Thinking about making Richmond home? Beyond the numbers and the neighborhoods, a lot of people want to know what a city feels like — where the community gathers, whose doors are open, and where you'll find your people. This is that guide. Richmond backs up its reputation. The Human Rights Campaign has given RVA a perfect 100 on its Municipal Equality Index for several years running, and the tourism-backed OutRVA initiative has championed the local queer community since 2014.

Choosing where to live is about more than square footage. It's about the rhythm of a place — where you'll spend your Saturdays, how you'll unwind after work, and what's waiting a short walk or drive from your front door. Richmond packs a remarkable amount into one mid-sized city: a wild river running straight through downtown, a food and craft-beverage scene that punches far above its weight, centuries of architecture, and a creative streak you can feel on any given weekend.

Richmond has quietly become one of the most dog-forward cities on the East Coast. Long patio seasons, a serious trail network along the James, and neighbors who greet your dog before they get your name — it adds up. Some pockets of the city are especially well set up for life with a dog, too: long on green space, trails, and dog-friendly patios. After nearly a decade in Richmond real estate, here are six I'd put at the top of the list, and what makes each one work. The Fan If

Richmond realtor Steve Davis shares his OutRVA feature — favorite RVA spots, the city's growing LGBTQ+ community, and why Richmond is a great place to live and be out.