Eco Friendly Real Estate Blog

Dateline Asheville, North Carolina, September, 2009
Real Estate News and Views from Green Asheville's "Stay-in-Your-Home" Eco-Steward 

Since its creation, North Carolina's Natural Heritage Trust Fund has contributed almost $300 million through over 400  grants to support the conservation of approximately 300,000 acres of North Carolina's most significant natural areas and cultural heritage site including: 

•·         Lands that represent North Carolina's ecological diversity to ensure their preservation and conservation for recreational, scientific, educational, cultural and aesthetic purposes;

•·         Additions to state parks, state trails, aesthetic forests, wild and scenic rivers,
fish and wildlife management areas

As a Land Specialist brokering lands for family legacies here in the Asheville  Western North Carolina Mountain area, is the granting of funds for land acquisition to the Division of Forest Resources.

(photo shows smart dog relocating to the Asheville area on a hike in one of the many national forests in our area.)

GREEN CAREERS and JOBS: I am often asked, " What can I do for work in the Asheville area?" If you are relocating to the Asheville area, here is a link that  possibly offers and answer to that question: http://www.dfr.state.nc.us/jobs/types_of_jobs.htm

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__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL & Asheville Short Sale Consults. ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.Serving Asheville's Stay-in-Your-Home, Relocation LAND Clients..

On the GO 4 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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Dateline Asheville, North Carolina, August, 2009
Real Estate News and Views
from Green Asheville's
"On the Go 4 Sustainability" Eco-Steward

You can expect more than a color tour when you visit/relocate to Asheville this Fall.

Check out The Ashevillage Institute"colorful" array of Fall offerings. Today they announced the Fall Series of upcoming workshops . The workshops cover various areas of interests, but all pertain to sustainability.

They are:

Bee-Keeping - August 29 & 30 
Natural Building, 5 day - September 9-13 
Natural Building, 3 day - September 24-26
Backyard Sustainability - October 3 & 4
Urban Aquaculture - October 12 & 13
Natural Building, 2 day - October 14 & 15
Rainwater & Greywater Catchment - November 6 & 7
Natural Finishes: Plasters & Paints - November 13 & 14

I know which one I'm going to for sure, How about You?? All workshops are held near downtown Asheville at the Institute. DETAILS and registration at http://www.ashevillage.org/avi/events_projects.php

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__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL & Asheville Short Sale Consults. ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.Serving Asheville's Stay-in-Your-Home, Relocation LAND Clients..

On the GO 4 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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It is July Fourth, 2009. Here in Asheville, we are celebrating in the traditional ways: back yard gatherings, blue grass music, fireworks downtown.Tonight I will be able to see the fireworks dazzle the mountains and surprise the night sky.

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

Here's what I mean-see photo.

WHAT is THIS???

Hint:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MLS #                            $$                  Acreage                    LINK

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

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

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

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

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

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

Getting it "right" means

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BUT FIRST you may choose to look in the mirror.

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

Take the Ecological Footprint Quiz

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are  a few of those facts: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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