Royal Oaks Lifestyle

May | June 2014

www.HeritageTexas.com 281.679.0101

11689 Westheimer, Suite C • Houston, TX 77077

Featured Cover Property

11607 Noblewood Crest | 4/3-1/3

IMMACULATE golf course home with beautiful pool, spa, loggia and summer kitchen! Stunning two story foyer, formal living and executive library, double front doors, bistro courtyard, gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances, planning station, master suite with sitting area, spa like bath with dual custom closets, complete media with seating and AV equipment, game/billiard room, HUGE garage with work area, mosquito system, and extensive landscape. Beautiful home.

3103 Noble Lakes Stunning Estate Home | 4 / 3-3 / 3 Amazing views, complete privacy and adjoining guest house.

11714 Bistro Spectacular Estate Home | 7 / 6-2 / 3 Golf course, pool, spa, catering kitchen.

3106 Rosemary Park Lane Gorgeous Mediterranean Home | 4 / 4-1 / 2 Large bedrooms, lush yard and side courtyard.

11610 Gallant Ridge Panoramic View of #7 Fairway | 3 / 3-1 / 3 One story, open living areas and huge master suite with fireplace.

11531 Noblewood Crest Expansive View of Golf Course | 3 / 3-1 / 3 One story, overlooks pool, #2 green and #6 island green.

2722 Stuart Manor Beautiful Villa on Interior Lot | 3 / 3-1 / 2 Custom finishes, hardwoods, open concept.

www.HeritageTexas.com BRANDEY HECKEROTH

JOANNE ESKRIDGE

AMANDA WALSH

Brandey@HeritageTexas.com

JoAnne@HeritageTexas.com

Amanda@HeritageTexas.com

281.679.0101

281.250.1864

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.

Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

Summer Solstice

Celebrate A Fresh Start

On The Road To Normal The Real Estate Market Rebounds

Enjoy Decadent Comfort Food With

Fleming’s Chipotle Mac & Cheese

Royal Oaks Country Club Cover Home

Featured Exclusively By Heritage Texas Properties

In Good Taste Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse &Wine Bar 713.520.5959 | FlemingsSteakhouse.com

CHIPOTLE MAC & CHEESE INGREDIENTS: 1 gal. water 2 tsp. Kosher salt 1 lb. Cavatappi pasta Corn oil as needed 6 oz. onions 4 oz. butter, lightly salted 3 tbsp. flour 2 c. heavy cream 3 c. half & half 2 tsp. Kosher salt 1 tsp. white pepper, fine grind 3/4 lbs. Smoked Cheddar cheese, grated 4 oz. Cheddar cheese, grated 1 tbsp. corn oil 1 tsp. chipotle chili powder 3/4 c. Panko crumbs

Mark your calendars! June 21st marks the summer solstice, or the longest day of the year. Not only does this day mean the most hours of sunshine all year (hurray!), but throughout time it has symbolized a period of renewal and rebirth. At the start of summer, plants are beginning to grow and mature, bees are busy pollinating, and you too may feel more energetic and filled with a desire to get things done. In today’s world, it’s a perfect time to reconnect with nature and make plans and goals for the year ahead.

The summer solstice occurs when the earth’s tilt toward the sun is at a maximum. At this time, the sun is at its

PREPARATION: In a large pot bring water and salt to a boil. With water boiling add pasta and cook 8-9 minutes. Drain pasta and cool down under cold running water and reserve.

Pasta should be slightly firm. Toss pasta in corn oil and reserve.

Melt butter in a large sauce pot set on medium high heat. Add 1/2 diced onions and sauté for 4-5 minutes.

Add flour and cook for 1-2 minutes. Do not brown. Add cream, half & half, salt & pepper and bring to a simmer and cook until thick about 5-6 minutes. Grate both cheeses and blend into the sauce. Add cooked pasta and place into separate baking crocks or into 12” X 9” baking dish.

In a sauté pan set on medium high heat add oil and chipotle chili powder. Heat for 30 seconds until it starts to smoke. Remove from the stove and quickly stir in the bread crumbs. Sprinkle the crumbs over the pasta and bake in a 350º oven for 15-20 minutes until slightly golden brown and crisp.

Yield: 5 servings

northernmost point in the sky. In fact, the sun’s position at noon changes very little for a few days before and after the summer solstice. The word solstice comes from the Latin solstitium or sol (the sun) and –stit or -stes (standing).

It’s a time of celebration after many months of colder temperatures and long, dark days.

In many cultures, the summer solstice is still celebrated today. In Sweden, people dance around the maypole at festivals; in Britain, many still travel to the rocks of Stonehenge, where the ancient ruins align with the summer solstice and present magnificent viewing; and right here in the United States, people mark the day with festivals, running races, and distinct rituals. In fact, right in Sedona, the Hopi and Navajo peoples have always celebrated the mystical summer solstice and today certain groups offer retreats to teach of the day’s spiritual significance.

Bonfires are another ancient ritual associated with the summer solstice. The fire is believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune for the year ahead. No matter

The US Real Estate Market Rebounds Many indicators are pointing to the fact that across the US the housing market is on the rebound. While the winter home selling season was impacted by the polar vortex, especially in the east and northeast, there is now pent-up demand from buyers who have been waiting for better weather to join the house hunt.

Experts point to three things that help predict future home sales volume: • Job growth, • Cheap mortgage money, and • Home price appreciation Job Growth For some areas of the country, slow job growth is still holding back the real estate recovery. But, many cities in the Bay Area in California and in Texas have seen strong housing recoveries due to the strength of their economies. Texas continually outperforms the national average for job growth. Since January 2012, Texas has added over 459,000 jobs.

In addition, economists expect gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 25

states to exceed the US average of 2.3 percent in 2014. This growth will be driven by real estate, manufacturing and energy markets.

Cheap Mortgages Although mortgage rates are increasing, they are still relatively cheap. Increasing mortgage rates will not cause houses to be unaffordable. The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University recently calculated that even if mortgage rates were to rise to 7 percent, houses would be just as affordable as they were in 2007. Sales of previously owned homes climbed in December 2013 for the first time in five months, capping the best year since 2006 and indicating the real-estate market is starting to adjust to higher borrowing costs.

Home Price Appreciation According to the National Association of Realtors, the median existing-home price for all housing types in February was $189,000, which is 9.1 percent

above February 2013. These rising home prices lifted millions of homeowners out of “underwater” status. Even though this is positive overall, this price appreciation does challenge home affordability for new homebuyers.

Another useful indicator of the housing recovery is the number of new homes currently under construction. As of December 2013, the total of single-family and multifamily units under construction has risen for 28 straight months – another indicator of a sustained real estate recovery. “We should see buyers gaining a bit more leverage this year, with more choice and less competition,” said Stan Humphries, chief economist for the real estate website Zillow.

“This slightly more balanced market is another step on the road back to normal.”

your beliefs, it’s a fun way to celebrate the change in seasons and get outdoors to reconnect with nature and the rhythm and cycle of life, which we often are disconnected from in today’s modern computerized world.

Much in the way modern day people think of New Year’s Day as a day to make positive changes and resolutions, throughout time people have considered the summer solstice as a time of growth, and a time to improve their lives and make positive changes. After all, with more daylight you probably feel more energized to get more done than you do in the cooler, darker days of winter. So whether you’re looking to make a career move, get your dream home once and for all, or find your soul mate, make June 21st a day to get outdoors and celebrate the start of something new, fresh, and full of possibilities. Maybe even light a bonfire … you never know what good fortune could be coming your way!

Event Calendar MAY | JUNE 2014 Christina and Michelle Naughton, Dueling Pianos Wortham Theater Center | May 16 713.227.4772 | SPAHouston.org Twin sisters Christina and Michelle Naughton are two pianists who are “paired to perfection,” according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Sing Tao Daily also proclaimed: “Joining two hearts and four hands at two grand pianos, the Naughton sisters created an electrifying and moving musical performance. They played like two people singing to each other, creating a duet entrancing in a way that no single piano performance could achieve.”

Modern Masters Houston Ballet | May 22 – June 1 713.227.2787 | HoustonBallet.org Explosive energy. High attitude. Cool sexuality. This mixed rep has it all - and then some. The Four Temperaments was a milestone for George Balanchine, introducing the spare classicism he would employ throughout his career. His choreographic influence is evident in the works that follow.

William Forsythe’s In The Middle Somewhat Elevated is in-your-face dance. Jiri Kylián’s Petite Mort is filled with eroticism and his delightfully comic Sechs Tanze (Six Dances) provides levity. From three of the most influential dance makers of the last hundred years comes a truly masterful program.

The Little Mermaid Hobby Center for the Performing Arts | June 13-29 713.558.8887 | TUTS.com In a magical kingdom fathoms below, we meet Ariel, the little mermaid who is tired of flipping her fins and longs to be part of the fascinating world on dry land. Joining her are Sebastian, Ariel’s crabby sidekick; Ursula, the evil sea witch; Triton, King of the Sea and the handsome and human Prince Eric. Based on the Disney animated film and hit Broadway musical, The Little Mermaid is making its Houston debut at Theatre Under The Stars.

“Summer Solstice” with Royal Dukes Houston Museum of Natural Science | June 21 713.639.4639 | HMNS.org The social set has never looked so smart! We’re celebrating the year’s geekiest holidays with a cool twist, so pop on over to our place to mingle, clink your cocktail glass, and break out your best dance moves. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the live band, dancing under the dinosaurs, cash bar, and the city’s best food trucks. The perfect party, where the science club meets the social set!

Houghton Hall: Portrait of an English Country House The Museum of FineArts | June 22- September 22 713.639.7300 | MFAH.org For the first time, the renowned collection of paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts from Houghton Hall in England travels to the United States. Houghton Hall: Portrait of an English Country House assembles more than 100 objects in settings that combine paintings, porcelain, sculpture, costume, metalwork, and furniture to evoke the stunning rooms at Houghton Hall. Among the highlights are great family portraits by William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds, and John Singer Sargent; several dozen pieces of Sèvres porcelain; rare R. J. & S. Garrard silver objects; and unique furniture by William Kent.

In Good Taste Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse &Wine Bar 713.520.5959 | FlemingsSteakhouse.com

CHIPOTLE MAC & CHEESE INGREDIENTS: 1 gal. water 2 tsp. Kosher salt 1 lb. Cavatappi pasta Corn oil as needed 6 oz. onions 4 oz. butter, lightly salted 3 tbsp. flour 2 c. heavy cream 3 c. half & half 2 tsp. Kosher salt 1 tsp. white pepper, fine grind 3/4 lbs. Smoked Cheddar cheese, grated 4 oz. Cheddar cheese, grated 1 tbsp. corn oil 1 tsp. chipotle chili powder 3/4 c. Panko crumbs

Mark your calendars! June 21st marks the summer solstice, or the longest day of the year. Not only does this day mean the most hours of sunshine all year (hurray!), but throughout time it has symbolized a period of renewal and rebirth. At the start of summer, plants are beginning to grow and mature, bees are busy pollinating, and you too may feel more energetic and filled with a desire to get things done. In today’s world, it’s a perfect time to reconnect with nature and make plans and goals for the year ahead.

The summer solstice occurs when the earth’s tilt toward the sun is at a maximum. At this time, the sun is at its

PREPARATION: In a large pot bring water and salt to a boil. With water boiling add pasta and cook 8-9 minutes. Drain pasta and cool down under cold running water and reserve.

Pasta should be slightly firm. Toss pasta in corn oil and reserve.

Melt butter in a large sauce pot set on medium high heat. Add 1/2 diced onions and sauté for 4-5 minutes.

Add flour and cook for 1-2 minutes. Do not brown. Add cream, half & half, salt & pepper and bring to a simmer and cook until thick about 5-6 minutes. Grate both cheeses and blend into the sauce. Add cooked pasta and place into separate baking crocks or into 12” X 9” baking dish.

In a sauté pan set on medium high heat add oil and chipotle chili powder. Heat for 30 seconds until it starts to smoke. Remove from the stove and quickly stir in the bread crumbs. Sprinkle the crumbs over the pasta and bake in a 350º oven for 15-20 minutes until slightly golden brown and crisp.

Yield: 5 servings

northernmost point in the sky. In fact, the sun’s position at noon changes very little for a few days before and after the summer solstice. The word solstice comes from the Latin solstitium or sol (the sun) and –stit or -stes (standing).

It’s a time of celebration after many months of colder temperatures and long, dark days.

In many cultures, the summer solstice is still celebrated today. In Sweden, people dance around the maypole at festivals; in Britain, many still travel to the rocks of Stonehenge, where the ancient ruins align with the summer solstice and present magnificent viewing; and right here in the United States, people mark the day with festivals, running races, and distinct rituals. In fact, right in Sedona, the Hopi and Navajo peoples have always celebrated the mystical summer solstice and today certain groups offer retreats to teach of the day’s spiritual significance.

Bonfires are another ancient ritual associated with the summer solstice. The fire is believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune for the year ahead. No matter

The US Real Estate Market Rebounds Many indicators are pointing to the fact that across the US the housing market is on the rebound. While the winter home selling season was impacted by the polar vortex, especially in the east and northeast, there is now pent-up demand from buyers who have been waiting for better weather to join the house hunt.

Experts point to three things that help predict future home sales volume: • Job growth, • Cheap mortgage money, and • Home price appreciation Job Growth For some areas of the country, slow job growth is still holding back the real estate recovery. But, many cities in the Bay Area in California and in Texas have seen strong housing recoveries due to the strength of their economies. Texas continually outperforms the national average for job growth. Since January 2012, Texas has added over 459,000 jobs.

In addition, economists expect gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 25

states to exceed the US average of 2.3 percent in 2014. This growth will be driven by real estate, manufacturing and energy markets.

Cheap Mortgages Although mortgage rates are increasing, they are still relatively cheap. Increasing mortgage rates will not cause houses to be unaffordable. The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University recently calculated that even if mortgage rates were to rise to 7 percent, houses would be just as affordable as they were in 2007. Sales of previously owned homes climbed in December 2013 for the first time in five months, capping the best year since 2006 and indicating the real-estate market is starting to adjust to higher borrowing costs.

Home Price Appreciation According to the National Association of Realtors, the median existing-home price for all housing types in February was $189,000, which is 9.1 percent

above February 2013. These rising home prices lifted millions of homeowners out of “underwater” status. Even though this is positive overall, this price appreciation does challenge home affordability for new homebuyers.

Another useful indicator of the housing recovery is the number of new homes currently under construction. As of December 2013, the total of single-family and multifamily units under construction has risen for 28 straight months – another indicator of a sustained real estate recovery. “We should see buyers gaining a bit more leverage this year, with more choice and less competition,” said Stan Humphries, chief economist for the real estate website Zillow.

“This slightly more balanced market is another step on the road back to normal.”

your beliefs, it’s a fun way to celebrate the change in seasons and get outdoors to reconnect with nature and the rhythm and cycle of life, which we often are disconnected from in today’s modern computerized world.

Much in the way modern day people think of New Year’s Day as a day to make positive changes and resolutions, throughout time people have considered the summer solstice as a time of growth, and a time to improve their lives and make positive changes. After all, with more daylight you probably feel more energized to get more done than you do in the cooler, darker days of winter. So whether you’re looking to make a career move, get your dream home once and for all, or find your soul mate, make June 21st a day to get outdoors and celebrate the start of something new, fresh, and full of possibilities. Maybe even light a bonfire … you never know what good fortune could be coming your way!

Event Calendar MAY | JUNE 2014 Christina and Michelle Naughton, Dueling Pianos Wortham Theater Center | May 16 713.227.4772 | SPAHouston.org Twin sisters Christina and Michelle Naughton are two pianists who are “paired to perfection,” according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Sing Tao Daily also proclaimed: “Joining two hearts and four hands at two grand pianos, the Naughton sisters created an electrifying and moving musical performance. They played like two people singing to each other, creating a duet entrancing in a way that no single piano performance could achieve.”

Modern Masters Houston Ballet | May 22 – June 1 713.227.2787 | HoustonBallet.org Explosive energy. High attitude. Cool sexuality. This mixed rep has it all - and then some. The Four Temperaments was a milestone for George Balanchine, introducing the spare classicism he would employ throughout his career. His choreographic influence is evident in the works that follow.

William Forsythe’s In The Middle Somewhat Elevated is in-your-face dance. Jiri Kylián’s Petite Mort is filled with eroticism and his delightfully comic Sechs Tanze (Six Dances) provides levity. From three of the most influential dance makers of the last hundred years comes a truly masterful program.

The Little Mermaid Hobby Center for the Performing Arts | June 13-29 713.558.8887 | TUTS.com In a magical kingdom fathoms below, we meet Ariel, the little mermaid who is tired of flipping her fins and longs to be part of the fascinating world on dry land. Joining her are Sebastian, Ariel’s crabby sidekick; Ursula, the evil sea witch; Triton, King of the Sea and the handsome and human Prince Eric. Based on the Disney animated film and hit Broadway musical, The Little Mermaid is making its Houston debut at Theatre Under The Stars.

“Summer Solstice” with Royal Dukes Houston Museum of Natural Science | June 21 713.639.4639 | HMNS.org The social set has never looked so smart! We’re celebrating the year’s geekiest holidays with a cool twist, so pop on over to our place to mingle, clink your cocktail glass, and break out your best dance moves. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the live band, dancing under the dinosaurs, cash bar, and the city’s best food trucks. The perfect party, where the science club meets the social set!

Houghton Hall: Portrait of an English Country House The Museum of FineArts | June 22- September 22 713.639.7300 | MFAH.org For the first time, the renowned collection of paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts from Houghton Hall in England travels to the United States. Houghton Hall: Portrait of an English Country House assembles more than 100 objects in settings that combine paintings, porcelain, sculpture, costume, metalwork, and furniture to evoke the stunning rooms at Houghton Hall. Among the highlights are great family portraits by William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds, and John Singer Sargent; several dozen pieces of Sèvres porcelain; rare R. J. & S. Garrard silver objects; and unique furniture by William Kent.

May | June 2014

www.HeritageTexas.com 281.679.0101

11689 Westheimer, Suite C • Houston, TX 77077

Featured Cover Property

11607 Noblewood Crest | 4/3-1/3

IMMACULATE golf course home with beautiful pool, spa, loggia and summer kitchen! Stunning two story foyer, formal living and executive library, double front doors, bistro courtyard, gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances, planning station, master suite with sitting area, spa like bath with dual custom closets, complete media with seating and AV equipment, game/billiard room, HUGE garage with work area, mosquito system, and extensive landscape. Beautiful home.

3103 Noble Lakes Stunning Estate Home | 4 / 3-3 / 3 Amazing views, complete privacy and adjoining guest house.

11714 Bistro Spectacular Estate Home | 7 / 6-2 / 3 Golf course, pool, spa, catering kitchen.

3106 Rosemary Park Lane Gorgeous Mediterranean Home | 4 / 4-1 / 2 Large bedrooms, lush yard and side courtyard.

11610 Gallant Ridge Panoramic View of #7 Fairway | 3 / 3-1 / 3 One story, open living areas and huge master suite with fireplace.

11531 Noblewood Crest Expansive View of Golf Course | 3 / 3-1 / 3 One story, overlooks pool, #2 green and #6 island green.

2722 Stuart Manor Beautiful Villa on Interior Lot | 3 / 3-1 / 2 Custom finishes, hardwoods, open concept.

www.HeritageTexas.com BRANDEY HECKEROTH

JOANNE ESKRIDGE

AMANDA WALSH

Brandey@HeritageTexas.com

JoAnne@HeritageTexas.com

Amanda@HeritageTexas.com

281.679.0101

281.250.1864

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.

Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

Summer Solstice

Celebrate A Fresh Start

On The Road To Normal The Real Estate Market Rebounds

Enjoy Decadent Comfort Food With

Fleming’s Chipotle Mac & Cheese

Royal Oaks Country Club Cover Home

Featured Exclusively By Heritage Texas Properties