Ashton HarrisREALTOR® Coldwell Banker Apex, Realtors
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Three short films of mine: a slow drive down a street in downtown McKinney, the Melissa water tower, and me, smiling at the camera over lunch.

Relocating to North TexasMoving to McKinney or Melissa?

Coming from across the country or just across the metro? I'll help you pick your spot and get you home.

Text me Book a call

McKinney or Melissa?

Two towns about seven miles apart on US 75.

From my listing film for 4571 Lake Breeze Dr in McKinney: the white kitchen, then the front porch
A McKinney home I listed and sold

McKinney

The feel
A real city, built around a historic courthouse square.
The homes
Established luxury, master-planned neighborhoods and historic charm.
The drive
About 30 minutes to Legacy West, 55 to downtown Dallas.
See McKinney
From my listing film for 1301 Coleman Dr in Villages of Melissa: the front walk, the backyard, then the street from above
A Melissa home I listed and sold

Melissa

The feel
A smaller city that's growing fast, just up US 75.
The homes
Custom builds, acreage and a lot of new construction.
The drive
About 15 minutes to downtown McKinney, 60 to downtown Dallas.
See Melissa
Approximate weekday drive times, as of October 2026. Check your own route. Sources

Free-flow drive time between city-center points on OpenStreetMap roads (OSRM), times the 1.31 Dallas-Fort Worth peak-period Travel Time Index (Texas A&M Transportation Institute, 2025 Urban Mobility Report), rounded to 5 minutes. Checked October 2026. Road data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

The money stuff.

Three numbers I go over with everyone moving here.

  • $0

    State income tax

    Texas doesn't have one. The state constitution bars it.

  • 1.75%

    Property tax in McKinney

    City limits with McKinney ISD, before exemptions. About 1.91% in Melissa. A MUD or PID adds its own.

  • $140,000

    Homestead exemption

    Off your home's value for school taxes. File with Collin CAD, generally by April 30.

Tax year 2025 rates, checked October 2026. Sources

No state income tax: Texas Constitution, Art. 8, §24-a. Rates: Collin County Tax Office, 2025 Tax Rates and Exemptions by Jurisdictions. Combined rate = Collin County + Collin College + the city + the school district, per $100 of value (McKinney with McKinney ISD 1.7471; Melissa with Melissa ISD 1.9092). The school homestead exemption of $140,000 was approved by Texas voters in November 2025 (Proposition 13); Collin County (5%), Collin College (20%) and the City of Melissa (6%) take their own percentages. Apply with Collin CAD. Rates reset every fall. General information, not legal or tax advice.

Your move in 5 steps.

  1. Text me or book a call.

    Tell me your timeline, your budget and what matters most.

  2. Get pre-approved.

    A real number from a local lender before we tour. I'll connect you.

  3. Tour in person or on video.

    Can't be here yet? I'll walk homes for you on video.

    Walking through the entry and dining room of 4571 Lake Breeze Dr, a home I listed and sold, the way a video tour looks

  4. Make the offer.

    I write it, negotiate it and walk you through every page before you sign.

  5. Close and get your keys.

    The title company runs the closing, typically four to six weeks from contract.

Go deeper: the fine print for new Texans
  • Buyer agreement first. Since January 1, 2026, Texas requires a written buyer agreement before an agent shows you a home. Mine is plain English.
  • MUD or PID. Some neighborhoods add their own tax or assessment. Same price, different payment.
  • The option period. It ends at 5:00 p.m. on the date in your contract, weekend or not.
  • Homestead. File with Collin CAD once you've moved in, before May 1, or within a year of buying.
  • License and plates. A Texas driver license within 90 days. Register your vehicles within 30 days.
  • Electricity. In Oncor's area you pick a provider. Some Melissa subdivisions are co-op only.
  • Tolls. The Sam Rayburn Tollway and the Dallas North Tollway are toll roads, so get a toll tag.

Checked October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice. Your signed contract controls. Sources: Texas Occupations Code §1101.563, TREC 20-19, Texas Water Code §49.452, Collin CAD, Texas DPS, TxDMV, City of Melissa.

Me behind the wheel, out on the road

Your guy on the ground.

Moving is a lot. I'll be your eyes on every home and tell you what the photos don't.

Let's plan your move.

Start with a text or a call. I'll take it from there.

Text me Book a call

Ashton Harris, REALTOR®

Coldwell Banker Apex, Realtors

Text or call (214) 714-0997 · ashharrishomes@gmail.com