Tag Archives: Buying Properties

Beautiful House With Cathedral Ceilings in Lake of the Woods! 1209 Confederate Drive Now SOLD!!

If privacy and space is what you crave then 1209 Confederate Drive is the one for you! Once inside, you are delighted by the open floor plan, cathedral ceilings and gas fireplace. Enjoy preparing meals in this stylish kitchen with stainless steel appliances, ample cabinets, breakfast area, pantry and breakfast area. You will love the master suite with fireplace, walk in closet and the master bath has soaking tub and double vanities. The lower-level is perfect with a light filled family room, bar and two more bedrooms with full bath. Relax on your deck and enjoy a private tree lined yard. For more information on 1209 Confederate Drive, Click Here!

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 home owners. 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.

Beautiful Custom-Built House For Sale in Lake of the Woods, VA! 312 Battlefield Road Now SOLD!!

Welcome to 312 Battlefield Road! This beautiful custom-built home, nestled in the trees, and move in ready will delight from the moment you drive up. Once you enter, you are welcomed by gleaming hardwood floors, a great room with gas fireplace, fine finishes throughout, and a sought-after open floor plan! The kitchen has upgraded appliances, pantry and a large island! You will love the master suite that is so inviting and spacious. The en-suite master bath has a double vanity and a gorgeous tiled shower with jets. Two more spacious bedrooms, full bath and laundry room complete the main level. Enjoy sitting on the screened porch with your favorite beverage off the master suite. The lower level features a family room with gas fireplace, a 4th bedroom and half bath. That is not all…. off the lower level patio is a separate room that can be used as a garden potting room and also a workshop and storage. Imagine sitting on your deck listening to all the sounds of nature, entertaining family and friends or just relaxing. A whole house generator conveys with automatic transfer! For more information on 312 Battlefield Road, Click Here!

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 home owners. 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.

Everything You Need to Know About Buying a Lakefront Property

Having a house by the lake is a dream of many people, and for a good reason. Due to their picturesque settings, breeze along the shore, and range of outdoor activities, lakefront properties will give you the feeling that you are on a non-stop vacation. Still, purchasing a lakefront home is not only about buying a piece of real estate, but it is also “buying” into a certain lifestyle.  Owning a lake house is a lot of fun, but it also comes with a set of challenges you must prepare for. Here is everything you need to know about buying a lakefront property.

Consider the financing when buying a lakefront property

Before you start looking at houses, you need to take into consideration the financing and ask yourself whether you are able to afford an investment like this. A lot of costs come with purchasing a lake home, and it’s not just paying the mortgage. Before you buy a waterfront property, consider the following:

  • ●      property cost – for starters, waterfront properties are more expensive than other types of properties. Plus, if it is your second home, financing will come with more stringent requirements. However, if you have firmly decided to own a lakefront property, there are many easy ways to save up for a new home.
  • insurance and maintenance – don’t forget to buy flood insurance, because even just a few inches of water can cause costly damage to a home. Keep in mind that regular homeowner’s insurance typically doesn’t cover flood damage. Additionally, homes near the water tend to get more wear and tear, thus you will need a larger maintenance budget for your lakefront property.
  • fun stuff when you buy a lakefront property -Well, let’s be honest, fun stuff is a major reason why you are buying lakefront property. But, remember that all the fun activities, such as boating, jet skiing, and water skiing aren’t cheap.
Before buying a lakefront property, you need to take a few considerations into  account

Consider the location of the lakefront property

If you want a lakefront property to be your primary home, you must consider the distance from school, work, medical clinic, and standard amenities like grocery stores and post office. For example, choosing a lakefront property in Orange County, VA is a great idea, since it is near major cities such as Richmond, DC, and Charlottesville. Even if you want to lead a more rural lifestyle in a picturesque waterfront home in Lake of the Woods, you can have reasonable access to these services and make your everyday life a pleasure and not a chore.

Also, the proximity to your residence is important if the lakefront property is intended to be your vacation home. Some experts recommend that vacation homes should be one to two hours away from your primary home so that you use your vacation home more often and don’t get discouraged by a burdensome drive.

Make sure you have enough space in your lake home

A good lake house shouldn’t be small, because when you finally transport extra furniture you have, there should be enough space left to accommodate you and your friends and relatives because they will no doubt want to visit you. Apart from being big enough to provide comfort for you and your guests, there should also be enough activities available in the area. Besides water sports like fishing, swimming, or jet skiing, ask around if there are other activities like hiking, biking, and bird-watching. Also, ask about amenities like swimming pools, a gym, or a clubhouse.

Your friends and relatives will most certainly visit you in your lake house, so make sure you have enough space for everybody

Before buying a property talk to the neighbors If you want to get inside information on the property, ask your neighbors because they probably have all the information you need. You can ask them if they enjoy living in the community, if they have any issues with the property you are thinking about purchasing or if there are any waterfront related problems. If you are young and want to buy a property that is a bit rural, but at the same time modern, you can find some of the best neighborhoods in Orange County for young couples.

You will find a perfect house in Lake of the Woods

People in Orange County are charming and friendly, and you can find many interesting things to do and see here – there are local breweries, you can glance at the private life of James Madison, and most importantly, in Lake of the Woods, you will find magnificent lakefront houses no matter your age or interests.

Choose the right waterfront home for you

If you are considering buying a lakefront property, make sure you chose the right one for you. A lakefront home is a great place to move to after retiring, so you might want to buy a home that is a bit secluded without many people around. On the other hand, if you are young, you might want to have access to the activities you’re passionate about, so choose a property accordingly. Hopefully, these tips will give you the confidence you need and help you decide on the right lakefront property for you. Your lakeside life, full of serenity and happiness, can begin now.

A How-To Guide for Buying a house Out of State

Buying a house out of state can be a big bite for many of us. Some are even scared to try, and rightfully so. There are many things that can go wrong even when you are buying a house in your neighborhood, let alone somewhere far away. But, don’t be discouraged. If your mind is set on buying a property out of state, this guide will help you ensure the deal goes smoothly. 

Do a thorough research

It goes without saying that you should do thorough research before buying a home wherever you decide it should be. Don’t rely entirely on your real estate agent. Of course, he or she is there to help you find the best place for your relocation, but there are some things that should be doublechecked. Furthermore, there are some details about the neighborhood that not even your agent is familiar with. Google can lend a helping hand, you just have to know where to search. Arm yourself with patience and start browsing. There are many neighborhood guides that can be very helpful for getting to know a community of your interest. These guides are great because they tell you a lot about local crime rates, employment potential, weather, and economic stability

Always do thorough research before making any big decisions

Start early to avoid stress

Searching for a home to buy is stressful under the best of circumstances, but buying out of state can be incredibly stressful. A house is usually the most expensive thing that people buy, so the process should be performed with the utmost care. You can help yourself a lot by starting the search as early as possible. If you have decided to move, the ideal time to start searching for your new home is six months before the due date of your relocation. Three months is also a doable period, but don’t let yourself start a search later than that. 

Be careful when choosing an agent for buying a house out of state

When you decide to relocate out of state, you need to find a real estate agent who will do most of the work for you. And, there is a lot of work to be done. An international move often means a lot of paperwork, so some people are not sure whether they should hire a real estate agent or a lawyer when buying a property.

The best decision you can make is to hire a buyer’s agent in the state you are relocating to. Do not ask a listing agent to represent you since he or she will probably represent the seller. In that case, their job is to sell a certain property for the biggest amount of money and they only have the seller’s best interest in mind, not yours. So, you should choose a buyer’s agent

A good buyer’s agent is your biggest help

How do I choose a buyer’s agent for buying a house out of state?

The buyer’s agent is definitely a better option than a listing agent, but still, you shouldn’t pick one randomly. Instead, you can discuss it with a real estate agent in your present community. Find one that you trust and ask him/her to refer a colleague from the area you’ll be moving to. If the real estate agent is a member of the National Association of Realtors, he/she will have access to various databases. They can even see their colleagues’ success rates. By getting a referral, you can ensure that you do not become a victim of various realty scams. 

Hire a relocation specialist

Have you heard of relocation specialists? No, that is not the term used for professional movers such as Gibraltar Van Lines who can help you relocate wherever and whenever you feel like. A relocation specialist is a person who can help you with many aspects of your move. The only thing that they do not do is negotiate your home purchase. However, they can:

  • help you find a real estate agent to start home-hunting;
  • connect you to moving companies;
  • give you the necessary details about the education and employment system in your future home town;
  • help you sell and close on your current home which is an important part of the procedure you have to go through when buying a house out of state.

It is a common practice for companies that are relocating to hire relocation specialists. That is why many people do not know they are available to individuals as well.

Take a trip and get an inspection of your potential home if you can

If you are buying a house out of state you will probably not be able to go to every showing in person. What you can do is ask your agent to give you a virtual tour of the houses that you have shortlisted. Speaking of such tours, don’t fall for online virtual tours because they are usually a part of a moving scam. 

When the time comes for you to make an offer on the house, you should really make an effort and see everything in person. There are many things that even the best real estate agents will not notice. You will be able to feel the space, and that is something no virtual tour or agent’s descriptions can replace. And you wouldn’t want to make a mistake when making such a crucial decision as buying a house out of state, would you? 

Try to go and see the property you are interested in buying in person

Many sellers would work on some features that make their home sell faster while neglecting some major issues about their property. That is where a home inspection comes in handy. It might be a burden to your budget, but at least you will know what you are dealing with. 

Close on your current home first

If the out-of-state closing is scheduled on the same day as the closing on your current home, you might have a problem. The lender for your new house must receive a closing statement from the old one. The best thing you can do is schedule the closing on the new house a few days after the closing on your current one.

 Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, Norther Virginia or even Maryland or DC, 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 contact Pat Licata.

To see available properties, please visit our website lakeofthewoodsvirginia.com