Eco Friendly Real Estate Blog: January 2010

You can design your own kitchen, bathroom, patio...and, at the same time,  stamp your signature into concrete. How exciting is that??  If you have been following this series, you will know that our eco-friendly colleagues here in Asheville, the Hub of Green, sure are. Solid and durable, it also is versatile and adaptable to both indoor and outdoor use. As one person put it, " Concrete is the soup du jour of current home trends.

Sellers are finding that including the "new concrete" is an economical and eco-savvy way in which they can  update their home prior to putting it on the market.

Green builders (see photo) around town are using concrete in many different ways.

Neighbors doing renovation projects, as well, favor this material.

Buyers are so impressed with kitchen remodeling ideas that include counter tops with integral sinks and backsplashes, or a unique fireplace surround, or patio designs and walkways with that special creative allure . . ..

 Artisans are thrilled with the possibilities.

Today's hottest trend adds color, fine-finishes that dazzle, and a chance to express your personal creative stamp. 

Other posts in this series include topics such as : concrete flooring and home trends in concrete.HOW would YOU include concrete in your design plans and put YOUR stamp on it?

Heads-Up:  The US Green Building Council recently picked concrete as their #1 Choice  for Kitchen Counter Tops. 

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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............Asheville NC Real Estate:     LAND in  Asheville.  Going Green  and Eco-Friendly Properties. Expert Tools for Sellers and Buyers of  Mountain Homes and Land Legacies. "On the roll for  sustainable  innovation."  © Concrete (Series) - Put Your Stamp On It, 2010. Asheville NC Real Estate     Unauthorized reproduction of any information on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved.

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Ever since I participated in a site evaluation of a Green-Built home, where I first experienced the luster of concrete flooring, I have been fascinated with the possibilities for concrete in residential properties.   

Because the home that was being evaluated was complying with HealthyBuilt standards, the concrete used did not generate significant volumes of carbon dioxide (CO2.)

CO2 contributes significantly to greenhouse gas. In this application, the builder carefully had selected concrete the substitutes of  fly ash and slag. 

 What else makes concrete a "green" product? 

1.Concrete flooring provides high durability.

2. Concrete flooring is less subject to biological contamination problems. 

(Photo taken at site evaluation of an Asheville NC Green Built home.

For buyers and sellers of properties who are thinking about smart residential renovations we are excited about the various types of flooring they may choose to install. Bamboo? Cork? Recycled Hardwood? In terms of environmentally responsible choices, particularly in our indoor environment, for our own home, we are leaning towards concrete as we discuss the topic around the kitchen table. 
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Asheville NC Real Estate:      Going Green Properties. Expert Tools for Sellers and Buyers of  Mountain Homes and Land Legacies. "On the roll for  sustainable  innovation." See also our Mountain Homes and Land blog. Smart Renovations -Concrete .Copyright © 2010. All Rights Reserved. Asheville NC Real Estate     

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Asheville NC Real Estate - Smart Renovations 2010  include. . .  CONCRETE!

In the Asheville NC real estate market , where eco-friendly features such as concrete innovations and design trends add-value to residential properties, I have been asking, " Are you ready to discover one of the newest design trends that actually is as old as the Roman Empire? " 

Discovery :: The "New Concrete"- colorful, fine-fashioned, and with shining surfaces, the new concrete offers solutions in sustainable innovation that  I daresay could have astounded Caesar himself.  According to Wikipedia,  in the Emperor's day,  the "Concrete Revolution, freed Roman construction from the restrictions of stone and brick material and allowed for revolutionary new designs both in terms of structural complexity and dimension."  

Today, in that same spirit, revolutionary new designs in custom concrete provide solutions --
"stadiums-full" of property owners can applaud. Solid, dependable, "concrete solutions" that make sense for both indoor and outdoor use.   

Speaking of stadiums, how about this concrete solution from Elite Crete?

Exciting :: Kitchen remodeling ideas that include concrete countertops with integral sinks and backsplashes, kitchen islands, fireplace surrounds, concrete patio designs and walkways- and more...read on with the next installment of this series as I take you on a tour ...

AshevilleNC Real Estate:     LAND in  Asheville . Going Green Properties. Expert Tools for Sellers and Buyers of  Mountain Homes and Land Legacies. "On the roll for  sustainable  innovation." See also our Mountain Homes and Land blog. http://landlegacies.blogspot.com/ 
Copyright © 2010. All Rights Reserved. Asheville NC Real Estate       __________________________

Going Green: Faux-green to Real-deal- Asheville NC Real Estate and Beyond 

If you are Going Green, how do you tell the difference between faux-green and the real-deal? If you are in the Asheville NC real estate market or in Anytown, USA,  this can be an amazing challenge.  There are so many shades of green out there today-   "green buildings" encompass a wide variety of real estate from homes you might find in a conservation-oriented subdivision, to homes on acreage that are off the grid,  to mixed-use buildings that have residential condos above ground floor retail- to mention just a few. 

 Here's a check list of questions to ask real estate and related service providers.
These apply whether you are in the Asheville NC real estate market or in Portland, Detroit or  LA::

 1.  WHAT advanced training to you have ?

2.  Do you have the Eco Certified® Real Estate Consultant designation?  Have you completed ECOBroker® Training? O do you hold the NAR GREEN Designation?

3.  Have you advanced training and education in understanding  land planning and use?

4.    How do you distinguish yourself from your colleagues as a valuable resource to buyers and sellers?

5.   Do you have a collection of contact information at the tip of their fingers?

6.   Tell me....what are your concerns for improving environmental quality?

7.   Tell me....what cooperative efforts are you involved in ...in the community...or initiated by business professionals and/or the general public?

8.    Tell me... can you (and how would you)   connect me  with "green" building and development experts for technical assistance in the real estate transaction?

9.    Can you help me determine the type of green real estate that best fits my needs?

10.   What is green-washing all about?

11.   Do you have an understanding of technical issues that can arise with the transaction of green real estate (loans, home inspections, etc)?

12.    Can you identify the "right" expert in the green building and development industry to help resolve potential problems?

13.   Can you point me in the direction of expert information on topics such as energy-efficient mortgages, passive solar heating, radiant floor heating, mold mitigation, land design and development, cluster housing?

14.   What is Permaculture?

15.   What is a rain catchment system?

16.   Who do I contact to find out environmental impact?

17.   How many of these steps for certifying a True Green Home are you familiar with?  http://www.wncgbc.org/healthybuilt/docs/HBHChecklistv3.0.xls

18.   Do you live in a "green" home yourself? And/or  what are you doing to make it more "green"?

19.   What are you doing in terms of collaboration in neighborhoods, eco-communities and the broader community?

20.   What "green" organizations do you belong to or do you sponsor?

...so ....summing it up.....search for authenticity... 

Resources:
Eco-All-Stars. Over 1,000 real estate and related professionals offer green and going green information based on experience.   

Eco Certified ®Real Estate Consultants.   Consumers can connect with professionals who have done at least 36 hours of classroom, hands-on training in outdoor and indoor green-related real estate coursework.

EcoBrokers®

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__~o
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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............LAND in  Asheville . Going Green Properties. Expert Tools for Sellers and Buyers of  Mountain Homes and Land Legacies. "On the roll for  sustainable  innovation." See also our Mountain Homes and Land blog. http://landlegacies.blogspot.com/  Copyright © 2010. All Rights Reserved  Asheville NC Real Estate ______________________________________________________________

LAND  and Green-Built Homes in The Mountains- Market Remain Strong
Real Estate in Greater Asheville, North Carolina

Excellent eco-friendly properties promise appreciationin the Greater Asheville area mountains with predictions of stability during 2010.  

Eco-designed developments, green-built homes and excellent acreages are worthy of note in the WNC region.

NOTE:

•·         "Green" properties are in demand by buyers, and so they have added value for investors.  People living in and relocating to the Greater Asheville area and mountains of Western North Carolina appreciate sustainable eco-oriented properties. They demand green-builthomes and want to live in eco-developments. Expect a strong return on your investment.

•·        Cash stream as well as market appreciation is strong with income properties in the mountains. Here is an excellent opportunity to build/enjoy/rent out a second/vacation home.




Photo taken on Land For Sale by Owner ./\ (Photo shows green-built second/vacation home under construction in the Asheville NC area)

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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............LAND in  Asheville . Going Green Properties. Expert Tools for Sellers and Buyers of  Mountain Homes and Land Legacies. "On the roll for  sustainable  innovation." See also our Mountain Homes and Land blog. http://landlegacies.blogspot.com/  Copyright © 2010. All Rights Reserved  Asheville NC Real Estate Journal   

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Anatomy of the Sale of Mountain Land For Sale by Owner- Going Green
Asheville Mountain Properties NC 2010

 Selling and buying Land is different that selling and buying residential property. For one thing, there is a whole list of discoveries during the due diligence period that takes place outside the realm of the residential sale. And there are tasks that do not resemble the tasks of the residential broker.  

Real Case Scenario- Land for Sale by Owner- The Survey-  

The seller has a very old survey.  We recommend a new one. We devote our time and attention to emailing and  calling all the surveyors on our list. No luck. Don't connect with a one. Leave messages. Hope for a return call. If not, we will start all over tomorrow. 

Discovered in conversation with the seller that the surveyor who did the original survey on the land for sale by owner tract may still be around,  although it is thirty (30) years since he did the survey.  About ten (10) years ago he told everyone he was going to retire. Now our task is to see if we can unearth him (not literally!). ( just a little land specialist's humor)

In the meantime, I'll run out to Madison County  (it is an hour-of-so drive from my appointment in the south-end of town)  to see if we can track down a good clean copy of the survey to overnight to our investor. 

NOTE: By contrast, I took this photo on land for sale by owner where a current survey IS in place.(A plus for all concerned.)  Creston Preserve is an eco-friendly development on over 1,000 acres, with hiking trails. The trail seen here leads to the area seen in a video on a prior post  and "live action-of the life and times of a land specialist" Here's a link to the VIDEO of land for sale by owner.

As Land Specialists,we make it a point to get to know folks in the real estate related offices in the county offices in our region. Over the years, they have come to see that we are serious land lovers and professionals and they respect our willingness to"go the extra mile."  We expect and enjoy the excellent cooperation of our colleagues, and hope for some good luck in locating the  survey...if it didn't get lost ... 

but getting a new or updated survey us by the end of February, that could be a close one. 

Stay Tuned...and let me hear from you....

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__~o
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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............LAND in  Asheville . Going Green Properties. Expert Tools for Sellers and Buyers of  Mountain Homes and Land Legacies. "On the roll for  sustainable  innovation." See also our Mountain Homes and Land blog. Mountain Land For Sale by Owner.  Copyright © 2010. All Rights Reserved  Asheville NC Real Estate Journal.

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Asheville NC Real Estate. Numerous  amazing real properties qualify as outstanding natural areas. You can even "adopt" a small piece of land while you consider making a home on the land. (see below for details.)

We admit it. We simply are unabashed land lovers. As  Land Specialists, we are excited about the idea of stewardship of the Land.  Partnering with the Nature Conservancyin working to conserve 1.7 million acres of public and private land, restoring forested lands, establishing conservation easements, learning and practicing sustainable forest management  and promoting the use of native plants in eco-friendly residential properties, is an attractive  choice for us.  

No matter the season, hiking in the Asheville mountain lands is an experience. Natural areas, like the one in the photo we took recently (seen here) are alluring.  We like to take in these areas as if we are visiting
living museums. Where else to you have the chance to observe natural biotic and environmental systems and the interdependence of all forms of life? Where else do you have such an immediate reminder of the vital dependence of the health of the human community on the health of the other natural communities? 

Numerous  amazing real properties qualify as outstanding natural areas. You can participate in funding and founding nature preserves by investing in such a property. The owner of a qualified natural area even may transfer fee simple title or other interest in land to the State. 

Here in Asheville NC, we contribute to the Adopt and Acre® Program through the North Carolina Chapter of the Nature Conservancy.  By the way, nature preserves may be acquired by gift, grant, or purchase and in the Adopt and Acre ®Program you will be surprised what $50.00 will do! 

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__~o
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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............LAND in  Asheville and Going Green Properties. Mountain Homes and Land Legacies rolling on for a sustainable  world. Asheville NC Real Estate. Marketing Consultation for Land For Sale By Owner and Buyers. See also our Mountain Homes and Land blog. http://landlegacies.blogspot.com/

Copyright © 2010. All Rights Reserved  Asheville NCReal Estate Journal  _______________________

Asheville, NC  January , 2010 

Exploring LAND in the Asheville area mountains is always exciting. It is particularly so in the winter after a snowstorm. But, when land is for sale by owner, my curiosity propels me.  Add in an element of anticipation and you have a very alluring adventure.

 Yesterday I ventured out to see if I could get a few winter shots of such a property.Traveling east from Asheville, I turned the volume up on Kathy Mattea's Definitive Collection  CD  .  She was singing, "...I'll be halfway to Asheville...." It's been awhile since I've seen Carolina, it always was pretty this time of year...." and I was singing along... at the top of my voice...the way you can when you are speeding along the Interstate ...solo... 

Before I knew it, I was turning off I-40 and on to the road that would take me to the land for sale by owner.  

 The road was clear, but there  remained evidence of the storm- - trees fallen and debris.

Still the air was crisp and the sky was deep Carolina Blue, so , attentively,  I nosed my way around  the winding mountain road called North Haven where the owner of this land promised a jewel to behold.

Here is an eco-development on over 1,000 acres where sustainable innovation is evident.

The road was cleared and only a few places had me holding my breath as I looked over the edge of the road into the distance. Just to clarify that- I was holding my breath because it was so beautiful ... (see photo)

  I hoped to find "Nestled In" that very special parcel of land for sale by owner I sought. . .to be continued

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__~o
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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............LAND in  Asheville and Going Green Properties. Mountain Homes and Land Legacies rolling on for a sustainable  world. Asheville NC Real Estate. Marketing Consultation for Land For Sale By Owner and Buyers. See also our Mountain Homes and Land blog.  Copyright © 2010. All Rights Reserved  Asheville NC Real Estate Journal
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Maybe it's just a Baby Boomer thing, but I love the thrill of finding a bargain and a piece of history, or art, at the same time. I am able to do this by shopping at consignment shops. Okay, so maybe it is not recycling at its best, but it is recycling at its most enjoyable.

Some might think that the economic downturn is the reason why many turn to consignment shops, but my love for consignment shopping began long ago. In fact, I still have my first purchase. It is the Delft container in the center of this photo:

My parents came over from the Netherlands (Holland), and Delftware was a way to tie in my love of the color blue with my ethnic background. (Delftware is a type of ceramic ware made in the town of Delft, better known for its blue and white floral motifs.) My collection grew from there:

I've visited Goodwill shops, too. I have two daughters. When they were younger, finding clothes for them was a task that required more funds than I was willing to spend. I allowed my children to play in whatever clothing they had on at the time, and stains didn't discriminate between their play clothes and their better clothes. With hand-me-downs from friends and Goodwill purchases, I didn't have to worry that they were dirtying an expensive outfit. Parenting is stressful enough without worrying about children getting dirty. Let's be real. Childhood is a dirty job! (I wonder if Mike Rowe, from Dirty Jobs, would consider trying this one out for his television show.)

Today, I give as good as I get. I always donate at least 10-20 bags a year to Goodwill. I set up accounts at my favorite consignment shops and several times a year, I drop off 5-25 items. Once a month, I collect a check and then purchase more bargains! These shops charge 30%, 40% and 50% commissions, but my savings on my purchases tend to exceed the value of the items I have traded in. How does this happen, you ask? Well, all consignment shops drop their prices after a certain period of time. The trick is to look for the dates on the items you are interested in, and keep your purchases to only items that have been further reduced. Here are some examples of what I have been able to find: A batik butterfly framed print - $5; bentwood chair - $18; painted gourd - $1.50; rafia wall hanging - $8; framed painting of San Francisco Bay - $60; and my favorite... my daughter's wedding gown - $250

The most interesting item I've discovered, however, has to be this item called, a Cap Off. It is a device that removes the caps from soda or beer bottles.

If you try to find this by Google search, you will only find a new version. I have the original "Cap Off" :-)

New Hampshire To Do will be featuring some of my favorite consignment shops in an upcoming issue of their magazine. In the meantime, try some of them out by checking out the links below:

The Etcetera Shoppe in Meredith, New Hampshire: something for everyone!

Pat's This and That for antiques in Tilton, New Hampshire 603-286-2442

Project 4 Consignments for clothes in Tilton, New Hampshire 603-286-4206

Consignment Gallery in Amherst and Bedford, New Hampshire 603-673-4114 and 668-4114

Feel free to add some of your own favorites. Look for the Ebay Bedroom in my next article.

Frances Sanderson, Franklin, NH REALTOR®, Certified EcoBroker^®

I am looking forward to Sundays on the Island In Madison County, North Carolina  coming soon! It's still cold, so the Farmers' Market is indoors (see flyer and note below.)

But I can hardly wait to find vocal  streams, rolling pastures, welcoming  "coves" and unending vistas that take your breath away as I head out in Spring, 2010 to the  Madison County farmers market (see photos.) 

There's a spirit of community here. Camaraderie. Inclusiveness. A sense of place and a sense of belonging, all exemplified  in the weekly tailgate markets. .It is all about Reconnecting with the Land; Meeting the People. Again... Heaven-on-Earth...For those of us who live and work here, that's how it can feel.

Today I'm taking you on a short drive north of Asheville, NC (about 18 minutes) to the tailgate market in Marshall, NC.Look out your window as we drive the scenic (excellently maintained) country roads. Do you see tobacco crops? Quite a few of them, actually? . That's because Madison County is the largest burley tobacco producing county in North Carolina. In fact, there are approximately 2,350 farms with burley tobacco quotas.

A decade ago, burley tobaccoaccounted for $10 to $12 million for agriculture income annually. But recently, as you may suspect, the demand for tobacco has been on the decline. Not to be defeated, local farmers have become creative. Crops are changing, and farmers are diversifying, and we are  moving into sustainable agriculture.

That is one reason why Marshall's tailgate market exists.

And wait until you see where it is located. (see photos I took during my tailgate market visit)

 Under huge, old trees, the Marshall tailgate market decorates the banks of the  French Broad River every Sunday during the season.

Park your car and walk over to the colorful tents, produce, crafts...and PEOPLE!

Today expect to meet a master craftsman, a gourmet meatball sandwich chef, some political activists, musicians and local growers. 

It's a community get-together where laughter and good-things abound. We will be able to enjoy the harvests of the most amazing ORGANIC crops.

Sundays on the Island
Cross the river at the Courthouse on Main Street
Marshall, Madison County
Sun 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Starts April 20, 2008

Meatball Sandwich, Anyone? 

MMmmmmmm! Dee-lish-UHsss!

 In the meantime, you and I can stop by Madison County Cooperative Extension Saturday (10am-2pm) to pick up some winter veggies, delicious breakfast, crafts, goat cheese and more for the Winter, 2010 Indoor Tailgate Market cur every 2^nd and 4^th Saturday of the month in January, February and March. 

WE SUPPORT LOCAL FARMS AND FOOD   

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Read  a l.ocal expert's news about mountain and valley  neighborhoods, day trips, picnics,
and local ecotourist attractions you'll just love.  /\ Check THIS out /\  Curious about green building, remodeling and green communities ?  Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG.     

__~o
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WE are IN a sustainable  world.