Eco Friendly Real Estate Blog

From the ASHEVILLE AREA NEIGHBORHOODS TO LOVE Series : ALBEMARLE PARK (Part 1)

Let me start by saying...  Once upon a time, approximately 11 miles from downtown Asheville; or 7 miles from the where bustling Patton Avenue intersects Highway 63; or 5 miles from dear "Green Asheville's" city limits; or 1/2 mile from the new Leicester Post Office, there was a beautiful organic farm-  

HOWEVER......for those of you who want a glimpse CLOSE IN before we head out there here the first of our series on  ASHEVILLE AREA NEIGHBORHOODS TO LOVE...CLOSE IN neighborhoods and their parks...ALBMARLE PARK

ALBEMARLE PARK of which Cottage Living says, "Like Cheers, the famous TV bar, Albemarle Park is a place where everyone knows your name. A mile from downtown Asheville, Albemarle is equal parts refuge, extended family, and happy hour. Each of the storybook homes has a name, such as Dahlia, Fox Hall, and Chipmunk..."

Homes: Thoughtful sustainable design and "green up-fitting"represents the character of Albemarle where tree-lined lanes accentuate a cottage scale, and street signs that make your on foot or fuel-efficient vehicle over approximately 42-acres a delight.

Sloping land leads to charming cottage-style homes. These may be rustic bungalows or shingle-clad Dutch Revivals, yet, while styles vary, design consistency-in the building materials, cottage scale, and street signs-graces Albemarle Park with a unified feeling.

Neighbors: Like most neighborhoods in Asheville, NC, the folks who live here (many of whom are "Cultural Creatives  -- architects, designers, teachers, authors, doctors, poets, lawyers, and gallery artists) are known for old-fashioned neighborliness. Here you can meet neighbors at the Autumn chili supper, Earth Day cleanup and brunch, and Easter parade.

Shops and Hangouts: Walk on over the short distance or ride your bike to the excellent Charlotte Street City Bakery and watch the on-going the historic restoration in the building in which it is housed. Or you can go a few blocks closer in to downtown for a Late at Starbucks.  The Asheville Board of REALTOS' HQ is right around the corner from City Bakery.  Collect a picnic at the Bakery and meet us for a tour of Green Homes nearby.

 

 

Neighborhood Parks Greenspace: (see photo) Right at Albemarle's center is a unique neighborhood park called The Circle.  Thomas Wolfe once performed there. During winter, families meet there to sled; in summer, neighbors hold a concert series, and oh my the colors of Autumn call to residents and visitors, alike....for an after work ramble with their dogs.

Pet Friendly: Yes!

Price Range: $500,000 and Up...NO  homes available at this time
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__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............

Asheville NC NEIGHBORHOODS Favorite READ ABOUTS - 2009  .The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved.

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A Note to Buyers and Investors.

FOR OBJECTIVE REAL ESTATE COUNSEL from Eco Certified ©Real Estate Consultants contact our Eco-Friendly Team via email links here, or at 828-255-1082 . ... design your dream , give us your checklist , or start by simply seeing   Asheville, North Carolina on one of our GREEN ARROW "Just Looking" "green" LIMO 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

Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: MARKET OUTLOOK-It's GREEN (Part 4).

Cloudy days in the real estate market? Not so for eco-friendly buyers in the Asheville, NC area. ... 

 "Sunny days" (see photo )are still to be had. And, as I  reviewed the happenings in the real estate market here in the Greater Asheville area, I recognized bright trends and forecasts. 

Yes, to some extent, we have felt the effects of credit tightening and the sub-prime mortgage crisis.

But consider this:  Demand for green built homes has only increased.

And, in Asheville, it seems to help drive our market in a healthy trajectory.

For those relocating to Asheville:

•   MSN "Best Housing Markets"recently reported that    Asheville is in the Top 10 List 

Appreciation figures for  real estate markets across the U.S. can be found at the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight  but  there follows data I have collected for our very special area of interest in the
real estate market here in Asheville: GREEN REAL ESTATE. . .I've compiled data (below) for "GREEN-Built" Homes, ECO-Friendly Developments/Lots, Farms & Land /Acreage (20-100 Acres), Farms & Land /Acreage (100-500 Acres), Horse/Equestrian Properties w/ Residential Amenities, Luxury Residential and Second/Vacation Properties on at Least 5 Acres, and Special Gems for Baby Boomers.

2007-2008 to  2009  Real Estate Market Review & Trends ECO-Friendly Market Niche
Buncombe County & The Greater Asheville, North Carolina Area

"GREEN-Built" Homes and/or Energy Star
Closed in 2007- 2008  Eighty-two ( 82) 
470  NEW NC Healthy Built Homes ...

NEW CONSTRUCTION due shortly in 2009 
Six hundred eighty one (681)
                  
Currently Available Over $1M:  14
Available  $500- $1M :  20
Available  $300-$500K: 46

Available  $200-$300K:  58
Available Under $200K: 16

NOTE: "GREEN" NC Healthy Built Homes...DUE in 2009  681

LAND /Acreage (20-100 Acres) :                   
Currently Available Over $3M: 16

Available  $1M- $3M: 124
Available  $500- $1M: 132
Available $ 300-$500K: 115
Available $ 200-$300K: 83
Available $ 100-$200K: 36
Available Under $100K : 3

Look for Part 2 of this report SOON. It includes stats  and news about

• Horse/Equestrian Properties w/ Stables & Residential Amenities
• LAND /Acreage (100-500 Acres)
• Luxury Residential Properties on at Least 5 Acres and Second/Vacation Homes in the Mountains
• Special Gems and Tax Incentive for 1^st Time Home Buyers...Just FYI
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Curious about sustainable Green real estate possibilities ? Simply pedal on over to  Convivial Blogger Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG  and SUBSCRIBE 

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

Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: MARKET OUTLOOK-It's GREEN (Part 4).The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
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A Note to Buyers and Investors.

FOR OBJECTIVE REAL ESTATE COUNSEL from Eco Certified ©Real Estate Consultants contact our Eco-Friendly Team via email links here, or at 828-255-1082 . ... design your dream , give us your checklist , or start by simply seeing   Asheville, North Carolina on one of our GREEN ARROW "Just Looking" "green" LIMO 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

Asheville "GREEN" Real EstateMarket Outlook-It's  GREEN (Part 3) "GREEN" Financing and Tax Incentives (Part 3)

 There is a bright outlook for home and land buyers here in the Greater Asheville area.

Take for example the financing power in terms of energy efficient mortgages. ..and Tax Incentives.

 

(photo is one I took of the Asheville sky line...there is a bright outlook here)

According to the Residential Energy Services Network:   An energy mortgage is a mortgage that credits a home's energy efficiency in the home loan. There are two types of energy mortgages:

• Energy Improvement Mortgage - Finances the energy upgrades of an existing home in the mortgage loan using monthly energy savings
• Energy Efficient Mortgage - Uses the energy savings from a new energy efficient home to increase the home buying power of consumers and capitalizes the energy savings in the appraisal  

An energy mortgage is credits a home's energy efficiency in the loan.

Not long ago one of our clients obtained such a loan through a lender who is on the Green Referral Team we enjoy working with here in Asheville.  The home they chose went through a HERS Rating process and was shown to be energy efficient. That meant that they could buy a higher quality home because of the lower monthly costs of heating and cooling the home.

On the "green upFit" side another client chose to purchase a home where the energy efficiency was just calling out to be improved. In that case, the loan concept allowed for money saved in monthly utility bills to finance energy improvements. 

2009 Obama Stimulus Package according to Earth2Tech means thisfor eco-friendly buyers and investors:

1. The stimulus package expands tax credits for more energy-efficient appliances and insulation improvements, for a value of $2 billion over 10 years.
2. It also provides $300 million in matching funds for state rebates on energy efficient appliances and increases government spending on weatherization for low- and middle-income homes (annual income of $32,000 or so for a family of four, depending on the state, according to CNNMoney) to $5 billion, up from the current $500 million per year.
3. Public housing projects get $250 million for energy-saving upgrades.

2009 Obama Plan according to Energy Star  offers credits for energy efficient home improvements

The highlights are: The tax credits that were previously effective for 2009, have been extended to 2010 as well.  The tax credit has been raised from 10% to 30%.    The tax credits that were for a specific dollar amount (ex $300 for a CAC), have been converted to 30% of the cost.  The maximum credit has been raised from $500 to $1500 for the two years (2009-2010). However, some improvements such as geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, and solar panels are not subject to the $1,500 maximum.    The $200 cap on windows has been removed.

 Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency includes: Tax Credits for Consumers                                   Home Improvements   Windows and Doors   Insulation       HVAC                                                 Geothermal Heat Pumps    Water Heaters  Biomass Stoves   Solar Energy Systems                                  Small Wind Energy Systems   Fuel Cells

 All commercial and private buildings are eligible for a 10% grant in lieu of tax credit for the total cost of installing geothermal systems

But how does it affect you?  Let me know....and look for Part 4 for more on this subject
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Curious about sustainable Green real estate possibilities ? Simply pedal on over to Convivial Blogger Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG  and SUBSCRIBE 

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

Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: MARKET OUTLOOK-It's GREEN (Part 3).The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
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A Note to Buyers and Investors.

FOR OBJECTIVE REAL ESTATE COUNSEL from Eco Certified ©Real Estate Consultants contact our Eco-Friendly Team via email links here, or at 828-255-1082 . ... design your dream , give us your checklist , or start by simply seeing   Asheville, North Carolina on one of our GREEN ARROW "Just Looking" "green" LIMO 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

Hop on board for the  Asheville GREEN RELOCATION Urban Green: : Green-Built Homes of Asheville Tour. Whether it is a home's environmental impact, its green features and/or place in the community many people relocating to Asheville look at this eco-friendly trend as THE important connection to what really matters...

 (photo is one I took of new green construction in Asheville)

And  when they explore Asheville, a desire for deeper look at  sustainable and historic neighborhoods, horse farms and eco-communities, urban lofts, and expansive acreages just seems to arise, naturally. 

That's where Asheville's  Eco Certified ®Real Estate Consultants  can be of real assistance.

The "just scouting"  Urban Green: :Green-Built Homes of Asheville Tour lets people look around the Greater Asheville area sans pressure.

"You just need to make a reservation and, for a nominal fee, you can choose from one of eight tours, "  one of the tour guides told me.

" One of the most sought after is  The Green Homes of Asheville Tour.

"You can spend a few hours in walkable communities or in nearby neighborhoods and have a better idea of what is available and how you can benefit from TAX CREDITS," one person told me."

GOOD TO KNOW: There are currently 248 certified HealthyBuilt Homes and 681 "in progress" in the Western North Carolina area. What a great idea.... tour the Greater Asheville area before you relocate here.  Eco Certified ®Real Estate Consultants  are knowledgeable in land and green-built or eco-friendly properties in the Asheville area.

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Curious about sustainable Green real estate possibilities ? Simply pedal on over to  Convivial Blogger Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG  and SUBSCRIBE 

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

Asheville GREEN RELOCATION TOURS: The Urban Green: : Green-Built Homes of Asheville Tour..The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

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As real estate clients become more and more interested in energy and cost savings, before investing in a residential property or building on eco-friendly land, many buyers want to know more about  solar capabilities.  So I put together this list  of 5 Steps Buyers Can Take to Learn More about a home's  Solar Capabilities.

There's much to learn and consider, including, for example, the differences between passive and solar building features and the costs involved. (Unlike passive solar systems, active solar systems, use mechanical devices such as fans and pumps to distribute solar heat or cooling effect from a collector.)

 

(Photo shows expert David Tuch from Equinox Environmental in Asheville as he  talks with REALTOR and client...)

There are so many  things to consider for inquisitive buyers into sustainable design and development, that the green buyers' brokers at our Firm here in Asheville, NC, turned to Solar Experts to learn more about a home's  solar capabilities. Here are the suggestions:  

1.         Learn the Lingo.  Good jumping off point: US. Department of Energy' s web pages on Active Solar Heating

2.         Learn about the many types of  SOLAR COLLECTORS(usually roof-mounted) used to heat the air or liquid that is used in residential applications to heat water, indoor spaces, swimming pools-these may include flat-plate, evacuated-tube, and concentrating collectors- to solar water heating systems used to heat water or a heat-transfer fluid housed in collectors--- to liquid solar collectors which distribute heat to radiant floor, hot water baseboards or radiators, and central forced-air- to stand-alone photovoltaic systems that  produce power independently of the utility grid. 

3.         Learn about issues of cost and savings. For example:  Some photovoltaic systems can be more cost-effective than the alternative of extending power lines. Taking the cost of extending power lines into account significantly enhances the payback period associated with photovoltaic applications.

4.         GO out to the home or building site with a professional solar evaluation team. Get your own feel for the process.

5.         Refer to the list of renewable energy experts that a real estate professional provides.

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Curious about sustainable Green real estate possibilities ? Simply pedal on over to  Convivial Blogger Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG  and SUBSCRIBE 

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

5 Steps Buyers Can Take to Learn More about a Home's  Solar Capabilities .The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

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Can a "Luxury" Home also be "Green"?   If you think that it is possible for a home to be both a "luxury home" and  eco-savvyyou are one person who has given some thought to how the building is to be used.

Flexible design a key feature in green-built homes. Size and function matter when you are talking about environmental impact. In fact, size can be quite a lively, if not controversial subject with our green buyer clients and eco-friendly builders and developers.

Can a "Luxury" home also be "Green"?

As you consider  your answer, you may want to take into account the relationship between size and  sustainability.

After all, some people will tell you that  "luxury" real estate may come in many shapes and sizes. There are small footprints with three-stories rising in the trees and lots of square footage, there are larger footprints set neatly into the landscape.  

And then , too, you have to think about the green features. There are homes sited to take advantage of solar benefits.  And, there are those very large homes designed to take advantage of nature, or privacy, or  architectural excellence; signature homes that may, in some cases, offer eco-savvy features.

 Can a "Luxury" Home also be "Green"? YOU DECIDE.

I'm going to tell you about one of those cases right now; one that involves Amazing Views, Green Design & Ideal Location . I am going to tell you this story from the point of view of the artist/builder, a custom, eco-informed builder  in Asheville, NC.  And I will share a list of green features so that you can decide if this home, considered by many to be "luxury home" is eco-savvy...

What the green builder will tell you: "The home takes advantage of desirable Southern exposure, a passive solar design, and a large covered deck which maximizes the visual connection to nature on 3.5 acres of pristine forest with commanding year round mountain views.

The home was built using green design principles ensuring energy efficiency, health and low maintenance while providing an elegant ambiance and a close relationship with the surrounding environment. The home was sited to maximize the mountain views and the preservation of the existing hardwood trees and the flowering rhododendrons. Hiking trails and the best that nature has to offer await right at your back door [and there is ]  a beautiful and edible landscape featuring strawberries, blueberries, fig & cherry trees." 

GREEN BUILDING Specs:

 Green Building Attributes: 1. Passive solar design 2. low maintenance exterior 3. highly insulated exterior walls and roof 4. high efficiency variable speed heat pump 5. recycled kitchen cabinets 6. milled on-site cleared and wind-falling trees 7. recycled greenhouse plastic vapor barrier under cement pad 8. natural boric acid termite treatment 9. foiled faced rigid insulation on roof 10. low VOC sub-floor and interior paint 11. low maintenance native and eatable landscape 12. landscape rocks (walls and paths) were obtain on-site and within 1 miles of building site. 13. Over 90% of lighting is fluorescent 14. Grided and finished cement floor adds thermal mass and low maintenance 15. tight high quality Hurd windows 

Design: The main objective was to preserve the mature hardwood trees and rhododendrons while taking advantage of the southern exposure with good "green" and passive solar design. A significant design element is the large south facing sliding glass doors in the great room and bedrooms. This design configuration brings daylight deep into the house, connects the interior space to native hardwood trees, offer pristine views of the mountains, while the southern exposure allows for solar energy gain.

 
The kitchen, living, and dining areas are one big space with large areas of glazing on south side. These windows are protected during the hot summer months by the mature deciduous trees, adding to the house's overall energy efficiency. The north and west face has minimum window area. The color palette (bronze) of the exterior surfaces are dark, absorbing solar energy during the winter months. The abundance of hardwood trees around the house keep it cool during the warmer seasons while also maintaining complete privacy. The net result is extremely low energy use with an average utility bill of less than $50/month. All domestic energy demands are 100% electric supplemented with a wood burning stove. 

Construction: The house is built using basic stick framing with low maintenance cement board siding trimmed with western red cedar. A maroon-color standing seam metal roof adds aesthetic qualities while contributing to the sustainability and low maintenance of the exterior. The interior woodwork is highly crafted of fine hardwoods milled on-site. 

Landscape Design:The 3.5 acre site is blessed with an abundance of mature hardwood trees, native rhododendrons and mountain laurels. The house site was carefully placed on top of a sloping knoll so as to maintain the largest oak, hickory, and maple trees and the many native (flame) azaleas. After careful thinning of the wooded area, native plants were incorporated into the landscape, such as oak leaf and flowering hydrangeas, ferns, dogwoods, hemlocks, rhododendrons, hollies, irises, daylilies, laurels, hostas, etc. Many low maintenance edible fruit bearing plants were added including blueberries, strawberries, cherry trees, service berry and herbs. Finally, an area was designated to accommodate a vegetable garden. All planted vegetation is grown organically utilizing the site's top soil supplemented with organic fertilizers and generous amounts of on-site produced compost. 

HVAC:Force air heating and cooling- Trane high efficiency heat pump 14 seer rating, 34,000 BTU/HR Max Blank (Mfg. in Germany) woodstove with baking oven. All HVAC duct work and air handler are within the insulation envelope of the home.

Site: A beautiful south facing mountain property was an opportunity to design a contemporary passive solar home that limit the disturbance of native vegetation while maximizing visual connection to nature. The 3.5 acre site is located  just a 15 minutes from downtown Asheville and 15 minutes to the regional airport. ..and offers complete privacy, sloping land, mature hardwood trees, southern exposure, and 180 degree pristine mountain year-around view. 

Exterior Materials:Hardi panel cement board accented with Vermont slate roofing shakes, vertical grain western red cedar and mahogany, standing seam metal roof, ipe (ironwood),
white oak and locust decking (milled on-site), stainless and galvanized steel fasteners. 

Interior Materials:Painted drywall, quarter-sawn white, red oak and hickory floors, quarter sawn oak, walnut, and cherry trim, white oak/steel tubing baluster, split-face block, granite counter top and hearth, stainless steel counter tops, and T&G spruce cathedral ceiling in great room. All hardwood flooring and trim were milled (quarter-sawn) on-site from building site trees and wind fallen trees found near the site. 

Cabinetry:Custom built and recycled kitchen cabinets (birdseye maple faced drawers and doors featuring Blum hardware with full extension under-mount slides and soft close blumotion). Bathroom cabinetry utilizes black cherry, mahogany, white oak, black walnut, and stainless steel.

Windows:High Efficiency Hurd sliding doors and windows. Anodized bronze aluminum cladding with wood interior. 

Insulation: Formaldehyde free fiberglass wall insulation R19 and R30 (1st level). Foil face polyisocyanurate foam insulation under 1st level cement floor R14, behind block walls R17, and roof R42

Now to your evaluation and your answer to the question. For sure, this home is a LUXURY HOME.
So- Can a "Luxury" home also be "Green"?  
Let me know what YOU think. . .

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Curious about sustainable Green real estate possibilities ? Simply pedal on over to  Convivial Blogger Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG  and SUBSCRIBE 

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

Can a "Luxury" Home also be "Green"? .The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved.

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Over the past few years, have you noticed a change in perception about the way people choose where and how they live and what they need?

Is this a trend?

JT (see photo) has been keeping an eye out . He has noticed a change. And it does appear to be a trend!  

But just to be sure, I am looking for the "proof in the pudding" so -to-speak; I'm looking at statisticsunearthed from our Mountain MLS System here in Asheville.

 Although putting numbers on my intuitionas a REALTOR® feels a little "dangerous"- (I don't want to lose my intuitive edge) - this  search for statistics could be important for everyone our clients and for brokerage business planning.

What intuition and observation tell me:

1) I am aware of a bubbling apprehension in  the Appalachians when it comes to
  mountaintop removal .
2) I have witnessed some pretty noisy community meetings about such topics.
3) Then there have been the lively neighborhood charettes .
4) Time and again, I have seen community members insist on sustainable innovation.

You could say that sustainabilityis the by-word here in Asheville. So it is not surprising that my intuition, based on in-your-face observations, tells me that there is a significant public interest and shift(at least in the Asheville area) toward environmentally-sensitive residential properties.

Could there be more evidence than this, for example, (see photo) a new urban, green-built community being evaluated by members of the local community.

It's walkable. It's green. It's energy efficient and it invites neighborliness.

 It is a new green-built urban community in Asheville.

** And  intuition is  born out in client demand. 

 

 As Green Byers' Brokers, with eco-savvy  clients, if they are not buying NEW green-built homes, our clients are demanding  green retrofits.

 

Here is a photo I took recently. This is an environmentally-sensitive new home. It is situated to take advantage of the sun. (Note solar panels)

This home is in West Asheville. You can walk to the bakeryfrom your front door. And, although you cannot see it, there is an organic garden  to the left of this photo.

 

 

Energy efficiency is important to all our clients whether they are looking for income-producing rentals (green investor-buyers ) or for personal residences. 

All follow the trend toward being particularly serious about Energy Star Rated homes.  Take a peek at this array! I took this photo earlier this week at a site evaluation on a Gold Certified Healthy Built Home just outside of Asheville.  

We can tell our clients about NC Healthy Built Homes  but, for the purposes of future planning,  you may be interested in a just a couple of the most obvious  features of sustainable, healthy-built  homes, and some numbers on the trend.

 

Features:

Energy-.Energy Star appliances, florescent bulbs, high efficiency water heaters,
fifty (50) year shingles, low flow faucets and showerheads ,sealed crawl spaces, cellulose and icynene insulation, solar preheat for hot water, and oh so comfy radiant floor heat...

Low Toxicity-.Low VOC paints, Bamboo, hardwood or a natural linoleum floor that is made with 100% natural ingredients.

 

 Benefits: In the long run; sustainability- lasting value, lower environmental impact, and right now today; lower utility bills for heating and cooling, improved indoor air quality, and happier faces on family and neighbors.

STATS:   OK! Are you ready to check out the stats? The numbers? The proof in the pudding?

In 2006~ Asheville Area NC HealthyBuilt and/or Energy Star Rated: 39

Three years later in 2009 - There are currently 230 certified HealthyBuilt Homes and 687 "in progress"in the Greater Asheville Area in Western North Carolina. 687!!! Talk about a trend!

 

Resources GREEN HOMES

This information could well change how we look at  where we stand and the direction in which  will be moving  in 2009 and beyond.,and maybe it will make a few people feel better knowing that this direction is not "simply intuitive"... but is  based on a hard, objective look at the stats.

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Curious about sustainable Green real estate possibilities ? Simply pedal on over to  Convivial Blogger Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG  and  

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

Statistics: Where is the "Proof in the Pudding"?.The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

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UPDATE: March, 2009

PLEASE KNOW  that all of us at the Eco-Steward Real Estate Firm are Eco Certified® Real Estate  Consultants, and specialize in land carefully and thoughtfully reviewed for eco-friendly development. Also, please know that we consider steep slopes and landslides a potential hazard ( I have personal experience with the result of  flat-lander inexperience in my own neighborhood and decry it)...and that we DO recommend that our clients contact Professionals and bring in a State licensed geotechnical engineer, if necessary ... to look at potential hazards ...  

HERE IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY just this month in fact, we have been having quite a brouhahain terms of Steep Slope development...and landslides ...Fingers have been pointed at Developers, Sellers and at REALTORS® . .. THIS IS ONE Real Estate Firm NOT to be disparaged . Again....in the Eco-Steward Real Estate Firm ALL members are Eco Certified® Real Estate  Consultants, and specialize in land carefully and thoughtfully reviewed for eco-friendly development

I wrote the following post back in 2007....

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Real Estate Investors and Developers with little experience in terms of steep slopes might want to seek out the assistance of an ECO certified REALTOR® and her team of Experts. Here in Western North Carolina, Landslides are a reality as you can see with this graphic shared at a class we recently took with Richard Wooten at the Warren Wilson College Environmental Leadership Centerjust outside of Asheville.

 

Some landslides only consist of soil, called an earthslide. Some are a mixture of soil, rock trees and mud, called a debris flow. Other landslides contain only rock, called a rockfall or rockslide. In any case, it behooves the REALTOR®, and developer to be conscious of that fact, and so advise clients.  Not long ago a developer from a State where mountains are not so common, bought a huge ridge top where he planned to erect 4000 sq ft homes on 1 AC lots and place them atop the lofty peaks. What the developer didn't know was that this" prime acreage" was unstable.

 The result for the developer was a combination of community concern, private embarrassment, and public back-peddling. Once the community found out that the "flatlander" was planning to build on steep slopes in an area prone to landslides, they were (rightly) distressed. Who wants to live downhill from where a landslide might take you for a fast ride in the middle of the night?  For that matter, who would want to invest in a home under those conditions?  Obviously, the community groups reasoned, that developer must not have a clue as to the dangerous conditions with which he was tampering. Shouldn't he at least have looked at the property to see if there were signs of danger such as breaks in the ground surface and/or curved trees?  (see photo below our photographer took at an acreage soon to go on the market.)

Back to the story....Community members, fueled by their feelings of extreme concern,
 formed vocal groups.
They came in noisy droves to the commissioners' planning board meetings,
making it necessary for the meetings to be moved to larger and larger rooms.

The media picked up on the story. A few months passed. The developer learned that the community groups had hired an attorney. Having done that, the attorney began his process of discovery. He verified that slope stability analyses from the planning through construction and inspection phases of developments can help mitigate the potential for landslide damage.He also found out that the analyses, best done by the cooperative efforts of qualified geotechnical engineers, geologists and soil scientists, were nowhere to be found.

This lack of due diligence on the part of interested parties created an opening for the community groups to question the safety of the project. They were able temporarily to halt development pending environmental assessment studies and review of steep slope ordinances.

Soon, in our part of the mountains, landslides and potential landslide areas will be mapped.Then investors, developers and REALTORS® will have readily accessible tools with which to identify and disclose that home sites and homes in those areas are vulnerable to landslide. For all of us, it is a good idea to know certain pertinent facts about the topography and geology of a tract of land that go beyond desirability of location.  

What do you think?

Copyright © 2007 All Rights Reserved  Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place Greenolina

 

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