Blog Posts From October 2026

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

McKinney, TX

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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

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

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