If you are thinking about buying in McKinney, one question matters more than almost any other: where is the city actually growing? Growth is not happening evenly across McKinney, and that can affect the kind of home you find, what surrounds it, and how your day-to-day experience feels after move-in. When you understand the city’s main growth corridors, you can make a smarter decision about value, lifestyle, and long-term fit. Let’s dive in.

Why McKinney growth matters

McKinney’s official planning and development materials show a city that is still expanding in a big way. The city’s comprehensive plan covers about 116 square miles across the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction, and that growth is organized around specific districts and corridors rather than broad, even spread.

The pace is significant. In the city’s 2025 Annual Development Report, McKinney reported more than 13,000 new residents, 113 commercial permits worth more than $730 million, over 1,600 single-family permits worth more than $550 million, and total new construction value above $1.5 billion. For buyers, that means location choices inside McKinney can lead to very different experiences.

Northwest McKinney growth

The northwest sector is currently the city’s main residential buildout area. McKinney defines this area as north of University Drive and west of Central Expressway/Sam Johnson Highway, and the city says communities like Painted Tree, Aster Park, and Highland Lakes continue to shape this part of town.

For many buyers, this is where you are most likely to find a larger share of newer for-sale inventory. McKinney’s recent housing data shows that from September 2024 through September 2025, 94% of homes sold were single-family detached, while only 6% were attached.

What buyers can expect here

In practical terms, northwest McKinney often points to newer construction and more master-planned development patterns. You may see HOA structures, newer floor plans, and neighborhood amenities that appeal to buyers who want modern layouts and a more recently built home.

The tradeoff is price. McKinney’s city-commissioned affordability study found that homes priced below $200,000 fell from 58% of the market in 2011 to less than 1% in 2024, while most homes now sit above $400,000. If you are shopping in this corridor, it helps to plan for a market where newer homes often come with higher entry points than buyers saw a decade ago.

U.S. 75 and Laud Howell corridor

Another major growth area is the U.S. 75, SH 121, and Laud Howell Parkway corridor. This part of McKinney is evolving into a mixed-use gateway with entertainment, office, open space, and mobility improvements all playing a role.

One headline project is the planned Sunset Amphitheater at the northeast corner of U.S. 75 and SH 121. The city says the project is planned on 46 acres, represents a projected $300 million investment, could seat up to 20,000 people at full capacity, and has a target completion date of summer 2027.

Why this corridor stands out

This area is not just about rooftops. McKinney’s Honey Creek Entertainment district plan identifies the U.S. 75 and Laud Howell Parkway area as a gateway district focused on mixed-use, entertainment, and large-scale professional office uses.

The district materials also call for walking and biking paths, creek and open-space amenities, and mobility networks designed to support shorter internal trips. The Honey Creek Municipal Management District includes 200 acres of open space, 30 linear miles of neighborhood trails, at least two city parks totaling 20 acres or more, and a fire station.

What that can mean for buyers

If you buy near this corridor, value may be tied to more than the home itself. In amenity-driven districts like this, resale appeal may depend on surrounding public space, trail access, district identity, and regional connectivity, not just lot size.

That can be exciting if you want to be near a district with planned activity and public investment. It also means you should look closely at timing, nearby construction, and how much of the vision is already completed versus still in planning.

SH 5 and downtown growth

The SH 5 and downtown area is a different kind of growth story. Instead of a typical suburban buildout, this corridor is being shaped by infrastructure improvements, redevelopment, and urban infill.

TxDOT broke ground on the Spur 399 and SH 5 project on June 24, 2025. The first phase is intended to widen Spur 399 from four lanes to six lanes, with completion expected in early 2029.

Inside the city, East McKinney redevelopment work includes utility relocations tied to SH 5 reconstruction, the East Virginia Street extension to Airport Drive, and downtown infrastructure work on Hunt, Tennessee, Lamar, and Kentucky Streets. The city’s downtown zoning district is set up specifically for pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use, urban-infill redevelopment.

How this area feels different

For buyers, downtown and SH 5 may offer a different housing and neighborhood experience than the northwest sector. The city’s downtown development approach emphasizes preservation and reinvestment, which can create opportunities tied to smaller lots, infill housing, attached homes, or adaptive reuse near the urban core.

If you care about access to a more walkable setting, this corridor may deserve a closer look. If you prefer larger suburban lots and a traditional subdivision layout, other parts of McKinney may align better with your goals.

Airport and east side growth

McKinney National Airport is becoming a more visible part of the city’s growth story. The airport’s development materials describe it as a major economic driver, and the city says it is completing improvements with future commercial service in mind.

Current construction includes a north runway extension expected to finish in October 2026. In November 2025, the city also announced a $14.8 million TxDOT grant for eastside projects, including a 46,000-square-foot terminal, parking, taxiway work, and related infrastructure, with commercial passenger flights targeted for late 2026.

What buyers should consider

Airport-area growth can bring opportunity and change at the same time. Improved infrastructure and economic development can strengthen access and visibility, but buyers should also pay attention to how nearby transportation projects may affect traffic patterns, timing, and the feel of the surrounding area.

If you are considering the east side, it is wise to look beyond the listing photos and understand the larger development context. In corridors tied to major public projects, the surrounding environment can shift meaningfully over a few years.

What growth means for home styles

McKinney’s growth corridors are likely to produce different housing choices depending on where you look. In the northwest sector, the current buildout pattern suggests continued detached new-construction options, especially since the city’s recent sales mix is heavily weighted toward detached homes.

Downtown and SH 5 are more likely to offer a different development pattern over time. Because the city is encouraging pedestrian-oriented mixed-use and urban infill there, buyers may see more smaller-footprint, attached, infill, or adaptive-reuse opportunities near the core.

The Honey Creek and U.S. 75 area leans more toward district identity and amenities. In that kind of location, the quality of open space, trails, and public improvements may shape the area’s feel as much as the homes themselves.

McKinney prices and affordability

Even with all this growth, McKinney’s broader market has been normalizing. Zillow reported an average McKinney home value of $487,346 on April 30, 2026, down 7.0% year over year, with homes going pending in about 25 days. Realtor.com described McKinney as a buyer’s market in May 2026.

At the same time, affordability remains a real issue. The city-commissioned affordability report found a 2024 median sales price of $485,000 and a nearly $128,000 gap between that median price and what a median-income household could afford.

Detached versus attached costs

For some buyers and smaller investors, attached housing may look like a lower entry point. The same city report found that attached homes sold at a median of $415,000 compared with $550,000 for detached homes.

But monthly cost matters too. The report found median HOA fees of $368 for attached homes versus $69 for detached homes, so a lower purchase price does not always mean a lower monthly carrying cost.

How to evaluate a growth corridor

Buying near growth can be smart, but it helps to stay practical. The strongest long-term resale position may come from neighborhoods that combine completed infrastructure, durable amenities, and strong connectivity rather than simply sitting near a future project on a map.

McKinney’s own planning materials connect land use with mobility, public investment, and amenity design. At the same time, construction delays, traffic, and district-related costs can affect short-term convenience and buyer appeal.

A simple buyer checklist

Before you commit to a home in a growth area, consider these questions:

• Is the nearby project already funded, under construction, or still only planned?
• What type of land use is the city encouraging around the property?
• Is the home in a special financing district with added taxes or assessments?
• How much of the surrounding infrastructure is already complete?
• Does the area’s future fit your lifestyle, not just today’s listing price?

McKinney’s special financing district materials note that some districts can include assessments or taxes in addition to city, county, and school taxes. That means the true monthly cost of owning a home may be meaningfully different from what the list price alone suggests.

How to verify what is coming

One of the best things you can do as a buyer is verify, not assume. McKinney recommends using its Interactive Land Use Planning Map to look up permitted uses, zoning information, and where a property sits.

The city also notes that buyers can check Collin County Appraisal District records to confirm whether a parcel is inside McKinney city limits. When you need parcel-specific information about setbacks, lot size, and similar rules, the city says you can request a zoning verification letter.

Follow official city updates

If you want to track growth as you search, the city’s Planning page, Development Reports page, and Capital Improvement Program page are key starting points. Those resources help buyers monitor public notices, planning and zoning agendas, development activity, and major infrastructure projects.

That matters because comprehensive plan diagrams are planning guides, not substitutes for zoning and site-specific approvals. A corridor can look promising on a map, but the details around a specific property still need to be confirmed.

Buying in a growing city is not just about finding the right house. It is about understanding what will surround that house in one year, three years, and five years. If you want help weighing McKinney’s growth areas, comparing neighborhoods, and finding a home that fits both your budget and your long-term goals, Allison Keegan is ready to help.

FAQs

What part of McKinney is growing the most for new homes?

• McKinney’s northwest sector, defined by the city as north of University Drive and west of Central Expressway/Sam Johnson Highway, is the main residential buildout area with communities like Painted Tree, Aster Park, and Highland Lakes.

What does the U.S. 75 and Laud Howell corridor mean for McKinney buyers?

• This corridor is planned as a mixed-use gateway with entertainment, office, open space, trails, and mobility improvements, so buyers there may see value tied to amenities and district identity as much as the home itself.

What is changing around downtown McKinney and SH 5?

• Downtown McKinney and the SH 5 corridor are seeing infrastructure work, East McKinney redevelopment, and urban-infill planning that supports pedestrian-oriented mixed-use growth rather than typical suburban subdivision expansion.

How does McKinney airport growth affect east side buyers?

• McKinney National Airport improvements, including runway work and planned terminal-related projects, can bring more infrastructure and economic activity to the east side, so buyers should weigh both opportunity and changing area conditions.

How can McKinney buyers verify future development near a home?

• Buyers can use the city’s Interactive Land Use Planning Map, review Collin County Appraisal District records, and request a zoning verification letter when they need parcel-specific confirmation.

What should McKinney buyers know about special financing districts?

• Some McKinney properties may be in special financing districts that include added assessments or taxes beyond city, county, and school taxes, which can increase the true monthly cost of ownership.