REAL Exclusive Magazine

Go Global – Focus on Costa Rica

By Pat Tan

Costa Rica’s location at the heart of the Central American isthmus, the country’s varied landscape, mild climate, emphasis on ecology and its friendly people have made this small country a hot spot for investment, retirement and vacation.

Bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south/southeast, Costa Rica benefits from over 800 miles of coastline set on the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. Almost 20,000 square miles in area, the landscape is dominated by Cerro Chirripó, the fifth highest peak in Central America. Endless beaches, dramatic mountain views and an unspoiled environment of lush vegetation and abundant wildlife are just some of the things that draw visitors back time and time again.

More than one quarter of Costa Rica’s land is designated as national park, biological reserve, wildlife refuge, or some other category of protected area – the largest percentage of any country in the world. While the country has only 0.1% of the earth’s land mass, it contains 5% of the world’s Biodiversity” and in 2007 the government stated that they want Costa Rica to be the first country to become carbon neutral by 2021. These initiatives have led to Costa Rica being recognized as a pioneer in ecotourism.

The 2008 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report ranked Costa Rica first among Latin American countries. The index is a measurement of factors that make it attractive to develop business in the travel and tourism industry, rather than a measure of a country’s attractiveness as a tourist destination. The index evaluates three areas: a country’s regulatory framework; its business environment and infrastructure; and its human, cultural, and natural resources. This accolade will certainly increase the attraction of Costa Rica to overseas investors.

Firmly on the international map, Costa Rica is served by direct flights from Spain, Netherlands, Germany, U.K., Canada, as well as many major U.S. cities. 1.9 million foreigners visited the country in 2007, making it the most visited nation in Central America. The $1.9 billion-a-year tourism industry makes a major contribution to the country’s economy. Agriculture still plays a major role in the economy, and government tax incentives have been successful in attracting overseas investments in high tech companies, pharmaceutical and consumer products.

Foreign investment in Costa Rican real estate has been on the rise, supported by the growing numbers of Americans, Canadians and Europeans making Costa Rica their retirement home, or purchasing a vacation home there. Foreigners purchasing property have the same rights as Costa Ricans. The legal system is not the same as that in USA, and investors would do well to work with a local Costa Rican tax advisor and attorney. Choosing the right real estate professional is also key to a successful transaction. One who has experience in Costa Rica AND understands the U.S. real estate system would be a particular asset in bridging the communications gap. An American REALTOR® who has chosen to specialize in the Costa Rica market would be particularly valuable as the investor will benefit from the REALTOR’s® direct experience of the market, ability to introduce other professionals with a proven track record and working knowledge of the various projects and developments that are available.

BIO

Patricia Tan was born in England, and moved to Sarasota in 1997. Her career in international sales and marketing has afforded her the opportunity to live and work in many countries around the world, including Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Patricia spent five years as a Director of an American real estate franchise in England in 1990s, when American real estate companies were just entering the European market.

Patricia has earned the REALTOR® designations of Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS), Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI), and Transnational Referral Certification (TRC). She has served as Chairperson of Sarasota Association of REALTORS®’ International Council, and serves on Florida Association of REALTORS®’ International Operations Committee. She currently works as International Sales Director for Prudential Palms Realty in Sarasota, where her focus is to bring international buyers to the local market. In 2008 she organized and took part in marketing trips to Canada, Asia and Europe, to promote Florida’s Gulf Coast and the Sarasota area in particular. Pat may be reached at 941-487-5107 or patriciatan@prudentialpalmsrealty.com. www.patriciatan.com

Sarasota Style- Color, Light, Water and Sky

By Pamela Hughes

In our earlier column, we wrote about all things that speak of our beloved Sarasota: glorious sky and sand, lush flowers and foliage, striking sunsets and sunrises, and most importantly, our beautiful and abundant bay and gulf waters.

Almost everywhere that one drives, bikes or walks in Sarasota, we are blessed with incredible water views. It is an element that makes Sarasota so special and unique, and which instantly relaxes the visitor as well as the long-time resident.

We’ve talked about how, in our work, we like to celebrate the place we’re in. So how does one celebrate our gorgeous Sarasota water views and vistas? We do it in several ways. First of all, whenever we’re designing on or near the water, our focal point is always the view. Window treatments, if used at all, frame the windows and rarely cover the glass. Furniture is low or pulled back from windows, allowing a closer look. With a beautiful view, one is naturally drawn to it. So, our space planning insures easy access to windows and especially doors.

Color is so obviously important when working with water. Our exquisite Sarasota water offers us an infinite palette, changing as to the time of day, weather and light. Capturing the sparkling azure blue, clear aquamarine and effervescent sea green hues is essential. We accomplish this by using fabrics that echo the water tones, keeping patterns minimal and subtle, and using texture to create interest. Our belief is that nothing in our design should compete with the water, but rather only enhance it.

Wall and ceiling color is important also. Soft neutrals and creamy whites mimic the gentle tones of sand and beach, allowing the aqueous colors to be played out in the fabrics and other furnishings. A light palette speaks of warmth, and a casual, open and easy mood.

Flooring is usually a large element in any design. Again, a soft, light and casual mood is appropriate. Honed stones with a matte finish,”tumbled” marble and gently sanded wood speaks of the beach and a relaxed atmosphere.

So what about the sky? We all know how the color of the sky is reflected in the water. And, needless, to say, our Sarasota skies can be as exuberant as Chagall or Monet. Look for sensational lavenders, bright white in clouds, and breathtaking, palest turquoise spectrums. Grab these spectacular hues and use them in art and accessories to further engage our magnificent Sarasota surroundings in your own personal environment.

So enough about interior design! Let’s head for the beach!

BIO

Pamela Hughes, the founder and owner of Hughes Design Associates, is well known nationally and internationally. Hughes Design Associates is one of the premier interior design firms known throughout North America for specializing in prestigious custom interiors. In Sarasota, Pamela has completed many exceptional projects including The Ritz-Carlton, The Members’ Beach Club, The Tower Residences, and Plaza at Five Points. Her portfolio also includes some of the most luxurious and distinctive residences in Sarasota. Pamels’s work has been published in the best interior design magazines such as Architectural Digest and Veranda, as well as numerous other publications. Also, Home and Garden Television (HGTV) featured her in the program, “Public Places, Private Spaces”, showcasing her work on the Four Seasons Hotel, Philadelphia, and a luxurious private home in Chicago. In addition to their work in Sarasota, Pamela and her firm design projects throughout the US, Canada, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. www.hughesdes.com

JOHN’S STORY (Part 2 of 2)

Excerpt from 21st Century Real Estate Investing

By Jeff Riddell

IT’S NO SECRET

Andrew Carnegie said

“More money has been made in real estate than in all industrial investments combined.”

The big boys know all about it and have made fortunes for generations through real estate. Even the railroad barons of the 19th century knew that wealth was in real estate. When they built the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s, the government gave them 640 acres of land for each mile of track they built. They believed they could sell the land for millions as business was drawn to the railroad, and they were right

START EARLY

The earlier you start investing in real estate the better but it’s never too late. As actress Billie Burke once said “age doesn’t matter unless you’re a cheese.” I checked the obituaries in our local newspaper and was surprised to see that, out of 18 people who had died, 15 were 80 or older—and 7 were over 90. My grandfather died in 1954 at the age of 65 and everyone thought that was a ripe old age. We hear about 60 being the new 40 and I think it’s true. I predict that baby boomers—around 60 now—will live into their 90s and many who are under 40 will live past 100. Thirty years have been added to our life expectancy in the last century; whatever your age, you shouldn’t think the real estate investing boat has left the dock without you

Real estate is a long term investment. As John’s story suggests, patient real estate investors will be rewarded. So don’t let age hold you back—there are few investments that will treat you better. Although there are times when the stock market looks inviting, the averages show that the stock market does not outperform real estate over the long haul but we’ll come back to the stock market later.

There are so many real estate success stories. John, for example, was tenacious about his real estate investments—and it paid off. He stayed with real estate investing for forty years, and by then his net worth from real estate was pretty impressive by 1988 standards. It’s the power of leverage and compounding. If you can double your cash investment about every five years and you start with $5,000 like John, you could have $320,000 at the end of 40 years. Mortgaged at 75%, your real estate holdings would be in the neighborhood of $1,280,000.

COMPOUNDING

$5,000 was a lot of money in 1948 when John started his real estate career. Instead of $5,000, think where you would be if you started with $25,000 and kept it invested in real estate for 40 years, doubling every five years. You would end up with $1,600,000. If you had $100,000 to invest instead of $25,000, the result would be $6,400,000. If you started at 25, you would be there by the time you turned 65

The “Rule of 72″—divide 72 by any annual interest rate and it will tell you approximately how many years it will take to double your money—says that you need 15% equity growth each year to double your money in five years. The value of John’s first duplex needed to appreciate about 5% per year for his $5,000 investment to double in five years. It did just that. Although 15% annual return may be higher than the norm, you should strive to do it even if you need to invest some sweat equity like John did. Consider this example: $5,000 compounding at 10% for 30 years equals $87,247 but at 15% the number is $331,059 and at 20% the number is $1,186,882. No, your eyes are not deceiving you—the compounding rate makes a big difference in overall returns over long periods of time, and with leverage (mortgage) it is possible to achieve even higher equity compounding.

BIO

Jefferson F. Riddell is a Florida Board Certified Real Estate attorney with thirty-five years of experience assisting people with a variety of residential and commercial real estate matters. U.S. 1031 Exchange Services, Inc is a 1031 exchange qualified intermediary (QI) and a member of the Federation of Exchange Accommodators (FEA). As President of U.S. 1031 Exchange services Jeff has been facilitating 1031 exchanges for more than twenty years. Jeff has been awarded the Certified Exchange Specialist (CES) certification

As a licensed securities registered representative and real estate broker, Jeff is uniquely qualified to assist those who wish to avail themselves of 1031 and 1033 exchange tax savings and also guides investors in diversifying their portfolios with non-publicly traded REIT, LP and LLC real estate investments. Jeff’s new book, 21st Century Real Estate Investing Featuring 1031 + TIC has recently been published and is available at Amazon.com. Jeff may be reached at 941-366-1300 or via email at jeff@us1031.com www.us1031.com

Color Trends

By Tracy Eisnaugle

Color is powerful and evokes emotion. It can convey moods and is capable of delivering an instant message. Color has impact on every aspect of our life, trends are cultural and as much as trends influence us and our surroundings, we also influence the trends.

Have you ever wondered how the latest colors evolve and who decides what the “new” colors will be? To get to the bottom of it and to find out what is in store for 2009, I recently attended a class on the evolution of color.

Twenty specialists from around the globe work together to forecast the upcoming color trends; they study our past influences, current trends, fashion influences and technological advancements along with generational impacts. Merging, evolving and transforming the information as outside influences impact them to form their best guess at the upcoming trends.

Currently we have more decorating influences than ever before; there are ten times more design magazines on the stand than a decade ago, the introduction of multiple decorating shows, and even dedicated decorating channels. The home makeover is an industry of its own and changing your paint color is the simplest and most economical way to stay current.

Color trends are a reflection of our society, our historic period and our culture. Each year, new color trends are introduced based on research on societal and demographic trends. Specialists are concerned with the influences from the co-existing multiple generations, society influences, consequences of our current environment and emerging values.

To come to their specific conclusions they take into account the following information:

Generational Breakdown:

 Digital Generation – current age group 04-13
o Searching for discovery and experience
o Intuitive
o Interactive
o Non-Linear

 Generation Y – current age group 14-32
o Idealism
o Meaningful
o Technological
o Multi-taskers

 Generation X – current age group 33-43
o Responsible
o Balance work and life
o Skeptical consumer
o Budget minded – Department store buyer

 Boomers – current age group 44-62
o Experienced
o Educated
o Wealthy
o Powerful consumers

 Prime Timers – current age group 63-99
o Want products adapted for easier living
o Have health concerns
o Health and well-being focused

Major Society Changes:
 Green movement
 Technology
 Globalization
 Conceptual age

Consequences of Current Environment:
 World of powerful consumers; 63% of consumers do research before making a purchase and can purchase globally
 New lifestyles; 23% of American households are single parent, many others are multi-generational households
 Abundance of goods
 Re-definition of luxury
 Rise of the “Creative Class”; 35% of the population is employed in a creative career field

Emerging Values:
 Authenticity
 Meaning
 Conscious consumption
 Personalization
 Connection
 Luxury
 Pleasure
 Accountability

All these influences come together and are translated into our four new color trends:

 Ecotechno – The consistent feeling of this trend is modern and optimistic, the style and colors of this trend are measured, well balanced and efficient
o Clean simplicity
o Innovative
o Modern
o Intelligent
o Warm grey, with moss green, vivid red, antique white and medium neutral tone work together to create a clean, modern and sophisticated palette
o Sixties color influence where a little bit of the clean color goes a long way, using a neutral background with touches of color

 Fair Trade – Nature based with rich deep hues saturated in warm natural colors and organic design elements
o Urban
o Conscience
o Flea market feel
o Bohemian
o A warm mix of clay reds, sky blue, sage green, soft white and red wine unite to create a warm and inviting color palette
o Seventies influence with a craft like homemade feeling to each space

 Vintage – This trend is inspired by authenticity and sensibility, a soft play on a timeless classic
o Nurturing
o Nostalgic
o Archive
o Tone on tone soft neutral colors including a timber brown, light yellowish white, cool grey, foundation beige and warm taupe combined to create a tone-on-tone charming interior
o Monochromatic color scheme using a classic warm patina color palette

 Ecoloco – Vivid and bright colors used in harmony with each other to create a glamorous and eccentric atmosphere
o Neo- Baroque
o Exciting
o Entertaining
o Exuberant
o Dusty blue, bright pink, red, creamy white and intense olive green work in bolds trokes of color to create and entertaining and energetic space
o Strong colors used in small doses with white as the palette cleanser and to anchor the design

Color trends are just that they are trends and they have a life expectancy of three to five years. The truth is there are no “new” colors, just new ways to reuse and mix our existing spectrum. An updated name change can do wonders to the appeal of a color.

I want to thank the ASID chapter for bringing the color trend class to our area and a special thank you to PPG, Porter Paints for the inspirational color information. For more information on color trends or to see the color samples please visit my website www.tleisnaugle.com.

Generation Y – current age group 14-32Tracy L. Eisnaugle has practiced interior design in Sarasota since 1997 and is currently self employed providing design consultation services in the area. She is a graduate from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and continues her education by attending annual conferences. Her past experience includes, Design Center Manager for Lee Wetherington Homes, high-end residential design and model merchandising. Tracy may be reached at 941.232.3358 or by e-mail at tleisnaugle@msn.com

Timeless Designs

By Eric Gilbert

Our showroom displays a beautiful kitchen for which we’ve received many delighted comments. It appeals to those of us wanting “a fresh, new look that will not look old in five or ten years.” I hear that comment often. It seems, after all these years of being a throw-away society, we are finally seeking to make discerning changes that will enable us to free up our finances – and our time – to enjoy more quality living in the near future.

We are seeking timeless designs, which are not dated in a matter of a few years. (Remember avocado green bathroom tiles? Plastic laminate? Cheesy paneling?)

But as there is “nothing new under the sun,” how do we avoid being like any other era in their remodeling foibles?

First, we must acknowledge what we are doing, as a society, when it comes to choosing our remodeling projects. We visit model homes to see what new builders are doing. We avidly glean ideas from our favorite remodeling magazines. We visit various showrooms and homebuilder shows to see what the newest thing is. Of course, there really is nothing wrong with doing these things. The mistake we are making, however, is that we are copying one another. We want it to look exactly so because it is “fresh and new.”

But, honestly, how long will that appeal last if all we are doing is following the current fad? In about ten years our children will look at the expensive changes we made and say, “Oh that is so turn of the century!”

The best way to go about finding a timeless design, then, is to decide what it is we like about certain displays – in showrooms or magazines – and learn to make it our own, to go against the flow of the common, which does not have to mean “off the wall,” by the way.

We simply must determine what is fad fodder and what is actually timeless. In looking back over the centuries of home décor and styles, we find the timeless elements of stone, wood, glass and metal. Then there are elements that date an era, being typically the over-use of trendy products.

So, we can start by choosing current designs in time-honored elements. Color-infused glass is amazing on large appliances, so long as we choose natural colors (a nice blue as opposed to a blatant orange) that can easily fit in with updated furnishings. Wood is certainly still desirable for cabinetry, and there are new elements that appear to be wood but are more lasting, such as thermofoil and some veneers. Stainless steel will be accepted for a long time, as it appeals to those who like a professional kitchen.

Mix any of these elements for a unique, custom design that would be distinctly different from the current fads. Adding a patina metal insert to your refrigerator would make that dominant appliance a lovely focal point. Wood-design cabinets can be more stylized with glass or metal.

We’ve come a long way, with so many ways to rethink what can be done with our natural resources. Let’s create timeless designs, which we, and future generations, will treasure. Perhaps in the future, it will only take a coat of paint, new furnishings and window dressings to make everything feel “fresh and new.” Then you can go out and play.

BIO

Eric Gilbert, AKBD, is part of the trio owning DreamMaker of Manasota, serving as Vice President of Sales and Production. His natural talents of listening to customers’ wishes and producing them into phenomenal drawings have been honed by years of construction experience and continual classes with organizations like the National Kitchen & Bath Association and various product manufacturers nationwide. He was recently named National Salesperson of the Year by DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen. Eric lives in Palmetto, Florida with his wife, Tina, and their five children. For more remodeling tips or expert advice visit DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen of Manatee and Sarasota, at www.dreammaker-gci.com or call 941-753-2284.

Help the Bank Appraiser to Avoid Valuation Issues!

By C. J. Coury

In today’s changing mortgage lending landscape the bank appraisal process has been totally redesigned. Lenders are no longer able to question, coach, prod or pressure the real estate appraiser in any way. In fact, loan origination associates are prohibited from even speaking with the appraisers. Although the reason for these new restrictions is sound they do create the need for a new way of approaching this component of the mortgage approval process for the REALTOR®.

When contacted to set up the inspection appointment a listing agent should be prepared to provide a list of comparables to the appraiser with detailed, factual information as needed. If the best available comps are bank foreclosures you can’t expect the appraiser to ignore them as they represent the current market in which the lender would be competing should they need to re-sell the subject property. However, you can assist them in arriving at an accurate condition adjustment. Let me give you an example to illustrate this point.

In my community there were two foreclosed properties, both of which sold this year. One had been abused by the former owner and ignored by the lender, the other was well cared for and kept in move-in condition while on the market. Not surprisingly there was a $150,000 spread between the selling price of the two properties due to their respective conditions. Now, let’s assume that another property within the community sold within a few months of these two homes closing. The appraiser would view them both as viable comps but would not be aware of the significant difference in their condition unless the listing agent for the abused property returned their call and provided them with the details. What do you think that the odds are of that happening? Do you want to trust the outcome of your sale to the wiles of this individual

What can you do? Prepare a list of comps for the appraiser to consider making certain that they are near the subject, have sold within the last 3 – 6 months, are as similar in location and size as possible. Now be sure that you provide your valuable insight as to the condition of any of these comparables that you feel significantly impacted their selling price. While this will not guarantee that the appraisers evaluation will meet the contract price it will certainly increase the probability of that happening

Provide a comp package to the bank appraiser and you will experience less frustration due to low evaluationsC. J. Coury is a Senior Vice President with Bank of America and oversees their residential mortgage division serving Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte Counties. Prior to joining Bank of America in 1995, C. J. was President of Mortgage Brokers of America in Birmingham, MI for 7 years. He has been an active mortgage finance professional since 1983. C. J. may be reached at (941) 952-2888 or by email at charles.j.coury@bankofamerica.com. http://mortgage.bankofamerica.com/charlesjcoury

Reverse Mortgages – A Primer

By Steven R. Greenberg

A “reverse” mortgage is a loan against the borrower’s home that does not need to be paid back as long as the borrower lives there. There are several ways to get the cash out of a home with a reverse mortgage:
1. As a regular monthly advance;
2. All at once, in a single lump sum of cash; or
3. As a combination of these payment methods.
 
In order to qualify for a reverse mortgage, the borrower must be at least 62 years of age. Furthermore, the borrower must seek third party financial counseling from a source approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in order to ensure that the borrower completely understands what a reverse mortgage is and how one is obtained. After the counseling session, the borrower receives the required “certificate of completion”.

There are no restrictions on how the funds from a reverse mortgage may be utilized. The borrower has the option of moving the entire amount of money into investments, or the borrower can simply take the money and spend it as they desire.

The amount of money available to the borrower is determined by several factors:
• The appraised value of the property;
• The interest rate;
• The age of the borrower;
• Whether the payment is taken as a lump sum, line of credit, or monthly payments; and
• The location of the property, and whether the maximum loan amount is subject to the maximum loan limits.

Generally speaking, the costs of obtaining a reverse mortgage loan are higher than a conventional mortgage loan. Some reverse mortgage loans require a 2% insurance premium and a 2% origination fee in addition to the standard closing costs. Other programs may waive the insurance premium. However, most reverse mortgage programs allow the borrower to finance the costs of the reverse mortgage loan.

Initially, reverse mortgage loans were available only with adjustable rates. Several lenders now offer reverse mortgage loans with fixed rates. Interest rates on reverse mortgage loans are determined on a program-by-program basis.

A reverse mortgage loan works in reverse of a conventional mortgage loan. In a conventional mortgage loan, the entire amount of the loan is given at the time the loan is made. The mortgage loan is paid back over time usually on a monthly basis. As the loan is paid back, the amount owed becomes less while the borrower’s equity in the property increases. However, with a reverse mortgage loan, the borrower is taking the equity out in cash. Accordingly, the debt increases and the home equity decreases. The lender provides the borrower with cash and the borrower makes no repayments. When the reverse mortgage loan becomes due and payable, the borrower may owe a significant amount of money and there may be little or no equity in the property.

The loan ends when the borrower dies, sells the property, or moves out of the property for 12 consecutive months. The reverse mortgage loan is paid off from the proceeds of the sale of the property or by a refinance of the loan with a conventional mortgage. If the proceeds are not sufficient to pay off the loan, then the bank absorbs the difference. As long as the borrower (or his/her estate) is attempting to sell the property or refinance the loan, the investor will probably allow the borrower up to one year to complete the sale or refinance.

Of particular concern to REALTORS® is the use o reverse mortgage loans in connection with the purchase of property. According to the Federal Hosing Administration (FHA):

“The FHA defines “Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) for Purchase” as a real estate purchase where title to the property is transferred to the HECM mortgagor, which the mortgagor will occupy as a principal residence, and, at the time of closing, the HECM first and second liens will be the only liens against the property. HECM mortgagors must occupy the property within 60 days from the date of closing. Lenders are required to ensure all outstanding or unpaid obligations incurred by the prospective mortgagor, in connection with the HECM transaction, are satisfied at closing.”

This article is intended to be an overview of reverse mortgage loans. A qualified mortgage loan officer should be consulted for more information on reverse loan programs.

BIO

Steven R. Greenberg has practiced Real Estate law in Sarasota since 1986 and is a shareholder in the law firm of Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg, P.A. He is board certified by the Florida Bar in real property law and frequently lectures on matters involving real estate transactions. Steven may be reached at (941) 365-6216 or by calling Linda Witt, Director of Marketing, directly at (941) 586-4412 www.stevenrgreenberg.com

Sundays are for Comfort Food

By Chef John Zakarian, Owner of Zak’s Prime Steakhouse

My Dear Friends,

Due to unforeseen circumstances we will have a quick recipe (something like one of Rachel Ray’s 30 min. meals of tuna casserole). Just kidding! But we are doing something very similar to tuna casserole in that it is a comfort food served family-style generally on Sundays. Why on Sundays? Because most of us would like to enjoy the last day of the weekend without the headache of throwing together a large complicated dinner. Every nation has a comfort food that is not only easy to make in a short period of time, but also traditionally enjoyed by all. And what is easier to make and more enjoyable than spaghetti and meatballs? Of course I have nothing against tuna casserole, which I really like, but spaghetti and meatballs was a Sunday preference in my family. I learned the recipe from my eighty five year old Italian born chef who swears that his meatballs are the best in the world. So now together we are going to make the best meatballs in the world. You be the judge. First of all, every great meal is created by marrying the best ingredients, all of which can be found in local farms or supermarkets. Here’s what we need:

Meatballs:
One pound fresh ground chuck
One pound ground sirloin
Four cloves garlic
One large yellow or Spanish onion
Bunch of Italian flat leaf parsley
One cup unseasoned bread crumbs
One egg
Half cup grated parmesan cheese

Sauce:
Three pounds plum tomatoes (also known as roma)
Bunch fresh basil
Virgin olive oil
Six cloves garlic

You’re not out of the woods yet. You also need to choose the type of noodles that will be used. Any type of pasta you select will be acceptable. My favorite is thin spaghetti or angel hair. However, you may opt for penne, rigatoni, linguine ….too many to list.

Let’s get ready to sing the Tarantella! Grab a large bowl for mixing the ingredients. Finely chop the garlic, onion and parsley in the food processor. Combine this mixture with the meat, grated cheese, bread crumbs and egg. Salt and pepper to taste. Roll up your sleeves and dive in! Once well mixed, begin shaping the meatballs about 3 oz per ball (if you prefer larger, go for snowball- it will taste the same). Do not over-mold, as the kneading action will cause the meatballs to toughen. Pre-heat the oven to 420 degrees. You should have about twelve meatballs. Place meatballs on baking sheet or roasting pan and bake for 15- 20 minutes.

For the sauce, blanche the tomatoes in boiling water for about a minute or two. After removing from heat, the tomatoes should be soft to the touch and the skin should be easily removed. Using a large saucepan, heat the extra virgin olive oil and add six sliced cloves of garlic and finely chopped onions. Sautee for about two to three minutes. Do not overcook. Using a masher, crush the tomatoes and add to the pan. Reduce the heat and let simmer for thirty minutes, stirring intermittently. Gently tear the basil leaves and add to the sauce five minutes prior to completion.

I trust you have already prepared the pasta of your choice, so you may begin plating. Add the meatballs to the sauce, remove from heat and let rest for five minutes. Plate the pasta, two meatballs (or as many as you like), and sauce over to your liking. Finish with a light dusting of grated Parmesan or Romano cheese.

Bon Apetito! Do not ignore the leftover meatballs- it will make a helluva meatball hero later! Remember, you can’t replace memorable Sundays, but those meatballs will always make you look forward to the next Sunday. Soon you will wish that every day is Sunday. Arrivederci, see you next month!www.zaksprimesteakhouse.com

Villa Verde

REAL Magazine January 2009

Featuring Bird Key’s Villa Verde, Deborah Beacham, Ringling College of Art + Design, Tina Darling and Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating. Read More

Prudential Palms Realty
International Division

by Tracy Eisnaugle

lifestyle photography by Chad Spencer 

With over thirty years of experience in the real estate industry Helen Sosso has maintained her commitment to provide outstanding customer service. Leading the way by utilizing progressive marketing plans, innovative web design and sound business practices Helen strives to keep the Prudential Palms Realty team supplied with the latest technologies, tools and strategies to stay ahead of the game. Read More

Inside the Crystal Ball

By Helen Sosso

Read More

Design Lines; Sarasota Style

By Pamela Hughes

Read More

Tips for Handling Short Sale Transactions for the Buyer and Seller

By Steven R. Greenberg

Read More

Increase Sales by Expanding Financing Resources

By C. J. Coury Read More

What is the True Value of a Remodel?
By Eric Gilbert Read More