Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Emerald Bay, Texas
A $279,000 home here costs
$2,500per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $107,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,545. The real number is $954 higher every month, 62% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Smith County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Emerald Bay from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,074 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Smith County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Emerald Bay against Smith County and Texas
| Measure | Emerald Bay | Smith County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $279,200 | $220,800 |
| Median property tax | $3,543 | $2,749 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.269% | 1.245% |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,197 |
| Population | 1,074 | 238,014 |
The weather behind that power bill
Emerald Bay sits in Smith County, which averages a high of 94.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 37.4°F in its coldest, with 42.1" of precipitation a year and 28% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,685 cooling and 2,072 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Smith County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Smith County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Emerald Bay averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Emerald Bay every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Emerald Bay I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Emerald Bay?
A $279,000 home in Emerald Bay, Texas costs approximately $2,500 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,545 principal and interest, $295 property tax, $185 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $233 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Emerald Bay?
Emerald Bay has an effective property tax rate of 1.269%, based on a median home value of $279,200 and median real estate taxes of $3,543. That is higher than the Smith County average of 1.245%.
What is the average home price in Emerald Bay?
The median owner-occupied home value in Emerald Bay, Texas is $279,200, against $220,800 across Smith County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Emerald Bay?
Rent data is not published for Emerald Bay at this level of detail.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Emerald Bay?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Emerald Bay, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $107,000 a year. That covers the full $2,500 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Emerald Bay, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Texas.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.