How Much Does It Cost to Buy a New Construction Home in McKinney, TX?

By Javed Memon, Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty · November 1, 2026 · McKinney, Texas

I'm Javed Memon, a realtor with eXp Realty here in Dallas–Fort Worth. McKinney is one of the first places my buyers look when Frisco pricing pushes them north — still in Collin County, close to US-75 and the Sam Rayburn Tollway, often with more home for the money. The question I hear most is: what will it really cost, all in? Here is how I walk clients through it.

1. The base price is a starting point, not the total

The price on the sign and the model home is the base price for a floor plan, with included features, on a standard lot. It does not include the lot you may actually want, structural options, or finishes you pick later. Two buyers can choose the same plan in the same community and end up with very different totals — so compare the same lot, plan, and finish level when you compare communities.

An inventory home makes this easier: the lot, options, and finishes are already decided, so the price is much closer to final. Building from dirt builds the total up in stages — I explain that trade-off in my guide to inventory homes vs. building from dirt in DFW.

2. Lot premium: location inside the community costs extra

Larger, corner, cul-de-sac, and green-space or pond lots often carry a lot premium; some standard lots carry none. There is no single McKinney number — it is set per lot, per community — so ask for the lot map with premiums marked before you fall in love with a homesite. A premium can help resale, but overpaying for a feature future buyers will not value is money you may not get back.

3. Structural options and the design center

Structural options — an extra bedroom, larger garage, covered patio, added bath — must be chosen early and are hard to change later, so that is usually where upgrade money is best spent. Design-center choices come next: flooring, counters, cabinets, fixtures, appliances. This is where totals quietly climb.

Keep total upgrades around 10–15% of the base price as a guardrail, prioritise structure, and stay selective on cosmetic finishes you could do for less after closing. Set a hard upgrade budget before your design appointment.

4. Money due before closing

New construction asks for cash earlier than a resale purchase. Expect earnest money at signing, and often additional deposits for options or design selections as you make them. Amounts and deadlines differ by community and are in the builder's contract — read when each deposit is due and whether it is refundable before you sign.

5. Closing costs — and how incentives change them

At closing you will also pay lender fees, title costs, recording, and escrow deposits to prefund taxes and homeowner's insurance. Builders often offer a closing-cost credit or rate buydown tied to their preferred lender. That can reduce cash to close, but get the credit in writing, compare the full loan offer, and make sure the incentive is in the final contract, not just a flyer.

6. The McKinney monthly costs buyers miss

• Property taxes: McKinney is in Collin County. On a new home, taxes may first be estimated on land or partial value, then reassessed once the finished home is on the roll — budget for tax on the completed home.
• MUD or PID: Some newer communities carry a MUD or PID assessment on top of the regular rate. Ask for the total rate for your specific lot.
• HOA fees: Master-planned communities charge dues for amenities and common areas. Ask what is included, how often dues are billed, and whether there is a separate fee at closing.
• Schools and commute: Most of McKinney is McKinney ISD, with edges in other districts — verify zoning for the exact address, and test your US-75 or tollway drive at the time you would actually travel.

How I build your all-in number

Before my clients sign, we put five figures on one page: base price, lot premium, structural and design budget, estimated closing costs after any incentive, and the monthly payment using the total tax rate and HOA for that lot. If a community cannot give those numbers clearly, that tells us something too. You can also use my homepage — listings and Book a Call — to compare what your budget buys nearby before you commit.

Frequently asked questions

Is the base price the final price in McKinney?
No. It covers the plan and included features on a standard lot. Your final price adds lot premium, structural options, and design upgrades, plus closing costs.

What closing costs do McKinney new-build buyers pay?
Lender fees, title, escrow deposits, recording, and appraisal or survey fees where they apply. A builder credit can offset part of that — confirm it in writing.

Do new homes in McKinney have MUD or PID taxes?
Some do and some do not. Always ask for the total tax rate for the specific lot, including any MUD or PID, because that total drives your monthly payment.

How much should I budget for upgrades?
Keep upgrades around 10–15% of the base price. Spend first on structural choices that are hard to change later.