Past Email Newsletters

It's the month of gratitude, and I for one am totally here for it. Thanksgiving has always been a favorite-  not just for the food (though, let's be honest, that’s a big part of it), but because it naturally brings our attention back to what matters. Family. Friends. Community. The work we get to do. And the people who make it all worthwhile- including you. Before the holiday rush kicks into full gear, I’m sharing a few ways to slow down and enjoy Richmond in a more analog, intentional way. We've also got a list of things to help you get your home winter ready before things get too busy, and a recipe that’s perfect for a cozy evening in, with guests or just a nice glass of wine and a warm fire. Let’s ease into the season, one simple moment at a time. 🐌 Going a Little Analog Before the Holidays You've probably already heard Mariah singing, “It's tiiiiiime,” but I'm hitting pause before the holiday season starts, and trying to get a little more analog. Reading more, taking time for the quiet moments, and of course, soaking up some of the little treasures in and around RVA. If you want to join me (literally or figuratively) here are a few of my analog ideas to get grounded before hustling and the bustling. Check them out HERE. 🏘️ 5 Smart Year-End Moves for  Homeowners & Future Buyers Slow mornings, crisp river walks, and just enough calm before the season fully sparkles. Just a few reasons November is my favorite. It’s also the perfect time to prepare your home and position yourself wisely for the year ahead. I’ve curated five thoughtful, strategic year-end steps whether you're a  homeowner or planning to buy. Pour something warm, take a breath, and check out these practical, purposeful ways to finish the year strong. 👇 Click HERE for the list. 🍴 What I'm Cooking Right Now Baked Gruyere with Herbs I may not be a big fan of winter, but November is definitely one of my favorite months of the year. Thanksgiving has always been a favorite of mine (great food, friends, family, gratitude, and no stressful gift shopping), and a few friends and I always sneak away for a little post Turkey Day, pre-holiday crazy, girls weekend. We have some great snacks, a little wine, watch holiday movies, and do some shopping. It's basically perfect, and that's where I made this baked gruyere for the first time. Almost no prep, simple to put together, and just a few minutes in the oven. Best of all, it's always a wow. So whether you're having a girl's getaway, a holiday party, or just a night at home in front of the fire, try this one. Click HERE for the recipe. Do you have home questions, need contractor referrals, or are you (or someone you know) thinking of buying or selling a home in the Richmond area? Reach out! I'd love to help.

Hi there! - If it feels to you like the holiday season is breathing down your neck, you're not alone. The good news? I'm already starting to plan the bake-a-palooza for our pie pickup the week of Thanksgiving! If you don't know, every year, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, we host a little event at the office for clients and partners, where everyone gets a pie to celebrate YOU and my gratitude for your business and support. So if you've bought, sold, referred, supported, or otherwise helped me in my business, you're on the list! (If you're not on the list, get on it for 2026! 😉) If you are on the list, stay tuned for the invitation and choose your pie for the big day! September Market Recap Curious where the market stands heading into fall? In my latest market update, I'm breaking down the median list price, list to sales ratio, average days on market, and the current mortgage rates. If you’re thinking of selling, buying, or just staying informed, I'm giving you some real, local numbers you can act on. In the month of September, the median list price softened slightly year-over-year. Homes are actually selling for about 99% of list, and properties are spending ~32 days on the market. Meanwhile, 30-year mortgage rates are hovering in the low 6.3% range. This is putting a bit of pressure on both sides of the transaction. Check out the full post HERE for insights, takeaways, and what I’m watching next. Want to get a jump on things from your own perspective? Give me a call or click below to check out the value of your home or see what's out there now! ❤️ What I'm Loving Right Now This season has already started getting hectic to me, so when I sat down to write this “What I'm Loving Right Now,” section, I was just a little stumped. Then I remembered all the things I love about fall, the mountains, and things that are just a little off the beaten path. So, this edition is all about fun places that are not necessarily glitzy- think more cozy and interesting. Far enough away to feel like a real getaway, but not so far that you're tired. Also, with all of these, half the fun is the getting there, and not just the destination! Enjoy! Click HERE for my full weekend getaway guide. Hanover Tavern: America’s First Dinner Theater Hanover Tavern. Located in… you guessed it, Hanover, Virginia The tavern has roots going all the way back to the early 1700s. It’s one of the oldest taverns still standing in the U.S. and has hosted some big names over the years. Back in the day, it was a lively gathering place for travelers, locals, and soldiers, during the Revolutionary War. Patrick Henry tended bar and played the fiddle for patrons. Eight decades later, the tavern hosted Union and Confederate troops en route to combat during the Civil War. Over the decades, the tavern has also played host to icons like Edgar Allen Poe, Charles Dickens, and PT Barnum. Despite its long history, by the 1950s the tavern was abandoned and in a state of disrepair. In 1953, a group of six actors, two children, a dog, a cat, and two pigs moved in (!)…determined to make it their personal and professional theatre…and they did. After moving in, they began putting on plays downstairs in what they called the Barksdale Theatre, while living upstairs and making more crucial repairs and renovations. Besides restoring the house, they made history of their own when they began providing food to guests who came to see their plays- in effect, becoming the first dinner theater in America. In 2012, the group morphed into the Virginia Repertory Theatre, which continues to carry on the legacy of the Barksdale players. Check out the modern Hanover Tavern HERE.                           Do you have home questions, need contractor referrals, or are you (or someone you know)                                   thinking of buying or selling a home in the Richmond area? Reach out! I'd love to help. In the meantime, follow me on social! Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

🧠 WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN THE RICHMOND MARKET RIGHT NOW? The Richmond real estate market is heading into Fall 2025 with steady prices, more inventory, and mortgage rates finally easing. From Henrico and Chesterfield to Hanover and Goochland, buyers and sellers alike are seeing a market that feels more balanced than in years past. HERE’s what you need to know before making your next move. 🍁 It's (almost) Fall, Y'all It may not be officially fall, but the early September weather is actually cooperating with us this year (so far, at least!) to make those pumpkin spice lattes not feel so out of place. Dare we say it's almost “sweater weather?” I always hate to see summer go, and I confess, I get a little anxious when the weather turns. That's why I always have a list of things to do and places to go that I love for fall. It just softens the change of seasons for me. So, in case you feel the same, maybe you're newer to town, or just in a rut, I've put together my Fall Guide to give you some ideas of things to do as the leaves start to change colors. Download it HERE, and let me know what you think! 📍 RVA SPOTLIGHT Shout out to the helpers and the animal lovers! I was out of town over the weekend, and got a call from the boarding place that my boy was unwell. Scrambled, made some calls, and my brother was an absolute superhero- getting Maxwell to the doctor and taking care of him until I got home. But wow. When these things happen at night, on a weekend, etc, it's hard to know where to go or what to do. VVC came highly recommended, and they deserve the recognition. We ended up at both the Midlothian and the Short Pump locations, and I can't say enough about the care, the people, and the facilities. Hopefully, you don't have a need for a pet ER anytime soon (or ever), but if you do, this is definitely one I recommend. (Short Pump is open 24 hours, too) 🍴 What I'm Cooking Right Now: Classic Make Ahead Chicken Tetrazzini Another great make-ahead meal that was a HUGE hit at Gourmet Delights. Just serve with a salad, some good crusty bread, and you're all set. Perfect for back to school and busy weeknights, but good enough to take someone if you're on a meal train. (Also, it's pretty popular with kids, even if they sometimes want to pick the mushrooms out!) Check out the recipe HERE. 💬 FROM ME TO YOU… Happy September! This is the first edition of the new newsletter format! Let me know what you think, and I'll send you a coffee on me! (email or text me) As summer fades and fall arrives, there's lots to do in and around RVA, and after late summer vacations, real estate (and life) is getting a little back to “normal." I'm excited for some fall fun, though, and my Fall Guide has some great suggestions, so make sure you download it!

Hi there! - With the fall nearly here, our market has gotten a little easier for buyers, and ever so slightly less frenetic for everyone. Cooler temps and less humidity don't hurt either. That also means it's the perfect time for catching another show at the new Allianz Amphitheater, hitting the Folk Festival (October will be here before we know it!) or just getting outside and taking a hike around town or beyond. As always, if you've got questions, need referrals for contractors, etc, or just want to say “hi," reach out! I'd love to hear from you! August Market Recap If you've talked to me about real estate lately, you may have heard me say, “The market is weird right now,” but I also know that I've been saying that for years and years. Because in truth, the market is always changing, and if we're looking at the market now vs the last time we've talked, it may seem “weird.” For an actual breakdown, click HERE, or just reach out to me for a custom analysis of the parts of the market most important to you. ❤️ What I'm Loving Right Now I’ve been trying to keep my home minimal and meaningful, but there’s one exception I’ll always make: art.  I was in Carytown the other day, and stumbled upon a spot that completely stole my heart—Boon. It’s filled with original local art, vintage treasures, and collector pieces that made me want to spend the whole afternoon there. I’m still thinking about a few things I saw, and I’ll definitely be back. Have you been? Check out my full blog post on it HERE or click below to check out their website! Bertha’s Country Lane: Bringing the Boondocks to the Fan In July of 2022, long-time resident of the Fan, Bertha Burke, passed away at the age of 101. Bertha was one of Richmond’s local legends and left behind a legacy as wide as a country mile. While she grew up on a tobacco farm in Brunswick County, she moved to a rowhouse in the Fan after getting married. It likely goes without saying, but there was not a lot of space for planting downtown. That didn’t stop Bertha, though. She took the biggest piece of property she could find there, a 100-foot alley adjacent to her home, and turned it into her own little garden. She started by adding leftover gravel to the tire tracks in the alley and planted grass in between. She then got to work creating what would become ‘Bertha’s Country Lane’, which has a wonderful variety of flowers and bushes blooming, still to this day. In 2013, the Richmond City Council unanimously passed a city ordinance formally recognizing the alley as ‘Bertha’s Country Lane’, made official with a proper street sign and Fan Emblem. Since her passing, community members have continued to maintain and carry on her legacy.                           Do you have home questions, need contractor referrals, or are you (or someone you know)                                   thinking of buying or selling a home in the Richmond area? Reach out! I'd love to help. In the meantime, follow me on social! Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

🧠 WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN THE RICHMOND MARKET RIGHT NOW? The Richmond real estate market is heading into Fall 2025 with steady prices, more inventory, and mortgage rates finally easing. From Henrico and Chesterfield to Hanover and Goochland, buyers and sellers alike are seeing a market that feels more balanced than in years past. HERE’s what you need to know before making your next move. 🍁 It's (almost) Fall, Y'all It may not be officially fall, but the early September weather is actually cooperating with us this year (so far, at least!) to make those pumpkin spice lattes not feel so out of place. Dare we say it's almost “sweater weather?” I always hate to see summer go, and I confess, I get a little anxious when the weather turns. That's why I always have a list of things to do and places to go that I love for fall. It just softens the change of seasons for me. So, in case you feel the same, maybe you're newer to town, or just in a rut, I've put together my Fall Guide to give you some ideas of things to do as the leaves start to change colors. Download it HERE, and let me know what you think! 📍 RVA SPOTLIGHT Shout out to the helpers and the animal lovers! I was out of town over the weekend, and got a call from the boarding place that my boy was unwell. Scrambled, made some calls, and my brother was an absolute superhero- getting Maxwell to the doctor and taking care of him until I got home. But wow. When these things happen at night, on a weekend, etc, it's hard to know where to go or what to do. VVC came highly recommended, and they deserve the recognition. We ended up at both the Midlothian and the Short Pump locations, and I can't say enough about the care, the people, and the facilities. Hopefully, you don't have a need for a pet ER anytime soon (or ever), but if you do, this is definitely one I recommend. (Short Pump is open 24 hours, too) 🍴 What I'm Cooking Right Now: Classic Make Ahead Chicken Tetrazzini Another great make-ahead meal that was a HUGE hit at Gourmet Delights. Just serve with a salad, some good crusty bread, and you're all set. Perfect for back to school and busy weeknights, but good enough to take someone if you're on a meal train. (Also, it's pretty popular with kids, even if they sometimes want to pick the mushrooms out!) Check out the recipe HERE. 💬 FROM ME TO YOU… Happy September! This is the first edition of the new newsletter format! Let me know what you think, and I'll send you a coffee on me! (email or text me) As summer fades and fall arrives, there's lots to do in and around RVA, and after late summer vacations, real estate (and life) is getting a little back to “normal." I'm excited for some fall fun, though, and my Fall Guide has some great suggestions, so make sure you download it!

Hi there - Hope your spring is off to a great start! It's time to power wash the deck, get all of that spring/summer prep done, and be ready to enjoy consistent warmer days. I've planted loads of vegetables, and I've probably done more yard work in the past month than I've done in the last two years. (Fingers crossed that it pays off!) I can't wait to share my fantastic frittata recipe with you- just in time for Mother's Day. It's great for brunch anytime, and leftovers for sure make for a great on the go breakfast. As always, if you're thinking of buying or selling, things are really moving this May, so give me a call if you have any questions at all. I'd love to help! Today we're talking about: ✔️ 🛠️ May Home Maintenance ✔️ 🌸 Festivals, Flowers, and Family Fun ✔️ 🍳 Mother's Day Frittata and Mimosa Bar 🛠️ May Home Maintenance May is the perfect month to freshen up your home inside and out! From cleaning HVAC filters and gutters to planting flowers in the garden and checking for window drafts, this checklist covers all the key maintenance tasks to keep your home in top shape as summer approaches. Click HERE for your monthly maintenance list. 🌸 Festivals, Flowers, and Family Fun My favorite RVA event in May? The yearly return of Friday Cheers on Brown's Island. What's more Richmond than live music, on the river, with food trucks, fun, and of course, beer? You just cannot beat it! For a full list of May events and some of my top picks click HERE. 🍳 Mother's Day Frittata (and a Mom-osa Bar) Always a delicious option, a frittata is beautifully flexible, so if you're missing one of the ingredients, switch it up! It's nearly impossible to mess up, and it is an easy way to celebrate Mom, but also a great way to make her life a little easier all week, as it reheats beautifully and makes a great meal prep breakfast option that can even be a little on the healthy side if you watch your add ins! Click HERE for the recipe.                           Do you have home questions, need contractor referrals, or are you (or someone you know)                                   thinking of buying or selling a home in the Richmond area? Reach out! I'd love to help. In the meantime, follow me on social! Instagram | Facebook | TikTok ............. Did you miss last month's newsletter? Click HERE to see what you missed!

Hi there! - It's tax day, and hopefully you're all done with those! (I am, regrettably, not. It's been a crazy couple of months, but I'm working on it!) The “experts," whoever they are, say that this is the best week to sell your home, but here's what I know. The best time to sell (or buy) is when you are ready, and when your home is ready. Rushing to fit some idea that the media (or anyone) says is the best is seldom the best fit for most people. But, if you're wondering about the right time for the market, now(ish) is it, data wise. Curious about your home or where you want to move? Give me a call. I'd love to talk specifics. Today we're talking about: ✔️ 🍕Pizza. What's your favorite RVA slice? Here are mine! ✔️ 📈  Market Update ✔️ 🥘 Hummus Capital of the World? Richmond Claims the Title! 🍕 It's a hectic season, and for me, that means pizza. My RVA faves. There's something about spring that's just…busier. More travel, more getting outdoors, more school events, more sports. Just more everything. Even for those of us that love to cook, it can be a lot. But what works for nearly everyone? Pizza! We finally have some amazing choices here in the Richmond area, and I'm spilling the tea (sauce?) on my favorites HERE. I'd love to know yours! 📈 What's the Market Doing? "Second verse, same as the first?" or we could just say, “ditto” from the last market update, because things haven't changed too terribly much since the last one. The good news? Despite the national news and anecdotes from other markets, our market is still moving, with a relatively low days on market and no dip in prices at all. If you want more data and a bit more info, click HERE. 🥘 Hummus Capital of the World? Richmond Claims the Title! You might know Richmond, Virginia for its historical significance or its vibrant culinary scene. But did you know that Richmond lays claim to a more unexpected title: **Hummus Capital of the World?** It might seem strange, given that hummus isn't exactly a local invention. However, Chesterfield County, part of the greater Richmond area, is home to **the world's largest Thomas' factory**. This 100,000-square-foot facility, owned by the company Sabra, churns out **more hummus than any other place on earth**. While the origins of hummus may lie elsewhere, Richmond has clearly embraced this delicious and healthy dip as its own. With Sabra constantly innovating and releasing new flavors like buffalo, BBQ, and southwest, there's no shortage of reasons for Richmond residents to be proud of their city's unique claim to fame.                           Do you have home questions, need contractor referrals, or are you (or someone you know)                                   thinking of buying or selling a home in the Richmond area? Reach out! I'd love to help. In the meantime, follow me on social! Instagram | Facebook | TikTok ............. Did you miss last month's newsletter? Click HERE to see what you missed!

Hi there - Warmer weather, blooms and buds galore, spring break, and possibilities are in the air! Spring is here, and with it, more opportunities to get outside, plant a garden, entertain, and so much more. I'm definitely not a lover of winter, so spring is really a time when I start to feel alive again. Whether you're like me and can't wait to get out and do more fun stuff, or you just want to tackle some more outdoorsy home projects, we've got you covered here. If you want a sweet treat for Easter that's festive, delicious (and basically, a vegetable!) I've got you covered there too! Today we're talking about: ✔️🛠️ April Home Maintenance ✔️ 🌸 RVA Spring Markets, Festivals, and More! ✔️ 🥕🍰 Gourmet Delights Carrot Cake 🛠️ April Home Maintenance As we head into spring, there are lots of things to do to prep for warmer weather at your home, but one of my favorites is definitely getting the outside space ready for use and entertaining. Powerwash that patio or deck, give it a fresh coat of sealer or stain, pick up those stray leaves leftover from fall, and get ready for springtime sunsets and summer cookouts! Click HERE for your monthly maintenance list.  🗓️ What's Happening Around RVA This Month? When I work with clients relocating to the Richmond area, one of the things I always mention is that we love a festival. I mean LOVE. March seems to kick of the festival season with both Shamrock the Block and the Irish Festival. For fun, food, music, and of course, beer- these are two that can't be beat, but there are plenty of other options for getting out this month- no luck needed! Click HERE for a list of events this month. 🥕🍰 Gourmet Delights Carrot Cake This is without a doubt one of the best carrot cakes I've ever had, if I do say so myself. When I had Gourmet Delights, and my food rep came in one day with a delicious, but criminally expensive, carrot cake, I had to come up with something that was close so I didn't have to sell it for $5 per slice. (Hilarious that that in the ‘90’s that seemed outrageous.) This is what I came up with. Click HERE for the recipe.                           Do you have home questions, need contractor referrals, or are you (or someone you know)                                   thinking of buying or selling a home in the Richmond area? Reach out! I'd love to help. In the meantime, follow me on social! Instagram | Facebook | TikTok ............. Did you miss last month's newsletter? Click HERE to see what you missed!

Hi there! - If you've talked to me recently, you have probably heard me talk about the fact that my son is getting geared up for his study abroad in Japan. (!) So, as the spring market is really, truly, getting started, I'm also trying to get him successfully ready, packed, and launched, so needless to say, things are busy. With only a couple of weeks to go, we're hitting all the RVA favorites so he'll have his fill of American-ish food before he leaves. Check out our go to list below! Don't forget, though, that I'm always here if you have questions about the market, your home, need a contractor referral, or have a referral, I'm only a call, email, text, or IG message away, so don't hesitate to reach out. I'm probably too busy to be doing a lot of relaxing, but I'm definitely working every day! Today we're talking about: ✔️ 🍱 Where are YOUR “must go” spots if you had 2 weeks in RVA? ✔️ 📈  Market Update ✔️ 🌊 Richmond’s Unique Urban Rapids 🍱 Sharing Some of Our Favorite RVA Dining Spots This Month If you have talked to me recently, you probably know that at the end of this month, my son is headed to Japan to study for just over four months (and yes, I'm freaking out just a little bit, thanks.) He's home in Richmond for the next two weeks, and we're loading up on his local favorites before he can't get them for a while. Click HERE to see what's on the list, and follow us on IG as we check them out! 📈 What's the Market Doing? This week marks the first day of Spring (hooray!), but the market has already been springing, especially as the weather gets warmer. If you want my take, based on data, observation, participation, and anecdote, click HERE. 🌊 Richmond’s Unique Urban Rapids Did you know that the James River flowing through Richmond, Virginia, boasts a unique feature? Class 4 rapids right in the heart of the city. This makes it the only river in the United States to offer such an intense whitewater experience within a major urban center. Richmond locals may take this natural wonder for granted, but it's a significant attraction for outdoor enthusiasts and contributes to the city's reputation as a great place to live.                           Do you have home questions, need contractor referrals, or are you (or someone you know)                                   thinking of buying or selling a home in the Richmond area? Reach out! I'd love to help. In the meantime, follow me on social! Instagram | Facebook | TikTok ............. Did you miss last month's newsletter? Click HERE to see what you missed!

Hi there - March is here, and with it, we kick off “festival season” here in the Richmond area, the sun sets a little later, and as it gets a little warmer, there's more to do outside. (And I could not be more excited for all of that!) We are also seeing more homes hit the market as the weather warms, and things are still moving quickly! If you're thinking of selling this spring, give me a call now so you have a plan to prep your home. No luck needed! Today we're talking about: ✔️ 🛠️ March Home Maintenance ✔️ 🗓️ What's Happening Around RVA This Month? ✔️ ☘️ Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage 🛠️ March Home Maintenance As we head into spring, there are lots of things to do to prep for warmer weather at your home, but one of my favorites is definitely getting the outside space ready for use and entertaining. Powerwash that patio or deck, give it a fresh coat of sealer or stain, pick up those stray leaves leftover from fall, and get ready for springtime sunsets and summer cookouts! Click HERE for your monthly maintenance list.  🗓️ What's Happening Around RVA This Month? When I work with clients relocating to the Richmond area, one of the things I always mention is that we love a festival. I mean LOVE. March seems to kick of the festival season with both Shamrock the Block and the Irish Festival. For fun, food, music, and of course, beer- these are two that can't be beat, but there are plenty of other options for getting out this month- no luck needed! Click HERE for a list of events this month. ☘️ Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage My late father's birthday is in March, coinciding perfectly with one of his (and my mom's) favorite meals, corned beef and cabbage. They could eat it anytime, but for me, it's kind of like pumpkin pie and Thanksgiving. I have to have it for St. Patrick's Day, but I'll probably have it again the same time next year. (Sandwiches with corned beef? I can have those anytime!) If you want to enjoy it, and not spend the day in the kitchen, get out the Instant Pot and try this easier version. Click HERE for the recipe                           Do you have home questions, need contractor referrals, or are you (or someone you know)                                   thinking of buying or selling a home in the Richmond area? Reach out! I'd love to help. In the meantime, follow me on social! Instagram | Facebook | TikTok ............. Did you miss last month's newsletter? Click HERE to see what you missed!