Investor-friendly real estate agents in Lubbock, TX
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Get matched in LubbockVetted investor agents across the Lubbock metro
Lubbock is a university and medical town in the South Plains, and the cheapest market in our Texas lineup: typical home values across the metro are around $213,000 and rents about $1,340, which puts the rent-to-price ratio near 0.63%, the best of these Texas guides. Texas Tech enrolled a record 42,455 students in fall 2025, and they need housing. The catch for student rentals is the zoning code: Lubbock limits how many unrelated people can live together as a household in a single-family home, so a five-bedroom rented by the room may not be legal. Our vetted partner here leads a top-producing Lubbock team.
Single-family buying across Lubbock with a top-producing local team, for investors who want an agent with deep MLS reach in a small market.
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Is Lubbock worth investing in? The long-term trends
People, jobs, rents and prices for the Lubbock metro, straight from the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Zillow. Hover or tap a chart for exact values.
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 292,163 |
| 2011 | 294,863 |
| 2012 | 296,922 |
| 2013 | 299,898 |
| 2014 | 304,388 |
| 2015 | 307,917 |
| 2016 | 311,320 |
| 2017 | 314,252 |
| 2018 | 316,128 |
| 2019 | 318,770 |
| 2020 | 352,143 |
| 2021 | 355,315 |
| 2022 | 356,941 |
| 2023 | 360,619 |
| 2024 | 364,664 |
| 2025 | 368,431 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2011 | +1,039 |
| 2012 | +443 |
| 2013 | +1,320 |
| 2014 | +2,406 |
| 2015 | +1,683 |
| 2016 | +1,509 |
| 2017 | +1,252 |
| 2018 | +589 |
| 2019 | +1,457 |
| 2020 | +2,235 |
| 2021 | +2,412 |
| 2022 | -277 |
| 2023 | +1,164 |
| 2024 | +1,055 |
| 2025 | +1,376 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 141,300 |
| 2011 | 143,900 |
| 2012 | 145,600 |
| 2013 | 149,100 |
| 2014 | 151,400 |
| 2015 | 153,600 |
| 2016 | 156,300 |
| 2017 | 159,000 |
| 2018 | 160,300 |
| 2019 | 162,700 |
| 2020 | 156,400 |
| 2021 | 161,200 |
| 2022 | 167,000 |
| 2023 | 170,700 |
| 2024 | 173,900 |
| 2025 | 175,500 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | $991/mo |
| Dec 2016 | $1,001/mo |
| Dec 2017 | $1,028/mo |
| Dec 2018 | $1,046/mo |
| Dec 2019 | $1,071/mo |
| Dec 2020 | $1,117/mo |
| Dec 2021 | $1,203/mo |
| Dec 2022 | $1,270/mo |
| Dec 2023 | $1,285/mo |
| Dec 2024 | $1,311/mo |
| Dec 2025 | $1,323/mo |
| Aug 2026 | $1,340/mo |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2010 | $132,974 |
| Dec 2011 | $131,898 |
| Dec 2012 | $130,545 |
| Dec 2013 | $130,465 |
| Dec 2014 | $136,056 |
| Dec 2015 | $132,386 |
| Dec 2016 | $145,716 |
| Dec 2017 | $157,781 |
| Dec 2018 | $164,860 |
| Dec 2019 | $157,408 |
| Dec 2020 | $170,746 |
| Dec 2021 | $192,134 |
| Dec 2022 | $213,858 |
| Dec 2023 | $213,259 |
| Dec 2024 | $210,201 |
| Dec 2025 | $209,871 |
| Aug 2026 | $213,398 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | 11.1× |
| Dec 2016 | 12.1× |
| Dec 2017 | 12.8× |
| Dec 2018 | 13.1× |
| Dec 2019 | 12.2× |
| Dec 2020 | 12.7× |
| Dec 2021 | 13.3× |
| Dec 2022 | 14.0× |
| Dec 2023 | 13.8× |
| Dec 2024 | 13.4× |
| Dec 2025 | 13.2× |
| Aug 2026 | 13.3× |
Data retrieved October 15, 2026. Figures cover the Lubbock metro area.
The numbers and rules that matter in Lubbock
Zillow Home Value Index, Lubbock metro, Aug 2026 (+2.4% YoY).
Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types, Aug 2026 (+1.4% YoY). Single-family 3-beds rent higher.
Typical rent ÷ typical home value. Well under the 1% rule; plan on cash flow from buying right, not from rents.
Over the past year: home values +2.4%, rents +1.4%.
Texas landlord-tenant basics
Texas is one of the more landlord-friendly states, and the law is statewide: cities can't add rent control. Eviction procedure changed on January 1, 2026 (SB 38), so guides written before then are out of date on notice delivery and court timelines. The points investors ask about most:
- No rent control: cities may only regulate rent after a disaster declaration and with the governor's approval (Local Government Code § 214.902). There's no statewide cap on increases; the lease controls, and month-to-month tenancies change terms with a month's notice.
- Eviction: a written notice to vacate (or, for unpaid rent, to pay or vacate) is required before filing, with 3 days' notice unless the lease sets a different period (Property Code § 24.005). SB 38, for suits filed on or after January 1, 2026, changed how that notice can be delivered and sped up the court process. Use a current form or an eviction attorney.
- Security deposit: refund it, with a written itemized list of deductions, within 30 days after the tenant moves out (§§ 92.103–92.104). You don't have to until the tenant gives a written forwarding address (§ 92.107). Withholding in bad faith costs $100 plus three times the amount withheld, plus attorney's fees.
- Late fees must be in a written lease and can't be charged until rent is unpaid two full days after the due date. A fee of up to 12% of monthly rent (buildings of 4 units or fewer) or 10% (larger buildings) is presumed reasonable (§ 92.019).
- Repairs: if a tenant who is current on rent gives notice of a condition that materially affects health or safety, and you don't make a diligent effort to repair within a reasonable time (7 days is presumed reasonable), the tenant can end the lease, repair and deduct, or sue (§§ 92.056–92.0561).
- Texas has no statute setting a notice period for landlord entry. Put an entry clause in your lease.
- Occupancy limit: Lubbock's Unified Development Code (2023) defines a household as related people or no more than three unrelated people living together. Some older city and Texas Tech pages still say two. Confirm the current limit for the zoning district before you rent by the room.
Short-term rental rules in Lubbock
Lubbock has required short-term rentals (stays under 30 days) to register with the city since January 1, 2020. Registration is annual and runs by calendar year.
- The property has to be in a residential zoning district, with owner, operator and a 24-hour local contact on file. LLC owners still have to name a natural person. The city's FAQ lists a $100 annual fee.
- City hotel occupancy tax is 7%, paid to the city monthly by the host. The 6% state tax is separate; platforms like Airbnb remit the state portion on their bookings.
- Texas Tech home football games, graduation and move-in weekends drive the busiest nights. Underwrite to a full year, not game weekends.
- Unincorporated Lubbock County doesn't require registration, but hotel tax still applies. HOAs can prohibit STRs regardless.
Last reviewed October 13, 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice — rules and fees change, so confirm with the city, the statute, or your attorney before you rely on them. Sources: Zillow Research data (ZHVI, ZORI) — Lubbock metro; Texas Tech — Fall 2025 enrollment; Lubbock Unified Development Code, Art. 39.10 — Definitions ("family"); City of Lubbock — Short-term rentals; City of Lubbock — Short-term rental FAQ; Lubbock City Code — Hotel occupancy tax; Texas Property Code ch. 92 — Residential tenancies; Texas Property Code ch. 24 — Forcible entry and detainer; Texas Local Government Code § 214.902 — Rent control; SB 38 (89th Legislature, 2025) — Eviction procedure, enrolled text; Texas Comptroller — Hotel occupancy tax.
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Questions investors ask about Lubbock
Who will I work with in Lubbock?
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Our vetted partner in Lubbock leads a top-producing Keller Williams team there. We match you with her if she fits your deal, and tell you upfront if not.
Does Lubbock cash flow?
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More often than most Texas markets. Typical rent is about 0.63% of typical home value a month, the best ratio in our Texas guides, and both rents and prices have been edging up. Property taxes near 2% a year still take a real share of rent, and Lubbock grows slowly, so buy for income rather than appreciation.
Can I rent a house by the room to Texas Tech students?
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Only within the occupancy limit. Lubbock's zoning code allows related people or no more than three unrelated people to live together as a household (some older pages say two). A large house leased to five unrelated students can violate the code, and enforcement starts with a complaint. Confirm the limit for the specific zoning district first.
Do I need a permit for an Airbnb in Lubbock?
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Yes. Short-term rentals in the city must register annually (the city's FAQ lists a $100 fee), be in a residential zone and have a 24-hour local contact. You pay the city's 7% hotel tax monthly; Airbnb remits the 6% state tax on its bookings.
Is Texas landlord-friendly?
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Yes. Cities can't impose rent control, there's no cap on rent increases, evictions start with a 3-day notice to vacate unless the lease says otherwise, and deposits are due back within 30 days of move-out once the tenant gives a forwarding address. The catch is property tax: Texas has no state income tax and leans on property tax instead, so expect annual bills of roughly 2% of assessed value in most of these metros. That, plus insurance, is what usually breaks Texas rental math.
What does it cost to get matched with a Lubbock agent?
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Nothing. Agents Invest is free for investors. The agent pays us a referral fee only if you close a deal with them.
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