction, which means your choices range widely: a restored bungalow near the square, a custom home in Stonebridge Ranch, new construction out west, or a few acres to the east. The trick is matching the neighborhood to your life, and that's where I come in.
Where people land
McKinney by neighborhood
A quick lay of the land across the city. Every family weighs commute, budget, schools and character differently, so treat this as a starting map and we'll narrow it down together.
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Historic Downtown
The 1875 courthouse square, restored Victorian homes, and walkable shops and restaurants. Some of the most characterful older homes in the county sit within a few blocks.
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Stonebridge Ranch
One of North Texas's largest master-planned communities: lakes, golf, miles of trails, and a beach-and-tennis club on the west side of town.
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Craig Ranch
A newer master-planned community around TPC Craig Ranch, home of the AT&T Byron Nelson. A mix of townhomes, apartments, and single-family.
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Adriatica Village
A Mediterranean-inspired village with waterfront dining and a distinctive look, plus the established homes that surround it.
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West & North McKinney
The newest construction, along the US 380, Custer and Coit corridors, where much of the city's growth is happening right now.
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East & established McKinney
Mature neighborhoods on larger lots east of US 75 and along SH 5, closer to the original town and its history.
Worth knowing up front
Four things to know before you buy in McKinney
- Schools. McKinney is served mainly by McKinney ISD, with parts of the city zoned to Prosper, Frisco, Melissa, Lovejoy or Allen ISD depending on where you land. I'll confirm the exact district for any address before you fall for a house.
- Getting around. US 75 (Central Expressway) runs north-south, US 380 runs east-west across the top of the metroplex, and SH 5 follows the older town. Downtown Dallas is roughly 35 to 45 minutes south, depending on traffic and where in McKinney you are.
- Its own economy. McKinney has a real employment base of its own, from Raytheon to Encore Wire and Independent Financial, plus McKinney National Airport for general and corporate aviation. Not everyone here commutes south.
- Growth is the story. McKinney has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the country for years, and it has topped national 'best places to live' lists. Demand has pushed prices up, so getting into the right area early matters.
What it costs
What McKinney homes really run
McKinney covers a wide range, from townhomes and condos near downtown to custom homes in Stonebridge Ranch and acreage on the eastern edge. Because the spread is so wide, a citywide "median" tells you almost nothing about the home you actually want.
So I don't hand you a number off a portal. I pull live, address-specific comparable sales for the exact pocket of McKinney you're considering, and I factor in Collin County's property taxes, which run higher here even though Texas has no state income tax. Filing your homestead exemption and protesting your appraisal can bring that bill down, and I help with both.
Coming from out of state, or want to see how the tax math works? Read my relocation guide · how I help you protest your property taxes · selling a McKinney home.
Common questions
McKinney FAQ
Is McKinney, Texas a good place to live?
McKinney is the seat of Collin County, built around a genuinely historic downtown square, and it has repeatedly landed on national 'best places to live' lists (Money magazine ranked it the #1 place to live in America in 2014). Whether it's right for you comes down to your priorities on commute, budget, schools and the kind of neighborhood you want. I give relocating buyers the straight read on all four.
How is McKinney different from Frisco or Plano?
McKinney leans on a historic, walkable downtown and a wider range of land and home ages, with more acreage on its eastern edge. Frisco and Plano are denser, more corporate and retail-heavy, and almost entirely newer construction. None is better in the abstract; they fit different lives, and that's the conversation I have with every buyer.
Which school district is McKinney in?
Most of the city is in McKinney ISD, but McKinney's boundaries also include parts of Prosper, Frisco, Melissa, Lovejoy and Allen ISDs. Because the district can change street to street, I confirm the exact zoning for any specific address rather than going by the city name.
How are property taxes in McKinney?
McKinney is in Collin County, so there's no state income tax, but the property-tax rate is higher than what coastal buyers are used to. Filing your homestead exemption and protesting your appraisal can bring the bill down, and I help my clients build that case. See my property-tax protest guide for how it works.
Can I buy a home in McKinney from out of state?
Yes, many of my buyers do. I run live video walkthroughs, attend inspections for you, and plan a focused scouting trip so you see the right homes in person. You can be under contract before you ever change your address. My relocation guide walks through the whole process.
Let's talk McKinney
Thinking about McKinney?
Tell me what you're looking for and roughly when, and I'll put together a short list of the neighborhoods that fit, with real numbers for each. No pressure, no obligation.