Texas Approves New Property-Tax Relief: What 2025–26 Changes Mean for Homeowners in Keller, Northlake, Haslet, and Alliance
"Texas just passed new property-tax relief—what does that mean for you as a homeowner in Keller, Northlake, Haslet, or the Alliance area?"
Short Answer:
Texas voters approved an expanded homestead exemption and further school-tax rate compression, which lowers the typical homeowner's annual property-tax bill. For North Texas homeowners—especially in high-appreciation areas—this translates into meaningful long-term savings and more predictable monthly payments.
1. What Texas Voters Approved on Nov. 4
In early November, Texans voted in favor of a new round of property-tax reforms for the 2025–26 cycle. This package includes two major components that directly affect homeowners:
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Expanded Homestead Exemption
The state increased the amount of value you can exempt on your primary residence, lowering how much of your home's taxable value can be taxed by school districts. For many North Texas homeowners, this is one of the most effective ways to reduce annual tax obligations.
-
Additional School-District Tax Rate Compression
The state will again compress (lower) school district tax rates—typically the largest portion of a Texas homeowner's property-tax bill.
-
Continued Caps on Appraisal Growth
Some counties approved additional measures to prevent excessively steep year-over-year jumps in taxable value.
Why This Matters in North Texas
Counties like Tarrant, Denton, and Dallas have seen steep valuation increases due to population growth, employer expansion, and ongoing development. These tax adjustments help offset that pressure, especially for long-time owners whose appraisals have climbed significantly.
2. What This Means for Homeowners
Texas doesn't have state income tax, so property taxes play a major role in funding local services and schools. Any structural adjustments immediately impact affordability—especially in higher-value communities.
Lower School-District Taxes on Primary Homes
Because the exemption increase and rate compression apply to homesteads, your primary residence gets relief first.
For many owners in Keller, Northlake, Haslet, and the Alliance corridor, this will show up as:
- Lower escrow payments
- Reduced monthly mortgage obligations
- More predictable annual budgeting
Bigger Long-Term Savings for High-Appreciation Areas
Suburbs across North Fort Worth have appreciated sharply over the past 5–10 years. That includes:
- Keller
- Northlake
- Southlake
- Westlake
- North Fort Worth / Alliance
Higher appreciation = higher taxable value over time. So when Texas adjusts exemptions upward, higher-value suburbs see the most meaningful dollar-amount savings.
Improved Predictability for 2025–26 Housing Budgets
If you're planning a move, right-sizing, or a refinance, knowing your updated tax burden helps you evaluate:
- Total monthly payment
- True affordability
- Long-term cash-flow impact
This is especially helpful for move-up buyers balancing home equity gains against current mortgage rates.
What Doesn't Change
It's important to set realistic expectations:
- Tax bills can still rise if your home's appraised value rises enough to offset the savings.
- Local governments can continue to adjust rates annually.
- New construction still starts at a clean, full-value appraisal—no previous owner data to buffer increases.
3. Will This Change Buying and Selling Behavior in 2025?
Payment sensitivity is still a major factor for North Texas buyers—especially first-timers, relocating families, and those stretching into competitive school districts. These tax changes influence behavior in two directions:
Some Homeowners Will Stay Put Longer
If your tax burden drops, your monthly payment becomes more comfortable. For homeowners locked into 2–4 percent mortgage rates from 2020–2022, this is an even bigger incentive to hold.
Expect more "stay put" decisions from:
- Long-time owners in Keller
- High-value homeowners in Southlake and Westlake
- Move-up owners who don't want to reset into current mortgage rates
Others Will Feel More Freedom to Make a Move
Lower taxes help offset higher mortgage rates.
This can give certain groups the confidence to buy or sell:
- Upsizing families who want more space in North Fort Worth or Northlake
- Downsizers trying to maintain predictable expenses
- Relocating homeowners moving into new-construction-heavy areas like Haslet or the Alliance corridor
How This Plays Out in North Texas
This reform alone won't create a sudden buying frenzy, but it does reduce the sticker shock around monthly payments. That matters in markets where affordability has been one of the main concerns throughout 2024–25.
4. Suburban Application: What It Means for Each Local Area
Keller & Northlake
These markets have experienced rapid appreciation for years, with strong demand from families, relocators, and tech/medical professionals. The expanded homestead exemption provides meaningful direct relief since taxable values are higher than neighboring communities.
How homeowners benefit:
- Stronger monthly payment relief
- Better long-term budgeting
- Less volatility when planning upgrades or downsizing
Haslet & the Alliance Corridor
This area has surged with new construction, corporate expansion, and infrastructure improvements.
New construction starts at full appraised value, so any rate compression helps soften high initial tax payments during the first 3–5 years of ownership.
Where you'll feel it:
- New communities along 287, 170, and 114
- Alliance master-planned neighborhoods
- Buyers relocating for logistics, aerospace, and corporate roles
Southlake & Westlake
With some of the highest home values in North Texas, even minimal rate compression results in large absolute-dollar savings.
Why it matters:
High-income buyers are still payment-conscious in 2025. Lower taxes help balance out current mortgage rates and rising insurance premiums.
North Fort Worth (Heritage, Woodland Springs, Crawford Farms, Ridgeview Farms, Sendera Ranch, etc.)
These neighborhoods sit in a middle zone—higher density, fast appraisal growth, but more moderate pricing compared to Southlake or Westlake. The tax relief provides strong value for families trying to manage rising insurance and HOA costs.
Kallie's Take
Property-tax savings help, but they don't replace strategy.
The real question you should be asking is: How does this change my actual monthly payment—and does that move me closer to or farther from my goals?
Whether you're thinking about selling, buying, or staying put:
- Know your numbers.
- Understand how the new 2025–26 tax adjustments impact your timeline.
- Make decisions based on your long-term plan, not emotion or market noise.
If you want clarity on how these changes affect your specific home or your next move in North Texas, I'll walk you through it step-by-step.
Conclusion: What You Should Do Next
The 2025–26 Texas property-tax reforms are designed to give homeowners more breathing room—especially in high-growth areas like Keller, Northlake, Haslet, and the Alliance corridor. But the impact is different for every homeowner depending on:
- Your location
- Your home's value
- How long you've owned it
- Whether you plan to move soon
- Your monthly budget and long-term goals
If you'd like a personalized estimate of how much you'll save—or how the new tax rules affect your buying or selling plans—reach out. I help North Texas homeowners run the real numbers, evaluate their options, and make confident decisions.
Get Your Personalized Tax Savings Estimate
Contact Kallie Spencer, Broker/Owner at Ritchey Realty, to walk through your updated 2025–26 tax projections and next steps.
