Eco Friendly Real Estate Blog: North Carolina: Marshall

Asheville Real Estate Journal
BIG Acreages and Farmland - A "Safe" Investment?

As a large acreage real estate brokers here in the Asheville , NC area, we are keen observers of the Land Market across the USA.  Recently we had a discussion about Lots and Land . We hypothesized that Land Buyers (in this case large acreages) might find attractive the idea of special lending program(s)...possibly in concert with conservation organizations... possibly as sustainable agriculture grants ... Possibly a lease to buy program with a Farm Stewardship organization... . 

Taking that discussion one step further-  in terms of a "safe" investment-  how does the  large acreage and/or farmland real estate market look as compared to Lots in developments (where in a number of cases once very expensive lots have now tumbled in price? 

Farmland Values Increasing 

With farmland values increasing at rapid rates over the past 5 years, there has been growing concern over whether buyers/investors may face a farm real estate bubble. ... However,  according to farmdoc daily  farm debt levels are LOW, as measured by leverage.   

If you are considering  buying and/or investing in Large Acreages/ Land /Conservation Stewardship Land/ Land Legacies check out these resources before you act: 

1. 2010 Farmland Value Survey Iowa State University
2. Farmland Values Up 2011  - "While most of the real estate market in the United States remains in a slump, rising commodity prices and other factors are causing a surge in demand for farmland and other agricultural properties." 

3. The Impact of Higher Farmland Values on Real Estate Taxes 

4. USDA  Report Offers Continued Support for Land Values... "reasonably safe to predict that land values should remain strong through next year. "

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(*)/'(*)   ________Asheville NC Real Estate Journal. Mountain Homes and Land Legacies-  - Asheville NC Real Estate  © 2011.  GREEN-FRIENDLY ACREAGES:.  NAR GREEN®, EcoBroker®, Eco Certified ®Real Estate Consultant. INFORMED CHOICES. THOUGHTFUL ADVICE. 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.
828-776-0773

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"This professional REALTOR® has an eye for extraordinary value
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies, green-living communities,
and properties of enduring excellence." ~MS

Asheville Area Real Estate Journal
Bear River Lodge, Asheville Area Picnics and Day Trips Series 

Come along as we journey to various developments in the Asheville area. Today we are heading out to Bear River Lodge outside of Marshall, NC.

This development is bordered by the gorgeous Big Laurel River. (see photo)

REPORT  

Area/Community:: Bear River Lodge, Marshall, NC.

Minutes from Downtown Asheville and Mission Hospitals:: 52-56

Time of Departure: NOON  

Today's Weather: Sunny, Crisp and Clear -50 degrees  

Road Conditions:  Excellent  

Mileage from Asheville::  33  

Drive Time from Asheville:: 52-56 minutes (longer if road conditions are slippery)   

Drive Time to Grocery/Drugstore from Home Site:: 20

Pluses: Bordering the Big Laurel River, this development is blessed with some of the most beautiful land in the Greater Asheville area and proximity to outdoor recreational amenities. Fishing. Hiking. Less than a 15 minute drive to the Appalachian Trail.   

Listings Stats   

Active: 10 

9 Lots of .66 to +/-3AC - priced from $5k to 90K and
1 residential property described as, "... $200K below cost!!! Custom craftsman Log Home with private trout stream, trails...awe-inspiring home with personal touches throughout, including woodstove fireplace, exemplary carpentry...."
Pending: 0
Withdrawn: 23
Closed: 11 
Foreclosures/REO: 53

Concerns:: Legal complaints against the original developers. Majority of lots are now Foreclosures and/or REO. 

 ECO Notes:: Environmental complaints. Steep Slope development concerns. ( PDF available.) 

              NOTE: On this captivating holiday weekend, the sound of human voices was missing.

VIDEO -  Beautiful landscape at Bear River Lodge. Can you spot home local Asheville builder fears is precariously perched atop the steep slope overlooking the Big Laurel River?

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(*)/'(*)   ________Asheville NC Real Estate Journal. " On the Road HOME, CONTACT ME! "Residential Market Reports::: "Check Asheville "Monthly Special Gems" and Asheville home stats in the top retirement and green-friendly neighborhoods we cover in Asheville.- Asheville NC Residential Market Reports   Land:: If stewardship of large acreage 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.  NOTE::  A recent McGraw Hill study revealed that  81% of homebuyers would prefer to buy a eco-friendly home rather than a standard home, even in this current down economy. I have the following real estate green designations: 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  © 2010. _____________________________________________________________________________________

LAND  and Green-Built Homes in The Mountains- Market Remain Strong
Real Estate in Greater Asheville, North Carolina

Excellent eco-friendly properties promise appreciationin the Greater Asheville area mountains with predictions of stability during 2010.  

Eco-designed developments, green-built homes and excellent acreages are worthy of note in the WNC region.

NOTE:

•·         "Green" properties are in demand by buyers, and so they have added value for investors.  People living in and relocating to the Greater Asheville area and mountains of Western North Carolina appreciate sustainable eco-oriented properties. They demand green-builthomes and want to live in eco-developments. Expect a strong return on your investment.

•·        Cash stream as well as market appreciation is strong with income properties in the mountains. Here is an excellent opportunity to build/enjoy/rent out a second/vacation home.




Photo taken on Land For Sale by Owner ./\ (Photo shows green-built second/vacation home under construction in the Asheville NC area)

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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............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 Journal   

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I am looking forward to Sundays on the Island In Madison County, North Carolina  coming soon! It's still cold, so the Farmers' Market is indoors (see flyer and note below.)

But I can hardly wait to find vocal  streams, rolling pastures, welcoming  "coves" and unending vistas that take your breath away as I head out in Spring, 2010 to the  Madison County farmers market (see photos.) 

There's a spirit of community here. Camaraderie. Inclusiveness. A sense of place and a sense of belonging, all exemplified  in the weekly tailgate markets. .It is all about Reconnecting with the Land; Meeting the People. Again... Heaven-on-Earth...For those of us who live and work here, that's how it can feel.

Today I'm taking you on a short drive north of Asheville, NC (about 18 minutes) to the tailgate market in Marshall, NC.Look out your window as we drive the scenic (excellently maintained) country roads. Do you see tobacco crops? Quite a few of them, actually? . That's because Madison County is the largest burley tobacco producing county in North Carolina. In fact, there are approximately 2,350 farms with burley tobacco quotas.

A decade ago, burley tobaccoaccounted for $10 to $12 million for agriculture income annually. But recently, as you may suspect, the demand for tobacco has been on the decline. Not to be defeated, local farmers have become creative. Crops are changing, and farmers are diversifying, and we are  moving into sustainable agriculture.

That is one reason why Marshall's tailgate market exists.

And wait until you see where it is located. (see photos I took during my tailgate market visit)

 Under huge, old trees, the Marshall tailgate market decorates the banks of the  French Broad River every Sunday during the season.

Park your car and walk over to the colorful tents, produce, crafts...and PEOPLE!

Today expect to meet a master craftsman, a gourmet meatball sandwich chef, some political activists, musicians and local growers. 

It's a community get-together where laughter and good-things abound. We will be able to enjoy the harvests of the most amazing ORGANIC crops.

Sundays on the Island
Cross the river at the Courthouse on Main Street
Marshall, Madison County
Sun 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Starts April 20, 2008

Meatball Sandwich, Anyone? 

MMmmmmmm! Dee-lish-UHsss!

 In the meantime, you and I can stop by Madison County Cooperative Extension Saturday (10am-2pm) to pick up some winter veggies, delicious breakfast, crafts, goat cheese and more for the Winter, 2010 Indoor Tailgate Market cur every 2^nd and 4^th Saturday of the month in January, February and March. 

WE SUPPORT LOCAL FARMS AND FOOD   

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Read  a l.ocal expert's news about mountain and valley  neighborhoods, day trips, picnics,
and local ecotourist attractions you'll just love.  /\ Check THIS out /\  Curious about green building, remodeling and green communities ?  Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG.     

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WE are IN a sustainable  world. 

Following up on my earlier post, Land For Sale By Owner- Finding the "Right" Acreage, a few more thoughts . . .

Over the years I have discovered that "the thing" about finding the "right " acreage is that those seeking LAND tend to be quite particular. I wonder , given this, how the seeker of land is to find such acreage --especially if it is in the Land For Sale By Owner category-- without the help of someone (a local expert and land broker) who really knows that land-

 In fact,  I ask myself this question time and again . I receive requests from land lovers who live far away from the Asheville area and our mountains such as the request that follows and have to shake my head and smile....

Here is a  list of "  critical issues for property purchase" fron one such person: .

1. Price - under 500,000.
2. 15 acres or more for our horses
3. southern exposure
4. year round water-spring, stream
5. 4,5,6 miles from a small or medium size town. Ideally town would have an active progressive lifestyle. ie vegetarian options on menus, theater group, farmers market, small college, bicycle awareness, etc.
6. If there is a house on the property it must have character. Older farmhouse, newer crafstman style-  house cannot be an ugly split foyer or rancher etc. Any house has to be well constructed, although it does not have to be perfect.
 7. 20-30 minute drive to larger town maybe with a college
8. a hospital not to far off would be nice, although not critical.
9. a hard road to property is not needed, although year round surface would be expected.
10. do not need access to electric or phone line.

So what do you say? If you were seeking the "right" land, would you also seek out an experienced broker? or not?

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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............ 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/  Land For Sale By Owner- Finding the "Right" Acreage Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved the green real estate Asheville Journal _______

Dateline Asheville, North Carolina, June, 2009

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

I'm sharing here Parts 1  and 2 of  a letter that one of our eco-friendly conservation land buyers'received from a member of the "Green Team" at our Firm.

 The reason why? Simple. Sometimes people are unaware of the research and energy that goes into the practice of real estate. Sometimes this can be distressing to folks like those seen in the photo ..real estate professionals who spend hours and days preparing for a meeting with clients.....

So here is a clue on just what goes on prior to a client's arrival here in Asheville, and I suspect elsewhere . LAZY? I don't think so!

The letter reads:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. (Smith) 

Just want to review with you what, in addition to the property we discussed in the previous email (far below) , we have  previewed since we walked this property for you...
 this is what has been accomplished....

 •1)      We have previewed  15 large acreages. In doing so, we have covered about a 300 mile area...we have walked and photographed those acreages that meet your specifications.

•2)      Unfortunately, the weather has been stormy and wet. Lots of rain makes some of the larger acreages where roads are old logging roads and tend to be muddy very hard to preview...BE SURE TO BRING GOOD HIKING SHOES!

•3)      Please note that most of the land adjacent to National Forest is at least 45 minutes out from Asheville Although it is in your price range, it is not in your specified driving range. Let me know what you think about this, please.

•4)       We have completed previewing all the land adjacent to the National Forest currently listed. In addition, we have been in touch with our local farm stewardship contacts to see if they know of parcels that were NOT listed.

•5)      We have spoken with and/or met with other conservation real estate Brokers and reviewed what they had to offer,  being all the while scrupulous about staying within the price point you specified. We have not gone over this price range, but have tried to stay within or below it.

•6)      In our previewing, we have found some very unattractive properties...one was burned out... ...one was just a steep cliff...so about 1,000 miles and 20 forays later, TODAY we finally finished the research ....(it takes about 5 or 6 hours to go out to these properties, walk them...and so forth...but we figure the many hours that  we spend in research saves our clients disappointment....)

•7)      As a result of this research, we have found a number of properties that could work for you. They meet your specifications. Here's why:

a) they are within the price range
b) they are adjacent to the National Forest and/or to a Conservation Land
c) they have a good water source
d) there are no deed restrictions preventing small organic farming
e) they can be farmed
f) they have workable solar orientation
g) they have privacy
h) they can be walked by your grandparents
i) there are numerous building sites on them
j) they have cascades and/or waterfalls
k) they actually ARE available for real estate transaction
m) they are large 80+ AC land tracts
n) they are at least fairly accessible ...and therefore our clients would not have to add another large sum of $$$ in additional costs just to bring power and improvements to them, and
o) one or two even have cabins that could be used by the family while you are building  

•8)      This has been quite a project, as you can imagine! We are very pleased to tell you that, having just TODAY completed this project, we can now prepare the tours.

•9)      We have set up three different tours for you. First...One to the EAST with the waterfall property you told me you wanted to see (this is not adjacent to the National Forest)...Second...One to the Northwest. ..and finally...One to the West... Each tour will take 5 to 6 hours...

•10)  We have poured over research details and have assembled maps, plats, surveys, topos, aerials and all the MLS information that could be found. This now is assembled in folders ready for us to review when we meet at our Asheville Office on  Monday morning at about 10:30 AM...

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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............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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 "Will This Home Meet Our Clients' "Sustainably Built" Expectations?"

 Recently JT  and I were exploring the area for our "green" clients hoping to unearth a few "hidden gems"...As we scouted the Asheville area, JT "happened"  to bump into  and start up a conversation with a young couple . it seems they had just completed construction of a "sustainably built' home, their second such project.  As it turned out, they  even were considering selling this home. Talk about LUCK! 

Will this home meet our clients' Sustainably Built expectations? Take a look at the details below and let us know what you think... 

House area: 1,344 square feet       Decks and porch: 586 square feet 

Foundation:   8" CMU foundation wall on reinforced concrete footing,  Bituminous damp proofing applied, face of CMU. NOTE:   Continuous footing drain around perimeter of house 

Floor Framing System:   Double LVL support beam on CMU piers,   Trus-Joist floor joists (engineered by Trus-Joist),   ¾" floor sheathing 

Exterior Walls:   2x6 studs at 16" o.c.,  5/8" sheathing (zip tape system),  R-19 fiberglass insulation with paper face,  Peachtree doors and windows- metal clad exterior- wood interior.
NOTE:   Hardi-Panel cementitious siding,     Lap siding factory finished and warrantied,     Standard sheets cut as required 

Roof:   Trus-Joist rafters at 24" o.c. and 19.2" o.c.,  5/8" sheathing,  Titanium roof paper,  Galvalume roof panels and trim,  Factory painted aluminum seamless gutters and downspouts,  Velux fixed roof windows 

Interior Walls:   2x4 or 2x6 wood studs at 16" o.c.,  ½" gypsum board,  Ceramic tiles at bathrooms,  Paint grade birch veneer doors 1-3/8" solid core pre-hung 

Ceilings:   1x6 tongue and groove lodgepole pine ceiling with Tung Oil finish in main living area,  ½" gypsum board ceiling at all other locations 

Floors:   Ceramic tile at both bathrooms and utility room,  Hand scraped bambooat all other locations 

Cabinets:   Kitchen: Manufactured birch veneer system,  Vanities: Custom "locust" cabinets by local artisan

 Bedrooms: Built-in wardrobe units (see photo JT took on the site)  

Mechanical System:   Heat Pump-York electric heat pump (13 SEER) with York air handler 

Solar Water Heater:   80 gallon tank with electric heating element and copper tubing heat exchanger as manufactured by Richmond,  Eagle Sun collector,  Non-toxic glycol coolant 

Finishes:   Paint: Interior-Sherwin Williams "Harmony" (no/low VOC)        Exterior-Sherwin Williams 

Appliances: EnergyStar® Refrigerator,  Range,  Dishwasher
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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 

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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............

Will This Home Meet Our Clients' "Sustainably Built" Expectations?.The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

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