Relocation guide
Moving to Dallas–Fort Worth
Relocating from a specific place?
New York → DFW
Income and property taxes compared, where to tour if you like your current New York setting, and how a Texas purchase differs from a New York one.
California → DFW
PLACEHOLDER: next relocation page (California). Planned.
Illinois / Florida → DFW
PLACEHOLDER: future relocation pages.
How the metro is laid out
DFW spans Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton and surrounding counties. The cities I cover cluster around three corridors:
- Northeast Tarrant near DFW Airport: Southlake, Colleyville, Keller
- Southern Denton County along I-35W and Grapevine Lake: Flower Mound, Argyle, Northlake
- Dallas side and the core: Frisco, Irving & Las Colinas, and close-in Fort Worth neighborhoods
Money: what changes
- No state personal income tax (Texas Comptroller).
- Property tax is the sum of city, county, school district and any special district (MUD/PID) rates, so it varies by address. Look up each address on the county appraisal district site.
- Residence homestead exemption: apply once you live in the home; school districts must offer $140,000 (Texas Comptroller).
- Homeowners insurance: hail and wind exposure means roof age and material matter. Many policies carry a separate wind/hail deductible.
Getting around
Most daily trips are by car. DART light rail serves Dallas and several suburbs, the Trinity Railway Express links downtown Dallas and Fort Worth, and TEXRail runs from downtown Fort Worth to DFW Airport. Toll roads are common, and many residents use an NTTA TollTag.
Schools
Texas public schools are run by independent school districts whose boundaries often cross city lines. Verify any address with the district and review public data at TXschools.gov.
Step-by-step relocation plan
- Discovery call. Work location, budget, timing, must-haves.
- Pre-approval with a Texas-licensed lender.
- Shortlist 2–3 areas using the area guides and commute checks.
- Video tours of homes and neighborhoods.
- One focused tour weekend, then offer, option period and inspections.
- Close (remote signing where allowed) and file your homestead exemption.
Area guides
Southlake
Established subdivisions and custom homes around a walkable town center, minutes from DFW Airport.
Colleyville
Low-density neighborhoods and larger lots between Southlake and Hurst-Euless-Bedford.
Keller
Tree-lined subdivisions, acreage pockets and Keller Town Center in north Tarrant County.
Flower Mound
Wooded neighborhoods along Grapevine Lake, golf communities and Canyon Falls.
Argyle
Acreage, custom homes and master-planned communities like Harvest along the I-35W corridor.
Northlake
Newer master-planned communities, including Pecan Square, Canyon Falls and Harvest, along I-35W.
Frisco
Newer neighborhoods, golf and sports destinations, and the Dallas North Tollway corridor.
Irving & Las Colinas
Lakeside townhomes, condos and established homes between Dallas, Fort Worth and DFW Airport.
Fort Worth Westside & Historic Neighborhoods
Arlington Heights, Monticello, Berkeley Place and the TCU area, near the Cultural District.
Relocation FAQ
What should I know before relocating to Dallas–Fort Worth?
DFW is a large, car-oriented metro made up of dozens of cities across several counties. Pick a short list of areas based on where you'll work and how you want to live, then compare total monthly cost at specific addresses: mortgage, property tax (including any MUD or PID), HOA and insurance.
Dallas or Fort Worth: which side should I look at?
Start with your commute. Dallas, Fort Worth and the suburbs between them each have different housing stock and price points, and drive times vary a lot by time of day. Test the commute at rush hour from each area on your short list.
How does the Texas homestead exemption work?
If you own and live in the home as your principal residence, you can apply to your county appraisal district for a residence homestead exemption. School districts must offer a $140,000 exemption (approved by voters in November 2025), and other taxing units may offer more.
Can I buy before I arrive?
Yes. Many relocating buyers use live video tours, then visit for one focused tour weekend, and sign closing documents remotely where the title company and lender allow.
Get a personal relocation plan
Share your work location, budget and timing, and I'll send a short list of areas with example property tax math and a tour plan.
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