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Oct 21, 2026 • 14 min read

Moving to McKinney, TX: What to Know

Thinking about moving to McKinney, Texas?You’re not alone. McKinney has become one of the fastest-growing parts of North Texas, attracting people who want access to the Dallas-Fort Worth job market while living outside the urban core.But before you start looking at homes, there are a few things you should know.McKinney isn't one type of community. Depending on where you live, you can find histori

McKinney, TX

Recent Blog Posts

Oct 21, 2026 14 min read

Moving to McKinney, TX: What to Know

Oct 20, 2026 10 min read

New Construction Communities in McKinney, TX (2026): Builders and Prices

McKinney has more new construction for sale right now than most buyers expect, and most of it is north of US 380. On Oct 28, 2026, NewHomeSource showed dozens of active McKinney address communities from more than 20 builders, with advertised starting prices from about $259K to the high $800Ks before you get into custom builders.I'm PJ Zaji, a REALTOR and mortgage loan officer with Expand Realty G

Oct 19, 2026 10 min read

8 Up and Coming Areas in McKinney, TX

"Up and coming" gets thrown around a lot in real estate, usually without anything behind it. For this post I only included areas where I could point to something concrete: building permits, approved development agreements, funded road projects, school district decisions, or a new airport terminal. If an area is on this list, there's a public record that says money and people are headed there.The

Oct 18, 2026 7 min read

McKinney Economy: Top Industries, Employers, and Business Growth

When people ask me whether McKinney is a good long term bet, the honest answer starts with jobs. Home values in a city hold up when people can work nearby, and McKinney has more of its own employment base than a lot of buyers realize. It's not just a bedroom community for Plano and Frisco.McKinney's big employers are a mix you don't see in most suburbs: a defense electronics campus, one of the co

Oct 17, 2026 10 min read

7 Most Popular Home Styles in McKinney, TX

McKinney has more architectural range than almost any suburb in Collin County. Within a few miles you can tour an 1889 Queen Anne near the square, a 2005 brick two story in Stonebridge Ranch, a stucco and tile roof home in a gated section, and a brand new modern farmhouse in Painted Tree. That range is one of the reasons people pick McKinney over newer cities that were built all at once.Below are

Oct 16, 2026 12 min read

7 Best Areas for Investment Properties in McKinney, TX

I get the same question from investors every month: where in McKinney does a rental actually make sense? The honest answer is that McKinney is not a cash flow market for most single family homes in 2026. Prices are high relative to rents, property taxes run around 1.7% of value inside the city before any PID or MUD, and investors don't get the homestead exemption. You can still do well here, but

Oct 15, 2026 8 min read

McKinney Property Taxes, PIDs, and MUDs Explained (2026)

Property tax is the cost that surprises McKinney buyers the most. Two homes at the same price, both with a McKinney mailing address, can have tax bills thousands of dollars apart. The difference comes from which city the home is actually in, which school district it's zoned to, and whether it sits in a PID or a MUD.I'm a REALTOR and a mortgage loan officer, so I see this from both sides. On the r

Oct 14, 2026 10 min read

25 Best Things to Do in McKinney, TX

When clients ask me what there is to do in McKinney, they usually expect me to say "the square" and stop there. The downtown square is a big part of it, but McKinney also has a 289 acre nature sanctuary, about 80 miles of trails, a PGA TOUR stop, an NCAA championship game every December, and a long list of festivals that fill the calendar from April through Thanksgiving.This list is what I'd tell

Oct 13, 2026 8 min read

Historic Downtown McKinney: Shops, Restaurants, Events, and Living Near the Square

Historic Downtown McKinney is the reason a lot of my buyers look at McKinney in the first place. Plenty of North Texas suburbs have built a "town center" in the last 20 years. McKinney has the real thing: a courthouse square with 19th century buildings, independent shops, restaurants you can walk between, and festivals that close the streets several times a year.This guide covers what's actually

Oct 12, 2026 9 min read

12 Best Parks and Trails in McKinney, TX

Parks are one of the things McKinney does best, and buyers notice. The city counts more than 50 parks, about 80 miles of trails, and roughly 3,000 acres of parks and open space. When I show homes here, "how close is the trail?" comes up almost as often as "what school is this zoned to?"This list covers the 12 parks and trails I'd point you to first, with addresses, sizes, and what each one is act

Oct 11, 2026 9 min read

10 Ways McKinney's Growth Is Changing the Housing Market

McKinney added about 37,000 people between the 2020 Census and January 2026. Growth on that scale changes where homes get built, how they're taxed, how people get to work, and what sellers can ask.I'm PJ Zaji, a REALTOR and mortgage loan officer with Expand Realty Group, and I work McKinney and the rest of Collin County every day. This post isn't a cheerleading piece about growth. Some of these c

Oct 10, 2026 9 min read

55+ and Active Adult Communities In and Near McKinney, TX

McKinney has fewer true 55+ communities than most people expect. When I sort through what's actually age restricted versus what's simply marketed to empty nesters, the list inside McKinney comes down to a handful, with several more within a 20 to 30 minute drive.I'm PJ Zaji, a REALTOR and mortgage loan officer with Expand Realty Group. I work with a lot of downsizers in Collin County, usually peo

Oct 9, 2026 9 min read

Luxury Neighborhoods in McKinney, TX: Where $1M+ Buyers Look

McKinney's luxury market is smaller and more scattered than Frisco's or Southlake's. There's no single "estate side of town." Instead, $1M and up homes cluster in a few established pockets of Stonebridge Ranch, the Lovejoy ISD edge on the southeast side, a handful of Craig Ranch sections, Adriatica, and the top floor plans in new communities like Ridgeline and Painted Tree.I'm PJ Zaji, a REALTOR

Oct 8, 2026 10 min read

McKinney vs Plano, TX: Which Should You Choose?

I get the McKinney vs Plano question a lot, usually from people relocating for a job in Plano or Frisco who aren't sure whether it's worth driving a little farther north. The two cities sit next to each other in Collin County, they're both large, and they're both safe and well run. The differences come down to age, growth, commute, schools, and what kind of house you want.The short version: Plano

Oct 7, 2026 9 min read

McKinney vs Prosper, TX: Pros, Cons, and Costs

McKinney and Prosper sit side by side in northwest Collin County, and they attract a lot of the same buyers: families relocating for work, people who want newer homes, and anyone who's heard "Prosper ISD" and wants to know if it's worth the price. The two places are very different in scale, though. Prosper is a town of about 49,000 people. McKinney is a city of about 232,000.The short version: Pr

Oct 6, 2026 9 min read

McKinney vs Allen, TX: Pros, Cons, and Who Should Pick Which

Allen and McKinney share a border along US 75, and a lot of my buyers tour both in the same afternoon. On paper they look similar: median prices within shouting distance of each other, nearly identical tax rates, and the same county. In person they feel different. Allen is smaller, more built out, and organized around one very large high school. McKinney is twice the size, still growing on its no

Oct 5, 2026 9 min read

McKinney vs Frisco: Which Is Better for You?

McKinney and Frisco are the two names I hear most from people relocating to Collin County, and they're closer than most comparisons. They're about the same size, they sit next to each other along SH 121, and you can live in a McKinney neighborhood that sends your kids to Frisco ISD. So the real question isn't which city is "better." It's which tradeoffs fit your budget, your commute, and how you

Oct 4, 2026 10 min read

What's the Cost of Living in McKinney, TX? (2026)

When people ask me what it costs to live in McKinney, they usually mean one of two things: "what will my house payment be?" or "will my paycheck go as far as it does now?" Both are fair questions, and the honest answer is that housing and property taxes drive almost everything here. Groceries and gas look a lot like the rest of Texas. The house is where McKinney gets expensive.I'm a REALTOR and a

Oct 3, 2026 9 min read

McKinney, TX Schools Guide: Districts, Ratings, and How Zoning Works

The most common surprise I see with McKinney buyers is this: they assume a McKinney address means McKinney ISD. It often doesn't. McKinney is served by at least seven public school districts once you count the edges, and the line between them can run down the middle of a master planned community.I'm PJ Zaji, a REALTOR and mortgage loan officer with Expand Realty Group. I help families buy in McKi

Oct 2, 2026 12 min read

15 Best Neighborhoods in McKinney, TX [2026 Guide]

I get asked "what's the best neighborhood in McKinney?" almost every week, and my honest answer is always the same: it depends on your budget, your school district, and how much tax you're willing to pay on top of the mortgage. A McKinney mailing address can put you in five or six different school districts and, in a few cases, a different city entirely.So this isn't a popularity contest. I picke

Oct 1, 2026 11 min read

10 Best Suburbs Near McKinney, TX

A lot of buyers start their search in McKinney and then realize the right house might be one city over. Sometimes it's price, sometimes it's a school district, and sometimes it's lot size or a shorter drive to work. McKinney sits in the middle of the fastest growing part of Collin County, so you have options in every direction.These are the ten suburbs I compare most often with McKinney. For each

Aug 17, 2026 7 min read

How to Find Your Dream Home in Frisco: A Step-by-Step Buyer's Guide

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial and lifestyle decisions you'll make. If you're searching for your dream home in Frisco, Texas, the process can be both exciting and overwhelming. With a wide variety of neighborhoods, home styles, price points, new construction communities, and established neighborhoods, knowing where to start can make all the difference.The key to a successful home s

Aug 17, 2026 6 min read

Frisco Real Estate Market Trends: What Buyers Should Know

If you're thinking about buying a home in Frisco, Texas, understanding the local real estate market can help you make a smarter and more confident decision. Frisco continues to attract families, professionals, business owners, and relocating buyers because of its strong community amenities, growing economy, highly regarded schools, and convenient location within the Dallas–Fort Worth area.But a g

Aug 17, 2026 6 min read

Top Neighborhoods in Frisco for Families, Professionals & First-Time Home Buyers

Choosing the right neighborhood is one of the most important decisions when buying a home in Frisco, Texas. With a wide variety of established communities, master-planned developments, new construction, and convenient access to shopping, dining, schools, and major highways, Frisco offers something for almost every type of home buyer.But finding the right neighborhood isn't simply about choosing t

Blog Home Page

Moving to McKinney, TX: What to Know

Recent Blog Posts

Moving to McKinney, TX: What to Know

New Construction Communities in McKinney, TX (2026): Builders and Prices

8 Up and Coming Areas in McKinney, TX

McKinney Economy: Top Industries, Employers, and Business Growth

7 Most Popular Home Styles in McKinney, TX

7 Best Areas for Investment Properties in McKinney, TX

McKinney Property Taxes, PIDs, and MUDs Explained (2026)

25 Best Things to Do in McKinney, TX

Historic Downtown McKinney: Shops, Restaurants, Events, and Living Near the Square

12 Best Parks and Trails in McKinney, TX

10 Ways McKinney's Growth Is Changing the Housing Market

55+ and Active Adult Communities In and Near McKinney, TX

Luxury Neighborhoods in McKinney, TX: Where $1M+ Buyers Look

McKinney vs Plano, TX: Which Should You Choose?

McKinney vs Prosper, TX: Pros, Cons, and Costs

McKinney vs Allen, TX: Pros, Cons, and Who Should Pick Which

McKinney vs Frisco: Which Is Better for You?

What's the Cost of Living in McKinney, TX? (2026)

McKinney, TX Schools Guide: Districts, Ratings, and How Zoning Works

15 Best Neighborhoods in McKinney, TX [2026 Guide]

10 Best Suburbs Near McKinney, TX

How to Find Your Dream Home in Frisco: A Step-by-Step Buyer's Guide

Frisco Real Estate Market Trends: What Buyers Should Know

Top Neighborhoods in Frisco for Families, Professionals & First-Time Home Buyers

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