royal oaks country club lifestyle

Your Home is Under Contract

What Now?

A Feast for the SensesMonarch’s Ginger Beef Tenderloin

Royal Oaks Country ClubReal Estate Report

If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing. Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

www.HeritageTexas.com281.679.0101

11689 Westheimer, Suite C • Houston, TX 77077

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.

11602 Versailles LakesAmazing Custom Estate Home • 5/5.1/4

Panoramic views, gourmet kitchen, pool, spa and garden

11718 Empress OaksStriking Golf Course Estate • 5/6.1/3

Gated courtyard, spectacular views, saltwater pool/spa, summer kitchen

3710 St. Tropez WayElegant Estate Home • 4-5/3.1/3

15th fairway, gorgeous details, wine room

Featured Cover P roperty

3211 Sunrise ManorRemarkable Home for Lease • 5/4.2/3

Lovely interiors, cul-de-sac location, backyard oasis

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

BRANDEY HECKEROTH

[email protected]

JOANNE ESKRIDGE

[email protected]

CHARLIE ESKRIDGE

[email protected]

AMANDAWALSH

[email protected]

11711 Bistro LanePicturesque Estate Home • 5/5.2/3

Infinity-edge pool and veranda overlooking golf course

November | December 2012

Ideas To Make Your Events Sparkle

Holiday Entertaining

Asyourrealestateagentwilltellyou–acontractisjustthefirststepinthehome-sellingprocess.Beforeyoustartpackingyouneedtoclearseveralmorehurdles.Itmaysurprisemanysellerstolearnthatcontractsfalloutforavarietyofreasonsbeforetheyevergettotheclosingtable. InTexas,thefirst10to14daysofthecontractareusuallythe“optionperiod.”Thebuyerwilloffertheselleranominaloptionfeetosecureanoptionperiodwherethebuyerhastimetoperforminspectionsonthehomeandhastherighttobackoutofthecontractforanyreason.Thisliterallymeansthatthebuyercansimplychangetheirmindandbackoutofthecontract.Whileitisnottypicalforthebuyertobackoutforseeminglynoreason,itdoeshappen.Amorefrequentreasonthatabuyermaybackoutduringtheoptionperiodisthatthebuyeruncoverssomethingintheinspectionthatconcernsthemaboutthequalityofthehomeorthecostsassociatedwithrepairinganyoftheissuesunearthedbytheinspector.In

addition,issuesregardingtaxrate,propertyowner’sassociationfees,adjacentpropertyzoningissuesandaraftofotherconcernsmayariseduringtheoptionperiodwhenthebuyerandtheiragentaredoingtheir“duediligence”ontheproperty. Duringtheoptionperiod,sellersmaycontinuetoshowthepropertyinhopesofgettingaback-upcontract.Thismeansthatthehomeshouldcontinuetobein“showingcondition.”Itbehoovesthesellertocontinuetomarketandshowthepropertyincasetheoriginalbuyerbacksoutduringtheoptionperiod.Astheoldsayinggoes,“Don’tputallyoureggsinonebasket.”Ifanothercontractcomesalongthesellercannegotiatethatcontractandthatbuyeristhenintheback-upposition.Theoriginalbuyerhasthefirst“option”onthehomeandcandecidewhethertheywanttoproceedwiththepurchase. Oncetheoptionperiodhurdleiscleared,therearestillafewmorechallengesahead.Ifthebuyer

requiresaloan,thefinancingmustbeapprovedbythelendinginstitution.Mostbuyerswillhaveapreliminary“loanapproval”documentpresentedaspartoftheoriginaloffer.However,thefinalloanapprovalisamorestringentprocessandcanhaveseveralsnagsalongtheway.Somebuyersdonotrealizetheimpactoftheiractionsduringtheloanapprovalprocess.Anychangestoincome,financialpositionordebtburdenincurredduringloanapprovalmaymakethecurrentloanapplicationnullandvoid.Oneexampleisanoverlyzealousbuyerwhorushesoutandpurchasesnewfurnishingsfortheirnewhome,thuschangingtheirfinancialanddebtposition.Inaddition,ifthebuyercannotqualifyforaloanwithaninterestratebeloworequaltothemaximuminterestratespecifiedinthecontract,theycanrefusetheloanandbackoutofthecontract. Dependingonwhatwasincludedinthecontract,therearedatesbywhichthebuyermustreceive

acopyofthepropertyowner’sdocumentsandacopyofthepropertysurvey.Again,theseareimportantdatesthatifnotmetcangivethebuyeralegitimatewaytobackoutofthecontract.Afterthesehurdlesarepassed,thesellercanfeelmoreconfidentinstartingtopackandmovingonwiththeirlife–figurativelyandliterally!

FashionHouston

WorthamTheaterCenter,November12th–15th

FashionHouston.net

Bringyourmoststylishfashionistafriends,score

someamazingrunwayseats,andfeastyoureyes

uponthehottestininternationalfashions.Collections

thisyearwillfeaturesuchdesignersasZacPosen,

MaxAzria,HerveLeger,MoniqueLhuillierandmore.

TXUEnergyTurkeyTrot

Dillard’sbytheGalleria,November22nd

713.669.5317|HoustonTurkeyTrot.org

Youknowyou’llfeelalotlessguiltyaboutyourhuge

deliciousThanksgivingmealifyou’veparticipated

inthisannualrunthatmorning.Choosefromthe

10Kand5Kruns/walksandgetthekidsmoving

withtheirveryownrun/walk.Proceedsbenefitthe

ShelteringArmsorganization,providingservicesto

seniorsandcaregivers.

BondandBeyond

JonesHall,November23rd

713.238.1435|HoustonSymphony.org

Celebrate50yearsoffilm’smostmemorableSecret

Agentastheorchestraperformsthememusicfrom

thissuccessfulculturalfranchise.TonyAward-

winningvocalistDebbieGravittejoinstheorchestra

tosingtitlesongssuchasGoldfingerandThe World

is Not Enough.

AndreaBocelliinConcert

ToyotaCenter,November28th

Kick-offyourholidayseasonwithagorgeousand

unforgettableevening.Italiantenor,AndreaBocelli,

performsinconcertwiththeHoustonSymphonyand

Chorusfeaturingsoaringarias,famedlovesongs,

andmusicfromhismostrecentreleaseandPBS

specialLive In Central Park.

HolidayHomeTour

Rienzi,December19th

713.639.7800|MFAH.org

Ifyou’renotalreadyintheholidayspirit,afestive

visittothehousemuseummightbejustwhatyou

need.Beautifullydecoratedfortheholidays,the

homewillfeaturedocentsstationedthroughoutto

guidevisitorsthroughthehouse.Guestswillenjoy

liveseasonalmusicandadeliciousreceptionof

holidaygoodiesandbites.

NOVEMBER|DECEMBER2012

GINGER BEEF TENDERLOIN

FeaturingMonarchatHotelZaZa713.526.1991|HotelZaZa.com

In Good Taste Event Calendar

Undoubtedlysomeofthejoysofthebusyholidayseasonarethepartiesandcelebrationsthatcomealongwithit.Whetheryou’realreadyaveteranparty-giverlookingforsomenewinspirationforthisyear,ormoreofanon-hostingparty-goerconsideringentertainingyourownguests,seewhatwe’vecompiledforsomefunandfestivecelebrations!

Retro Cocktail Party Justastheclassiccocktailhascomebackintofavorandwe’reallobsessedwithTV’sMad Men,putaninnovativetwistonyourcocktailpartythisyear.Setthemoodwithholidaymusicfromthe60s.(Amazon.comsellsanUltra-Lounge: Christmas CocktailsCDfeaturingcroonerssuchasPeggyLee,DeanMartinandRayAnthony.)Encouragegueststoarriveinsuitsandsmartdresses(hatsaplus)soyoualllookthepart.Goretrowiththemenu:deviledeggs,shrimpcocktail,cheeseballs,kebabsandmarinatedolives.Cocktails?Rolloutasnazzybarcartcompletewithvintagecocktailshakerandservealltheoldgreats:TomCollins,Sidecar,Manhattan,OldFashionedandmore.

Hanukkah Dinner LightupyourambiancewithanodtotheFestivalofLights–havecandlesburningbeautifullythroughoutyourhome.Decoratewithsparklingblues,silversandgolds.Sprinklefoil-coveredchocolategeltanddreidelsaboutthetableandincludefloralcenterpiecesofwhiteandbluewinterflowerssuchasnarcissus,tulipsandhyacinths.FoodsthathavebeenbakedorfriedinoilarecentraltotheHanukkahfeast,soserveasavorybeefbrisket,latkes,challahbreadandsufganiyotfordessert.Thereareanumberofdeliciouskosherwinesavailablenow,andthey’remorereadilyfoundinstores.

Holiday Brunch Nothingbringsfamiliestogetherforaspecialoccasionlikeafestivebrunch.Withtime-honoredholidaytunespipingthroughthespeakersandtheseasonalscentsofclovesandallspicepermeatingthehome,yourguestswillfeellikethey’vesteppedintoawinterwonderland.Askeveryonetobringawrappedornamentforanornamentexchange.Haveholidaycraftsandactivitiestokeepthechildrenoccupied.Lettheflavorsoftheseasondictateyourmenu:cranberrypancakes,maplebaconquiche,smokedsalmonandcreamcheesestrata,pumpkinBelgianwaffles,warmseafoodsaladandmore.

Fordrinks,cafésaulait,BloodyMarysandMimosasarealwaysinorder.ForaholidaytwistontheMimosa,substituteorangejuiceforpomegranatejuice.

Elegant Dinner Party Thisistheopportunitytobringoutyourbestchinaandcrystalandgoalloutwithasumptuousfeastforanintimategathering.Invitegueststocomeintheirfinestholidayattireandserveamenuthatstandsuptotheelegantoccasionyou’representing.Tryoystersoup,asage-encrustedribroast,roastedrosemaryandgarlicpotatoes,Yorkshirepudding,creamedspinachandadecadentchocolatepeppermintcheesecakefordessert.Toaddtothefestivities,includesomeChampagnetastingasanactivity.Testyourguestswithablindtasting,orsimplygiveguestsaratingsystemandleteveryonechoosetheirfavorites.

Caroling Party Ifyou’realittleshyaboutsingingtoyourneighbors(don’tbe,they’llloveit!),organizeatriptoanursinghomeorhospital.Acarolingpartyistheperfectwaytoblendthesoundsandtheflavorsoftheholidaysintoafuntradition.Whenyourguestsarrive,warmuptheirtummiesandtheirthroatswithacasualbuffet.Thinkplentyofhothorsd’oeuvres,perhapsabakedham,butternutsquashsoupandsteamingloavesofcrustybread.Preparecustomsongbooksforcarolersandsupplyeveryonewithacandleandwaxprotector.Afterallthecarolingfunisdone,everyonecomesbacktoyourhometoenjoyeggnog,spicedappleciderandalargearrayofChristmascookiesinfrontofacozyfire.

INGREDIENTS:8portionsbeeftenderloin,8ounceseachsaltandpepper

For the marinade:1/4cupsweetsoysauce1cupregularsoysauce1/2cupwater3/4cuporangejuice1/4cupfreshginger1teaspoonmincedfreshgarlic1stalkofcrushedlemongrass

For the shitake demi glace:1/2cupdriedshitakemushrooms,soakedandjulienned2cupsofdemiglace1ounceAjiMirin

For the wasabi slather:1/4cuppickledginger11/2cupssourcream1teaspoonwasabipowder1teaspoonpickledgingerjuice

METHOD:Combineallingredientsforthemarinade.Pourmarinadeoverseasonedtenderloininapan,coverandrefrigeratefor2-4hours.Fortheshitakesauce,addsomeoiltoasaucepotandsautétheshitakemushroomsfor2minutes.DeglazewiththeAjiMirinandaddthedemiglace.Simmerforabout10minutesandaddsaltandpeppertotaste.Combineallingredientsforthewasabislather.Addalittletoasautépanandbrownthetenderloinsoneachside.Transfertenderloinstoanovenat350degreestodesiredinternaltemperature.Placetwotenderloinsoneachplatethenladleontheshitakedemiglace,followedbyadollopofthewasabislather.

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

Yield: four servings

Your Home’s Under Contract! TIME TO START PACKING?