How Do Texas Property Taxes Compare to California?
No state income tax, but higher property tax rates: the honest Texas vs California comparison every relocating buyer needs before they close. Call 214.429.4907.
August 11, 2026
No state income tax, but higher property tax rates: the honest Texas vs California comparison every relocating buyer needs before they close. Call 214.429.4907.
Kaitlin Lovern, founder of the Kaitlin Lovern Real Estate Team with Real Brokerage LLC, has established herself as a multi–million-dollar producer and a trusted leader in the North Dallas market. Ranked among the top 1% of REALTORS® nationwide, Kaitlin has represented more than 400 families and achieved over $255 million in career sales volume.
Her dedication to excellence has earned her D Magazine’s Best Realtor® award for 8 consecutive years, along with 128+ 5-star reviews across platforms, reinforcing her reputation for trust, expertise, and results.
Specializing in luxury homes, relocations, first-time buyers, move-up sellers, and downsizing clients, Kaitlin believes luxury isn’t defined by a price tag but by the quality of service and experience each client receives. She proudly serves clients across Frisco, Celina, McKinney, Prosper, Plano, Allen, and the surrounding North Dallas suburbs, combining innovative marketing strategies with deep local knowledge to deliver superior outcomes.
Since forming her team, Kaitlin has cultivated a culture of professionalism, collaboration, and continual growth. Guided by her core values—remarkable service, presentation with style, authentic partnerships, and a true team mindset—she ensures every client benefits from a seamless and personalized real estate journey. Whether buying a first home or selling a luxury estate, Kaitlin Lovern is known for delivering results with passion, professionalism, and integrity.
Renee is a life-long resident of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She earned a business degree from the University of Texas at Dallas and began her successful real estate career in 2002 while her two daughters were in high school. Renee’s extensive expertise includes real estate sales, management, training, and transaction coordination. She has literally been exposed to hundreds of real estate transactions over the course of her career. Education and constant growth, along with commitment to excellence in customer service have perpetuated her continued success.
Renee understands what it is like to stand in her clients’ shoes. Relocating several times and selling houses on her own has afforded Renee a sensitivity towards her clients’ journey. She navigated her two children through Plano ISD, serving on several administrative committees, and chairing extra-curricular organizations. Renee has gained a full understanding of the diverse needs of families in the community.
In the past twenty-two years, Renee has become an esteemed Realtor, highly regarded by her clients and professionals in the field.
10 fun facts:
1. I have 3 fabulous grandchildren, one girl and two boys, ages 8, 6 & 9 months. I feel so lucky that they live close by so I can see them often.
2. I enjoy cooking and giving dinner parties for our friends. Decorating the table is the most fun!
3. Gardening is a passion of mine. When I’m gardening, I forget about everything else and I love creating something beautiful.
4. I make my own ice cream. My specialties include Bourbon Vanilla, Butter Pecan, Chunky Monkey as well as good ole Vanilla & Chocolate.
5. Definitely a beach over mountains! We try to get to the beach a couple of times a year. It helps that our daughter lives in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was a favorite destination of ours even before she moved there.
6. I love Cocker Spaniels and have had a spaniel in my life since I was 20! Jaxx, my newest fur baby to love, is #6.
7. One of my distant relatives was an Alamo hero! Ever heard of Ben Milam?
8. Pilates is my exercise of choice, but I’ve vowed to master Pickleball this year! Seems like everybody is doing it these days!
9. Last year, we checked off a bucket list item – a 14 day Mediterranean cruise. Now I’ve got the cruise bug big time! Can’t wait for the next one!
10. My middle name is None. My parents decided not to give me a middle name so my mom wrote “none” in the middle name space and it stuck.
Jen was raised in Dallas and after living in various states across the U.S., her heart is undeniably tied to Texas. Jen moved to Houston with their spouse and children 11 years ago, and later relocated to DFW in 2023, she cherishes the warmth of Texan people, a distinctive quality that sets the state apart. Jen has been working in real estate for five years after realizing that helping others find their perfect home . She revels in hearing people’s life stories, delving deep into their aspirations for the future, and dedicating herself to ensuring that each client discovers a home that aligns perfectly with their future goals.
10 fun facts:
1. I love to travel – I can pack a bag in under 30 minutes and be ready to go. I’m always up for an adventure and love to see new places and new things. I’ve traveled most of the US and am constantly looking for our next great adventure.
2. I’m a great baker and I love it. My grandma handed down her handmade cookbook of goodies and I’m carrying on the family tradition of candy making. She has an amazing caramel popcorn recipe that I make for my family and sell during the holiday times as presents.
3. I have two amazing kids and a husband that are the best part of my life. My kids are a sophomore and 8th grader and into dance, tennis and track. They keep us busy and bring us lots of fun times.
4. I hate gardening – mainly because of all the red ants here in Dallas! I love flowers, but had to get out in the garden and plant things. I want to have a beautiful botanical yard, but don’t want to put in the effort.
5. I’m addicted to tennis – in the free time I have you will probably find me on a tennis court in the neighborhood. I started playing 5 years ago and absolutely love the competition and the friends I have made.
6. I’m a beach person 100%, we love to visit all the places with white sand beaches, go snorkeling, paddle boarding, sand castle building and anything else you can do on the beach.
7. I’m a sports nut, we have a closet full of sports equipment just in case we decide to pick up a different sport on the weekend. I love tennis, but also water ski, snow ski, play pickleball (not well), and golf occasionally.
8. My favorite meal is a good steak, salad and a glass of red wine. I hate all shellfish foods.
9. I love NFL football – I’m a lifelong Cowboys fan, but also really like the Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos
10. I hate country music, which is not a popular opinion living in Texas, so most of the time I have no idea who sings the latest country song.
Emily Drummond specializes in residential real estate across Frisco, Prosper, McKinney, Plano, and the surrounding North Dallas suburbs. Licensed since 2012, Emily combines more than a decade of experience with the strength of a top-producing team, recognized in the top 1 percent of agents nationwide. Together, they have guided over 400 families and achieved more than 250 million dollars in closed sales.
Averaging 50 successful transactions annually, Emily has earned recognition as one of D Magazine’s Best Real Estate Agents for eight consecutive years and is trusted by her clients, with 128 verified five-star Google reviews.
Emily believes that luxury is not about price—it’s about the quality of the client experience. She delivers that same high standard to every client, whether they are relocating, buying their first home, moving up, downsizing, or investing. Backed by the Kaitlin Lovern Real Estate Team’s collaborative resources and guided by values of professionalism, creativity, partnership, and teamwork, Emily ensures her clients receive the highest level of service, clear communication, and a smooth path to their goals.
A Colorado native who has called North Dallas home for more than a decade, Emily loves connecting with people and building lasting relationships. She is proudest of her daughter, who recently completed her master’s degree, and she shares her home with three cats who keep life lively. Outside of real estate, Emily enjoys music, travel, sewing, and cheering on her favorite teams, the Denver Broncos and Alabama Crimson Tide. Whether at work or at play, her warmth and authenticity make her easy to connect with, and those qualities carry through in every client relationship she builds.
Born and raised in Southern California. I worked in Real Estate (Appraisal) from 1994 to 2009, then transitioned to Banking from 2009 to 2019. I moved to Frisco, Texas on September 9, 2019. That wasn’t intentional. Lol. My love for Real Estate called me back in 2020, but this time as a Realtor, helping families directly instead of being behind a desk. I’m so happy I did because it’s my passion and part of my superpower. Read on, and you’ll understand what I’m talking about.
I am happily married to the love of my life, and I am a girl mom! I have three daughters: Brittaney, 29, a hairstylist; Brianna, 27, a Sports and Fitness Coach; and Paula, 22, a college student working towards her bachelor’s degree in psychology. I think we kept Sephora and Ulta in business in the 2000s because the amount of teenage makeup in our home could fill buckets. Lol. Oh, and let’s not forget the nail salons.
I am also a Mimi (we don’t say the G-word because I don’t think I will ever be ready for it). Her name is Victoria, and she’s 4. Her mom is Brittaney, and they live in California. However, thank goodness for FaceTime and Amazon. We chat almost every day, and I can spoil her from 1,400 miles away.
My favorite accessory is my high heels. I LOVE THEM!! My mom put me in pumps at the age of 5, and I’ve never looked back! My feet actually feel uncomfortable in flats or tennis shoes. No likey. I’m also 5’1-ish, so it changes my world to be 4 inches taller. 😁
Favorite food – Seafood!! All of it! I can eat it three times a day, seven days a week. If I were ever to be stranded on an island, I wouldn’t mind. Seafood, beach, sunsets, warm weather, and hopefully a razor. I would be in heaven.
I love to dance!! I was on Drill Team in High School. When I turned 18, I loved going to the dance clubs anytime I could. Fast forward to Covid. :( I never imagined a world without dance clubs. Lol. Now that I live in Texas, country line dancing is next on my list. My friend Kathy and I met and hung out with Kenny Chesney and Vince Vaughn after Kenny’s concert backstage at the Angels Stadium in California. A young man with a pass said he could take us back to meet him, but we had to turn our phones off, or else we couldn’t go backstage. I was ready to throw my phone in the trash!! My friend Kathy is the only proof I have that we hung out with Vince and Kenny.
My “superpower” is making friends and connecting with people. I love meeting people from ALL different walks of life. I love learning about them, their traditions, their background, their family, what they are passionate about. It makes for great conversations and forms great, long-lasting relationships. One of the many reasons why I love my career.
Favorite childhood movie, “The Goonies!” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched the movie as a kid and as an adult with my kids. My husband took me to Astoria, Oregon, where they filmed the movie, and we visited all the buildings, including the house where the movie was shot. Pretty epic in my book.
I love ALL music genres. I looked it up, and there are 41 primary music genres with 331 subcategories. I don’t know about the subcategories, but when I hear music, I’m truly joyful. Strangely, even with Heavy Metal. Just watch the sound/volume, not too loud please. Lol. I love to dance, so if music is playing in any language, as long as there is a beat, I will dance to it.
Born and raised in Southern California. I worked in Real Estate (Appraisal) from 1994 to 2009, then transitioned to Banking from 2009 to 2019. I moved to Frisco, Texas on September 9, 2019. That wasn’t intentional. Lol. My love for Real Estate called me back in 2020, but this time as a Realtor, helping families directly instead of being behind a desk. I’m so happy I did because it’s my passion and part of my superpower. Read on, and you’ll understand what I’m talking about.
I am happily married to the love of my life, and I am a girl mom! I have three daughters: Brittaney, 29, a hairstylist; Brianna, 27, a Sports and Fitness Coach; and Paula, 22, a college student working towards her bachelor’s degree in psychology. I think we kept Sephora and Ulta in business in the 2000s because the amount of teenage makeup in our home could fill buckets. Lol. Oh, and let’s not forget the nail salons.
I am also a Mimi (we don’t say the G-word because I don’t think I will ever be ready for it). Her name is Victoria, and she’s 4. Her mom is Brittaney, and they live in California. However, thank goodness for FaceTime and Amazon. We chat almost every day, and I can spoil her from 1,400 miles away.
My favorite accessory is my high heels. I LOVE THEM!! My mom put me in pumps at the age of 5, and I’ve never looked back! My feet actually feel uncomfortable in flats or tennis shoes. No likey. I’m also 5’1-ish, so it changes my world to be 4 inches taller. 😁
Favorite food – Seafood!! All of it! I can eat it three times a day, seven days a week. If I were ever to be stranded on an island, I wouldn’t mind. Seafood, beach, sunsets, warm weather, and hopefully a razor. I would be in heaven.
I love to dance!! I was on Drill Team in High School. When I turned 18, I loved going to the dance clubs anytime I could. Fast forward to Covid. :( I never imagined a world without dance clubs. Lol. Now that I live in Texas, country line dancing is next on my list. My friend Kathy and I met and hung out with Kenny Chesney and Vince Vaughn after Kenny’s concert backstage at the Angels Stadium in California. A young man with a pass said he could take us back to meet him, but we had to turn our phones off, or else we couldn’t go backstage. I was ready to throw my phone in the trash!! My friend Kathy is the only proof I have that we hung out with Vince and Kenny.