The Omni Homestead is hosting its most popular signature event at the beautiful Main Street Station, located at 1500 E. Main St, Richmond Virginia 23219! This is a week-long event, beginning Saturday, February 18th through Sunday, March 5th, 2023 with various events and guests happening each day. There will be hundreds, yes- you read that right – HUNDREDS of wines from Virginia, Napa Valley, and Argentina, and even Virginia spirits and ciders along with other libations and specialty foods. Prepare your senses to be overwhelmed by the massive selection of wines and spirits offered to sample and also purchase! They have carefully curated an unending array of beverages and every pourer will be equipt to explain the beverage they are pouring.
There will be VIP Sessions available to purchase, which grants you an hour-and-a-half headstart to the general admission and access to highly regarded bottles that will be unavailable to the general admission attendees. Talk about-exclusive!
New for 2023 include some new venues, an Auction, a new signature event, the “International Meritage Celebration” and masterclass opportunities.
Because this is a week-long event, the venue allows you the opportunity to customize and “create your own experience” package with discounts provided for purchasing multiple dates. See their ticket purchase options here.
See the complete event schedule for the Wine Expo, 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 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.
Calling all wine lovers! The Virginia Governor’s Cup is happening Thursday, February 23, 2023, at Richmond’s Main Street Station, and you are encouraged to join! Tickets are now available for purchase. Click here to take advantage of this exclusive taste-testing opportunity of the best wines and ciders that all of Virginia offers.
This event keeps on giving. Not only will you have the opportunity to taste the stellar wines of Virginia, but you will be delighted to know that some local chefs will also be there to share their Haute cuisines. While sampling all of VA the V Foundation will be hosting a silent auction with all proceeds going toward cancer research.
One of the toughest and most strict competitions in the US, hosted by the Virginia Wineries Association, Virginia Vineyards Association, and the Virginia Wine Board; this Virginia Governor’s Cup isn’t taken lightly. Each wine will be scored on a 100-point scale by appearance, aroma, and flavor. The process starts in the preliminary round over a course of 10 days. Seven judges will have the opportunity to taste each wine knowing only the category of the wine or the grape used. The judges will drop the lowest score and average the total for the overall score. Then in the final round taking about 3 days, 12 judges will sample all the winners from the preliminary round. The 12 highest-ranked wines will be named the “Governor’s Cup Case.” The wine with the highest score will be deemed the Govern’s Cup winner.
What do the scores mean by numbers?
100-95 Classic: Among the best in the WHOLE WORLD
94-90 Outstanding: Superior Character and Style
89-85 Very Good: A wine with special quality
84-80 Good: A well-made wine of good quality
79-75 Average: Drinkable wine may have minor flaws
74> Not Recommended (NR) or No Score (NS)
Gold Metal goes to 90-100
Silver Metal goes to 85-89
Bronze Metal goes to 80-84
Don’t miss out on this premier event! Secure your tickets now, 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 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.
This celebration of 2022 Virginia Governor’s Cup® is a one-of-a-kind, annual event that offers the unique opportunity to taste the best Virginia wines produced across the Commonwealth! There are 2 tiers of tickets available to purchase, general admission for $250/each or VIP for $600. The event is held in Richmond’s Main Street Station located at: 1500 E. Main St, Richmond VA 23219 on Thursday, March 24th from 4:30PM – 7:00PM. This is one of the most stringent competition in the US each year featuring world-class judges to sample hundreds of the best Virginia wines. The competition itself, is hosted by the Virginia Wineries Association and Best in Cider will be awarded for the second year. The highest 12-ranking red and white wines will become the Governor’s Cup® Case. There will be a silent auction held with proceeds going toward cancer research.
What does General Admission get you?
The opportunity to taste over 100 gold medal-winning wines from the 2022 Governor’s Cup® competition
Sample variety of small plates prepared by local chefs
Participate in an auction with proceeds going towards cancer research, hosted by the V Foundation
Witness the announcements of this year’s Governor’s Cup® Case, Cup & Best in Show Cider winners
What does VIP experience get you?
In additional to all the above with the general admission, VIP guests will receive entry to a fully catered VIP tasting lounge, including meet and greet with winning winemakers and special pours, intimate multi-course tasting menu for dinner paired with the 2022 winners wine, guided by the winemakers themselves!! Transportation will be provided! VIP experience will also include an exclusive winery passport with complimentary tastings for ticket holds and a guest at each of the Winning Wineries valid through 12/31/2022, and finally they will receive preferred seating during the awards reveal of the winners!!
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.
Orange County, Virginia, has become one of the most popular areas for people with families. Even though it’s a mostly rural area, it is still close to large cities like Richmond, DC, Charlottesville, etc. Rural areas and suburbs have become desired locations for families looking for new homes, or vacation homes, especially during the pandemic. With that in mind, we want to cover a simple and useful Virginia home loan guide and get you one step closer to your dream house! Let’s get started!
What is a home loan?
Let’s start by defining what a home loan is. Also known as a mortgage, it is a type of loan used only to purchase a house. A lender creates a contract with the borrower for a specified amount of money. The borrower uses that money to buy a house and pays monthly installments to the lender over a period of 15 to 30 years.
When you start browsing the hottest neighborhoods in Orange County, Virginia, be sure to check with your agent what the average cost of homes is. That will tell you if your credit score will allow you to get the amount you will need to buy a house.
Let’s break down the structure of a monthly loan
One of the most critical parts of our instructional is to teach you how to calculate your monthly payment. To get the amount of your monthly loan payment, take the principal amount (the sum that the lender borrows you) and apply the interest rate to it.
Per the US Bank, for fixed-rate mortgage loans in Virginia, the interest rate depends on the term and the type of mortgage. The common types are:
- conventional fixed-rate mortgage – a kind of loan that conforms to the size of the loan and your financial budget, and the interest rate is fixed until it is fully paid;
- adjustable-rate mortgage – interest rate fluctuates and will change based on the predetermined index;
- FHA mortgage – Federal Housing Administration loan has more flexible lending requirements than a conventional loan. It also includes insurance premiums, but more of that in the next section;
- VA mortgage – Department of Veteran Affairs loan will allow eligible service members to purchase a home with a low down payment, or without a down payment;
- Jumbo mortgage – this type of loan is what you would usually use if you want to purchase a luxury home when the price exceeds conforming loan limits. To get it, you need a high credit score and a low debt-to-income ratio;
What are insurance premiums and property taxes?
When buying a home in Virginia, you also need to pay an annual insurance premium that protects your home from any damage. It also protects you from a financial loss or if someone gets injured on your property. Furthermore, you need to pay quarterly property taxes to your local municipality.
It often happens that a lender pays for both the taxes and insurance premiums. In that case, you will actually pay more than your monthly mortgage payment, and that money goes into your escrow account. Then, the lender uses it to cover the expenses when they are due.
When we consider the cost of purchasing a home, paying your real estate agent, and organizing a relocation, you can see how important it is to precisely calculate all of the expenses and know your financial limit. Through this guide, we will also teach you how to save money whenever possible. Since you cannot cut corners when it comes to paying your lender, you can at least consider consulting Verified Movers, and they will connect you with affordable and licensed moving companies in the area.
What is a promissory note?
When you sign the contract with your lender, there is also a second agreement included. It is called a promissory note, and when you sign it, you oblige yourself to repay your home loan and the interest rate. Furthermore, you pledge to stick to the repayment schedule.
A second mortgage and how to use it
It is a common practice to get a second mortgage after you purchase your house. This loan comes in two forms: home equity loan and home equity line of credit.
While with a home equity loan, you borrow a sum of money and pay it back with interest over time, a home equity line of credit works a bit differently. You can borrow a granted amount of money over time, and you can split it. That means you can borrow one amount during this year and the rest during the following year. This means you can calculate how much money you need, and you are not under the obligation to get the whole sum.
A second mortgage is calculated if you take the total cost of your home and subtract the remaining mortgage balance. If you bought a home worth $150,000, and you have $100,000 to pay, that means you own a percentage of your home in the sum of $50,000. That sum is how much you can borrow for your second mortgage.
One of the major benefits of a second mortgage is that you can spend it on anything you want. While you can do home renovation projects, you can also spend money on anything else, like paying for relocation. With that money, you can hire movers that provide an easy and stress-free process. It will undoubtedly make your life a whole lot easier and free up some time to focus on other more pressing matters.
How to secure a mortgage
When you apply for a mortgage, the first step is to research lenders and find the best interest rates for your pocket. Securing a mortgage is a lengthy process, though. The main requirements are a favorable credit score, a low debt-to-income ratio, and a down payment.
A credit score is considered good if it’s above 670. You can still get it with a lower credit score, but your interest rate will be higher. Your debt-to-income ratio should be below 36%, and the down payment is at least 20% of the price. The higher the down payment is, the lower the interest.
Virginia home loan guide made easy
Do not be frightened by the process of getting a mortgage. We hope that this Virginia home loan guide has everything you need to go through the process with ease. Once you have your dream home secured, you will have a lot to do Virginia and you will never be bored. Best of luck in buying the home of your dreams!
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.
Have you been wanting to check out the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, VA? From January 13th – 17th, you’ll be able to visit FOR FREE! This is a great opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the garden at your leisure. Advanced tickets and masks are required, and the garden is open Wednesday – Sunday from 10AM – 5PM. During this time, the garden Cafe and Tea Room will be closed. For more information, Click Here!
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, Culpeper, Northern 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 licatagroup.com
What’s better than Man and Cheese? A whole festival dedicated to it! Be at the Richmond Raceway on October 12th for the 2020 Richmond Mac and Cheese Festival! From 11:30AM – 9PM, you’ll enjoy what is sure to be the cheesiest festival that you’ll ever attend! The portions are larger, with more choices than ever to choose from. This festival is more than just cheese though, as beers, ciders and wines will be available to go along as the perfect pairing! Live entertainment and music will also be available, and you’ll get to place your vote for Richmond’s absolutely best Mac and Cheese! Tickets are expected to sell fast, so don’t miss your chance! Early bird prices range from $15 – $45 depending on what add-ons you want, with free admission for children 12 and under! More information on the festival and purchasing tickets can be found at the “Richmond Mac and Cheese Festival 2020” Facebook Event Page. Don’t miss your chance to be at the cheesiest event in Virginia!
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, Culpeper, Northern 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 licatagroup.com
The annual Festival of Kites is coming back to town on September 12th, at Brown’s Island in Richmond, Virginia! From 11AM – 6PM you’ll enjoy seeing all the various kites take to the sky, and you’ll definitely want to join in on the fun! Moon bounces and inflatables will also be available for kids and adults to enjoy! If you’re wanting to bring your own kite to fly, you’re more than welcome to, or you can purchase there! Supplies are limited though, so be prepared just in case! If all the kite flying works up an appetite, don’t fret because several food vendors will be setting up, as well as fresh smoothies and other beverages. There will also be an array of various vendors that will be displaying fine art, jewelry crafts and more! This will be a rain or shine event, and admission is FREE, so bring the whole family to join in on the fun!
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, Culpeper, Northern 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 licatagroup.com
Get ready to spend the day with your favorite furry friends, because the 20th annual Pet Expo will be held on January 11th from 10AM-4PM at the Richmond Raceway Complex! This is a day to show your favorite pet just how much you love them, by taking them and the rest of the family to this unique indoor event! Spend time browsing the 50+ exhibitors that will be providing various good and services. There will be various activities planned throughout the day, many of which involve, and encourage pet participation! Tickets for the event are $10 for adults, or $8 if purchased in advance, and only $5 for children between the ages of 6 and 12. Pets and Children under the age of 6 will receive free admission! This is a day full of fun and excitement for the whole family, with all proceeds going to benefit the Henrico Humane Society! For more information about this event, be sure to Click Here!
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 licatagroup.com
