Welcome to this beautifully crafted, and newly updated home. While sitting on the stone porch or the large back deck, you’ll enjoy the freshly landscaped yard with stone walkways, new ornamental foliage designed to be low maintenance, and the newly planted border of emerald green arborvitaes that will quickly fill in acting as a natural fence around the property providing complete privacy. Inside you will find spacious rooms with hardwood floors of gleaming oak and tile, a gas fireplace with a stunning stone surround, tray ceilings, and greatly-sized windows casting an array of natural light. Eat and cook in the sizeable kitchen with new quartz counters and sink, new stainless steel appliances, and a range in addition to a built-in oven. Enjoy the pristine drinking water from the reverse osmosis filtration system. Plenty of storage in two pantries and a laundry room. The elegant primary bedroom offers a huge closet containing multiple storage options. The charming updated en-suite bath offers a large soaking tub and an oversized shower. Two other bedrooms with sizeable closets, both fitting full-size beds can be used for comfortable accommodations or an office/studio. The guest bath is tastefully updated and provides an ample amount of space. The home also offers a two-car garage, a new roof, a backup generator, and many more updates. This tastefully appointed, and well-built home is ready for you to move in!

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 volunteer 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 what’s to love in Lake of the Woods!

Rather than spending their vacations in a hotel or a rental apartment, more and more people are opting to buy a second house near their preferred vacation destination. Moreover, national statistics show that in 2021, there was a dramatic increase in the demand for second houses. The number of people applying for second home mortgages this past autumn was much higher than at the same time last year. That said, more than 80,000 residences in Virginia are considered vacation homes. The United States Census Bureau considers these homes “unoccupied for seasonal, recreational, or occasional usage.” For this reason, today, we will go over the top 5 vacation home markets in Virginia.

1. Lynchburg

If you want to purchase a property in Virginia, you should first consider Lynchburg. Lynchburg is in the center of the state to the east of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is one of the best vacation home markets in Virginia. What makes this market so appealing is its inexpensive housing. With an estimated population of over 80,000, Lynchburg is far from being a small town. That said, the economy is thriving, and the cost of living is just right, making this an ideal market. Lynchburg’s typical house value of $256,000 is slightly below the state average, making it a reasonable investment without losing the quality of life for renters.

To top it all off, Lynchburg is home to some of the state’s most excellent public and private educational institutions. Because of the perennial stream of new students, there will always be a need for secure, reasonably priced accommodation. If you decide to skip a vacation, you can make some passive income by renting your home out. Due to its high appreciation rate, stable economy, and expanding population, Lynchburg should be one of the finest areas to purchase a vacation home in Virginia for the foreseeable future.

2. Bristol

Half of Bristol is in Tennessee, so it may not be on many people’s radar as a desirable real estate market in Virginia. However, Bristol is still one of the best vacation home markets in Virginia. It has a healthy market for real estate buyers and sellers who want to escape the expensive coastal areas. Regarding the city’s population, only 17,000 people live in Virginia, while the neighboring state of Tennessee is home to another 27,000.

In addition, Bristol is showing promising indications of development, with a year-over-year home price increase of over 16%. The typical renter spends approximately 17% of their monthly salary on rent. That means you shouldn’t have any issues finding renters if you choose to do that. Bristol is a promising market for prospective investors because of its affordable house prices and beautiful atmosphere. This market is tiny and underappreciated, so you may expect to discover excellent homes with considerably less competition.

3. Richmond

In Richmond, you will find one of the hottest real estate markets in Virginia. Richmond is one of the major cities in Virginia, with a population of 229,000. However, if you consider the metro surrounding metro region, Richmond has a population of close to one million. That’s good news for anyone looking to invest in real estate. Furthermore, if you buy a vacation home in Virginia, you can move here at any time and experience all advantages Virginia’s largest city has to offer. Furthermore, you should expect the rents to grow more than 15% in local markets throughout 2023 alone.

Additionally, Richmond has a cost of living that is 4% lower than the U.S. average and 6% lower than the average of Virginia. Richmond has a diversified economy with many work prospects in all major employment categories thanks to its government offices, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, ten educational institutions, and HCA Virginia Health System. Also, approximately a third of Richmond’s citizens are millennials. Since they prefer renting to buying, demand for rental housing should remain strong.

4. Blacksburg

Investing in a vacation home in Blacksburg, Virginia, is one of the better options available in the state. Considering that Virginia Tech has over 30,000 students, the town’s population of just over 44,000 makes perfect sense as a college town. People come to this region mostly because of the university’s significant cultural and economic impact. Although Blacksburg’s median house price is somewhat lower than the state average, and its appreciation rate is above average at 11.5%, the market is not exactly booming. Thus, rather than focusing on the value of their investment increasing, investors here should seek stable returns via rental income.

Blacksburg’s rent-to-mortgage ratio is relatively favorable, at 70%, compared to other towns of a similar size in the United States. The ratio indicates that residences with lower prices often generate more cash flow. Real estate in this region has a reasonable price and is appreciating. However, you can make the biggest profits by renting your residence to the thousands of students needing short- to medium-term accommodation.

5. Charlottesville

Charlottesville, a minor community in northern Virginia with around 47,000 residents, is famous for being the entrance to Shenandoah National Park. This city has the lowest rent compared to a mortgage of any major city in Virginia. But not only that, it accomplishes this while having a higher median property price than the rest of the state. The explanation is obvious: many individuals strongly desire to reside in Charlottesville and are ready to pay a high price.

Charlottesville is not a good market to invest in if you want to sell your home in a few years, retire, and live well off the proceeds. However, here is the place to be if you’re looking for a quality rental property that will appreciate and provide a steady income stream or a place to use as your vacation home. That makes Charlottesville one of the top 5 vacation home markets in Virginia. Unfortunately, Charlottesville has a high price tag. If you’re interested in this market, you’d better be prepared to pay a lot of money or put in a lot of effort fixing up a fixer-upper.

Meta description: If you are looking to buy a vacation home somewhere lovely, today we will be talking about the top 5 vacation home markets in Virginia.

Keyword: Vacation home markets in Virginia.

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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.

Ingredients

• One 10-ounce bag of frozen or fresh cranberries
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon orange zest plus 1/4 cup orange juice
• 4 ounces of cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup grated Gruyere cheese
• 48 frozen prebaked phyllo cups or hors d’oeuvre cups
• 2 tablespoons chopped chives

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
Mix the cranberries, sugar and orange zest, and juice in a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and cook until the cranberries soften and start to burst, 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside.

Combine the cream cheese and Gruyere in a large bowl with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until smooth.

Place the phyllo cups on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cranberry sauce into each cup. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cheese mixture on top of the cranberry sauce. Bake until the cups are crisp and the cheese is melted and bubbling, 10 to 12 minutes. Sprinkle with chives before serving.

Source: foodnetwork.com

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.

When purchasing a home, there are many factors to take into account, including the home’s price, size, and location. Another consideration you may encounter is whether to buy a newly built or existing home. Each option carries pros and cons, including the following:

New Construction

• Pro: The latest styles. With a brand-new home, you likely won’t have to worry about remodeling anything for many years, as the home should be equipped with the most up-to-date styles and fixtures. This will help you initially save money on renovations and maintenance.
• Con: Sparse landscaping. Many builders remove existing vegetation before breaking ground on a new home. Once the home is built, they plant young trees and shrubs that may take years to reach maturity. If you desire the shade and privacy of more established vegetation, you might be facing a significant investment in landscaping.

Existing Homes

• Pro: Move-in ready. While you can always renovate an existing home to suit your needs and style, you’ll also have the option of moving in directly without needing to work with a contractor.
• Con: Outdated styles. Whether the home has major systems in need of upgrading, older appliances that are not energy efficient, or styles that are simply outdated, there’s a higher chance that you’ll need to make changes in an existing home—which translates to greater maintenance and renovation costs.

source: nar.realtor.com

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.

For many people, the holidays are a time for joy, festivities, and making memories with friends and family. However, the season can also trigger an array of uncomfortable emotions, ranging from stress and burnout to loneliness and depression.

If you’re finding it challenging to feel the joy this holiday season, here are a few tips:

• Be selective with planning activities, focusing on those that are most important to you. From endless parties to travel plans, a packed schedule is a common cause of holiday season stress. This year, think about the people you’d most like to spend time with and the activities that are most important to you, and make them priorities in your schedule giving yourself permission to decline other opportunities.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle. During the holidays, it’s easy to overindulge in rich foods, sweets, and alcohol. However, as with other times of the year, moderation is key, and too much of a good thing can compromise both your physical health and mental well-being. Therefore, try to maintain a healthy diet, get adequate sleep, and make time for exercise and other forms of self-care.
• Set a shopping budget. With a barrage of ads and limited-time specials, the pressure to spend money during the holiday season can feel inescapable. However, holiday shopping can quickly lead to buyer’s remorse when the bills start rolling in. To avoid the financial “hangover,” set a holiday shopping budget early in the season, and consider gift options that may be less expensive but more meaningful. For example, offer someone a home-cooked meal, one-on-one time together, or an afternoon of helping with housework. These gifts carry a minimal price tag but will show your love and appreciation for someone in ways that most store-bought gifts cannot.
• Ask for help. Many people simply put too much on their own to-do lists during the holiday season, particularly if they are hosting parties or trying to create magical experiences for their families. However, this can cause stress and even anger or resentment. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and delegate specific tasks to others—you’ll likely find that there are people in your life who will be happy to share in the responsibilities and the process of making holiday magic.

source: hopkinsmedicine.org

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.