Asheville ECO-GREEN Real Estate

ActiveRain is a terrific place to strengthen your knowledge about trends in the market. We write informative posts. We converse in Groups that sizzle. We have fun by flexing our blog-muscles in contests that explore what's on the horizon.  So, we all reap the rewards of sharing our knowledge here.

Exploring trends in real estate is one of my favorite pursuits, no doubt about it.  But I'm sure you will agree, that research in the area of trends simply is not complete without incorporating - your own opinions  about what's ahead in 2008 and beyond, and what you would like to see happening in your own homeplace... (I myself read and poll numerous sources, and have a growing list of trendy-green items I plan introduce into my mountain home in Asheville, North Carolina.) I've noticed that here at AR, talking with each other "rings the bells " when it comes to finding out what we need to know about what's down the road.

Over at the Eco-All-Stars Group, for example, we're finding out about what our clients are likely to be demanding in 2008... green retrofits, "green-built" new construction with eco-friendly features that intrigue clients, and much more.

Earlier this month, Dena Stevens spearheaded a challenge to all the Active Rain  members   to showcase choices and trends in the "green" residential market.  In the "if money were no object...what would you incorporate in your own home  [or those being constructed in Brad Pitt's Make it Right" Project..."]  we not only opened up a fascinating conversation...but an invitational to all Active Rain Members.

Competition winners (judged by a panel of ECO certified real estate professionals ) would receive bonus points for their blog post winning entries. The excitement mounted as outstanding posts arrived to meet the "Brad Pitt/Dena Stevens Pink" Challenge.  It was almost impossible to narrow down the field. Judges had to use a point system and then the winners were only separated by a few points! But narrow it down they did....And here the winners are. . .

RING THE BELLS  for The Winners of the ActiveRain Contest / Brad Pitt, Dena Stevens "Pink" Challenge 
who will be featured through this winning announcement..... they are:

1st Place - Dave Roberts  1st Place - 1,000 bonus points

Dave, your "design from the top down" post was delightful, and totally communicated why you chose the 5 elements you did...You explained..."The recent Solar Decathlon on the national mall featured dozens of entries that were all highly efficient and innovative. They proved that creating an energy efficient home is technically very realistic. I'm going to talk about five things I would do to make my building lovably sustainable."  

You can read and comment on Dave's 1st Place Entry  HERE

2nd Place - Georgina Hunter   2nd Place -500 bonus points - Georgina, similar to Dave's, your post caught the judges' eye(s)... "OK, " you tell us,"  so if money were absolutely no object we could have done things differently and here's what I would put on my wish list for the futureL  read on 

3rd Place - Bill Roberts   3rd place- 300 bonus points - Bill, you explained... I am not an artist or an architect so there are no drawings. You have to close your eyes and imagine it...." 
And that is just what we did. Active Rain members reading your delightful post, tell me they are the recipients of vivid mental images, and smiles. . .read on

Special Honorable Mentions -  Green Thumbs Up to-

Dena, Stephanie, and Mary   All of whom wrote WINNING POSTS...but since you volunteered to judge this Challenge...you disqualified your post. Therefore, you are herby awarded ...Special Honorable Mention and the Big Green Thumbs Up!

 Honorable Mentions -   Lane, Brent... Michael Pulakamp   a wonderful job.... we had to give you some AR positivism, too!

All of You.... thanks for taking all of us on your journey ---goodimagineering and times! As I read each post I so enjoyed the detail, educational benefits for me and my clients and the excellent conversation that has developed in the comment section on your posts.  AND...for those of you who didn't "win", ActiveRain is showering you with "gifts of the season" -ALL those that entered and did not win bonus points --- you will be each getting 200 points!!! 

Thank You to the Contest Judges  And we cannot forget our judges and the inspiration for this contest - Dena Stevens, Mary Bigelow, Stephanie Edwards-Musa - 500 points for their effort! Mary Bigelow - Stephanie Edwards-Musa - Dena Stevens -

FINALLY...a big round of applause for Brad Pitt... as Georgina and Dave pointed out.. "You have to applaud Brad Pitt for taking on such a monumental project, and getting the ball rolling with a $5 Million contribution.  His heart is in the right place, and he is leading by example...[with his Pink Project ]. . . 

"Making It Right is a wonderful idea for rebuilding New Orleans Lower 9th Ward. The Pink Project'sconcept of building 150 eco-friendly homes is a brilliant way to combine reconstruction with education about the planet's ecological and climate balance. The web site illustrates many specifics of the New Orleans design and appliance decisions. The designers made some very good choices for homes that have to be both affordable and sustainable. For today's market they are doing exactly the right thing."

May 2008 ring in abundant blessings...for everyone!

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

THE Active Rain Eco-All-Stars' "Pink" Challenge/Contest 
UPDATE: Friday 12/21/07
WINNERS ARE found HERE...where you can  read all about them...and comment

Enter from 12/09/07  until 12/19/07
Need Inspiration?  Check out this Living Homes Tour then collect your extra 200 points for detailing the 5 elements you YOU would select for your home (or one for Brad Pitt's Lower 9th ward project). . .

Winner: How does 1,000 points sound to you? 
500 for second, 300 for third............ (For clarification, the winner only gets 1000, so I guess they really get 800 for winning and 200 for entering.......

All you have to do is answer the following question...
from your heart   

 

                        

If    $$$$$$ were no object what

would you incorporate into a your dream home. ...OR what 5 elements would you advise Brad Pitt to incorporate in his New Orleans, Lower 9th Ward Pink Project (see details below) ....WHAT WOULD YOU SELECT ...........     ...........................   AND WHY?

DETAILS...background information for the IF MONEY WERE NO OBJECT CHALLENGE....

• Brad Pitt announced plans to build 150 eco-friendly homes in the Louisiana city's Lower 9th Ward earlier this week. . Watch King tour the 9th Ward »  . . . 
  
  Also, earlier this week, Dena Stevens~ wrote me a note that showed me that Dena and Brad actually have more than you might have guessed in common!  What is that, you may wonder...so I'll tell you ...

Pink attracts them. (I'm smiling)
But read on. You'll see what I mean.

• Brad Has a Pink Project

Brad's (totally "green" )Pink Project "represents opportunities hidden within this tragedy and focuses attention on the plight of the Lower 9th.  Pink is a virtual city of Hope. A hybrid of art, architecture, cinema and media, Pink is conceived as an informational, commemorative, communication tool which raises awareness and activates individual participation to heal local wounds in need of global aid."

•  Dena's Thinking Pink  
• "janeAnne, " she wrote, "I was thinking about something all night, thought I'd share it will you. I'd love it if you opened up a conversation . . .If money were no object what 5 elements would you incorporate into a house. All the technology out in the world is great, but if you were NOT limited what would you use and why?"

 SO...I wrote Dena back and said..."THIS sounds like the perfect Eco-All-Stars "Pink" Challenge for the Holidays... ...Let's ask allthe Active Rainers to imagine the possibilities (including any ideas we might want to tender to Brad Pitt's Pink Project !"

I continued, : By the end of the month, we can get our list together. . . Let's imagine what we would want in Pitt's (or our own)  eco-friendly houses, and together send off our Pink List to Brad Pitt . I bet that he and and William McDonough  (..the Green Architect) ) who Brad has hired to manage this project would enjoy hearing from the  WHAT SAY YOU?"

Well, Dena was pleased, I can say for sure. She said, " janeAnne!, ask everyone to USE THE COMMENT SECTION  TO TELL US 5 elements they'd would include in their eco-friendly home...we can send our combined comments on over to Brad Pitt...in a PINK envelope  =) . . ." 

 Folks---It's that time of the year to give back. ....

Just type in your  IF $$$  WERE NO OBJECT.... 5 elements in the comment section below.
I know what I am going to type in.Hint...it has to do with warm feet in the winter! 

By the way...HERE is Dena's "$$$ no object list"  if you want to see a great post on the subject...If you are like Dena and feel you want to do an entire post on the subject, tjhat's great, just type in the link to your post in the comment section below here..

If money were no object what 5 elements would you incorporate into your own home or one for Brad Pitt's Pionk Project?. ...what would you use and why?

• USE THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW TO TELL US 5elements you would include in your eco-friendly home...
• OR   simply add the-URL  to your post  in the comment section below . Please tag your-post (if you decide to do an entire post) "PINK" and ALSO add the URL in the comment section here

• PRIZES: the good feeling of being in the "pink" as we race towards 2008...and maybe some good energy sent down the the Lower 9th Ward...AND

 1,000 points for the winner, 500 for second, 300 for third............also, everyone that enters gets 200 (in addition to the automatic 200) for entering. ...

Enter from 12/09/07  until 12/19/07..I need 3 judges please...

Need Inspiration?  Check out this Living Homes Tour 

I need help...please email me if you want to help judge...and/or compile the list-of those who entered for the extra 200 points..THX!

####

Whether real estate buyers, sellers and investors are aware of it or not, they must know certain facts and obtain certain information regarding the Environmental Laws of a State.

photo I took of my pal, and fellow  Eco Certified® Consultant and REALTOR® telling us important information at a demonstration she organized.

Here are a 5 ways a real estate professional can be of assistance.

1. REALTORS® can point the way to reliable information.  As more and more investors express a particular interest in conservation subdivisions/eco-developments and sustainable landscape design and a general inclination towards maintaining and improving the environmental health of home, community and lands surrounding, they need reliable information.
2. REALTORS® can shed light and perspective on the nature of a community. Keeping abreast of state and local demographics as well as environmental trends is really important for us. Often, a first contact when people plan to move to an area, real state professionals know what environmentally-sensitive issues are on the table.
3. REALTORS® understand the relationship between eco-related topics and issues of disclosure and material fact. How can they get the information they need? Why from REALTORS®, of course! 
4. REALTORS® can be the resource for resources for investors . Count on your real estate professional to be are an amazing source for contact information leading to expert advice. 
5. REALTORS® can refer clients to information sources clients need to keep them "out of trouble with the law" . We can help investors come to recognize the serious relationship between environmental issues and issues of disclosure and material fact that exist.

Many clients today already are knowledgeable about environments, both indoor and outdoor.   In fact, here in "green Asheville" we are noticing that more and more clients request to be shown only healthy-built homes and/or land they can put into some form of stewardship. But there is always so much more to learn and to understand. Count on your eco-friendly REALTOR® to help out.

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