Greater Richmond covers a lot of ground, from rowhouses in the Fan that are more than a century old to brand-new subdivisions in Short Pump and Chesterfield to farmland west of the city. The title and closing questions shift as you move out from the center: older homes near downtown carry long chains of title, the suburbs bring homeowners associations, and the rural counties bring boundaries and wells. Here is what to know across the region.
Written by Anthony I. Shin, Esq., Principal and real estate attorney at Prime Title & Escrow
Buying a home in Richmond
The City of Richmond runs from the Fan and Church Hill to Manchester and Scott’s Addition, and much of its charm is in homes that are a century old or more. Older homes mean longer chains of title, which means more chances for an old lien, an easement, or a boundary question to be sitting in the record. Some blocks also fall in Old and Historic Districts with review rules, and the loft and condo conversions in areas like Scott’s Addition bring their own association documents. An owner’s title insurance policy and a full search are how you find and cover those issues before they become yours. Our Richmond title and escrow page has more.
Buying a home in Henrico County
Henrico wraps around Richmond from the West End to historic Varina. The fast-growing, higher-end side runs through Short Pump and Innsbrook, with newer construction that usually comes with a homeowners association, while Glen Allen, Highland Springs, and Sandston offer more established neighborhoods. New construction is straightforward to close, but the association documents and any builder warranties deserve a read before you sign. I explain how the day works in what happens at a Virginia closing. Our Henrico County title and escrow page covers the area.
Buying a home in Chesterfield County
Chesterfield is the fifth-largest and one of the fastest-growing counties in Virginia, south of the James. From Midlothian and Brandermill to Chester, Bon Air, and Matoaca, much of the market is suburban, and a lot of it is newer construction inside a homeowners association. Budget for the full set of buyer costs up front, which I break down in closing costs in Virginia. Our Chesterfield County title and escrow page has the local detail.
Buying a home in Hanover County
Hanover is a settled, semi-rural county north of Richmond. The subdivisions of Mechanicsville and Atlee and the Town of Ashland feel suburban, while the rural north around Montpelier, Rockville, and Beaverdam runs to farms and acreage. If you are buying in that rural part, the home is more likely to be on a private well and septic system, so read buying a rural home with a well and septic before you write the contract. Our Hanover County title and escrow page covers the county.
Buying a home in Goochland and Powhatan counties
West of Richmond, Goochland County is an affluent, rural county along the James River, from higher-end Manakin-Sabot on the eastern edge to the historic villages of Goochland Courthouse, Crozier, and Oilville. South and west, Powhatan County is deeply rural and high in homeownership, and some of its land records reach back a long way. On rural acreage in either county, the boundaries are older and less precisely marked, which is why I often recommend a survey, and why buying rural land deserves extra diligence. See our Goochland and Powhatan County title and escrow pages for more.
A home that has stood for a hundred years has changed hands many times, and every transfer is a chance for an old lien, an unrecorded boundary line, or an easement to enter the record. That history is exactly why a careful title search and an owner’s policy matter more on these homes, not less. I read the chain of title back to its source and clear what needs clearing before you close.
How I handle a Richmond-area closing
Every purchase runs through the same core: a full title search, an owner’s title insurance policy, and a settlement statement I go through with you so nothing is a surprise. I confirm every wire instruction with you directly to stop real estate wire fraud, the biggest avoidable risk at closing. For a sense of where the market sits, see our Central Virginia market survey.
Tell me the property, from a Fan rowhouse to a Chesterfield new build to rural acreage, and I will handle the title search and the closing, in Virginia or West Virginia.
Get Your Free Quoteor call (703) 552-4155Common questions
Why do historic Richmond homes need extra title attention?
Older homes in the Fan, Church Hill, and similar districts have long chains of title, which means more chances for an old lien, an easement, or a boundary question to be sitting in the record. Some also fall in Old and Historic Districts with review rules. A full title search and an owner’s title insurance policy are how you find and cover those issues before they become your problem.
Are homes in Short Pump, Midlothian, or Mechanicsville usually in an HOA?
Much of the newer suburban construction around Short Pump in Henrico, Midlothian and Brandermill in Chesterfield, and Mechanicsville and Atlee in Hanover comes with a homeowners association. That means recorded covenants, dues, and rules you should review before you sign, since they run with the property.
Do I need a survey to buy in Goochland or Powhatan?
On rural parcels in Goochland and Powhatan, boundaries are often older and less precisely marked, and some land records reach back a long way. A survey is frequently worth it to confirm the boundaries and what is included, especially on acreage or where a fence or driveway may not match the deed.
What are closing costs when buying in the Richmond area?
Buyers in Virginia typically pay for the lender’s and owner’s title insurance, the title search and settlement fee, recording fees, and their loan costs, while sellers usually pay the grantor’s tax. The mix is the same across Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield, and the surrounding counties, and I give you an itemized estimate up front.
This article is general information about buying a home in the Greater Richmond area. It is not legal advice for your specific purchase. Please reach out and I will look at your property and contract directly.