Not every home loan comes from a bank. Many Richmond homeowners finance through a mortgage company, a licensed business that originates home loans without taking deposits. Knowing how these companies are structured, how they are regulated in Virginia and who will collect your payment once the loan closes helps you ask sharper questions before choosing one. The details below cover structure, channels and servicing in plain terms.
Call to speak with a licensed loan officer about mortgage companies in Richmond. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.
How the City of Richmond borrowers financed homes
Of the 3,629 home loans originated in the City of Richmond in 2024, 85% were conventional and 15% were government-backed (FHA, VA or USDA). Refinances and cash-out refinances together were 21% of the county's loans. The median household income in Richmond is about $64,600.
Mortgage company or bank: what is different
A bank takes deposits and makes many kinds of loans. A mortgage company does not hold checking or savings accounts. Instead, it typically funds loans through a warehouse line of credit and then sells them to investors such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or larger institutions.
That structure has practical effects. Because home loans are the whole business, staff tend to know program guidelines well, and many companies offer government-backed and conventional options under one roof. Because loans are usually sold, the company that closes your loan may not be the one you pay for the life of the loan.
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Prefer to talk first? Call (888) 912-6746. Applying is not a loan approval or commitment to lend; programs vary by borrower, property and investor. ClearPoint Mortgage Advisors, NMLS #173855. Properties in FL, NY, NJ, PA, CT and VA only.
Retail and wholesale channels
Mortgage companies reach borrowers through different channels. In the retail channel, the company works with you directly through its own loan officers, and its own staff process, underwrite and close the loan.
In the wholesale channel, the company does not meet you at all. An independent mortgage broker takes your application and submits it to the wholesale company, which underwrites and funds the loan. Some companies run both channels. Knowing which one you are in tells you who your day-to-day contact is and who makes the final credit decision. Ask early so there are no surprises later.
Who this tends to fit
- You are unsure whether you are dealing with a retail or wholesale operation
- You are comparing a non-bank mortgage company with your own bank
- You want a home loan from a company that focuses only on mortgages
- You want to know whether your loan will be sold or serviced in-house
- You want a short list of questions to ask a company before applying
Local offices and Virginia rules to know
- Deed and mortgage recording: Office of the Circuit Court Clerk for the City of Richmond (Deeds / Land Records). Your mortgage is recorded here after closing.
Mortgage lenders, brokers and loan originators serving Virginia are licensed by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Financial Institutions. You can confirm any company's or loan officer's license on NMLS Consumer Access before you apply.
Who you pay after closing in Richmond
The company that collects your monthly payment is the servicer, and it is often not the company that made the loan. Servicing rights are bought and sold regularly. If yours change hands, federal rules require notice from the old servicer and the new one, usually around the time of the transfer.
During a transfer, a short grace period protects you if you send a payment to the old servicer by mistake. Watch for both notices, confirm the new payment address independently, and check that your escrow account for taxes and insurance carried over correctly.
Before you call
- A question about whether the company services loans or sells servicing
- Your most recent mortgage statement if you are refinancing
- A question about whether you are in its retail or wholesale channel
- Recent statements for accounts you will use for closing costs
- Homeowners insurance details and your current property tax bill
Questions Richmond borrowers ask about mortgage companies
What is a loan servicer?
A loan servicer is the company that handles your loan day to day after closing. It collects your monthly payment, manages your escrow account for property taxes and insurance, sends year-end statements and answers questions. If you run into trouble making payments, the servicer is the company you contact about options. The servicer may or may not be the company that originated the loan.
What is the difference between retail and wholesale lending?
In retail lending, you work directly with the company's own loan officers and staff. In wholesale lending, a mortgage broker takes your application and sends it to the company, which then underwrites and funds the loan. Your main contact differs depending on the channel, so it helps to ask which one you are in at the start.
How can I tell if a transfer notice is legitimate?
Scammers sometimes send fake transfer letters. Compare the notice with information from your current servicer, using the phone number on an existing statement rather than one in the letter. A real transfer usually comes with notices from both companies. Do not send a payment to a new address until you confirm the change through a trusted source.
Is a mortgage company regulated like a bank?
Mortgage companies follow the same federal consumer protection rules as banks for disclosures, fair lending and servicing. Instead of a bank charter, they are licensed by state regulators, typically a state banking or financial services department. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also has authority over non-bank mortgage companies. You can view licensing details on NMLS Consumer Access.
Get answers about mortgage companies for a home in or around Richmond. Subject to credit approval; programs vary.
Other loan options in Richmond
LendersBrokersHome loansRefinanceCash-out refinanceHELOCHome equity loanFHAVAFirst-time buyerReverse mortgageConstructionRenovation
Mortgage Companies near Richmond
- Mortgage Companies in Manchester, VA (4 mi)
- Mortgage Companies in Bon Air, VA (5 mi)
- Mortgage Companies in Montrose, VA (5 mi)
- Mortgage Companies in Lakeside, VA (6 mi)
- Mortgage Companies in East Highland Park, VA (6 mi)
- Mortgage Companies in Bensley, VA (6 mi)
- Mortgage Companies in Dumbarton, VA (6 mi)
- Mortgage Companies in Meadowbrook, VA (7 mi)
Related guides
- How to Choose a Mortgage Lender
- The Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure, Explained
- Documents Needed for a Mortgage
Mortgage Companies across Virginia · Mortgage Companies guide · Virginia overview
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates
- 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data for City of Richmond