Moving to Frisco from California: the real math

Texas does not apply it automatically. You file with the appraisal district for your county (Collin CAD or Denton CAD), generally before May 1, per the Texas Comptroller. You must own the home and use it as your principal residence, and if you buy after January 1 you can receive it for part of that year when the previous owner did not claim the same exemption. The school homestead exemption is now $140,000, and Frisco grants the maximum 20% city exemption.

California limits assessed value growth to 2% a year (or inflation, if lower) and resets it at the purchase price. Texas resets at purchase too, but a homestead's appraised value can rise up to 10% a year, and that cap only starts on January 1 of the year after you first qualify for the exemption (Tax Code 23.23). Expect your first full bill to reflect market value.

Some homes carry an extra district tax or assessment on top of city, county and school, most often in newer communities and in areas just outside city limits that are served by a water district. A seller must give you a district notice before you sign a contract (Water Code 49.452), and our MUD and PID guide explains how to read one.

The Texas Department of Insurance reports an average homeowners premium of $3,489 for 2025 (preliminary), up from $1,791 in 2016, and by our math from TDI's loss chart, wind and hail made up about two-thirds of paid losses in 2025. TDI recommends replacement cost coverage: in its example, a $10,000 roof with a $2,000 deductible pays $8,000 on replacement cost versus $5,000 on actual cash value. Our Frisco hail and insurance guide goes deeper.

North Texas sits on clay that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, and the Dallas County Master Gardeners warn that both extremes can move a foundation. Their guidance: water when the soil is dry about an inch down, and keep drip lines at least six inches from the slab. From my construction years, a foundation report is the inspection item I would never skip on a resale.

Frisco's typical home value was $640,131 in September 2026, per Zillow, which can feel like a bargain next to coastal California. Budget the Texas tax and insurance into the payment before you decide how much house to buy.

Zillow shows Frisco's typical value down 3.9% over the year to September 2026, and 78.4% of August 2026 sales closed under list price. That is negotiating room for you, not a reason to overpay because it still feels cheap.

Frisco has four school districts inside city limits, and each has a different tax rate. See our Frisco ISD school zones guide before you fall in love with a house.

Texas gives new residents 30 days to register a vehicle and 90 days to get a Texas driver license. Collin and Denton counties require an emissions inspection before registration, per the Texas DMV.

Get preapproved with a lender who knows Texas, and price a few Frisco neighborhoods with real tax certificates, not averages. Decide which school zone and commute you need.

Tour in person or by video, request seller disclosures and the MUD or PID notice, and line up a foundation-aware inspector before you go under contract.

Use the option period for inspection, insurance quotes (including a roof check) and school zone confirmation. Ask for the HOA resale certificate if there is one.

Register your car with the county tax assessor-collector after the emissions inspection, start utilities, and set a reminder to file your homestead exemption.

File the homestead exemption with your appraisal district. If you miss it, Texas allows a late application up to two years after the tax delinquency date, with a refund of the overpaid amount.