Laura Cole & Tana Gaskill

561.758.8625 561.389.6838

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Newsletter November, 2015

Time flies by and here we are already mid-November. Our snowbird friends have arrived and the social season has begun! The holidays will soon be upon us with family arriving and turkeys roasting.

Once again we feature a mouth-watering review from our favorite resident gourmet critic, Vicki Slotnick. Be sure to read her marvelous review of Mario's in Lantana. And of course, don't forget to keep up with Real Estate Trends and property news from BallenIsles.

Lastly, we are grateful for the gifts we have been given and appreciate all the friends we have made along the way.

Happy Thanksgiving.
Laura & Tana

Featured Property

110 Windward Drive

This stunning home sits on an exceptionally large, lush lot. Completely updated to the highest standard it has a contemporary feel with high ceilings and very open floor plan. The renovated kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops and the baths have been remodeled. The gracious master suite has huge his and her custom outfitted closets and an elegant marble bath. The enormous paver stone screened in patio has a large pool you can actually swim in, a comfortable seating area and built-in grill. Additional features include a wet bar, formal dining area and separate golf cart garage. This property will astonish. Walking distance to clubhouse & sports complex. enjoy fabulous BallenIsles amenities including spa, salon, fine dining, tennis, fitness & a broad range of social activities. This one shines!

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Restaurant Review
Mario's - by Vicki Slotnick

Mario's occupies a place where a popular Asian restaurant "lived" for many years and attracted lots of locals. Now it's Mario's turn and they seem to be doing it well. We arrived right on time for our reservation at 7pm, the sun was still shining during this very warm mid-summer's eve, and we were seated promptly at an outside table under a large awning and with a ceiling fan very nearly right over our heads. Ahhhhh... Cute little crusty rolls [NO GARLIC PLEASE!], butter, and olive oil came promptly as well, and hubby and friends dug right in. After drinks, we ordered appetizers and entrees, and proceeded to get good and hungry! The appetizers came out after a long wait and I suddenly realized that I had not ordered any appetizer. Oh man, by that time my stomach was growling so loud you could have heard it in the next zip code! Laura had already warned me that everything is made to order and delicious, but that there would, most probably, be a wait. There was nothing to do but grin and bear it and anticipate the expected really good food to come. Laura and Eddy's shared appetizer, pappardelle with Bolognese sauce, finally came and it looked and tasted marvelous, rich and meaty with plenty of flavor. Translate: only Parmesan cheese required! The portion was more than enough for them to share as an appetizer. So they and their stomachs were already feeling happy. We waited quite a bit more time and our entrees came out exactly an hour and a half after we sat down. Oh blessed food in front of me!!! I ordered my version of their pasta scampi...gluten free penne with shrimp; hold the garlic, onions, and gluten. By the way, for those gluten-intolerant diners among us, Mario's also offers gluten free pizza as well as the aforementioned gluten free pasta option. There were plenty of yummy herbs and olive oil in the sauce to make me happy; the pasta was al dente with three very plump and perfectly cooked shrimp atop. Oh joy...they did not have to wash my plate afterwards! Laura and Eddy shared veal Milanese that was, they declared, excellent and a bargain at $28.00. The veal was tender, the arugula and tomato salad topping was very good, and they were oh so happy. The portion, again, was generous even for sharing and neither of them was able to finish their half-portion! Rodney's veal Milanese [without the salad part] came with raw spinach underneath, not what Rodney had expected. Seems like there was a bit of confusion with the ordering, but he, too, declared the veal very good, tender and tasty. We were all finally more than satiated, so we didn't try any desserts. My bottom line is...very good food [cooked to order!], an extensive menu with very reasonable prices, offering live entertainment, full bar [outside] and catering, but a very long wait. We will return, and hope that the establishment can do better in the wait time department but still keep up the quality of the food and the reasonable prices. Buon appetito folks!

MARIO'S OCEAN AVE

225 East Ocean Avenue

Lantana, FL 33462

561-582-3013

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REAL ESTATE TRENDS

BallenIsles Sales

The BallenIsles market has appeared to have taken a breather! Inventory has grown to the mid 60s up from the low 50s of a few months ago. Additionally, sales YTD for 2015 are down to 69 properties from 89 properties in 2014. But don't be fooled, season has arrived, the Baby Boomers are coming and we have seen a huge pick up in interest. if you are thinking of making a move, the timing could be perfect. Call us... we can make it happen.

BALLENISLES SOLD - 2015 YTD *

ADDRESS	BR	BA	SOLD $	ORIG. $	DATE	MKT TIME
205 CORAL CAY TERRACE	3	3.0	$200,000	$230,000	01/09/2015	1832
110 PEMBROKE DRIVE	3	3.5	$350,000	NON-MLS	01/09/2015
142 BANYAN ISLE DRIVE	3	4.5	$700,000	$725,000	01/15/2015	55
140 ORCHID CAY DRIVE	3	3.0	$470,750	$559.000	01/23/2015	325
111 CORAL CAY DRIVE	3	3.0	$320,000	$375,000	01/26/2015	58
119 BANYAN ISLE DRIVE	3	4.5	$657,500	$725,000	01/30/2015	165
18 ST GEORGE PLACE	4	4.5	$1,260,000	$1,500,000	01/30/2015	2
16 ST THOMAS DRIVE	4	4.5	$1,650,000	$1,750,000	02/12/2015	15
125C PALM BAY TERRACE	3	3.0	$390,000	$429,000	02/12/2015	31
162 VINTAGEISLE LANE	3	3.5	$1,075,000	$1,199,000	02/17/2015	269
41 ST THOMAS DRIVE	6	5.5	$1,500,000	$1,700,000	03/02/2015	127
109 COCONUT KEY COURT	3	4.0	$1,000,000	$1,100,000	03/03/2015	259
19 SOMERSET DRIVE	3	3.5	$600,000	$700,000	03/11/2015	22
1026 GRAND ISLE TERRACE	4	5.5	$1,500,000	$1,699,000	03/16/2015	46
104B PALM BAY CIRCLE	2	2.0	$397,300	$449,000	03/17/2015	62
124 WINDWARD DRIVE	3	2.5	$485,000	$525,000	03/17/2015	25
108 ST MARTIN DRIVE	3	4.0	$1,000,000	$1,200,000	03/17/2015	63
106 VINTAGEISLE DRIVE	3	4.5	$975,000	$1,075,000	03/17/2015	585
209 SUNSET BAY COURT	3	2.5	$299,000	$299,000	03/26/2015	7
114 BANYAN ISLE DRIVE	3	4.5	$690,000	$749,000	03/26/2015	15
120 ST MARTIN DRIVE	4	4.5	$900,000	$1,200,000	03/26/2015	155
21 ST JAMES DRIVE	3	4.0	$732,000	$850,000	03/30/2015	98
119 SAN MARCO DRIVE	4	4.0	$645,000	$699,000	03/31/2015	244
205 COCONUT KEY DRIVE	3	3.5	$975,000	$1,075,000	03/31/2015	91
28 LAGUNA TERRACE	3	3.5	$497,625	$559,000	04/08/2015	195
203 GRAND POINTE DRIVE	4	5.5	$2,058,400	$2,499,000	04/08/2015	2
114 GRAD PALM DRIVE	4	5.5	$1,160,000	$1,200,000	04/14/2015	259
121 SAN MARCO DRIVE	3	3.0	$690,000	$749,000	04/15/2015	83
22 LAGUNA TERRACE	3	3.0	$650,000	$690,000	04/17/2015	0
62 ST JAMES DRIVE	3	3.5	$893,000	NON-MLS	04/17/2015
117 CHASEWOOD CIRCLE	4	3.5	$669,000	$679,900	04/23/2015	61
231 CORAL CAY TERRACE	3	3.0	$270,000	$309,900	04/27/2015	75
109 VINTAGEISLE LANE	4	4.5	$864,000	$1,049,000	04/28/2015	16
223 CORAL CAY TERRACE	3	3.0	$340,000	$369,000	04/30/2015	228
110 PEMBROKE DRIVE	3	3.5	$600,000	NON-MLS	05/01/2015
110 GRAND PALM WAY	3	4.0	$1,200,000	$1,275,000	05/01/2015	22
1126 CRYSTAL DRIVE	4	4.0	$480,000	$539,000	05/06/2015	100
110 ST EDWARD PLACE	3	3.5	$1,600,000	$1,650,000	05/08/2015	7
46 ST JAMES DRIVE	4	4.5	$765,000	$795,000	05/13/2015	1
150 ORCHID CAY DRIVE	3	3.0	$625,000	$649,000	05/18/2015	1
150 ISLE DRIVE	3	3.0	$368,000	$380,000	05/22/2015	114
138 ISLE DRIVE	3	3.0	$440,000	$489,000	05/27/2015	61
121A PALM BAY TERRACE	2	2.0	$350,000	$400,000	05/28/2015	94
60 LAGUNA TERRACE	3	3.0	$585,000	$695,000	05/28/2015	146
123 SUNSET BAY DRIVE	4	3.0	$300,000	$339,000	05/29/2015	144
124D PALM BAY TERRACE	3	3.0	$450,000	$525,000	06/01/2015	37
79 LAGUNA DRIVE	3	3.0	$560,000	$599,000	06/01/2015	50
30 SAINT JAMES DRIVE	3	4.0	$870,650	$1,100,000	06/01/2015	0
41 LAGUNA TERRACE	3	4.5	$500,000	$629,000	06/19/2015	114
17 LAGUNA COURT	3	2.5	$491,275	$549,000	06/25/2015	24
`124 ISLE DRIVE	3	3.0	$530,000	$599,000	06/30/2015	0
104 WINDSOR POINTE DRIVE	4	4.0	$1,085,000	$1,275,000	06/30/2015	50
101 SUNESTA COVE DRIVE	4	4.5	$1,065,000	$1,099,000	07/15/2015	4
1114 CRYSTAL DRIVE	4	4.0	$665,000	$749,000	07/17/2015	162
130 ORCHID CAY DRIVE	3	3.0	$566.608	$599,000	07/21/2015	14
166 WINDWARD DRIVE	3	4.0	$660,000	$749,900	07/22/2015	165
101A PALM BAY CIRCLE	3	2.0	$256,550	$399,900	07/24/2015	89
112 VINTAGEISLE LANE	3	4.0	$799,133	$1,199,000	07/28/2015	30
275 ISLE WAY	3	4.0	$429,000	$549,000	08/10/2015	155
157 SUNSET BAY DRIVE	3	2.5	$345,000	$349,900	08/24/2015	2
102 EMERALD KEY LANE	3	3.0	$625,000	$679,000	08/28/2015	69
212 GRAND POINTE DRIVE	4	4.5	$2,050,000	$2,100,000	08/28/2015	20
1152 CRYSTAL DRIVE	4	4.0	$569,050	$775,000	09/08/2015	137
218 COCONUT KEY DRIVE	3	4.5	$875,000	$1,100,000	09/28/2015	177
145 SAN MARCO DRIVE	3	3.5	$650,000	$749,000	09/30/2015	172
22 LAGUNA TERRACE	3	3.0	$635,000	$649,000	10/20/2015	6
114 CHASEWOOD CIRCLE	4	4.5	$462,500	$479,888	10/20/2015	50
113C PALM POINT CIRCLE	3	3.0	$488,000	$511,000	10/23/2015	70
104 CORAL CAY DRIVE	3	2.0	$317,500	$369,900	10/28/2015	89

*This representation is based on data supplied by the Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches or its Multiple Listing Services thru 11/06/2015.

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Laura Cole & Tana Gaskill

561.758.8625 561.389.6838

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