Archives: November 2021

521 Monticello Cir, Lake of the Woods, Virginia 22508 SOLD!!! by the Licata Group Exp Realty LLC!

Welcome home to 521 Monticello Circle! This immaculate, updated, and well-maintained home in Lake of the Woods truly has it all. From the moment you arrive, you will love the inviting curb appeal, brick walkway, and beautifully landscaped yard. Upon entering, you are greeted by gleaming hardwood floors, a cozy fireplace, fine finishes, and a sought-after open floor plan. The vaulted ceilings and ample windows allow the sun to shine in and provide so much natural light. The family room, boasting cathedral ceilings, gas fireplace, and access to the screened porch, flow effortlessly into the gourmet kitchen. This expansive chef’s kitchen features a breakfast bar, granite countertops, backsplash, table space, and upgraded stainless-steel appliances. In addition, the formal dining room and living room boasting a wall of windows will make entertaining a breeze. The owner’s suite is spacious and offers an en-suite bath featuring double vanities with granite countertops, a walk-in beautifully tiled shower, a luxurious soaking tub, and a spacious walk-in closet with built-in shelves. Grab a book and your favorite beverage and head out to the screened porch surrounded by trees and privacy, as this is sure to become one of your favorite spots. All of this and close to the member-only back gate, too!

A private, gated, secured community, Lake of the Woods offers anything and everything you could possibly want. Home to two lakes (the 550 acre main lake and a 35 acre “fishing lake”), a golf course, an equestrian center, a fire and rescue department, and a church all within the gates, Lake of the Woods simply has it all. Whether your passion is boating, water skiing, kayaking, golfing, horseback riding, or simply taking in the breathtaking views from the clubhouse while enjoying a fabulous meal, from your own deck or yard, or from one of the beaches, you won’t be disappointed! Perhaps you’d like a game of bridge or volunteering your time and talents…Lake of the Woods offers more than 60 clubs and/or organizations from which you may choose to become involved. Located in Orange County, we are fortunate to enjoy low real estate taxes. Coupled with home prices ranging from $200,000+ to over $2,000,000, Lake of the Woods is the perfect community for both full-time residents, as well as weekenders. But don’t take my word for it, please come see for yourself! I will gladly give you a tour of Lake of the Woods by boat and by car so that you may experience why I love Lake of the Woods!

Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.

To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.

How to Organize a Last-Minute Move to Orange County, Virginia

Usually, moving is not something we do impulsively. We like to take time, prepare everything, and plan it to the smallest detail. Still, sometimes the circumstances tend to surprise us. Maybe it’s a new job offer or an opportunity to buy a property at an extraordinary price. Or even some personal issues that force us into it. Regardless of the reasons, it requires us to urgently take action. If you need to organize a last-minute move to Orange County by chance, its beautiful and outstanding locations will make it worth it. It has many historically rich locations, plenty of activities to do, and most of the places are the true hidden gems of Virginia. People here appreciate the quiet way of life, friendly hometown feel, and great outdoor activities.

Organizing a last-minute move to Orange County

The diversity in Orange County is great. From young professionals and families with kids to retirees, everyone enjoys its peaceful surroundings. With an annual average temperature of 55.75°(F) and four distinctly beautiful seasons, everyone gets the chance to enjoy their preferred activities. As for the houses, there are a plethora of aspects people love about the housing options. Those who consider moving to Orange County can find plenty of affordable offers on the real estate market.

Beautiful greenery with an abundance of trees in Virginia, something that awaits after your last-minute move to Orange County.
Orange County, VA, offers plenty of beautiful landscapes you will enjoy.

However, considering you’ve already found a place you need to move to on short notice, let’s have a look at the last-minute moving tips gathered to help you go through this experience without much trouble:

  • Start planning without panic
  • Sort your belongings
  • Get rid of the items you don’t need
  • Pack everything compactly
  • Manage your old and new utilities
  • Clean your place before leaving

Start planning without panic

No one will say that moving at the last minute is easy. It’s going to be difficult because a tight schedule limits everything you need to do. But, it doesn’t mean you should panic about it. Even with a week or two, you still have time to prepare. That little time you have at your disposal should be used to properly plan your Orange County relocation. It’s important to start preparations as soon as you know you are going to move. Think about the first steps you need to take and consider adequate assistance. While a DIY move might be an option in some other situations, you are better off with professional service for moving last-minute. For example, you can easily arrange your relocation with Helix Transfer & Storage or other reliable movers to help you move to Orange County. Get informed about your options and think about what you are going to take with you.

Sort your belongings

Just because you lack time, it doesn’t mean you should skip essential planning steps. Without exceptions, your moving checklist with a list of your belongings and all the necessary tasks is a must. You will have to go through all your belongings and consider if there is anything you don’t want to take with you. Make those decisions with the Orange County lifestyle in mind. For example, if you love outdoor activities, leaving your hiking gear behind doesn’t make much sense. On the other side, depending on the location you are going to, maybe your swimming gear will not be so necessary. While these are situational decisions, sorting is essential so you can think about a way to get rid of unnecessary items.

a fine-looking living room with plenty of belongings.
Make sure you group similar items together.

Get rid of the items you don’t need

Speaking of which, you don’t have much time to get rid of your extra belongings. However, you won’t just throw them away, of course. Everything that you don’t need or is replaceable you should:

  • Sell
  • Donate
  • Give away

Don’t forget, moving rates depend on the number of your belongings, so at least you can cover some expenses with selling. And since you will have fewer items that need transporting, your relocation costs will decrease. You can use the internet to sell the most expensive articles. The second option is to donate clothes, food, and other items to charity. Your third option is giving things you don’t need to friends, family, or neighbors.

Pack everything compactly

When you are short of time, you don’t have much time to search for supplies nor pack on your own. You should see if your professional movers can do it for you. Even for a local relocation, you still need to ensure the simplest transfer possible and maximum protection for your items. Not to mention if you are moving from DC or other more distant places. Truck transporting and long drives require proper supplies and compact packing. Fortunately, most companies that do local and long-distance relocation also provide packing services. But, to reduce the costs, you can pack a part of your belongings with items you already possess. Plastic bags, drawers, luggage, everything can be used to pack your clothes and other non-delicate items. However, make sure you properly label everything to avoid confusion later on.

Manage your old and new utilities

People often forget to deal with utilities when in a rush. Before you leave, make sure all the necessary utilities in a new place are all set up, including gas, water, electricity, and even the internet, TV, and other subscriptions you will need. The same goes with your old place: make sure to cancel, shut off, or pause certain services, so you don’t continue to pay for them after relocation.

Clean your places before leaving

If everything goes according to your plans, you should have time to deal with cleaning. Before moving into your new Orange County home, make sure your current place is clean. But, ensure you get all your belongings out first. With all the chaos, cleaning in the middle of the moving process is not a good idea. On the other side, your new place has to be clean before you bring everything in. That’s why you should make it a priority. If your budget allows, hiring professional cleaners will be a good idea, especially considering you are in a hurry.

An empty room with a huge clean window.
It’s way easier to clean a place when it’s empty.

As you can see, you can organize a last-minute move to Orange County without much trouble. Of course, the added stress and pressure while running against the clock can be overwhelming. But, considering you are moving to the slower and more relaxing part of the states, this is probably the last time you will experience it. Places in Orange County, VA, are wonderful, with a slow pace of life and numerous opportunities to relax and enjoy after a long day working. Or, in this case, moving at the last minute.

Pictures:

https://pixabay.com/photos/log-cabin-west-virginia-pond-lake-1310853/

https://pixabay.com/photos/virginia-orange-county-farm-1432898/

https://pixabay.com/photos/interior-living-room-furniture-room-1961070/

https://pixabay.com/photos/window-indoors-empty-architecture-3065345/

Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.

To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.

October 2021 Lake of the Woods Monthly Statistics

In October, 33 homes SOLD in Lake of the Woods.


0 sold between $130-199,999;
2 sold between $200-249,999;
7 sold between $250,000-299,999;
10 sold between $300-349,999;
6 sold between $350,000-399,999;
3 sold between $400-499,999;
3 sold between $500,000-$900,000;
2 sold over $1,000,000! See them here: 132 Birchside Cir and 129 Green Spring Rd!

29 Active/Coming Soon Listings for Sale
31 Homes Under Contract
312 Homes Sold since January 1, 2021.

Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata

Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Wait Any Longer to Invest in Real Estate

Key Takeaways:

  • Even as home prices continue to climb, there’s never been a better time to get your foot in the door when it comes to real estate investing.
  • You don’t need a lot of money to diversify your portfolio—in fact, you have more options than you might think!
  • Whether you’re an experienced investor or a first-timer, you’ll want to work with the right agent to score a great deal.

What Buyers Need to Know About Real Estate Investing

Even if you haven’t bought or sold a house this year, you’ve probably heard wild predictions and statistics about the real estate market. As prices keep skyrocketing, would-be and experienced investors alike are wondering if now is the right time to add to their portfolios. Believe it or not, now might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase an income-generating property—and there are countless options from which to choose.

Still on the fence? Here are a few quick tips and tricks you need to know before investing in real estate.

Real estate investment isn’t only for the rich

Despite what popular shows on HGTV might tell you, real estate investing is something anyone can accomplish with careful planning and saving. You don’t even need any experience to get started—but having the help of a real estate agent will make all the difference.

Start by working with an agent who knows your local investment market. Based on your budget and goals, they’ll help you select a property that meets your needs and offers a high return on investment. Don’t just limit yourself to fixer-uppers—it’s worth considering land, single- or multi-family homes and condos, office space, or warehouses, too.

With a little sweat equity, you can easily turn any investment into an income-generating property that will help you pay off your mortgage. The easiest way to do this involves renting your property out to tenants. Over the last decade, the average rent has increased by more than 30%—so if you plan on keeping your property for a long time, you’ll be able to turn an impressive profit while building equity.

Mortgage rates remain low

Approved mortgage application

One of the biggest mistakes that any investor can make is trying to time the market. While it may seem tempting to wait until a recession for prices to decrease, it’s impossible to predict how the market will fluctuate over time. And even as prices continue rising, you’ll want to factor low mortgage rates into the equation.

Lower mortgage rates make real estate investing more affordable. As of November 2021, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate hovers around 3.4%, which is roughly a full percentage point lower than it was in 2018. Let’s put that into perspective—if you purchase a $400,000 property with a 20% down payment, you’d pay around $1,419 per month. But if you bought the same asset with a 4.4% rate, that monthly payment would skyrocket by more than $200, which adds up over time.

First-timers can start small

First-time real estate investors

Even if you aren’t a current homeowner, real estate investing isn’t out of your reach. Some smart investors actually use their primary residence to generate extra money on the side. Once you establish a cash flow, you can start saving up for an even bigger investment down the line.

Wondering how you can start investing in real estate without a lot of capital? Real estate investment trusts (REITs) let you pool your money together with other investors and earn dividends, so you won’t have to buy or manage your own property. Many millennials have even tried “house hacking,” which involves buying a home and renting out rooms to offset a mortgage. And for an even simpler way to invest, consider land—some plots are available for just a few thousand dollars, and they’ll likely increase in value over time.

Work with Real Estate Investment Experts

Even if you already have a few assets under your belt, now is the time to diversify your investment portfolio! We have ample experience helping investors just like you, and we’d love to help you find an income-generating property that checks all the boxes.

Need to sell an investment property? We can certainly help with that, too!

Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.

To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.