Melissa, Texas Homes and Neighborhoods

Melissa sits in north-central Collin County, about seven miles northeast of McKinney, along the U.S. 75 corridor. The city says it is less than 10 minutes north of McKinney and about 30 minutes south of Sherman.

It's an old town with a railroad past. The Houston and Texas Central Railroad was built through the community in 1872 and the townsite was laid out then. Today that older core sits alongside newer parts of the city, and the homes in each part compete in different ways.

That's why I don't treat Melissa as one market. The right price and the right plan depend on the street, the age of the home and what's for sale around it right now.

Downtown and District 46. District 46 is the City of Melissa's name for its downtown overlay district. The city describes it as a plan for design, signage, landscaping and public spaces downtown. The city has also planned reconstruction of Harrison Street, Cooper Street and Red River Street downtown. Street work affects access while it's underway, so if you own or want a home near downtown, check the schedule. Recent updates on the schedule are found at the City of Melissa's District 46 page.

Newer communities and new construction. If you're selling a resale home, a builder's model a short drive away is part of your competition. If you're buying, I'll help you compare a new build and a resale home on the full numbers, not only the list price. See new construction in Melissa.

New builder communities.

• Meadow Run (Pacesetter Homes). The builder's page places Meadow Run in Melissa, north of McKinney, in Melissa ISD. It lists a community pool, an amenity center with kitchen, walking trails, a playground, basketball courts and green spaces. The builder's page states the community does not have MUD or PID taxes. Confirm that on the seller's disclosure notices and the title company's tax certificate.
• Liberty (Bloomfield Homes). Bloomfield describes Liberty as a master-planned community with a pool, splash pad, trails, a sports pavilion, a playground and two ponds. The builder's page is labeled "NO MUD/NO PID." Confirm that on the seller's disclosure notices and the title company's tax certificate.
• Legacy Ranch (Bloomfield Homes). A Bloomfield Homes community in Melissa.
• Bryant Farms (Meritage Homes). A Meritage Homes community in Melissa.
• The Quarry at Stoneridge (Meritage Homes). Meritage describes this community off U.S. 75 in Melissa, with single-story and two-story plans and wooded homesites, in Melissa ISD.

Popular communities.

• Country Ridge. A community in Melissa.
• Melissa North Creek. A community in Melissa.

If you tell me the neighborhood you're considering, I'll pull recent sales on that street and the ones around it.

U.S. 75 runs through Melissa, and State Highway 5 crosses the city as well. Where you work and which of those you'll drive every day should shape where you buy.

The city lists several parks, including Bob Miller Park, City Hall Plaza Park, Country Ridge Park, Hunters Ridge Park, Melissa Lake Park, Zadow Park, a fitness station and trail, Lake Perry Fisher and the Ford Sports Village at The Z-Plex. Park facilities can be reserved for private gatherings, and the city's Parks and Recreation app covers facility rentals, an interactive trail map and maintenance reports.

The city also has a hike and bike trail. Its first phase opened in May 2012 and runs along Melissa Road from U.S. 75 to Fannin Road, then up Fannin Road. The city describes lampposts, covered seating areas and exercise stations along the trail, and its plan calls for 41 miles in all.

Parks and Recreation lists programs such as group fitness classes, a walking group, pickleball and tennis, sand volleyball, fishing and a cornhole tournament. Its event list includes the Tree Lighting Ceremony, Sunset Cinema, the Melissa Tribute Festival, Sparks and Spangles and The Big Dill 5k and Fun Run. Recent updates and events are found at the City of Melissa Parks and Recreation page and the city calendar.

The Melissa Public Library is at 3411 Barker Avenue and lists computer access, digital resources, a Library of Things and programs for children, teens and adults. The Melissa Arts Center is at 3030 Milrany Lane, next to Melissa High School. The Melissa Area Chamber of Commerce keeps a community calendar and a member directory at business.melissatx.org.

Collin County's Tax Assessor-Collector page links to a tax account lookup and a tax calculator, which are useful when you compare homes. You can find them at collincountytx.gov. Recent city updates are at cityofmelissa.com.

Ready to talk about your move? Tell me what you're planning in Melissa.

If this page was useful, these cover the same places and interests:

• Anna: new builder communities along US 75 and SH 5.
• McKinney: the historic square and downtown events.
• Celina: what's new, from the tollway to the Square.
• Buy a new custom or new construction home: how I compare builder offers on the full numbers.
• Schools in Collin County: which district serves each city and how to check an address.