Sweetwater Lifestyle

WHETHER YOU’RE A FIRST-TIME BUYER, RELOCATING TO HOUSTON, OR LISTING AN ESTATE, LET YAMILIA PUT HER EXPERTISE TO WORK FOR YOU. A long time Houstonian, Yamilia Halfon has in-depth knowledge of Houston’s finest neighborhoods and evolving marketplace. Yamilia specializes in luxury residential sales in Houston’s most distinctive neighborhoods including Tanglewood, the Memorial Villages, River Oaks, West University, Bellaire, and Sweetwater. A dedicated professional who is totally committed to her clients, Yamilia’s reputation for market knowledge, quality service and professionalism precedes her. Her dedication, attention to detail, and light hearted attitude combined with her drive and enthusiasm to surpass her client’s expectations have ensured her excellent reputation in the real estate industry. With a service-oriented philosophy, Yamilia always puts the interest of her clients as her first priority. Her integrity is unquestionable and she brings professionalism and commitment to every transaction. Completely bilingual in English and Spanish, Yamilia is adept at working with foreign nationals who make Houston their new home. She enjoys showing them the city and all that Houston has to offer and, in the process, building life-long relationships with members of Houston’s international community. Clients who work with Yamilia have access to Sotheby’s concierge services, auctions, and relocation services. Affiliation with Sotheby’s International Realty offers enhanced market exposure and distinctive benefits, including access to a global network of buyers and auction house clients along with a website which allows for property searches by both location and lifestyle.

www.HAR.com/YamiliaHalfon Yamilia Halfon Million Dollar Guild, CLHMS

832.247.7618

YHalfon@MarthaTurner.com

MARCH | APRIL 2015

Yamilia Halfon

Sugar Land Town Square

vents E

MARCH 22 Memorial Hermann Sugar Land St. Paddy’s Half Marathon Runners will enjoy a certified, double-loop Sweetwater Country Club course. In true Irish fashion, there will be green beer, a Scotch-Irish band, and a costume contest so wear your green! MARCH 27 Child Advocates of Fort Bend Light of Hope Ceremony

APRIL 3 Magic in the Plaza Ted Schwank is bringing out “The World’s Greatest Illusions” Grand Production Show & Plaza Party featuring interactive DJ with games prizes, strolling entertainers, face painting, giveaways and many surprises!

SugarLandTownSquare.com

APRIL 4 Movie under the Moon APRIL 12 Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair Bistro Brunch Bloody Marys, mimosas, and much more await attendees at the Bistro Brunch. Partake in delicious foods from around the world —Argentina, France, Spain, Germany, Italy — and stateside — California, Texas, Oregon and Washington.

sweet sailing Above deck adventures

APRIL 18 Sugar Land Earth Day Celebration Interactive booths will address recycling, waste reduction, clean water, water conservation, tree care, nature appreciation and much more. APRIL 19 Resolve Walk of Hope

Activity In Sweetwater and Maranatha Farms ADDRESS

BED

BATH

SQFT

LIST PRICE

ACTIVE 4106 Saint Michaels Ct 61 PipersWal 42 Dartmoor Ct 89 Greensward Ln 3 Legend Park Drive 26 Muirfield Way 18 Legend Park Dr 6 Cypress Ridge Ln 6 Legend Park Dr 22 Farrell Ridge Dr 23 Glen Eagles Dr 14 Cypress Ridge Ln 31 Beacon Hill 3540 Maranatha Dr 5324 Palm Royale Blvd

4 5 6 5 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 5 9

3/1 5 5/1 4/1 3/2 5/2 4/2 5/2 5/3 5/1 5/3 4/2 7/1 6/1 10/4

4,493 3,302 4,769 4,029 5,471 6,449 6,020 7,260 6,242 6,002 7,892 7,779 12,585 9,268 19,180

$575,000 $625,000 $639,000 $659,000 $1,299,880 $1,350,000 $1,375,000 $1,575,000 $1,595,000 $1,698,800 $1,998,800 $2,888,000 $3,999,999 $4,688,000 $12,800,00

SOLD 27 Hollinfare Ct 13 Whitworth Way 14 Dartmoor Ct 60 Glen Loch Ct 78 Greensward Ln

5 4 4 5 4

3/1 3/2 3/1 4/1 3/1

5,308 4,246 4,670 5,099 3,773

$624,500 $635,000 $699,000 $699,980 $729,999

All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. The properties on this list have been listed/sold by various members of the MLS. If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

L I F E S T Y L E

Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

Homeownership Tax Breaks

More Green In Your Wallet!

Entertain & Enjoy Sparrow’s Brie en Brioche

Sweetwater Real Estate Report Presented By Yamilia Halfon

come sail away...

In Good Taste Sparrow Bar + Cookshop SparrowHouston.com | 713.524.6922

Totally over the crowded cruise scene? Bored with running to and from the same old beaches? Have we got a new vacation idea for you! Why not charter your own private yacht to cruise you and your crowd around the Caribbean? Or maybe meander about the Mexican Riviera in a catamaran with a few of your favorite friends? Yachting gives you a luxurious vacation experience unlike any other, all tailored to your specific needs and desires... without all the people. Sounds divine, doesn’t it? Whether you’re heading to the Virgin Islands or going south of the border to ole Mexico, chartering a yacht gives you several options to make the most of your time off. Charter companies can help you plan your trip, from what type of yacht to travel in to what you’ll see and eat along the way.

BRIE EN BRIOCHE WITH MEYER LEMON MARMALADE BRIOCHE INGREDIENTS 35 oz or 1k wedge of brie 1/2 tsp sugar 1/4 c warm water 1 tbsp yeast MARMALADE INGREDIENTS 4 Meyer lemons

3 1/2 c flour 4 large eggs 1/2 tsp kosher salt 1/2 lb unsalted butter, room temperature Sugar as needed

MARMALADE DIRECTIONS Slice four lemons on a slicer capturing all the juice as well. Place in saucepan with juice (removing all seeds) and pour an equivalent volume of sugar onto the fruit. Bring juice, sugar, and fruit to a simmer, dissolving the sugar to make a simple syrup. Simmer until fruit is opaque and syrupy. Place fruit with syrup in appropriate container; don’t place lid on container until contents are cool. Reserve for later use.

The first decision after choosing a destination and getting your air transportation set is to pick the type of yacht in which to sail. Choices include catamarans, monohulls, and motor yachts. Most travelers select the catamaran for its speed, spaciousness, and smooth ride (seasickness is not really an issue on a cat), though those looking for a true, more romantic sailing experience may opt for the monohull. For larger groups who want the ultimate in luxury, motor yachts are the optimal choice. Next, you’ll need to decide if you simply want to charter a captain to cruise you around to all the hot spots or if you want a personal chef and extended crew along, too. With your own private staff, you have someone aboard to take you to all the top destinations and secret hideaways.

BRIOCHE DIRECTIONS Mix sugar, water and yeast. Stir to dissolve. In mixing bowl with paddle attachment, combine flour, eggs, salt and butter. Mix at low speed, adding proofed yeast mixture slowly. When ingredients hold together, scrape sides down and beat at medium speed for eight minutes. Let rise about 1 ½ hours until doubled. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.

Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Serve with lemon Meyer marmalade.

MARCH | APRIL 2015

Want to snorkel? Your crew will have the equipment right there on board and know where to see the best marine life. And, you’ll not pay extra add-on fees as you do when coming ashore from a large cruise ship, battling the throngs. And when it comes to dining, forget the buffet-style food cooked up for thousands. On board a charter yacht, you pick out what you want to eat and when you want to eat it. Eggs Benedict and mimosas at sunrise on your own private deck? Done. Margaritas post snorkel? No problem. Lobster and champagne at sunset. Now we’re talking. For discerning travelers looking for the ultimate in privacy, service, and special memories, chartering a yacht may be just what the doctor ordered. Happy yachting!

2nd Annual Houston Whiskey Festival Bayou City Event Center | March 21 HoustonWhiskeyFestival.com | 888.810.2063 The 2nd Annual Houston Whiskey Festival will offer a plethora of different whiskey, bourbon, scotch, and other fine spirits. Also festival attendees can enjoy the amazing selection of beers, in the all new Texas Beer Garden, highlighting Texas Breweries. Festival partakers will enjoy whiskey seminars, cigar lounge, live music, and great socializing with other enthusiasts. This event will benefit the Santana Dotson Foundation. Hilary Kole Over the Rainbow: A Musical Tribute to the Artistry of Judy Garland Jones Hall | March 27 SPAHouston | 713.227.4772 Encounter the timeless wonder of the music made famous by an American treasure. With stunning Big Band arrangements, Kole sings such beloved works as “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “The Trolley Song,” and “Look for the Silver Lining,” as well as other great songs made famous by the singer who Fred Astaire called “the greatest entertainer that ever lived.” Hilary Kole has continued to engage audiences throughout the world since beginning her professional career at the legendary Rainbow Room as the youngest singer ever to grace that stage. Heights Spring Home & Garden Tour Silver Street Studios | April 10 HoustonHeights.org | 713.861.4002 Select homes in the Houston Heights will be opened to the public in this tour of one of the city’s most cherished neighborhoods, rich in its diverse mix of architectural styles (from Queen Anne elegance to 1920s bungalow comfort to the urban energy of sleek contemporary spaces) and inviting gardens.

To assemble, cut piece of brioche to fit brie unit, either wedge, or individual size. Roll out thinly. Brush with egg. Lay brie unit on top and pull dough up and on top of brie. Cut excess dough as needed. Egg wash the top. Roll another piece of dough out and lay over brie and tuck underneath well. Place on sheet pan with parchment paper. Put in a 300 degree convection oven, brushing with egg wash every 15 minutes until golden brown. Takes about 30 minutes for smaller brie en brioches and longer for large brie en brioches.

Event Calendar

TAX TIPS FOR HOMEOWNERS

Going “green” may provide some more green in your wallet come tax refund time. Some of the energy efficiency deductions that were available to homeowners in 2013 have expired. But, there are some deductions still available that you can take advantage of. Homeowners have two more years (through 2016) to take advantage of a 30% credit for installing alternative-energy equipment such as solar hot-water heaters, solar electric equipment, geothermal heat pumps and wind turbines. With residential energy efficiency deductions you don’t just write-off the cost of the system itself, in some cases you may also include the cost of labor and installation. And a tax credit is actually better than a deduction. Deductions reduce your taxable income. With a tax credit, you get a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your tax liability. Use IRS Form 5695 to claim these credits. There may also be other tax rebates or tax credit programs available. Using the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) you can research to learn about any incentives available to you.

Some other tax credits or deductions homeowners should be aware of are: • MORTGAGE INTEREST. Unless the size of your home loan exceeds $1 million, all of your interest is deductible. This includes interest on your primary residence as well as a second home. • MORTGAGE POINTS. Fortunately, come tax filing time, taxpayers can deduct all of the mortgage points they paid that year. Homeowners who paid points to refinance their mortgages or take out a home equity loan or line of credit are also eligible for the deduction. • REAL ESTATE TAXES. A tax deduction on a tax may seem a bit like an oxymoron, but this deduction is designed to keep income tax from being spent on property tax. • PROFIT ON THE SALE OF YOUR HOME. This exemption keeps homeowners from paying capital gains on the sale of their home. If you had a profit of $250,000 as an individual or $500,000 as a couple that profit falls within the tax free limit as long as you have lived in the home for at least two years before selling it.

• SELLING COSTS. Sellers can itemize costs incurred from selling their home. Marketing and realtor fees, closing fees, repairs and capital improvements can all be deducted. Consult your tax advisor or accountant for the particulars of your situation and which of these may apply.

Spring Showcase Brown Theater | April 25 HoustonBallet.org | 713.227.2787 The annual Spring Showcase features the gifted young artists of the Houston Ballet Ben Stevenson Academy, at every level of training. Whether they’re performing scenes from well-known ballets or new works created especially for them, the dancers display a multitude of talents. These are the stars of tomorrow and if their performances are any indication, the future of ballet looks very bright indeed. Spectacular Rubens Museum of Fine Arts | Through May 10 MFAH.org | 713.639.7300 In the early 1620s, Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens (1577– 1640) designed a series of 20 tapestries on the Triumph of the Eucharist that celebrated the glory of the Roman Catholic Church. Spectacular Rubens reunites Rubens’s exuberant oil sketches painted for this commission with the original tapestries, the largest number of works for the Eucharist series assembled in more than half a century. The exhibition presents an unrivaled opportunity to experience the Baroque master’s extraordinary impact on both an intimate and a monumental scale.