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uly data from the Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors shows the average home price in the area has risen to $420,000, up about $56,000 from last year. Damon Gettier, owner and CEO of Damon Gettier and Associates, says the market is good for sellers. His brokerage has roughly 55 properties under contract and recorded about 60 closings last month.

    Gettier advises sellers to work with a qualified agent and to stage their homes with simple upgrades—fresh paint, thorough cleaning, and a tidy garden—to boost appeal.

    First‑time buyers face a tougher landscape. With Virginia’s median household income near $90,000 in 2023, the $420,000 average price can feel out of reach. Many new buyers target homes around $275,000, well below the current market level. Programs such as the USDA’s no‑down‑payment option (for rural properties outside Roanoke City and most towns) and Virginia’s VHDA—an FHA‑style loan with zero down—can help bridge the gap.

    Gettier stresses the value of working with local lenders instead of generic online calculators. “Pre‑approval from a Virginia mortgage company gives you a realistic budget,” he says. “Online tools often assume an 840 credit score and 20% down, which most first‑time buyers can’t meet.”

    That’s the current snapshot of the Roanoke real‑estate scene.