Market Update

The One Waterfront Home I’d Buy Myself: 139 Moccasin Trail

After 25 years of helping people find their place on the water here in the Northern Neck, I don’t say this often. But every once in a while, a property comes along that I’d buy myself in a heartbeat, and 139 Moccasin Trail in Weems is exactly that kind of home. Just hitting the market this week at $1,450,000, this waterfront home on Taylors Creek is the kind of property that doesn’t come along often. I’ve walked through a lot of waterfront homes in the Northern Neck over the years...

What’s Happening in the Northern Neck Real Estate Market This Summer? Fresh Numbers Worth Knowing

If you've been thinking about buying or selling waterfront property on Virginia's Northern Neck, whether you're dreaming about a place on the Chesapeake Bay, the Rappahannock River, or one of our beautiful creeks and coves in Lancaster or Northumberland County, let me give you an honest look at what's actually happening out there right now. I'm Mary Burgess, a waterfront real estate specialist based in Irvington, Virginia, and I've been selling real estate on this water for more than 25 year...

The Spring Market Didn’t Wait: Lancaster County’s Latest Report Confirms What We’ve Been Seeing

Last month, I wrote about the strength building beneath the surface of our market — and how sellers should be preparing early for spring. This latest Northern Neck report confirms it. Despite weeks of snow, ice, and what felt like an extended winter slowdown, the data is showing something clear: inventory is expanding, buyer activity is strengthening, and momentum is building in Lancaster County. For those of us working daily in Irvington, White Stone, and Kilmarnock, this shouldn...

Spring 2026 Real Estate Outlook: Why Now Is the Time to Prep Your Home for the Market

If you’ve been watching the market and waiting for your moment to sell — it might be right around the corner. With interest rates expected to drop under new Fed leadership, and spring demand ready to surge, sellers with premium properties in the Northern Neck could be in an ideal position this season. Here’s what the latest data and national news are telling us — and why preparing now could mean maximizing your results. What Q4 2025 Data Reveals About Our Market Home sal...

✨ A New Price, A Rare Opportunity: Discover 111 Park Place in Irvington There’s something timeless about life in Irvington. Maybe it’s the way the trees lean over the streets, or how neighbors wave from their porches as you pass by. It’s a place where water, walkability, and warm community spirit come together. Now, 111 Park Place offers a fresh opportunity to join it all, at a newly adjusted price of $450,000. Tucked in the coveted enclave of Vineyard Grove, this three-bed...

What 2025 Is Teaching Us About Selling Real Estate in Irvington, White Stone & Kilmarnock — And What’s Coming Next

If you follow real estate headlines, you’d think the market is either collapsing or about to explode again. Neither is really true, at least not here in Irvington, White Stone, Kilmarnock, and across Lancaster County. What I’m seeing on the ground in 2025 is something much quieter and much more interesting. And it’s giving us a very clear preview of what 2026 is likely to look like. This isn’t about predictions pulled from a spreadsheet. It’s about patterns, from real buye...

Northern Neck Real Estate Market: Q2 2025 Snapshot

The Northern Neck Housing Story: Summer 2025 Summer in the Northern Neck is a season of warm breezes, waterfront sunsets, and shifts in the housing market that can set the tone for the months ahead. As July turns to August, the market is telling a story — one of balance, opportunity, and new possibilities for both buyers and sellers. The Big Picture: Steady With More Choices Virginia’s economy added more than 1,200 jobs in May, though our region’s unemployment rate rose sl...

The Smells That Could Sink Your Sale: A Guide for Northern Neck Sellers

We love our pets, our favorite dinners, and the way our homes smell after a good rain. But what we get used to every day might be the very thing that sends buyers running. If you're preparing to sell your home in the Northern Neck—whether it's a cozy cottage in Irvington or a waterfront retreat in White Stone—it's time to talk about something many sellers overlook: odor. Here are six common smells that can quietly kill a showing—and what to do about them before your buyers walk t...

Flood Zones in Virginia: A Must-Read Guide for Coastal Buyers and Sellers

It’s easy to fall in love with a waterfront view—harder to fall out of love with an unexpected flood insurance bill. Whether you're purchasing your Chesapeake Bay dream home or preparing to sell a long-loved family retreat, understanding Virginia's flood zones is more than fine print. It's essential. Here's what every buyer and seller needs to know about flood risk, insurance, and smart decisions in the Northern Neck. What Is a Flood Zone—and Why It Matters Flood zones are...

Lancaster & Irvington Real Estate Market Update – June 2025

As we ease into summer here on the Northern Neck, there’s a noticeable shift in the real estate mood—one that feels a bit more optimistic, a bit more settled. Across Lancaster and Northumberland counties, sales activity picked up this spring—up 25% across the broader Chesapeake Bay & Rivers region. That’s a promising sign, especially as many buyers look to settle into a new space in time to enjoy the full rhythm of summer here on the water. That said, the headlines don’t ...