Asheville ECO-GREEN Real Estate

Today, we're shining the light on KRSITAL KRAFT.Here's your chance to get to know her and to look into articles that offer practical remedies from which we all can benefit.  This feature shines the light on useful value-added factors real estate professionals can add to their toolbox when involved in their multi-faceted transactions.

"Sometimes our best laid plans aren't all that great.  Evaluating the actual result vs the desired result is important to both your reputation and your piece of mind.'

THAT being said, you can imagine why Kristal inspires the best in this online community (<-see guiding principles at this link) ....and why we created this series. It brings into focus the contribution of one of our AR members in terms of sustainability and how that relates to your real estate practice... today... and into the future. We hope  that it  will brighten our (already bright) AR community.                      

Please give a round of applause (your comments) to..... KRISTAL KRAFT for her many articles on that encourage all the members of this community and remind us to  that "evaluating the actual result vs the desired result is important to both your reputation and your piece of mind.'

ABOUT KRISTAL: 

I asked Kristal to tell us something about herself that we might not know...like where she was born and where she's lived.  "I was born and lived on the New Jersey Shore until I was 22, " she answered, then added, " AS much as I loved the ocean the call of the West rung strong on my ears. 

 I moved to Colorado Springs and raised a family of two sons and one daughter.  We all moved to the Denver metro area about 12 years ago."  Lucky for Kristal, her children all live near her in Denver.  " I have 2 adorable Grandsons and 1 inherited Granddaughter." she revealed. "When I first met my Granddaughter she said to me, 'My Mom says you are like a Grandma to me, but I already have a LOT of Grandmas.'  I told her that was OK; I could be an extra Grandma.  She liked that and now calls me Grandma X.  Of course I find myself explaining what that means!"

On relocation, her specialty Kristal says: "Over the course of my life so far, I have moved 24 times. Guess it is no surprise my real estate specialty is relocation!"

Kristal's gentle sense of humor is well-known here at the Active Rain Community. Whether coming or going, her photos sometimes give us a hint of that endearing quality.

Pet Peeve. Not appreciating what you have.  It is so easy to fall into the trap of wanting more and more. We forget how lucky we are and fail to enjoy much of what we already have. I believe there is honor in doing a day's work, no matter what it is. 

I get annoyed when others try to avoid work but want to reap the benefits of someone else's perspiration.  Who is going to pull the cart if everyone wants to ride? 

janeAnne here: You don't have to be an ice-scientist to understand what Kristal's pointing out.

But this photo (to your left) that she took says it all.

Favorite home- I love the home I live in, it's a bright sunny place with large rooms with a view of the golf course and the front range of the Rocky Mountains.  My other favorite home is my Marmot tent.  I love spending time on the road and in my tent.  Living a simple life is more rewarding.  Less is more, when I am on the road traveling I love to find ways to do things that don't include a car.

Food: I live in an area where we can have just about any kind of food.  When I'm in the mood I cook.  I'm not a fancy cook but enjoy trying new dishes.  Now that my family is grown it's really nice when they take over and cook. My daughter has an amazing flair for cooking.  She loves to organize the family functions, pulling together a menu where each member can bring something they are good at preparing. I supply the house and they concoct a feast.

Vacations: I like active vacations.  My dream vacation is a week at a working ranch taking photos of Cowboys, Indians and horses! In the year 2000 I took the whole year off to travel around the world on a bicycle.  That year I rode in 47 countries on 6 continents.  Someday soon I must to go to Antarctica to complete my goal of riding on all 7 continents.  I will go as soon as I am a better photographer.  It's a once in a life-time trip, I don't want to come home with poor photos!

Congratulations, KRISTAL!  You're an ECO-STAR!
janeAnne, Moderator...AKA Green-o-Lina

Remember...One of the best compliments you can pay a contributing member of this community is to subscribe to his orher BLOG.

Resources: STARlight People and Performances, The Series:

STARLight #1** PHYLENA** Shining a Spotlight on Eco-All-Star for Article Contribution - 

STARLight #2. **RANDY ** Shining a Spotlight on Eco-All-Star for Article Contribution - 

STARlight # 6 ** SHERON CARDIN ** Spotlight's on This ECo-All-Star for Her Creativity

STARLight #7 ** TRICIA JUMONVILLE ** Spotlight on Eco-All-Star for Her Article Contributions

Once you have experienced Asheville, you will understand the "Paris of the South" in the mountains of Western North Carolina ranks among the favorite second home and vacation spots. But let me give you a few quick reasons:

1) The people are amazing, full of life, and great storytellers.

2) The locally -grown FOOD (see link below) is delicious and good for you!

3) There's FUN galore.

Find out for yourself by "hopping" on  
one of our "down-home' tours.

                        photo courtesy of Asheville Trolley Tours

• Asheville Historic Trolley Tours - Hop on the darling trolley for an hour or so and ay narrated tour of the Asheville area.

• And/or Hop on a Segway for a glide through Asheville's downtown ...a Moving Sidewalk Tours -  
• And/or...if you want to extend your range,  simply hop on over to BioWheels Bicycle Outfitter- Bicycle rentals for mountain bikes, road bikes and cruiser bikes and a self-guided tour. You'll find plenty of  maps and there for all the area forestlands, the Blue Ridge Parkway and of course, downtown Asheville.
• This will really get you hoppin'!... Haunted Ghost Tours of Asheville- "... a hair-raising 90-minute tour into the spirit realm of this mountain town" OOOeee!.
• More attractive (possibly) to you may be to hop on over to Montford for the Historic Montford Tour - Glimpse Asheville's history and link the past with the present through walking tours and unique rickshaw tours.
• My favorite "hop" is on the Urban Trail - Walking tour of 30 sculptures depicting the history of downtown Asheville.

More good information when you  come to visit (or make your home here.)

Lodging in the Greater Asheville Area  
Greater Asheville, N.C. Current Weather Conditions 
Schools 
Maps and Directions
Organic/Vegetarian Restaurants
Galleries & Museums  

So that's why Asheville is a "Hopping" place to visit or BE. Come on over to the mountains, Y'all ...
and find out for yourself!

Just today, I was nudged inquisitively by a band of 4 goats, clucked at by the gals in the hen house, looked in the eye by an enormous horse, and left breathless by the sight of  Tennessee Walkers  racing each other across the Spring-green pasture of  the horse farm I was showing.  

My clients and I, on the lookout for a "family" horse farm near Asheville, N.C. knew we are in for an adventure! We couldn't  think of a better way for a REALTOR® and her clients to celebrate Earth Day than to be out on the Land.

Two farms on the agenda today...So we were off to a close-to-town masterpiece, and a more rural property, a gentleperson's farm on 40 acres with distant views to the Blue Ridge Parkway   and the Great Craggy Mountains.

As a REALTOR® who specializes in acreages with  improvements such as stables with full utilities and comfortable farm homes, getting nudged, poked, prodded and awestruck is nothing out of the ordinary. I'm lucky! But for those of you who live in town, whose experience with horses might consist of watching the Kentucky Derby on TV,  and who imagine rural acreages as the "hinterlands" here are 10 reasons why you might love my real estate practice ...and a suggestion for a treasured Earth Day experience. 

Put yourself in this picture...You're on  your way to work where

1.Rolling pastures, and Appalachian   "countryscapes" dotted with red barns, white steeples, and greening crops that mean a supply of locally-grown food,  border singing streams that bring a smile to your face.                                                      

2 The "wake up" calls of roosters actually may surprise you at any time of day. Surprises are fun.

3. Country breezes bring aromas of newly mown hay.  An invigorating walk through a pasture might be at hand.  (see photo )    

4. There's a sense of history in the air, as you look to the mountains beyond.   According to Wikipedia, "prior to the 20th century, the people of Appalachia were geographically isolated from the rest of the country. As a result, they preserved the culture of their ancestors (most of them Scottish, Scots-Irish, Irish, German, and English) who settled the region in the 18th century. The region's culture includes a strong oral tradition (including music and song), self-sufficiency..."

5."Self sufficient"... Yep, that's you...and it feels GOOD. You're in your hiking gear and so are your clients who are practically bubbling  with enthusiasm, just like the cascade you point out as you approach the rural horse farm. Happy clients are a "good-thing"...

6. They love the land (and so do you.)!

7. They love the animals, especially the horses  (and so do you.)!  

8. They love riding in your car with the top down. (and so do you.)!  

9. Maybe you'll have to step over rocks to cross a stream,

climb some granite outcropping, get mud on your boots, pull out your trail mix of dark chocolate, nuts and raisins for an impromptu snack on the trail, look for the old survey pins, step over farm implements left and  forgotten, then make your way back to the farm house to sit for a story or two  with the farmer on a screened in porch by her perennial garden. It's a "tough life" I'll tell ya'! (I'm smiling.)

10. And at the end of the day, the gem having been found, Offer on the way or not, you feel that certain sense of satisfaction that arrives when you are at home with what inspires you.

Happy Earth Day, 2007

The WNC Green Building Council is doing it again!! Offering a design a green home course in Asheville, NC, that is!  Interested real estate investors from across the State and a number of our clients  plan to attend this Three-Day Design a Green Home Course that begins June 20 at the NC Arboretum.  

One of our favorite resources is teaching the course. That's Marcus Renner of Appropriate Building Solutions, Inc.   Marcus not only teaches sustainable construction at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. but has solid experience as a green builder.

 One of our resources for clients relocating to the Greater Asheville area who are looking to invest in land and eco-wise development, we know first hand how he is able to get a point (and project) home.

Says, Rachel Della Valle,Outreach Coordinator for the Western North Carolina Green Building Council
WWW.WNCGBC.ORG," Please read the following or see the attached flyer for more information about the class.
We hope that you will spread the news about this all-encompassing class and pass it on to anyone you think might benefit from it. " 



WHAT: Designing A Green Home Three Day Course as part of the Green Building 101 Course Series:

WHERE: NC Arboretum : Asheville, NC

WHEN: June 20-22 9:00am-5:00pm

AGENDA:
This three-day course will familiarize attendees with the nuts and bolts of designing a green home. Over the three days participants will go through the entire process of construction including siting a home to minimize environmental impact, making decisions about structural materials, HVAC equipment, landscaping, finish materials and much more while learning to take into account the financial implications of green building upgrades. The goal of the class is for participants to walk away with the knowledge of how to make educated decisions on benefits and trade-offs of different green building techniques and technologies. Participatory activities while working in groups will be a significant aspect to the class. A local site visit to a green home is also included.

Instructor Marcus Renner is owner of Appropriate Building Solutions, Inc. and has taught classes relating to sustainable construction on the university, community college and public level.

COST: $225 for members, $300 for non-members. Pre-registration required. Lunch included.

CEU CREDITS: 16 AIA HSW, 4 ECO Agent credits, Engineer CEU's

REGISTER AND MORE INFO:
Register on-line: www.wncgbc.org/events/calendar.php
Or contact Rachel Della Valle
ph: 828.254.1995
email: rachel@wncgbc.org

        Snow flakes are flying north-to-south across the wildly bobbing heads of the daffodils as the mountain wind roars ferociously down the ridge by my home office this morning. Stormy Weather. The scene is both powerful and empowering as a reminder of the life of a  REALTOR®, where, even in  "stormy weather"we brave the elements to come to a happy closing event.  Our impact in the role  of problem solver   can provide  the "shelter" of balance and endurance through the turmoil.

This morning, as the wind howls down the mountain ridges and over craggy cliffs, I'm wondering if, when we  approach our  work  from a "Yin/ Yang"  attitude, (see  Taijitu, the traditional symbol representing the forces of yin and yang)   the stabilizing effect is  as powerful as the storm itself.  When we

Respond with lightning speed
Listen
Communicate
Offer solutions

we create the safe harbor for the transaction for all of us.

I said in Part I of this series,  that if we could do the above successfully, we could stand tall in the eyes of our clients in the ever-changing field of real estate. So I am writing this  follow-up article, on this Spring day full of cold winds and pure potential to look at the parts  balance and "non-athletic endurance"  (both of which are essential in the life of a REALTOR®) play in the seasons of our practice.. ..

For me,  real estate professionals "walk through the storm" to the  point between two opposite forces, with a challenge to be neither overly controlling nor too disorganized. This is the very crucial spot at which the virtues  of personal character, inner strength and integrity work to transform trouble into  possibility .

  So -  Balance,  that point, according to Wikipedia,  between two opposite forces, (for example,  Law and Chaos) that is desirable over one state or the other. Sound familiar? Is that because you and I deal with that particular challenge almost every day?  It could be the source of much stress. And some great stories!  One of my favorites that highlights the challenge,  comes from our own Bill Westel . In his article Almost in the Doghouse on This One Bill tells how two doghouses created tense moments...and how he kept his cool! 

BILL'S TALE OF TWO DOGHOUSES

        "I wrote up a number of items but did not include on the list two old dog houses in the back yard. The couple did not own dogs and were not planning on getting any in the future so I understood why these were not included. After our offer was accepted, the listing agent, also seeing that the dog houses were in the contract started to figure out how to get rid of them. The day before closing she calls me somewhat relieved and says that she has gotten a neighbor to agree to take them. I inform my clients about this since they had included a removal of debris clause in the contract. All of a sudden the husband decides he wants the doghouses! I explain to him that they are not in  the contract and that the listing agent has been working feverishly to get rid of them. He understands but is upset. The morning of closing I get a long email from the husband explaining why he believes he is entitled to the dog houses including a phrase that he actually factored them in to the value of the property when he made the offer to purchase! "   

Bill is  a balanced kind of guy. He called and talked with his client,
" explaining what I had gone over the day before and then discussing with him about how nervous he was feeling about closing on this property and some of the issues he and his wife would be facing becoming landlords for the first time in their lives. That took the dog house issue off the table allowing for a smooth end to closing day."

The everyday challenge of the REALTOR ® is to keep Balance alive and well. We are liaisons in a transaction process that minimizes the negatives of both, and comes to a happy close.

Some say this work requires sustained patience.

REALTORS® who "stand tall in the field" need an on-going tolerance of stress .
I call this stamina, the kind of  emotional discipline, on a large scale,
it took a whole group or REALTORS® to demonstrate when we came together to help out with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, that makes me feel proud to know members of this community, and the kind of stamina, perhaps  less recognized, that real estate professionals practice every day.

Now if that doesn't strike you as virtuous, I can understand, but still I say three cheers for REALTORS® for a very worthy "practice"  that could be the very essence of what makes a REALTOR® stand tall in the field....even in stormy weather

  What makes an Asheville "green" real estate professional stand out in the crows? My clients tell me it is "authentic communication" on matters of vital interest to them. I got thinking about that, so rrecently I wrote an article about making authentic connections stressing the impact of our role as problem solvers  -e.g.- a client tells you what she needs-   to which you

• Respond with lightning speed
  Listen
  Communicate
  Offer solutions

On the "stage " of your real estate practice, would you agree  that this is part of a process called "hitting your marks"? Take a bow! If you are doing this successfully, you could stand tall in the eyes of your audience in the field of Real Estate.

But some say that you are only so good as your last performance.

So I am writing this  and another follow-up article, because this is where balance and "non-athletic endurance" come in. I'll tell you about my secret for keeping both in the upcoming article, but first- this True Story about the relationship between authentic communication and the lightning fast delivery.    

 Not long ago, prospective clients emailed me after reading my BLOG on Active Rain.
Our conversation began something like this and then progressed ....

Prospective Clients (PC): "We really like your BLOG. We've even subscribed to it because you seem like a person we can relate to. We're going to relocate from our farm in Indiana to Asheville, N.C. and we're interested in real estate there.  We want to create an environmentally-friendly horse farm  on a small scale. We will be bringing our eight horses and adding five more next year.

janeAnne: "How  do you plan to house your horses...and your family?"

PC:"We need very nice shelter for the horses. We have a large family of six children ... My husband is very tall husband... will only settle for cathedral ceilings  given his height, and we need at least six bedrooms. The house doesn't have to be in perfect shape, but it has to have at least 4 bathrooms. My husband wants at least one acre of semi-level land to plant and harvest organic vegetables. The horses and we both  need a creek or stream. If you had a farm with solar power,  I would be thrilled!

janeAnne: "Wow PC! This is Your Lucky Day!  I know a 25 acre property with many in fact most of the features you mentioned. It has clean, well-maintained stables for 12 horses, a vocal stream, winding trails and a ranch house in need of some TLC, but with enough room for your entire family. After we look at it, we could look at another property that's also on the market  that is available for less money. It has most everything you mentioned, except it is 45 minutes our from Asheville. We could also consider and in-town masterpiece with all amenities, but it is a bit more expensive than the others.  How does this sound to you?

PC: "YowZAH! That sounds great.  Have you seen all of these?"

janeAnne: "You bet! I happen personally to have visited all these (and more_) horse farms this month. Here are a few photos I took. Which is most attractive to you?

 rural setting. 40AC. In your price range.

      close to town. great amenities.

To be continued. Look for Part II soon...and let me know what you think! 
Green-o-Lina!

####

So...I'm going to start this issue ofSTARlight
with photos done by our STAR...Please note that  1) This ECO-All-Star lives in  Texas near Austin 2) She is interested in New Urbanism & Sustainable Development , and

3)She is the Membership Director of The Heart of Texas Morgan Horse Club...

Here's your chance to get to know her and to look into articles that offer practical remedies from which we all can benefit.  This feature shines the light on useful value-added factors real estate professionals can add to their toolbox when involved in eco-friendly transactions.

STARQuote: "We all have our stories.  Our lives are a story, and are made up of stories.  Blogging gives us a chance to share them.  Some of us are more proficient at telling them, but we all have them, and every single one is valuable.  They all serve to make up the crazy quilt of our community - and crazy quilts are beautiful just because of all the unique pieces that go into making them.  So, hey, share your stories - it DOES get easier with time, and our community won't be as beautiful without your pieces. "

 HER PHOTOS  

Roses in the Snow

We hope that this post brings into focus the contribution of one of our AR members in terms of sustainability and how that relates to your real estate practice... today... and into the future. We hope  that it  will brighten our (already bright) AR community. 

                                After the Rain

Today, the STAR light's on..... Tricia Jumonville  for her-article on the importance of BALANCE in our lives.

Says Tricia, "When I ...realized how many people missed something so beautiful, something that people pay hundreds of dollars just for the opportunity to experience, it really made me take a long, hard look at how easy it is to lose touch with priorities and just WHY we're rushing around like crazy."

ABOUT TRICIA:

"My blood is Scots enough that when we attend RenFests, and I disappear,
my companions just listen for the pipes and know that's where they'll find me.
  And enough to make me a little fey, " she smiles. She's married (to a man of French and American Indian persuasion, with some Irish thrown in for luck), with two children, a son 34 (currently living in NYC striving to break into publishing) and a daughter, 23 (currently living up the road in Austin and attending the University of Texas taking courses that make Tricia's head spin).  She's a preacher's daughter who grew up on a church camp in East Texas.  She remembers dinners at her family home where the dinner guests were the local Baptist minister (we were Methodist), the local rabbi, the local Catholic priest, and a religious leader of one or another of the religious sects in India, all sitting around the table talking shop.  

Tricia got into real estate after all the kids (the ones she bore and the ones that were just sort of there to be raised) grew up.  She'd been helping friends relocate to the country for some time, finding them places, and took some real estate classes thinking that we'd be investing down the road and being an educated investor wouldn't be a bad thing.  Found out she really thought it was fun.  Once she started doing it for a living, she discovered that she  really enjoyed  the matchmaking part of it, putting the right people and the right houses together so both are happy.

Pet Peeve.  My father grew up in the country on a farm; my mother was a city girl.  My father thought it was fine to throw things out in the city (the street sweepers will clean it up), but not in the country; my mother thought it was okay to throw edible items out the car window in the country (the animals will clean it up).  I learned from that not to throw trash out, period.  People who treat the rest of the world like their trash can, who never think "what if everyone did it" (the reason I was given for not picking wildflowers by the road - wouldn't hurt if I picked a couple, but if everyone did it, there would be no more flowers) or who think the rules apply to everyone else but them, irritate the heck out of me.

Likewise, people who never volunteer to do the work but have plenty of energy for complaining about how it's done by someone else who DID volunteer to do it. 

Favorite home.  My dream home would be a Craftsman style house (Greene and Greene by preference) built in the country.  (I love people but need my solitude with just the animals for its restorative virtues.)  I watch NUMBERS on Friday nights partially because I have a serious case of house-lust for the house on that show.  Either that or a house-barn (not a barn converted into a house but a house and barn together). 

Food:For a girl who grew up as a notorious picky eater, my tastes have expanded enormously, thanks to my husband Phil who, when we met, got me addicted to both Mexican food and BBQ and then took me up to Seattle where there was no BBQ and where they put soy sauce on the enchiladas (this was long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away).  I promptly decided that I was going to be able to eat and enjoy all kinds of foods wherever I might be just so I wouldn't be stuck in withdrawal thousands of miles away from what I liked to eat.  My favorites, though, tend to be Southern and, in particular, Louisiana in origin (I make an absolutely killer turkey and andouille gumbo, for example).  Just before getting into real estate, I was a personal chef, and still keep my hand in with one set of clients whose daughter-in-law told me, "If you stop cooking for them, they'll stop eating!"  It helps keep me sane to have that change of pace every couple of weeks.  I also discovered, at a ceili in Edinburgh, that I absolutely adore haggis - everyone else was afraid to eat it so I somehow ended up having ten servings!  Danced it off, though, so that's okay.

TV: As I said, I'm a well-known brain groupie.  Give me a man with a respectable IQ and my genes (and my jeans) sit up and take notice. Thus, shows that highlight this aspect of the human condition or with actors that, even if they're jerks in real life, have more than a few brain cells to rub together tend to appeal to me.  Favorite shows in the past (why do they always cancel the ones I like?) include Dead Like Me (well, Mandy Patinkin, what can I say?) and Firefly (though we didn't discover it until AFTER it was cancelled and the movie came out), among others. 

Favorite movies:  Phil and I frequently bring home "a tender love story with bullets", as we tend to call them.  We're also inordinately fond of the Poirot series (originally on TV, now available on DVD) starring David Suchet.  Mystery, architecture, and brains - what more could we ask?  Really, again, eclectic - since childhood I've been annoyed at the fact that there's only so much time and you can only stuff so many different lives into the time you have.

Vacations : Eclectic.  New Mexico mountains in August (the only thing to do in Texas in August is to leave), Colorado, ditto.  England and Scotland - I'd love to go to Wales someday.  One real pleasure when we travel (which is rare - my husband owns his own business so it's hard for him to get away, and we have horses, which makes it hard for both of us to get away at once) is to stop a person on the street and ask, "If you could eat at any restaurant within six blocks of here, which one would it be?"  If they instantly have an answer, especially if its enthusiastic, that's where we'll go.  (We once drove all the way up the California coast because of one ecstatic reaction, only to find the place closed for the season.)  If it's several suggestions, we'll ask the next person we see. 

Hobbies: Reading - anything and everything.  Collecting quilts - Amish by preference, any with skilled use of colors.  Used to be breeding, now is simply owning, Morgan horses (we're down to 3, including my 29-year-old foundation mare Lydia, sister of my heart).  Volunteering.  Cooking.  Bellydancing.

Congratulations, TRICIA!  You're an ECO-STAR!
janeAnne, Moderator...AKA Green-o-Lina

I posted an article on Habitat for Humanityand REALTOR® involvement on a home here in the Asheville, N.C. area for which our own Corey Atherton is the point person.

"Through the dedication and energy of a group of real estate professionals
led  by our own Active Rain Member,  and ECO-All-Star, Corey Atherton, 
one Family's dream is about to come true , " I wrote.

THREE CHEERS FOR COREY!

We have quite a conversation going on that article, and it has opened up to a CHALLENGE to all real estate and real estate-related professionals!

Here's how the CHALLENGE  came about: This morning I replied to a comment  Ginger Sala, another illustrious ECO-All-Star made...and that got me wondering....

so.... I decided to check out other Habitat Projects in which REALTORS® are involved and/or have volunteered in their  neighborhoods...

Here are a few:

Michigan  --The Michigan Department of Corrections (DOC) and Michigan State Industries (MSI), in an innovative program, are partnering with the state and local Realtor Associations to provide refurbished computers to Habitat-for-Humanity-built homes in Michigan.

Florida ----Habitat for Humanity Orlando will team up with the National Association of Realtors®, the Florida Association of Realtors®, the Orlando Regional Realtors® Association and Habitat for Humanity International on raised a house on Jefferson St.

California- REALTORS® and Habitat for Humanity Building the American Dream

REALTORS® are committed to addressing the need for affordable housing in communities across U.S. and around the world. This year, we continued the tradition of helping one family in the Conference city area realize the American Dream through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity. $10 of your registration fee went towards the sponsorship of a home in Oakland, California and internationally, in Chile.

 Seems to me from my short research tour this morning, that real estate professionals contribute in very positive ways in our communities. Habitat for Humanity is just one of those ways. The perception of this contribution may go unnoticed by the general public. ...and that could be remedied.

SO..here's  THE CHALLENGE.  Fill us in on how YOU and/or YOUR  State weighs in!

                                                                                 It was early morning. Still early enough for the anxious homeowners  to deal with an unexpected blanket of snow on this April morning the Appraiser had scheduled his visit. The Appraiser was due  to arrive within the hour. 

According to the Department of Labor, Appraisers of real estate "estimate the value of real property for a variety of purposes, such as to assess property tax, to determine a sales price, or to determine the amount of a mortgage that might be granted on a property. "   

Alert to the importance of this event, and that the Appraiser would be confirming the highest and best use of their property, the couple began to scurry around. The wife cleared a path from the driveway to the door and asked her husband to make coffee. She could smell the freshly baked crumb cake all the way to the pine tree. She and her handsome husband would greet the Appraiser at the door, with the home's features and benefits clearly in mind. (photo of Asheville, N.C. cabin by J.T.) 

The Appraiser knew right away that this home was an energy efficient, green-built home and that he had an interested party along on his mission that morning.. And he was right. The couple wisely and happily extolled the home's charms and benefits. As real estate professionals, experience tells us that welcoming and accompanying the Appraiser can work for the positive. We also have found that  letting  the Appraiser know about the "comparables" can be helpful to an Appraiser. Most Appraisers I know and recommend do an outstanding job and report fairly. If you are present, you can make sure that the attention to detail you deserve occurs.  Appraisers can use various methods to figure out the value of a residential property, but it is mostlikely that the Appraiser will determine the value of a property solely on comparable properties nearby and home sales prices.

It is important to make a favorable impression when the Appraiser determines a property's market value.

Get your property to glow. A bit of home-staging could help. Be sure to "de-clutter" and clean every nook and cranny in preparation for the Appraiser's visit. This will assist the Appraiser in seeing the good points of the property. First impressions count, so be sure the landscaping looks spiffy, too . In this case, what could be more beautiful than a newly applied blanket of snow ?

You probably aleady guessed that the couple getting ready for  the Aprraiser's visit had scrubbed, polished, cleaned, painted, and fixed-up their already sweet cabin so that it would look its best. They invested a modest $200 in geraniums and pansies to add color to the landscaping (a great story for later on since the plants now were safely stowed inside!) and had budgeted $200 in new paint for the interior. At the time of the appraisal, they were gratified when the Appraiser mentioned the "immaculate condition both inside and out."

Resources:

National Association of Real Estate Appraisers
The Philosophy of "De-Cluttering"
Green Home Appraisals - Do They Exist?
Green homes sell for more money

From time to time people ask me about the quality of education that real estate professionals in the State of North Carolina receive. As a professional educator for almost a decade prior to my career in the business world, I feel qualified to speak about this. I can say that the coursework just to become a provisional broker and the requirements that follow that to be a professional broker are challenging and thorough.

North Carolina issues only one type of real estate license - a broker license. The Broker Prelicensing Course involves a minimum of 75 classroom hours, so you can see what I mean when I say this is not only thorough but challenging! . There are three 30 classroom hour Postlicensing Courses that make up the 90-hour postlicensing education requirement.  In addition, real estate professionals in the State of North Carolina  must complete eight (8) classroom hours per year of continuing education (CE) in order to renew your license on active status.

• Four (4) of the required CE credit hours must be obtained by completing the Real Estate Update course prescribed by the Commission. The subject matter of this course will be changed by the Commission from year to year.
• The remaining four (4) CE credit hours may be obtained by taking an elective course(s) approved by the Commission. Elective courses may address a wide variety of real estate topics.

As a Broker-in-Charge at our offices in Asheville, North Carolina, I  must complete a four classroom hour Broker-in-Charge Annual Review Course each full license period after being so designated.

For further information: North Carolina Real Estate Commission 

Residential Sales Trends/ Existing Homes  Asheville, N.C.

NOTES from janeAnne 

Here is a chart that compares residential sales in Asheville this time last year to sales in 2007. You will note that although fewer homes sold in 02/2007 than in 02/2006, the price of those homes is higher, and the days on the market, less. There has been some confusion about how strong our market is. It is very strong, with the sales price of homes running very close to the actual asking price.

Appreciation ...Annual appreciation rate for homes in the Greater Asheville area was up 12.5 percent in 2006. The data reflects same-home sales information collected by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight(OFHEO).   

 The Asheville appreciation rate tops the nationwide pace of 10 percent and our area's appreciation rate ranks 83 among 275 metros across the USA.

March 2007 Real Estate Market Stats
Buncombe County (Asheville area), North Carolina                  

Residential Properties on the Market: 1729
Residential Properties Pending: 357
"Luxury Market" Over $1M: 138
"Affordable Housing" Under $150K :  169

Farms & Land and/or Lots on the Market:  1584
Pending:     259              
Priced Over $1M: 73
Farmland Priced Under $50K : 5

ECO-friendly NC Healthy Built Homes: 43...DUE in 2007: 425

For interesting articles about the Greater Asheville area and fro articles of general interest please check out janeAnne's BLOG at Active Rain. 

                                                                     Did you know that real estate professionals in the State of North Carolina are overseen by an independent state governmental agency?

•  
•            
•                Just a few years ago, Ivan and Nadeshda Polishchuk
  and their little girl , Louisa (pictured here) made the journey of a lifetime.
  They left their home in the Ukraine to travel across the world to our hometown,
  Asheville, North Carolina ,where Ivan took a job in environmental services
  at Mission Hospitals. This 800-bed hospital on two campuses
   offers a huge array of services   and was 
  Named a Top 50 Hospital in Orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report in 2006 
  and is one of the nation's Top 100 Heart Hospitals .Needless to say, Ivan was proud to be associated with Mission.

But there was a concern. Not about his place of employment, certainly, but about his family's living quarters. So Ivan and his wife decided to enter the process of home ownership  through Habitat for Humanity. Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity's  stated   mission is to" change the lives of families living in inadequate housing."  When they heard about Habitat's ability to "change lives" the family felt confident in their decision. Friends told them that the Asheville office of Habitat was founded in 1983 as an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. They knew that the  Asheville Area Habitat builds houses within Buncombe County  where Ivan is employed, exciting news for the family. What they didn't know was that right there in Buncombe County a group of REALTORS® was talking about their next project for Habitat!

Since 1917 the Asheville Board of Realtors® has worked to provide housing opportunities for residents by collaborating with local agencies that assist in this effort, including Habitat for Humanity.
Through the dedication and energy of a group of real state professionals
led by our own Active Rain Member, 
and ECO-All-Star, Corey Atherton, 
the Polishchuk Family's dream was about to come true on an Asheville street with a Heart.

THREE CHEERS FOR COREY!

On Tuesday, March 6, 2007  a ceremonial groundbreaking was held for the Asheville Board of Realtors® and the Rotary Club of Asheville who joined the ABR in-this project. Their joint "Raise the Roof" meant that each would contribute financially and with volunteers throughout the build. 

Just a month later, here's what
the 2 bedroom 2 bath Arts and Crafts-style home looks like
with roofing and siding complete and drywall underway!

You can follow our progress by clicking on this link where you will find photos of the build and see how we are doing.

  What's next?                                            

The idea that local REALTORS® are ready and willing to offer the gift of their time and energy and expertise to a Family and to the Community is very appealing to me. And I say this not only because I am a REALTOR®  in our community and am proud to be involved in this sharing, but because it speaks to the nature of our-profession which at its heart is a service business.  

Spring Comes and with it Hope...hope for positive futures for all of us, and hope for blessings in what "rises from the mud."

NOTE: This article was written especially for Localism.com. where we celebrate communities and the REALTORS® who are an important part of them. If you are a REALTOR® or real estate related professional who is involved in Habitat for Humanity Projects or other projects that enhance the quality of life in your community, please let us know about it! I'd love to write an article about YOU.

Let's Get Together and Relax!  The Sustainable North Carolina GREEN Homes & Land Way...
dateline~ Asheville, North Carolina(Buncombe County). 

Would you agree that there's a lot happening
around the world these days? --
 A lot happening around the U.S.A., in Your State, Your Home Town, and in Your Neighborhood? Sometimes all that's happening could make your toes curl...if it were not for a timely sojourn down to the "pond" ...to which the gentleman pictured to your right will undoubtedly attest!. "Let's get together and just relax for a bit...Carolina Home Style," he'll tell you. " Happenings from that  prespective can be remedies to everyday stress."

YOU  ARE HEREBY INVITED to relax North Carolina  green and sustainable home-style and join us down at the River --if even just for a little while or just via the WWW...   even if it's just for today, WELCOME HOME to Asheville, North Carolina  where the people are generous, the mountains are intriguing, the men, women and children love to laugh,  and there is plenty of room for YOU to expand your dreams and ideas, brighten your days and feed your heart and soul . 

Here in YOUR  homeplace, (whether it be virtual or real)  we love the idea of stewardship. Our News and Events columnist dedicates her energy to focusing on positive futures, a sustainable community, nature,  and eco-wise development in the homes and land department.

 ~ Y'ALL COME ON OVER AND VISIT~  

• The  Smith-McDowell House Museum . It is all set for A V ICTORIAN EASTER CELEBRATION . Did you know that in the Victorian era Easter officially welcomed the Spring season?  This Victorian era mansion circa 1840 heralds Spring in that tradition with old-fashioned Easter bunnies and chicks, Easter baskets, spring flowers, hand-decorated Easter eggs, and period-inspired decorations. Kids of all ages will delight in this authentic celebration.
• Members and visitors to the North Carolina Arboretum, you will be delighted to get the latest scoop on what's happening at this center for education, research, conservation and economic development, a 434-acre public garden located within the Bent Creek Experimental Forest of the Pisgah National Forest. Surrounded by the dense folds of the botanically diverse Southern Appalachian Mountains, the Arboretum is nestled in one of the most beautiful natural garden settings in America.  Established in 1986 by the General Assembly as an inter-institutional facility of the University of North Carolina, the Arboretum came into existence nearly a century after this country's father of landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted,  (probably urged on by our beloved landscape architect, Charles Eliot ) first envisioned such an institution near our HOMETOWN.

~HAPPENINGS THIS MONTH~

Nature-Related

• Creating a Beautiful Home Landscape - The North Carolina Arboretum presents a six part series on "Creating a Beautiful Home Landscape.   Forest Trails Walk - This guided tour takes visitors through different types of forest environments in an exploration of natural history. Wear walking shoes and dress in layers. :-) Nature Activities for Kids.  Everyone can check out a Discovery Day Pack with binoculars, magnifying glasses and other items children of all ag es can use to explore the Arboretum's trails and gardens. Gardening in the Mountains-Gardening with Ferns and Mosses.  We can hardly wait to learn about this! It is offered in cooperation with Buncombe County Cooperative Extension and regional Master Gardeners. Great Trees in the Landscape.  Join retired Forester, Jim Webb, as he leads an informative walk through the Arboretum, highlighting great trees for the landscape. Wildflower Walk. Join Arboretum volunteer, Paula Robbins, on a 4-mile hike along Arboretum trails in search of early spring wildflowers. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, and be prepared for the weather.

Cultural Programs

• Asheville Area Music Together Classes - Music Together is about making music...every day! Fun family-style multi-generational  classes are the gift of percussionist and piano teacher Kari Richmond. If you are a kid or a kid at heart, this could be the thrill of your day!    Bridging the Cultural Gap- Montreat College'sHamilton Gallery offers  a mixture of paintings and photographs on exhibition. "Bridging the Cultural Gap," features artists Mickey Buckwalter and Lorelle Bacon who strive to provide an opportunity for people to learn about other cultures. Their  vision is that through cultural education, world peace might be achieved-- a noble mission , indeed!    The Raindrop Waltz- Asheville Community Theatre  written by Sylva, NC, native and folklorist,  Gary Carden, is based on his Jackson County childhood. THIS amazing storyteller  has the gift to "blend humor with poignancy, a blend that allows him to bring to the reader the great themes of human existence - love, death, bravery, fear, desire, success, failure - without having to beat the reader over the head with these themes" by the Smoky Mountain News.

For the Eco-Wise     (<- This is our logo)

• TWO UPCOMING GREEN BUILDING 101 COURSES: Heating & Cooling (HVAC) Systems April 11 and Green Home Renovations April 25! SEE calendarfor details and on-line registration. 
• CHANGE A LIGHT, CHANGE THE WORLD CAMPAIGN IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY! The Town of Black Mountainregistered for this Energy Star Campaign. How cool is it that their town-wide goal is switching 10,000 incandescent bulbs to CFL's in 2007!  YOU can take the  Energy Star pledge mo matter where you live by clicking on the link we posted.  GET YOUR WATER CONSERVATION KIT via the Western North Carolina Green Builiding Council! WNCGBC is now selling $5 water conservation kits for your home, apartment, or office. They include a flow meter bag, low flow shower head and faucet aerators, toilet bag, and leak detector tablets that save water, energy and money!
• RENEWABLE ENERGY & ENERGY EFFICIENCY TAX CREDITS REVISED DEC 2006. Read more from DSIRE, the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency. Existing federal tax credits and NC tax credits are available to help pay for energy efficiency and renewable energy for new and existing homes as well as commercial buildings.

That's it for April. Please check back next month. And let me know what you think!

All the Best,
janeAnne ~ Green-o-Lina

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