Asheville ECO-GREEN Real Estate

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Lots and Lots and Lots- and Lots For Investors to Think About

Asheville NC -Investors' LOTS and Land For Sale

I wrote a post not long ago about the Top 5 Eco-Friendly Trends for Investors to Watch in 2010 that gave investors lots to think about: Innovation - developing alternatives to technologies that have been demonstrated to damage your health and your environment."Cradle to Cradle" Design - fully reclaiming or re-using products end "cradle to grave" cycle of manufactured products. Sustainability - meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.Source reduction - reducing waste and pollution by changing outmoded patterns of production and consumption. This decreases reliance on landfills and incinerators.Viability - creating economic growth around "green" technologies and products.


But all this got me thinking about LOTS! Eco-friendly LOTS , that is. There are lots of LOTS for sale by owner and/or on the MLS in the Asheville NC  area.  What can distinguish these lots? They are informed by the list above. 

Such LOTS would take into account protection of the building site, solar orientation, wildlife preservation, erosion control, saving existing trees, and would incorporate plans for a "Cradle to Cradle" design. The LOT and the Investor would want sustainability to count. How many trips to the landfill, for example, could be avoided when the building process gets underway? (Source reduction.) And would bring green technologies into play.  Would you consider reclaiming or re-using timber?(see video below.)

I know of a handful of lots (that is NOT  a lot) that Investors looking for ROI might consider-LOTS where  conservation based subdivision design, Low Impact Development (LID), walkability, and land development that minimizes adverse environmental impacts adds up to a wise choice- 

Take a look at this one, for example. (see video) This LOT is NOT on the MLS. It's a FSBO.  It belongs to a poet-author....and when you watch the video, you may understand why he chose to invest in it--hint (waterfall and trails.)

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__~o
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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............Asheville NC Real Estate:     LAND in  Asheville.  Going Green  and Eco-Friendly Properties. Expert Tools for Sellers and Buyers of  Mountain Homes and Land Legacies. "On the roll for  sustainable  innovation."  © 2010. Asheville NC Real Estate     Unauthorized reproduction of any information on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved.

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Excellent Unemployment Interactive Map - PA and National Numbers

JEFF GEOGHAN found this map. I am reBlogging it and spending some time thinking about the implications.

Via Jeff Geoghan MBA - Lancaster PA Real Estate Expert (The Jeff Geoghan Realty Group, Coldwell Banker Lancaster PA):

Lancaster PA unemployment map PA US numbers

Check out this very interesting interactive national map that details unemployment by state and county.  Also, you can see the changes in the map over time since 2007. You can zoom in by state on the right menu, and check out the bar chart along the bottom (on the website, not my screenshot).

Look at Michigan and California - eeks.  Virginia seems to be one of the lowest, as well as much of the midwest.

Thought you'd like to see this...

 

 

 

Top 5 Eco-Friendly Trends for Investors to Watch in 2010

What eco-friendly trends in real estate are Investors watching these days? Here are my Top 5 picks for 2010. 

  1. "Cradle to Cradle" Design - fully reclaiming or re-using products end "cradle to grave" cycle of manufactured products.

    Example:  In Detroit, The Ford River Rouge Complexredevelopment  is an example of this concept, and is a direct result of FoMoCo consultation with William McDonough, who with his partner originated the concept.

    Reported Michigan Land Use, "The entrance to the Rouge complex is turning into a 1.5-mile-long green boulevard with 22 acres of wetlands, trees, and shrubs. Some 1,500 trees and other plantings are starting to surround the new assembly building and several others. Thousands of feet of shallow drainage canals, and multiple manmade wetlands have been constructed and seeded with indigenous plants. To control rainwater and pollutants, the assembly plant's 15-acre parking lot is covered with a porous surface through which water is filtered, cleansed and stored in underground basins to be slowly released into canals and wetlands. ...."

    Can you imagine how this affects the quality of life for those who live and work in the area?


  2. Sustainability - meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

    Example: In Asheville, NC, interdependence, respect for nature, and responsibility for future generations is expressed in local culture and neighborhoods. 


    And a group of over 300 real estate professionals  who are eco certified work together and with developers to build sustainably, and work with buyers to find the most eco friendly homes, businesses and/or land.


    As a member of this group, I can say I am excited to see the possibilities for clients and for Asheville.


  3. Source reduction - reducing waste and pollution by changing outmoded patterns of production and consumption. This decreases reliance on landfills and incinerators.  By reducing the need for "virgin" resources extracted from forests, oil reserves, and mines, we use less energy, reduce greenhouse gases, water pollution, and conserve natural resources.

    Example: Your Home Town and Your Footprint:  Calculate it here

    Guess how small or big your "footprint" is. . .let me know



  4. Viability - creating economic growth around "green" technologies and products.

    Example: Our colleague, Mary Bigelow's work. For a quick glimpse, check out Mary's blog post.  and leave Mary a comment.


  5.  Innovation - developing alternatives to technologies that have been demonstrated to damage your health and your environment.

    Example: The NC HealthyBuilt Homes (HBH) Program  that encompass all aspects of environmental design and construction including:


    a) Site and Landscape: healthy outdoors by using erosion control and saving existing trees
    b) Water Efficiency: lower water bills by using high efficiency irrigation and plumbing fixtures
    c) Building Envelope: lower utility bills by using high efficiency windows and insulation
    d) Heating and Cooling Systems: higher comfort with efficiency equipment and sealed air ducts
    e) Appliances and Lighting: lower utility bills by using Energy Star appliances and lighting
    f) Indoor Air Quality: a healthy interior with non-toxic finishes and minimizing mold
    g) Materials: a low maintenance home using durable, local, and recycled content materials

    REALTORS...how would you and your investors like to live in such a home?


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__~o
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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............Asheville NC Real Estate:     LAND in  Asheville.  Going Green  and Eco-Friendly Properties. Expert Tools for Sellers and Buyers of  Mountain Homes and Land Legacies. "On the roll for  sustainable  innovation."  © 2010. Asheville NC Real Estate     Unauthorized reproduction of any information on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved.

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Discouraged A Little? There's Gold In Them Thar Hills. And It's Still True Today!

I have never been to Tucson, have you? i have always wanted to visit, and have wondered if there is still GOLD in them thar' hills..

MIKE JONES one of our favorite bloogers posted the essay that follows today. ..along with some excellent words of advice. Now I'm saddling up Old Paint and heading West...that is as soon as the 15 inches of snow we got here in Asheville begins to melt ...

Via Mike Jones (SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC):

View from an abandoned mine near Tucson, AZ

It wasn't farming that settled the American West.  It was mining.  The lure of wealth in the form of precious metals like gold (and later, silver) enticed men from the east to leave home and family and make their way west to California.

Open mine shaftThey called 'em the '49ers.  The year was 1849, and  American football wouldn't be invented for another twenty years. 

It had taken a year for the news of the California gold rush to make its way back east, and the result was a stampede of humanity.

If you're a real estate agent in the west, the roots of your livelihood can be traced to this particular event.  In the settled part of the American continent, ownership and transfer of real estate was orderly for the most part.  But that was back east.  And then came the California gold rush.

In an economy where a factory worker earned a dollar for a twelve-hour day, and a skilled craftsman earned half again that amount (a princely $1.50 per day) a prospector might take $25 or more out of a riverbed in California in a day.  That kind of money will change things quickly.

When news of gold at Sutter's Mill reached San Francisco in 1848, the town had a population of 850.  Prospectors began arriving by boat.  By December of 1849, San Francisco's population had swelled to 25,000.  Two years later it topped 36,000(Don't you wish you had real estate demand like that?!)

In the gold fields, mining towns sprang up helter skelter, often without benefit of law.  The names, some of which survive today, paint a picture of the risks associated with life in these primitive towns: Bloody Gulch, Gouge Eye, Hell's Delight and Hang Town.

Present day topographical features such as ridges, canyons and creeks still have names that evoke this period:  Boneyard Creek, Cemetary Ridge, Deadman Creek, Fortynine Gap and Hell Hollow.

The boom went bust.  Many prospectors came late to the California riverbeds, but after having travelled between 3,000 and 15,000 miles to get there, they weren't about to give up.  They struck out on their own, and the American southwest is cratered by mineshafts dug by hand by these hardy souls.

Real Estate values were subject to wild fluctuations 160 years ago just as they are now.  Remember San Francisco's population in 1848?  One historian puts the towns male population on May 12th (the day the news of Sutter's Mill reached town) at 600.  Three days later, only 200 men remained.  Houses were deserted, stores closed and according to one source, even the newspaper folded as no one was left to print or read it. 

I expect that property values plummeted, only to rebound as prospectors by the thousands descended on the port city.  Someone made a lot of money in real estate!

There's a lesson to be learned for REALTORS and lenders alike.  Nothing is forever, and the winds of change that swept away fortunes will reverse themselves.  Make sure you have the right tools to take advantage of the gold rush to come.

Lorne Greene's ballad of the old miner is worth three minutes of your time.  Listen to the video before you comment.  I'm indebted to Bill Archambault for digging up "The Old Tin Cup."

 

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I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson Mortgage Lender.

NMLS #223495

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE llc ~ Mortgage Bankers, Not Brokers!
Offices in Scottsdale, Tucson, and Nogales, AZ, and Albuquerque, NM.

Call me on my Blackberry  (520) 349-9090

photos copyright Mike in Tucson

 

Speechless Sunday- Licking Snow Frosting

The mountains. The winter. Dinner had already been served- but not dessert - when the heavens opened with the sweet delight of snow just outside our cabin door- and so she headed out to lick the frosting from her nose.... 

TWY loves snow frsoting in Asheville NC

 

 MyTwylah....and Snow Frosting....

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__~o
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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............ Asheville NC Real Estate:     LAND in  Asheville.  Going Green  and Eco-Friendly Properties. Expert Tools for Sellers and Buyers of  Mountain Homes and Land Legacies. "On the roll for  sustainable  innovation."  © 2010. Asheville NC Real Estate     Unauthorized reproduction of any information on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved.
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Smart Renovations- Concrete (Series) - Put Your Stamp On It

You can design your own kitchen, bathroom, patio...and, at the same time,  stamp your signature into concrete. How exciting is that??  If you have been following this series, you will know that our eco-friendly colleagues here in Asheville, the Hub of Green, sure are. Solid and durable, it also is versatile and adaptable to both indoor and outdoor use. As one person put it, " Concrete is the soup du jour of current home trends.

asheville nc Green Builder has chosen a concrete floor

 


Sellers are finding that including the "new concrete" is an economical and eco-savvy way in which they can  update their home prior to putting it on the market.

Green builders (see photo) around town are using concrete in many different ways.

Neighbors doing renovation projects, as well, favor this material.

Buyers are so impressed with kitchen remodeling ideas that include counter tops with integral sinks and backsplashes, or a unique fireplace surround, or patio designs and walkways with that special creative allure . . ..

 Artisans are thrilled with the possibilities.

Today's hottest trend adds color, fine-finishes that dazzle, and a chance to express your personal creative stamp. 

Other posts in this series include topics such as : concrete flooring and home trends in concrete.HOW would YOU include concrete in your design plans and put YOUR stamp on it?

Heads-Up:  The US Green Building Council recently picked concrete as their #1 Choice  for Kitchen Counter Tops

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__~o
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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............Asheville NC Real Estate:     LAND in  Asheville.  Going Green  and Eco-Friendly Properties. Expert Tools for Sellers and Buyers of  Mountain Homes and Land Legacies. "On the roll for  sustainable  innovation."  © Concrete (Series) - Put Your Stamp On It, 2010. Asheville NC Real Estate     Unauthorized reproduction of any information on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved.

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Smart Renovations- Concrete (Series) -Concrete Flooring

Ever since I participated in a site evaluation of a Green-Built home, where I first experienced the luster of concrete flooring, I have been fascinated with the possibilities for concrete in residential properties.   

Because the home that was being evaluated was complying with HealthyBuilt standards, the concrete used did not generate significant volumes of carbon dioxide (CO2.)

CO2 contributes significantly to greenhouse gas. In this application, the builder carefully had selected concrete the substitutes of  fly ash and slag. 

 What else makes concrete a "green" product? 

1.Concrete flooring provides high durability.

2. Concrete flooring is less subject to biological contamination problems. 

 

(Photo taken at site evaluation of an Asheville NC Green Built home.

For buyers and sellers of properties who are thinking about smart residential renovations we are excited about the various types of flooring they may choose to install. Bamboo? Cork? Recycled Hardwood? In terms of environmentally responsible choices, particularly in our indoor environment, for our own home, we are leaning towards concrete as we discuss the topic around the kitchen table. 
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Asheville NC Real Estate:      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. Smart Renovations -Concrete .Copyright © 2010. All Rights Reserved. Asheville NC Real Estate     

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Smart Renovations- Concrete (Series)

Asheville NC Real Estate 2010-style means smart renovations.

Thoughtful updates, eco-friendly 'green-ups" and the choice of sustainable materials create  interest where these features are in high demand. One of our clients is proof positive. Enthused about the value-added benefit of eco-friendly updates, she began research by creating a list of priority projects.  After we talked about renovation ideas from the perspective of "The Buyer", she settled on putting her kitchen at the top of the list. .

"You can design your own kitchen," she told me. " Just begin by gathering kitchen remodeling ideas. Then, sit down at the kitchen table with a local artisan. Our client chose to work in concrete because of the "sustainability factor." 

She began with concrete kitchen countertops, building in a drainboard and creating an attractive backsplash.

A gourmet vegetarian chef, she was thrilled to find what her design led to. "You can express creative preferences, you can even plan the flow of this material to fit your cooking style," she told me with a  smile in her voice. 

concrete countertops

(Photos of kitchen remodeling ideas and concrete countertops courtesy of Elite Crete Systems)

After seeing those glossy surfaces, we knew our Buyers would be thrilled with the results.  Concrete is so versatile. It can be handcrafted into the shining, distinctive surface that both compliments and complements a meal.   

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__~o
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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............ Asheville NC Real Estate: Green Renovations and    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.
Copyright
© 2010. All Rights Reserved. Asheville NC Real Estate       __________________________ 

CONCRETE Innovations and Design Trends

Asheville NC Real Estate - Smart Renovations 2010  include. . .  CONCRETE!

In the Asheville NC real estate market , where eco-friendly features such as concrete innovations and design trends add-value to residential properties, I have been asking, " Are you ready to discover one of the newest design trends that actually is as old as the Roman Empire? " 

Discovery :: The "New Concrete"- colorful, fine-fashioned, and with shining surfaces, the new concrete offers solutions in sustainable innovation that  I daresay could have astounded Caesar himself.  According to Wikipedia,  in the Emperor's day,  the "Concrete Revolution, freed Roman construction from the restrictions of stone and brick material and allowed for revolutionary new designs both in terms of structural complexity and dimension."  

Today, in that same spirit, revolutionary new designs in custom concrete provide solutions --
"stadiums-full" of property owners can applaud. Solid, dependable, "concrete solutions" that make sense for both indoor and outdoor use.   

Speaking of stadiums, how about this concrete solution from Elite Crete?

stadium   decorative concrete

Exciting :: Kitchen remodeling ideas that include concrete countertops with integral sinks and backsplashes, kitchen islands, fireplace surrounds, concrete patio designs and walkways- and more...read on with the next installment of this series as I take you on a tour ...

AshevilleNC Real Estate:     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       __________________________

Speechless Sunday in Asheville NC

Rain Clouds on the Ridge

 

__~o
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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............ Asheville NC Real Estate:     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     

LAND and Green-Built Homes in The Mountains- WNC Market Remains Strong

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.  

investment is green in ashevilleEco-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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__~o
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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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Will Social Media Affect Property Values?

STEPHANIE EDWARDS-MUSA is a blogger-extraordinaire...You will see what I mean in the post that follows. Here STEPHANIE notes:

" We are all getting used to doing our own research online to help us make educated decisions when purchasing anything from movie tickets to a house.  How advanced will these search functions be in the future?  '''

Via Stephanie Edwards-Musa, Realtor ® Spring/Woodlands, TX Real Estate (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors ®):

This whole Social Media thing is pretty awesome.  It's moving forward at warp speed at a point that is incredibly difficult to keep up with.  Every new site or update gives the average consumer and business owner the potential to have a larger voice and allow their story to be heard.

For a while now businesses have started to grasp the concept of needing to track their brand reputation online to keep from being bashed and blind folded.

A couple years ago I attended a conference where a speaker mentioned that "Web 3.0 will be just like Web 2.0 - But Web 3.0 will bring blood"

That really possibly seems to be the case.  Are we getting to a point where we need to reconsider our actions and content?  Not even necessarily from a business perspective, but from a consumer perspective.

Several times over the past few months I have noticed where homeowners, home buyers and sellers have gone online to gripe.  Which is all well and good for the time being, but what about in the future?

Two good examples:

  • I have noticed on a couple different Facebook Groups that homeowners will complain about a community or builder shortly after buying a home.  One even said that buying that home was the worst decision they had ever made.
  • Just this weekend on a popular Q&A site an upset home buyer was complaining about how their transaction was handled an was publicly disclosing problems with the home that were found after moving in.

I am sure that these points were placed on the Internet for their right to speech - We all have that right.  The problem with that, however, could possibly not so much be today - It could be a year, or two or five from now.

We are all getting used to doing our own research online to help us make educated decisions when purchasing anything from movie tickets to a house.  How advanced will these search functions be in the future?

Here is the possible scenario:

  • Homeowner that is upset with a builder gripes on a Facebook group that is open to the public.  This homeowner a year from now gets Relocated for work and puts his home on the market.  Potential buyer researches to find that he thought purchasing that home was the worst mistake he had ever made.

How is this potential home buyer now going to feel not only about that house, and that builder - But the community in general?  What about every other person that lives in the Community that had an excellent experience and would refer every person they know to be their neighbor.  We all have our opinions and perceive things differently than the next.

Or how about the home buyer that discloses problems with a home after purchasing and goes to sell the home 5 years from now?  Those items were likely disclosed on the very same site that the following listing agent will advertise it on.

As Real Estate Professionals and as the Social Media Wagon moves along - How would you handle a situation like this a few years from now? 

I think its safe to say that the users of the Internet and social media (being anyone reading this post right now) are the ones that are making it evolve every day.  With that being said I think that we should consider how we could be a little more responsible in how it evolves.  We all need and have the right to speech - But how far should that go?

Griping about Homeowner's Associations, Builders, Neighbors, Restaurants, Movies that we go to see and so on...where is this leading us?  Could Social Media be the make or break of Communities and Property Values in the not so distant future?

Anatomy of the Sale of Mountain Land For Sale by Owner

Anatomy of the Sale of Mountain Land For Sale by Owner- Going Green
Asheville Mountain Properties NC 2010

 Selling and buying Land is different that selling and buying residential property. For one thing, there is a land for sale by owner ashevillewhole list of discoveries during the due diligence period that takes place outside the realm of the residential sale. And there are tasks that do not resemble the tasks of the residential broker.  

Real Case Scenario- Land for Sale by Owner- The Survey-  

The seller has a very old survey.  We recommend a new one. We devote our time and attention to emailing and  calling all the surveyors on our list. No luck. Don't connect with a one. Leave messages. Hope for a return call. If not, we will start all over tomorrow. 

Discovered in conversation with the seller that the surveyor who did the original survey on the land for sale by owner tract may still be around,  although it is thirty (30) years since he did the survey.  About ten (10) years ago he told everyone he was going to retire. Now our task is to see if we can unearth him (not literally!). ( just a little land specialist's humor)

In the meantime, I'll run out to Madison County  (it is an hour-of-so drive from my appointment in the south-end of town)  to see if we can track down a good clean copy of the survey to overnight to our investor. 

 

 

NOTE: By contrast, I took this photo on land for sale by owner where a current survey IS in place.(A plus for all concerned.)  Creston Preserve is an eco-friendly development on over 1,000 acres, with hiking trails. The trail seen here leads to the area seen in a video on a prior post  and "live action-of the life and times of a land specialist" Here's a link to the VIDEO of land for sale by owner.

As Land Specialists,we make it a point to get to know folks in the real estate related offices in the county offices in our region. Over the years, they have come to see that we are serious land lovers and professionals and they respect our willingness to"go the extra mile."  We expect and enjoy the excellent cooperation of our colleagues, and hope for some good luck in locating the  survey...if it didn't get lost ... 

but getting a new or updated survey us by the end of February, that could be a close one. 

Stay Tuned...and let me hear from you....

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__~o
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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. Mountain Land For Sale by Owner.  Copyright © 2010. All Rights Reserved  Asheville NC Real Estate Journal.

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Adopt An Acre® Program

Asheville NC Real Estate. Numerous  amazing real properties qualify as outstanding natural areas. You can even "adopt" a small piece of land while you consider making a home on the land. (see below for details.)

We admit it. We simply are unabashed land lovers. As  Land Specialists, we are excited about the idea of stewardship of the Land.  Partnering with the Nature Conservancyin working to conserve 1.7 million acres of public and private land, restoring forested lands, establishing conservation easements, learning and practicing sustainable forest management  and promoting the use of native plants in eco-friendly residential properties, is an attractive  choice for us.  

asheville nc conservation land

No matter the season, hiking in the Asheville mountain lands is an experience. Natural areas, like the one in the photo we took recently (seen here) are alluring.  We like to take in these areas as if we are visiting
living museums. Where else to you have the chance to observe natural biotic and environmental systems and the interdependence of all forms of life? Where else do you have such an immediate reminder of the vital dependence of the health of the human community on the health of the other natural communities? 

Numerous  amazing real properties qualify as outstanding natural areas. You can participate in funding and founding nature preserves by investing in such a property. The owner of a qualified natural area even may transfer fee simple title or other interest in land to the State. 

Here in Asheville NC, we contribute to the Adopt and Acre® Program through the North Carolina Chapter of the Nature Conservancy.  By the way, nature preserves may be acquired by gift, grant, or purchase and in the Adopt and Acre ®Program you will be surprised what $50.00 will do! 

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__~o
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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............LAND in  Asheville and Going Green Properties. Mountain Homes and Land Legacies rolling on for a sustainable  world. Asheville NC Real Estate. Marketing Consultation for Land For Sale By Owner and Buyers. See also our Mountain Homes and Land blog. http://landlegacies.blogspot.com/

Copyright © 2010. All Rights Reserved  Asheville NCReal Estate Journal  _______________________

Asheville Winter Storm, Warm HOME on This Speechless Sunday

asheville 12 09  winter blizzard

 

There is nothing like the magic of a winter Storm in the mountains. Even better may be knowing you can stay warm in your cozy nest as the blizzard makes noise outside. Here is Asheville's Winter Storm, and a home I imagine filled with family around the fire.

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__~o
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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............ LAND in  Asheville and Going Green Properties. Mountain Homes and Land Legacies rolling on for a sustainable  world. Asheville NC Real Estate. Marketing Consultation for Land For Sale By Owner and Buyers. See also our Mountain Homes and Land blog. http://landlegacies.blogspot.com/

Copyright © 2010. All Rights Reserved  Asheville NC Real Estate Journal ...____________________

Land Lore - Land For Sale By Owner

Asheville, NC  January , 2010 

Exploring LAND in the Asheville area mountains is always exciting. It is particularly so in the winter after a snowstorm. But, when land is for sale by owner, my curiosity propels me.  Add in an element of anticipation and you have a very alluring adventure.

 Yesterday I ventured out to see if I could get a few winter shots of such a property.Traveling east from Asheville, I turned the volume up on Kathy Mattea's Definitive Collection  CD  .  She was singing, "...I'll be halfway to Asheville...." It's been awhile since I've seen Carolina, it always was pretty this time of year...." and I was singing along... at the top of my voice...the way you can when you are speeding along the Interstate ...solo... 

Before I knew it, I was turning off I-40 and on to the road that would take me to the land for sale by Asheville Land for Sale by Ownerowner.  

 The road was clear, but there  remained evidence of the storm- - trees fallen and debris.

Still the air was crisp and the sky was deep Carolina Blue, so , attentively,  I nosed my way around  the winding mountain road called North Haven where the owner of this land promised a jewel to behold.

Here is an eco-development on over 1,000 acres where sustainable innovation is evident.

The road was cleared and only a few places had me holding my breath as I looked over the edge of the road into the distance. Just to clarify that- I was holding my breath because it was so beautiful ... (see photo)

  I hoped to find "Nestled In" that very special parcel of land for sale by owner I sought. . .to be continued

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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............LAND in  Asheville and Going Green Properties. Mountain Homes and Land Legacies rolling on for a sustainable  world. Asheville NC Real Estate. Marketing Consultation for Land For Sale By Owner and Buyers. See also our Mountain Homes and Land blog.  Copyright © 2010. All Rights Reserved  Asheville NC Real Estate Journal
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Sundays on the Island: Reconnecting with the Land; Meeting the People ~Asheville Area Events Series: Tailgate Markets- The MARSHALL, NC Market.

Marshall, NC Tailgate Market

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 creTailgate Market Under the Trees, Marshall, NCative. 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.

 

Marshall Farmers' Tailgate Market in August

 

 

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 (home made) Anyone?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 2nd and 4th 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.
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WE are IN a sustainable  world. 

Wordless Wednesday : Blue Moon Asheville -style

Not until 2026 will we see another BLUE MOON in December.
Here she is over the mountains in Asheville NC.
Quite a sight--enough to leave one without words...

  

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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/  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved the green real estate Asheville Journal

Goat or Lawnmower - You Decide

JEFF DOWLER caught my attention with this post. If you have ever seen goats in action, you will understand--fascinating. Here in the mountains of Asheville, NC who doesn'tknow about how handy goats are when it comes to keeping acreage "mowed"....And not only are they interesting to watch at work, (at least as interesting as someone's husband or son or wife or daughter) but think of the time, energy and fuel they save--not to mention that air pollution none of us crave.

Via Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate ~ 760-840-1360 (RE/MAX Moonlight Beach (CA DRE Lic. # 01490977)):

I learn something new and interesting every day, it seems. 

Today, courtesy of a buyer client, I learned about renting goats. Whodathunk?

Goat or lawnmower 

It's true, though. Renting goats is becoming very popular, especially for sites that are hard to maintain through traditional means (e.g., steep hillsides, landfills), for fire hazard reduction (goats are voracious plant eaters), developing a weed and brush control program (read about it on Goatworld), among other reasons. 

Goatfinder will help you find rentable goats in your area (California is a popular area, not surprisingly, as are Indiana and Washington). And I have now heard that some folks advertise on Craigslist.org. You can read more about Goatfinder here. 

So, if there is a need to trim your large yard, pasture/field or other areas and you need help, just do a Google search for Goats for Rent

Or if you'd rather, just buy a handful. Check on Craigslist or Goatfinder.

Baaaaaaaa!!!!

[photo courtesy of Jon Stammers on Flickr]

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad real estate and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

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All content copyright © 2010 Jeff Dowler "The California Relocation Dude" Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

Wordless Wednesday Asheville -style

realtors asheville snow storm december 2009

Happy Land Brokers on the trail love the adventure and the chance to explore where "angels fear to tread"...They say it takes a certain "type" to love land this much. Looks like FUN to me!

    

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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/

Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved the green real estate Asheville Journal  _________________