The Liz Moore Market Watch Blog

By: Lauren Cummings

There is something special about sharing books; the creases from where the previous reader was  gripped by the tension of the story, the dog  ear folds from where they had to mark their  place, or even the little notes they have left  behind as they jotted down their thoughts – these qualities don’t just add character to the book  itself, it creates connections between readers. We  may each experience a story differently, but it is up  to us to share them.

How It All Started

Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin was inspired by the  “take a book, leave a book” projects launched by coffee  shops and community buildings. He placed a Free Little Library in front of his residence as a tribute to his mother,  who was a schoolteacher with a passion for reading. All  it took was a few people to recognize the importance of  easy access to books for everyone, and from there, a chain  of free little libraries was established across the country.  As of 2022, 150,000 mini-libraries have been registered  across 115 countries worldwide.

What is a Little Free Library?

Little free libraries are exactly as they sound, and no library card is required. Little free libraries are usually 
placed by residents of the community or by volunteers  that are passionate about spreading knowledge and 
story magic to everyone. These mini libraries symbolize community, inspiration, and support.

How Can You Start One?

Creating your little free library is easier than ever with  the help of the non-profit organization behind it all, Little  Free Library. This organization has made it possible for  people to announce their library to the public and provide  access to resources to get noticed by the community. 
1. Identify a location and steward
2. Get a library – create one yourself or buy one
on the Little Free Library’s online store.
3. Register your library – see the QR code below.
4. Set up your steward account 
5. Build community support

Building Inspiration

If you want to get creative and don’t want to purchase  a mini-library from the online store, there are plenty 
of resourceful ways to create a mini-library. We have  seen people convert old microwaves into mini-libraries,  small dog houses, storage bins, and even an old  cabinet. The one thing to consider is if the structure is 
weather-proof material so no books are ruined; a door is ideal for this requirement.

Register your library or find one near you at www.littlefreelibrary.org.

The cooler temps are here to stay (or at least so we hope!) and it's the perfect time to get out and explore the many trails on the Northern Neck of Virginia.  Here are our recommendations for a great day out:

Hughlett Point
Natural Area Preserve Hiking Trail along Chesapeake Bay
Balls Neck Road
Kilmarnock 22482
(804) 225-2303

Belle Isle State Park
Hiking, Biking, and Equestrian Trails
1632 Belle Isle Road
Lancaster 22503
(804) 462-5030

Bush Mill Stream
Natural Area Preserve By Foot or Canoe
Knights Run Road
Heathsville 22473
(804) 786-7951

Holly Point Nature Park
Walking Paths and Kayak Landing
287 Jackson Creek Road
Deltaville 23043
(804) 776-7200

Hickory Hollow Natural Preserve
254-Acre Nature Trail
Regina Road
Lancaster 22503
(804) 786-7951

The Summer Edition of our Liz Local Magazine is now available.  We've dedicated this issue to our four-legged, furry friends highlighting pet friendly places, interior design tips with pets in mind, and more!

View the digital version for your market below:

Peninsula Edition

Northern Neck Edition

Richmond Edition

Williamsburg Edition 

Spending time out on the water is part of life in Virginia's Northern Neck, whether you're a local or just visiting for the weekend.  No boat?  No problem!  Check out our recommendations for boat rentals so you want make the most of the Chesapeake Bay, and its rivers and creeks:

Allon-Z
Luxury Powerboat Private Charters
Reedville, VA
703-731-4071

Sail & Surf Adventures
Private Sailing Cruises
Weems, VA
804-361-9945

Sail Away Charters
Private Sailing Cruises
Kilmarnock, VA
434-218-0273

Tangier Island Cruises
The Chesapeake Breeze
Reedville, VA
804-453-2628

Belle Island State Park
Canoe & Kayak Rentals
Lancaster, VA
804-462-5030

Yankee Point Marina
Sunfish, Deck Boat, & Paddleboard Rental
Lancaster, VA
(804) 462-7635

Ingram Bay Marina &
Captain Billy’s Charters
Private Party Cruises
Heathsville, VA
804-580-7892

As the holiday weekend approaches and you make your plans to celebrate, check out our favorite events happening in Virginia's Northern Neck this year.

IKLMARNOCK
Music on the Half Shell
Good Shot Judy
July 1 | 7–9:30pm

Kilmarnock Town Center Park
Fireworks
July 2 rain date July 3
Dream Fields
1385 Irvington Road 22482

REEDVILLE
Reedville Fishermen’s Museum
July 2 | 504 Main Street 22539
Firecracker 5K | 8am begins at Festival Halle
Kids’ Activities | 10am
plus, FVFD will be behind Bethany United
Methodist Church to spray kids with water

Parade | 3pm

Fireworks | 9:15pm

IRVINGTON
Farmers’ Market
July 2 | 9am – 1pm

USA Air Force Band Concert
July 2 | 7pm

Steamboat Era Museum
156 King Carter Drive 22480
Parade

July 3 | 3pm starting at King Carter Road

The Spring Edition of our Liz Local Magazine is now available.  We've included real estate predictions, ways to help your kids get on the path to wealth building, local restaurant spotlights, and more!

View the digital version for your market below:

Peninsula Edition

Northern Neck Edition

Richmond Edition

Williamsburg Edition 

With the arrival of Spring comes the opening of farmers' markets and Virginia's Northern Neck has many great local spots to choose from.  Support a farmer and enjoy fresh, local produce at our recommended markets:

Irvington Farmers’ Market 
1st Saturday of the Month
May-November 9:00am-1:00pm
Irvington Commons, 98 King Carter Drive
Irvington, VA 22480

Kellum Farms
Produce & Seafood
Open Daily 9:00am-5:30pm
3413 Irvington Road
Irvington, VA 22480

Old Farm Truck Market
Wed & Sat: 9:00am-3:00pm
Thu & Fri: 9:00am-5:00pm
453 Rappahannock Drive
White Stone, VA 22578

Dug In Farms
Open Daily 9:00am-5:00pm
155 Fleets Bay Road
White Stone, VA 22578

Garner’s Farm & Market
Open Daily April through Thanksgiving
9:00am-6:00pm
22645 Kings Highway
Warsaw, VA 22572

Heathsville Farmers’ Market
3rd Saturday of the Month
April-October, 9:00am-1:00pm
Rice’s Hotel/Hughlett’s Tavern
73 Monument Place, Heathsville, VA 22473

The past 15 months has been a roller coaster in our real estate world. It’s hard to imagine that in spite of being in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, we also experienced the hottest real estate market in US history. The perfect storm of low listing inventory and historic low interest rates converged to cause buyer demand to spike to all-time highs.

Clearly, it’s a great time to be a seller. But… what about the other side of that equation? Sellers are asking themselves, “I may get peak pricing for my home right now, but then I’ll have to turn around and pay peak pricing on the other end. Does that make sense for me?” Every situation is different, and the answer really depends on a lot of different factors. One thing that definitely makes sense, though, is that now is a great time for an in-depth look at values with your favorite REALTOR. If you’re not currently living in your dream home, now just may be the perfect time to explore alternatives.

Other drivers that are causing people to re-think their current space are the possibilities created by new opportunities to work remotely. Many people have realized that they can hang up their commute, and work from home…and that home can be anywhere they want. That freedom extends beyond location – it also means new and different features are important in a home: home offices and outdoor spaces have become all the buzz in recent months.

We’ve devoted this month’s edition of Liz Local to exploring a few of those features.

Check out a digital version of our Summer Liz Local Magazine:

Peninsula Edition

Williamsburg Edition

Richmond Edition

Northern Neck Edition

Visit www.lizmoore.com/love to enter.  If you don't live in the Northern Neck, what a great reason to take a day trip and enjoy the beautiful water views!