Remington Park · First-Time Buyers
First-time buyers in Remington Park
Know what your budget really buys and what a home will cost to own before you fall for one.
Why first-time buyers in Remington Park like what they find
First-time buyers in Remington Park are in good company. First- and second-time buyers are among the groups the neighborhood draws most, and the reasons are practical. Homes here aren't the newest in Lubbock, so a first-time budget can often reach more usable space. The streets are tree-lined, and a neighborhood park and lake add open space most starter neighborhoods don't have.
The location helps a first home work day to day. Loop 289 and other major routes make much of Lubbock reachable without a long drive, and shopping and the South Plains Mall area are close.
The trade-off is age. An older home may need more attention than a newer one, and a first-time buyer needs to know which repairs are cosmetic and which are costly before choosing.
Start with a planning conversation
Why first-time buyers choose Shelby Cotton
I'm Shelby Cotton, a REALTOR® with eXp Realty, LLC in Lubbock. With first-time buyers, I explain as we go. Pre-approval, the option period, earnest money and the title company all make sense once someone walks you through them calmly, and you'll make better decisions for understanding them.
My background in architecture and civil design helps on tours. In Remington Park, I'll help you look past paint and flooring to the things that matter more. How old is the roof? How is the heating and cooling holding up? Does the yard slope away from the house? Does the floor plan give you usable rooms or wasted hallway?
A first home with good bones and dated finishes can be a smart buy, because you can update it over time as your savings recover. A first home with fresh finishes and tired systems can drain your savings in year one. I'll help you tell them apart.
Your first Remington Park purchase, step by step
- Rent or buy. We look at your plans and your numbers together.
- Pre-approval. What you can borrow, and what monthly payment you're comfortable with.
- Our agreement. The Texas buyer representation agreement, explained before you sign. Every term is negotiable.
- What your budget buys here. Real Remington Park homes at your price, so expectations match the market.
- Touring. A short list, with notes on what's cosmetic and what's costly.
- Your offer. Earnest money of typically 1% to 3%, held by the title company.
- The option period. Usually about seven days for my buyers, for inspections and your decision.
- Closing. At the title company, usually with no attorney required.
More detail is on how I help you buy and first-time home buyers in Lubbock.
A first home you can improve over time
One of the advantages of buying a first home in Remington Park is room to grow into it. A home with original finishes gives you the chance to update it room by room, on your schedule and your budget, and to build some equity through the work.
The trick is picking the right projects. Paint, lighting and hardware change a room for little money. Flooring and a kitchen refresh cost more and add more. A roof or a heating and cooling system aren't projects you choose. They're costs that arrive when they arrive, so it's wise to know their ages before you buy.
We'll talk through which updates a home is likely to need in your first few years, so your plan for the house fits your plan for your savings.
What your first budget should include
A lender's approval tells you what you can borrow. It doesn't tell you what owning a Remington Park home will cost each month, and first-time buyers are often surprised by the gap.
Start with the full payment: principal and interest, property taxes and homeowner's insurance. In West Texas, ask insurers how wind and hail damage are covered and what the deductible is for those claims.
Then add cash for closing. Earnest money, the option fee, inspections and closing costs all come due before or at closing, on top of your down payment.
Finally, set aside a repair reserve. On a home with some age, a water heater or an air conditioning part can fail in your first year. A reserve turns that into an inconvenience rather than a crisis.
If the total leaves you comfortable, you're ready. If it doesn't, we'll look at a lower price point or a few more months of saving, and I'll help you get there.
Other first-home options nearby
If you'd rather have a newer home with fewer early repairs, compare Remington Park with first-time buying in Uptown West. If a walkable street with porches and a neighborhood pool appeals, look at first homes in Vintage Township. Each trades something different for what it offers.
Ask your first question
No question is too basic. Send me a note or call (806) 630-0455, and we'll see whether Remington Park fits your first purchase. The Remington Park guide covers the neighborhood. Move wisely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Remington Park good for a first home?
It's a common choice for first- and second-time buyers because homes offer more usable space for the money, with Loop 289, shopping and a park and lake close by.
Should a first-time buyer choose an updated home or an original one?
It depends on your savings and patience for projects. An updated home costs more up front. An original one costs less and lets you update over time, as long as the roof and systems are sound.
How long is the option period for a Remington Park purchase?
Usually about seven days for my buyers, in exchange for an option fee negotiated in the contract. That's when inspections happen.
Remington Park
What first-time buyers looks like in Remington Park
Established, convenient, approachable, and surprisingly well positioned.
- The homes
- Primarily single-family homes on tree-lined streets, traditional ranch-style and newer-traditional. Median year built around 1995, so largely 1990s-era housing.
- Why people choose it
- First- and second-time buyers, move-up buyers watching value closely, and relocating buyers wanting convenient access to the rest of the city.
- Schools people ask about
- Whiteside Elementary, Irons Middle School and Coronado High School are commonly associated with Remington Park. Verify boundaries for each address.
- Getting around
- Southwest Lubbock near Loop 289. Reference points: Slide Road, 73rd Street, Loop 289 and Remington Park itself. Loop 289 makes much of the city reachable without a long cross-town commute.
- Nearby
- A neighborhood park and lake; the South Plains Mall and nearby commercial area.
- The trade-off
- Location, usable square footage and value over owning the newest house. Sellers compete with both older southwest Lubbock homes and newer construction; a dated home priced close to newer options loses ground.
The method
How I do it in Remington Park
First-Time Buyers: keep exploring
Ready to make your move with Shelby Cotton?