Lubbock · Trading Up
Moving up in Lubbock: more room, and a plan for both moves
Sell and buy in the right order, with your numbers worked out first.
Two moves, one plan
Moving up in Lubbock means two transactions that depend on each other. You're selling a home you know well and buying one you've only toured. The order you do them in affects your money, your stress level and how strong your offer looks to a seller.
There are three common paths. Sell first and move into a short-term place. Buy first and carry two homes for a while. Or make your purchase contingent on your sale. Each works in the right situation, and each has a cost. We'll choose the one that fits your equity, your timeline and the home you want.
Bridge financing is one tool some buyers use to buy before selling. It's a lender conversation, and I'll help you think through the questions to ask.
Why move-up buyers work with Shelby Cotton
I'm Shelby Cotton, a REALTOR® with eXp Realty, LLC. On a move-up, I'm working both sides of your plan: pricing and launching your current home while we search for the next one. That keeps the two timelines in one conversation instead of two.
Larger and older homes reward a careful eye. My background in architecture, civil design and subdivision planning helps me read a floor plan, a lot and the condition of expensive systems. When you're stepping up in price, those details carry more money.
How I'll sequence your Lubbock move
- Know your equity. What your current home is likely to sell for and what you'd net. Start with what your Lubbock home is worth.
- Talk with your lender. What you can buy with and without the sale behind you.
- Choose the path. Sell first, buy first or a contingent offer, based on your numbers and the market for the home you want.
- Prepare your current home. So it's ready to list the moment the plan calls for it.
- Search with purpose. A short list of areas that fit, and homes worth seeing.
- Line up both closings. Dates and possession arranged so you move once if we can manage it.
Where Lubbock buyers move up
Larger homes and mature trees near 82nd and Quaker. Kings Gate is mainly 1980s brick with substantial living areas, rear-entry garages and larger lots. Some homes add pools, basements or multiple living areas. Next door, Kings Park offers homes of roughly 3,000 to 6,000 square feet on substantial lots, with very few sales in a typical year.
A golf-course setting. Lakeridge grew up around LakeRidge Country Club from the late 1970s, with larger homes and distinctive architecture. Size, condition and renovation vary a great deal.
Space with room to improve. Farrar Estates offers generous rooms and lots from the 1970s and 1980s. A move-up buyer can buy the space now and update over time.
Newer and custom. Vintage Township includes larger custom homes alongside its cottages, for buyers who want more house without giving up front porches and sidewalks.
What a bigger Lubbock home costs to run
More house means more to maintain. A larger established home can carry two heating and cooling systems, a bigger roof and more windows. A pool adds its own upkeep. None of that should stop you. It should be in the budget before you choose.
Buyers at this level also expect a home to feel current. If you're buying an older home to update, we'll separate the work you want from the work you'll need. A dated kitchen is a choice. A roof near the end of its life is a deadline.
We'll also look closely at the ground. Lubbock's High Plains soils make foundations and drainage worth a careful inspection, especially on older homes with larger footprints.
Selling your current Lubbock home
Your current home is the other half of the plan, and it usually sells to a different buyer than the one you're becoming. A smaller or newer Lubbock home often draws first-time and value-minded buyers. They'll compare it closely with similar homes nearby, so price, condition and presentation carry extra weight.
That buyer is often financing with less cash to spare after closing. Repairs an inspector will raise can become sticking points. Handling the clear ones before you list usually protects your price and your timeline, both of which matter when a second purchase depends on the first.
We'll also plan the timing. If you're buying first, we'll have your home ready to list the moment you're under contract on the next one. If you're selling first, we'll talk about how long you can take to find the next home and where you'll stay in between. Some sellers negotiate extra time in their own home after closing, which can bridge a short gap.
Either way, you'll know the order of events before anything goes on the market.
Plan your move up
Read the guide to trading up, compare Lubbock neighborhoods, or tell me about both moves. You can also call (806) 630-0455. Shelby Cotton, REALTOR®. Move wisely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I sell my Lubbock home before buying the next one?
It depends on your equity, your lender and the home you want. Selling first, buying first and a contingent offer each work in the right situation. We'll compare them with your numbers.
Where do Lubbock buyers look for larger homes?
Kings Gate, Kings Park and Lakeridge are common choices for larger homes and lots. Farrar Estates and Vintage Township offer other ways to get more space.
Can I buy a home in Lubbock before my current one sells?
Often, yes. Some buyers carry two homes for a while or use bridge financing. Talk with your lender about what you qualify for, and we'll plan around it.
Lubbock
What trading up looks like in Lubbock
A city of distinct parts: newer homes on the growing edges, older streets with mature trees, and a golf-course community.
Trading Up: keep exploring
Ready to make your move with Shelby Cotton?