Eco Friendly Real Estate Blog

It is July Fourth, 2009. Here in Asheville, we are celebrating in the traditional ways: back yard gatherings, blue grass music, fireworks downtown.Tonight I will be able to see the fireworks dazzle the mountains and surprise the night sky.

In Asheville, a number of us are adding   another color to this celebration of life and liberty on the Fourth. Complimenting the traditional red, white and blue  canvas is a backdrop of green.

Here's what I mean-see photo.

Dateline Asheville, North Carolina, July, 2009
News and Views from Asheville's Greenolina, Real Estate Eco-Steward

PLAN Your Move to a Greener Home.

Step One: Spruce up your abode.

Paint. Use NO VOC paints, remove and replace old carpets with nontoxic flooring, consider replacing all the light bulbs with LEDs..

I love Asheville's locally-produced Earthpaint® which is NO VOC for sprucing up both interior and exterior surfaces. (Check the link. You can order it shipped if need be.)

This beginning plan will increase the value of the home and certainly makes it more attractive to today's buyers

Step Two: Replace old appliances with  energy efficient appliances.

Step Three: Update windows, insulate for energy efficiency, and go for daylighting. .

Step Four: Seek out a"green"  real estate professional with NAR's GREEN Designation or the EcoBroker or Eco Certified Real Estate Consultant Designation. (I'm smiling)

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 __~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL.

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.Serving Asheville's First Time  and Relocation LAND and Home Buyers.

Asheville GREEN Home Buyers - "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

WHAT is THIS???

Hint:

R = (CH₂)₁₄CH₃ or
R = (CH₂)₇CH=CH(CH₂)₅CH₃ or
R = (CH₂)₇CH=CHCH₂CH=CH(CH₂)₂CH₃ or
R = (CH₂)₇CH=CHCH₂CH=CHCH=CHCH₃ or
R = (CH₂)₇CH=CHCH₂CH=CHCH₂CH=CH₂ and others

Sitting on my upper deck the other evening, I noticed a tree that seemed to have sprouted overnight.

I took this photo right away. I was amazed and curious.

I had a sense that this tree could even be "dangerous" to those who happened upon it unexpectedly.

The leaves on this "Tree" looked somehow familiar:  leaves alternating, with 3 leaflets, each smooth margined or shallowly lobed. 

Germination: We have had a lot of rain this year, I mused. Could that have made this tree grow so tall (over 10 feet!) when it was not there last year???

"YIKES! It may be a monster," one visitor laughed.

"Certainly not something I would like to encounter on a dark night," another remarked.

On my forays in the field as  a conservation land specialist I had to admit, I had never seen anything like this.

WHAT could it be? Shall I tell you right away or would you prefer to take a guess?

One more hint? OK. Take a look at this graphic. And maybe check out this word. "Urushiol"

I'll be back to let you know the name of the "TREE" in my back yard, so be sure to take a guess and check back later. And, in the meantime, watch where you walk. . .or ride...or picnic...or garden...

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__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL.. ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.Serving Asheville's First Time  and Relocation LAND and Home Buyers.

Asheville: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

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Dateline Asheville, North Carolina, June, 2009

News and Views from Asheville's Greenolina, Real Estate Eco-Steward 

I'm sharing here Parts 1  and 2 of  a letter that one of our eco-friendly conservation land buyers'received from a member of the "Green Team" at our Firm.

 The reason why? Simple. Sometimes people are unaware of the research and energy that goes into the practice of real estate. Sometimes this can be distressing to folks like those seen in the photo ..real estate professionals who spend hours and days preparing for a meeting with clients.....

So here is a clue on just what goes on prior to a client's arrival here in Asheville, and I suspect elsewhere . LAZY? I don't think so!

The letter reads:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. (Smith) 

Just want to review with you what, in addition to the property we discussed in the previous email (far below) , we have  previewed since we walked this property for you...
 this is what has been accomplished....

 •1)      We have previewed  15 large acreages. In doing so, we have covered about a 300 mile area...we have walked and photographed those acreages that meet your specifications.

•2)      Unfortunately, the weather has been stormy and wet. Lots of rain makes some of the larger acreages where roads are old logging roads and tend to be muddy very hard to preview...BE SURE TO BRING GOOD HIKING SHOES!

•3)      Please note that most of the land adjacent to National Forest is at least 45 minutes out from Asheville Although it is in your price range, it is not in your specified driving range. Let me know what you think about this, please.

•4)       We have completed previewing all the land adjacent to the National Forest currently listed. In addition, we have been in touch with our local farm stewardship contacts to see if they know of parcels that were NOT listed.

•5)      We have spoken with and/or met with other conservation real estate Brokers and reviewed what they had to offer,  being all the while scrupulous about staying within the price point you specified. We have not gone over this price range, but have tried to stay within or below it.

•6)      In our previewing, we have found some very unattractive properties...one was burned out... ...one was just a steep cliff...so about 1,000 miles and 20 forays later, TODAY we finally finished the research ....(it takes about 5 or 6 hours to go out to these properties, walk them...and so forth...but we figure the many hours that  we spend in research saves our clients disappointment....)

•7)      As a result of this research, we have found a number of properties that could work for you. They meet your specifications. Here's why:

a) they are within the price range
b) they are adjacent to the National Forest and/or to a Conservation Land
c) they have a good water source
d) there are no deed restrictions preventing small organic farming
e) they can be farmed
f) they have workable solar orientation
g) they have privacy
h) they can be walked by your grandparents
i) there are numerous building sites on them
j) they have cascades and/or waterfalls
k) they actually ARE available for real estate transaction
m) they are large 80+ AC land tracts
n) they are at least fairly accessible ...and therefore our clients would not have to add another large sum of $$$ in additional costs just to bring power and improvements to them, and
o) one or two even have cabins that could be used by the family while you are building  

•8)      This has been quite a project, as you can imagine! We are very pleased to tell you that, having just TODAY completed this project, we can now prepare the tours.

•9)      We have set up three different tours for you. First...One to the EAST with the waterfall property you told me you wanted to see (this is not adjacent to the National Forest)...Second...One to the Northwest. ..and finally...One to the West... Each tour will take 5 to 6 hours...

•10)  We have poured over research details and have assembled maps, plats, surveys, topos, aerials and all the MLS information that could be found. This now is assembled in folders ready for us to review when we meet at our Asheville Office on  Monday morning at about 10:30 AM...

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__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL.

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.Serving Asheville's First Time  and Relocation LAND and Home Buyers.

Asheville Conservation Land Buyers - "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

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Dateline Asheville, North Carolina, June, 2009
News and Views from Asheville's Greenolina, Real Estate Eco-Steward 

Here is Part  2 of a series on what goes in to preparing to introduce Asheville's land buyers to amazing properties in our area. Part 1 reviews a letter that one of our eco-friendly conservation land buyers' received from a member of the "Green Team" at our Firm.

Possibly you will be interested  in  checking out Part 1 to see details of just what goes on in preparation for the review of land and prior to our clients' arrival.

 Whether a land purchase is for the purpose of a family legacy, a private estate, an equestrian facility, or conservation easement ere in Asheville, there's lots to do . . .(see photo)

In addition, we are committed to evaluating each property in terms of appreciation, price per AC, seller motivation, and length of time on the market and create a touring schedule that may span several days to a week and cover many, many miles. 

We then prepare a list of properties that we have previewed that meet the criteria set out and reviewed in consults with our clients. The list (current, but severely abbreviated for the purpose of this post) looks something like this:  

MLS #                            $$                  Acreage                    LINK

 439035                       $1,280,000        128       http://www.wncrmls.com/wnc/maildoc/a000Yf2864.html 

406719                    1,968,000                 246                http://www.wncrmls.com/wnc/maildoc/i0038E5218.html   (this acreage- see waterfalls )             

P.S. We also provide our client with a list of properties that were eliminated and WHY 

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__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL. ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.Serving Asheville's First Time  and Relocation LAND and Home Buyers.

Asheville Conservation Land Buyers - "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
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Dateline Asheville, North Carolina, June, 2009
News and Views from Asheville's Greenolina, Real Estate Eco-Steward

The Greater Asheville area is full of potential for those seeking a welcoming atmosphere and quality of life. People want to be here. They arrive  from elsewhere with high hopes. Before investing in property however, we advise them to think about correctly structuring  the real estate transaction.

Getting it "right" means

1. Understanding  the topography, the geology, the aesthetic
2.. Asking good questions
3.. Utilizing  resources
4.. Asking local experts about the trends in the real estate market
5. Observing subtleties . . .all of this

while still taking into consideration their insights as well as the normal activities of categorizing, comparing, and measuring.

(photo shows one of our clients doing research on equestrian lands not too far from Asheville.)

Right now is an excellent time for buyers in a market where really good choices for people drawn to our area abound.

There are eco-friendly retrofitted bungalows and those ready for renovation (about 95)
There are green-built homes (about 600)
There are beautiful homes on 5+ Acres. (about 200)
There are alluring homes with vocal streams ( about 200)
There are homes and land for equestrians (about 200)
There are view lots and sizable acreage adjacent to the national forest. (about 175)
There are a few large acreages -over 100 AC (about 110)
There is lakefront property (about 165)
There are cottages close to Asheville in the 300-$500K range (about 75)

There is land and sustainable innovation to share with others in conservation neighborhoods. 

The questions are . . .1) do you really know which of these speaks to you, and 2) will you hear and answer it  when it calls?
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__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL. ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.Serving Asheville's First Time  and Relocation LAND and Home Buyers.

Getting It "Right" Asheville-Style.  "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

Dateline Asheville, North Carolina, June, 2009
News and Views from Asheville's Greenolina, Real Estate Eco-Steward 

THREE CREEKS, CASCADES AND WATERFALLS- 

Take a deep breath and imagine yourself inspired by this waterfall. 

That's what happened for us on our recent picnic and photo shoot at Three Creeks Preserve. Here we discovered a conservation neighborhood beyond compare.

Less than an hour from Asheville, NC., and just 4 miles from Lake Lure, NC,  we also discovered the secret to eco-friendly living at Three Creeks Preserve. 

We had checked our map (see graphic)  and headed out in high anticipation. 

We had heard amazing reports on the Three Creeks conservation neighborhood, one of John and Marilyn Nelson's nature-oriented developments.  We had earlier visited (and loved) Creston Eco-community, so were expecting amazing things.

"Our philosophy at Creston and at Three Creeks is quite simple,"  John Nelson, had told me. "We believe in setting aside equal shares of land for people and for nature in a community that offers the benefits of carefully planned land use. We believe this development philosophy is a sound business model that fairly balances competing interests while insuring that present and future generations can continue to enjoy the natural beauty that attracts people to our mountain region.

In terms of Creston, it's wonderful to be able to permanently protect these lands in conjunction with the Foothills Conservancy and to help protect these mountains' waters, forests and beauty forever." 

As real estate professionals, always with an eye out for a special find in the Asheville area, we especially like to visit eco communities so that we can tell our clients about building sites along a creek, beside a meadow, in the forest ,or on a hilltop. Three Creeks turned out to be unique among such communities. Established in 1994, it exudes an aura of subtle elegance inspired by nature.

Before we headed out, we also checked out the Three Creeks Community  web site. We learned that this eco development  "offers a retreat-like setting for families. Abundant water sources, prominent waterfalls, meadows, forest, swimming pond, trout fishing, trails and a community cabin." 

"It's conceptual uniqueness derives from deeding 70% of the land to the owners as common land which cannot be developed. The protected land encompasses waterfalls, trails and other outstanding or environmentally sensitive areas." 

 Arriving for our picnic and photo we meandered up the paved drive (see photo ) and into the woods drawn by the alluring sound of a distant waterfall. I said to my companion, " To live here must certainly be what aiming high is all about!" 

We took a foot bridge and connected to a trail system that winds from the eco community to about 278 acres of diverse terrain and up to the scenic mountain overlook. AWESOME! No wonder there are only a very few building sites remaining here. 

This is  a place where people can choose to live among caring neighbors, sharing their inspiration and enthusiasm,.Here is  a sustainable community that could power the homes by unleashing the renewable energy inherent in the land, the water, the wind and the sun, and a thoughtfully-planned neighborhood.

Here I can see green-built homes  designed with natural, non-toxic materials to be safe, healthy, and energy efficient, built to the highest green building standards. 

I can see myself  building my very own green-built dream home at Three Creeks Eco-community whose very foundation rests on maintaining a healthy, diverse ecosystem. How about you?

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__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL.

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.Serving Asheville's First Time  and Relocation LAND and Home Buyers.

Asheville First Time Home Buyers - "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

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Dateline Asheville, North Carolina, June, 2009
News and Views from Asheville's Greenolina, Real Estate Eco-Steward

Over 20 years ago I had the good fortune to meet and begin working with and learning from Dr. Mike Cohen.

But Dr. Mike Cohen had been an educator and leader in the field of sustainable innovation long before I met him. In fact,  this summer we celebrate 50 yearsof a program he founded and still directs, ECHN. UNESCO approved, this sensory art and science curriculum educating, counseling and healing with Nature (ECHN), from Project NatureConnect includes advanced degrees at Akamai and Portland State Universities .

In those 50 years, and in the 20 years I have known and respected Dr. Cohen, ECHN has conclusively demonstrated  three things:

1) that the process actually enables participants to interlace their thinking with nature's renewing and regenerative ways and that this produces very positive results

2) that, at the same time, this process successfully enlistis nature's grace to help support mindfulness so that participants again benefit in most positive ways

3) that those who work within the program are rewarded with wellness and peaceful balance

Pretty impressive wouldn't you say? Possibly something every real estate professional and our clients can appreciate...whether we are in Asheville, NC or Anchorage....  My hat is off to Dr. Michael Cohen. He created and continues to steward ECHN ...50 years of nature's self-correcting powers to address the source of personal and community challenges. 50 years of  energizing individuals and communities. This is sustainable innovation in action...

Resource: Website   www.ecopsych.com

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__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL.

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.Serving Asheville's First Time  and Relocation LAND and Home Buyers.

Asheville First Time Home Buyers - "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

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In Asheville, N.C., with our population of about 80,000, currently 34 active,  
standing boards and commissions serve in the capacity of addressing the complexities inherent in our vibrant city. There are any number
of very viable pathways to sustainability.

Even before relocating here, or if you are just interested in such things - as  I am- you can look at the culture, creativity, organic grower population, environmental conditions, and available technology.

You can research the rankings try to get a handle on how people's quality of life
and city economic and management preparedness are likely to fare in the near future... or simply ask a local expert, your real estate professional

BUT FIRST you may choose to look in the mirror.

Here is a link where you  can calculate your personal environmental impact
and discover ways of reducing that impact.

Take the Ecological Footprint Quiz

Let me know what YOU see in the mirror of your life on Earth. . .

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL. ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.Serving Asheville's First Time  and Relocation LAND and Home Buyers.

Asheville ECO MIRROR- "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

Folks have been talking real estate here in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The news is good.

When it comes to home ownership, especially "green-built" homes,  and the economy both  state-wide,

and in our home town of Asheville,  (see photo)

North Carolina's real estate facts ( see below) support our intuition that things are moving in a positive direction. 

Here are  a few of those facts: 

1) Six N.C. cities - Raleigh, Durham, Asheville, Wilmington, Winston-Salem and Charlotte - were among the top 20 "Best Metros" in the country for business and careers, according to Forbes.  Asheville  is  #6    

2) North Carolina recently was named the second best state in which to conduct business, according to Chief Executive magazine.  

3) First-time homebuyer activity has surged. In March, first-time homebuyers accounted for 53 percent of transactions. 

4)  In the latest quarter, North Carolina ranked 36th in the nation for foreclosure filings, and in recent months, foreclosure filings fell significantly when compared to the same period last year.

 5) Coming to Asheville,  (May, 2009) the Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites. This is exciting! it means $32 million and perhaps as many as 100 scientific jobs - a boost to Asheville's economy and the Asheville's quest to become a hub for jobs related to weather data collection, forecasting and research. 

So when our clients ask us, " How are things going in North Carolina, and in particular, how does the Asheville NC real estate market look these days? "  I am happy to answer, " Most Promising!"
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__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL and ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.Serving Asheville's First Time  and Relocation LAND and Home Buyers.

Asheville First Time Home Buyers - "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
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