Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Emerald Bay, Texas
A $279,000 home here costs
$2,362per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,434. The real number is $928 higher every month — 65% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
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 $148 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
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Emerald Bay?
A $279,000 home in Emerald Bay, Texas costs approximately $2,362 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,434 principal and interest, $295 property tax, $185 homeowners insurance, $216 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.
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.