A wide variety of housing types and styles are available in urban, suburban, and rural locations throughout the city.  Richmond has a number of programs to help residents acquire homes in the areas that fit them best. Homeownership initiatives include:

Neighborhoods in Bloom (NiB)
NiB is an innovative program that promotes historic restoration in six targeted neighborhoods. It is recognized as one of the 10 most effective public/private partnerships in the U.S. by the National Academy of Public Administration.  Over the past five years, NiB has constructed or restored 175 houses and provided repair assistance to 325 owner-occupied homes. It also furnished $2.7 million in streetscape, sidewalk, and street lighting improvements that helped boost neighborhood property values and reduce crime.

City Sells
This city program links homeowners with housing available for purchase and presents the opportunity to bid on tax-delinquent properties that are “ordered for sale” by the courts. City Sells offers grants, loans, and other types of financial assistance that can be used to purchase, rehabilitate, or upgrade a home.

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority
RRHA has been at the forefront of community development for more than 60 years.  Its mission is to provide and preserve quality affordable housing as well as promote self-sufficiency, economic independence, and homeownership among all housing residents. Initiatives include voucher programs, housing for the elderly, and educational and cultural programs. The RRHA also aims to combat blight and beautify the city through the construction of new properties and the redevelopment of existing ones. RRHA has received a $26.9 million HOPE VI grant and is working to demolish 440 public housing units in the Blackwell neighborhood and replace them with 540 homeownership and rental units.