Eco Friendly Real Estate Blog

We are working with a general contractor in Asheville, NC who plans to build a LEED certified home on an outstanding lot she discovered, so we are especially excited about RLI's upcoming March 3, 2010 webinar that all of us have been invited to attend.

 It offers useful  information about sustainable development including one of my favorite topics: site development.

Site analyses are important no matter what you are building or where you live.They are especially important in the mountains. So, here in Asheville NC sustainable development is "the thing".

For the builder/owner of a LEED Certified home, taking the following into account is really  important:

Hydrology
Soils
Slopes
Solar aspect and building orientation
Microclimate(s)
Vegetation
Wildlife
Scenic qualities
Cultural features

(Photo shows sustainable education teacher demonstrating solar gain at Hickory Nut Forest eco-community near Asheville, NC)  

As a land specialist and broker of large and small tracts of land for sale, I am appreciative of what site analyses do for buyers, sellers and for me. Combined with the building site's overall ecological patterns a site analyses provides essential information that helps all of us make wise choices.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

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."  © 2010. Asheville NC Real Estate     Unauthorized reproduction of any information on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

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. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............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.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

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. 
______________________________________________________________________________________________

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     

_______________________________________________________________________________

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®

__________________________________________________________________________________________ 

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............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 ______________________________________________________________

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....

_____________________________________________________________________________________________  

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............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.

  ..........................................................               ............................................ .................................. 

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! 

______________________________________________________________________________________________ 

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............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  _______________________

Not until 2026 will we see another BLUE MOON in December.
Here she is over the mountains in Asheville NC.
Quite a sight--enough to leave one without words...

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............green real estate Asheville: GOING GREEN: Mountain homes and land legacies, socially conscious investing, rolling into a sustainable  world. Create it today for tomorrow. Find eco-friendly LAND. Build a green home. GREEN Real Estate, Retrofits and Relocation: ECO HOMES AND LAND. Serving Asheville's Eco-Friendly-Home, Relocation LAND Clients. The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  http://landlegacies.blogspot.com/  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved the green real estate Asheville Journal

ECO-SENSITIVE EQUITY PRESERVATION IN ASHEVILLE , NORTH CAROLINA

The value-added element of sustainable innovation must be taken into account when considering real property. This is about 2010 and beyond. Too, it is about an investment  that considers social and natural capital.  

Considering the big picture is easy to do in the Greater Asheville , NC Area because nature, culture and a steady  real estate market work together to support sustainable innovation, eco-sensitive equity preservation and eco-sensitive development.

Here's a Big Green Thumbs Upto just a small sampling of collective enterprise helping to create sustainable solutions in the Greater Asheville area.

Check out GOING GREEN in the Greater Asheville Area:

Sustainable Asheville

WNC Green Building Council

WNC Alliance

WNC Regoinal Air Quality Authority

Asheville Freecycle 

Warren Wilson College  

Buncombe County Beekeeping Chapter 

Canary Coalition 

Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy 

Clean Air Community Trust   

Dogwood Alliance   

Quality Forward   

Riverlink   

Going Green? Here are some practical suggestions-

Have you been talking with neighbors and friends about putting sustainable practices into action? If so, I happened on an article written by Sanyo's Aaron Fowles  today that could be of interest to you. The article takes a look at going green from the "where-oh-where  to begin" perspective-  a puzzlement to many of us. Here is a summary list of proposed steps in going green.

• Set realistic goals and make small changes over time
• Make sustainability a core part of your  vision and values
• Get involved in worthwhile activities and causes that help protect the environment , and be sure to
  Reward yourself for making positive changes
• Make changes in your everyday purchasing decisions
• Recognize the long-term benefits and return on investment of reducing your environmental footprint
• Share your environmental accomplishments with other neighbors
  
  You can see two of my favorite going green starting places in the Resources links below.

Resources:   Carbon Footprint  
                   Solar Power    

_______________________________________________________________________________  

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............green real estate Asheville: GOING GREEN: Mountain homes and land legacies, socially conscious investing, rolling into a sustainable  world. Create it today for tomorrow. Find eco-friendly LAND. Build a green home. GREEN Real Estate, Retrofits and Relocation: ECO HOMES AND LAND. Serving Asheville's Eco-Friendly-Home, Relocation LAND Clients. The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  http://landlegacies.blogspot.com/  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved the green real estate Asheville Journal_____________________________________________