Lake Forest property tax protests: 2026 data

180 homes in McKinney, Collin County (appraisal neighborhood N11458), compared with their most similar neighbors.

Updated October 12, 2026. Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026 data. Methodology

single-family homes compared
180
valued above similar homes nearby
48%
look worth protesting in 2026
88%
of decided 2026 protests got a reduction
71%

48% of Lake Forest homes are valued above similar homes nearby

We compared each of 180 single-family homes with its most similar neighbors (same neighborhood and quality, similar size and age). 48% have a house value above the median of those homes: together, $587,530 of house value above them. Texas lets you protest a value that is above the median of comparable homes.

Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026

159 Lake Forest homes look worth protesting in 2026

We rate 19 "Yes" and 140 "Maybe". If every one of them protested and got the reduction their comparables support, their owners could pay about $10,015 less in property tax a year.

Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026

47% of Lake Forest homeowners protested in 2026, and 71% of decided protests got a reduction

Of 180 Lake Forest homeowners in our data, 84 protested their 2026 value; 39 of 55 decided protests lowered it, typically by $11,968 (1.2% of the value).

Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026

Lake Forest homeowners who protested on their own got bigger reductions than those who hired an agent: $18,068 vs. $10,998

The typical winning protest cut the value by 2% on your own vs. 1.1% with an agent.

On your own

$18,068

typical value cut among wins (2%)

Decided protests won
69%
Cost
$0–50
Off the yearly tax bill
about $273, all yours

With a paid agent

$10,998

typical value cut among wins (1.1%)

Decided protests won
71%
Cost
25–40% of the tax saved
Off the yearly tax bill
about $166, minus $42–$66 to the agent

Source: the Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026 protests. Tax figures at a typical 1.5% effective tax rate. Agent or do it yourself? · Methodology

An agent keeps 25–40% of what you save. Doing it yourself costs $0–50.

At a typical 1.5% tax rate, the typical win on your own takes about $273 a year off the tax bill, and you keep all of it. The typical agent win takes off about $166, and the agent keeps about $42–$66 of that. Filing is free, online or by mail, and there's no agent contract to renew or cancel each year.

Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026

43 Lake Forest homes valued above similar homes weren't protested

Their house values were above the median of the most similar neighbors, the comparison Texas law allows a protest on, but their owners didn't protest in 2026.

Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026

The typical Lake Forest home's value fell 8.3% this year

Median change in appraised market value from last year.

Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026

The typical Lake Forest home pays about $12,293 a year in property tax

Our estimate from 2026 published tax rates and each home's exemptions: 1.5% of market value.

Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026

22% of Lake Forest homes have no homestead exemption on file

Usually a rental or second home. If it's your own home, a homestead exemption takes $140,000 off its school taxable value and caps yearly increases in taxable value at 10%; you apply with your appraisal district (Form 50-114).

Source: Collin Central Appraisal District, 2026

Is your home one of them?

Free, in about 10 seconds: how your home compares with similar homes nearby.

By the numbers

Single-family homes180
Median market value$793,265
Median change from last year-8.3%
Median value per sq ft$225
Median living area3,510 sq ft
Median lot7,809 sq ft
Median year built2022
Homes with a pool11%
Homestead exemption on file78%
Median estimated property tax$12,293 a year
Median effective tax rate1.5%
Homes with a paid protest agent42%

Streets where most homes are valued above similar homes

StreetHomesAbove similar homesMedian gap
STONE VALLEY DR1275%+1.7%
FALLS DR1364%+0.3%
DUNSTER DR1856%+0.2%
BUFFALO TRACE LN2056%+0.2%
MEADOW CREEK DR1450%-0.1%
SAGUARO RDG1550%-0.2%
MCKINNEY HOLLOW DR1843%-0.3%
SOVEREIGNTY DR1833%-0.2%
SHORE CREST DR1833%-0.4%
DAYBREAK DR1729%-0.1%

Streets with at least 10 homes we could compare. "Median gap": how far the street's typical house value is from its comparables' median.

How to protest

The protest deadline is May 15, or 30 days after your appraisal notice was mailed, whichever is later. Check the date on your notice. New to this? Read how to protest.

Have a specific Texas address? Check it at taxprotesting.com/check?address=1234 Main St, Plano, TX with your own street address, or use the search box.

Based on 2026 appraisal values and protest outcomes from the Collin Central Appraisal District. Estimates, not promises: every protest is decided on its own evidence.