McKinney, Texas
Historic Downtown McKinney
Older homes around McKinney's National Register downtown district, where qualifying owners can earn a 10-year city tax exemption.
Inside Historic Downtown McKinney
The neighborhoods around downtown McKinney hold many of the city's oldest homes, next to the McKinney Commercial Historic District, which is listed on the National Register and roughly bounded by Herndon, Wood, Cloyd, Davis, Louisiana, MacDonald and Virginia streets. Since 2007 the city's Historic Neighborhood Improvement Zone has covered the area bounded by US 75, US 380, Airport Drive and Industrial Boulevard and Wilson Creek Parkway, including downtown. This part of town fits buyers who want character, mature lots and a walk to the square, and who are ready to care for an older house.
The lesson here is to plan the renovation before you buy. In the HNIZ, an owner-occupied house at least 50 years old that gets at least $10,000 of qualifying investment can earn a Level 1 exemption of 100 percent of city taxes for 10 years, and homes in the H Overlay need a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior changes like windows, siding, doors, porches and fences. With my construction background I help buyers price the work, the approvals and the exemption together, and sellers should hand buyers the home's designation and any approved work up front.
Around Historic Downtown McKinney
Photos via Wikimedia Commons. Historic Downtown McKinney: Rick Ray, CC BY 2.0 · Historic Collin County Courthouse: Cohee, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Downtown McKinney: 843contributor, CC BY-SA 4.0
The facts
Close to the National Register downtown commercial district, City Historic Marker program through the Historic Preservation Advisory Board, Historic Preservation Office review of preliminary designs by appointment, Genealogy research tools at the Ray and Helen Hall Memorial Library
The historic neighborhoods surround downtown McKinney, inside the HNIZ boundary of US 75 on the west, US 380 on the north, Airport Drive on the east, and Industrial Boulevard and Wilson Creek Parkway on the south. Many homes carry ZIP 75069 addresses.
Inside the HNIZ, qualifying owner-occupied homes can earn city tax exemptions (Level 1 is 100 percent for 10 years), holders must reapply with the Collin Central Appraisal District by April 1 each year, and the city inspects exempt homes each January. National Register and Recorded Texas Historic Landmark status can also open other exemptions, so I check a home's designations before you buy.
Where Historic Downtown McKinney sits
Drive times, schools and shopping around it. Ask me for a tour of the area.
See what clients say.
Read reviews from buyers, sellers and renters on Google, then ask me anything. I answer the same day, in English or Spanish.
About Historic Downtown McKinney
Do historic homes in McKinney get a tax break?
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Looking in Historic Downtown McKinney?
I track new listings, resale history and builder incentives here. Tell me what you need and I'll send what fits.
- National Park Service: McKinney Commercial Historic District (NRIS 83003132)
- Community Impact: McKinney updates tax exemption program for historic homes (Mar 2022)
- City of McKinney: Historic Neighborhood Improvement Zone
- City of McKinney: Historic Preservation FAQ
- Century 21 Judge Fite listing: 610 N Church Street (Apr 2026)
- Juli Black listing: 610 N Church Street, price reduced (2026)
HOA dues, MUD and PID assessments and school zoning change by section. Albert verifies them for every address.