Local expertise. Honest guidance. A Broker other Agents go to when in trouble. Focused on neighborhoods and homes from Ashland — the Center of the Universe — to Short Pump, Glen Allen, Mechanicsville, and all over Central Virginia and able to point out your nearest Publix.
804Michael grew up maintaining family rental properties and earned his real estate license at 19. After graduating from Virginia Tech with a degree in Architecture, he spent nearly a decade working in marketing and IT before earning a Master's in Rehabilitation Counseling from VCU and practicing as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
In 2012, Michael was licensed again when he returned to real estate and shortly thereafter joined one of Central Virginia's largest brokerages and started training and guiding agents through complex transactions while actively helping clients sell and buy homes. His unique intersection of architecture, marketing, technology, counseling, and contract mastery is his clients' greatest advantage:
Text or Call Michael today to discuss your real estate goals.
Curious about what your home is worth or maybe you're considering a move, 804Michael will create a custom report for your home. It doesn't matter if you're in the heart of Ashland along the railroad, tucked into a Hanover County neighborhood with award-winning schools, or in the West End of Glen Allen a stone's throw from Innsbrook and Short Pump, you'll get a precise, no-pressure evaluation of your home's true value.
Every community has a personality. Here's your insider look at where people love to live in the 804.
Walkable Main Street, nostalgic trains run through the middle of town, local restaurants, Randolph-Macon College, and real small-town soul. Just 20 minutes north of Richmond.
Explore Ashland
Award-winning public schools with a wide variety of living environments from suburban neighborhoods to wide open horse farms and acres of land. History galore from the founding of the United States to Civil War battlefields.
Explore HanoverFeaturing established neighborhoods and easy access to major interstates like I-95 and I-295. This area remains a premier choice for those seeking underrated value and a high quality of life within a thriving growth corridor.
Explore Mechanicsville
Suburban polish with Short Pump shopping, top schools, and newer construction — perfect for all types of people relocating to the 804 from dense multipurpose areas like West Broad Village where you can live, work, and play to high end homes near Nuckols Road.
Explore Glen Allen
An interactive map of local farmstands, bakeries, and makers across Hanover County — find what's near you right now or add a stop from the field.
Open the MapTrue to his nickname, 804Michael helps sellers and buyers navigate Central Virginia with clarity. From Ashland's historic neighborhoods to Glen Allen's growing subdivisions, understanding the true value of a home requires seeing the complete picture: knowing how top schools and local amenities can drive values up, and where overlooked drawbacks quietly drag resale leverage down.
You get pricing insight based on neighborhood and area dynamics, not broad regional averages or generic estimates. 804Michael lives and works in the area.
Deep research into property data uncovers hidden negotiating advantages for sellers and buyers. Strong contract mastery avoids costly errors and protects your bottom line.
You work directly with Michael as your dedicated broker throughout the transaction. Call or text 804-Michael (804-642-4235) anytime you need straightforward answers.
804Michael, Michael Hottman, a Broker with Malcolm Real Estate, serves Ashland, Hanover County, Mechanicsville, Glen Allen, Short Pump, Henrico County, and the broader Richmond metropolitan area in Central Virginia, including Chesterfield, Powhatan, Goochland, and Caroline counties.
Ashland earned the moniker "Center of the Universe" due to its central geographic location within Hanover County and the state, combined with proud, small-town civic pride. The phrase was popularized by former town mayor Richard "Dick" Gillis during his tenure from 1977 to 1990 and has since become the town's official, celebrated identity.
Yes, Virginia law (Virginia Code § 54.1-2132) requires real estate agents to have a signed written buyer-broker (representation) agreement with a prospective buyer before showing them any property. This agreement clearly defines the brokerage relationship, services provided, agreement duration, and compensation terms. Download a Sample Buyer Broker Agreement here.
Yes. Michael represents sellers and buyers throughout Ashland, Hanover County, and Greater Central Virginia, and he is often the broker other agents consult when complex contract issues arise. However, 804Michael does NOT practice dual agency. He will never represent both the seller and the buyer in the same transaction, ensuring your fiduciary interests, confidential leverage, and bottom line receive 100% undivided loyalty and protection.
Very few disclosures are required from sellers in Virginia so buyers need to exercise extreme due diligence when buying homes. As of 2026 there are 19 specific items the state has identified that sellers DO NOT need to disclose and 10 very specific disclosures that apply for limited properties. This list changes on an annual basis so you need a good agent to help navigate these pitfalls. For more information see the Virginia DPOR disclosure guidance.
Look beyond high transaction volume or low commission fees. Instead, choose a local agent whose communication style and values genuinely fit yours. You need someone who actually lives in and knows the area, not an oversized team or "big agent" that does lots of transactions. A great local agent brings a perspective and care to protect your transaction and prevent costly contract pitfalls.
Whether you're selling your historic home in the Center of the Universe or looking to buy your first home in Glen Allen,
Let's chat.
No pressure.
Just real local expertise.
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