McKinney issued 1,639 single-family permits in 2025, with growth concentrated in north and northwest communities like Painted Tree, Aster Park, and Highland Lakes. Permits continued into 2026, with 130 recorded in January alone. These communities offer multiple lot sizes and product lines from national builders.
Where are new homes being built in McKinney right now?
McKinney issued 1,639 single-family permits in calendar year 2025, representing approximately $553.1 million in construction valuation, according to the City of McKinney’s residential activity report. That pace has carried into 2026, with the city recording 130 single-family permits in January 2026 alone. The bulk of that activity is concentrated in north and northwest McKinney, where communities like Painted Tree, Aster Park, and Highland Lakes are actively expanding.
Key Takeaways
- McKinney issued 1,639 single-family permits in 2025, totaling roughly $553.1 million in construction valuation, per the City of McKinney’s official residential activity data.
- The 2025 permit count includes activity within McKinney city limits and the Trinity Falls Municipal Utility District, an important distinction when comparing figures with other cities in Collin County.
- Permit activity continued into 2026, with 130 single-family permits recorded in January 2026 per the city’s 2026 residential activity report.
- Painted Tree, Aster Park, and Highland Lakes are among the most active new-home communities in north and northwest McKinney, each offering multiple lot sizes and product lines.
- Permit counts reflect approvals, not completed or occupied homes, the number of move-in-ready homes at any given time is smaller, and availability changes quickly.
What’s driving McKinney’s new-home construction in 2026?
The short answer: demand hasn’t let up, and the land is still there. McKinney’s northern boundary has become one of the most active development corridors in the entire Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, and the permit numbers back that up.
The 1,639-permit figure from 2025 is worth understanding in context. It covers both McKinney city limits and the Trinity Falls Municipal Utility District, so it’s a broader geographic footprint than the city boundary alone. It also counts permits issued, not homes completed, closed, or occupied. The pipeline is real, but the inventory available to a buyer on any given day is a smaller slice of that total.
Still, 1,639 permits in a single year is a significant number, and the city’s 2026 residential activity report shows the momentum continuing. If you’re weighing new construction versus resale in McKinney, understanding where that construction is happening matters as much as the headline count. I walk buyers through this distinction regularly, the map of active building is not evenly spread across the city.
For a broader look at what this construction volume means for buyers across the county, the post on Collin County’s new construction boom covers the regional context well.
North and northwest McKinney: where the growth is concentrated
The strongest development activity is in the northern and northwestern sections of the city. This is where land availability, infrastructure investment, and builder interest have converged. The communities getting the most attention from national builders right now are Painted Tree, Aster Park, and Highland Lakes.
Each of these communities is distinct. They’re not interchangeable, and the right fit depends on lot size preferences, price point, commute priorities, and what stage of development a particular section is in when you’re ready to buy. I’ll break down what I know about each below, with the caveat that pricing, available lots, and builder incentives shift frequently, anything I publish today can be outdated by the time a builder sells through a section.
Painted Tree, Aster Park, and Highland Lakes: what buyers should know
Painted Tree
Painted Tree is one of the larger master-planned developments in McKinney’s northwest corridor. It has attracted multiple builders and offers a range of product lines, which means you’re not locked into one builder’s floor plans or price tier. That multi-builder structure is worth paying attention to: it creates real competition within the community, which can work in a buyer’s favor during negotiations or on incentives.
Because Painted Tree is large enough to have multiple active sections at different stages of completion, the experience of buying there can vary significantly depending on which phase and which builder you’re working with. Some sections may be closer to full buildout while others are just opening. I always recommend buyers visit in person and ask the builder’s sales rep specifically which lots are available, what the estimated completion timeline is, and what’s included in the base price versus what’s an upgrade.
Aster Park
Aster Park is best understood as a multi-product community rather than a single uniform housing section. Current listing information from NewHomeSource’s McKinney community directory distinguishes at least 40-foot and 50-foot lot categories within the community. That difference matters more than it sounds: lot width affects floor plan options, garage configurations, side-yard setbacks, and often the builder assigned to that product line.
A 40-foot-lot home and a 50-foot-lot home in the same community can feel like different products entirely. If you’re comparing Aster Park to another community on price, make sure you’re comparing equivalent lot sizes and included features, not just the base price on a listing page.
Highland Lakes
Highland Lakes also shows multiple product categories in current listings, including 50-foot-lot offerings, per NewHomeSource’s September 2026 McKinney listings. As with Aster Park, the specific sections that are actively selling, the builders involved, and the available inventory change as the community builds out.
One thing worth confirming directly with the builder or the City of McKinney’s development reports: whether a given section sits within McKinney city limits or within a municipal utility district. That distinction affects property tax rates and how utility services are structured, and it’s not always obvious from a listing page or a community map.
A note on pricing and availability
No builder-confirmed price sheet for any of these communities was locked in at the time this post was written. Builder pricing, lot premiums, incentive packages, and available floor plans change constantly, sometimes week to week during an active selling season. The figures you’ll see on listing aggregators are a starting point, not a contract. Before you make any decisions, get current numbers directly from the builder’s sales office, and have someone in your corner who can read the purchase agreement and flag what’s negotiable.
| Community | Lot Size Categories | Builder Structure | Key Buyer Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painted Tree | Multiple (varies by section) | Multiple builders | Confirm which phase/section is actively selling |
| Aster Park | 40-ft and 50-ft lot categories | Multiple product lines | Compare equivalent lot sizes across communities |
| Highland Lakes | 50-ft lot offerings (and others) | Multiple product categories | Verify city limits vs. MUD boundary |
If you’re evaluating new construction broadly across McKinney, the post on McKinney new construction trends in 2026 covers the market-level patterns that affect every buyer in this space.
What buyers need to ask before signing with a builder
New construction in McKinney moves fast, and the builder’s sales rep works for the builder, not for you. That’s not a criticism, it’s just the reality of how new-home sales work. Here’s what I tell every buyer considering a new build in north McKinney:
- Is this lot in McKinney city limits or a municipal utility district? The answer affects your tax rate and utility structure.
- What’s the estimated completion date, and what happens if it slips? Builder timelines are estimates. Get the contract language in writing.
- What’s included in the base price? Flooring, appliances, landscaping, and fencing are often upgrades, not standards.
- Are there lot premiums? Corner lots, greenbelt-facing lots, and cul-de-sac lots often carry additional cost beyond the base price.
- What are the HOA fees and what do they cover? Master-planned communities often have both a community HOA and a sub-association for specific sections.
- Which lender incentives apply, and what are the conditions? Builder-preferred lenders sometimes offer rate buydowns or closing cost credits tied to using their financing. Compare the full picture before committing.
- What school district and campus will this address feed? Confirm the assignment directly with the district, not the builder’s marketing materials.
Your specific situation, budget, timeline, how long you plan to stay, whether you have a home to sell first, will shape which community and which builder makes the most sense. That’s not a question a listing page can answer. It’s exactly the kind of conversation worth having before you walk into a builder’s model home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the newest homes being built in McKinney in 2026?
The most active new-home construction in McKinney in 2026 is concentrated in the north and northwest parts of the city, in communities like Painted Tree, Aster Park, and Highland Lakes. McKinney recorded 130 single-family permits in January 2026 per the city’s official residential activity report, continuing a pace set by the 1,639 permits issued in all of 2025. The City of McKinney publishes permit and development data at its official reports page for buyers who want to track activity by subdivision.
Are Aster Park, Highland Lakes, and Painted Tree all in northwest McKinney?
All three are identified as active new-home communities in McKinney’s north and northwest corridor, but their exact locations within that corridor differ. Before assuming proximity or similar commute times, confirm the specific address or plat location for the section you’re considering. The city’s development reports and builder sales offices are the most reliable sources for precise location details.
Are new homes in north McKinney inside the city limits or in a municipal utility district?
Some are inside McKinney city limits, and some fall within a municipal utility district (MUD) such as the Trinity Falls MUD, which was included in the city’s 2025 permit count. The distinction matters because MUD boundaries can affect property tax rates and how utility services are administered. Always confirm the exact boundary status for a specific lot with the builder or the City of McKinney before making an offer.
What should buyers compare when choosing between Painted Tree, Aster Park, and Highland Lakes?
The most meaningful comparisons are lot size, included features versus upgrades, HOA structure and fees, estimated completion timeline, and which builder is assigned to the specific section you’re considering. Listing-page prices are a starting point, not a final number, lot premiums, upgrade packages, and builder incentives can shift the real cost significantly. A side-by-side comparison of builder contracts, not just brochures, is where the real differences show up.
What types of homes and lot sizes are available in Aster Park?
Current listing information identifies at least 40-foot and 50-foot lot categories within Aster Park, each tied to different floor plan options and product lines. Lot width affects home size, garage configuration, and setbacks in ways that make a 40-foot-lot home and a 50-foot-lot home feel like distinct products. Verify active sections, available floor plans, and current pricing directly with the builder’s sales office, as inventory and incentives change frequently.
McKinney’s north and northwest corridors are where the bulk of new-home activity is happening, and the communities there offer real options across multiple price points and lot configurations. The permit numbers confirm the pipeline is substantial, but navigating it well means knowing which sections are actively selling, what’s negotiable in the builder contract, and how each community’s details fit your specific situation.
If you’re weighing new construction in McKinney, I’m happy to walk through the current landscape with you before you set foot in a model home. Schedule a conversation with me here, and we’ll look at what’s available and what questions to bring to the builder.
Equal Housing Opportunity. Jason Feller is a licensed Texas Real Estate Broker (Feller Realty). This article is general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Confirm all costs, tax rates, and community details with your title company, tax advisor, lender, or the relevant builder and municipal authority. Texas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice | Information About Brokerage Services.