As a Lake of the Woods resident since 2008 (as a weekender and a full time resident), I’d like to share my Journey to the Lake. My husband, John, and I were interested in finding the perfect location for a second/vacation home. Initially, we were open to looking at a beach location, as well as a lake. We began searching in the summer of 2007 through the spring of 2008 for our getaway.
We decided fairly early on that the beach just wasn’t for us because of distance from Northern Virginia and lack of activity during “non-peak season,” we began focusing on the lakes in the area. Having made the trek to Lake Anna and Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia, and Deep Creek Lake in Maryland, something wasn’t “perfect” for us regarding each location. Lake Anna was too busy for us, and Smith Mountain Lake and Deep Creek Lake were both too far for us to enjoy a home regularly, and we also didn’t care for how few conveniences were located close by (ie, grocery store, pharmacy, restaurants, etc).
Then we remembered having visited Lake of the Woods years ago, when we had been a guest of a friend. After our first house-hunting visit to the lake in early spring of 2008, we knew where we wanted to be. Lake of the Woods, as a gated, secured community, gave us peace of mind as weekenders. The community offered us close proximity (1 hr 15 min from Reston), tons of conveniences, as we residents are supported by a grocery store, pharmacy, gas stations, cleaners, nail salons, automotive services, doctors, a library, a post office, many restaurants, and a brand new elementary school-all within 2 1/2 miles of the gates), over 50 clubs and organizations in which to participate, a fabulous club house overlooking the lake that serves excellent food, and a clear, pristine lake!! Oh…did I mention the PGA golf course and equestrian center within the community?? And the Community Center, and the non-denominational Church within the gates? Or the walking trails? And what about the wildlife!
We purchased our home in June of 2008, and after that first year (52 weekends), we realized that we had been to our home at Lake of the Woods 51 of those 52 weekends! That’s when we decided that the “allure of the lake” was just too great to resist and made the change from weekenders to full time residents!
John commutes to Northern Virginia 3 days per week, and I am fortunate to be able to share my love for the lake as a REALTOR at Keller Williams Capital Properties (located directly across from the front gate between AT&T and CVS), introducing others to this incredible community!
Call me today at 540/735-7998 for a boat and car tour!
According to Zillow data the houses in the United States listed in early May tend to sell 18.5 days faster than the average listing and for nearly 1% more of the average price!
There is still low inventory of houses on the market across the country, which has influenced the prediction of the May trend. Before, homes listed between mid-March and mid-April sold quicker and for the highest price.
Another influence is weather. Here on the east coast when the colder weather sets in, houses tend to sit on the market longer. With warm weather right around the corner, Zillow’s predictions for the Washington, DC market (which is the market closest to us in Locust Grove/Fredericksburg, VA) the ideal time to list your home is April 16 – April 30th and it will have a faster than average closing time of 18 days.
Inventory is low – let us help you sell your home today!
We may already have a buyer ready for you!
Contact Pat Licata today.
Here are 6 steps to staging your house and some other tips & tricks as well!
Are you selling your home? Has an agent ever called you to tell you they have a potential buyer on the way ???
Check out the video below that gives you some tips & tricks to staging your home at the last minute!
If you need any help with staging or would like to learn more about this, contact Pat Licata today!
Each person has their own individual idea of what their “Dream Home” really is. What is yours?
We want to help you find your dream home! Let us help you!
We have 3 buyers agent in our office: John Licata, Janice Johnston and Mary Maurer.
They are happy to help all clients, but most importantly we want to make sure you are satisfied.
Whether you’re looking in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Lake of the Woods/Locust Grove, all the way to Culpeper, we can help.
Give us a call at 540-388-2541 to talk to an agent about finding your dream home today!
Hi Everyone! We are fortunate in Lake of the Woods to live near so many incredible wineries! Here’s your chance to win a Virginia Wine Pass for two that is good through December of 2017! The pass offers free or discounted tastings, as well as discounts on bottles of wine, from some amazing Virginia wineries. What do you need to do to enter our sweepstakes? Simply stop by our Licata Group office between 8:30am-5pm Monday through Friday or like our FB page at Licata on the Lake Real Estate at Lake of the Woods and message us your email address. Please enter by noon on Tuesday, January 31, as the winner will be chosen at 5pm.
Good luck! It’s another beautiful day at the lake! Pat Licata-REALTOR
By Pat Licata, REALTOR
Tickets are ON SALE NOW for the LOW Players production “Man of La Mancha”. If you’ve never been to a LOW Players production, you have truly been missing out! Purchase your tickets online at LOWplayers.org or contact Sandie Frame at 972-6385 quickly, as these awesome productions do sell out.
Production dates:
October 14, 15, 21, 22 – at 7:30
October 16 & 23 – Matinee at 2 PM
Starring Bob McGrath as Don Quixote and directed by Marion Pronk!
Hope to see you there!
To view homes for sale in Lake of the Woods, click here! It’s another beautiful day at the lake!
By Pat Licata-REALTOR
In Lake of the Woods in July, a total of 27 homes were sold. 24 were standard sale, of which one sold under $100K, two sold between $100-$175K, ten between $175-250K, five between $250-350K, and four between $350-500K and two over $500K. There were a total of three distressed sales (foreclosures or short sales), one between $100-175K, one between $175-250K, and one between $250-350K. Two lots also sold, priced under $10,000.
Here’s a link to real estate currently for sale in Lake of the Woods: LOW active listings It’s another beautiful day at the lake!
Lake of the Woods stats through February 22, 2016:
The Lake of the Woods SPRING OPEN HOUSE is Sunday, May 15, 2016! If you are thinking of selling, call me at 540-735-7998 for a free market analysis and suggestions to get your house ready. It’s another beautiful day at the lake!
Licata on the Lake
Tucker is clearly “tuckered out” from his misadventure!
If you know anything about me, you know that I am an animal person. So I’m sure you can imagine how excited and proud I was to learn that the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Lake of the Woods Fire & Rescue were both involved in a heroic rescue of 12 year old yellow lab, Tucker! And my friend, Anita Walton, owner of Locust Grove Veterinary Clinic, and her staff treated Tucker after the rescue!
Tucker escaped from his home at around 6:30pm on February 1st, and his frolics landed him in the ice cold water of a frozen pond not far from Lake of the Woods off of Rapidan Hills Road. While we can only guess exactly how long he was stranded in the pond, chest deep, it was at least a few hours. Fortunately he was noticed, and that’s when our fine rescue crews sprung into action! With the assistance of Orange County Deputies Broyles and Cutone and firefighter Jeff Leibold, the dog was pulled from the pond by firefighter Aaron Lovell, who himself fell through the ice when pulling the lab to safety. The lab was then taken to Locust Grove Veterinary Clinic. After a short stay at the clinic, where Tucker received a well-needed “spa treatment package,” he was off to the Orange County Shelter for the night. His owners then retrieved him the following morning.
These caring actions of so many people involved to save the life of Tucker is just one of the many reasons why our community is so fantastic!
Until next time…It’s another beautiful day at the lake!
Lake of the Woods Market Stats Through 11/30/15 By Pat Licata-REALTOR
In Lake of the Woods in October, a total of 14 homes were sold. 11 were standard sale, of which three sold between $100-$175K, two between $175-250K, and six between $250-350K. There was one foreclosure at under $100k, and three in the $100-175K price range. There were two short sales, both selling between $175-250K. 5 lots also sold, two of which closed for over $100K.
Here’s a link to real estate currently for sale in Lake of the Woods: LOW active listings It’s another beautiful day at the lake!
