Asheville Homes and LAND!- The Keep In Touch Blog

Aging-in-Place : The Boomer Generation continues move toward (UN) retirement.
Asheville Real Estate Journal

This inevitability brings up any number of decisions around “aging-in-place” (I much prefer to refer to this as Feather-Nesting.) There are issues about home improvement spending, and questions about universal design and the associated elements- the value of sustainable innovation in age-sensitive housing.   As mentioned in Part 2,  any number of Baby Boomers who had planned to retire and move to a different home have taken a step back from that decision.  In fact, as a REALTOR®, I meet any number of clients who confide that the recent financial crisis not only took a toll on the equity in their homes but on their retirement accounts, as well.

So, what about “aging-in-place” as per the following Lifestyle Questions Baby Boomers Ask?

3. If we decide to "age-in-place” (we are shuddering at the term “age-in-place”-it reminds us of something creaky and creepy)  what types of  remodeling and/or repair projects might we choose?


Answer: Baby Boomers are NOT inclined to go the traditional retirement-leisure route. "Baby Boomers fundamentally will reinvent retirement,”  James P. Gorman, president of the Merrill Lynch Global Private Client Group told the press.  - “the concept of Unretirement is now a realistic concept across age cohorts. But more than this, is the concept of regard for self and others…of maintaining an active lifestyle, and choosing to engage life to the fullest.  …a “New Vision of Aging”…

And what about the choice to stay in your home and “age-in-place”? First let’s look at the big picture:  Many Boomers with a positive equity balance on our homes have taken advantage of historically low interest rates. As the economy recovers and mortgage rates begin to rise, we may be more inclined to stay in our homes … since, according to The Joint Center for Housing Studies- Harvard University, http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/jchs.harvard.edu/files/w11-4_masnick_will_baker.pdf
“… moving implies prepaying …current mortgage with its favorable interest rate, and taking out a new, higher market-rate mortgage.”

Now as to what types of remodeling…as an Eco Certified® Real Estate Consultant, EcoBroker® and NAR GREEN® REALTOR®,  here I am all for sustainable innovation- for example...

1.       more energy efficient,
2.       full of natural light,
3.       get clued-in when it comes to eco-friendly features and benefits
          (I’m only using NO VOC paints!)
4.       add universal design elements that make sense
5.       create enjoyable living spaces- more marketable should we decide to move.


If you desire to  “age-in-place” in your  current home, create a spending plan that includes opportunities for upgrading to accommodate your (our) changing needs, for sure. Look for more on aging-in-place and other questions Baby Boomers Ask coming up in Part 4.



© 2012 whd atwww.WhiteHair365.com
10 Lifestyle Choices and Questions Baby Boomers Ask

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Lifestyle Choices - 10 Questions Baby Boomers Ask (2)
Asheville Real Estate Journal


For Baby Boomers making lifestyle choices, an understanding of appropriate solutions in perfect nest  building and maintenance is important. Yet, how would you define “appropriate”? If you are a high-flying Boomer who demands sustainable innovation and enduring excellence, that could mean you  demand high performance building strategies to make your perfect nest a comfortable, healthy and affordable place to live.

It could also mean that you  implement strategies to reduce energy and water usage, promote renewable energy use, help protect the land and natural resources where the home is built, and reduce pollution and the waste of natural resources during the manufacturing and construction phases and throughout the life of your feathered nest.

And then there is the question of MOVING. .or BUILDING. . or ???

To Move or Not to Move . As Boomers are making choices about Moving (or not) toward (UN) retirement,  a number of questions seem to arise-  especially around  the issues of home improvement and a spending plan for updates.   Frequently Baby Boomers ask about ways to ensure being comfortable over the coming years. Possibly that is why conversations about  planning for “aging-in-place” come to the fore- and with those conversations, the worthiness of universal design elements.

Baby Boomers have demonstrated a desire to gain insight into the value of sustainable innovation. (Note: In terms of industry planning, this suggests strong employment opportunities for skilled workers who can upgrade/modify homes to accommodate changing needs as we age.) Research shows that any number of Boomers who had planned to retire and move to a different home have taken a step back from making that decision.  Many of my clients confided that the recent financial crisis not only took a toll on the equity in their homes but on their retirement accounts, as well.

Here is Part 2 of my series on  Lifestyle Questions Baby Boomers Ask


Question 2.  Can you predict what age group is likely to buy our home? And in what kind of housing (age of home and condition) are future buyers likely invest?


Answer: YES there is a certain demographic- that being 20-30-something individuals and their families. Many Baby Boomers have been in their homes for many years, and,  like previous generations, many will turn over their homes to younger buyers.

In terms of the age and condition of our homes, the Boomer Generation tends to  live in more recently built housing- typically built from the1960s and 1990s. So a good number of our homes are around  20-50 years old. As far as the condition goes- many  Baby Boomer homes will be in need systems updates, remodeling, and repair.

Here's an interesting tidbit from The Joint Center for Housing Studies- Harvard University .
It seems that recent remodeling activity in houses built in the 1980s and 1990s shows that "...suburban housing stock lends itself to remodeling activity."  So, in answer to

 what kind of projects Boomers may choose to consider here is a list from the Harvard study.

1. Updating kitchens and baths
2. Increasing energy efficiency
3. Reconfiguring rooms
4. Updating heating and cooling systems
5. Enlarging garages
6. Adding decks,
7. Adding rooms for offices, gyms, or other activities that were not a part of typical home life when the homes were first built will continue to be demanded.

NOTE: Some of this remodeling (perhaps even the majority) could well be done when/if selling a home.

But what if you prefer to "Age in Place"?? Stay tuned for Part 3

© 2012 whd atwww.WhiteHair365.com
10 Lifestyle Choices and Questions Baby Boomers Ask

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10 Frequently Asked Questions - Boomers & Lifestyle Choices-
Asheville Real Estate Journal- Creative Retirement

As Baby Boomers relocate or downsize in retirement, we impact the real estate market in a significant way.  The over 55+  crowd-  (some with white hair in all the various hues, shades, and *implications* of its becoming) already account for over 1/3 of  the turnover. This percentage will increase as the Boomer Generation continues to move toward creative (UN) retirement. Such change inevitability brings up choices and questions around  lifestyle.


Lifestyle Choices - 10 Questions Baby Boomers Ask

As a REALTOR®  here are three conversations I have with clients: 1) home improvement and spending, 2) universal design, and 3) insight into the value of sustainable innovation in age-sensitive housing. These three items top the list when my clients approach lifestyle choice decision-making lifestyle  with me.  There is also the fact that any number of Boomers who had planned to retire and move to a different home have taken a step back from that decision.  Many of my clients confided that the recent financial crisis not only took a toll on the equity in their homes but on their retirement accounts, as well.

Question 1. a)  Is it true that Baby Boomers are setting a new trend in remodeling? And, b) if we decide to sell our home, what projects might top our list?

Answer: a) Yes! True indeed. Boomers are setting a trend. (As usual) In fact, the Joint Center for Housing Studies- Harvard University  found that there has been a surge in remodeling expenditures in which Baby Boomers spent freely on remodeling projects. "Examining total expenditures [by]housing and age of owner we see that baby boomers led in total expenditures for any age group, and that while housing built between 1960 and 1979 accounted for the largest share of total remodeling dollars that were spent, housing built between 1980 and 1999 came in a close second among boomer expenditures.". (The majority of these Boomers had been in their  homes for ten or more years before selling.)

IF we decide to sell our home, what projects might top our list?

Sellers typically undertake minor improvements to attract more potential buyers. Baby Boomers in the 55+ category are not so likely to undertake extensive and expensive projects . Kitchen or bath remodels are NOT favored if you are looking to sell your home. Consider instead addressing the  needs identified in the Home Inspection Report. ( Major repair needs could be addressed in adjustments to the selling price.)

© 2012 whd atwww.WhiteHair365.com
10 Lifestyle Choices and Questions Baby Boomers Ask

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Lifestyle Choices - 10 Questions Baby Boomers Ask
Asheville Real Estate Journal

As Baby Boomers relocate or downsize in retirement, we impact the real estate market in a significant way.  The over 55+  crowd-  (some with white hair in all the various hues, shades, and *implications* of its becoming) already account for over 1/3 of  the turnover. This percentage will increase as the Boomer Generation continues to move toward (UN) retirement. Such change inevitability brings up choices and questions around  lifestyle.

As a REALTOR® home improvement and spending, universal design, and insight into the value of sustainable innovation in age-sensitive housing top the list when my clients approach the subject of lifestyle choices with me. 

 In addition, any number of Boomers who had planned to retire and move to a different home have taken a step back from that decision.  Many of my clients confided that the recent financial crisis not only took a toll on the equity in their homes but on their retirement accounts, as well.

Lifestyle Choices & 10 Questions Baby Boomers Ask


In this series I’ll address frequently asked questions and answer these from the perspective of life-course transitions – choices about where and how we Baby Boomers choose to live.  Here’s a list of frequently asked questions.

1. Is it true that Baby Boomers are setting a new trend in remodeling? And, if we decide to sell our home, what remodeling top priority lists of buyers?


2. Can you predict what age group is likely to buy our home? And in what kind of housing (age of home and condition) are future buyers likely invest?

3.If we decide to "age-in-place” (we are shuddering at that term-it reminds us of something creepy)  what types of  remodeling and/or repair projects might we choose?

4. Someone told us that adding universal design elements to our home make sense. What is universal design, anyway? And could you please give us examples?


5.Is it hard to incorporate universal design elements? And what about costs?

6. Could you give us some link-love (online references ) on the subject of Universal Design and Baby Boomers?


7.So as Baby Boomers, we are clued in to earth- eco-friendly ideas. What are 10 “feathered nest” features you might recommend for us? And how could they benefit  us?

8. What are active lifestyle communities?

9. We saw a survey on your website about general preferences in lifestyle choices that Baby Boomers indicated. But in a “senior moment” (yikes!) we forgot what they were. What preferences do Baby Boomers state when polled?


10. TBD...let me know if you have a Hot Question for which you desire a Cool Answer! like...What makes a multi-generational community attractive to many Baby Boomers?

stay tuned for answers 1-10  …

© 2012 whd at www.WhiteHair365.com

10 Lifestyle Choices and Questions Baby Boomers Ask

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The Perfect Nest- A Quick Fly-By

What comprises the “perfect nest”? (Baby Boomers take note!)

While reviewing Mark Nepo’s  The Book of Awakening forwww.WhiteHair365.com  I found an interesting answer and perspective.

As a REALTOR® I love the idea of excellence in the properties I represent – those of enduring excellence that incorporate universal design elements so valuable to Baby Boomers. So Nepo’s reference to what really works perfectly (the “perfect nest”) intrigued me.  He wrote,

“It was a very small thing, watching a robin carry a twig too big for its nest. It tried once, then twice, to use it, and somehow, with its very small bird brain, it knew it was no good. It simply flew off and picked another.. . .So often what we want is like that twig [and we]…hold on to something that can’t complete our nest….”

How does this vignette translate to fine living, luxury abodes and the perfect nest for you and me?

It could mean careful consideration of the building strategies that can make your perfect nest a comfortable, healthy and efficient place in  which you and your family not only can take pride. . .but (fondly) can  nestle…Finding something that “fits" is a smile on the face of pure possibility.

MORE INFO & DETAILS?

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Baby Boomers Healthcare and Sustainable Innovation
ASHEVILLE, NC

The Baby Boom = The BIG Boom in Healthcare Forbes reports, “The baby boomers make up a hefty part of the American population, giving them a significant degree of economic and cultural power. The trends …create … a positive outlook for jobs related to healthcare and some stimulus in economic spending ….”.

And CNBC  says,That the Boomers visit”… the doctor more . . .consume more services … aren’t afraid to use …. $7 trillion in collective wealth to improve … quality of life. From physical therapy, to cosmetic surgery, to the latest in life-saving technology,. . Boomers just aren’t built to grow old gracefully. ...on the subject of maintianing a sense of well-being.

Kudos to Asheville's MDs and a New Approach to Doctoring

Here are Dr. Lisa, Dr. Patrick, and Dr. Susan...
their photos say much more than words.

Sustainable Innovation- Of course…it is a good idea to initiate a plan to maintain good health for years to come.

As a REALTOR, I love the idea of including in that plan a lifestyle  that respects healthy living spaces and natural neighborhoods…one where low impact t hobbies and sports are accessible…a pool and yoga studio are nearby and where naturally healthy eating is respected.

Gardening is on my list along with “Visiting",otherwise known as combining walking, talking and (quie possibly) window shopping. Walking…keeping breathing under control and blood pressure down…raising your  heart rate, burning fat and toning muscles. It's also a great  thing to do with friends.

More on  Baby Boomers Healthcare and Sustainable Innovation

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Part 2- "The Perfect Place to Build Our AT LAST Home. . .."

Atop Asheville's Chestnut Mountain the Green Plan means that mountain views are a gift all year round.

 Framed by the trees, here is a mountain view that seems as if it could go on forever.

Where is this AT LAST haven?

Within 10 minutes of downtown Asheville, NC!

" I love the idea of building the AT LAST home of my dreams on this nearly 80 acre eco-friendly development," said my Asheville real estate client.

And I have to agree. You  even may find a true Baby Boomer carrying a picnic basket while hiking along groomed trails to discover native flora and fauna and spring-fed ponds .

"This is our idea of the Best of Creative Retirement- where we can find a natural environment!".

You can expect to find a perfect place for a time-out or for the family to gather to picnic.

Chestnut mountain is a nature lover's paradise. (just 19 homesites on almost 80 acres!)

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The perfect place to build your "At Last" Home is on LAND in Asheville.

 I was out  on some of Asheville’s most incredible VIEW acreage  this week. ..accompanied by the person who could tell me all about it.

The first thing land buyers in Asheville may note is that this almost 80 acre development has on 20 homesites!  ..each with its own magic...and each with a view of the mountains...and each within 10 minutes of downtown!

I’ll take you on a walk in an upcoming video, but first Allen will clue you in on some details....Come back for more....

Here begins a 20 second Introduction- PART 1 of the  series of videos taken there.

Another 20 seconds and SEE the Views! in PART 2

Baby Boomers Pushing 65- are adamant about maintaining an “Active Lifestyle"...

Here in Asheville, REALTORS ® frequently hear about this "active lifestyle"  priority from our clients who are in search for the ideal place to make their *At Last* homes. " And it is true. . .the Boomer Generation has for the most part enjoyed an active lifestyle.  According to research,(Creswell )  and others (and true to the strong opinions for which research shows  Baby Boomers are known) –

  Baby Boomers , such as  this white-haired community planner demand to continue an active lifestyle into our 50’s, 60’s and 70’s and beyond…

Baby Boomers Pushing 65-
Baby Boomers Pushing 65 – The Wish List (note #9)

1. Not dependent on our children
2. Not too far from our children and grandkids
3. Pet-friendly
4. Healthy Built home and in an eco-friendly environment
5. Possibly multi-generational
6. Fits our financial analysis and a budget- what we can afford short and long term.
7. Financial stability of development, if apropos
8. Neighborly feeling
9. Golfing and Tennis
10. 10 Year-round out-of-doors activities
11. Cultural activities
12. Near a college and Learning Opportunities
13. Excellent medical facilities nearby
14. YOGA!
15. Day Spas =)
    
    Speaking of GOLF... NORTH CAROLINA is the place to  Be ! Especially this week...when the Top Players in the  world will be taking to the links at Quail Hollow in Charolotte ,NC...(just a couple hours from Asheville.)
    
    As we mature... the challenges . . .on many levels. . . may become more demanding. ...that's the reason many of the boomer generation now retiring work out a list and have it on hand in advance.
    
    You can add to this  wish list and find more good info at www.whitehair365.com my Outside blog.
    

Baby Boomers are known for holding strong views. . . .and according to current research, that is so especially when it comes to insisting on enduring excellence.

Taking measure. . .maybe that is because at just about the time we were coming of age, the world-at-large was replete with issues that impacted our perspectives and changed the way we see the world, forever. We were not very old when John Kennedy was assassinated…but we were old enough to still take a deep breath each time we think of where we were when we heard the news.

Baby Boomers are known for holding strong views ... (<- poll here)
What is a “strong view”?. . .an opinion closely held and immensely valued?. . .Is it also more? Something we see out of our windows? A bird in flight in the forest? The ocean frothing in the storm? ....the Blue Earth. . . seen at a distance?

Again...taking measure. . .Most of us entertain strong opinions colored by feelings or bias. I am passionate about the idea of stewardship, for example. Maybe this passion arose from the amazement of seeing the Blue Earth from Space.

But it seems that it is particularly important in this Our Time of Possibility as powerful Baby Boomers to use our influence for encouraging sustainable innovation in"Smart Communities."

The Power of Baby Boomers Opinions

Could sustainable innovation (as exemplified in the New Urbanism) in some way, be a remedy for what ails humankind.. . .individually and as a collection of living beings on the planet? For the babies to come, I  hope so. .

This opp ed continues . . .see my series of posts on Baby Boomers right here and at www.WhiteHair365.com

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Obviously, I've had Baby Boomers on the Brain of late...

And it feels as if this could go on for any number of months. ..even years! After all...this segment of our poulation is not only powerful, (mostly) financialy secure, and devoted to enduring excellence...but in 2012  Baby Boomers are on the move.

As a Baby Boomer myself, (with white hair in vrious phases of expression (and all that implies) and as a REALTOR, I find all these facts very, very interesting...Here's what has turned up in my blog over the past couple of months

OH!  and following my intuition, I've extended the range of the ECO-ALL-STARS GROUP... toi

Include:'Eco-All-Stars and BABY BOOMER *STARlights* =)

Baby Boomers are Turning Green

 Let me know if you are as impressed with the potential of working with Baby Boomers as I am =)

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WHAT??? Baby Boomers are turning GREEN, you say???

No-No!!! Baby Boomers GOING Green -

Now you can define those of us with white hair (in all the shades and phases and implications of becoming) as innovative, We are *energizing*sustainable innovation. We are into "Smarth Growth" and enduring excellence.

According to the latest research, Baby Boomers find smaller footprints, daylighting , snug building shells, Energy Star ®appliances, no/low VOC paints and adhesives, rainwater harvesting…absolutely desirable….and the going green list spotlights features that are touted as good for Boomers' health and pocketbook…and even the future of our grandkids.

But here's the Big Quesiton: Is Going Green just so much" hype"?

Is it hype? . To many (ages 47 to 77 or thereabouts. .. I'm pretty flexible about who 's innovative enough to be called a "boomer" ) the answer is a resounding “No! Not when homes showcase a clever blossoming of style and common sense!" This stirs the imagination of the Boomer Cohort, their REALTORS® and families. Take, for example this Green Built Home...(see photo below.)

This, and similarly environmentally-friendly beauties are preferred to traditional homes all across the USA. In fact. . . .81% of home buyers say they prefer a green built and/or eco-friendly home. Guess that “going green” REALLY has gone mainstream. . . .

 5 Value-Added Factors  Baby Boomers Going Green Point Out...

This opp ed continues . . .see my series of posts on Baby Boomers right here and at whitehair365.com

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Asheville Real Estate Journal
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Active Lifestyle- Urban Boomer's True to Dream: Urban Baby Boomers who dream of an active lifestyle within the town/city environment are seeing their dreams come to fruition. The emerging "New Urban " environment is a dream come true. It is (or is very close to) what this "white-haired wonder" has envisioned.

"In terms of New Urbanism and a Green residential community, who could ask for anything more,?" she asks.

And, as REALTORS well-aware of the growing demand of healthy-built homes in sustainable communities  we have to say she may be on to something. You may remember, we saw her first, survey in hand, on an eco-friendly development site. There was plenty of soil and not much infrastructure in place at the time. In search of the best there was to be offered, her next step was to do lots of research. She educated herself . She noted the active lifestyle features that were important to her. She noted the benefits of Green Planning and site development.

Speaking of "Active Lifestyle"...here are a few fun things happening around Asheville...

·  Forest Farming Practices

·  Posana Cafe Growing Minds Benefit

·  Farm to Fashion Movie Night

·  ASAP’s Local Food Guide Release Party

·  Imladris Farm Party and Solstice Concert

THIS  CONVERSATION CONTINUES at Active Lifestyle- Urban Boomer's True to Dream: 

Countering a misconception among developers about the financial viability of going green in real estate development, this white-haired powerhouse is excited about her research. She points to the Smart Growth Network. . .

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White-Haired Baby Boomer Reveals 6 Benefits of Green Development
Asheville Real Estate Journal

Green Development Plans from a White-Haired Boomer:  Just because you are a “white-haired Baby Boomer” doesn’t mean you can expect to sit on the sidelines- at least not if you want to see your Green Development dream come true. This white-haired diva is investigating the possibility of creating an urban paradise. Of course, there is a good-deal of learning to do if you are new to development.

Our boomer colleague has attended any number of workshops in her area of interest. These have demonstrated the basics of conservation land planning and have examined local ordinances pertaining to conservation planning. 

 She has also made it a priority to visit property sites where homes are planned to be built, as you can see by the photos here. “ There’s nothing like conducting a hands-on exercise to design the site using conservation principles,” she tells us.

Countering a misconception among developers about the financial viability of going green in real estate development, this white-haired powerhouse is excited about her research from Smart Communities and is looking forward to living in a well-executed green development that will perform well financially.

continues....White-Haired Baby Boomer Reveals 6 Benefits of Green Development

BENEFITS of green development:

1) reduced capital costs,
2) reduced operating costs,
3)health and productivity benefits,
4) higher perceived value and quality,
5) staying ahead of regulations, 
6)  the satisfaction of doing the right thing.

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Baby Boomers, Smart Growth, and Future Communities...
Asheville Real Estate Journal

Baby Boomers here in Asheville and across the USA can impact real estate in a mighty way, espepcially when it comes to the planning and design of future communities. There follows something we discuss with our clients as they tell us of their interest in helping to create positive futures....leaving Asheville-area mountain homes and land legacies for future generations....

Now, The Smart Growth Network. . .  Smart Growth- a Legacy of Positive Futures is reaching out to boomer cohorts- (many of us with white hair in various phases of becoming - we're smiling 'cuz we're sage elders) seeking innovative ideas about the future of our communities. Exciting News for REALTORS and others interested in Community Planning, Design, and Development. When we heard that the Smart Growth Network desires a 2012 national conversation on this subject, we were delighted. You can look for a range of media and discussion about emerging issues that can build a depth of community planning, design and development ideas, and perspectives

Possible topics for conversation

1. Safe Routes to School Guide: Engineering
2. Living Streets: Strategies for Crafting Public Space
3. Manifest Destiny: A Guide to the Essential Indifference of American Suburban Housing
4. Community Schools: Partnerships for Excellence
5. Prospering in Place: Linking Jobs, Development, and Transit to Spur Local Economy

Add your .02 CENTS! GO to  Boomer Future Planning

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Retirement Investing- Baby Boomer and Nature Lover?

Retirement Investing is not just about money. It can also be about “accounting” for happiness in a time to relax  and turn that 1031Like-Kind Exchange into Eco-Friendly living in Asheville, NC. That’s what we call a real retirement investment.

There are any number of retirement calculators available these days, but do they add in the sense of well-being that arrives when we  meander down a gentle walkway into the woods with the sound of distant waterfalls to  keep us company?  Songbirds  and the music of the wind playing in the trees can bring to mind the richness of another kind of music - the laughter of grandparents, kids and grandkids.

Yes- retirement investment options are plentiful but many Baby Boomers are quick not to discount the value of Nature.  Here’s an heirloom apple orchard, for instance- a"golden opportunity" -pardon the pun)  Can you see Grandpa about to climb the ladder? Can you imagine the aroma of fresh-baked apple pie from that orchard.

P.S. This orchard really exists as part of a multigenerational, eco-friendly community where a retirement savings plan includes the notion of sustainability.

Continue reading about it  and authentic value in retirement investing. . .

http://www.WhiteHair365.com/retirementinvesting.html

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UNRetire ? For Sure! But Where? We Like Asheville


" Boomer Cohorts are re-defining retirement" —thinking of this lifestage as UN-Retirement- and looking at a New Vision of Aging and choices for delightful, healthy living spaces that wan work for Buyers and Sellers. Beach your canoe? NO WAY! It is an interesting g trend in the real estate market, and one we are watching closely in Asheville, NC, one of the Top Reitrement areas in the USA.

" Retirement communities"? Not so much! . In fact, many of our cohorts prefer Adult Active Lifestyle Communities. Where Boomer Cohorts  are actively involved in choices that  are appealing in terms of social, cultural, and recreational desires

High on the list of our clients: Wellness- preventative measures for good health and future health-care costs. No wonder we are on the lookout for amenities such as spas/fitness facilities, with professional trainers, yoga studios, media rooms, walking/biking paths and cafes, In other words,

OLD IS BOLD! (Retirement Homes and/or Old Folks Homes are not for Baby Boomers.)
UNretire -Where? -The Living Space and Lifestyle Options

-UNRetire: There are as many choices for lifestyle and living space as there are Baby Boomers. And that's a lot! Choices depend on what is most desirable for each of us. . . .(As we talk with our friends we find that golf is high on the list.) as is an eco-friendly environment both inside the home and on the outside. Trails, walkways, rain gardens...gazebos, picnic areas...gentle lakes for canoeing. . . as soon as spring comes. . ..  continued on my White Hair365.com ...
and has a nifty

 Top UNretirement Priorities Quiz  . . . 

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Asheville Eye on Business News- Real Estate Impact

We like to keep an eye on business news here in beautiful Asheville. Business North Carolina  has been hopping with news about Western North Carolina recently. . .and it could Good News for Asheville’s economy and have a Positive Impact on the real estate market. ( Time to buy is pronto.)
Here’s what I mean. . “ripped from the headlines”…We are blooming in Asheville!



New Belgium bringing brewery to Asheville
(Asheville Citizen-Times)
New Belgium Brewing Co., the maker of Fat Tire beer, will bring its East Coast brewery to Asheville, investing $175 million and creating 154 jobs over seven years. Ground will be broken early next year.


Brewery decision could mean revival for Asheville river district
(Asheville Citizen-Times)
The decision of New Belgium Brewing Co. to invest $175 million in a new East Coast brewery in Asheville has stoked talks of a revitalization of the River Arts District.



Private-equity group buys Grove Park Inn
(Asheville Citizen-Times)
Denver-based KSL Capital Partners purchased Asheville's Grove Park Inn for an undisclosed amount and is planning $25 million in renovations to coincide with its 100th anniversary next year. The private-equity firm has a number of luxury resorts in its portfolio.

Pisgah National Forest may expand
(Asheville Citizen-Times)
The U.S. Forest Service is considering purchasing one of four land tracts to become part of Pisgah National Forest. The Forest Service has $1 million set aside for the effort.


Private equity firm buys 80% stake in Earth Fare grocery
(The Charlotte Observer)
Oak Hill Capital Partners purchased an 80% stake in Asheville-based Earth Fare grocery chain for about $300 million. The grocer features organic and natural products.

Asheville LED Lighting Free Lunch 'n Learn

There's a *free* Lunch 'n Learn happening in Asheville this week. Entitled, " Controlling LEDs To Meet Customer Expectations,"
it will take place at the LUX Lighting Showroom (81 Broadway) on the upper floor above Olive or Twist Restaurant and Bar. The program is compliments of AIA Asheville with sponsor LUX Lighting, and Lutron.

According to AIA, the learning objectives are as follows:

1. Through examination of the LED industry, the participant will be able to describe the features and benefits of LEDs as a general illumination light source, and the applications where LEDs excel to ensure operational safety and occupant productivity.
2. Studying the components of an LED system will enable the participant to explain an LED luminaire and each component involved to ensure effective and safe operation.
3. By examining existing control types and standards, the participant will be able to identify the differences between power line, 3 wire and low voltage control.
4. Analysis of LED drivers will enable the participant to identify the differences between constant current and constant voltage drivers and which applications require which type of driver to ensure safe operation and expected performance.

This sounds like an interesting investigation into home energy use.

P.S. Here's an enLIGHTening webiste:
http://lux-lighting.com/

I got an email from Asheville City Councilman, Brownie Newman this morning. He had good news about success in terms of Asheville's Policy -Reduce Carbon Pollution by 80%. 1)- Asheville replaced our old, polluting diesel buses with a new fleet including clean, quiet hybrid buses and alternative fuel vehicles.  2) - Asheville is replacing all of our old city street lights with new super-efficient LED bulbs, which will save taxpayers $650,000 a year in utility bills and 3) - Asheville City Council voted to double the rate at which we will achieve our carbon reduction goal, so  Asheville will achieve an additional 20% reduction in the next five years alone. 

There is no city in America that is implementing a more ambitious clean energy initiative.

Brownie is running for Buncombe County Commissioner. It is exciting to think that he will make energy independence his top priority. As I have said for years now (and those of you who read my blog know this is true) energy independence is critical to protecting the safety and security of our children.

Brownie knows this. He wrote, "  When my kids are grown, I do not want their generation to be embroiled in future wars because our country is dependent on foreign sources of energy.I believe we are exposing our children’s generation, and all future generations, to enormous risk if we ignore the strong scientific evidence that global warming is a real threat. Our country faces a lot of different problems, ranging from the need for jobs, to fixing our schools, to providing better health care at an affordable cost. As important as all of these issues are, if we do not embrace a clean energy future, global warming could make these other issues seem pale in comparison to our kids’ generation.

I have been a Big Fan of Brownie Newman for years and years. I have watched him work. I am excited to see his passion for excellence in our community. GO BROWNIE!

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