Royal Oaks Country Club Lifestyle

November | December 2012

www.HeritageTexas.com 281.679.0101

11689 Westheimer, Suite C • Houston, TX 77077

Featured Cover P roperty 3814 Louvre • 4/4.1/3 STUNNING one-of-a-kind home! Travertine inlaid floors, rich Birch paneled library, formal dining with adjoining serving bar, gourmet kitchen with commercial-grade stainless appliances, built-in coffee/ espresso bar, planning station, sprawling family room, custom window coverings and wall treatments throughout, double-paned windows and sound-proof glass. Private master suite with spa-bath retreat, seven-source Kohler shower, custom couture closet, game room up, walk-in seasonal storage/home gym, private courtyard and upper balcony with views of greenbelt.

Holiday E ntertaining Ideas To Make Your Events Sparkle

11718 Empress Oaks Striking Golf Course Estate • 5/6.1/3 Gated courtyard, spectacular views, saltwater pool/spa, summer kitchen

11602 Versailles Lakes Amazing Custom Estate Home • 5/5.1/4 Panoramic views, gourmet kitchen, pool, spa and garden

3710 St. Tropez Way Elegant Estate Home • 4-5/3.1/3 15th fairway, gorgeous details, wine room

Your Home is Under Contract

What Now?

3211 Sunrise Manor Remarkable Home for Lease • 5/4.2/3 Lovely interiors, cul-de-sac location, backyard oasis

11711 Bistro Lane Picturesque Estate Home • 5/5.2/3 Infinity-edge pool and veranda overlooking golf course

11543 Noblewood Crest Home Overlooks Pool and Golf Course • 5/4.1/4 Have it all: study, game room and media room

BRANDEY HECKEROTH

JOANNE ESKRIDGE

AMANDA WALSH

Brandey@HeritageTexas.com

JoAnne@HeritageTexas.com

Amanda@HeritageTexas.com

713.254.3551

281.250.1864

Monarch’s Ginger Beef Tenderloin

281.451.8107

CHARLIE ESKRIDGE

281.827.9912

Charlie@HeritageTexas.com If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

A Feast for the Senses

Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

Royal Oaks Country Club Real Estate Report

In Good Taste

Event Calendar

Featuring Monarch at Hotel ZaZa 713.526.1991 | HotelZaZa.com

N OVEMBER | DECEMBER 2012 Fashion Houston

GINGER BEEF TENDERLOIN

Wortham Theater Center, November 12th – 15th FashionHouston.net

INGREDIENTS: 8 portions beef tenderloin, 8 ounces each salt and pepper For the marinade: 1/4 cup sweet soy sauce 1 cup regular soy sauce 1/2 cup water 3/4 cup orange juice 1/4 cup fresh ginger 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic 1 stalk of crushed lemongrass For the shitake demi glace: 1/2 cup dried shitake mushrooms, soaked and julienned 2 cups of demi glace 1 ounce Aji Mirin For the wasabi slather: 1/4 cup pickled ginger 1 1/2 cups sour cream 1 teaspoon wasabi powder 1 teaspoon pickled ginger juice METHOD: Combine all ingredients for the marinade. Pour marinade over seasoned tenderloin in a pan, cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours. For the shitake sauce, add some oil to a sauce pot and sauté the shitake mushrooms for 2 minutes. Deglaze with the Aji Mirin and add the demi glace. Simmer for about 10 minutes and add salt and pepper to taste. Combine all ingredients for the wasabi slather. Add a little to a sauté pan and brown the tenderloins on each side. Transfer tenderloins to an oven at 350 degrees to desired internal temperature. Place two tenderloins on each plate then ladle on the shitake demi glace, followed by a dollop of the wasabi slather.

Suggested sides to accompany the dish: sesame oil infused mashed potatoes and grilled brocollini Yield: four servings

Bring your most stylish fashionista friends, score

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!

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.

some amazing runway seats, and feast your eyes upon the hottest in international fashions. Collections this year will feature such designers as Zac Posen, Max Azria, Herve Leger, Monique Lhuillier and more.

TXU Energy Turkey Trot Dillard’s by the Galleria, November 22nd 713.669.5317 | HoustonTurkeyTrot.org You know you’ll feel a lot less guilty about your huge 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

in this annual run that morning. Choose from the 10K and 5K runs/walks and get the kids moving with their very own run/walk. Proceeds benefit the Sheltering Arms organization, providing services to seniors and caregivers.

Bond and Beyond Jones Hall, November 23rd 713.238.1435 | HoustonSymphony.org Celebrate 50 years of film’s most memorable Secret Agent as the orchestra performs theme music from this successful cultural franchise. Tony Awardwinning vocalist Debbie Gravitte joins the orchestra to sing title songs such as Goldfinger and The World is Not Enough.

Andrea Bocelli in Concert Toyota Center, November 28th

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

delicious Thanksgiving meal if you’ve participated

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

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!

866.446.8849 | HoustonSymphony.org Kick-off your holiday season with a gorgeous and unforgettable evening. Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli, performs in concert with the Houston Symphony and Chorus featuring soaring arias, famed love songs, and music from his most recent release and PBS special Live In Central Park.

Holiday Home Tour Rienzi, December 19th 713.639.7800 | MFAH.org If you’re not already in the holiday spirit, a festive visit to the house museum might be just what you need. Beautifully decorated for the holidays, the home will feature docents stationed throughout to guide visitors through the house. Guests will enjoy live seasonal music and a delicious reception of holiday goodies and bites.

In Good Taste

Event Calendar

Featuring Monarch at Hotel ZaZa 713.526.1991 | HotelZaZa.com

N OVEMBER | DECEMBER 2012 Fashion Houston

GINGER BEEF TENDERLOIN

Wortham Theater Center, November 12th – 15th FashionHouston.net

INGREDIENTS: 8 portions beef tenderloin, 8 ounces each salt and pepper For the marinade: 1/4 cup sweet soy sauce 1 cup regular soy sauce 1/2 cup water 3/4 cup orange juice 1/4 cup fresh ginger 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic 1 stalk of crushed lemongrass For the shitake demi glace: 1/2 cup dried shitake mushrooms, soaked and julienned 2 cups of demi glace 1 ounce Aji Mirin For the wasabi slather: 1/4 cup pickled ginger 1 1/2 cups sour cream 1 teaspoon wasabi powder 1 teaspoon pickled ginger juice METHOD: Combine all ingredients for the marinade. Pour marinade over seasoned tenderloin in a pan, cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours. For the shitake sauce, add some oil to a sauce pot and sauté the shitake mushrooms for 2 minutes. Deglaze with the Aji Mirin and add the demi glace. Simmer for about 10 minutes and add salt and pepper to taste. Combine all ingredients for the wasabi slather. Add a little to a sauté pan and brown the tenderloins on each side. Transfer tenderloins to an oven at 350 degrees to desired internal temperature. Place two tenderloins on each plate then ladle on the shitake demi glace, followed by a dollop of the wasabi slather.

Suggested sides to accompany the dish: sesame oil infused mashed potatoes and grilled brocollini Yield: four servings

Bring your most stylish fashionista friends, score

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!

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.

some amazing runway seats, and feast your eyes upon the hottest in international fashions. Collections this year will feature such designers as Zac Posen, Max Azria, Herve Leger, Monique Lhuillier and more.

TXU Energy Turkey Trot Dillard’s by the Galleria, November 22nd 713.669.5317 | HoustonTurkeyTrot.org You know you’ll feel a lot less guilty about your huge 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

in this annual run that morning. Choose from the 10K and 5K runs/walks and get the kids moving with their very own run/walk. Proceeds benefit the Sheltering Arms organization, providing services to seniors and caregivers.

Bond and Beyond Jones Hall, November 23rd 713.238.1435 | HoustonSymphony.org Celebrate 50 years of film’s most memorable Secret Agent as the orchestra performs theme music from this successful cultural franchise. Tony Awardwinning vocalist Debbie Gravitte joins the orchestra to sing title songs such as Goldfinger and The World is Not Enough.

Andrea Bocelli in Concert Toyota Center, November 28th

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

delicious Thanksgiving meal if you’ve participated

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

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!

866.446.8849 | HoustonSymphony.org Kick-off your holiday season with a gorgeous and unforgettable evening. Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli, performs in concert with the Houston Symphony and Chorus featuring soaring arias, famed love songs, and music from his most recent release and PBS special Live In Central Park.

Holiday Home Tour Rienzi, December 19th 713.639.7800 | MFAH.org If you’re not already in the holiday spirit, a festive visit to the house museum might be just what you need. Beautifully decorated for the holidays, the home will feature docents stationed throughout to guide visitors through the house. Guests will enjoy live seasonal music and a delicious reception of holiday goodies and bites.

November | December 2012

www.HeritageTexas.com 281.679.0101

11689 Westheimer, Suite C • Houston, TX 77077

Featured Cover P roperty 3814 Louvre • 4/4.1/3 STUNNING one-of-a-kind home! Travertine inlaid floors, rich Birch paneled library, formal dining with adjoining serving bar, gourmet kitchen with commercial-grade stainless appliances, built-in coffee/ espresso bar, planning station, sprawling family room, custom window coverings and wall treatments throughout, double-paned windows and sound-proof glass. Private master suite with spa-bath retreat, seven-source Kohler shower, custom couture closet, game room up, walk-in seasonal storage/home gym, private courtyard and upper balcony with views of greenbelt.

Holiday E ntertaining Ideas To Make Your Events Sparkle

11718 Empress Oaks Striking Golf Course Estate • 5/6.1/3 Gated courtyard, spectacular views, saltwater pool/spa, summer kitchen

11602 Versailles Lakes Amazing Custom Estate Home • 5/5.1/4 Panoramic views, gourmet kitchen, pool, spa and garden

3710 St. Tropez Way Elegant Estate Home • 4-5/3.1/3 15th fairway, gorgeous details, wine room

Your Home is Under Contract

What Now?

3211 Sunrise Manor Remarkable Home for Lease • 5/4.2/3 Lovely interiors, cul-de-sac location, backyard oasis

11711 Bistro Lane Picturesque Estate Home • 5/5.2/3 Infinity-edge pool and veranda overlooking golf course

11543 Noblewood Crest Home Overlooks Pool and Golf Course • 5/4.1/4 Have it all: study, game room and media room

BRANDEY HECKEROTH

JOANNE ESKRIDGE

AMANDA WALSH

Brandey@HeritageTexas.com

JoAnne@HeritageTexas.com

Amanda@HeritageTexas.com

713.254.3551

281.250.1864

Monarch’s Ginger Beef Tenderloin

281.451.8107

CHARLIE ESKRIDGE

281.827.9912

Charlie@HeritageTexas.com If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

A Feast for the Senses

Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

Royal Oaks Country Club Real Estate Report