It’s that time of year again. Mardi Gras, a French word meaning “Fat Tuesday” is reflecting on the practice of the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before Lenten sacrifices and fasting. The exciting carnival-like tradition varies from city to city and the Lake of the Woods celebration will kick off on Saturday, March 4th, 2023 from 6 pm – 11 pm. Sponsored by the LOW Lioness Lions Club, festivities will take place at the Lake of the Woods clubhouse. Tickets go on sale starting February 11, 2023, for $65 per person and can be purchased at lowlioness.org. All proceeds will support the Lioness Lions Foundation, Inc. which services our community. Live music by Reunion Band is sure to kick the party off right at 8pm. Cocktails are to start being served at 6 pm, with dinner at 7, followed by a silent auction. To spice up the evening’s event, be sure to partake in the 50/50 raffle or “Best of Raffles.” So, mark your calendars. This event will be one you won’t forget.
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 contacting Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
There’s goods news on the horizon in 2023 for home buyers and sellers
Look for shifts when it comes to home prices, inventory, and interest rates
Make a smart move by contacting us today to plan and strategize!
The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in an era of unprecedented milestones in the housing market. From the lowest interest rates in history to record amounts of equity, the last few years in the real estate market were anything but ordinary. However, as economies work on finding a middle ground, homebuyers and sellers can look forward to a much more familiar market in 2023. Let’s take a look at what we expect to see this year, so you can start thinking ahead to make your move.
Expect a bright spring for the national real estate market
The current inflationary pressures are expected to ease, especially by the spring of 2023. Millennials are continuing to enter the housing market—many for the first time. According to Bankrate, interest rates are forecast to come down nearly two percentage points from the recent high of 7.12% to a more standard 5.25% by the end of this year. This will help fuel movement among homebuyers. And, the recent string of the housing market favoring sellers will start to wane, as slight price adjustments and an increase in inventory bring balance.
What homebuyers can expect from this year’s market
Inflationary pressures are expected to ease, especially by the spring of 2023. Millennials are continuing to enter the housing market—many for the first time. Interest rates are expected to come down nearly two percentage points from the recent high of 7.12% to a more standard 5.25% by the end of this year, according to Bankrate. This will help fuel movement among homebuyers, who are also enjoying a strong job market. Despite high-profile layoffs (primarily in the technology sector) making the news, the overall unemployment rate is expected to stay at a low 3.6%.
What homesellers can expect from this year’s market
While the Fannie Mae Home Price Index (FNM-HPI) expects home prices to decline this year—it’s only by a modest 1.5%. While a “decline” can sound disappointing, since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the median home listing price is up 27%, adding more than $9 trillion to the total value of the US housing market. And, despite the recent dip in home values, homeowners that purchased before February 2020 are still up an average of $92,000 in equity, according to real estate experts Black Knight. This provides homesellers with some flexibility in the listing price, allowing for a faster sale if you’re willing to price your home competitively. It’s important to keep the last several years in perspective in order to maximize those returns and put your investment to work for you.
Talk With Us About Your Real Estate Goals
While the real estate market is always in shift, ultimately, buying or selling a home is more about what’s right for your lifestyle each year. And with a more egalitarian market expected in 2023, both homebuyers and sellers can expect to make beneficial deals. The best way to get started is to contact us. Our team has experienced countless shifts in the market, and we’re backed by the latest data in your local area to help you find your dream home!
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 contacting Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
11/21/23 Licata Live with John Licata ( The Face for Radio ) and Kathleen Ayers
11/14 Licata Live at Patch Brewing Co. With Keith and Carrie Neeley.
Pat & Daisey Licata Live 11/7/2023
Welcome Meg Brancato To The Team w/ Daisey & Meg: Licata Live 10/31/2023
Licata Live September 20, 2023 with Mary Maurer and Pat Licata
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 contacting Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
In December, 11 homes were SOLD in Lake of the Woods.
0 sold below $250,000.00 4 sold between $250,000-299,999; 0 sold between $300,000-349,999; 3 sold between $350,000-399,999; 2 sold between $400,000-499,999; 2 sold between $500,000-$999,999;
46 Active/Coming Soon Listings for Sale 14 Homes Under Contract 1 Home Sold since January 1, 2023.
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 contacting Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
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.
A rare modern classic brings everyone’s favorite storybook characters together in this timeless, and still relevant piece by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim. We’ll get to witness the story of a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wants to attend a ball; and Jack with a cow whom he wishes would produce milk. A journey ensues when the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child due to a Witch’s curse and features our storybook favorites, including Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and a Giant. When wishes become granted, the consequences of their actions haunt them with tragic results. Into the Woods, one of Sondheim’s most popular works, is a musically sophisticated show, so don’t miss this musical performance! If you are interested in participating in this show, auditions are being accepted. Download and complete the audition form here. The form includes show details, rehearsal dates, audio track links, and audition requirements. Rehearsals begin as soon as February 12, 2023. Auditions are held Sunday, January 29th, 2023 from 7p – 9pm at MFA Studios & Fitness, 3rd floor. (4444 Germanna Hwy, Locust Grove VA 22508) and Monday, January 30th, 2023 from 7pm – 9pm at the Lake of the Woods Community Center (110 Sweetbriar Park Rd, Locust Grove VA 22508). *Please note Lake of the Woods is a gated community. If you live outside LOW, contact Dave at david_schubert@comcast.net to let them know you are planning to attend auditions. They will put your name on the guest list at the guard gate and you may be asked for ID to enter.
Performances for this show are scheduled for: May 5th, 6th, 12th, and 13th, 2023 at 7pm, as well as May 7th, 13th, and 14th at 2pm.
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 contacting Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
”Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it” Santayana once said. And he was right. It’s important to think about this sentence now more than ever. Orange County is (if we have the liberty to say it) perhaps one of the capitols of history in America. There is a lot to see and even more to learn. Are you wondering where to start? Check out some of the places from this history lover’s guide to Orange County, VA.
Start at the Orange Train Station
The train in literature often symbolizes an important journey. Therefore, the Orange Train Station can be a perfect place to start your journey to getting more profound knowledge about American history hidden in this beautiful part of Virginia. Trains changed the face of business in the United States in the early twentieth century. Having been constructed in 1910, the Orange Train Station played a crucial role in the county’s continued existence and development.
Although the Colonial Revival-style structure is no longer used for passenger transportation, it is nevertheless worth a visit since it houses the Orange County Visitors Center. The Visitor Center is open all seven days of the week. It’s kind of a crossroads for all the visitors. So, buying a vacation home near it can be a great investment.
Make sure to hop on the train of knowledge with this history lover’s guide to Orange County!
Visit Wilderness Battlefield
The sad cost of the Civil War is memorialized in the Wilderness Battlefield, located in the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. Guests have the option of:
Vehicle excursions
Self-guided hikes
Visits to historic battlegrounds
To an inexperienced eye, it may seem like an ordinary field in the village. But it’s so much more. Every rock and a little piece of grass hides great sorrow but also lessons for the generations to come. Make sure to listen to the old trees’ whispers and spread the word of wisdom to be cherished in the future.
Ellwood Manor is an important part of it
Ellwood Manor, which stands tall on the Wilderness Battlefield, was the command center for the Union’s right wing. There is a walking route and displays that will appeal to visitors of all ages at this historic property. Follow Route 20 to the Ellwood Manor entrance and soak in all it has to offer.
Exchange Hotel Museum was a place of hope
This structure, which opened in 1860 as a hotel, later served as a hospital for more than 70,000 service members from both the Union and the Confederate forces. This is the only surviving hospital from the Civil War era in Virginia. At the moment, you can visit it only on selected Saturdays during the month. But, seeing it and experiencing the place of life-saving and hope is definitely worth the extra effort.
Once a hotel, it became a place of hope and salvation for many during the Civil War.
The Germanna Fort Visitor Center will take your breath away
The Germanna Fort Visitor Center, library, museum, and memorial garden were built to commemorate the arrival of the first German settlers to Virginia in 1714. Also, you can take advantage of the 170 acres of woodland behind the school and the Rapidan River access by visiting the Siegen Forest paths.
You may fall in love with it
Many people fall in love with this region because of it and decide to move here. However, the whole process can be a bit overwhelming, and some choose not to pursue their dreams because of all the fuss. In order to make relocation less stressful and actually enjoy the process, it’s best to find reliable movers and let them handle all the heavy lifting. That way, you’ll be free to enjoy all the hidden gems near Germana Fort.
James Madison’s Montpelier deserves its place in history lover’s guide to Orange County
Historic site commemorating the life and times of James Madison, a key figure in the creation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. You may learn about the area’s history and have fun with your family on one of Montpelier’s guided tours, family activities, or hiking trails. Also, if you’re a DC commuter (and a history lover), this place can be quite a treat for you.
However, this big mansion holds the darker side of American history too. This residence offers a colorful insight into the period of slavery. Even though it may not be pleasant to revisit our ancestors’ mistakes, it’s important to learn and experience first-hand the history of the rich and the poor. The history of men in power and the history of the powerless. As only knowledge is the power that will help us make a better future.
Barboursville ruins and vineyards
Thomas Jefferson built this opulent palace for Governor James Barbour. Unfortunately, on Christmas Day 1884, a fire destroyed it. Ruins at Barboursville are preserved as a historical site and are visible amid the grapes. As seen from a distance, this site can be a perfect metaphor for both faces of American history – the richness and the poverty and the potential to grow. Even though this burnt mansion isn’t quite conventionally part of the holiday decorating contest, it can be even more worth visiting and being a part of it, even for a day.
Even though it’s in ruins, this place perfectly sums up the spirit of American history.
Final thoughts
Orange County in Virginia holds many treasures of American history. And we don’t mean the gold or the diamonds. The amount of knowledge circling between the walls of all the residences mentioned above is what is truly valuable. If you have the privilege to follow this history lover’s guide to Orange County, make sure to listen. Listen to all of these places while they’re telling you their story. Listen to the locals and ask them where to find more secret historical gems of this region. Soak in all the knowledge, as only knowledge is power. Take the opportunity to get mentally stronger so you’ll, one day, make the future worth fighting for.
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 contacting Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
In November, 16 homes were SOLD in Lake of the Woods.
2 sold below $250,000.00 1 sold between $250,000-299,999; 3 sold between $300-349,999; 3 sold between $350,000-399,999; 5 sold between $400-499,999; 2 sold between $500,000-$999,999;
60 Active/Coming Soon Listings for Sale 16 Homes Under Contract 284 Homes Sold since January 1, 2022.
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 contacting Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
Lake of the Woods Association is sponsoring the 3rd Annual Holiday Home Decorating Contest. Registered homes will be included on a map on LOWA.org, members can tour the community and look at the homes! Since the deadline to decorate is December 8th, it won’t be long before our community will be lighting up the nights with holiday cheer! December 9-11th: Garden Club will judge homes and the winners will be published in Lake Currents on December 16th.
Winners will be chosen from one of the three categories. Gift cards will be awarded to first place and a runner-up! The 3 categories are Hallmark Holidays: garland, wreaths, lights, and everything for the picture-perfect greeting card; Wacky Tacky: snow globe, figurines, inflatables, lots of lights, and lasers. Anything goes! and lastly, Winter Wonderland: More seasonal, less Christmas, Snowmen, sleighs and more.
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.
Beginning NOW through Friday, December 3rd the LOW Lioness Lions Club and Ryan Richardson, Manager of the Lake of the Woods Clubhouse have coordinated collections for Orange County.
What does this mean? Between now and December 3rd, you can drop off and donate NEW, UNWRAPPED TOYS at any of the following locations:
-Our Licata Group Office (36111 Goodwin Dr, Locust Grove – located between AT&T and CVS in the Food Lion shopping center across from the LOW Front Gate) Monday – Friday 9AM – 5PM
-LOW CLUBHOUSE, Ryan Richardson, 540-972-2221
-LOW LIONS Club, Vicky Shew: 703-408-4926
-Jack Samuels Realty -Gibson’s Rental
Monetary donations will be accepted, please make checks payable to: Orange County Children’s Toy Box PO BOX 1117, Orange VA 22960-0659
All donated toys will remain in Orange County and will be given to children in OUR area!
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 contacting Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
As busy as this time of year gets, jolly Ol’ Saint Nick always remembers the good boys and girls in Locust Grove! He will be making his rounds atop LOW F&R Engine 29 through Lake of the Woods on December 16th, 17th, and 18th! Santa is so excited to see all the children in LOW and nearby Locust Grove areas! Santa and the LOW Fire Department have developed a route and tracker that is posted on their website and Facebook page, so please keep checking for further updates! Please note the schedule is tentative and may change based on weather and calls for service.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, or Northern Virginia, we are your Real Estate team committed to finding the perfect home for you! 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, one of our area expert advisors will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contacting Pat Licata.
To see available properties, please visit our website licatagroup.com
