The Dominion Lifestyle

The Dominion

July | August 2012

Debra Janes Luxury Real Estate Group

The Dominion Real Estate Specialists

The Dominion Featured Properties Classic Spanish Courtyard Estate 5674 +/- Sq. Ft. • 4 Beds | 4 Full Baths | 1 Half Bath $2,300,000

COVER PROPERTY

Classic Spanish home designed by Gustavo Arredondo boasts over 5600 Sq. Ft. of quality craftsmanship and the finest in luxury appointments. Interior courtyard with sparkling cantera fountain and dramatic fireplace provides a spectacular setting for entertaining. 2007 Parade of Homes property with designer finishes and gourmet kitchen opens to a gracious family room with stunning rock fireplace. Artfully combines Old World living with high-tech innovations. Game & media room, study, and a master suite second-to-none round out this exceptional offering.

Dominion Hilltop

Parade of Homes Showcase

Parade of Homes Champion

Vineyard Estate Beauty

6980 +/- Sq. Ft. 5 Beds | 8 Full Baths | 1 Half Bath $2,750,000

8224 +/- Sq. Ft. 5 Beds | 5 Full Baths | 1 Half Bath $2,600,000

5940 +/- Sq. Ft. 5 Beds | 5 Full Baths | 2 Half Baths $2,600,000

5400 +/- Sq. Ft. 4 Beds | 4 Full Baths | 1 Half Bath $1,795,000

Debra Janes Luxury Real Estate Group

Maria Freyre Spanish Translation Specialist

Kelly Hamilton Licensed Realtor Associate

Stately Estate

6612 +/- Sq. Ft. 5 Beds | 5 Full Baths | 1 Half Bath $1,790,000

Michael Schultz Licensed Realtor Associate

Stunning Home on the #10 Fairway

Featured Cover Property Proudly Presented by Debra Janes

210.573.4040 dj@gvtc.com DebraJanes.com Debra Janes Luxury Realtor

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

4467 +/- Sq. Ft. 3 Beds | 3 Full Baths | 2 Half Bath $1,650,000

Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

See Back Cover for Full Details

In Good Taste Featuring Roaring Fork 210.479.9700 | RoaringFork.com

GREEN CHILI MACARONI INGREDIENTS: 1 tablespoon corn oil 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper 1/4 cup diced red onion 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1/2 cup sweet corn kernels 2 cups macaroni, cooked 1/2 cup poblano chili, roasted, peeled, seeded & pureed 1/2 cup pepper jack cheese, grated 1/2 cup heavy cream kosher salt and cracked black pepper

PROCEDURE: Heat oil in a heavy pan over moderately high heat.

Sauté bell pepper, onion, garlic and corn until tender.

Add macaroni, poblano puree, cheese and cream.

Stir frequently until combined thoroughly.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Makes 2 servings

SIMPLE STEPS TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS Family. Whether you have fond memories of family closeness growing up, or perhaps came from a family that felt distant and disconnected, there is no denying that your family bonds (or lack thereof) have shaped who you are and how you view the world.

Most people would agree that family relationships are the most important thing in one’s life. Desmond Tutu once said, “You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” With that being said, does your family feel close and loving? Do your children or grandchildren feel a real sense of unity and community within the family?

Building family bonds and strengthening relationships is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself, whether you have young children, teenagers, or even grown children with kids of their own.

You’ve heard it many times before, and now it’s a cliché: “Families that play together, stay together.” But it’s true! Spending time together in the pursuit of fun and recreation brings happiness and shared joy to all involved.

Keep in mind, “playing together” needs to be just that. Cheering your son on at his high school baseball game, or pushing your toddler in the swing at the park is wonderful, but isn’t as

participatory as engaging in an activity WITH them. Try setting up a game of Frisbee golf, or silly sack races with old pillow cases. Or when you take your little ones to the park, don’t just supervise their play – get in the middle of it and help build the castles in the sandbox, or team up on a ladybug search.

Creating family traditions and rituals works to develop your family’s identity. A strong family identity gives children the tools to develop a healthy self-identity, and gives them a clear starting point for finding their own place in the world.

Traditions and rituals needn’t

be elaborate. It can be as simple as a standing Wednesday night ice cream run, or a special high five you’ve created for especially good report cards. It’s just something your family is able to count on in today’s often hectic and sometimes difficult society. Knowing that Sunday mornings always mean hot, fresh cinnamon rolls, or that every fall your family visits the local pumpkin patch, increases everyone’s sense of connection to others in your household.

We’re all busy and it seems that finding the time (or the energy) to play games or engage in other activities such as cooking or reading together can be difficult. Well just remember that family bonding can occur in “the little moments” of our day as well. A trip to the hardware store can also be the time that you catch up on your son’s girl troubles and offer some advice. Or cleaning up around the house can turn into the highlight of the day if you transform the activity from “chore” to “fun” when you turn on the tunes and make a dance party out of it.

One of the best activities your family can engage in together is that of charitable giving. As you know, helping others makes you feel good. Decide as a family how you would like to help in your community and then get to it. You will be amazed at the joy and satisfaction that your entire family reaps from your good works, and the closeness and shared sense of accomplishment that your family members earn is a great way to build cohesiveness.

Having a place that is special to your family is another way of building a bond.

It can be a camping spot that you visit each summer, a favorite neighborhood eatery, your season tickets seats, a hiking trail, even the home of relatives that you visit regularly.

It’s not so much about the place itself, but the memories that are built there, that matter.

One of the neatest ideas for building a family identity is to create a family mission statement. Sit down as a group and decide what YOUR family’s mission statement is.

It defines who you are, how you react in particular situations, how your family interacts with each other and what’s expected of the family unit.

Having a strong family connection helps everyone, young and old, withstand the inevitable storms that life will send our way.

It’s the love and support of our family that help us through difficult times, and life’s plenty of trials and tribulations. In fact, an old saying sums it up pretty nicely:

Another view that is considered by many buyers to be undesirable is a view of a cemetery. When you think about it, those neighbors will never make noise or throw a big party, but many buyers are hesitant to purchase such a home.

• YOUR PROPERTY HAS A BODY OF WATER (CREEK, STREAM, POND, LAKE, ETC.) LOCATED ON IT. Many people long to live near the water. It may surprise you when you go to sell your home that not everyone considers living near water a desirable location. Two factors can play into a buyer’s decision-making process. First, buyers with small children may be concerned about the safety of their children playing near the water (no matter how shallow).

Second, buyers may be concerned over flooding issues and impact to insurance rates for the property when it is located by a body of water. Most property surveys indicate a 100-year flood line as a reference for where the water may raise during a worst-case scenario flood. Most modern building codes do not allow structures to be built in areas of high risk flooding, but no buyer should depend on local ordinances to protect their property investment especially if the property was built before those ordinances went into effect.

• YOUR PROPERTY HAS A BACKYARD FACING WEST. Many buyers in the southwestern states would hesitate to purchase a property with a west-facing backyard due to the extreme heat and sun exposure coming in the back. Your back outdoor living areas may even be unusable during summer months when the western sun

JULY | AUGUST 2012 Cocktails & Culture Witte Museum, July 26th 210.357.1910 | WitteMuseum.org Experience the Witte Museum after hours during an evening exclusively for adults that mixes cocktails, conversation and innovative events such as science experiments for adults and “blind” tours of the galleries. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres, live performances and unexpected surprises make this anything but a run-of-the-mill date night.

Dog Days of Summer San Antonio Botanical Garden, August 4th – 5th 210.207.3270 | SABOT.org It’s hot here in August, so you might as well embrace it! Bring your beloved pooch for a trip through the beautiful gardens this weekend and let your buddy enjoy some four-legged camaraderie while you’re meeting new friends as well.

Ford Canoe Challenge Riverwalk, August 4th 210.227.4262 | TheSanAntonioRiverWalk.com Over 90 canoe teams, including local celebrities, city officials, corporate teams, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will compete in the race down the river.

Starting and ending at the Chamber of Commerce, this fun event raises funds for the Paseo del Rio Association. Come out and join in the festivities!

P rox i m i t y A f f e c t s R e a l E stat e Va lu e s The late Lord Harold Samuel, a real estate tycoon in Britain, is attributed to coining the expression: “There are three things that matter in real estate. Location, location, and location.”

Most Realtors would agree that famous statement holds true much of the time. But when is location not a plus for selling your property? Sometimes the very thing that drew you to the property is considered a downside by a potential purchaser. Your property can be located in a sought-after neighborhood with excellent schools and a low crime rate and even with those pluses, there are some reasons your particular location may be difficult to sell.

Here are just a few examples: • YOUR PROPERTY IS ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. The most common location issue is when a home is located on, or near, a busy street. While buyers may want to live near the amenities afforded by the busy street (restaurants, shopping and entertainment), many buyers do not want to contend with the accompanying street noise and traffic issues.

• YOUR PROPERTY HAS AN UNDESIRABLE VIEW. The most common views that buyers object to are views of man-made structures such as a water tower, power lines and cell towers. In the case of power lines, buyers may also be concerned with the EMF radiation that is emitted by the lines. There has been controversy over power line radiation and its effect on human health for at least 40 years. The proximity to power lines may be a major factor in some buyer’s purchase decision.

Event Calendar

has its greatest impact. On the other hand, some buyers are willing to overlook this issue if the western exposure affords a lovely view such as mountains, city lights, etc.

• YOUR PROPERTY IS LOCATED BESIDE AN EMPTY LOT OR BORDERS VACANT LAND. Unless the empty land is considered “green space” or an area set aside that cannot be built on, buyers may hesitate to purchase with the uncertainty of what could be built in the future next door. Buyers may also not want to tolerate construction nearby due to noise and disruption. Sellers may want to have information for potential buyers about how vacant land nearby is zoned to help alleviate buyer’s concerns.

Facts and information are powerful selling tools. With the assistance of your Realtor, any location negatives can be dealt with and offset, thus helping smooth out the selling process.

An Evening with Crosby, Stills & Nash Majestic Theatre, August 17th 210.226.3333 | MajesticEmpire.com From their first-ever concert as a trio at the legendary Woodstock festival, Crosby, Stills & Nash continue to delight audiences even now, over four decades later. As Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame inductees, and members of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, CSN is known as one of the cornerstones of rock ‘n roll.

Don’t miss this special night on their summer tour.

Summer Jazz & Lunch McNay Art Museum, August 26th 210.824.5368 | YearOfJazz.org As a part of the Year of Jazz event running from October 2011 to October 2012, this lunch and concert is just one of more than 20 cultural and arts performances scheduled at various venues throughout the city. Come enjoy a lively afternoon at The McNay, Texas’ first modern art museum and one of the jewels of San Antonio.

In Good Taste Featuring Roaring Fork 210.479.9700 | RoaringFork.com

GREEN CHILI MACARONI INGREDIENTS: 1 tablespoon corn oil 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper 1/4 cup diced red onion 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1/2 cup sweet corn kernels 2 cups macaroni, cooked 1/2 cup poblano chili, roasted, peeled, seeded & pureed 1/2 cup pepper jack cheese, grated 1/2 cup heavy cream kosher salt and cracked black pepper

PROCEDURE: Heat oil in a heavy pan over moderately high heat.

Sauté bell pepper, onion, garlic and corn until tender.

Add macaroni, poblano puree, cheese and cream.

Stir frequently until combined thoroughly.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Makes 2 servings

SIMPLE STEPS TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS Family. Whether you have fond memories of family closeness growing up, or perhaps came from a family that felt distant and disconnected, there is no denying that your family bonds (or lack thereof) have shaped who you are and how you view the world.

Most people would agree that family relationships are the most important thing in one’s life. Desmond Tutu once said, “You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” With that being said, does your family feel close and loving? Do your children or grandchildren feel a real sense of unity and community within the family?

Building family bonds and strengthening relationships is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself, whether you have young children, teenagers, or even grown children with kids of their own.

You’ve heard it many times before, and now it’s a cliché: “Families that play together, stay together.” But it’s true! Spending time together in the pursuit of fun and recreation brings happiness and shared joy to all involved.

Keep in mind, “playing together” needs to be just that. Cheering your son on at his high school baseball game, or pushing your toddler in the swing at the park is wonderful, but isn’t as

participatory as engaging in an activity WITH them. Try setting up a game of Frisbee golf, or silly sack races with old pillow cases. Or when you take your little ones to the park, don’t just supervise their play – get in the middle of it and help build the castles in the sandbox, or team up on a ladybug search.

Creating family traditions and rituals works to develop your family’s identity. A strong family identity gives children the tools to develop a healthy self-identity, and gives them a clear starting point for finding their own place in the world.

Traditions and rituals needn’t

be elaborate. It can be as simple as a standing Wednesday night ice cream run, or a special high five you’ve created for especially good report cards. It’s just something your family is able to count on in today’s often hectic and sometimes difficult society. Knowing that Sunday mornings always mean hot, fresh cinnamon rolls, or that every fall your family visits the local pumpkin patch, increases everyone’s sense of connection to others in your household.

We’re all busy and it seems that finding the time (or the energy) to play games or engage in other activities such as cooking or reading together can be difficult. Well just remember that family bonding can occur in “the little moments” of our day as well. A trip to the hardware store can also be the time that you catch up on your son’s girl troubles and offer some advice. Or cleaning up around the house can turn into the highlight of the day if you transform the activity from “chore” to “fun” when you turn on the tunes and make a dance party out of it.

One of the best activities your family can engage in together is that of charitable giving. As you know, helping others makes you feel good. Decide as a family how you would like to help in your community and then get to it. You will be amazed at the joy and satisfaction that your entire family reaps from your good works, and the closeness and shared sense of accomplishment that your family members earn is a great way to build cohesiveness.

Having a place that is special to your family is another way of building a bond.

It can be a camping spot that you visit each summer, a favorite neighborhood eatery, your season tickets seats, a hiking trail, even the home of relatives that you visit regularly.

It’s not so much about the place itself, but the memories that are built there, that matter.

One of the neatest ideas for building a family identity is to create a family mission statement. Sit down as a group and decide what YOUR family’s mission statement is.

It defines who you are, how you react in particular situations, how your family interacts with each other and what’s expected of the family unit.

Having a strong family connection helps everyone, young and old, withstand the inevitable storms that life will send our way.

It’s the love and support of our family that help us through difficult times, and life’s plenty of trials and tribulations. In fact, an old saying sums it up pretty nicely:

Another view that is considered by many buyers to be undesirable is a view of a cemetery. When you think about it, those neighbors will never make noise or throw a big party, but many buyers are hesitant to purchase such a home.

• YOUR PROPERTY HAS A BODY OF WATER (CREEK, STREAM, POND, LAKE, ETC.) LOCATED ON IT. Many people long to live near the water. It may surprise you when you go to sell your home that not everyone considers living near water a desirable location. Two factors can play into a buyer’s decision-making process. First, buyers with small children may be concerned about the safety of their children playing near the water (no matter how shallow).

Second, buyers may be concerned over flooding issues and impact to insurance rates for the property when it is located by a body of water. Most property surveys indicate a 100-year flood line as a reference for where the water may raise during a worst-case scenario flood. Most modern building codes do not allow structures to be built in areas of high risk flooding, but no buyer should depend on local ordinances to protect their property investment especially if the property was built before those ordinances went into effect.

• YOUR PROPERTY HAS A BACKYARD FACING WEST. Many buyers in the southwestern states would hesitate to purchase a property with a west-facing backyard due to the extreme heat and sun exposure coming in the back. Your back outdoor living areas may even be unusable during summer months when the western sun

JULY | AUGUST 2012 Cocktails & Culture Witte Museum, July 26th 210.357.1910 | WitteMuseum.org Experience the Witte Museum after hours during an evening exclusively for adults that mixes cocktails, conversation and innovative events such as science experiments for adults and “blind” tours of the galleries. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres, live performances and unexpected surprises make this anything but a run-of-the-mill date night.

Dog Days of Summer San Antonio Botanical Garden, August 4th – 5th 210.207.3270 | SABOT.org It’s hot here in August, so you might as well embrace it! Bring your beloved pooch for a trip through the beautiful gardens this weekend and let your buddy enjoy some four-legged camaraderie while you’re meeting new friends as well.

Ford Canoe Challenge Riverwalk, August 4th 210.227.4262 | TheSanAntonioRiverWalk.com Over 90 canoe teams, including local celebrities, city officials, corporate teams, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will compete in the race down the river.

Starting and ending at the Chamber of Commerce, this fun event raises funds for the Paseo del Rio Association. Come out and join in the festivities!

P rox i m i t y A f f e c t s R e a l E stat e Va lu e s The late Lord Harold Samuel, a real estate tycoon in Britain, is attributed to coining the expression: “There are three things that matter in real estate. Location, location, and location.”

Most Realtors would agree that famous statement holds true much of the time. But when is location not a plus for selling your property? Sometimes the very thing that drew you to the property is considered a downside by a potential purchaser. Your property can be located in a sought-after neighborhood with excellent schools and a low crime rate and even with those pluses, there are some reasons your particular location may be difficult to sell.

Here are just a few examples: • YOUR PROPERTY IS ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. The most common location issue is when a home is located on, or near, a busy street. While buyers may want to live near the amenities afforded by the busy street (restaurants, shopping and entertainment), many buyers do not want to contend with the accompanying street noise and traffic issues.

• YOUR PROPERTY HAS AN UNDESIRABLE VIEW. The most common views that buyers object to are views of man-made structures such as a water tower, power lines and cell towers. In the case of power lines, buyers may also be concerned with the EMF radiation that is emitted by the lines. There has been controversy over power line radiation and its effect on human health for at least 40 years. The proximity to power lines may be a major factor in some buyer’s purchase decision.

Event Calendar

has its greatest impact. On the other hand, some buyers are willing to overlook this issue if the western exposure affords a lovely view such as mountains, city lights, etc.

• YOUR PROPERTY IS LOCATED BESIDE AN EMPTY LOT OR BORDERS VACANT LAND. Unless the empty land is considered “green space” or an area set aside that cannot be built on, buyers may hesitate to purchase with the uncertainty of what could be built in the future next door. Buyers may also not want to tolerate construction nearby due to noise and disruption. Sellers may want to have information for potential buyers about how vacant land nearby is zoned to help alleviate buyer’s concerns.

Facts and information are powerful selling tools. With the assistance of your Realtor, any location negatives can be dealt with and offset, thus helping smooth out the selling process.

An Evening with Crosby, Stills & Nash Majestic Theatre, August 17th 210.226.3333 | MajesticEmpire.com From their first-ever concert as a trio at the legendary Woodstock festival, Crosby, Stills & Nash continue to delight audiences even now, over four decades later. As Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame inductees, and members of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, CSN is known as one of the cornerstones of rock ‘n roll.

Don’t miss this special night on their summer tour.

Summer Jazz & Lunch McNay Art Museum, August 26th 210.824.5368 | YearOfJazz.org As a part of the Year of Jazz event running from October 2011 to October 2012, this lunch and concert is just one of more than 20 cultural and arts performances scheduled at various venues throughout the city. Come enjoy a lively afternoon at The McNay, Texas’ first modern art museum and one of the jewels of San Antonio.

The Dominion

July | August 2012

Debra Janes Luxury Real Estate Group

The Dominion Real Estate Specialists

The Dominion Featured Properties Classic Spanish Courtyard Estate 5674 +/- Sq. Ft. • 4 Beds | 4 Full Baths | 1 Half Bath $2,300,000

COVER PROPERTY

Classic Spanish home designed by Gustavo Arredondo boasts over 5600 Sq. Ft. of quality craftsmanship and the finest in luxury appointments. Interior courtyard with sparkling cantera fountain and dramatic fireplace provides a spectacular setting for entertaining. 2007 Parade of Homes property with designer finishes and gourmet kitchen opens to a gracious family room with stunning rock fireplace. Artfully combines Old World living with high-tech innovations. Game & media room, study, and a master suite second-to-none round out this exceptional offering.

Dominion Hilltop

Parade of Homes Showcase

Parade of Homes Champion

Vineyard Estate Beauty

6980 +/- Sq. Ft. 5 Beds | 8 Full Baths | 1 Half Bath $2,750,000

8224 +/- Sq. Ft. 5 Beds | 5 Full Baths | 1 Half Bath $2,600,000

5940 +/- Sq. Ft. 5 Beds | 5 Full Baths | 2 Half Baths $2,600,000

5400 +/- Sq. Ft. 4 Beds | 4 Full Baths | 1 Half Bath $1,795,000

Debra Janes Luxury Real Estate Group

Maria Freyre Spanish Translation Specialist

Kelly Hamilton Licensed Realtor Associate

Stately Estate

6612 +/- Sq. Ft. 5 Beds | 5 Full Baths | 1 Half Bath $1,790,000

Michael Schultz Licensed Realtor Associate

Stunning Home on the #10 Fairway

Featured Cover Property Proudly Presented by Debra Janes

210.573.4040 dj@gvtc.com DebraJanes.com Debra Janes Luxury Realtor

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

4467 +/- Sq. Ft. 3 Beds | 3 Full Baths | 2 Half Bath $1,650,000

Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

See Back Cover for Full Details