Elm Creek Lifestyle

Elm Creek

May | June 2014

Your Elm Creek Real Estate Specialist Cell: 210.710.8327 jdym@kw.com www.JoshDym.com 10 Dominion Drive San Antonio, TX 78257

Integrity • Responsiveness • Commitment

loan options. Our mortgage specialists can help you find the product that meets your unique needs. For personal service, in-house underwriting and processing, please contact:

Todd M. Schneider NMLS# 812337

371 North Main Street Boerne, TX 78006 (830) 816-6305 tschneider@jeffersonbank.com

jeffersonbank.com/mortgages

Address Sq. Ft. Days on Market List Price Price per Sq. Ft. CURRENTLY FOR SALE 4 Villa Bonita 2,042 32 $350,000 $171.40 12533 Elm Country Ln 3,092 129 $379,777 $122.82 12543 Elm Manor Dr 3,104 29 $389,777 $125.57 12523 Elm Country Ln 2,951 135 $395,000 $133.85 12615 Hunters Chase St 2,948 53 $410,000 $139.07 11823 Elmscourt 3,192 295 $499,000 $156.32 2102 Elm Vista 3,513 191 $585,000 $166.52 11506 Elm Blf 4,910 449 $695,000 $141.54 9948 Fm 1283 1,794 173 $699,000 $389.63 3914 Iron Mill Lane 6,373 576 $725,000 $113.76 3139 Iron Stone Ln 5,072 23 $749,000 $147.67 12626 Hunters Chase 5,320 41 $798,000 $150.00 1911 Elm Creek Rd 3,231 406 $799,000 $247.29 12730 Hunters Chase St 7,245 257 $829,900 $114.54 48 Westelm Circle 5,247 218 $875,000 $166.76 11811 Mill Rock Road 5,265 5 $889,000 $168.85 12435 Winding Br 5,111 349 $899,000 $175.89 PENDING 12611 Stonehenge 3,735 11 $519,000 $138.95 3400 Elm Hollow St 3,427 24 $675,000 $196.96 RECENTLY SOLD 3915 Morgans Creek 3,681 340 $479,999 $130.39 12722 Hunters Chase St 3,381 16 $494,900 $146.37 2022 Elm Shadow 3,488 34 $525,000 $150.51 11815 Elmscourt 3,351 21 $539,000 $160.84 3102 Old Elm Way 5,034 83 $584,500 $116.11

Celebrate A Fresh Start

On The Road To Normal The Real Estate Market Rebounds

4th Generation of San Antonio Real Estate Expertise

Nannette Gagne Escrow Officer 210.698.0924 Office 210.838.4007 Mobile

Nannette.Gagne@AlamoTitle.com Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Properties on this list have been listed/sold by various participants in the MLS. If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

Summer Solstice

REAL ESTATE ACTIVIT Y IN ELM CREEK

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Enjoy Decadent Comfort Food With Fleming’s Chipotle Mac & Cheese

Elm Creek Real Estate Report Presented By Joshua C. Dym

In Good Taste Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse &Wine Bar 210.824.9463 | 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 Culinaria Festival Week Various Restaurants | May 14-18 210.822.9555 | CulinariaSA.org A tailor made week of taste! Come celebrate all things food, wine, spirits & beer! San Antonio’s Culinaria Festival week delights with dinners, food trucks, grand tastings, the best of Mexico and burgers, bbq & beer. Don’t miss this Texas made food extravaganza! Amadeus Leopold in Recital Charline McCombs Empire Theatre | May 22 210.226.2891 | ArtsSA.org Amadeus Leopold, the performance artist, classical violinist and boundary pusher known previously as Hahn-Bin made his international debut as a concert violinist at age 12. The Juilliard graduate and Itzhak Perlman mentee is known for his incredible skill and unconventional appearance. Leopold’s performances are noted for his unconventional presentations of classical music, as well as for the unusual juxtapositions of classical and postmodern music. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs Charline McCombs Empire Theatre | June 13 210.226.5700 | MajesticEmpire.com Think you know the real story behind the huffing and puffing? Think again! In this revealing, no-squealing adaptation of Jon Scieszka’s popular book, Alexander T. Wolf finally has a chance to tell his side of the story. He only wanted a cup of sugar and he had a cold. For years we have only known this story from the pigs’ point of view. Now, Mr. A. Wolf explains what really happened to those houses made of straw, sticks, and bricks and the three little pigs that lived in them. Carrabba’s Classic Half Marathon Relay and Run McAllister Park | June 15 210.414.6858 | SARoadRunners.com Carrabba’s presents the four person half marathon relay and individual half marathon. The half marathons will take place on scenic trails throughout the area. First 1500 entrants receive a T-shirt and brunch prepared onsite by Carrabba’s Italian Grill starting around 10 AM, weather permitting. Door prizes will include four pairs of Asics shoes! Villa Finale: Museum and Gardens Villa Finale | Daily Guided Tours Tuesday-Saturday 210.223.9800 | VillaFinale.org Villa Finale was the home of Walter Mathis, a leading preservationist in San Antonio, Texas. Walter Mathis is widely recognized as the catalyst for the revitalization of the King William neighborhood, now a National Register Historic District. In addition to his work in King William, Walter Mathis was an advocate for city and statewide historic preservation, as well as a civic and cultural leader.