Richardson Realtor, facts first.

Richardson is a city of 118,542 people (July 2025 Census estimate) that straddles Dallas and Collin counties along US 75, known as the Telecom Corridor for its concentration of technology and telecom employers, and home to UT Dallas. The city is about 98% built out, so most homes are established resales, many from the mid-20th century in neighborhoods like Richardson Heights and Canyon Creek. Zillow's typical home value was about $437,000 in September 2026, and the median sale price was about $477,000 in August.

For tax year 2025 a Dallas County home in Richardson ISD paid about 2.18% combined (city 0.54218, Richardson ISD 1.1052, Dallas County 0.2155, Parkland Hospital 0.212 and Dallas College 0.106575 per $100). A Collin County home in Plano ISD paid about 1.81% (city, Plano ISD 1.03955 and 0.230563 for Collin County and Collin College). On a $500,000 home that is about $9,060 to $10,910 a year, or roughly $755 to $910 a month, before exemptions; the city has no general homestead exemption but gives $160,000 to owners 65 and older or disabled.

Check the county line first, because the same price in Dallas County costs about $1,850 more a year in taxes than in Collin County at 2025 rates on a $500,000 home. Then order a full inspection with a sewer line camera on any home built before the 1980s; older plumbing is one of the most common surprises. If you work at UT Dallas, CityLine or near DFW Airport, homes close to a Silver Line or Red Line station give you a car-free option.

The single most important thing to know before buying in Richardson is which county the house is in. A Dallas County home in Richardson ISD paid about 2.18% in 2025 taxes, while a Collin County home in Plano ISD paid about 1.81%, roughly $1,850 a year apart on a $500,000 home. Because so many homes here date from the mid-20th century through the 1980s, the inspection matters as much as the price: plumbing, electrical panels, foundations and HVAC decide whether a house is a bargain or a project.

Most Richardson buyers are comparing your home with an updated mid-century house down the street, so condition and transparency win. From my construction years, the items that pay back here are the hidden ones: an updated electrical panel, replaced cast iron or galvanized plumbing, a foundation evaluation with any repair warranty, and newer HVAC, all documented with receipts. Cosmetic updates help photos, but those systems are what protect your price at the appraisal and inspection.