Royal Oaks Country Club Lifestyle

July | August 2012

www.HeritageTexas.com 281.679.0101

11689 Westheimer, Suite C • Houston, TX 77077

Featured Cover P roperty 3139 Rosemary Park Remarkable Spanish style custom home on the green of #10 at Royal Oaks Country Club! Private courtyard entry with electric gate, pool & fountain in courtyard, lots of outdoor living space, stunning formal library with loft & private balcony, master suite with adjoining secondary bedroom or sitting area (great for a nursery or hobby room), private guest casita with access from the courtyard or home, open plan with high ceilings & panoramic views of the golf course, gourmet kitchen & fabulous formal dining with groin vault ceiling.

How To Create Strong Family Relationships 3203 Bridgeberry Elevated Long View of Golf Course • 4/4-1/3 Tranquil setting overlooking mature trees

11543 Noblewood Crest Home Overlooks Pool and Golf Course • 5/4-1/4 Have it all: study, game room and media room!

2602 Tudor Manor Wonderful Home for Lease • 4-5/4-1/2 Large villa lot, granite island kitchen, game room

11203 Noblewood Bend Spacious Chateau • 4/3-1/2 Neutral colors, game room, corner lot

3311 Bridgeberry Golf Course Home • 4/3-1/3 Study, game room, pool, water views

BRANDEY HECKEROTH

JOANNE ESKRIDGE

AMANDA WALSH

Brandey@HeritageTexas.com

JoAnne@HeritageTexas.com

Amanda@HeritageTexas.com

713.254.3551

281.250.1864

When Adjacencies Make A Negative Impact

Captivating Cuisine III Forks Pork With Spicy Plum Sauce

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.

Property Values

11203 Royal Chateau Lane Incredible Home • 3-4/3/2 Pristine interior, huge master & breathtaking custom pool design

Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

Cover Property Presented by Heritage Texas Properties See Back Cover For More Details

In Good Taste Featuring Ill Forks 713.658.9457 | IllForks.com

PORK BELLY WITH SPICY PLUM SAUCE SPICE MIX: 1 1/2 tsp. five spice 1 1/2 tsp. ginger powder 1 tsp. white pepper 3 tsp. salt

INGREDIENTS: 2 lbs. pork belly 1/2 gallon water 1 Tbs. baking soda 3 Tbs. salt 1/2 yellow onion 6 garlic cloves 2 oz. ginger

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

3 bunches green onion, cut 2” long 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. black pepper 3 Tbs. Canola oil

PROCEDURE: Cut pork belly into 5 oz. squares. Sprinkle pork with baking soda. In a sauce pot add water, salt, onion, garlic, ginger and pork. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 1 3/4 hours. Mix five spice, ginger powder, white pepper and salt together. Remove pork bellies from liquid, dry and season with spice mix. Sprinkle some extra salt on pork skin (this will help the skin crisp up). Place in refrigerator and let cool. Cut green onions into 2” pieces and toss in canola oil. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into a hot sauté pan and let outside edges brown. When pork has cooled and is dry on the outside (this is important for pork to get crispy) put into a fryer with 350 degree oil. Leave in fryer for 5 minutes or until skin is crispy. SPICY PLUM SAUCE INGREDIENTS: 3 Tbs. canola oil 1/2 cup shallots, minced 3 tsp. garlic, minced 3 Tbs. brown sugar 1/2 cup water 4 Tbs. rice wine vinegar 14 oz. Asian plum sauce 3 Tbs. hot chili with garlic

PROCEDURE: Heat sauté pan, add oil, shallots and garlic. Sauté until clear. Add rice wine vinegar and sugar. Reduce by half. Pour in water, plum sauce and chili sauce. Bring to a simmer for 5 minutes. TO PLATE: Place green onions on plate. Cut pork belly into five pieces and fan out on green onions. Pour 1 1/2 oz of spicy plum sauce over sliced pork and onto the plate.

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:

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.

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

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.

Event Calendar JULY | AUGUST 2012 Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee Alley Theatre, July 8th – August 5th 713.220.5700 | AlleyTheatre.org In Christie’s first play, initially produced in 1930, Black Coffee features a fiendishly clever plot with twists that are the trademark of the world’s greatest playwright of murder mysteries. The cast is filled with characters that are deliciously suspicious and wonderfully colorful – as only Christie can create. Disney’s The Lion King The Hobby Center, July 10th – August 12th 713.315.2400 | TheHobbyCenter.org Experience the phenomenon of Disney’s The Lion King through breathtaking “animals” brought to life by award-winning director Julie Taymor. The unforgettable score by Elton John and Tim Rice makes this performance one of the must-see events of the summer. Date Night: Sultry Summer Steakhouse Sur La Table, July 27th 800.243.0852 | SurLaTable.com Switch up your date night routine with an evening cooking class with your sweetheart. You’ll learn to sear the perfect steak and create delicious seasonal side dishes. It’s an evening of fun, food and romance! Delish. “Where the Chefs Eat” Culinary Tour Various Venues, August 19th 713.437.5275 | HoustonCulinaryTours.com Ever wonder where the city’s top chefs choose to dine out? Get the insider scoop with monthly tours of unexplored neighborhoods and undiscovered restaurants. The August tour focuses on “Southern Comfort” where you’ll enjoy the best comfort food and home-style fare the city has to offer. Think old-fashioned BBQ, fried chicken and stick-to-your ribs soul food. The 3rd Annual BrewMasters Craft Beer Festival Galveston’s Moody Gardens, August 31st – September 1st 713.557.5732 | BrewMastersInternationalBeerFestival.com This two-day festival is all about beer and cheer, offering over 400 international beers, a variety of culinary delights, and more than 20 innovative events. Check out the BrewHaHa Grand Tasting with over 400 international beers including a Keg Korner featuring hard-to-source beer on tap. Or, attend BrewLicious, featuring specialty beer and fine food pairings. Cheers!