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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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).
Free, in about 10 seconds: how your home compares with similar homes nearby.
By the numbers
Single-family homes
180
Median market value
$793,265
Median change from last year
-8.3%
Median value per sq ft
$225
Median living area
3,510 sq ft
Median lot
7,809 sq ft
Median year built
2022
Homes with a pool
11%
Homestead exemption on file
78%
Median estimated property tax
$12,293 a year
Median effective tax rate
1.5%
Homes with a paid protest agent
42%
Streets where most homes are valued above similar homes
Street
Homes
Above similar homes
Median gap
STONE VALLEY DR
12
75%
+1.7%
FALLS DR
13
64%
+0.3%
DUNSTER DR
18
56%
+0.2%
BUFFALO TRACE LN
20
56%
+0.2%
MEADOW CREEK DR
14
50%
-0.1%
SAGUARO RDG
15
50%
-0.2%
MCKINNEY HOLLOW DR
18
43%
-0.3%
SOVEREIGNTY DR
18
33%
-0.2%
SHORE CREST DR
18
33%
-0.4%
DAYBREAK DR
17
29%
-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.
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.