Lakes Of Parkway Lifestyle

Lakes of Parkway March | April 2014

Your Lakes of Parkway Neighbor and Realtor LUXURY AMENITIES MUST HAVES

LAKES OF PARKWAY MARKET REPORT

The renewed appreciation for family and friends is a powerful incentive for upscale consumers today.

Whether they have a young family, teenagers, grown children or grandchildren, luxury home owners want their home to enhance family life. What matters is the experience a home offers, and quite frequently, space with custom amenities make that experience possible. Must haves: travertine marble or hardwood floors, floor-to ceiling windows, home theater, woodpaneled library, appliance-lined commercial-grade kitchen, wine cellar w/tasting room, beverage center, game room, computer/study area, exercise room, elevator, smart-house control systems, rain shower, sauna, walk in closets, custom garage and a veranda with outdoor kitchen and a swimming pool. LOP offers beautiful homes with lots of potential besides a man gated community, water views, trails, tennis courts, playground and the most important it has the best neighbors!!!

Let me help you with your real estate needs! ~Claudia

The number of Houstonians buying million-dollar homes spiked nearly 50 percent last year, reflecting a robust economy and growing consumer confidence in which home ownership is seen as a more sound investments than stocks. Houston prosperity has moved many more people into the million-dollar market than we could have ever imagined.

Houston-area employment is expected to grow 2.5 percent this year, with employers creating 69,800 jobs. Houston’s thriving energy and medical industries are helping generate the wealth.

Driving the increase is the shrinking supply of homes for sale.

In Lakes of Parkway inventory’s very scarce, which leads to higher prices for the homes that are available. Is it a seller’s market?

YES….no doubt of that, just keep in mind, the home needs to be priced correctly to experience success. The inventory shows a stable market and the supply of homes is far below the six-month mark.

ADDRESS Currently for Sale 14322 Kingston Cove 14214 Flower Creek 14410 Kingston Cove 1611 Copperas Cove 14322 Shadow Garden 1627 Lakeshore 1807 Watercastle Ct 13803 Sedalia Springs

SQFT BED BATH

LIST PRICE

LIST PRICE/SQFT

3,429 3,063 3,965 4,398 4,384 5,220 6,505 7,104

3 3 5 4 4 5 5 5

2-1 3-1 4-1 3-1 3-1 3-2 3-2 5-2

$566,000 $583,900 $800,000 $850,000 $1,018,000 $1,199,000 $1,450,000 $1,950,000

$165 $190 $201 $193 $232 $229 $222 $274

Pending 2027 Spring Cedar Lane 14402 Summerleaf 13918 Hampton Cove

2,844 3 2,722 3 4,362 5

3-1 3 3-1

$429,000 $430,000 $1,029,000

$150 $157 $235

Elaborate Table Settings Step Up To The Plate

Townhome Townhome

claudiahellmund.yourkwagent.com WANT YOUR PROPERTY TO BE OUR NEXT COVER HOME?

Claudia Hellmund

Claudia Hellmund

Realtor®, GRI, CHMS, CNE ® Realtor GRI, CHMS, CNE

832.309.9390 HellmundClaudia@yahoo.com

832.309.9390

Accredited Buyers Representative chellmund@kwmemorial.com Accredited Luxury Home Specialist Certified Home Marketing Specialist Certified Negotiations Expert

® ®

Call Claudia Hellmund for the most effective marketing to sell your Lakes of Parkway property at 832.309.9390.

All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Lakes of Parkway Homes for Sale Per Houston MLS If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

The Tax Man Cometh

Strategies To Reduce Your Tax Burden

Spring Is In The Air

Rainbow Lodge’s Olive & Feta Salad

Lakes of Parkway

Real Estate Report Presented By Claudia Hellmund

In Good Taste

Event Calendar

Rainbow Lodge 713.861.8666 | Rainbow-Lodge.com

MARCH | APRIL 2014

SHAVED FENNEL AND BABY KALE SALAD WITH PISTACHIO, OLIVE AND FETA

Setting the stage for a spring fete for friends and family? Whether it’s Easter, Passover, or simply a gourmet spring fling, set your table with flair this season. Jot down these ideas to make your meal the most memorable of the spring party season.

First, you’ll need to choose a color scheme. Spring’s trendiest hues this year include tranquil sky blues, vintage purples, and minty greens, often paired with contrasting pinky reds, vibrant yellows, and energetic spicy oranges. Neutral tans and subtle, elegant grays also play their part in the most elegant table settings of the season. Choose one or two soothing hues for a tranquil Easter brunch, or pick two opposing hues for an up-to-the-minute spring dinner party.

After you choose your hues, flowers are the next element of your table setting, and often the most fun to select. What type? What size? What vases? How many on the table? For an elegant look, pair soothing blue hydrangeas with bright purple tulips for a punch of spring color. Or get a tropical look by mixing bright yellow and orange blooms together with a softer more elegant gray or white. This will surely bring the look of sunshine to your table.

When selecting a vase, go elegant and subdued— think silver, white, or gold—if your flowers are bright

INGREDIENTS: baby kale arugula young chard leaves 10 large Spanish green olives (pitted, rinsed and broken in half) 1 bulb shaved fennel 1/4 c Feta 1 plum or pluot (washed and sliced into crescents) 2 tbsp roasted and salted pistachios out of the shell 1/2 lemon 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil PREPARATION: In a large bowl, carefully toss all ingredients (except lemon, olive oil, and plum) together taking care not to break up the Feta. Drizzle salad with the juice of ½ lemon and 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil. Finish with fresh cracked black pepper and arrange the plums on top for presentation.

Serves 4 people

The Tax Man Cometh...

Is a refund on the horizon for you? Not many of us look forward to April 15—most commonly referred to as “Tax Day”. Several new tax laws took effect in 2013 that may impact your tax bill when you file your 2013 federal income taxes.

For those with taxable incomes of more than $450,000, the top statutory income tax rate on ordinary income has increased from 35% to 39.6% and the top statutory tax rate on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends has increased from 15% to 20%.

Because of this, income deferral strategies and investments that generate tax-free income have become even more valuable.

Let’s look at a few strategies that could help reduce your tax burden. As with all tax strategies, please consult a tax professional for advice regarding your particular situation.

1031 LIKE-KIND EXCHANGES: A 1031 exchange is a swap of one business or investment asset for another. A 1031 is not restricted to real estate, but that is what gets the most discussion. The 1031 exchange allows you to change the form of your investment without cashing out and recognizing a taxable capital gain. Therefore, your investment continues to grow tax deferred. For example, you can continue to roll over the gain from one piece of investment real estate to another—there is no limit on how many times you can do a 1031 exchange. Income taxes are avoided until you sell for cash.

Advice from a tax professional is crucial because there are specific rules you must be aware of.

TAX-DEFERRED ANNUITIES: Tax-deferred annuities can be valuable if you have exhausted other forms of tax-favored retirement savings, such as 401(k)s and IRAs. Invest a lump sum into the annuity and let it compound tax free for a long time—usually a decade or longer. When you do pull the money out, the profits are taxable as ordinary income.

LONG-TERM GROWTH SECURITIES: This is an investing concept where a security will appreciate in value for a relatively long period of time. Securities held for more than one year are taxed at a lower, long-term capital gains tax rate.

QUALIFYING INSTALLMENTS SALES: An installment sale is a sale of property where you receive at least one payment after the tax year of the sale. Installment sales can be a valuable tool to help sellers defer tax. But there is risk involved since the buyer may default on a future payment.

TAX-EXEMPT MUNICIPAL BONDS: Municipal bonds are issued by states, cities, and counties to raise funds. Interest income from holders of municipal bonds is often exempt from federal income tax and may also be exempt from state income tax.

and eye-catching. If the floral arrangement is more subtle, look for a bright, fun vase to show them off.

For an average size dining table, one substantial arrangement may be enough, but several smaller arrangements scattered down the center of the table is even more elegant and can be enjoyed by all your dining companions no matter where they are seated. While you’re thinking flowers, place a few arrangements throughout your home, say in the entryway, and in your living room to greet guests as they enjoy visiting your abode.

When selecting china and table linens, it’s best to make sure either one or the other is a neutral color.

Vibrant orange placemats and linen napkins will pair deliciously with pure white china and dazzling crystal and sparkling silverware, for example. Or look for bright, trendy china in say purple or green hues and pair these with classic white or gray linens for a very modern and current look. Patterned placemats, napkins, even napkin rings in your color scheme can elevate the look of your table setting in seconds flat.

The icing on the cake? Sparkling crystal wine and water glasses and gleaming silverware are the finishing touches that will set the stage for a spring affair to remember. Bon appétit!

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Society for the Performing Arts | March 14-15 713.227.4772 | SPAHouston.org Experience the power of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and see for yourself why this extraordinary company is hailed as America’s cultural ambassador to the world. From the pulse-racing thrill of contemporary favorites to the spirit lifting joy of beloved classics, these magnificent dancers offer something for every taste. Closing the program will be Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece, Revelations, which The New York Times hails as “one of the great works of the human spirit.”

The FotoFest 2014 Biennial: A Citywide Celebration of Photographic Arts Citywide | March 15-April 27 713.223.5522 | FotoFest.org More than 120 spaces across the city participate in the FotoFest Biennial, a two month-long celebration of photographic art—the United States’ first and longest-running international photography festival.

FotoFest’s own exhibitions in 2014 are focused on Contemporary Arab Photography, but participating spaces, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Menil Collection, most of the city’s commercial galleries and non-profit arts spaces, are independent and exhibit works on a diverse array of topics.

100 Years of Broadway Houston Symphony | March 28-30 713.224.7575 | HoustonSymphony.org Centennial celebrations continue as Michael Krajewski assembles a night that encompasses American musical theater’s absolute greatest hits.

You’ll hear songs like “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera, “Circle of Life” from The Lion King and “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess.

Mecum Auction Reliant Center | April 10-12 262.275.5050 | ReliantPark.com The world leader in live auctions of collector cars, classic cars, corvettes, hot rods, street rods and muscle cars hits Reliant Center with over 1,000 vehicles to be auctioned off.

Covered In Red Run 5K University of Houston Main Campus | April 19 Events.KHOU.com What to wear? Wear white! Get ready to be covered in red! Come out and run this first ever 5K event benefitting orphan children in Haiti.

In Good Taste

Event Calendar

Rainbow Lodge 713.861.8666 | Rainbow-Lodge.com

MARCH | APRIL 2014

SHAVED FENNEL AND BABY KALE SALAD WITH PISTACHIO, OLIVE AND FETA

Setting the stage for a spring fete for friends and family? Whether it’s Easter, Passover, or simply a gourmet spring fling, set your table with flair this season. Jot down these ideas to make your meal the most memorable of the spring party season.

First, you’ll need to choose a color scheme. Spring’s trendiest hues this year include tranquil sky blues, vintage purples, and minty greens, often paired with contrasting pinky reds, vibrant yellows, and energetic spicy oranges. Neutral tans and subtle, elegant grays also play their part in the most elegant table settings of the season. Choose one or two soothing hues for a tranquil Easter brunch, or pick two opposing hues for an up-to-the-minute spring dinner party.

After you choose your hues, flowers are the next element of your table setting, and often the most fun to select. What type? What size? What vases? How many on the table? For an elegant look, pair soothing blue hydrangeas with bright purple tulips for a punch of spring color. Or get a tropical look by mixing bright yellow and orange blooms together with a softer more elegant gray or white. This will surely bring the look of sunshine to your table.

When selecting a vase, go elegant and subdued— think silver, white, or gold—if your flowers are bright

INGREDIENTS: baby kale arugula young chard leaves 10 large Spanish green olives (pitted, rinsed and broken in half) 1 bulb shaved fennel 1/4 c Feta 1 plum or pluot (washed and sliced into crescents) 2 tbsp roasted and salted pistachios out of the shell 1/2 lemon 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil PREPARATION: In a large bowl, carefully toss all ingredients (except lemon, olive oil, and plum) together taking care not to break up the Feta. Drizzle salad with the juice of ½ lemon and 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil. Finish with fresh cracked black pepper and arrange the plums on top for presentation.

Serves 4 people

The Tax Man Cometh...

Is a refund on the horizon for you? Not many of us look forward to April 15—most commonly referred to as “Tax Day”. Several new tax laws took effect in 2013 that may impact your tax bill when you file your 2013 federal income taxes.

For those with taxable incomes of more than $450,000, the top statutory income tax rate on ordinary income has increased from 35% to 39.6% and the top statutory tax rate on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends has increased from 15% to 20%.

Because of this, income deferral strategies and investments that generate tax-free income have become even more valuable.

Let’s look at a few strategies that could help reduce your tax burden. As with all tax strategies, please consult a tax professional for advice regarding your particular situation.

1031 LIKE-KIND EXCHANGES: A 1031 exchange is a swap of one business or investment asset for another. A 1031 is not restricted to real estate, but that is what gets the most discussion. The 1031 exchange allows you to change the form of your investment without cashing out and recognizing a taxable capital gain. Therefore, your investment continues to grow tax deferred. For example, you can continue to roll over the gain from one piece of investment real estate to another—there is no limit on how many times you can do a 1031 exchange. Income taxes are avoided until you sell for cash.

Advice from a tax professional is crucial because there are specific rules you must be aware of.

TAX-DEFERRED ANNUITIES: Tax-deferred annuities can be valuable if you have exhausted other forms of tax-favored retirement savings, such as 401(k)s and IRAs. Invest a lump sum into the annuity and let it compound tax free for a long time—usually a decade or longer. When you do pull the money out, the profits are taxable as ordinary income.

LONG-TERM GROWTH SECURITIES: This is an investing concept where a security will appreciate in value for a relatively long period of time. Securities held for more than one year are taxed at a lower, long-term capital gains tax rate.

QUALIFYING INSTALLMENTS SALES: An installment sale is a sale of property where you receive at least one payment after the tax year of the sale. Installment sales can be a valuable tool to help sellers defer tax. But there is risk involved since the buyer may default on a future payment.

TAX-EXEMPT MUNICIPAL BONDS: Municipal bonds are issued by states, cities, and counties to raise funds. Interest income from holders of municipal bonds is often exempt from federal income tax and may also be exempt from state income tax.

and eye-catching. If the floral arrangement is more subtle, look for a bright, fun vase to show them off.

For an average size dining table, one substantial arrangement may be enough, but several smaller arrangements scattered down the center of the table is even more elegant and can be enjoyed by all your dining companions no matter where they are seated. While you’re thinking flowers, place a few arrangements throughout your home, say in the entryway, and in your living room to greet guests as they enjoy visiting your abode.

When selecting china and table linens, it’s best to make sure either one or the other is a neutral color.

Vibrant orange placemats and linen napkins will pair deliciously with pure white china and dazzling crystal and sparkling silverware, for example. Or look for bright, trendy china in say purple or green hues and pair these with classic white or gray linens for a very modern and current look. Patterned placemats, napkins, even napkin rings in your color scheme can elevate the look of your table setting in seconds flat.

The icing on the cake? Sparkling crystal wine and water glasses and gleaming silverware are the finishing touches that will set the stage for a spring affair to remember. Bon appétit!

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Society for the Performing Arts | March 14-15 713.227.4772 | SPAHouston.org Experience the power of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and see for yourself why this extraordinary company is hailed as America’s cultural ambassador to the world. From the pulse-racing thrill of contemporary favorites to the spirit lifting joy of beloved classics, these magnificent dancers offer something for every taste. Closing the program will be Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece, Revelations, which The New York Times hails as “one of the great works of the human spirit.”

The FotoFest 2014 Biennial: A Citywide Celebration of Photographic Arts Citywide | March 15-April 27 713.223.5522 | FotoFest.org More than 120 spaces across the city participate in the FotoFest Biennial, a two month-long celebration of photographic art—the United States’ first and longest-running international photography festival.

FotoFest’s own exhibitions in 2014 are focused on Contemporary Arab Photography, but participating spaces, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Menil Collection, most of the city’s commercial galleries and non-profit arts spaces, are independent and exhibit works on a diverse array of topics.

100 Years of Broadway Houston Symphony | March 28-30 713.224.7575 | HoustonSymphony.org Centennial celebrations continue as Michael Krajewski assembles a night that encompasses American musical theater’s absolute greatest hits.

You’ll hear songs like “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera, “Circle of Life” from The Lion King and “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess.

Mecum Auction Reliant Center | April 10-12 262.275.5050 | ReliantPark.com The world leader in live auctions of collector cars, classic cars, corvettes, hot rods, street rods and muscle cars hits Reliant Center with over 1,000 vehicles to be auctioned off.

Covered In Red Run 5K University of Houston Main Campus | April 19 Events.KHOU.com What to wear? Wear white! Get ready to be covered in red! Come out and run this first ever 5K event benefitting orphan children in Haiti.

Lakes of Parkway March | April 2014

Your Lakes of Parkway Neighbor and Realtor LUXURY AMENITIES MUST HAVES

LAKES OF PARKWAY MARKET REPORT

The renewed appreciation for family and friends is a powerful incentive for upscale consumers today.

Whether they have a young family, teenagers, grown children or grandchildren, luxury home owners want their home to enhance family life. What matters is the experience a home offers, and quite frequently, space with custom amenities make that experience possible. Must haves: travertine marble or hardwood floors, floor-to ceiling windows, home theater, woodpaneled library, appliance-lined commercial-grade kitchen, wine cellar w/tasting room, beverage center, game room, computer/study area, exercise room, elevator, smart-house control systems, rain shower, sauna, walk in closets, custom garage and a veranda with outdoor kitchen and a swimming pool. LOP offers beautiful homes with lots of potential besides a man gated community, water views, trails, tennis courts, playground and the most important it has the best neighbors!!!

Let me help you with your real estate needs! ~Claudia

The number of Houstonians buying million-dollar homes spiked nearly 50 percent last year, reflecting a robust economy and growing consumer confidence in which home ownership is seen as a more sound investments than stocks. Houston prosperity has moved many more people into the million-dollar market than we could have ever imagined.

Houston-area employment is expected to grow 2.5 percent this year, with employers creating 69,800 jobs. Houston’s thriving energy and medical industries are helping generate the wealth.

Driving the increase is the shrinking supply of homes for sale.

In Lakes of Parkway inventory’s very scarce, which leads to higher prices for the homes that are available. Is it a seller’s market?

YES….no doubt of that, just keep in mind, the home needs to be priced correctly to experience success. The inventory shows a stable market and the supply of homes is far below the six-month mark.

ADDRESS Currently for Sale 14322 Kingston Cove 14214 Flower Creek 14410 Kingston Cove 1611 Copperas Cove 14322 Shadow Garden 1627 Lakeshore 1807 Watercastle Ct 13803 Sedalia Springs

SQFT BED BATH

LIST PRICE

LIST PRICE/SQFT

3,429 3,063 3,965 4,398 4,384 5,220 6,505 7,104

3 3 5 4 4 5 5 5

2-1 3-1 4-1 3-1 3-1 3-2 3-2 5-2

$566,000 $583,900 $800,000 $850,000 $1,018,000 $1,199,000 $1,450,000 $1,950,000

$165 $190 $201 $193 $232 $229 $222 $274

Pending 2027 Spring Cedar Lane 14402 Summerleaf 13918 Hampton Cove

2,844 3 2,722 3 4,362 5

3-1 3 3-1

$429,000 $430,000 $1,029,000

$150 $157 $235

Elaborate Table Settings Step Up To The Plate

Townhome Townhome

claudiahellmund.yourkwagent.com WANT YOUR PROPERTY TO BE OUR NEXT COVER HOME?

Claudia Hellmund

Claudia Hellmund

Realtor®, GRI, CHMS, CNE ® Realtor GRI, CHMS, CNE

832.309.9390 HellmundClaudia@yahoo.com

832.309.9390

Accredited Buyers Representative chellmund@kwmemorial.com Accredited Luxury Home Specialist Certified Home Marketing Specialist Certified Negotiations Expert

® ®

Call Claudia Hellmund for the most effective marketing to sell your Lakes of Parkway property at 832.309.9390.

All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Lakes of Parkway Homes for Sale Per Houston MLS If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

The Tax Man Cometh

Strategies To Reduce Your Tax Burden

Spring Is In The Air

Rainbow Lodge’s Olive & Feta Salad

Lakes of Parkway

Real Estate Report Presented By Claudia Hellmund