Tavola, The Highlands & Pinewood: taxes, HOA and monthly costs
Compare published tax references, association fees and transparent monthly payment scenarios for three New Caney-area communities.
OWNERSHIP COSTS / CHECKED NOVEMBER 1, 2026
Compare Tavola, The Highlands and Pinewood at Grand Texas with the numbers behind the monthly payment. Source dates matter: a builder estimate, an older neighborhood table and an adopted district rate answer different questions. These examples are planning tools; the contract address and current tax account determine the actual obligations.
Published numbers, with their source status
| Community / figure | Published number | Year and status |
|---|---|---|
| Tavola · East Montgomery County MUD 6 | 1.22% ($1.22 per $100) | 2026 · official district transparency page; district portion only |
| Tavola · East Montgomery County MUD 7 | 1.35% ($1.35 per $100) | 2026 · official district transparency page; district portion only |
| Lone Star College System | 0.1058% | 2026 · college announcement of October 1 approval; applies only where the parcel is in the district |
| The Highlands · total tax estimate | 3.13%, including a 1.25% MUD component | Developer estimate based on 2025 tax year; not a verified 2026 parcel total |
| The Highlands · annual association assessment | Approximately $1,584 ($132/month) | Developer FAQ checked November 1, 2026; confirm the current account |
| Fairway Pines · additional subassociation | Approximately $2,200 annually; combined approximately $3,784 | 2026 developer FAQ; additional to The Highlands assessment |
| Pinewood at Grand Texas · tax assumption | 3.139% | M/I Homes calculator assumption; not a certified adopted total |
| Tavola / Pinewood · annual HOA | Current association-issued amounts not verified | Request the applicable section’s fee schedule; example allowances below are not advertised dues |
Official MUD 6 rates and tax orders ↗ · Checked November 1, 2026
Official MUD 7 rates and tax orders ↗ · Checked November 1, 2026
Lone Star College 2026 tax announcement ↗ · Checked November 1, 2026
The Highlands developer: tax estimate and assessment information ↗ · Checked November 1, 2026
M/I Homes: Pinewood payment calculator ↗ · Checked November 1, 2026
Read a tax stack, not just a headline rate
HAR’s neighborhood tax tables list the components below, but do not date each rate. They are reproduced as an undated reference, not as adopted 2026 rates. Several differ from newer official sources. Do not mix the older rows with a new MUD rate and call the result a verified current total.
| Taxing unit | Tavola reference | Pinewood at Grand Texas reference |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | 0.3790% | 0.3790% |
| Montgomery County Hospital District | 0.0497% | 0.0497% |
| Lone Star College | 0.1076% | 0.1076% |
| Emergency Services District 7 | 0.0975% | 0.0975% |
| School district as listed by HAR | New Caney ISD · 1.2552% | Splendora ISD · 1.2552% |
| Utility district as listed by HAR | MUD 6 · 1.1700% OR MUD 7 · 1.3000% | East Montgomery MUD 4 · 1.2500% |
| Arithmetic sum of the reference rows | 3.0590% with MUD 6; 3.1890% with MUD 7 | 3.1390% |
The two Tavola MUD rows are alternatives for this illustration. Confirm the district boundary and every taxing unit for the actual parcel. The Highlands developer’s 3.13% estimate already includes 1.25% MUD; the remaining 1.88 percentage points are the mathematical remainder, not an independently verified breakdown of the other units. A complete current Highlands stack still needs a specific property account.
HAR Tavola neighborhood tax reference, undated rates ↗ · Checked November 1, 2026
HAR Pinewood neighborhood tax reference, undated rates ↗ · Checked November 1, 2026
What could a $350,000 home cost each month?
All four scenarios use the same hypothetical $350,000 purchase price, $70,000 down payment (20%), $280,000 loan, 30-year fixed term and 6.50% interest rate. The rate is an example, not a lender offer or APR. Taxes use $350,000 taxable value with no exemptions. Homeowners insurance is an assumed $3,000/year; separate flood coverage is assumed $600/year. These are budget placeholders, not insurance quotes. No mortgage insurance is included in this conventional 20%-down example.
| Scenario | Principal + interest | Taxes | Home insurance | Flood coverage | HOA equivalent | Monthly total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tavola planning scenario | $1,769.79 | $933.33 | $250.00 | $50.00 | $83.33 | $3,086.45 |
| The Highlands developer-reference scenario | $1,769.79 | $912.92 | $250.00 | $50.00 | $132.00 | $3,114.71 |
| Pinewood builder-reference scenario | $1,769.79 | $915.54 | $250.00 | $50.00 | $50.00 | $3,035.33 |
| Fairway Pines developer-reference scenario | $1,769.79 | $912.92 | $250.00 | $50.00 | $315.33 | $3,298.04 |
What is confirmed in each scenario?
- Tavola planning scenario: 3.20% and $1,000 HOA are illustrative allowances, not verified community charges.
- The Highlands developer-reference scenario: Tax estimate uses 2025 basis; assessment is approximately the amount on the developer FAQ.
- Pinewood builder-reference scenario: Tax is a builder-calculator assumption; $600 HOA is an illustrative allowance, not verified dues.
- Fairway Pines developer-reference scenario: Same developer tax estimate; approximately $1,584 master plus $2,200 subassociation assessments for 2026.
Annual HOA charges are divided by 12 for budgeting; the association may collect annually. Utilities, maintenance, repairs, special assessments and one-time closing costs are outside these totals. Actual lender escrow and required insurance can differ. Closing cash is additional to the $70,000 down payment.
How much can one assumption change the payment?
On $350,000 of taxable value, a 0.10 percentage-point tax difference is $350 per year, or $29.17 per month. An additional $600 annual assessment adds $50 per month. A $1,200 difference in annual insurance adds $100 per month. Replace each placeholder with a written quote before choosing a home.
Adjust the assumptions in the cost calculator ↗
Get an address-specific comparison
Send the property address or builder community and section. I can help organize the tax-account research, current association documents, builder terms and lender questions. The form prepares an email for you to review and send; it does not obtain an instant quote.