Eco Friendly Real Estate Blog

As a REALTOR®, I have been in a lot of homes that were built between the 1940's and 1980's that contain Asbestos, and I hadn't given much thought to the fact that my clients and I might be facing some possible hazards just by our brief visits to these homes. But today, I received an e-mail from Paul James, the Awareness Coordinator for Asbestos.com, asking if I would be interested in sharing information about Asbestosis and Mesolthelioma Cancer and Green Insulation Alternatives in my blog. It made me curious and I did some research. My research provided me with a better understanding of Asbestos; it's natural occurrence in the environment and it's hazards. It also provided me with some precautions that I'd like to share with you. (Bear in mind, there is a subtle Legal influence on the website I've mentioned below, but I did not find it intrusive.)

Now, please, do not panic and feel that you have to wear hazmat clothing wherever you go. Your task is to do your due diligence, like I did, and find out what asbestos is and what the possible risks might be. Then you can make an informed decision for yourself.

Here is a great Asbestos Resource to begin your own research. Credit for this article goes to the Mesothelioma Cancer Center for submitting the information in the article

What is Asbestos? 'Asbestos' is the term given to naturally occurring mineral fibers used for commercial purposes, such as the insulation of homes. The mineral fibers' innate resistence to fire and heat, as well as its reluctance to conduct electricity, are what make it popular for insulation. It's string-like fibers are easy to twist into thread and to weave into fabric for fire retardant clothing, too. It's this string-like quality, however, that has made it dangerous.

What Makes Asbestos Dangerous? The string-like fibers become unbound and float in the atmosphere. They are then inhaled. 'The shape of these fibers reacts negatively with human tissue and biological processes. When inhaled or swallowed, these fibers can become lodged in the tissues of the linings of organs, most commonly the lungs and digestive system. Over time, the lodged fibers cause inflammation and cellular damage, which can eventually lead to a variety of terminal diseases', such as asbestosis and mesothelioma, the severest form of asbestos caused cancer. (from the website, asbestos.com)

So what precautions should you take when you know you are around asbestos? First, there is no way to know for sure if you've been around asbestos. If the home or building has been abated for asbestos, there may be some record somewhere, but not always where you can see it. Here are some tips from the asbestos.com website:

• Finally, if you know you have asbestos in your home, have a professional perform an abatement.

Greener Insulation: Here are a few of TreeHugger's (Colin Dunn) Picks for Green insulation Options: (Sorry, I can't add my own just yet.)

1) Recycled paper insulation is made from 100% waste recycled newsprint and has been successfully installed in more than 1 million homes in the UK alone!
2) HempFlax insulation uses mostly hemp fiber, with a little added polyester fibre for reinforcing. Soda acts as the fire retardant, and, as the hemp is naturally resistant to moths and beetles, extra chemical application is avoided.
3) Concrete Blond's customized insulation panels create a false wall, behind which an insulating material can be placed; it's a great product for older homes with solid walls which would be difficult to insulate otherwise.
4) Recycled denim insulation is 100% recyclable, VOC-free, and formaldehyde-free.
5) Lloyd just added three new entrants in one entry to the archives, with recycled materials, LEED credits and positive air-quality features abounding.

Again, this post is not meant to alarm anyone, only to inform. Feel free to add a comment about your favorite Green Insulation while you are here

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

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
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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............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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MAPPING ASHEVILLE DEVELOPMENT --Asheville, NC-  June , 2009 

I got an email from a dear friend and client this morning. She and her husband, conservation land stewards, live in South Carolina but hold land here in the Asheville area.

It seems that news has traveled down her way. 

"I hear that Asheville is becoming much more populated - that lots of people are moving there.  For good reason, of course., " she wrote.

Looking at this from various perspectives (see photo of my pal  the "green muse of Asheville looking at future growth)I find  I have several answers for her. Here in the land of Cultural Creatives, what else would you expect? One answer has to do with the quality of life in Asheville and how attractive it is as a result. One has to do with the number of accolades Asheville has received from sources such as Fortune.  However, to respond in terms of numbers and statistics, I hopped on over to this site: http://gis.ashevillenc.gov/mapAsheville/developmentmapper/ 

The site provides  data and information this that can be used  as a guide for development activity with in the City of Asheville and looks at items such as:

• Conditional Use Permits, i.e. special permits requiring approval by City Council
• Residential developments with 20 or more units
• Subdivisions of land requiring extension of new infrastructure

Here too, real estate professionals and our clients can find pertinent web links and meeting dates of serious import to conservation land buyers and/or those seeking to create eco-communities ans GREEN infill projects in the Asheville area.

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

Design your dream. Give us your checklist .

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and LAND for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

Asheville "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, May, 2009

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

Here in the welcoming Asheville area mountainsit is time again for the annual one-day Mountain Green Sustainability Conference held on the campus of Warren Wilson College. It may be for  only one day, but it is packed with green possibilities.  The program itself is on-going and lasts throughout the year. (see the FREE L:lunch and Learn Series below.)

Some of our favorite local experts (see photo)are on the conference steering committee including Equinox Environmental, Warren Wilson College where the conference will be held (we love their GREEN Dorm) the WNC Green Building Council, and our own Asheville Board of REALTORS®.

FREE LUNCH & LEARN SERIES: All are invited to enjoy free, monthly Mountain Green "lunch and learn" presentations on sustainable community issues. And conference attendees  are in for an educational adventure when they choose from a huge number of learning opportunities.
Interested? Here is the Schedule:   

Says Phil Gibson  of the Environmental Leadership Center at the college (far right in photo above),  "Mountain Green is a program that embodies both informational luncheons and an annual conference.  The Green Walkabout© is an informative and inspiring walking tour of Warren Wilson College's sustainability initiatives that have earned the College recognition as a national sustainability leader.   Participants of both will experience principles and best practices of green building, energy use, waste management, native landscaping, sustainable agriculture and forestry, and more." 

(images at Warren Wilson)

Registration for one person is $100.  I know what I'm doing on June 24^th. How about you? 

P.S. 6 p.m. - Skinny Legs and All Blues Band performs at Warren Wilson College (open to public - donations requested)

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

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News and Views from Asheville's  Eco-Steward, May, 2009  

" What are your various GREEN designations?"  our client, a First Time Home Buyer seeking a *HealthyBuilt Home®  here in Asheville asked as she looked at the conference room wall. I had to smile. That wall is colorfully occupied with numerous licenses, designations and certifications. I guess she couldn't help but notice the not quite superfluity of framed documentation of the advanced training we have completed. 

We hold the Eco Certified® Real Estate Consultant, ( see our group at LinkedIn) NAR's GREEN Designation®   as well as the EcoBroker® Certification.  

Each of these provides advanced training in sustainable innovation that is important to real estate professionals and our clients who, more and more, demand healthy built homes. Since this is our area of specialization, that display on the wall really isn't a plethora, but more a confirmation of our commitment to be a resource for real estate opportunities and energy and environmental information. I explained the various certifications and designations and then pointed her in the direction of  our blog at Active Rain.

"If  you are looking for research on the features and benefits of green-built homes," I added, "  the Eco-All-Stars Group http://activerain.com/groups/GREEN  at Active Rain is a great place to look."

HomeFinder.com also offers this: "In today's environmentally conscious world, more and more homeowners are turning to ... REALTORS® designated as EcoBrokers to find their next green-certified home,"   reads the text which points out that..." it's important to arm yourself with some helpful tips before plunking down a large deposit and signing off on a contract."

With that in mind, here are a few more excellent links to consider: Going Green on a Budget Using an Eco-friendly REALTOR® Green Home Resources . . .  and...*by the way, currently there are 300 certified HealthyBuilt Homes and 683 "in progress" in the Western North Carolina area.Another reason to work with green designates. Pretty nifty, eh? _________________________________________________________________________________

 __~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.

email us today....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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First Time Home Buyers:Demand Green in Asheville  

Asheville, NC- May, 2009- The First Time Home Buyer has a good advantage these days. There has always been a place for this special group of buyers, but the $8,000 Tax Creditadds impetus to the mix. As a real estate professional here in Asheville, I have always thought that finding a niche that "calls" to  you is one of the most important aspects of success in this business.

Whether a property is commercial, residential or LAND/ acreage it is special in one way or another, and so are the clients who seek their first home, those buyers who depend on you for objective fiduciary counsel.

And there are points beyond special. Looking at various market niches... the 1^st Time Home Buyer, the Over 55...the Second and Vacation...the Hospitality...all have a certain "zest" that's like the mountain air here in Asheville....

But here is another  interesting perspective:

That of the 1^st time home buyer in terms of their demand for healthy-built (GREEN) homes.
That demand drives the market and is evident in the resources available to First Time Home Buyers and the number of green-built homes in the affordable price range.

Resources:.

1.  Right here in Asheville, 1^st Time Home Buyers can turn to the Green Building Council.

2. Ist Time Home Buyers can also turn to Eco Certified® Real Estate Consultants  at our Firm,  seasoned brokers  who have completed a 36-hour course about environmentally-sensitive properties here in Asheville.

3. Researching for First Time Home Buyers, I  checked out green-built homes in the $180,000 to $350,000 range the other day.  In that range (residential) there are 23 WNC HealthyBuilt Homes  on the market this month...

I  talked with a young couple earlier this week. They told me, "janeAnne we just have to have a healthier, safer, more comfortable, sustainable, energy efficient, and environmentally-responsible home....
" Here's one we should look at, " I replied. (see photo) "AND there are at least 22 more available!"

Should we chalk that up to the "wisdom of the  First Time Home Buyer Generation"?...or is GREEN just red hot?

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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' 1st Time Home Buyers LEARNING TOURS. Curious about sustainable GREEN real estate possibilities ?  Register for the Eco Stewards' Learning Tours.  Design your dream. Give us your checklist .

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and LAND for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

First Time Home Buyers Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
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I was searching for HVAC tape earlier today and someone on Twitter asked why I needed it, what it was going to do to help my house.

Thought I would do a quick video explaining how it helps and why HVAC Tape is better than Duct Tape.  And for the record, I don't recommend doing this on your own.  :) But here is what I did with before and after video.

If you are in Texas, it is mandated by State Law that there be a company to offer this service for Free.  If you are in or around the Houston area that Company is FreeLightingCorp.com

Not long ago I was contacted via Active Rainabout a post I had done -part of an on-going series called 
" Asheville- Picnics and Day Trips" - about Hickory Nut Forest Eco-Community.  I responded with delight for it is apple blossom time at Hickory Nut Forest, and we had taken some amazing photos to share.
(see photo)

"We share an interest in self-sustaining communities," I enthused... ."

and was happy to provide information. Possibly you. have seen posts (see a few of those links below) about Hickory Nut Forest.

I am passionate about the concept of eco-friendly developmentand how this has played out in excellent attention to detail for this eco-community." 

... what stage Hickory Nut Forest is in development... 

In terms of land planning and execution...the community is a good way along in terms of planning and creation of the "foundation" for the community....

 1)  The conservation easement and deed restrictions that protect the integrity of the land are in place-the 25 AC that is adjacent to the 250 AC that is also adjacent to hundreds and hundreds of acres of conservation partners' lands-
2) the site evaluationand planning has been done by Equinox Environmental eco-sensitive landscape architects, the biological survey is complete and has been respected

3) the road in is in (top quality-see photo) and carefully constructed

4) the sites are designed for beauty and solar gain
5) the trails leading from the sites to the larger acreage are in process and well under way...
6) about half the building sites are sold and
7)the first home to be built is due this year

.....about a land map....

A survey of Hickory Nut Forest is conservation neighborhood  as well as a map of the entire 275 AC, a  topographical map, and a general map of the area to see where Hickory Nut Forest is located and how far it is from Asheville is available. (see links below)

.... about lots---the siting, the  sizes and costs...

Each lot at  Hickory Nut Forest seems to have its own personality.  Some of the lots overlook the Hickory Nut Creek, some are adjacent to trails leading to vast conservation acreage....wells and septic systems are needed, but there has not been a problem with perc tests...

The size of the lots seems( to me) not to be too much of a factor when taking into consideration the larger picture...the heirloom apple orchard, the sustainably managed vegetable gardens on their way...and the other amenities of this life-affirming community.  Lots range in price from $150,000  (but two people could share a lot and build a home and "guest home" and thus defray the cost)  to about $250,000.

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

OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL from Eco Certified ©Real Estate Consultants. Contact janeAnne@janeAnne.com or  give a call at 828-255-1082 . Design your dream. Give us your checklist .

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS. Curious about sustainable GREEN real estate possibilities ?  Register for the Eco Stewards' Learning Tours.

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and LAND for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

Sustainable Community~ Asheville's Eco-Jewel~ Hickory Nut Forest. Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
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Jessica and Paul arrived at our offices in a downpour. Still, they were laughing as we greeted them at the door. It's been raining for a week here in Asheville, but they didn't seem to mind at all. Coming from the Arizona desert, they were enjoying every drop, they told us. The were seeking information on green building in Asheville. They had come to the right place!

As consulting REALTORS® my team and I have become eco-friendly resources for our clients. We offer objective fiduciary counsel . We think of ourselves as one small star in a big constellation of green experts.  Over the years we are fortunate to have met and to know many luminaries in Asheville's green-design and development galaxy.  

We think it is a real plus for our clients to be able to access valuable information those "stars" offerto light on their  projects-whether that be up-fitting a home to more energy efficient standard, building a new green home, or (my personal specialty) conservation real estate .

The giant jigsaw puzzle . Jessica and Paul  are investors in conservation real estate.

Conservation real estate involves large tracts of land and the sustainable practices ..

 Possibly, what we have there is a giant jigsaw puzzle. So for Jessica and Paul we recommended capturing the pieces of that puzzle-laying them all out on the table so that we get a clear picture-maybe looking at different perspectives in terms of  how this project might come together.  

We talked it over with Jessica and Paul. ..."Let's do a bit of due diligence before the fact, " we suggested. Thoughtful clients usually love the idea of objective (it's fee-based so they know it is objective) fiduciary advice. It makes sense to them to enter the project in stages and choose from a list of possibilities.

Over the years we have found that, with the expert advise of eco-savvy consultants in hand, wise choices seem easier to find.  Our team, the sustainable design and planning professionals, eco-developers, architects- and our happy clients ALL are smiling.

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

OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL from Eco Certified ©Real Estate Consultants. Contact janeAnne@janeAnne.com or  give a call at 828-255-1082 . Design your dream. Give us your checklist .

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS. Curious about sustainable GREEN real estate possibilities ?  Register for the Eco Stewards' Learning Tours.

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and LAND for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

Real Estate ‘s Green Luminaries-  Asheville NC-Style. Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
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I have been working on helping develop a recycling project as part of a program I am participating in through my local Realtor Association. I'm learning some interesting facts.

• Americans use an average of 6 cordless products in their daily activities - PDA's, cell phones. ipods,tools such as cordless drills and screwdrivers, flashlights, etc.
• The average cell phone user has 3 cell phones in their possession
• More than 40% of those cell phone users replace their phone every 2 years
• Most rechargeable batteries can be recharged up to 1,000 times

What happens to all those rechargeable batteries after they can no longer hold a charge? THEY SHOULD BE RECYCLED.

The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation is a nonprofit public service organization founded by the rechargeable battery industry in 1994. It's mission is to recycle rechargeable batteries that power many electronic products such as laptops, cell phones, remote control toys, razors, MP3 players, camcorders, electric toothbrushes, cordless phones, digital cameras and power tools. According to their information, they have recycled almost 50 million pounds of rechargeable batteries. Their website  lists numerous retailers who participate in battery recycling programs.