First-time homebuyer · Richmond, VA

Buying your first home doesn't have to be this stressful.

804Mortgage is Richmond's only team where your lender and REALTOR® are the same people. One conversation, one process, and thousands back at closing through Bundle & Save.

Richmond median home — $350,000

What you save with 804Mortgage

Minimum down, conventional3% — $10,500
Minimum down, FHA3.5% — $12,250
Pre-approval timeSame business day
Bundle & Save credit$5,250 back

No commitment required. Credits are applied as interested party credits at closing, subject to lender approval and applicable limits.

Everything you are worried about, solved

Most first-time buyers come to us with the same three fears. Here is why they are more manageable than you think.

“I don't have enough saved.”

You need as little as 3% down on a conventional loan. On a $350,000 home that is $10,500. Your Bundle & Save credit can offset thousands in closing costs on top of that.

“I don't know if I'll qualify.”

Most buyers qualify for more than they think. Conventional loans start at a 620 credit score. Pre-approval is free, takes ten minutes, and tells you exactly where you stand.

“It all feels too complicated.”

That is why your lender and agent are on the same team. One person to call. One conversation. We have done this hundreds of times, and we would love to help you.

How buying your first home works here

Five steps from “I think I want to buy” to handing you the keys, with real people available at each one.

1

Apply free

Ten minutes online or on the phone. No credit pull required just to get started.

2

Get pre-approved

We issue your pre-approval letter fast. You will know your exact budget and be ready to make competitive offers.

3

Shop with an 804 agent

Our in-house REALTORS® know Richmond. Shopping with us also unlocks Bundle & Save.

4

Make an offer

Your lender and agent work in real time. Nothing gets dropped between two separate teams.

5

Close and save

Your Bundle & Save credit is applied at closing, to closing costs or to buy down your rate.

Bundle & Save

Buy what you want. Save thousands.

Buy your home through our in-house real estate team and half the buyer-agent commission comes back to you at closing. On a $350,000 home that is about $5,250. On a $450,000 home, about $6,750. Financing through 804Mortgage is optional and is not a condition of the credit.

Based on a 3% buyer-agent commission. Buyers do not receive cash back. All funds are applied as interested party credits at closing, subject to lender approval and applicable limits. Actual commission may vary.
Home priceCommission at 3%Your credit
$275,000$8,250$4,125
$350,000$10,500$5,250
$425,000$12,750$6,375
$500,000$15,000$7,500

Which loan is right for you?

Most first-time buyers qualify for one of three. We show you all of your options, then help you pick the one that costs you least over time.

Most popular with first-timers

Conventional loan

3% down. Minimum down payment, 620 credit score. The loan most of our first-time buyers use. No upfront mortgage insurance premium, and competitive rates for strong credit.

Learn about conventional loans
Veterans and military

VA loan

$0 down. No down payment, no mortgage insurance. The best mortgage in America for those who qualify.

Check VA eligibility
Lower credit, more flexible

FHA loan

3.5% down. Minimum down payment, 580 credit score. A strong option if your credit is below 620 or your savings are limited. We show you how it compares to conventional, side by side.

Learn about FHA loans

Not sure which fits your situation? Call (804) 593-0344 and we will tell you in under five minutes.

Why most of our first-time buyers choose conventional

FHA gets a lot of press for being the first-timer loan. Conventional is often the better deal. Here is how we think about it.

PMI goes away. FHA mortgage insurance does not.

On a conventional loan, PMI drops off automatically at 20% equity. On most FHA loans, mortgage insurance stays for the life of the loan. Over five to seven years that difference adds up to thousands.

3% down is often enough

First-time buyers with a 620 credit score or better can put as little as 3% down, which is $10,500 on a $350,000 home. Pair that with your Bundle & Save credit and the out-of-pocket gets manageable.

We show you both. You decide.

If your credit is below 620, FHA may be the right call and we will say so. Every buyer gets a side-by-side comparison of every program they qualify for: monthly payment, total cost and break-even.

Plain-language mortgage glossary

The terms that trip up every first-time buyer, explained in one sentence each.

PMI

Private mortgage insurance

A monthly fee added to your payment when you put less than 20% down on a conventional loan. It is removed automatically once you reach 20% equity.

DTI

Debt-to-income ratio

Your total monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income. Lenders typically want this under 43% to 50%. Lower is better.

APR

Annual percentage rate

Your interest rate plus fees, expressed as a yearly percentage. More useful than the rate alone when you compare lenders, because it is the true cost of borrowing.

Escrow

Escrow account

Your lender collects property taxes and homeowner's insurance monthly, holds the money, and pays those bills when they come due. Your payment includes them.

Points

Discount points

Optional upfront fees paid to permanently lower your interest rate. One point is 1% of the loan. Your Bundle & Save credit can be used to buy points.

IPC

Interested party credits

Money put toward your closing costs by someone with a financial interest in the sale, such as a seller concession or your Bundle & Save commission credit.

What Richmond first-time buyers say

From anxious to closed, in their own words.

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Dave Eshbach profile picture
Dave Eshbach
4 days ago
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Highly recommend Will and Alex. Some of the best guys around. They helped us buy the house of our dreams... 8 acres.
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Dustin Yancey profile picture
Dustin Yancey
12 days ago
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Desiree Brown profile picture
Desiree Brown
22 days ago
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The best !! Awesome guy loved working with him
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Sarah Marshall profile picture
Sarah Marshall
32 days ago
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Will Schroeder has been our mortgage broker on two separate occasions and has done a terrific job on both. He went above and beyond his responsibility in helping us through the process as well as locating the best deal possible. He is a pleasure to work with which makes the process less of a chore. I definitely recommend Will to anyone who is looking for a thoughtful and careful broker who looks out for his clients best interests. Alex Innes did a fantastic job of Setting up both our home and apartment . He always answered emails promptly and addressed all concerns. He was a pleasure to work with and given we were locating to another country it was particulary helpful to have someone on hand who we could trust implicitly.
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Jason Strohl profile picture
Jason Strohl
33 days ago
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Will was wonderful to work with. Not only did he complete all the tedious paperwork quickly, he carefully looked over everything and even gave me options to lower closing costs so I could keep more cash on hand. Not only that, he is an extremely kind and warm individual! We are lucky to have folks like Will in Richmond - he's a fantastic example of what makes this city so great!
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Rob Denison profile picture
Rob Denison
40 days ago
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William Schroeder at 804Mortgage is absolutely exceptional. Deeply knowledgable across mortgage products, real estate transactions, and financial consulting, Will answers questions with a genuine mix of information, respect, and humor. When I am trying to weigh the pros/cons, he is the first person I call, and we have used 804Mortgage on multiple occasions.
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Amanda Lanyon profile picture
Amanda Lanyon
51 days ago
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Alex and Will were very helpful in the purchase of my very first home. They were very patient and guided me in the right direction from the beginning. Through the process they were very responsive. We are very happy with the services! Definitely would recommend.
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Michele Leonard profile picture
Michele Leonard
65 days ago
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Will is one of a kind. He actually take time for you and understand what you are looking for in a home. He does his research and send you what you want to see. He has a charming personality and funny. So if you need a Relator he is the guy also Alex a perfect team!!!
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Blaine Helmich
68 days ago
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Awesome experience with great people and a much better business model for customers than traditional real estate agencies.
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Aubrey Hannum profile picture
Aubrey Hannum
70 days ago
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I cannot speak more highly of Will Schroeder! Will was incredibly thorough, communicative, helpful, and so amazing to work with. He made us feel so supported and prioritized during the entire process! His kindness, care for detail, and work ethic helped us find our dream home and we are forever grateful! Highly recommend him for anyone!

Common questions

Straight answers, no runaround.

How much do I need for a down payment as a first-time buyer in Virginia?
First-time buyers in Virginia can put as little as 3% down on a conventional loan, which is $10,500 on a $350,000 home. FHA loans require 3.5% down. VA loans require zero down for eligible veterans. Your Bundle & Save credit can offset a significant part of your closing costs on top of your down payment.
What credit score do I need to buy a home in Virginia?
Conventional loans, the most common loan for our first-time buyers, require a minimum credit score of 620. FHA loans go as low as 580 with 3.5% down. VA loans have no government minimum, though most lenders look for 580 to 620. If your score needs work, we tell you exactly what to improve and give you a realistic timeline.
What is Bundle & Save and how much can I get back?
Bundle & Save returns half the buyer-agent commission to you at closing as interested party credits. On a $350,000 Richmond home that is about $5,250, applied to closing costs or used to buy down your rate.
What are closing costs and how much should I budget?
Closing costs in Virginia typically run 2% to 4% of the loan amount and cover lender fees, title insurance, the appraisal, and prepaid property taxes and homeowner's insurance. On a $350,000 loan, expect $7,000 to $14,000. Your Bundle & Save credit and any seller concessions reduce this.
How fast is the pre-approval process?
Most pre-approval decisions are issued the same business day you apply. The online application takes about ten to fifteen minutes. You need recent pay stubs, W-2s or tax returns, two months of bank statements, and a government ID. There is no commitment to move forward, and the pre-approval is free.
What is PMI and can I avoid it?
PMI, or private mortgage insurance, is a monthly fee added to conventional loans when you put less than 20% down. It is removed automatically once you reach 20% equity, with no refinance required. FHA loans carry mortgage insurance that in most cases stays for the life of the loan. That is one reason we point buyers who qualify toward conventional.
How do I know whether to choose a conventional or an FHA loan?
We show every buyer a side-by-side comparison before they decide. If your credit is 620 or above, conventional usually wins, because PMI disappears at 20% equity while FHA mortgage insurance stays for the life of the loan. If your credit is below 620, or your savings are very limited, FHA may be the better path.
Do I have to use 804Mortgage's real estate agents?
To earn the Bundle & Save credit, yes. The credit is half of the buyer-agent commission, so it exists only when one of our in-house agents represents you. You are free to work with any licensed REALTOR® in Virginia, and you are free to finance anywhere. Financing through 804Mortgage is optional and is not a condition of the credit.

Find out what you actually qualify for

Pre-approval is free, takes about ten minutes, and tells you exactly where you stand. No commitment, no pressure, and a straight answer from a local team that has done this hundreds of times.

Or call (804) 593-0344