North Central Luxury Lifestyle

November | December 2012

North Central Luxury #1 LUXURY BROKER IN SAN ANTONIO (per local board statistics).

We will contribute

$500

on your behalf, to Homes For Our Troops at Close of Escrow when you list or buy with us by 12/31/12!

Featured P roperty

Matin Tabbakh, BBA

Broker Associate, Realtor®, Accredited Luxury Home Specialist Keller Williams Luxury International 10 Dominion Dr, San Antonio TX 78257 C: 210-772-7777 • O: 210-776-1500 Matin@SALuxuryRealty.com

FREE SALES REPORTS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD. JUST ASK! Like us on facebook: facebook.com/SALuxuryRealty Follow us on twitter: twitter.com/SALuxuryRealty

www.SALuxuryRealty.com

24702 Covent Garden | The Dominion 4416 Sq. Ft. | 4 Bed | 4 Bath | $569,995 Welcome to an exquisite home nestled inside the gates of the legendary upscale golf course community of The Dominion. Welcoming grand entry paved with unique red flagstone gives this luxury home all the elegance from the front door to the backyard. Enjoy staring at the sunset reflection on crystal Swarovski chandeliers throughout the house! Have a fun time in either the game room or state-of-the-art, multi-level theater room. Entertain your friends for a BBQ-filled weekend using the outdoor kitchen and more!!

Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

How would you like a $0.00 closing cost loan?

That’s right, Zero closing cost on refinance or resale purchase!

Property Tax, Appraisal, Homeowners and Title Insurance are still charged. Call now to qualify!

John Lopez RMLOC #194999 NMLS #221715 PHONE:

210.889.0076 TOLL FREE:

866.641.7948 If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

400 N. Loop 1604 East, Suite 100 San Antonio, TX 78232

Special terms apply. Subject to change without notice.

www.HighPointMortgage.com

Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

Holiday E ntertaining Ideas To Make Your Events Sparkle

Your Home is Under Contract What Now?

‘Tis the Season...for Chocolate!

Morton’s Double Chocolate Mousse

Estates at Champion Run, Champion Ridge, Greystone Country Estates, The Pinnacles, Inwood Estates, Rogers Ranch/Falling Brook & Rogers Ranch Point Bluff

Real Estate Services

In Good Taste

Event Calendar

Featuring Morton’s The Steakhouse 210.228.0700 | Mortons.com

N OVEMBER | DECEMBER 2012 Ford Holiday River Parade & Lighting Ceremony

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

River Walk, November 23rd

INGREDIENTS: • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream • 6 ounces semisweet or bittersweet dark chocolate, preferably Belgian, chopped into small pieces • 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder • 1/2 cup egg whites (from 3 to 4 large eggs) or 1/2 cup pasteurized egg whites • 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar • 1/8 teaspoon salt • 1/4 cup sugar • whipped cream, for serving

TheSanAntonioRiverWalk.com Let the festivities begin! San Antonio’s holiday

Hanukkah Dinner

Undoubtedly some of the joys of the busy holiday season are the parties and celebrations that come along with it. Whether you’re already a veteran party-giver looking for some new inspiration for this year, or more of a non-hosting party-goer considering entertaining your own guests, see what we’ve compiled for some fun and festive celebrations!

INSTRUCTIONS: • In a saucepan, bring 3/4 cup of the cream to a boil over medium-high heat.

• Put the chocolate and cocoa in a heat-proof glass bowl and pour the hot cream over them. Let the mixture stand for about 1 minute and then whisk until blended. Be sure to break up any clumps of the cocoa. Set aside at room temperature for about 45 minutes, whisking occasionally to keep the mixture smooth.

The chocolate needs to cool to 80°F. • In a chilled, dry bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on high speed for 10 to 20 seconds or until they begin to foam. Add the cream of tartar and salt and beat for about 1 minute longer or until soft peaks form.

• Sprinkle the sugar over the whites and continue to beat for 1 to 2 minutes longer or until the peaks are stiff but not dry.

At this point, the mixer will make a “wop, wop, wop” sound.

• Fold the whites into the cooled chocolate (make sure it’s no warmer than 80°F before adding the whites).

• Pour the remaining heavy cream into the bowl of the mixer and beat with the whisk attachment on high speed for about 2 minutes or until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the chocolate. Do not worry if a few flecks of whites remain in the chocolate.

• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Serve the mousse spooned on dessert plates or in bowls. Top each serving with a little whipped cream. At Morton’s the mousse is piped into serving dishes using a pastry bag fitted with a star tip.

Retro Cocktail Party Just as the classic cocktail has come back into favor and we’re all obsessed with TV’s Mad Men, put an innovative twist on your cocktail party this year. Set the mood with holiday music from the 60s.

(Amazon.com sells an Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails CD featuring crooners such as Peggy Lee, Dean Martin and Ray Anthony.) Encourage guests to arrive in suits and smart dresses (hats a plus) so you all look the part. Go retro with the menu: deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail, cheese balls, kebabs and marinated olives.

Cocktails? Roll out a snazzy bar cart complete with vintage cocktail shaker and serve all the old greats: Tom Collins, Sidecar, Manhattan, Old Fashioned and more.

Light up your ambiance with a nod to the Festival of Lights – have candles burning beautifully throughout your home.

Decorate with sparkling blues, silvers and golds. Sprinkle foil-covered chocolate gelt and dreidels about the table and include floral centerpieces of white and blue winter flowers such as narcissus, tulips and hyacinths. Foods that have been baked or fried in oil are central to the Hanukkah feast, so serve a savory beef brisket, latkes, challah bread and sufganiyot for dessert.

There are a number of delicious kosher wines available now, and they’re more readily found in stores.

Holiday Brunch Nothing brings families together for a special occasion like a festive brunch.

With time-honored holiday tunes piping through the speakers and the seasonal scents of cloves and allspice permeating the home, your guests will feel like they’ve stepped into a winter wonderland. Ask everyone to bring a wrapped ornament for an ornament exchange. Have holiday crafts and activities to keep the children occupied. Let the flavors of the season dictate your menu: cranberry pancakes, maple bacon quiche, smoked salmon and cream cheese strata, pumpkin Belgian waffles, warm seafood salad and more.

season is kicked off each year with style! The spectacular one-hour parade along the River Walk features professionally decorated floats, celebrities, lively bands and lavish costumes. The parade is preceded by the Lighting Ceremony during which 1.4 million twinkling lights are illuminated.

Cool Jazz & Smooth Soul Frost Bank Plaza Club, November 30th For drinks, cafés au lait, Bloody Marys and Mimosas are always in order. For a holiday twist on the Mimosa, substitute orange juice for pomegranate juice.

Elegant Dinner Party This is the opportunity to bring out your best china and crystal and go all out with a sumptuous feast for an intimate gathering.

Invite guests to come in their finest holiday attire and serve a menu that stands up to the elegant occasion you’re presenting.

Try oyster soup, a sage-encrusted rib roast, roasted rosemary and garlic potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, creamed spinach and a decadent chocolate peppermint cheesecake for dessert. To add to the festivities, include some Champagne tasting as an activity. Test your guests with a blind tasting, or simply give guests a rating system and let everyone choose their favorites.

Caroling Party If you’re a little shy about singing to your neighbors (don’t be, they’ll love it!), organize a trip to a nursing home or hospital. A caroling party is the perfect way to blend the sounds and the flavors of the holidays into a fun tradition. When your guests arrive, warm up their tummies and their throats with a casual buffet. Think plenty of hot hors d’oeuvres, perhaps a baked ham, butternut squash soup and steaming loaves of crusty bread. Prepare custom song books for carolers and supply everyone with a candle and wax protector.

After all the caroling fun is done, everyone comes back to your home to enjoy egg nog, spiced apple cider and a large array of Christmas cookies in front of a cozy fire.

addition, issues regarding tax rate, property owner’s association fees, adjacent property zoning issues and a raft of other concerns may arise during the option period when the buyer and their agent are doing their “due diligence” on the property.

During the option period, sellers may continue to show the property in hopes of getting a back-up contract. This means that the home should continue to be in “showing condition.” It behooves the seller to continue to market and show the property in case the original buyer backs out during the option period. As the old saying goes, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” If another contract comes along the seller can negotiate that contract and that buyer is then in the back-up position. The original buyer has the first “option” on the home and can decide whether they want to proceed with the purchase.

Once the option period hurdle is cleared, there are still a few more challenges ahead. If the buyer

requires a loan, the financing must be approved by the lending institution. Most buyers will have a preliminary “loan approval” document presented as part of the original offer. However, the final loan approval is a more stringent process and can have several snags along the way. Some buyers do not realize the impact of their actions during the loan approval process. Any changes to income, financial position or debt burden incurred during loan approval may make the current loan application null and void. One example is an overly zealous buyer who rushes out and purchases new furnishings for their new home, thus changing their financial and debt position.

In addition, if the buyer cannot qualify for a loan with an interest rate below or equal to the maximum interest rate specified in the contract, they can refuse the loan and back out of the contract.

Depending on what was included in the contract, there are dates by which the buyer must receive

Make it a festive date night with dinner, dancing and entertainment with proceeds benefitting the Mosaic/South Central Texas group which assists adults with intellectual disabilities. Featuring jazz/ R&B vocalist Marc Staggers, the event will also pay a tribute to soul legend Luther Vandross.

Santa Boogie 5K HemisFair Park Arch Plaza, December 1st 210.223.3101 | Facebook.com/SanAntonioSantaBoogie If you’re a veteran of organized, timed runs, you might think they’re all pretty much the same.

However, when is the last time you ran a 5K in a Santa suit?! Adults and kids of all ages are welcome to participate, and your registration fee includes a full Santa suit (shirt, pants, belt, hat and beard)!

Prizes to be awarded in multiple categories. Better practice your “Ho, Ho, Ho”….

Your Home’s Under Contract! TIME TO START PACKING? As your real estate agent will tell you – a contract is just the first step in the home-selling process.

Before you start packing you need to clear several more hurdles. It may surprise many sellers to learn that contracts fall out for a variety of reasons before they ever get to the closing table.

In Texas, the first 10 to 14 days of the contract are usually the “option period.” The buyer will offer the seller a nominal option fee to secure an option period where the buyer has time to perform inspections on the home and has the right to back out of the contract for any reason. This literally means that the buyer can simply change their mind and back out of the contract. While it is not typical for the buyer to back out for seemingly no reason, it does happen. A more frequent reason that a buyer may back out during the option period is that the buyer uncovers something in the inspection that concerns them about the quality of the home or the costs associated with repairing any of the issues unearthed by the inspector. In

214.641.7695 | CoolJazzForever.com

a copy of the property owner’s documents and a copy of the property survey.

Again, these are important dates that if not met can give the buyer a legitimate way to back out of the contract.

After these hurdles are passed, the seller can feel more confident in starting to pack and moving on with their life – figuratively and literally!

Poinsettia Ball Hyatt Regency on the River Walk, December 13th 210.785.5850 This gala benefit for Friends of Hospice San Antonio is an elegant dinner and dance affair to lend aid to patients of Christus VNA Hospice in need of financial assistance. Musical entertainment by the popular Rick Cavender Band is sure to get everyone on their feet to dance! pARTy at SAMA San Antonio Museum of Art, December 14th 210.978.8100 | SAMuseum.org SAMA’s Second Friday Happy Hour brings lovers of art together to mix and mingle over cocktails, with music inspired by Rostros de Maria. Held at the Gloria Galt River Landing, the event is free with paid museum admission and features a cash bar.

In Good Taste

Event Calendar

Featuring Morton’s The Steakhouse 210.228.0700 | Mortons.com

N OVEMBER | DECEMBER 2012 Ford Holiday River Parade & Lighting Ceremony

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

River Walk, November 23rd

INGREDIENTS: • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream • 6 ounces semisweet or bittersweet dark chocolate, preferably Belgian, chopped into small pieces • 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder • 1/2 cup egg whites (from 3 to 4 large eggs) or 1/2 cup pasteurized egg whites • 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar • 1/8 teaspoon salt • 1/4 cup sugar • whipped cream, for serving

TheSanAntonioRiverWalk.com Let the festivities begin! San Antonio’s holiday

Hanukkah Dinner

Undoubtedly some of the joys of the busy holiday season are the parties and celebrations that come along with it. Whether you’re already a veteran party-giver looking for some new inspiration for this year, or more of a non-hosting party-goer considering entertaining your own guests, see what we’ve compiled for some fun and festive celebrations!

INSTRUCTIONS: • In a saucepan, bring 3/4 cup of the cream to a boil over medium-high heat.

• Put the chocolate and cocoa in a heat-proof glass bowl and pour the hot cream over them. Let the mixture stand for about 1 minute and then whisk until blended. Be sure to break up any clumps of the cocoa. Set aside at room temperature for about 45 minutes, whisking occasionally to keep the mixture smooth.

The chocolate needs to cool to 80°F. • In a chilled, dry bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on high speed for 10 to 20 seconds or until they begin to foam. Add the cream of tartar and salt and beat for about 1 minute longer or until soft peaks form.

• Sprinkle the sugar over the whites and continue to beat for 1 to 2 minutes longer or until the peaks are stiff but not dry.

At this point, the mixer will make a “wop, wop, wop” sound.

• Fold the whites into the cooled chocolate (make sure it’s no warmer than 80°F before adding the whites).

• Pour the remaining heavy cream into the bowl of the mixer and beat with the whisk attachment on high speed for about 2 minutes or until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the chocolate. Do not worry if a few flecks of whites remain in the chocolate.

• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Serve the mousse spooned on dessert plates or in bowls. Top each serving with a little whipped cream. At Morton’s the mousse is piped into serving dishes using a pastry bag fitted with a star tip.

Retro Cocktail Party Just as the classic cocktail has come back into favor and we’re all obsessed with TV’s Mad Men, put an innovative twist on your cocktail party this year. Set the mood with holiday music from the 60s.

(Amazon.com sells an Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails CD featuring crooners such as Peggy Lee, Dean Martin and Ray Anthony.) Encourage guests to arrive in suits and smart dresses (hats a plus) so you all look the part. Go retro with the menu: deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail, cheese balls, kebabs and marinated olives.

Cocktails? Roll out a snazzy bar cart complete with vintage cocktail shaker and serve all the old greats: Tom Collins, Sidecar, Manhattan, Old Fashioned and more.

Light up your ambiance with a nod to the Festival of Lights – have candles burning beautifully throughout your home.

Decorate with sparkling blues, silvers and golds. Sprinkle foil-covered chocolate gelt and dreidels about the table and include floral centerpieces of white and blue winter flowers such as narcissus, tulips and hyacinths. Foods that have been baked or fried in oil are central to the Hanukkah feast, so serve a savory beef brisket, latkes, challah bread and sufganiyot for dessert.

There are a number of delicious kosher wines available now, and they’re more readily found in stores.

Holiday Brunch Nothing brings families together for a special occasion like a festive brunch.

With time-honored holiday tunes piping through the speakers and the seasonal scents of cloves and allspice permeating the home, your guests will feel like they’ve stepped into a winter wonderland. Ask everyone to bring a wrapped ornament for an ornament exchange. Have holiday crafts and activities to keep the children occupied. Let the flavors of the season dictate your menu: cranberry pancakes, maple bacon quiche, smoked salmon and cream cheese strata, pumpkin Belgian waffles, warm seafood salad and more.

season is kicked off each year with style! The spectacular one-hour parade along the River Walk features professionally decorated floats, celebrities, lively bands and lavish costumes. The parade is preceded by the Lighting Ceremony during which 1.4 million twinkling lights are illuminated.

Cool Jazz & Smooth Soul Frost Bank Plaza Club, November 30th For drinks, cafés au lait, Bloody Marys and Mimosas are always in order. For a holiday twist on the Mimosa, substitute orange juice for pomegranate juice.

Elegant Dinner Party This is the opportunity to bring out your best china and crystal and go all out with a sumptuous feast for an intimate gathering.

Invite guests to come in their finest holiday attire and serve a menu that stands up to the elegant occasion you’re presenting.

Try oyster soup, a sage-encrusted rib roast, roasted rosemary and garlic potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, creamed spinach and a decadent chocolate peppermint cheesecake for dessert. To add to the festivities, include some Champagne tasting as an activity. Test your guests with a blind tasting, or simply give guests a rating system and let everyone choose their favorites.

Caroling Party If you’re a little shy about singing to your neighbors (don’t be, they’ll love it!), organize a trip to a nursing home or hospital. A caroling party is the perfect way to blend the sounds and the flavors of the holidays into a fun tradition. When your guests arrive, warm up their tummies and their throats with a casual buffet. Think plenty of hot hors d’oeuvres, perhaps a baked ham, butternut squash soup and steaming loaves of crusty bread. Prepare custom song books for carolers and supply everyone with a candle and wax protector.

After all the caroling fun is done, everyone comes back to your home to enjoy egg nog, spiced apple cider and a large array of Christmas cookies in front of a cozy fire.

addition, issues regarding tax rate, property owner’s association fees, adjacent property zoning issues and a raft of other concerns may arise during the option period when the buyer and their agent are doing their “due diligence” on the property.

During the option period, sellers may continue to show the property in hopes of getting a back-up contract. This means that the home should continue to be in “showing condition.” It behooves the seller to continue to market and show the property in case the original buyer backs out during the option period. As the old saying goes, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” If another contract comes along the seller can negotiate that contract and that buyer is then in the back-up position. The original buyer has the first “option” on the home and can decide whether they want to proceed with the purchase.

Once the option period hurdle is cleared, there are still a few more challenges ahead. If the buyer

requires a loan, the financing must be approved by the lending institution. Most buyers will have a preliminary “loan approval” document presented as part of the original offer. However, the final loan approval is a more stringent process and can have several snags along the way. Some buyers do not realize the impact of their actions during the loan approval process. Any changes to income, financial position or debt burden incurred during loan approval may make the current loan application null and void. One example is an overly zealous buyer who rushes out and purchases new furnishings for their new home, thus changing their financial and debt position.

In addition, if the buyer cannot qualify for a loan with an interest rate below or equal to the maximum interest rate specified in the contract, they can refuse the loan and back out of the contract.

Depending on what was included in the contract, there are dates by which the buyer must receive

Make it a festive date night with dinner, dancing and entertainment with proceeds benefitting the Mosaic/South Central Texas group which assists adults with intellectual disabilities. Featuring jazz/ R&B vocalist Marc Staggers, the event will also pay a tribute to soul legend Luther Vandross.

Santa Boogie 5K HemisFair Park Arch Plaza, December 1st 210.223.3101 | Facebook.com/SanAntonioSantaBoogie If you’re a veteran of organized, timed runs, you might think they’re all pretty much the same.

However, when is the last time you ran a 5K in a Santa suit?! Adults and kids of all ages are welcome to participate, and your registration fee includes a full Santa suit (shirt, pants, belt, hat and beard)!

Prizes to be awarded in multiple categories. Better practice your “Ho, Ho, Ho”….

Your Home’s Under Contract! TIME TO START PACKING? As your real estate agent will tell you – a contract is just the first step in the home-selling process.

Before you start packing you need to clear several more hurdles. It may surprise many sellers to learn that contracts fall out for a variety of reasons before they ever get to the closing table.

In Texas, the first 10 to 14 days of the contract are usually the “option period.” The buyer will offer the seller a nominal option fee to secure an option period where the buyer has time to perform inspections on the home and has the right to back out of the contract for any reason. This literally means that the buyer can simply change their mind and back out of the contract. While it is not typical for the buyer to back out for seemingly no reason, it does happen. A more frequent reason that a buyer may back out during the option period is that the buyer uncovers something in the inspection that concerns them about the quality of the home or the costs associated with repairing any of the issues unearthed by the inspector. In

214.641.7695 | CoolJazzForever.com

a copy of the property owner’s documents and a copy of the property survey.

Again, these are important dates that if not met can give the buyer a legitimate way to back out of the contract.

After these hurdles are passed, the seller can feel more confident in starting to pack and moving on with their life – figuratively and literally!

Poinsettia Ball Hyatt Regency on the River Walk, December 13th 210.785.5850 This gala benefit for Friends of Hospice San Antonio is an elegant dinner and dance affair to lend aid to patients of Christus VNA Hospice in need of financial assistance. Musical entertainment by the popular Rick Cavender Band is sure to get everyone on their feet to dance! pARTy at SAMA San Antonio Museum of Art, December 14th 210.978.8100 | SAMuseum.org SAMA’s Second Friday Happy Hour brings lovers of art together to mix and mingle over cocktails, with music inspired by Rostros de Maria. Held at the Gloria Galt River Landing, the event is free with paid museum admission and features a cash bar.

November | December 2012

North Central Luxury #1 LUXURY BROKER IN SAN ANTONIO (per local board statistics).

We will contribute

$500

on your behalf, to Homes For Our Troops at Close of Escrow when you list or buy with us by 12/31/12!

Featured P roperty

Matin Tabbakh, BBA

Broker Associate, Realtor®, Accredited Luxury Home Specialist Keller Williams Luxury International 10 Dominion Dr, San Antonio TX 78257 C: 210-772-7777 • O: 210-776-1500 Matin@SALuxuryRealty.com

FREE SALES REPORTS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD. JUST ASK! Like us on facebook: facebook.com/SALuxuryRealty Follow us on twitter: twitter.com/SALuxuryRealty

www.SALuxuryRealty.com

24702 Covent Garden | The Dominion 4416 Sq. Ft. | 4 Bed | 4 Bath | $569,995 Welcome to an exquisite home nestled inside the gates of the legendary upscale golf course community of The Dominion. Welcoming grand entry paved with unique red flagstone gives this luxury home all the elegance from the front door to the backyard. Enjoy staring at the sunset reflection on crystal Swarovski chandeliers throughout the house! Have a fun time in either the game room or state-of-the-art, multi-level theater room. Entertain your friends for a BBQ-filled weekend using the outdoor kitchen and more!!

Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

How would you like a $0.00 closing cost loan?

That’s right, Zero closing cost on refinance or resale purchase!

Property Tax, Appraisal, Homeowners and Title Insurance are still charged. Call now to qualify!

John Lopez RMLOC #194999 NMLS #221715 PHONE:

210.889.0076 TOLL FREE:

866.641.7948 If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

400 N. Loop 1604 East, Suite 100 San Antonio, TX 78232

Special terms apply. Subject to change without notice.

www.HighPointMortgage.com

Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

Holiday E ntertaining Ideas To Make Your Events Sparkle

Your Home is Under Contract What Now?

‘Tis the Season...for Chocolate!

Morton’s Double Chocolate Mousse

Estates at Champion Run, Champion Ridge, Greystone Country Estates, The Pinnacles, Inwood Estates, Rogers Ranch/Falling Brook & Rogers Ranch Point Bluff

Real Estate Services