Housing Resources
I Rent
If you are in the market for a rental in Buena Vista, here are some helpful resources.
Virginia Housing Renter Resources – Information about finding apartments, tenant rights & responsibilities, Housing Choice Voucher program, and housing counselors.
Virginia Fair Housing Office | Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
Virginia Housing Rental Unit Accessibility Modification (RUAM) Grants – Tenants may apply for up to $8,000 worth of accessibility improvements to a rental unit, such as ramps, door widening, walk-in showers and grab bars, etc.
Resources for Renters
If you rent your home in Buena Vista, you may find the following resources helpful.
Utility bill assistance – Program through the Virginia Department of Social Services for emergency assistance with heating or cooling utility bills.
Virginia Housing Renter Resources – Information about finding apartments, tenant rights & responsibilities, Housing Choice Voucher program, and housing counselors.
Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Virginia – Resources for renters and homeowners addressing housing stability counseling, housing discrimination, and foreclosure prevention. HOME is focused on central Virginia, so not all their services are available in Buena Vista.
Virginia Housing Rental Unit Accessibility Modification (RUAM) Grants – Tenants may apply for up to $8,000 worth of accessibility improvements to a rental unit, such as ramps, door widening, walk-in showers, and grab bars etc.
Rockbridge Area Rental Assistance Office – Administers the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) in Buena Vista. As of December 2022, not accepting applications.
Virginia Fair Housing Office | Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
Resources for Home Buyers
If you are in the market to buy a home, please see these helpful resources.
Virginia Individual Development Account-Program is offered through multiple nonprofits that provide first-time homebuyer classes and will match buyer cash savings up to 8:1 for a down payment. Currently offered through SERCAP (scroll to the bottom of the page).
Downpaymentresource.com – Online database of homebuyer assistance programs
Virginia Housing new home buyer resources
USDA Rural Development Single Family Housing Direct Loans and Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loans– Provides below-market rate mortgages with attractive terms to first-time home buyers
Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity– Home repairs for low-income persons and new home construction.
Resources for Home Owners
If you own and occupy a home in Buena Vista—or if you’re looking to join us as a homeowner and resident, you may find the following resources helpful.
Utility bill assistance – Program through the Virginia Department of Social Services for emergency assistance with heating or cooling utility bills
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) – Provides whole-house weatherization/energy efficiency upgrades up to $8,000. The program is administered locally by Total Action for Progress (TAP); see website for details.
USDA Rural Development Section 504 Single-Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants – Provides loan of up to $40,000 (or grants to those over 62 years) for home repair and maintenance projects.
SERCAP Programs for Homeowners – Multiple programs to provide free or low-cost services for home repair.
Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity – Home repairs for low-income persons and new home construction.
Resources for Landlords
If you own or manage rental property in Buena Vista, you may find the following resources helpful.
Buena Vista Guide to Residential Land Use Regulations
Virginia Housing Renter Resources – Information about landlord/tenant rights & responsibilities and other rental resources.
Virginia Fair Housing Office | Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation