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Mortgage Broker Blacksburg, Marion & Abingdon VA | Virginia Home Loans

We are a locally owned and operated mortgage company licensed to provide services throughout the state of Virginia, but we mainly serve Southwest Virginia. Our offices are in Blacksburg, Marion and Abingdon.

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Blacksburg

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Welcome to Blacksburg!

Blacksburg, Virginia, is a town nestled on a plateau between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains close to Merrimac, Newport and Roanoke. With a population of approximately 43,000, it’s Virginia’s largest town. Established in 1798, Blacksburg celebrates and preserves its past while building upon that base to form a dynamic, diverse and progressive community.

At the core of Blacksburg’s vibrant and engaging downtown is Virginia’s largest land-grant university, Virginia Tech. Blacksburg is known as a Creative Village because of its commitment to the arts and its reputation as a robust technology town. With a world-class university and its Corporate Research Center, visionary entrepreneurs and an innovative workforce, it is quickly gaining an international reputation as a high-tech hot spot.

Despite being a large, high-tech community, Blacksburg very much has a laid-back “small town” amtosphere. It is consistently ranked among the country’s best places to live, study and work, and is known for its reasonable cost of living, safety, moderate climate, plentiful leisure opportunities, and vibrant farmer’s market.

If you love the idea of moving to a community in Virginia with a small-town feel and amazing educational opportunities, Blacksburg may just be the place to build your ideal future.

What is it like living in Blacksburg? Below, you can read up on the cost of living, the average cost of a home, employment opportunities, schools, leisure, and more.

What is the Cost of Living in Blacksburg?

Sperling’s Best Places provides researched data on cost of living and other aspects of life in Blacksburg. On a scale where 100 represents the US average cost of living, Blacksburg is a 109.

While this does make it a little more expensive to live in Blacksburg than it does to live in the average US location, the good news is that it costs less to live in Blacksburg than it does some other parts of VA. Virginia overall receives a rating of 114.

Compared to the national average, groceries and transportation costs in Blacksburg are a bit less expensive. Costs which are more expensive include healthcare, utilities, miscellaneous expenditures, and housing.

Blacksburg, VA Taxes

The state marginal individual income tax rate for Virginia ranges up to 5.75%. This is comparable with the income tax rate for North Carolina and Maryland, and marginally less than that for West Virginia.

Employment in Blacksburg

According to the US Census, the median household income in Blacksburg from 2013-2017 was $39,910. The average per capita income was $21,157. 43.7% of the population lived in poverty. Sperling’s lists an unemployment rate of 6.10%, which is a little higher than the nationwide average of 5.20%.

This data implies that many people who work in Blacksburg are receiving lower salaries than they need to cover their living expenses. For this reason, it is smart to have a high-paying job lined up in the town before you arrive.

Unsurprisingly, the top employer in Blacksburg is Virginia Tech, followed by the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center. Other major employers include Moog, HCA Montgomery Regional Hospital, NRV Community Service sand the Town of Blacksburg.

How Much Does the Average Home Cost in Blacksburg?

The US Census reports that the median value of homes in Blacksburg is $286,500. The median monthly costs for a home with a mortgage add up to $1,753. This is significantly higher than the nationwide average housing cost, which is where most of the difference in cost of living comes from.

Blacksburg, VA Education

One of the most exciting things about living in Blacksburg is the educational opportunities which abound. There are seven public schools and six private schools located in the town. The elementary schools are particularly highly rated (including Gilbert Linkous Elementary, Harding Avenue Elementary, and Kipps Elementary).

Blacksburg High School is often ranked among the top schools of the nation for its academics. Its soccer, track, and cross-country teams are also among the top in the state.

The most noteworthy school in Blacksburg is of course Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, usually called simply “Virginia Tech.” This is a very prominent university with around 34,400 students and a total of 280 degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The campus also features some beautiful architecture.

Indeed, the college has received a number of high rankings in The Princeton Review. In 2017, it came in first place for “Best Quality of Life” and “Their Students Love These Colleges.” It also earned fourth place for “Best Campus Food,” and came in seventh place for “Lots of Race/Class Interaction” and “Happiest Students.”

Getting Around Blacksburg

While most people drive to and from work in Blacksburg, carpooling is popular. Those who wish to use public transportation can take the Smart Way Bus. This commuter service not only serves Blacksburg, but also connects residents with Christiansburg, Roanoke, and the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport.

Another popular means of transit is the bus system operated by Blacksburg Transit (BT). The bus serves mainly as a shuttle system for students and staff members who need transportation to and from Virginia Tech. While it is free for faculty and students to ride the bus, other members of the public must pay a fee.

How long can you expect a commute to take in Blacksburg? A one-way trip to or from work usually takes around 15 minutes on average. The US average is 26 minutes. So you can save a lot of time (and gas) if you live and work in this town.

Crime Rates in Blacksburg

While Virginia Tech put Blacksburg on the map, unfortunately many people also know it as the location of the school shootings in 2007. That event however was a divergence from the typical safe atmosphere of Blacksburg.

On a scale where the nationwide average for violent crime is 31.1, Blacksburg’s violent crime is rated at 28.2. Where the US average for property crime is 38.1, Blacksburg is rated at 22.5.

So on the whole, crime rates are significantly lower in Blacksburg than they are in many other locations. With these low crime rates and the wonderful educational establishments in the town, it has been rated as the “Best Place in the US to Raise Kids” by BusinessWeek. Southern Living has also called it the “Best College Town in the South.”

How is the Weather in Blacksburg?

According to Sperling’s Best Places, Blacksburg’s comfort index climate-wise is 51 out of 100 where the US average is 54. This means that the town rates as about average in this regard.

One nice thing about living in Virginia is that you get to enjoy all four seasons. Highs range up to around 83 degrees in July and lows in January range down to around 23 degrees. You can expect about 24 annual inches of snow, 40 annual inches of rain, and about 215 sunny days each year. So whether you are a fan of spring, summer, fall, or winter, you should find Blacksburg a lovely place to live.

Leisure and Entertainment in Blacksburg

What is there to see and do in and around the Blacksburg area? With Virginia Tech so central to the town, many people enjoy watching college athletics games or attending performances at the Moss Arts Center.

Other popular attractions near Blacksburg include the Huckleberry Trail, the Hahn Horticulture Garden, the Historic Smithfield Plantation, and the Heritage Community Park and Natural Area. You are also only around two hours and thirty minutes away from Shenandoah National Park.

Move Into Your New Home in Blacksburg or
Southwest VA Today

Contact Us

Jason H.
Highly recommend. Excellent rates and reasonable fees, quick responses to questions, helped overcome a couple small complications, overall a very smooth process.
Joe S.
I cannot say enough positive things about Josh Rowland and his wife Jessica. My family and I went through one of the most stressful and chaotic events all in the middle of trying to purchase a home 700 miles away. They not only were professional at every step, but compassionate at every step as well. They fought for us with their diligence and resolve. I am forever grateful for their work, help, and friendship. 100% RECCOMEND. God bless their future endeavors!
Christi S.
Absolutely wonderful experience. Ryan Hall (and team) have gone above and beyond at every point. He's responded quickly, explained clearly, and even managed to get us pre-approved when a competing lender couldn't. Ryan is easy to talk to and a joy to work with. Definitely will recommend this office any chance I get.
Mo R.
You don't even feel the mortgage process up&down if you work with Ryan and his team, the best experience. Thanks so much Ryan for your support and help cause that made the home buying so smooth. Highly highly recommend them. 5 out 5 for sure.
Katherine P.
We worked with Brian Hall to get our mortgage and it was beyond my expectations! We originally had gotten a preapproval amount and interest rate quote from another lender; our realtor Brian Mchone had recommended First Residential Mortgage to us, but I didn't think we would get a lower interest offer. Ryan reached out to me with an interest offer a whole percent lower than we were quoted from the other company! That difference was enough that when we found our dream home, we were able to get our offer in and keep our monthly payment within our budget! A LOT of paperwork was required to be submitted, but it was well worth it! Ryan was available every step of the way if I had questions or clarifications. He and my realtor communicated flawlessly and the whole experience felt well handled. We were able to submit all of this online and it was very easy to use the online submissions. My husband is a veteran and we used the VA Home Loan, Ryan was well versed in working with the VA Home Loan service. All and all, I can not say enough good things about First Residential Mortgage and Ryan Hall made the stressful experience of buying a home a much easier one!
Chase B.
Ryan did a great job getting us the best rate he could. He made sure we understood everything every step of the way and was very quick to answer any questions we had, be that via email or calling.
Mark J.
Excellent customer service from start to finish. Ryan did a great job of explaining the whole process and keeping us up to date at every step of the way. Would not hesitate to recommend him to family and friends.
Tori Z.
My husband and I worked with Ryan on securing a mortgage as we bought our first home. Ryan was helpful and would answer our questions promptly and used videos and screen sharing to make sure everything was clear. We had shopped around at a few different mortgage and First Residential Mortgage offered the best rate to us. I would definitely recommend using First Residential Mortgage.
Brandon T.
Ryan and the folks at First Residential Mortgage made the process of refinancing our home seamless and quick. Took less than 30 days from the time someone recommended me to Ryan’s team to closing. The application process was easy, Ryan looked out for us all along the way and got us a great interest rate, and we were able to pay off a $30k car while maintaining almost the exact same monthly mortgage payment we had been making previously. Can’t say enough good things about them!
Cirillo- D.
Great to work with, wonderful staff and a very rate.
Maaz G.
Ryan Hall and his team are absolutely fantastic to work with. We were first time home buyers. Thanks guys!
Mike B.
Great experience. Easy to work with. Answered all my questions.
Tommy B.
Ryan was great to work with. We ran in to several issues along the way with the sellers and our income but he did everything in his power to make the process as smooth as possible and to make sure we were able to get the loan we wanted.
John B.
Ryan was very professional, yet very responsive to our questions as we moved forward through the process of signing documents. Ryan makes these video where he explains what is happening and what to expect that made it easy the home loan understand. Ryan's insight on how to approach the sellers with our offer and make it more attractive were invaluable. I highly recommend Ryan for all Veterans and others seeking a loan professional's help. You won't be disappointed. Thanks again Ryan.
Barrett I.
Ryan Hall is great to work with. He is very knowledgeable and was always available for any questions that we had throughout our refinance. I highly recommend his services.
Sloop S.
Robin L.
I had a great experience with Ryan and team at First Residential. The communication through the entire process was excellent. I will definitely be working with Ryan again in the future.
Andrew D.
The folks at First Residential are exactly what you're looking for. They are professional, patient, fast, and thorough on every front. It felt like I had good friends walking me through the process, who always had time to answer any questions I had, fight for good rates for me, and to be excited for my family. I HIGHLY recommend you use them. I know I will be for every mortgage need I ever have again.
Payne B.
I purchased a duplex investment property with the help of First Residential Mortgage. The process was quick and easy and if I had any questions the team in Blacksburg was quick to help. When I was searching for the best interest rate Ryan was by far the lowest even in a very competitive/busy market. I will be using First Residential Mortgage again on future investment properties as well as personal residence. I highly recommend giving them a call!
Stephan C.
We used this business to assist us in finding a mortgage. Ryan made sure to keep us informed in all aspects of this process. He was very professional and knowledgeable.
Kaylee R.
Mark C.
Ryan is a great wonderful person that seamlessly works with you to achieve your mortgage goals. He and his team are professional, through, and really make the experience very easy. They do a great job at First Residental Mortgage
Kaitlyn M.
Great experience. We are now first time home owners! They answered all of our questions and explained the whole process very thoroughly. Really cannot recommend Ryan and his team enough, it was really an enjoyable process working with them
El A.
Great people, they helped me every step of the process and kept me up to date on any changes. Would definitely recommend!
Dietrich L.
It was awesome working with Ryan and his team, super knowledgeable, walked me through the whole process, weighed the pros and cons of different options, easy all-digital process, answered questions insightfully, and gave me the best rate I could find. Thanks Ryan!
Jason H.
Highly recommend. Excellent rates and reasonable fees, quick responses to questions, helped overcome a couple small complications, overall a very smooth process.
Joe S.
I cannot say enough positive things about Josh Rowland and his wife Jessica. My family and I went through one of the most stressful and chaotic events all in the middle of trying to purchase a home 700 miles away. They not only were professional at every step, but compassionate at every step as well. They fought for us with their diligence and resolve. I am forever grateful for their work, help, and friendship. 100% RECCOMEND. God bless their future endeavors!
Christi S.
Absolutely wonderful experience. Ryan Hall (and team) have gone above and beyond at every point. He's responded quickly, explained clearly, and even managed to get us pre-approved when a competing lender couldn't. Ryan is easy to talk to and a joy to work with. Definitely will recommend this office any chance I get.
Mo R.
You don't even feel the mortgage process up&down if you work with Ryan and his team, the best experience. Thanks so much Ryan for your support and help cause that made the home buying so smooth. Highly highly recommend them. 5 out 5 for sure.
Katherine P.
We worked with Brian Hall to get our mortgage and it was beyond my expectations! We originally had gotten a preapproval amount and interest rate quote from another lender; our realtor Brian Mchone had recommended First Residential Mortgage to us, but I didn't think we would get a lower interest offer. Ryan reached out to me with an interest offer a whole percent lower than we were quoted from the other company! That difference was enough that when we found our dream home, we were able to get our offer in and keep our monthly payment within our budget! A LOT of paperwork was required to be submitted, but it was well worth it! Ryan was available every step of the way if I had questions or clarifications. He and my realtor communicated flawlessly and the whole experience felt well handled. We were able to submit all of this online and it was very easy to use the online submissions. My husband is a veteran and we used the VA Home Loan, Ryan was well versed in working with the VA Home Loan service. All and all, I can not say enough good things about First Residential Mortgage and Ryan Hall made the stressful experience of buying a home a much easier one!
Chase B.
Ryan did a great job getting us the best rate he could. He made sure we understood everything every step of the way and was very quick to answer any questions we had, be that via email or calling.
Mark J.
Excellent customer service from start to finish. Ryan did a great job of explaining the whole process and keeping us up to date at every step of the way. Would not hesitate to recommend him to family and friends.
Tori Z.
My husband and I worked with Ryan on securing a mortgage as we bought our first home. Ryan was helpful and would answer our questions promptly and used videos and screen sharing to make sure everything was clear. We had shopped around at a few different mortgage and First Residential Mortgage offered the best rate to us. I would definitely recommend using First Residential Mortgage.
Brandon T.
Ryan and the folks at First Residential Mortgage made the process of refinancing our home seamless and quick. Took less than 30 days from the time someone recommended me to Ryan’s team to closing. The application process was easy, Ryan looked out for us all along the way and got us a great interest rate, and we were able to pay off a $30k car while maintaining almost the exact same monthly mortgage payment we had been making previously. Can’t say enough good things about them!
Cirillo- D.
Great to work with, wonderful staff and a very rate.
Maaz G.
Ryan Hall and his team are absolutely fantastic to work with. We were first time home buyers. Thanks guys!
Mike B.
Great experience. Easy to work with. Answered all my questions.
Tommy B.
Ryan was great to work with. We ran in to several issues along the way with the sellers and our income but he did everything in his power to make the process as smooth as possible and to make sure we were able to get the loan we wanted.
John B.
Ryan was very professional, yet very responsive to our questions as we moved forward through the process of signing documents. Ryan makes these video where he explains what is happening and what to expect that made it easy the home loan understand. Ryan's insight on how to approach the sellers with our offer and make it more attractive were invaluable. I highly recommend Ryan for all Veterans and others seeking a loan professional's help. You won't be disappointed. Thanks again Ryan.
Barrett I.
Ryan Hall is great to work with. He is very knowledgeable and was always available for any questions that we had throughout our refinance. I highly recommend his services.
Sloop S.
Robin L.
I had a great experience with Ryan and team at First Residential. The communication through the entire process was excellent. I will definitely be working with Ryan again in the future.
Andrew D.
The folks at First Residential are exactly what you're looking for. They are professional, patient, fast, and thorough on every front. It felt like I had good friends walking me through the process, who always had time to answer any questions I had, fight for good rates for me, and to be excited for my family. I HIGHLY recommend you use them. I know I will be for every mortgage need I ever have again.
Payne B.
I purchased a duplex investment property with the help of First Residential Mortgage. The process was quick and easy and if I had any questions the team in Blacksburg was quick to help. When I was searching for the best interest rate Ryan was by far the lowest even in a very competitive/busy market. I will be using First Residential Mortgage again on future investment properties as well as personal residence. I highly recommend giving them a call!
Stephan C.
We used this business to assist us in finding a mortgage. Ryan made sure to keep us informed in all aspects of this process. He was very professional and knowledgeable.
Kaylee R.
Mark C.
Ryan is a great wonderful person that seamlessly works with you to achieve your mortgage goals. He and his team are professional, through, and really make the experience very easy. They do a great job at First Residental Mortgage
Kaitlyn M.
Great experience. We are now first time home owners! They answered all of our questions and explained the whole process very thoroughly. Really cannot recommend Ryan and his team enough, it was really an enjoyable process working with them
El A.
Great people, they helped me every step of the process and kept me up to date on any changes. Would definitely recommend!
Dietrich L.
It was awesome working with Ryan and his team, super knowledgeable, walked me through the whole process, weighed the pros and cons of different options, easy all-digital process, answered questions insightfully, and gave me the best rate I could find. Thanks Ryan!