Neighborhood News

Real Service... Real Results                                            August 2009 
  102A Palm Point
Laura Cole & Tana Gaskill
  (561)        (561)
 776-4429    776-4444
 Illustrated Properties
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In This Issue
Real Estate Trends
Featured Property
Restaurant Review
Greetings!
 
This month we feature a superb review of The Oakwood Grill by our gourmand critic, Vicki Slotnick.  Sometimes a visit to an old favorite is a new experience! 
 
We also include the latest information on the recent turn in the Real Estate market.  It seems things are brighter than you may think. 
 
Some of our neighbors a beginning to trickle back into to town and it's wonderful to catch up with everyone's summer holidays.  
 
Best regards,
Laura & Tana
 
 
  
 
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REAL ESTATE TRENDS  
BallenIsles Sales
 102A Palm Point
Three  properties closed during the month of August bringing the total year to date to 28.  So what's the secret?  The key word that should come to mind is "price".  Price remains every buyer's top priority.  With the sheer size of inventory far surpassing demand, if a property is not priced in line with similar properties that have sold in recent months, then its chances of selling in a reasonable amount of time are greatly diminished.  And the longer a property stays on the market, even with price reductions, the less attractive it becomes to buyers.  The good news is this is an excellent time to consider trading up.  A 30% reduction in price on a $500,000 property sold is $150,000 of loss but it converts into a $300,000 price reduction on a $1M property purchased. 
 
BALLENISLES SALES - AUGUST
 
ADDRESS                                            BR              BA       SALE PRICE
102 Island Cove                                   3               3.5         460,000
107 Chasewood Circle                           3               4            619,000
128 Grand Palm Way                             3               4.5         975,000
 
*This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Realtors Association of the PalmBeaches or its Multiple Listing Services thru 09/03/09.  
 
To learn more about current Real Estate trends in BallenIsles, click on the links below.
 

FEATURED PROPERTY
Seasonal Rentals 
           102A Palm Point    102A Palm Point        
 
We have many properties in BallenIsles available for seasonal or even annual lease with a variety of membership options.  Contact us if you or a friend is looking for something special in BallenIsles for the 2010 season!  

 
 
RESTAURANT REVIEW by Vicki Slotnick
Oakwood Grill  
 
Oakwood grill, of the "Spoto" family of restaurants, reinvented itself a few years ago after its original incarnation as a pricey steak house didn't thrive.  I think that they got it right this time with a menu that seems to have a broader appeal.  There's an interesting wine list on the back of the menu...wines are offered by the glass and by the half bottle.  Then they are listed by the type of grape, after which they are then listed by the winery and the geographical origin.  The United States is the most well represented, but you will find some from France, Italy, Australia, and South America as well.
 
On the food side, you can have a light bite, or you can indulge the glutton in you if you prefer.  The selections include items from an array of cuisines. Italy, the mid east, Thailand, Japan, as well as good variety of our country's best loved comfort foods, and contemporary treatment of some old faves.
 
The indoor atmosphere is pleasant, albeit darkish with brick, stone and wood dominating.  There are gaslight lanterns around the rooms as well as warm "candle" lights on the tables.  The six of us sat in a cozy round booth very comfortably.  The waiter seemed quite knowledgeable and pleasant considering our penchant for needing to know exactly what we are about to consume.  After we ordered, a big basket of cute little wheat rolls came out promptly. They were warm and fresh, but unremarkable.  We then had a reasonably short wait for our first courses.  Two of us had the Oakwood Wedge salad.  The iceberg was crisp and fresh and topped with chopped bacon, tomatoes, red onion slices, and blue cheese as the menu promised.  Our friends declared it to be very good.  My friend and I shared the Roasted Beet Salad with red and gold beets, goat cheese, arugula, and pistachio vinaigrette. It was outstanding, and was big enough for the two of us to share easily.  The remaining two had the "Scratch" soup, the soup of the day...curried sweet potato bisque with a maple cream garnish.  Although it wasn't quite hot enough when it arrived at the table, it was wonderful. (Being the critic, my friends and relatives have to indulge me when I ask for tastes!)
 
On to the entrees.  Ahi Tuna Salad, enough for two, but consumed by one, was declared to be good, albeit quite spicy.  A BBQ Chicken roasted flatbread was judged as wonderful.  A White Cheddar Burger with wonderful fries was "very good".  A Two Bone Pork Chop with maple lacquered sweet potatoes was "chewy", but delicious tasting.  The Short Ribs braised in red wine were wonderfully tender and the sauce was excellent, rich and dark. 
  
At some point during the meal, the manager came over to the table and asked how things were.  Same answer all the way around: great!  We all shared a couple of desserts.  A great key lime pie...great because it had the perfect balance of sweet and tart, and it was a natural color as well...NOT green!  A beautiful tall wedge of blueberry cabernet cheesecake, lighter than NY style, but delicious, nonetheless.  We will return!
 
4610 PGA BLVD.  (The Commons)  561-776-5778  www.oakwoodgrill.com