The Liz Moore Market Watch Blog

Your pets are beloved members of your family and you want to make sure they receive the very best medical care. But how do you choose the right vet for your pet? We've outlined some important considerations below when selecting a veterinary practice for your fur baby.

Communication is Key
Ask your friends, family, and neighbors who they recommend. People with first-hand experience are great sources of information and someone who has had a great experience is eager to sing the praises of their veterinarian.

Responsive
Call potential veterinary practices: Do they answer the phone, or if not, do they return your call promptly? Is someone available to answer your questions? Can you easily get an appointment? Are you able to call and check on your pet frequently if they are having a procedure? You want to choose an office that communicates well with their clients.

Philosophies
Ask the veterinarian about their philosophies on pet health care. A few topics to discuss are euthanasia, cancer care, chronic disease planning, and spaying and neutering. Do they mesh with your own? Having a care giver with like­minded philosophies will help when faced with difficult decisions. Observe how they react and respond to your specific questions. Does this seem like someone with whom you'll be able to communicate and trust?

Take a Tour
A good office or hospital is proud of their facility and should be willing to give prospective clients a tour of their facility. Check the cleanliness of exam rooms, check out their medical equipment, do they have access to x-ray, ultrasound, dentistry, labs, and the like? Also, be sure to inquire about health care specific to your pet and any special care they might require. 

Interaction
Introduce your pet to your potential veterinarian and their staff long before your first appointment. Observe how everyone interacts with you and your pet. Are they welcoming, calm, and attentive to you both? Observe how your pet responds to them as well. Choosing a warm and caring practice can soothe a stressful situation for your pet.

Location and Hours
This isn't as important as good, solid care, but convenience is a factor to consider. Choose a vet you can access in a reasonable amount of time, and with hours chat work with your schedule. Choosing a wonderful practice that you can never get to won't do anyone any good.

Busier Can Mean Better
Don't be put off by a busy waiting area. A crowded, fast paced waiting area can be signs of a great, well-liked, hardworking practice.

Money Matters
Vet bills can add up quickly. Be sure to ask about costs of routine care like office visits and vaccines and ask about emergency services like x-ray.

Did you know that the week of Sept. 22 is the best time to buy a home in the U.S., according to data released by realtor.com? Forty-one out of 53 markets in the U.S. reported that buyers see significantly less competition and greater inventory during this time.

"As summer winds down and kids return to school, many families hit pause on their home search and wait until the next season to start again. With dramatically less competition, persistent buyers will feel the scales tip in their favor as eager sellers begin to cut their prices in an effort to entice a sale," said George Ratiu, senior economist of realtor.com. "As seasonal inventory builds up and restores itself to more buyer-friendly levels, fall buyers will be in a better position to take advantage of today's low mortgage rates and increased purchasing power."

In general, buyers face 26% less competition across all markets while inventory increases by 6.1% during the first week of September, compared to the average week of the year. For us here in the South, buyers see 26.2% less competition.

As a result, during this “Black Friday” week, 5.8% of listings nationwide see price cuts, making them, on average, 2.4% less expensive than during their peak. This effect is the most noticeable in the West, where homes on the market see an 8.6% reduction—to 4.6% lower than their peak—followed by the Midwest, the South and the Northeast.

If you've been thinking about buying, now could be the perfect time!!  Click here to search available homes for sale.And if you're brand new to the home buying process, or just want to be better educated, download our free Home Buyer's Guide.

When looking for high quality and unique home furnishings for a great price, consider visiting a consignment shop.

There is a common misconception that consignment is a glorified thrift store, but with high-end, discerning consignment shops becoming more popular, nothing could be further from the truth. The consignment stores featured in this article are known for the high-quality offerings at great prices. Many customers often brag about the great deals they’ve scored; being able to spot a great deal at a bargain price is a badge of honor for many.

People consign their home furnishing for various reasons, children move in or out, people upgrade or downsize, people move or buy a new home. Life changes all the time and consignment stores are the place to go when your furnishings are too high-end and well-kept for an estate or garage sale. Consigning seeks to strike the balance of a good return for the seller on high-quality pieces and a good deal for the buyer.

Quality consignment shops except only well-cared for furnishings that are attractive, stylish, and will most likely sell. They then arrange the furniture in attractive vignettes and seek to find the valuable pieces new homes. By accepting only the best furnishings and filling their shops with likeminded pieces of similar quality and value, these shops are able to command more value for the furnishings and provide a better return for the seller.

So how does it work? Consignment shops will inspect your potential consignment furnishings in a few different ways, you can show pictures of your pieces, you can bring your smaller items in for review, or you can set an appointment for the shop owner to come to your home to consider larger pieces and collections of furniture. Some shops ask for pictures of your home including your kitchen and bathrooms to gauge your lifestyle and cleanliness, and ensure the piece was in a clean environment before accepting it into their shop. Some shops
even offer pick-up and delivery services for a small fee.

Once a piece is accepted into the shop for sale, the seller and shop owner usually work together to price the item. The initial price is usually reduced somewhere around 15% after the first 30 days if it hasn’t sold. After another 30 days, or 60 days from entry into the shop, the piece is reduced another 15% for a total of 30% off the original price. Most shops only agree to keep pieces on their floor for 90 days. After that if your piece hasn't sold you can pick it up or donate it. The shop owners are so discerning that most pieces sell within 30 days of entering their shop.

If your piece does sell, you split the profit with the shop owner. The general industry standard is 50% for each party, but some shops are more generous and give the seller 60% and keep 40% for themselves.

Most shops sell in store only, but a few post pictures and prices of their pieces online and sell items to buyers all over the country.

In these high-end shops you’ll find upscale designer home décor, furniture, handmade rugs, and more. Many work with interior designers and sell their staging pieces that are virtually brand new. Shop owners say it’s all about getting great inventory and turning it over, that rapid sale breeds more inventory as people get excited their items are selling and bring in more merchandise to sell. This constantly changing inventory attracts more
purchasing clients, many visiting weekly to see what’s new.

Shop owners say rustic farmhouse styled pieces are flying out their doors, as stores like Crate & Barrel, Restoration Hardware, and Pottery Barn are currently in vogue. Classic pieces like leather sofas and chairs are always in demand and are usually sold in less than a week. Today’s style of mixing and matching sets,
wood tones, and fabrics make consignment shops a great place to update your home's look while staying within budget.

Consignment shops offer good quality home furnishings at a value that benefit both the buyer and seller, as well as the small business owner.

Here are a few of our favorite local consignment shops:

In Williamsburg:

The Vintage Rabbit
240 McLaws Circle
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 903-4083

The Velvet Shoestring
311 2nd St.
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 220-9494

On the Peninsula:
Design & Consign LLC
9961 Warwick Blvd.
Newport News, VA 23601
(757) 223-7707

Phoebus Auction Gallery
18 E Mellen St.
Hampton, VA 23663
(757) 722-9210

Rooms, Blooms & More
10239 Warwick Blvd.
Newport News, VA 23601
(757) 599-9299

In Richmond:
Impulse
419 North Ridge Road
Henrico, VA 23229
(804) 288-7300

Revival
9750 Gayton Rd.
Richmond, VA 23238
(804) 750-2200

Izzie’s Consigning with Grace
14300 Midlothian Tpke
Midlothian, Virginia 23113
(804) 378-5005

Great consignment shops...just another reason why we love where we live!

Virginia Beach has all the elements of a classic seaside resort town all within a short drive making it the perfect day trip beach destination.  Just an hour or two away, you will find gorgeous beaches, a bustling boardwalk, a variety of excellent restaurants, and fun activities sure to appeal to outdoor enthusiasts and kids. Virginia Beach is a year-round destination with beach fun and water play in the summer and many attractions to explore in the less crowded, cooler months.  Let’s head east and explore! 

Virginia Beach first and foremost offers miles of wide, gorgeous sandy beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. People near and far flock to Virginia Beach to sun bathe on the shore, splash in the waves, and enjoy the boardwalk.

If you like adventure, Virginia Beach has exciting waves that attract boogey boarders and surfers daily, especially around the south end of the beach.  The locals usually surf around 1^st Street at the oceanfront if you want an authentic surfing experience.  Still a grommet on the waves?  No problem, several outfits offer surfing lessons and board rentals including VB Surf Sessions, Seth Broudy School of Surf, and Pungo Board House.  You can find more information on lessons and rentals on their websites at www.vbsurfsessions.com, www.sethbroudyschoolofsurf.com and www.pungoboardhouse.com.

Those wanting to enjoy the water at a slower pace might enjoy stand up paddle boarding, or SUP as seasoned paddlers call it.  Companies offer lessons, rentals, guided eco tours, and even SUP yoga on the calmer waters around Virginia Beach including First Landing State Park, Rudee Inlet, and Back Bay.  SUP is great exercise and offers beautiful nature views that often include pods of dolphin, osprey, bald eagles, great blue herons, and more.  A few tour companies to check out are Beach Eco Tours, Rudee Inlet Stand Up Paddle, and Tula Adventure Sports Stand up Paddleboard & Kayaking.  You can learn more on their websites at www.beachecotours.com, www.paddleboardvb.com, and www.tulasports.com.

For those looking to just sit back and enjoy the view, a boat tour might be more your speed.  Many tours are offered including fishing, dolphin watching, and there is even a Craft Brews Cruise offered by the Virginia Aquarium!  Capt. Jack’s Pirate Ship Adventures are very popular with tourists of all ages.  Aboard Capt. Jack’s Black Pearl, a bright red ship flying iconic Jolly Rogers, passengers sing and dance along with the crew, enjoying the show as much as the view.  More information on boat tours is available at www.rudeetours.com, www.virginiaaquarium.com, and www.virginiabeachpirateship.com. 

When exploring Virginia Beach’s land-based attractions, the VB Wave, a trolley-inspired bus, makes getting around fun, easy, and affordable.  The VB Wave transports passengers around the oceanfront, Rudee Inlet, and First Landing State Park.  Just hop aboard at one of the many stops and sit back and enjoy the ride!  Fares are due in cash and cost $2.00 per adult and children 17 and under are free with a paying adult!  Day passes are available for $4.50 each.

All of the fun in the sun is sure to make you hungry and Virginia Beach has many delicious and unique dining options.  A couple of our favorites include Citrus, breakfast here is a must!  Located at 2265 W Great Neck Road and made famous by appearing on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, locals and tourists alike stand in line for citrus orange glazed pancakes and innovative benedicts.  And what’s a trip to the beach without enjoying a raw bar?  Local favorite, Big Sam’s Grill and Raw Bar located at 300 Winston Salem Ave. in Rudee Inlet serves up fresh, locally caught seafood dishes and raw bar items in a comfortable setting with views of the marina. 

Thirsty for an adult beverage? Quench your thirst with an Orange Crush, the unofficial drink of Virginia Beach, made famous by Waterman’s Surfside Grille, a great oceanfront restaurant at the south end of the beach.  The recipe is a blend of the juice of one whole fresh orange with flavored vodka, orange liqueur and a splash of Sprite served over crushed ice.

If you decide to turn your day trip into an overnight, there are numerous hotels and motels for every budget.  One of our favorites is the Hilton Garden Inn Virginia Beach Oceanfront located at 3315 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach.  This hotel is at the northern, quieter end of the beach and features an indoor/outdoor pool and their onsite restaurant, Lagerheads. 

There is so much to see and do in Virginia Beach, enough to fill up many, many day trips.  It’s a good thing this jewel is just a short drive away! Other day trip options include a visit to the Virginia Aquarium and their Adventure Park, seeing a concert at the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater, visiting the Military Aviation Museum, touring an oyster farm, visiting the Cape Henry Lighthouse, playing at Top Golf, and so much more.  Plan your trip today!

Virginia Beach...just another reason why we love where we live!

Real Estate Assessments are up in the majority of counties across the Richmond area and the news has homeowners buzzing.  

Hanover County will see its largest year-over-year increase in the past decade by 6.1%.  According to the assessor’s office, the reassessment of 37,000 properties and new construction will increase the value of the county’s total taxable property by $856.6 million.  

We had so much fun with this year's Love Where You Live Photo Contest.  We had 265 photo submitted from 55 different photographers.  Thank you to all who participated and helped us tell of the many reasons why we love where we live!

The days are getting shorter and the weather crisper. If you’re looking for a fun way to appreciate the beauty of this season but don't want to travel very far, then look no further than Charlottesville, Virginia.

Charlottesville is a short drive from Richmond, only about an hour from anywhere in the capital city in fact, but feels like another world with wide expanses of farm land, rolling foothills and towering Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. This rural setting is the perfect place to appreciate nature's beauty and observe the vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows of the changing autumn leaves. According to the Virginia Department of Forestry, the typical fall foliage peak color period for this region is October 25th through November 10th.

And what better way to enjoy gorgeous views than with a relaxing beverage in your hand! Charlottesville is home to many wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries.

Wineries
Charlottesville has a long history of grape growing and wine production dating back to Thomas Jefferson and earlier, often called the “birthplace of American wine.” The gentle rolling hills with fertile granite-based clay soil and mild temperatures combine to yield grapes with a rich and multilayered old world flavor. Today wines
from this region are considered among the best produced anywhere in the Eastern United States.

The best place to start planning your trip is monticellowinetrail.com. Here you can find printable maps, links to every winery, a calendar of events, and a handy interactive map to plan your trip and get directions from winery to winery.

It’s helpful to chart out your course in advance as cell, internet, and GPS service can be spotty in the valley
and the mountainside.

Usually a few wineries are grouped together making it easy to travel between a few in one day. Most wineries have tasting rooms and staff to guide you through structured tastings so you may learn about and sample their wines.

Tasting fees typically range from five to ten dollars. Group tastings should be scheduled in advance for
larger parties. Many offer guided tours of their production facilities, cellars, and barrel rooms as well for an additional fee.

While some wineries have light fare like cheese and crackers for sale, if you plan to tour during meal time, picnics are encouraged and welcome at all of the wineries. A few offer a lunch menu like Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards and Trump Winery, and some host food trucks on the weekends.

Breweries
Grapes aren't the only vines flourishing in this region. Hop vines thrive here as well, in fact Virginia was once known as the hop capital of the world! This area is home to five small-batch breweries making handcrafted ales and lagers.

These award-winning brew houses welcome visitors for tours and tastings. Some of the breweries offer food menus and festive outdoor spaces for the family to enjoy.

To plan your brewery tour, visit brewridgetrail.com, named in homage to the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains. Here you’ll find a trail map and suggested itinerary, calendar of events, and links to all of the breweries.

Cideries
It’s no secret Virginia is known for its apples and Charlottesville has a few cideries serving up several varieties of apple cider and hard apple cider, the most famous being Bold Rock Hard Cider. Bold Rock’s Nellysford Cider Barn, located just south of the city is a large, beautifully rustic timber framed barn overlooking the Rockfish River. The facility boasts an expansive taproom and restaurant and plenty of outdoor seating.

Distilleries
Recently the craft distillery movement has taken off around the country with small batch distilleries popping
up everywhere, and Charlottesville is no exception. You can find tasting rooms offering whisky, vodka, rum, gin and a variety of cordials in the Charlottesville area.

To plan your tasting visit Virginia.org and search for distilleries. A few possible destinations include Ragged
Branch, Silverback, Vitae, Virginia Distillery Company, and Woodsmill Distilleries.

For such a short drive away, there are so many adventures to be had! In addition to sampling wine, beer, and spirits, there’s hiking, camping, exploring The University of Virginia’s campus, apple picking, catching a show at John Paul Jones arena, watching a sporting event at The University, exploring the booming foodie scene, visiting the Downtown Mall, and so much more.

There are so many things to do, you could take a day trip every weekend and experience something new!

Charlottesville, Virginia...just another reason why we love where we live!

The Liz Moore Love Where You Live Photo Contest is highlighting photos in the "Special Places" category during the month of August.  Submit your photos at www.lizmoore.com/love and we'll select winners from that category at the end of the month.

Remember, this year's overall photo contest will run through October 15, 2018, and at that time we will select the grand prize winners.  We will be awarding prizes such as an iPad, Busch Gardens Season Passes, cash, and more!  

Thank you for showcasing why you love where you live!
                                                                                       
                                                                                            (Icy James River, Photo Credit: Amber Krug)

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We had so much fun a few years ago with the Liz Moore Love Where You Live Photo Contest that we've decided to do it again! 

Who doesn’t love to take photos of the things that make them smile?  Whether you know your way around a sophisticated camera, or you just enjoying taking photos of your cat with your iPhone, we’d love for you to enter!  

Enter photos in categories such as Recreation, Community, Pets, Special Places, and more. 

The photo contest will run through October 15, 2018, and at that time we will select the grand prize winners.  Over $4,000 in prizes will be awarded including an iPad, Busch Gardens Season Passes, cash, and more!  We will also be running “mini contests” each month – stay tuned for details.

Enter as many times as you’d like!  Visit lizmoore.com/love to enter and to view our photos entries so far.

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Click below to subscribe to our blog!

A short drive away, the beautiful Northern Neck invites you to escape to the tranquil land by the Chesapeake Bay. The Northern Neck is a great place to get away from it all while enjoying Virginia's beautiful coastline.

The Northern Neck is comprised of five historic counties including King George, Westmoreland, Richmond, Lancaster, and Northumberland Counties. This region abounds with natural beauty, history, wildlife, local
seafood and wine, recreation, shopping, hospitality, and more.

The waterfront is the biggest attraction in the Northern Neck and there are so many ways to enjoy the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers and the Chesapeake Bay! Enjoy a cruise across the Chesapeake Bay from historic Reedville at the tip of Virginia's Northern Neck to quaint Smith Island, only 13 miles away, yet a world apart. You'll see the crabbers and the fascinating soft-shell crab "farms" as you come into Smith Island. Rent a kayak or paddle boat or charter a boat for the day to enjoy the area's pristine waters and beaches.

Want to try something new? Learn to sail at Premier Sailing in Irvington, or learn to row at sculling camp at Calm Waters Rowing in Lancaster.

The Northern Neck boasts 21 sites on the Coastal portion of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail. The trail is a driving trail with loops off the main trail, linking some of Virginia's best wildlife-watching areas with walking and biking trails. Visitors can drive, bike, hike, walk, and kayak through breathtaking state parks, rivers, or wetland marshes and enjoy the abounding natural wildlife.

The Northern Neck is full of opportunities to sample the local seafood, especially oysters. Oysters take on the flavor of the waters in which they are harvested and the salinity levels of the Chesapeake Bay and its major
tributaries are ideal for sustaining great tasting oysters. The Virginia Oyster Trail is a visitor-directed experiential "journey of discovery" program featuring Virginia's Oyster regions. The Northern Neck comprises Region Four of the Virginia Oyster Trail where you'll find sweetwater oysters with a light cream taste. You can visit www.virginiaoystertrail.com to learn more.

If sampling local wine is more your taste, visit the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail. The Northern Neck's seven wineries invite visitors to sample award winning varietals, learn pairing tips, and enjoy tours of winemaking facilities. The vineyards often participate in events like oyster crawls, wine festivals, and other events.
Visit www.chesapeakebaywinetrail.com to learn more.

Along with beautiful vistas, history, and outdoor activities, the Northern Neck offers a wide variety of fun shops, art galleries, and antiques stores to explore. Wander through Irvington's unique shops and enjoy all the fun of their farmer's markets. Or stop by the Westmoreland Berry Farm to stock up on fresh fruit and produce in season and the farm's own line of gourmet fruit preserves, after shopping enjoy a fresh fruit sundae on their deck overlooking the Rappahannock River.

History buffs will enjoy visiting historic homes such as Stratford Hall Plantation - the home of two signers of the Declaration of Independence, Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee, and birthplace of Confederate General Robert E. Lee; Pope Creek farm- George Washington's Birthplace National Monument; and Historic Christ Church, built in 1670.

If you'd like to extend your day trip, there are many different lodging options including camping at the Chesapeake Bay Camp Resort, renowned Bed and Breakfasts like Belle Grove Plantation and the Hope and Glory Inn, and decadent escapes like the spa at The Tide's Inn.

The region abounds in nature, waterfront recreation, historic villages and towns, antiques, classic B&Bs, local
seafood, great golf, boutique shopping, and friendly folks. Plan your day trip today!

With temperatures heating up, we’re all looking for places to cool down.  Waterparks are the perfect place for the whole family to cool off together and have some fun.  Luckily, there are many options just a short drive away, making a trip to the waterpark the perfect summer day trip!

The largest and best-known water park in Virginia is Water Country USA.  The 43-acre park has state-of-the-art water rides and resort-style amenities. From water thrill rides and giant slides, to lazy rivers, a giant wave pool, and multiple children’s splash areas, there is truly something for everyone at Water Country.  Live entertainment, restaurants, souvenirs, cabanas, and locker rentals are available for guests.  Admission is $60 for guests over 3 years old.  

Kings Dominion is a theme park just north of Richmond in Doswell featuring thrill rides and roller coasters as well as a water park called Soak City, all included with your admission ticket.  Soak City is a 20-acre water park featuring two wave pools, a lazy river, thrilling water slides, an interactive splash pad for children, and more.  Cabana and locker rentals are available, along with several food choices and souvenir shops.  Admission for guests over 48 inches tall is $68.00 and junior/senior prices for those under 48 inches is $46.00. 

Ocean Breeze Waterpark is located in Virginia Beach and features over 30 rides, slides and attractions.  Features include a one million-gallon wave pool, a lazy river, many body and float slides, and many slides and areas for small children including two water play structures.  Cabanas, lockers, four eateries and three snack spots offering treats like slushies and dippin’ dots.  Cabanas and sunbrellas are available as well as locker rentals and souvenirs. 

Cobblestone Park (formerly known as Overhill Lake) in Glen Allen is a large pool/waterpark with over one million gallons of water, fun water slides, anchored floats, waterfall mushrooms, and sand beaches with 20-foot-wide umbrellas and picnic tables. Admission is $15 per person for a day pass, and children 32 inches and under are free.  

Hadad’s Lake, located in Richmond, is a swimming lake and picnic ground that offers something for everyone.  The water is filtered and chlorinated with a sandy bottom. There are two shallow 0-4 ft. deep and one large 15 ft. deep swimming areas that include rope swings and the super launch, “The Blob.”  There is also a three-acre lake for fishing and row boating, seven pavilions, 12 gazebos, several hundred picnic tables with umbrellas around the swimming and lake areas, a basketball court, sand volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, 18 hole mini-golf, two children’s playground areas, and a clubhouse.  Guests are asked to bring their own life jackets if they have them as the Lake only carries a limited number and they are required when using the inflatables.  Children one and under are free, all others are $14.00 per day.

H2OBX covers 80 acres and is located three miles north of the Wright Memorial Bridge, the northern gateway to the Outer Banks.  Resort style amenities are available including 50 private cabanas with luxury service. Four food and beverage outlets, lockers, and Wi-Fi are also among the conveniences.  The waterpark has more than 30 waterslides, pools, and attractions for visitors to enjoy.  Guests can ride the waves on a FlowRider, float along an adventure river, body surf in two wave pools, and experience a 1,000-gallon bucket dump, in addition to an array of traditional rides and attractions. A large younger children’s area is also available featuring a pirate-themed aqua play structure with over seven slides including the Champagne Bowl body slide, and five other kid’s body and tube slides.  Admission for those over 42 inches is $41.99, children under 42 inches are $29.99, and children age 2 and under are free.  

Maui Jack’s Waterpark just opened in May 2018 in Chincoteague. Visitors can enjoy brand new waterslides and floating on the lazy river.   Cabanas, locker rentals, concessions, and souvenirs are available.  Full and late day passes are available.  Full day rates for children under 47 inches are $17.99, $22.99 for adults and those over 48 inches, and seniors 65 and older are $19.99.  

Many parks offer online discounts, military discounts, group rates, coupons, and season passes.  To learn more, visit each park’s website for detailed information.

Waterparks...just another reason why we love where we live!

Green Front Furniture is one of the nation’s top 100 furniture resellers with locations in Virginia and North Carolina. The original and largest location is spread over several blocks of downtown Farmville, Virginia (population 6,845), a small town along the Appomattox River about an hour south of Charlottesville in Central Virginia.

Green Front comprises 15 buildings of furniture, including four renovate 1840s tobacco warehouses, and six main street storefronts, stocked to the brim with fine home furnishings, rugs, imports and accessories. This sprawl of no-frills buildings has no air conditioning in August, or heat in January. That's one reason the prices of high-end sofas, beds, tables, lamps and mirrors are so low.

Green Front draws fervent fans from hundreds of miles away including many interior designers. It’s not unusual to see license plates from South Carolina and Delaware, or diplomat plates from Washington, D.C. Green Front has even draw many international shoppers (Green Front ships all over the world) with some customers flying private jets to the tiny Farmville airport, but luckily Green Front is an easy day trip from our area.

Many dedicate an entire day to the unforgettable experience of exploring Green Front as it has more in common with a scavenger hunt than it does with the typical trip to the local furniture store. Massive brick warehouses, towering piles of rugs, mazes of furniture - Green Front is a vast, discount furniture utopia waiting to be explored.

The operation began many years ago when Richard Cralle, Sr. bought Green Front Grocery. Richard passed the store down to his son, Dickie, (Richard Cralle, Jr.) who, after graduating from nearby Hampden-Sydney College in 1965, decided to try the furniture and rug business and switched from dry goods to home goods, and Green Front Furniture was born.

Cralle started buying up abandoned department stores, historic warehouses and gas stations on Main Street in Farmville, a once-thriving tobacco town. Over the years, Cralle’s real estate empire has turned Main Street into a tourist attraction for shoppers attracted by discounted home furnishings.

Rugs make up about 35 percent of the operation’s sales, and they are the main attraction for many customers within a 500-mile radius. Cralle says his discounts are 40 to 50 percent off what he calls “usual retail price” because he and his buyers go directly to global rug weavers, to broadloom mills in Georgia and to furniture makers in North Carolina and pay cash.

His overhead is notoriously low. The 90 employees wear shorts in the summer and coats in the winter. There is no catalogue or online buying, no evening or Sunday hours. Forget carefully staged room settings. Here, burlap
bales of rugs clog the aisles, and insulation sticks out of the walls. In the infamous Rummage Pile, hundreds of 2-by-3-foot or 3-by-5-foot Orientals are priced at $30 to $100 and tossed in a Filene’s Basement-style jumble.

Visiting Green Front can be a bit overwhelming so it’s helpful to prepare yourself. This shopping scavenger hunt will put your perseverance to the test, but if you endure you will be rewarded with fine furnishing at fabulous discounts!

Your exploration will be primarily self-guided, with a Green Front Field Guide mapping the way and helping you find specific styles and manufacturers. Be sure to pick one up upon arrival, you can’t shop Green Front without it! Some other items that are helpful to bring on your shopping expedition are a tape measure, fabric and paint samples to find complimentary pieces to your existing furniture and wall color, and of course your walking shoes!

All of that shopping and walking will certainly work up an appetite. Downtown Farmville has many
delicious dining options, a few of our favorites are Charley’s Waterfront Café, Fishin’ Pig, Walker’s Den,
and Uptown Coffee Café.

If not everyone in your party is interested in shopping there are many other opportunities for exploration and fun. Nearby you’ll find High Bridge Trail, the slow-flowing Appomattox River, Longwood and Hampden-Sydney Colleges, museums, and bed and breakfasts.

In the same way, Green Front captivates its visitors with its wide selection of rugs and furniture, Farmville captivates visitors with its small-town charm and variety. So, plan a day trip to Green Front Furniture for a fine furniture scavenger hunt and be sure to enjoy Farmville while you’re there.

For more information, visit www.greenfront.com.

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Win two FREE tickets to Blues, Brews, & BBQ (a $60 value)!

Liz Moore and Associates will be sponsoring the Wine Garden at this year's event at Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown and we'd love to see you there, too! Click the link below to enter and tell us why you love where you live. The winner will be drawn on May 3rd.

Sample more than 25 different craft beers, dig into some amazing BBQ, and listen as some of the best Blues musicians in Hampton Roads take the stage at Riverwalk Landing. This year’s Blues, Brews & BBQ on May 5th, 2018 promises to be the best yet! At 12:30, The Jukes will deliver an entertaining performance steeped in swing, boogie, and down-home blues. Then, at 3:30, the Michael Clark Band will take the mic to blend the Blues with a little soul, rock, jazz and fun. NEW this year – a wine garden included in admission. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. 

With a 70% vote, Brickshire HOA has decided to purchase the Brickshire golf course. As it states on their website, the popularity of this Curtis Strange signature course is easily explained in two words: "player friendly." Discover wide, inviting fairways, artfully sculpted, true-rolling greens, and dramatic elevation changes. Golf Digest readers recently honored The Golf Club at Brickshire with a four and a half star rating. Golf Styles named Brickshire one of the mid-Atlantic's "Must Play" courses.

Wingfield Golf, who currently owns and manages Vinitera Golf, will manage the course.

Brickshire is located in Historic New Kent County, set half way between Williamsburg and Richmond, and is one of the area's best kept secrets. Brickshire is a golf community offering the amenities today's home buyers want, with, price points ranging from the upper $200's for villa style homes and smaller semi-custom homes to well over $1,000,000 for large custom homes. 

Also happening in New Kent County, it is said that Revolutionary Racing is to be purchasing Colonial Downs and has plans for racing, betting and eventually a hotel, etc. A bill allowing horse race video machine betting has passed legislature on Feb. 28, 2018 and is just awaiting the Governor's signature, which is expected quickly.

There's no question that these recent developments are a great thing for the residents of Brickshire!

Want to Get the Scoop on Brickshire homes for sale?  Simply click below to fill out the form, designating Brickshire as your selected neighborhood, and you’ll receive automatic e-mail alerts when any new listings come on the market in Brickshire, or when any closings take place, so that you can monitor home values in Brickshire.

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Thank you to all who helped make this year's Cupcake Wars fundraiser the most successful yet!!  In just three hours we raised a total of $7,857 for CHKD and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Cupcake Wars is an annual fundraiser for Liz Moore and Associates, so be on the look out for when the 2019 date is announced!

CHKD and L&LS...just another reason why we love where we live!

Tonya Morrow, Managing Broker of our Richmond office, shares what she sees happening in the Richmond real estate market in 2018.

2017 was a solid year for local real estate. Here in Richmond, closed sales finished up 8.13% for the year, with pending sales up over 8%, which indicates a strong start to 2018. Much like last year, we did not experience the typical holiday slowdown, which also bodes well for sales activity in the New Year, despite some early snow events in January.

We are entering 2018 with just over 1.5 months of active inventory, and homes selling, on average, in only 37 days. That is good news for sellers who are priced properly and in good condition, or for prospective sellers who are thinking about diving into the market. Nationwide, most markets are experiencing inventory shortages, which is the single biggest factor keeping a lid on the number of sales.

Prices showed a steady increase during the past 12 months, with the average sales price in Richmond finishing up at $282,257.

Here is what I see in the coming 12 months:

Consumer confidence has been our biggest challenge in recent years, especially during the contentious presidential election. With that now behind us, activity levels have definitely regained momentum. Record activity in the stock market has also translated to increased real estate interest.

My expectation is that there are many sellers who have been waiting for more favorable market conditions to list – and that will continue to happen as we move toward Spring. We have seen a significant jump in new listings over the past few months, signaling that wise sellers recognize the importance of beating the competition to the Spring market.

As prices continue to climb due to the inventory shortage, consumers will realize that moves need to be made ASAP in order to take advantage of an 8 year streak of historically low rates and home values. It’s important to note that the market can shift quickly, and it will not surprise me to see a highly competitive Spring season for homes selling below $500,000.

Interest rates will begin a slow and steady climb this year. Interest rates have been perplexing over the past 12 months. Most predicted the inevitable ascent would begin as the economy gained steam, but rates remained lower than predicted, most likely because the feds were hesitant to do anything that might inhibit the momentum of the recovery.

I believe that 2018 will be the year that interest rates incrementally increase, but the question remains by how much and how frequently. The good news is that this is a sure sign of a strengthening economy, but the bad news is that each hike raises the bar on home affordability. My prediction is that this will add some urgency to the market this year, particularly in the lower price ranges.

Prices will finally begin to show improvement in many neighborhoods. Prices are neighborhood specific, and some areas are definitely improving faster than others. The overall Richmond market appreciated just over 6% in 2017, and I expect that trend to continue into 2018.

If a home purchase is on your New Year resolution list, buy early in the year, as interest rates have a much greater impact than most realize. For instance, waiting for prices to drop 5% to save $12,500 on a $250,000 purchase may cost you an extra $225 per month in payments; if rates increase from 4% to 5.5%, then your payment increases from $1194 to $1419. For most buyers, the affordability index of monthly payments is a more critical consideration.

We were fortunate to be a part of the Richmond Real Estate Market. Your support and referrals are much appreciated, and we promise to deliver the extraordinary client experience that has become our hallmark!

*All stats based on Broker Metrics for REStats CVRMLS, Richmond Metro all home sales in 2017

If you are looking to buy or sell a home this year, email us at info@lizmoore.com.  We'd love to help!

At Liz Moore & Associates, we truly love where we live!  So much so, in fact, that we commissioned local artist Bob Oller of Oller Creative Studios, to create original vector paintings of some of our favorite places!

Oller introduced his LizLocal collection a few months ago in the Newport News Liz Moore office in City Center – introducing the collection at a reception for VIP clients and Liz Moore agents.

5 paintings were unveiled to an eager audience:

Poquoson Flats
Yorktown Skies
Playing Time Lions Bridge, Newport News
Clear Skies, Air & Space Hampton
City Center Newport News

You can enjoy these works in the lobby at 11801 Canon Boulevard in Newport News, or view them online at lizmoore.com/art.  Various size glycee prints are also available via the website.

What’s next?  Stay tuned for the Williamsburg and Richmond office debuts!

For more information, visit lizmoore.com/art!

Donna Moyer, Managing Broker of our Newport News office, shares what she sees happening in the Peninsula real estate market in 2018.

2017 was a solid year for local real estate. Here on The Peninsula, closed sales finished up 3% for the year, with pending sales up over 5%, which indicates a strong start to 2018. Much like last year, we did not experience the typical holiday slowdown, which also bodes well for sales activity in the New Year, despite some early snow events in January.

We are entering 2018 with just over 4 months of active inventory, and homes selling, on average, in only 50 days. That is good news for sellers who are priced properly and in good condition, or for prospective sellers who are thinking about diving into the market. Nationwide, most markets are experiencing inventory shortages, which is the single biggest factor keeping a lid on the number of sales.

The exception here is the upper-end market, where sellers need to be significantly more patient – there is currently 12 months of inventory priced at $500,000 and up on The Peninsula.

Prices remained remarkably steady during the past 12 months, with the median sales price on The Peninsula slightly above $180,000 for most of the year, and finishing up at $185,000.

Here is what I see in the coming 12 months:

Consumer confidence has been our biggest challenge in recent years, especially during the contentious presidential election. With that now behind us, activity levels have definitely regained momentum. Record activity in the stock market has also translated to increased real estate interest.

My expectation is that there are many sellers who have been waiting for more favorable market conditions to list – and that will continue to happen as we move toward Spring. We have seen a significant jump in new listings over the past few months, signaling that wise sellers recognize the importance of beating the competition to the Spring market.

As prices continue to climb due to the inventory shortage, consumers will realize that moves need to be made ASAP in order to take advantage of an 8 year streak of historically low rates Real Estate is Local. So are We. and home values. It’s important to note that the market can shift quickly, and it will not surprise me to see a highly competitive Spring season for homes selling below $400,000.

Interest rates will begin a slow and steady climb this year. Interest rates have been perplexing over the past 12 months. Most predicted the inevitable ascent would begin as the economy gained steam, but rates remained lower than predicted, most likely because the feds were hesitant to do anything that might inhibit the momentum of the recovery.

I believe that 2018 will be the year that interest rates incrementally increase, but the question remains by how much and how frequently. The good news is that this is a sure sign of a strengthening economy, but the bad news is that each hike raises the bar on home affordability. My prediction is that this will add some urgency to the market this year, particularly in the lower price ranges.

Prices will finally begin to show improvement in many neighborhoods. Prices are neighborhood specific, and some areas are definitely improving faster than others. The overall Peninsula market appreciated 3% in 2017, and I expect will continue to trend toward more normal appreciation rates (5 to 6%) in 2018 and beyond.

If a home purchase is on your New Year resolution list, buy early in the year, as interest rates have a much greater impact than most realize. For instance, waiting for prices to drop 5% to save $12,500 on a $250,000 purchase may cost you an extra $225 per month in payments; if rates increase from 4% to 5.5%, then your payment increases from $1194 to $1419. For most buyers, the affordability index of monthly payments is a more critical consideration.

We were fortunate to participate in 1 out of every 7 home sales on The Peninsula in 2017, insuring our position as a leader in the local market. Your support and referrals are much appreciated, and we promise to deliver the extraordinary client experience that has become our hallmark!

If you are looking to buy or sell a home this year, email us at info@lizmoore.com.  We'd love to help!

2017 was a solid year for local real estate. Here in Williamsburg, closed sales finished up 2.1% for the year, with pending sales up over 8%, which indicates a strong start to 2018. Much like last year, we did not experience the typical holiday slowdown, which also bodes well for sales activity in the New Year, despite some
early snow events in January. And, I must brag a little bit on our office, we outpaced the market 5 fold last year!

We are entering 2018 with less than 4 months of active inventory, and homes selling, on average, in only 39
days. That is good news for sellers who are priced properly and in good condition, or for prospective sellers who are thinking about diving into the market. Nationwide, most markets are experiencing inventory shortages,
which is the single biggest factor keeping a lid on the number of sales.

The exception here is the luxury market, where sellers need to be significantly more patient – there is currently 18 months of inventory priced at $750,000 and up in Greater Williamsburg.

Prices remained remarkably steady during the past 12 months, with the median sales price in Williamsburg
slightly above $300,000 for most of the year, and finishing up at $314,900.

Here is what I see in the coming 12 months:

Consumer confidence has been our biggest challenge in recent years, especially during
the contentious presidential election. With that now behind us, activity levels have definitely regained
momentum. Record activity in the stock market has also translated to increased real estate interest.

My expectation is that there are many sellers who have been waiting for more favorable market conditions
to list – and that will continue to happen as we move toward Spring. We have seen a significant jump in
new listings over the past few months, signaling that wise sellers recognize the importance of beating the
competition to the Spring market.

As prices continue to climb due to the inventory shortage, consumers will realize that moves need to be made
ASAP in order to take advantage of an 8 year streak of historically low rates and home values. It’s important to
note that the market can shift quickly, and it will not surprise me to see a highly competitive Spring season for
homes selling below $500,000.

Interest rates will begin a slow and steady climb this year.
Interest rates have been perplexing over the past 12 months. Most predicted the inevitable ascent would begin as the economy gained steam, but rates remained lower than predicted, most likely because the feds were hesitant to do anything that might inhibit the momentum of the recovery.

I believe that 2018 will be the year that interest rates incrementally increase, but the question remains by how much and how frequently. The good news is that this is a sure sign of a strengthening economy, but the bad news is that each hike raises the bar on home affordability. My prediction is that this will add some urgency to the market this year, particularly in the lower price ranges.

Prices will finally begin to show improvement in many neighborhoods.
Prices are neighborhood specific, and some areas are definitely improving faster than others. The overall Greater Williamsburg market appreciated 3% in 2017, and I expect will continue to trend toward more normal appreciation rates (5 to 6%) in 2018 and beyond.

If a home purchase is on your New Year resolution list, buy early in the year, as interest rates have a much greater impact than most realize. For instance, waiting for prices to drop 5% to save $12,500 on a $250,000 purchase may cost you an extra $225 per month in payments; if rates increase from 4% to 5.5%, then your payment increases from $1194 to $1419. For most buyers, the affordability index of monthly payments is a more critical consideration.

We were fortunate to participate in 1 out of every 6 home sales in greater Williamsburg in 2017, insuring our position as the #1 agency in the local market. Your support and referrals are much appreciated, and we promise to deliver the extraordinary client experience that has become our hallmark!

*All stats based on Broker Metrics for WMLS, 23188, 23185, and 23186 residential home sales in 2017

If you are looking to buy or sell a home this year, email us at info@lizmoore.com.  We'd love to help!

The craft brewery boom has beer lovers everywhere hopped up, and Virginia is no exception.

The Commonwealth boasts 206 breweries, 13th most in the nation. They produced nearly 300,000 barrels of traditional and wildly innovative brews last year. That’s part of an explosion that’s seen U.S. craft breweries triple in number to more than 5,000 in just five years. Not coincidentally, 2012 is also when Virginia’s General Assembly passed Senate Bill 604 allowing breweries to sell beer and their patrons to drink it on-site. That’s translated into an amazing 486-percent increase in Virginia breweries.

Craft breweries, though, are so much more than high-ceiling warehouses cranking out lagers, stouts, porters and IPAs with cool labels and catchy names. Craft tasting rooms have become modern cultural centers, warm and welcoming community hubs - family and often dog-friendly - that are fun, vibrant boosts to their town's quality of life. Shadowed by looming stainless steel tanks where the hops, yeast and water join forces, tasting rooms thrive now as special-event venues, trivia parlors, music halls, food-truck and corn hole fests, even yoga studios.

Craft breweries and beer tourism add over $9 billion to Virginia’s economy, according to Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who calls Virginia “a premier destination for craft brewers and consumers
from all over the world.” Craft brewing is a collegial world in its own right. It thrives on the principal that all who brew are colleagues, not rivals, inspiring each other to greater creativity and beer innovation.
We’ll drink to that!

Here are a few favorites for relaxed, beer-savoring good times with friends in Williamsburg, where the Jamestown settlers brewed as far back as 1607:

Alewerks Brewing Company
197 B Ewell Road, Williamsburg
Award-winning brewmaster Geoff Logan has operated this craft-brewing stalwart for the last decade on the site of '90s-era forerunner Williamsburg Brewing Company.

Alewerks features seven year-round beers, including only-on-tap Shorty Time IPA and Good Luck Irish Stout, as well as a long line of seasonal, specialty and limited-edition beers. And befitting its tenure, Alewerks has a prominent presence at local fairs and festivals.

Alewerks recently opened a 3,000-square-foot shop in the Williamsburg Premium Outlets serving 10 beers on tap. Alewerks also has teamed with Colonial Williamsburg to produce specialties such as Dear Old Mum Spiced Ale and Old Stitch Brown Ale from 18th-century English recipes. 

Amber Ox Public House
521 Prince George Street, Williamsburg
Founders and longtime friends Chris Cook and Andrew Voss, both restaurant and home-brewing veterans, want Williamsburg's newest brewpub (it opened in December) to maintain “the perfect balance between innovative, Southern-inspired cuisine and an extraordinary offering of regional beers, wines and spirits.”

Their chef, Troy Buckley, has devised a down-home menu deep in locally sourced products and highlighted by fried buttermilk chicken and sweet tea brined pork chops.

Amber Ox, with room to seat 180, has 18 draft handles featuring a combination of its own beers and specially selected “guest draughts.” Its full bar also serves wine and a tantalizing list of creative cocktails.

Brass Cannon Brewing
5476 Mooretown Road, Williamsburg
Phil Norfolk, Scott Kennedy and Tony Artrip founded Brass Cannon in 2012 in a cramped Toano warehouse, brewing with what they call a “Frankenrig” system of leftover industrial parts. It took a while, but Brass Cannon spread out to its state-of-the-art, 20-barrel facility, painted bright green and gold, in 2016.

Brass Cannon offers five year-round beers including Smoothbore Stout, a gold-medal winner at the 2017 Virginia Craft Beer Cup.

The brewery offers a diverse list of limited release beers, none as unusual as its fan-fave Langrage Line. It's an experimental series of small-batch brews produced by random combinations of, as the owners say, “whatever we feel like using at the time.” Langrage beers rotate often and are available only in the tap room.

Virginia Beer Company
401 2nd Street, Williamsburg
College of William & Mary grads Chris Smith and Robby Willey worked in finance before founding Virginia Beer Company in 2016. Brewmaster Jonathan Newman joined them from SweetWater Brewing in Atlanta. They run an inviting tap room and beer garden just down the road from the heart of Colonial Williamsburg.

Virginia Beer keeps a fresh draft rotation, mixing seasonal brews, its New World-style Saison and an array of cask and experimental small-batches with its four popular year-round offerings; Wrenish Rye Amber Ale, Elbow Patches Oatmeal Stout, Free Verse IPA and Saving Daylight Citrus Wheat.

Interested in finding more things to do in and around the Historic Triangle? Subscribe here to our blog as we post ideas frequently.  You also can purchase a copy of Liz’s recently published book, 101 Reasons to Love Living in the Historic Triangle, in either paperback or e-book version by clicking the button below.

Are you interested in hot real estate topics, tips and trends?  
Click below to subscribe to our blog!