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Home Retention Resources

Virginia Housing will be updating servers, software, and equipment on the weekend of September 26-27. All systems may be unavailable from 2:00 PM on Saturday until 1:00 PM on Sunday.

Homebuying
Renting
Financial Wellness
A man in a hardhat inspecting the foundation of a home

Professional home inspections

A home inspector provides an assessment of the home’s condition, helping you make confident decisions about your purchase.

Houses along a marsh with grasses at Sunset

Do you need flood insurance?

Understanding flood insurance prepares you for costs, coverage and long‑term peace of mind.

A family enjoying the view from their condo balcony

Calling a condo home

Purchasing a condominium means understanding how the community operates and what responsibilities come with joining it.

An agent and potential buyers tour a home

What to look for when touring a home

Each house tour is an opportunity to spot important clues about the property’s true condition, helping you avoid costly repairs or difficult surprises down the line.

A couple reviewing their deposit

What is an earnest money deposit?

This payment strengthens your offer and demonstrates that you’re serious about moving forward with the home.

A lender and buyer making negotiations

How to make a strong offer on a home

Understanding what shapes a strong offer helps you move forward with confidence and puts you in a better position to secure the home you want.

Understanding Escrow And Interest

Escrow and per diem interest

Understanding the details behind your mortgage is key to being a successful homeowner.

how real estate agents get paid

How real estate agents get paid

Changes to how real estate agents are paid were made in 2024, see how it affects you as a buyer.

Housing Essentials | What an Appraisal Reveals

What an appraisal reveals

Even when a home looks perfect, its market value may not match the agreed‑upon sales price, impacting your loan, negotiations and timeline.

Housing Essentials | Discount Points

Discount points: a way to lower your interest rate

Discount points give you a unique opportunity to take control of your interest rate.

Housing Essentials | Understanding Rate Locks

Understanding interest rate locks

Securing your rate through a rate lock can protect you from increases while your appraisal, inspection and closing take place.

Housing Essentials | Understanding Right to Represent

The exclusive right to represent buyer agreement

This contract establishes your relationship with the agent’s brokerage firm and outlines each party's responsibilities.

Housing Essentials | Who You’ll Meet in the Loan Approval Process

Who you’ll meet in the loan approval process

Understand who you will encounter on your homebuying journey and the role that each person plays.

Housing Essentials | What Happens After You’re Pre-Approved

What happens after you’re pre-approved?

You may feel overwhelmed during the process, but read on to better prepare yourself for what happens after pre-approval.

Housing Essentials | Types of Mortgages

Understanding different types of mortgages

It’s important to understand the different types of mortgage loans before signing the paperwork.

Housing Essentials | Difference in approvals

Difference between pre-qualification vs. pre-approval

Learn the differences and see how to use these tools on your homebuying journey.

Housing Essentials | Are you ready for Homeownership

Are you ready for homeownership?

To prepare for homeownership, you should understand the financial benefits and challenges that homeowners face.

Housing Essentials | What is PITI

What does PITI mean?

As you’re working toward buying a home, you’ll encounter terms that apply to the mortgage lending process. “PITI” may be one you see frequently.

Housing Essentials | Homebuying Ratios

Know your homebuying ratios

During your homebuying journey, it’s important to understand the various ratios lenders use and how they impact the home loan process.

Housing Essentials | Avoid Large credit purchases

Avoid large credit purchases before closing

These purchases can throw off your credit score so much that you are denied the mortgage loan all together.

Man and woman walking with a REALTOR outside of home

What is a REALTOR®?

During the homebuying process, you may see the word REALTOR® used. But do you know the difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR®?

A middle-aged couple enters a home shown by a real estate agent

Benefits of a real estate agent

Take time to work with a real estate agent, and you’ll have all the advantage you need to find a new home.

a middle aged couple and a real estate agent tour a home

Choosing a real estate agent

Choosing a real estate agent to work with is a big decision, get tips on finding the right agent for you.

A hispanic couple works with a lender who meets their needs

How to find the right lender

Get the best rate and service that works for you, your budget and your timeline.

Young woman in green shirt with long dark hair participates in class

Free homeownership class

When you take our eight-hour class taught by experts, you’ll gain knowledge about the entire process.

Asian family taking a walk outside on a suburban street

Five steps to homeownership

Discover the basic steps in the process to become a new homeowner.