Home Sweet Home

Your first look inside this top-notch new home community near Rockwall

There's something wonderful happening near Rockwall, in the city of McLendon-Chisholm. A new master-planned community called Horizon Lakes is in the works, and it's going to be unlike any neighborhood you've seen before.

Welcome home
Horizon Lakes is the latest from developer Huffines Communities, which is renowned for crafting excellent communities that include residential, commercial, and recreational areas.

But no two Huffines communities are the same. When finished, Horizon Lakes will have approximately 1,800 homes spread over 900 acres, and currently offers its future residents a range of carefully chosen lot sizes upon which to build their dream home.

Families can enter into the A-rated Rockwall Independent School District, and this picturesque community is a stone's throw away from Rockwall's vibrant shopping, dining, and entertainment options, ensuring that everything you need is within easy reach.

All the amenities
One of the best parts about living in a master-planned community is the plethora of amenities. At Horizon Lakes, you'll of course find lush landscaping and two luxurious entrances, but the perks continue throughout the property.

A family pool with kiddie splash pad is balance by an adult pool and a swim-up bar, plus a kayak launch into one of the three recreational lakes (which do allow fishing!).

An outdoor grill area and fire pits encourage get-togethers with your neighbors, while the kids will have several fun playgrounds to monkey around on.

More than 12 miles of hike and bike trails wind through the community, and there's a top-notch fitness center when AC is a must. Pickleball fanatics can play to their heart's content at the pickleball complex, which offers four courts for countless hours of play.

There's even an outdoor amphitheater, grand ballroom, and event chapel for concerts and celebrations of all kinds.

The value of a Huffines development
Huffines communities bring exceptional value to the areas they develop, and Horizon Lakes is no exception.

The firm's commitment to thoughtful community planning ensures long-term benefits for residents and the surrounding region. By integrating residential and recreational spaces, Huffines developments create vibrant neighborhoods that enhance the quality of life for residents.

Former Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams has praised Huffines for its transformative impact, saying, "Donald and Phillip Huffines are visionary leaders who are wonderful people with a tremendous track record in land development. Their many successful projects over the decades are evidence they are some of the vest developers in Texas. For example, Viridian Master Planned Community was valued at $8 million in 2009. Today, in only 15 years, the value has risen to $2.1 billion! The Huffines under-promise and over-deliver in all aspects of their developments. I am hoping they find additional opportunities in Arlington and throughout Texas."

Learn more today
For nearly 40 years, Huffines Communities has been developing some of the most iconic communities in North Texas, including Solterra Texas in Mesquite and Inspiration in Wylie.

Horizon Lakes is located at 1511 Pullen Rd., just seven minutes off I-30. Head here to learn more and sign up for the latest news.

---

All renderings are conceptual and subject to change without notice.

Rendering courtesy of Huffines Communities

There will even be an adults-only pool.

home for sale promoted

Tax Hike

Texans saddled with 7th highest property taxes in nation for 2026

Photo by Ronnie George on Unsplash

The Texas property tax burden keeps going up.

Property taxes can be a particularly sore subject for homeowners, and a new study has revealed Texans are saddled with the seventh-highest property taxes in the nation.

WalletHub's annual report, "Property Taxes by State," released February 17, found Texas homeowners will pay a median $4,232 in property taxes in 2026. That's based on the state's median home value of $283,800.

Last year, Texans were on the hook for a $4,111 property tax bill based on a median home value of $260,400. And Texas residents are expected to pay $360 more on their property taxes this year than in 2024, when the figure was $3,872.

To determine which states have the biggest and lowest property tax burdens on residents, WalletHub's experts divided each state's median real estate tax payment by its respective median home price. The report then used the resulting rates to extrapolate the annual real estate tax that would be paid on a house valued at $332,700, which was the median value for a U.S. home as of 2024 (the year where the latest data was available). All 50 states and the District of Columbia were analyzed.

Texas tied with Nebraska as No. 44 in the national ranking of states with the highest property tax burdens for residents right now. Both states have an effective tax rate of 1.49 percent, the data said.

Still, the property tax burden in Texas isn't as punishing as New Jersey (No. 51), whose residents are shelling out almost $9,600 on their property taxes this year based on a median home value of $454,400. On the opposite end, Hawaii is the state with the lowest property taxes, with residents spending about $2,239 based on a median home value of $839,100.

The annual property taxes Texans would pay on a $332,700 home (the 2024 U.S. median home value) added up to $4,961, the report said. For added context, the U.S. Census Bureau found the average American household pays $3,119 annually on property taxes.

Of course, property taxes vary by region, and residents living in Dallas County are familiar with enduring tax hikes. Dallas renters are also affected by rising property taxes despite not owning their homes, WalletHub said.

"While property taxes may seem irrelevant to the 35 percent of households that rent, that assumption misses the mark," the report said. "Whether paid directly or indirectly, nearly everyone bears the cost of property taxes, as they influence rental prices and help fund state and local governments."

According to Walltethub, the top 10 states with the lowest property taxes for 2026 are:

No. 1 – Hawaii
No. 2 – Alabama
No. 3 – Nevada
No. 4 – Arizona, Colorado, and South Carolina (tied)
No. 7 – Idaho
No. 8 – Delaware and Tennessee (tied)
No. 10 – Utah

real estate property taxes texas wallethub reports