Downsizing and 55+ Moves in North DFW

Melissa Avara is a McKinney-based Texas real estate broker who helps homeowners downsize, move into 55+ communities, and plan their next chapter in McKinney, Frisco, Prosper, Celina, Plano and nearby cities. This guide covers where to look, the Texas tax breaks for owners 65 and older, and how to time the sale and purchase.

What are the best 55+ communities near McKinney, Frisco, Celina and Plano?

The main for-sale 55+ options are Del Webb at Trinity Falls in McKinney, Del Webb at Legacy Hills in Celina, and Frisco Lakes by Del Webb in Frisco. Heritage Ranch in Fairview and Del Webb at Union Park in Little Elm are nearby resale options, mostly single-story.

• Del Webb at Trinity Falls (McKinney)
  New single-story homes from about $352,000 (builder pricing, October 2026), 1,274 to 2,782 square feet, with a 10,000-square-foot amenity center, pickleball and a lifestyle director inside the larger Trinity Falls community.
• Del Webb at Legacy Hills (Celina)
  New single-story homes from about $322,000, same size range, with a large amenity hub and an 18-hole golf course in the surrounding Legacy Hills community.
• Frisco Lakes by Del Webb (Frisco)
  More than 3,000 single-story homes on Lewisville Lake. Mostly resale, with sales centered around $440,000 over the past year.
• Heritage Ranch (Fairview)
  An active adult community of 1,144 homes around an 18-hole golf course, between McKinney and Allen. Resale only.
• Del Webb at Union Park (Little Elm)
  Single-story 55+ homes inside the Union Park master plan, west of Frisco.

Federal rules require at least 80% of occupied homes in a 55+ community to have at least one resident 55 or older. Each community sets its own rules on younger residents and guests, so read the HOA documents before you buy.

What Texas property tax breaks do homeowners 65 and older get?

Homeowners 65 and older get an extra $60,000 school homestead exemption on top of the standard $140,000, for $200,000 total. Their school taxes are also frozen at the level of the first year they qualify, and that freeze can transfer as a percentage to a new Texas home.

• The ceiling moves with you. If your school taxes are frozen at 25% of what you would otherwise pay, your new home's school taxes are capped at 25% of its normal bill. Ask your old appraisal district for a transfer certificate.
• Tax deferral is available. Owners 65 and older can defer property taxes on their homestead while they live there. Interest accrues at 5% a year.
• Surviving spouses keep it. A spouse who was 55 or older when the qualifying spouse died keeps the exemption and ceiling on the same homestead.

That is why a Texas downsize deserves a plan: a pricier new home can still carry a modest school tax bill if you transfer your ceiling.

Should you sell first or buy first when you downsize?

Most downsizers sell first so they know their budget and avoid paying two mortgages. If you need to buy first, the common options are a contingent offer, a bridge loan or home equity line, or a short leaseback after your sale so you can move once.

• Sell first, lease back
  You close on your sale, then rent your home back from the buyer for a few weeks while your next home closes. Texas has a standard form for this.
• Buy with a sale contingency
  Your purchase depends on your home selling. This works best with new construction and in slower markets like Celina and Prosper today.
• Buy first with bridge financing
  You move once, on your schedule, but you carry both homes for a while. Talk to your lender before you shop.

How much tax will you owe when you sell your longtime home?

Most homeowners owe no federal tax on the profit. If you owned and lived in the home for at least two of the last five years, you can exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or $500,000 for married couples filing jointly. Texas has no state income or capital gains tax.

If your gain may exceed the exclusion, or the home was ever a rental, talk to your CPA before you list. Records of past improvements raise your cost basis.

What if you don't want a 55+ community?

Plenty of downsizers want a smaller, single-story home in a regular neighborhood. Townhomes, patio homes and condos are the main lock-and-leave options. The median Collin County townhome sold for $390,000 in August 2026, and Plano offers condos and townhomes under $400,000.

Good places to start include single-story homes on larger lots in East Plano's Los Rios neighborhood, the one-story patio homes and villas in Mustang Lakes in Celina, and townhomes in Frisco and McKinney. If you would rather rent first, Alders Prosper Active Adult offers 55+ rental cottages in Celina, near the Prosper line.

How does Melissa help downsizers?

Melissa plans the sale and purchase as one move. She prices and prepares your current home, connects you with stagers, movers and other trusted vendors, coordinates closing dates, and helps you compare 55+ communities, single-story homes and condos side by side, with the tax ceiling transfer in the math.

Start planning with Melissa: call or text (214) 280-4317 or send her a message. Related: Buying and selling in North DFW, McKinney, Celina, Frisco, Plano.

Last updated October 2026. Data: Del Webb community pages for Trinity Falls and Legacy Hills (October 2026); The Village at Frisco Lakes; Heritage Ranch; Redfin sales data, October 2025 to October 2026; Texas Tax Code 11.13, 11.26 and 33.06; IRS Topic 701; 24 CFR 100.305; NTREIS Monthly MLS Summary, August 2026.