Your Expert Guide

McKinney: A Dallas suburb that blends timeless beauty with modern flair

There are so many great places to live in Dallas that it helps to have an expert on your side. The Neighborhood Guide presented by Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there, providing in-the-know info about your possible new community.

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty

A home in Stonebridge Ranch, one of McKinney's master-planned communities.

---

With more than 15 years in North Texas real estate and a lifetime around construction, renovation, architecture and design, Bess Dickson has learned that the most interesting thing about a home is often what others overlook.

Bess works across Dallas–Fort Worth, from East Dallas and White Rock Lake north through Richardson, Allen, Lucas and McKinney. Her eye for possibility makes her part matchmaker, part problem solver and, when needed, part house detective.

Her fascination with homes began early, growing up in a family that renovated a 100-year-old house. That curiosity still shapes how she helps clients read a property, understand a neighborhood and make smart decisions about what comes next.

Bess also invests in New Friends New Life and The Bridge.

Her approach to real estate starts with a simple question: “What would make this move a win?”

Bess offered up a few of her personal favorites about life in McKinney. Here's her guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
McKinney’s food scene leans warm, local, and handcrafted — much like the town itself. Its historic downtown square offers farm-to-table restaurants, artisan coffee shops, bakeries, breweries, and a steady rotation of festivals and food-forward events.

“Craft beer, food trucks, and live music at TUPPS Brewery — it's four acres of laid-back McKinney fun," she says. Newly reimagined in the Mill District, the brewery is one of the best spots in town to meet friends, catch a band, or spend a sunny Saturday.

Sip your way through the annual McKinney Wine & Music Festival in October, where local winemakers and live bands create an fun day out at District 121.

And on Saturdays, stroll through the McKinney Farmers Market in Chestnut Square, where local vendors showcase fresh produce, handmade goods, and unique finds.

Where to play
Whether you’re after nature, live music, sports, or family fun, McKinney delivers with vibrant variety, and many of these are hidden gems even locals may not know about.

“Pack the bikes and cycle Erwin Park’s 10-mile loop, and be sure to pack s'mores to enjoy at the quiet campsites that feel miles from the city," Bess says.

Chestnut Square Historic Village is a living slice of old Texas, featuring blacksmith demos, holiday home tours, and real front-porch conversations.

The Heard Natural Science Museum sits on a 289-acre nature preserve and "is one of my favorite getaways with my grandkids," says Bess. "You can (currently until spring) walk through the woods and happen upon the occasional dinosaur- memory making. Fun fact: The Heard Museum exists because of Bessie Heard. She was a long-time McKinney resident who never married and bequeathed funds for the land at her death. As a Bess, I appreciate the ultimate pay-it-forward gift!"

The Picklr is one of North Texas’ premier pickleball facilities, offering well-lit indoor courts for year-round play. “It's a a great activity, whether winter or summer," she says.

McKinney’s friendly “battle royal” golf rivalry features two beloved courses, Craig Ranch and Stonebridge Ranch, each with die-hard loyalists and beautiful greens.

The heart of McKinney’s community spirit beats strongest during its festivals. The Home for the Holidays Christmas Market at the end of November features crafts and gifts from local makers, while the McKinney Rotary Club Christmas Light Parade in December is "pure magical, rolling charm," Bess says.

Two major developments are also on the horizon: Sunset Amphitheater, a 20,000-seat, next-gen outdoor venue opening for the 2026 touring season, and Cannon Beach, a proposed surf and adventure park with a 4-acre surf lagoon and resort-style amenities.

Where to live
McKinney’s neighborhoods range from storybook historic homes to master-planned communities with lakes, trails, and golf course views. What ties them together, Bess says, is “a timeless beauty with modern flair.”

Stonebridge Ranch is one of McKinney’s most prestigious master-planned communities and is known for its neighborhood villages sporting distinct architectural styles. Bess has represented several properties here, including a beautifully staged home backing one of the golf courses on Oak Hallow.

Just outside Stonebridge — yet benefiting from the same schools — neighborhoods like Forest Lawn offer spacious homes, newer builds, and family-friendly streets.

Trinity Falls home 405 Green Valley Dr., McKinney, TX 75071 Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty

The 2,000-acre master-planned community of Trinity Falls features a three-bedroom, three-bathroom stunner by Highland Homes. Located at 405 Green Valley Dr., the house has soaring 12-foot ceilings, a chef’s kitchen with an oversized island, a serene primary suite, and a refreshing plunge pool. Residents enjoy pools, clubhouses, trails, parks, fishing ponds, neighborhood events and easy access to Highways 75 and 121.

A one-of-a-kind community, Adriatica Village was inspired by a Croatian seaside town, complete with Mediterranean architecture, waterfront views, and cobblestone charm. “It an unexpected treasure,” Bess says.

For buyers who love porch culture, walkability, and charm, the streets around the Square in Historic Downtown McKinney offer preserved cottages, Victorian architecture, mature trees, and a strong sense of community.

“McKinney feels like a small town with a bit of punch," says Bess. "It’s curated, not chaotic, historic, but never stuck in the past. It’s a place where life slows down just enough for you to enjoy it.”

---

Bess Dickson works and plays in McKinney. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email bess.dickson@sothebysrealty.com, or call 214-736-3921. Follow Bess on Instagram: @bessdicksonhome.

neighborhood guide mckinney bess dickson home for sale promoted hidedate

living single

Dallas lands among 10 most affordable U.S. metros for living alone

Getty Images

In DFW, renters can afford to live solo.

Not everyone is cut out for living with roommates, but finding an affordable place to live alone can be tricky. Luckily, Dallas-Fort Worth sits among the top 10 most affordable U.S. metros for living by yourself, according to a new report.

Analysts at Apartments.com discovered North Texas renters spend the seventh lowest share of their monthly income on single-bedroom rent out of the 50 biggest metros in the U.S.

The study used a 30 percent "common budgeting guideline" to calculate the share of median renter household income spent on one-bedroom asking rents across the 50 largest U.S. metros, and determined renters can only afford to live alone in 24 of the 50 metros without crossing the 30 percent threshold.

The median annual income of a DFW renter household is $63,172, and the findings show the typical asking rent for a one-bedroom apartment comes out to $1,348 per month. The study determined single renters spend 25.6 percent of their monthly income on rent based on the budgeting suggestion.

Texas' favorable rental market also extends outside of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex: Austin surprised as the No. 1 most affordable metro for living alone, and San Antonio appeared among the top 10.

Austin renters spend the smallest share of their income on single-bedroom apartment rent, at 23.1 percent. That's based on a median renter household income of $70,008 and a $1,348 monthly one-bedroom asking rent price.

Dwindling rent prices and the prevalence of major tech employers are also attracting new renters, and the city has an 11.6 percent apartment vacancy rate.

"The average rent in Austin has decreased year over year, and construction of new housing increased by 30 percent over the past decade," the report's author wrote. "Tax incentives in Texas draw large tech corporations, like Google and Apple, to the Austin area, which has increased average wages, added more jobs to the local economy, and attracted renters in the process."

San Antonio ranked right above DFW in sixth place nationwide with solo renters spending 25.4 percent of their monthly income on single-bedroom rent, coincidentally the same share as single renters living in Raleigh, North Carolina and Salt Lake City, Utah.

This is the income and one-bedroom rent data in San Antonio:

$51,029 – median renter household income
$1,082 – one-bedroom monthly asking rent

A separate Apartments.com survey found 39 percent of U.S. adults would never feel comfortable living with a roommate, and 16 percent of renters would rather pay more in rent to live alone than consider living with a roommate.

"Factors contributing to lower rents may include recent high levels of construction, rising vacancy rates as renter demand catches up to supply, and fewer regulations, such as flexible zoning and lower development costs compared to other parts of the country," the report said. "Living alone has become a non-negotiable for many renters, and some renters are willing to make tradeoffs to afford this lifestyle."

The top 10 most affordable U.S. metros for living alone are:

No. 1 – Austin
No. 2 – Oklahoma City
No. 3 – Phoenix
No. 4 – Raleigh, North Carolina
No. 5 – Salt Lake City, Utah
No. 6 – San Antonio
No. 7 – Dallas-Fort Worth
No. 8 – Denver
No. 9 – Portland, Oregon
No. 10 – Columbus, Ohio

real estate rent rent prices apartments affordability reports