Garland Realtor, planned with real numbers.

Garland is a city of an estimated 249,625 people (July 2025), mostly in Dallas County northeast of Downtown Dallas, with I-635, I-30, the President George Bush Turnpike and two DART Blue Line stations. About 61.6% of homes are owner occupied, the median owner-occupied value is $270,800 and 45.7% of residents are Hispanic or Latino (Census ACS 2020-2024). Zillow's typical home value was about $281,000 in September 2026, down 2.9% over the year.

For tax year 2025 a Garland home in Dallas County and Garland ISD paid about 2.39% combined (city 0.689746, Garland ISD 1.1709, plus Dallas County, Parkland Hospital and Dallas College at 0.534075 per $100). The small Collin County portion ran about 2.09% and the Rockwall County portion about 2.11%. On a $290,000 home at 2.39% that is about $6,945 a year, or roughly $579 a month, before exemptions; the city's 11% homestead exemption and the state's $140,000 school exemption lower that for owner-occupants.

Garland can stretch a budget, but run the full monthly number: at about 2.39% in taxes, a $290,000 home carries roughly $579 a month in property tax before exemptions. Ask for the GP&L and water bills, check whether the address is in Garland, Richardson, Mesquite or Dallas ISD, and if Garland ISD, submit your Choice of School application early.

Two things make Garland different, and both affect your monthly budget. First, Garland Power & Light, the city's own electric utility, serves about 85% of residents, so most homes cannot shop electricity plans; GP&L cut its residential rate on Oct. 1, 2026, to an average of about $151 a month at 1,200 kWh. Second, Garland ISD has no fixed attendance zones, so families apply to the schools they want. Ask for a year of utility bills before you buy, and apply for schools as soon as you are under contract.

Garland homes went under contract in a median of 30 days in September 2026, but about 55% of August sales closed below list (Zillow), so start with an accurate price. Many Garland homes date from the 1960s through the 1980s, and buyers' inspectors look closely at foundation movement, aging electrical panels and original plumbing. Fix the safety items, document them and offer the buyer a year of GP&L bills to prove what the home costs to run.