Eco Friendly Real Estate Blog: North Carolina: Asheville: Asheville Greenside Neighborhoods

Heart in the Clouds 

Love  is like a cotton-ball cloud--soft and promising.
Love is like a knowing smile stretched, without judgment,
 across the face of a beloved friend.

 You may find love in many places,
but today, my inamorata,
somehow sweetly sculpted
a heart in the clouds
just outside our cabin door,
all the time denying his handiwork
with a twinkle in his eye.

©jA Narrin, Wind-in-the- Feather -~^~ The Spirit Ridge Collection   June in Asheville, 2011

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(*)/'(*)   ________The Asheville NC Real Estate Journal . Mountain Homes and Land Legacies- Asheville NC Real Estate  © 2011.  NAR GREEN®, EcoBroker®, Eco Certified ®Real Estate Consultant. INFORMED CHOICES. THOUGHTFUL ADVICE. Unauthorized reproduction of any information including photos and verse  on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws.  All rights reserved.

Eco-Friendly Mountain Homes and Land Legacies-  
- Asheville NC Real Estate  © 2011.
828-776-0773

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Asheville Real Estate Journal 

"The concept is simple: Give people the right reasons to take environmental stewardship seriously, along with tools, information, and incentives for action, and they will embrace their responsibility to nature," states, the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP) Program Director.  

Recent surveys highlight the resultant successes where today, more than two thousand  (2,000) golf courses in thirty-six countries participate in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program! It is all about education and then a certification program that promotes ecologically-sound land management and conservation of natural resources on golf courses.  

Desire Examples?

Check out some of the Asheville Area's on the  GREENside Neighborhoods such as

Balsam Mountain Preserve. Here you will discover a green golf course( ACSP certified) . It had an environmental assessment including a wildlife inventory, water quality analysis, a check of vegetation, pesticides, water conservation. Here at Balsam Mountain Preserve, ( only 354 homesteads nestled into 4,400 acres) neighbors are thinking on the greenside.

Resources:
 balsam mountain preserve: 7 Ways to Recognize and Appreciate an Eco Village - Asheville Style
balsam mountain preserve: Asheville Golf Course Home Owners and 10 Strategies for Water Conservation
balsam mountain preserve: Asheville's Golf Communities Blend Challenge, Satisfaction, and Green Homes

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(*)/'(*)   ________Asheville NC Real Estate Journal. Mountain Homes and Land Legacies-  - Asheville NC Real Estate  © 2011. GREEN-FRIENDLY GOLF HOMES:: Did you know that 81% of homebuyers would prefer to buy an eco-friendly home?

Unauthorized reproduction of any information including photos  on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved. Eco-Friendly Mountain Homes and Land Legacies-  -Balsam Mountain Preserve- Golf and GREENside Neighborhoods- Asheville Asheville NC Real Estate  © 2011. ________________________________________________________________________   

ASHEVILLE LIVE~ABILITY NEWS  2011

Asheville Greenolina's - Real Estate Journal

 Warren Wilson College hosts an annual conference of particular interest to Asheville Live~ability. This is the Mountain Green Conference where professionals convene annually to learn about and discuss "best practices" in sustainable and green construction, real estate, development, planning, and design. http://warren-wilson.edu/blogs/mtngreen/about/

 If you are visiting or relocating to Asheville, you may be interested to know that one of the first major hotels in the United States to include a solar water heating system atop its roof,  the  Hilton Asheville will offers water that, throughout the hotel, including the pool, will be solar heated,  will eliminate 25 tons of carbon dioxide per year, the equivalent of planting 7,377 trees. The solar water heating system is just one of the hotel's many environmentally focused features. 

More Sustainability Features and Photos. 

Read the inspiring story of the saving of one of Asheville's architectural landmarks, Helen's Bridge.  "The saving of Helen's Bridge now gives us all the opportunity to walk under the "great arched bridge" and shout up to the bridge and listen for our echo, just as Thomas Wolfe did as a young boy in the early 1900's."   http://www.asheville.com/news/helen.html

 Addressing the  challenges of childhood obesity, healthy aging and workplace wellness UNC Asheville is poised to address these challenges through the N.C. Center for Health and Wellness at UNC Asheville.  http://www2.unca.edu/magazine/magazine609/around.html

The Housing Authority of the City of Asheville (HACA) this year contracted with  Green Opportunities' (GO) Energy Team to recruit, train and place public housing residents in jobs weatherizing public housing units. In its first four months the GO Energy Team created almost a score of jobs and weatherized approximately 1,200 units of public housing.

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- Going Green, Asheville Style - 5 Cost and Earth Saving Tips  YOU Can Use in Your Home Today

~from Asheville's Greenolina-- The Real Estate Journal~ Asheville NC- Mountain Homes and Land- For Sale- ECO Asheville Style

Things aren't the same as they were way back when. Certainly people bought homes. But they weren't  energy efficient. What if your home today has this challenge?

Even if your home today lacks eco-friendly pizzaz,  you can take  a few simple steps right away to  make your home  more comfortable-while saving you $$$!.

Here are five (5) of Earth-friendly  remedies that have the added benefit of cost savings for savvy homeowners.

ECO-Friendly Cost (and Earth) Saving Tips   #1-5


Tip 1:  Take the Do-It-Yourself  Home-Energy Audit : Did you know that most homes can save 25% to 50% or more energy? A home energy audit can help point the way to savings by investigating the general condition of heating and air conditioning systems,  looking at  insulation, and the degree of outside air infiltration, the operation and condition of lighting, and reviewing the efficiency of water heating systems and appliances. You may choose to ask  professional auditors to come on over to do the audit. They might bring some handy instruments with them like blower doors  to measure the extent of leaks in the building envelope... and/or infrared cameras  to reveal hard-to-detect areas of air infiltration and missing insulation. But sometimes it takes a while before the auditor can get to your home, So in the meantime, you can start right away with a do-it-yourself home energy audit found right here: . http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/mytopic=11160 

Tip 2.  Get Your 101 ECO-Friendly  Plan Together with this   instant access to free tools and resources. You can start saving on monthly electricity bill right away.  http://www.kilowattours.org/energy-bill-savings.php  The average family can save $600+ a year on electricity by taking a few simple steps. In my home town of Asheville, North Carolina, the Average Home energy bill is $1594 while the bill for an energy-efficient home is $1003 with a potential  Savings of $591.   What are the figures in your area? 

Tip 3.   Find Leaks. Use a spray mist bottle for this one. Get the gang together for the indoor mist test. Spray your arms and hands. They will become the  fast and ready tools to tell you where air leaks may be found in your living spaces.  Hint: look around electrical outlets ,switch plates, window frames, baseboards, weather stripping around doors ,fireplace dampers, attic hatches, wall- or window-mounted air conditioners, dog doors , pipes and wires, electrical outlets, foundation seals, and mail slots. There are a lot of places to look. That's why I suggested getting the gang together.

Tip 4. Find More Leaks. Teamwork pays off on this one, too. You may want to wait for a nice sunny day then venture outside to inspect all the places where two different building materials meet...like the  exterior corners, the places where siding and chimneys meet and the places where the foundation and the bottom of exterior brick or siding meet. You don't have to be a professional to notice where you need to  caulk holes or penetrations for faucets, pipes, electric outlets, and wiring. Look for cracks and holes in the mortar, foundation, and siding, and seal them up neatly.

Tip 5. Change Your Lights, Sparky. Energy for lighting accounts for about 10% of your electric bill. So it's always a good idea to check out the wattage on your light bulbs in your house. 100-watt bulbs use more energy than 75 watt bulbs do and you may not need all that wattage. I like the idea of replacing incandescent light bulbs with efficient  compact fluorescent lamps for areas where lights are on for hours at a time. Don't worry, the new fluorescents don't moan and flicker like the old ones did. ... give it a try. Start with your five most frequently used lights. Annual Savings: $60 (for upgrading your five most frequently used lights) 662 pounds of coal.

Resources:

Find the best ways to save energy in YOUR home with this calculator!
 http://hes.lbl.gov/

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf
/content/ClimateScienceFAQ.html

The Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center
http://cdiac.esd.ornl.gov/pns/faq.html

The United Nations Environment Programme/World Meteorological Organization:
http://www.gcrio.org/ipcc/qa/cover.html

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(*)/'(*)   ________Asheville NC Real Estate Journal. Mountain Homes and Land Legacies-  - Asheville NC Real Estate  © 2011.  GREEN-FRIENDLY HOMES:: Did you know that 81% of homebuyers would prefer to buy an eco-friendly home rather than a standard home, even in a down economy? On the Road HOME, CONTACT ME about Residential Market Reports plus LAND Gems News,  plus Asheville real estate market stats plus  my picks for top creative retirement and green-friendly neighborhoods in the Asheville NC Area.I hold: NAR GREEN®, EcoBroker®, Eco Certified ®Real Estate Consultant. 

Unauthorized reproduction of any information including photos  on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved. Eco-Friendly Mountain Homes and Land Legacies-  - Asheville NC Real Estate  © 2011. ________________________________________________________________________

The Earth Day Network which includes many multinational efforts extends beyond local neighborhoods, but real estate professionals can be found participating in a variety of their projects include:

 The Canopy Project:Fighting deforestation. (Here in the Asheville area mountains clear cutting can make a beautiful landscape sad to see...so many of our colleagues engage in this project.)

Green Schools:Greening America's Schools within a Generation. (As a former teacher and counselor I am parrtial to this one =))

Women and Green Economy:Engaging women leaders in the creation and development of a global green economy. (I wonder how many of our AR femalle colleagues vcan be found participating here?>>)

Arts for the Earth: Celebrating the work of environmental art. (I am very fond of this one!)

TELL ME which of these projects most appeals to you... 

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(*)/'(*)   ________Asheville NC Real Estate Journal. Mountain Homes and Land Legacies-  - Asheville NC Real Estate  © 2011.

 " On the Road HOME, CONTACT ME about complimentary Residential Market Reports plus LAND Gems News,  plus Asheville real estate market stats plus  my picks for top creative retirement and green-friendly neighborhoods in the Asheville NC Area.

GREEN NOTE:: Research reveals-  81% of homebuyers would prefer to buy an eco-friendly home rather than a standard home, even in a down economy, so be sure to ask me about my advanced training in that area, and the real estate green designations I hold: NAR GREEN®, EcoBroker®, Eco Certified ®Real Estate Consultant.

LAND:: IF you are a cash buyer, I can point you in the direction of awesome acreages at excellent price points.  If stewardship of large acreage is important to you, call or email me right away.

CAVEAT:: When buying mountain real estate do your homework.  Asheville area mountain environmental factors such as slope stability can only be determined by state licensed engineers and geologists: Buyers, Sellers and REALTORS® are NOT qualified to make these assessments. Complete site specific analyses are available and advisable. I am happy to refer you to our team of experts

Unauthorized reproduction of any information including photos  on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved. Eco-Friendly Mountain Homes and Land Legacies-  - Asheville NC Real Estate  © 2011. ________________________________________________________________________

Asheville Real Estate Journal: Solar-Powered Green Fun

In this day of "green" rehabs and solar delights for remodelers, real estate professionals and our clients have powerful possibilities when it comes to energizing our homes and getting around our land... We can do so much these days just by the way we site a home on the land to take advantage of solar gain, and save energy costs.

 We can add skylights. We can retrofit windows to increase R-Value...Ah sunlight! We can pull together  a stylish, comfortable, and beautiful "palace" that is also non-toxic and environmentally friendly.

Here in Asheville, we are really getting into Solar Power. Out at the Environmental Learning Centerat Warren Wilson College, just 15 minutes from downtown  Asheville, a group of REALTORS® gathered this year to get familiar with how these solar panels work. We touched them, we saw the batteries they powered.

In honor of GREEN WEEK, here's my idea (see photo)of solar powered transportation combined with a fun-ride... zipping  around the campus or one of Asheville's  golf courses in a solar-powered golf cart...how much fun is that?!? Happy GREEN WEEK.

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(*)/'(*)   ________Asheville NC Real Estate Journal. Mountain Homes and Land Legacies-  - Asheville NC Real Estate  © 2011.

 " On the Road HOME, CONTACT ME about complimentary Residential Market Reports plus LAND Gems News,  plus Asheville real estate market stats plus  my picks for top creative retirement and green-friendly neighborhoods in the Asheville NC Area.

GREEN NOTE:: Research reveals-  81% of homebuyers would prefer to buy an eco-friendly home rather than a standard home, even in a down economy, so be sure to ask me about my advanced training in that area, and the real estate green designations I hold: NAR GREEN®, EcoBroker®, Eco Certified ®Real Estate Consultant.

LAND:: IF you are a cash buyer, I can point you in the direction of awesome acreages at excellent price points.  If stewardship of large acreage is important to you, call or email me right away.

CAVEAT:: When buying mountain real estate do your homework.  Asheville area mountain environmental factors such as slope stability can only be determined by state licensed engineers and geologists: Buyers, Sellers and REALTORS® are NOT qualified to make these assessments. Complete site specific analyses are available and advisable. I am happy to refer you to our team of experts

Unauthorized reproduction of any information including photos  on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved. Eco-Friendly Mountain Homes and Land Legacies-  - Asheville's Solar-Powered and Sustainable Homes and Golf CartsAsheville NC Real Estate  © 2011. ________________________________________________________________________

Peace, Light and Right Angles~ Speechless Sunday, Asheville Style

...perched
at this jumping-off point,
 this very right angle

framing the mountain's curves,
on a spirited Sunday morn,
sing Peace, Light
and Good Fortune,

heralding pure possibility
in the lands
beyond.

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Asheville Real Estate Journal

 Previously on this blog...
Part 1 - 150 Services Your REALTOR® Does For You (Part 1) (Introduction)
Part 2 - 150 Services Your REALTOR® Does For You (Part 2) (1-10)
Part 3-  150 Services Performed by REALTORS® /Questions to Ask Before You Hire One(Part 3) (11-33)
Part 4-  150 Services Performed by REALTORS® /Questions to Ask Before You Hire One(Part 4) (35-72)
Part 5-  150 REALTOR® Services: MLS, The Network & Local REALTOR®Data Interpretation (Part 5- 73-95) 

Part 6-   150+ Services...with a special focus MARKETING A LISTING.(95-125)
 Before hiring a REALTOR®, ASK GOOD QUESTIONS...such as...

Asheville Land Broker Interviews Seller on Site

DO YOU...

96. Listen to Sellers' Features and Benefits and Keep these in mind as you Review and/or Create   and  Print and/or Internet ads?
97. Listen to Sellers' Features and Benefits and Keep these in mind as you educate/coordinate showings with other REALTORS®?
98. Provide an electronic lock box  and keep track of showings/showing times?
99. Prepare mailing and contact lists based on target audiences for the property?
100. Keep in close email contact with Sellers?
101. Keep abreast of relevant local reports and material facts and provide a residential/land disclosure form?
102. Provide copies of and/ or prepare flyers and feedback forms and personally call to invite broker/colleagues to broker open house events?
103. Review comparable MLS listings regularly?and- ensure property remains competitive in price, terms, conditions and availability?
104 Prepare excellent brochures for client's ?
105 Arrange for a supply of marketing brochures and/or flyers at the property?
106. Distribute marketing brochures to colleagues and potential buyers?
107 Review web information about the Listing with Sellers and ask for feedback?
108 Keep in good contact with neighborhoods and residents?
109 Provide marketing data to clients?
110. Utilize the Referral Groups and your Blog at Active Rain and your web-based referral network?
111 Utilize advanced/specialized education in your outreach?
112 Interpret web data from the local perspective?
113 Review and/ or make Price changes or other changes?
114 Review and/or Submit Virtual Tours?
115 Review loan information?
116 Discuss feedback after showings? And keep in regular contact with updates and attentive listening for a Win-Win-Win?
117 Review market studies?
118 Offer a personal web site with featured listings?
119 Utilize social network marketing opportunities? And how?
120 Utilize You Tube videos and outreach?And how?
121 Utiize specific blogging strategy? And how?
122 Create "Honest-Eye" photography-with well-thou8ght-out color shotsto the full complement allowed on MLS?
123 Emphhasize  outreach based on Seller's "things I like most about this property" assessment?
124.Provide home-selling resources/ and referrals such as Staging?etc.
125.Link listings to various consumer-facing web portals via the MLS?. And what are they? 

Feel free to add/suggest  many, many more items here...

UP NEXT: Part 7- THE OFFER AND CONTRACT- Services Performed (stay tuned)
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(*)/'(*)   ________Asheville NC Real Estate Journal. " On the Road HOME, CONTACT ME 

NOTE:: A recent McGraw Hill study revealed that  81% of homebuyers would prefer to buy a eco-friendly home rather than a standard ... I have the following real estate green designations: NAR GREEN®, EcoBroker®, Eco Certified ®Real Estate Consultant. ASHEVILLE MOUNTAIN LAND:  When buying mountain real estate do your homework.  Slope stability can only be determined by state licensed engineers and geologists: Buyers, Sellers and REALTORS® are not qualified to make these assessments.

Unauthorized reproduction of any information including photos  on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved. Eco-Friendly Mountain Homes and Land Legacies- 150 REALTOR® Services: MARKETING THE LISTING (Part 6- # 96-125)  - Asheville NC Real Estate  © 2011.
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REALTORS® are pledged to uphold the stringent, enforceable tenets of the REALTOR® Code of Ethicsin their professional dealings with the public. Not every real estate licensee holds REALTOR® membership and abides by the Code of Ethics. 

As I mentioned in Part 1 of this series, there are at least 150 services a professional, hard-working  REALTOR® provides. These services can be broken down into "phases". ..the first of which may be Previews for Real Property Investors  and/or Pre-Listing Activities

10 questions to ask before you sign an employment contract with a REALTOR®. 
DO YOU:

1. Research sales activity for past 180 days from both MLS's and public records databases?
2. Research "Average Days on Market" for property of this type, price range and location? And review property tax roll information.
3. Prepare "Comparable Market Analysis" (CMA) to establish fair market value?
   And do you obtain a copy of subdivision plat/complex lay out when I am seriously interested in investing in a property? Or if I am Listing my property with you?
4. Research property's ownership & deed type? And do you research the property's public record information for lot size & dimensions? And do you research and verify the legal description?
5. Research property's land use coding and deed restrictions?
6. Research property's current use and zoning?..Do you check recorded permits? and check city assessments for utility expansion program?
7. Verify legal names of owner(s) in county's public property records.
8. Prepare listing presentation package.
9. Perform exterior "Curb Appeal Assessments" of subject property or properties.
10. Compile and assemble formal file on property. Research properties of interest and/or all comparable currently listed properties?

Add this to your list of questions: Are you a local expert who also listens carefully to your clients? Tell me how? And provide references from your happy clients.

Stay Tuned for Part 3. Listening and Sharing.

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LAND:: If stewardship of large acreage in the Asheville area is important to you, let's talk about mutually beneficial solutions. IF you are a Cash Buyer, some awesome properties are available at excellent price points.  When buying mountain real estate do your homework.  Slope stability can only be determined by state licensed engineers and geologists: Buyers, Sellers and REALTORS® are NOT qualified to make these assessments. Complete site specific analyses are available and advisable. I am happy to refer you to our team of experts

Unauthorized reproduction of any information including photos  on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved. Eco-Friendly Mountain Homes and Land Legacies-  - Asheville NC Real Estate  © 2011.

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