Cottage Grove · First-Time Buyers
Your First Home in Cottage Grove
Learn how buying works before you shop, explained in plain words, so you know what you're signing.
Buying your first home in Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove is where I live, and first-time buyers are the heart of my business. I'm Lesley, a REALTOR® with Bridge Realty.
Is Cottage Grove a good place to buy a first home? It gives a first-time buyer real choices: one-level ramblers and split-levels from the 1960s and 1970s, townhomes, and new construction. The right one depends on your monthly budget and how much repair work you want to take on.
Ask Me Your First Question
Three common first homes here
- A 1960s or 1970s rambler. Often the lowest purchase price. Set money aside for the roof, furnace, or windows if they are original.
- A townhome. Less upkeep. Add the association dues to your monthly payment before you decide what you can afford.
- New construction. Fewer repairs at first. Never visit the model home without your own agent, because I bought my first home that way and signed papers I did not understand.
What it costs, and the help available
Plan for four costs: earnest money with your offer, the inspection, your down payment, and closing costs. Down payments are often far less than 20 percent, and Minnesota Housing and local programs help eligible buyers with down payment and closing costs. If your credit needs work, a lender can give you a plan. Our first-time buyer page explains each cost, and getting ready covers pre-approval. We also work in St. Paul Park, next door.
Ask us your first question about Cottage Grove
You do not have to be ready to buy. Bring your questions, and you will leave with a plan. More on the community is on our Cottage Grove page, and the steps are on how we help buyers.
Send us a message or call (651) 661-4770.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do I need to buy in Cottage Grove?
The score lenders look for depends on the loan program, not the city. A lender can review your credit and give you a plan.
Should my first home be a townhome or a house?
A townhome usually means less upkeep and monthly association dues. A house means more space and more maintenance. We compare the full monthly cost of each.
Do I need my own agent for a new construction home?
Yes. The builder's consultant represents the builder. Bring your own agent on your first visit.
Homes For Sale In Cottage Grove
See every home on the market in Cottage Grove right now, updated from the MLS.
Cottage Grove
What first-time buyers looks like in Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove is a river city in southern Washington County, about 10 miles south of St. Paul, with 1960s ranch homes, newer neighborhoods, and 515 acres of ravine parkland.
Cottage Grove sits on the Mississippi River along Highway 61. It is where I live, and I know its neighborhoods street by street.
- The homes
- Ranch-style and split-level homes from the late 1950s through the 1970s, newer subdivisions, townhomes, and new construction in neighborhoods such as Eastbrooke, Hawthorne, and Ravine Crossing.
- Schools people ask about
- South Washington County Schools serves the city. Confirm the schools for any address with the district.
- Getting around
- Highway 61, which shares the road with Highway 10 here, runs north to Interstate 494 and St. Paul.
- Nearby
- More than 1,300 acres of public parkland and about 45 miles of trails, including Hamlet Park and Highland Park.
- The trade-off
- No interstate runs through the city, so the daily drive depends on Highway 61.
The method
How we do it in Cottage Grove
First-Time Buyers: keep exploring
Ready to make your move with Lesley The Realtor?