New Resident
Checklist
Just moved to Kerens? Here's everything to take care of in your first few weeks, in order.
Turn on your utilities
Set up electricity, water, gas, and trash for your new place.
Get internet set up
See which internet providers report service in town (FCC data), then check your exact address.
Update your driver license
New Texas residents have 90 days to transfer an out-of-state license at a DPS office.
Register your vehicle
Register within 30 days at the Navarro County tax assessor-collector with proof of insurance and proof you own the vehicle. Non-commercial vehicles no longer need a safety inspection as of January 1, 2025, and Navarro County is not an emissions-testing county.
Forward your mail
File a change of address with USPS so nothing gets missed.
Sort out schools
See the schools near town, confirm which district and campus serve your address, and look up their TEA ratings.
Understand property taxes
Learn how your tax bill stacks up and file your homestead exemption to lower it.
Get to know your new town
Find the local favorites, parks, venues, and weekend plans.
Statewide steps link to official Texas resources (DPS, TxDMV, VoteTexas.gov, USPS). Local guides are built from verified Kerens-area data.
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Kerens in context — where to go, what things cost, and how people actually live here.
Moving to East Texas: What You Need to Know
Thinking about moving to East Texas? A fact-checked guide to healthcare, schools, getting around, weather, and daily life in Tyler, Jacksonville, and the towns around them.
Read Guide →Cost of Living in East Texas
What it costs to live in East Texas, using Census figures: home values and rents in Tyler, Jacksonville and Athens compared with Texas and the big metros, plus taxes, utilities, healthcare and driving.
Read Guide →East Texas Real Estate Guide
East Texas real estate by the numbers: Census home values for Tyler, Athens and Jacksonville, drive times, property-tax basics and what buyers should check.
Read Guide →Schools in East Texas: A Parent's Guide
A guide to Smith County school districts: the 2026 TEA ratings for Tyler, Lindale, Whitehouse and Bullard ISDs, how to find your district, and how transfers work.
Read Guide →Business Owner?
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