Asheville ECO-GREEN Real Estate

On our annual Fall Leaves photo shoot we strolled into mature hard woods at Three Creeks Preserve. (This is a local eco community within about 40 minutes of Asheville and only 10 minutes from Lake Lure, NC.)

 Following the colors, we traversed a foot bridge then connected with a trail that winds from the eco community at Three Creeks   out into almost 300 acres of diverse terrain.

What a canvas! As we continued on we climbed to the panorama of red, gold and purple and the mountain overlook. 

 (Photo of Autumn in the Greater Asheville, NC Area. It is So beautiful!)

"AWESOME! " I sighed. "No wonder there are only two (2) building sites remaining here."

I am in the business of finding incredible land for my clients. And the Greater Asheville area abounds with special finds. Yet, I can see myself  building my very own green-built dream home at Three Creeks Eco-community. 

Why? A couple of reasons: 

1) Because the very foundation of this conservation neighborhood rests on maintaining a healthy and diverse ecosystem-   a place where people can choose to live among caring neighbors, sharing their inspiration and enthusiasm. Here is  an established sustainable community. 

2) Investment potential. According to RETIREMENT LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE www.retiresouth.com.  "NORTH CAROLINA has proven to be one of the top five retirement states in the nation over the past 30 years and, despite a blip in the housing market, will continue to be attractive to boomers, empty-nesters and retirees."

That means I can expect good appreciation and value for my money. 

Three Creeks (the conservation neighborhood, itself) is an establishedEco Community where families will find much to do together and where folks of all ages can enjoy the beautifully landscaped areas the earth-friendly paved driveways, the  miles of  nature trails that Lead to almost 300 Acres of conservation land. And don't forget the Waterfalls !  All this is within the eco-community lands.  As is a spring fed swimming pond  and a community library/cabin. Creative retirees tell me they love it here. 

Outdoor Activities: Hiking trails wind through meadows and down to beautiful waterfalls and up to the gorgeous mountain overlook. We love the  Nature Parks and Trails. And I can see my grandkids here with me as I  guide them on pathways designed for All Ages.

And I can see us all at the  "swimming hole." Of course,  just minutes away is Lake Lure, with beaches open for summertime fun. homeowners. Water/ Marina/ Boating opportunities are just 15 minutes away at Lake Lure, too. Golf courses are available within a short drive of Three Creeks.

Important to know: Because the eco developers at Three Creeks have, for years, been on the leading edge of sustainable innovation, the conservation acreage around the small eco-neighborhood (just 19 home sites on 277+ AC)  will always be in its natural state for you and your family to enjoy for generations to come!

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Read  GREENOLINA'S  news http://janeanne.activerain.com/about mountain and valley  neighborhoods, real estate,  local  day trips, picnics, and  ecotourist attractions you'll just love.   Curious about green building, remodeling and eco-communities ?  ...Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG.   

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............and always remember that " poets are soldiers that liberate words from the steadfast possession of definition." -Eli Khamarov  .......  We are in a sustainable  world, so grab hold of your Muse... dream that world... and make it happen!. .........................    .............

Baby Boomer and Nature Lover? Turn your 1031 into Eco-Friendly Creative Retirement Living Three Creeks Preserve, Lake Lure -Asheville NC. .The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

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Looking for Creative Retirement? Are you a "Baby Boomer" and Nature Lover?

If you are "at one" with nature- the woods, the hills, the shades of leaves of Autumn, the waterfalls-now could be just the right time to RELAX  and turn your 1031 into Eco-Friendly living.  

Boomer/Retirement

 "NORTH CAROLINA has proven to be one of the top five retirement states in the nation over the past 30 years and, despite a blip in the housing market, will continue to be attractive to boomers, empty-nesters and retirees" says Dan Owens, Publisher of RETIREMENT LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE . 

"In survey after survey, North Carolina is viewed as a top choice by boomers and retirees for future relocation/retirement from another state. The steady influx of these boomers and retirees helps drive North Carolina's great housing and homebuilding economy." 

Less than an hour from Asheville, NC. and just 15 minutes to Lake Lure, NC  you can discover the secret to eco-friendly living as we did recently when we visited the distinguished conservation community,
Three Creeks Preserve.

We check our map (see graphic)  and head out often on photos shoots this time of year.  As real estate professionals, always with an eye out for a special find, we especially like to visit  eco communities so that we can tell our clients about building sites along a creek, beside a meadow, in the forest or on a hilltop.

Before we headed out, we checked out the Three Creeks Community web site. We learned that this eco development "offers a retreat-like setting for families.

Abundant water sources, prominent waterfalls, meadows, forest, swimming pond, trout fishing, trails and a community cabin represent the significant features. 

It's conceptual uniqueness derives from deeding 70% of the land to the owners as common land which cannot be developed. The protected land encompasses waterfalls, trails and other outstanding or environmentally sensitive areas."  

 So as we arrived on our annual Fall Leaves photo shoot to meander up the paved drive (see photo ) and into the woods we were not surprised to hear a distant waterfall.

  I said to my companion, " To live here must certainly be what aiming high is all about!" 

 We took a foot bridge and connected to a trail system that winds from the eco community to about 277 acres of diverse terrain and up to the scenic mountain overlook. AWESOME! No wonder there are only two (2) building sites remaining here. 

I can see myself  building my very own green-built dream home at Three Creeks Eco-community whose very foundation rests on maintaining a healthy, diverse ecosystem.

This is  a place where people can choose to live among caring neighbors, sharing their inspiration and enthusiasm,  a sustainable community that powers the homes by unleashing the renewable energy inherent in the land, the water, the wind and the sun, and a thoughtfully-planned neighborhood, where green-built homes are designed with natural, non-toxic materials to be safe, healthy, and energy efficient, built to the highest green building standards. 

How about you?  Let me know what you think!

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Read  GREENOLINA'S  news http://janeanne.activerain.com/about mountain and valley  neighborhoods, real estate,  local  day trips, picnics, and  ecotourist attractions you'll just love.   Curious about green building, remodeling and eco-communities ?  ...Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG.   

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............and always remember that " poets are soldiers that liberate words from the steadfast possession of definition." -Eli Khamarov  .......  We are in a sustainable  world, so grab hold of your Muse... dream that world... and make it happen!. .........................    .............

Baby Boomer and Nature Lover? Turn your 1031 into Eco-Friendly Creative Retirement Living-Asheville NC. .The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

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Looking for Creative Retirement? Baby Boomer and Nature Lover? If you are "at one" with nature- the woods, the hills, the shades of leaves of Autumn, the waterfalls- now could be just the right time to RELAX  and turn your 1031 into Eco-Friendly living in Asheville, NC. 

Just this week we were out on our annual Fall Leaves photo shoot .

We meandered up the paved drive (see photo ) and into the woods. The sound of Hickory Nut Creek and distant waterfalls kept us company.  Rustling leaves and songbirds chimed in. And then the music of the wind played in the forest.

And it brought with it another kind of music,  the laughter of grandparents, kids and grandkids in the heirloom orchard at Hickory Nut Forest eco-community. 

So! It wasn't yet time for the annual "Monster Jam".  What could the cheery sound be?

I looked at my companion and remarked, " AHA! Must  mean the apples are ripe and ready to eat right off the trees!" (see photo)   

No chemicals used here. This is an organic orchard. The juice from the apples is the kind of treat that makes you want to live right in the orchard.   If you are the kind of person who, like me, enjoys mingling with other eco-friendly folks, you will love such gatherings at Hickory Nut Forest Preserve. 

The benefits of camaraderie make me want to  build my green-built dream home at Hickory Nut Forest Eco-community.

Important to Note:  Hickory Nut Forest's very foundation rests on maintaining a healthy, diverse ecosystem. This is  a place where people can choose to live among caring neighbors, sharing their inspiration and enthusiasm,  a sustainable community that powers the homes by unleashing the renewable energy inherent in the land, the water, the wind and the sun, and a thoughtfully-planned neighborhood, where green-built homes are designed with natural, non-toxic materials to be safe, healthy, and energy efficient, built to the highest green building standards.

 Hickory Nut Forest is an Evolving Eco Community  where Baby Boomers will find much to appreciate:

Beautifully Landscaped (Native Plants) and Hand-Built Rockery Entrance
Earth-Friendly Chip and Seal Paved Roads
Miles of  Walking and Hiking Trails that Lead to 1,000 + Acres of conservation land.
15 Waterfalls on the adjacent conservation land.
Community Electric Vehicle and Net Zero Energy Plan is definitely  in place as is the Meeting/Conference Center . Creative Retirees can look forward to  Special Conferences for Eco-Friendly Audiences.

Personally give me the Nature Parks and Trails. They are designed for All Ages. However, according to RETIRE.NET  creative retirement at Hickory Nut Forest includes:

Pools/Spas Natural pools in Hickory Nut Creek allow brisk dips in mountain "swimming holes," while at nearby Lake Lure, beaches are open for summertime swimming. Part of the common area has been set aside for a future private swimming pool for homeowners.

Outdoor ActivitiesHiking trails wind up Little Bearwallow Mountain and down to beautiful waterfalls on Hickory Nut Creek. Another 5 miles of trails will connect to the Florence Preserve and eventually are planned to extend the length of the gorge to the new Hickory Nut Gorge State Park at Lake Lure.

Golf 15 Golf courses are available within a short 25-minute drive of Hickory Nut Forest.

Tennis Two outdoor hard tennis courts are adjacent to the common area.

Water/ Marina/ Boating A variety of boating opportunities and a marina are located just 10 miles down the gorge at Lake Lure.

Equestrian  facilities are available at Hickory Nut Gap Farm just a few miles away.

 As we completed our photo shoot, we discovered all of this to be spot-on! In fact, a forever-wild land conservation easement surrounds the Hickory Nut Forest Community. This means that the developers have chosen never to allow the land to be developed. Because of this, the forest around your home will always be in its natural state for you and your family to enjoy for generations to come!

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Read  GREENOLINA'S  news about mountain and valley  neighborhoods, real estate,  local  day trips, picnics, and  ecotourist attractions you'll just love.   Curious aboutgreen building, remodeling and eco-communities ?  ...Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG.   

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............and always remember that " poets are soldiers that liberate words from the steadfast possession of definition." -Eli Khamarov  .......  We are in a sustainable  world, so grab hold of your Muse... dream that world... and make it happen!. .........................    .............

Baby Boomer and Nature Lover? Turn your 1031 into Eco-Friendly Creative Retirement Living-Asheville NC. .The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

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2009 real estate buyers' market housing trends and predictors are front and center as we head down "Possibility Road".  In Part 1  I talked about a plausible plan of action given the current situation is to focus on what we do know...and, in particular,  what we know about  Buyers in the 2009 Buyers' Market; that  1) 80+% of Buyers begin their search online, that  2)they seek information about property buying and investment issues, mortgages and listings, that  3) they are very interested in Trends, and most especially that 4) more and more, as they head down "possibility road" they want to have neighborhood details.

(see photo of "possibility road taken last weekend at Hickory Nut Forest Eco-community)

You know, as real estate professionals, most of us have attended to #1 and #2. But what about #3 and #4?

Recently, while myself investigating real estate market trends, (as per #3 above)

 I found an interesting site called Housing Predictor   This link will take you to a site that provides independent real estate market forecasts. 

The online info-source says: "Home price deflation and appreciation forecasts are updated as local conditions change throughout the entire year. All markets are reassessed on an on-going basis. Researchers gather information on more than 20 factors including economics, regional political influences, business development, construction, employment levels and other socioeconomic issues from independent sources." 

I checked it out.Happily, it turned out to contain  very positive predictors for the North Carolina  real estate market!  Quoting here:  "North Carolina has become a new sort of retirement community for many, and the state is doing much better than most others and it should see less severe fall out from the mortgage mess than most other states. "  That's good to know.

Asheville NC Real Estate Marketaccording to that source: "There's no doubt home sales have slowed in Asheville, but nothing like other areas of the country. Tucked away in the North Carolina Mountains, Asheville has cooler summers than much of the southeast making it a perfect spot for get-a-ways. A growing second home market is helping home sales in the area forecast to appreciate 3.2% for the year."  And they didn't even include the demand by buyers in our neck o' the woods for green built homes and eco-friendly land and eco-community development. (see photo)

How about your market? 
Check it out HERE:
http://www.housingpredictor.com/index.html

 Back to the idea that   more and more Buyers want to know neighborhood details. (As per #4 above) Buyers and investors  are tuning in to local interest items. Real estate professionals are in a position to have a rare and unique perspective on such items. And with the trend toward sustainable, green homes in eco-friendly neighborhoods, who better to be at the center of an online conversation? 

 Luckily, the trendsetter team at Active Rain figured this out two years ago. The result of their forward-thinking is  LOCALISM.COM. Here's a good place each one of us can look at to  bring energy to the lagging housing market. It can be a real boon to all concerned.

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 Read  GREENOLINA'S  news http://janeanne.activerain.com/about mountain and valley  neighborhoods, real estate,  local  day trips, picnics, and  ecotourist attractions you'll just love.   Curious aboutgreen building, remodeling and eco-communities ?  ...Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG.   

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............and always remember that " poets are soldiers that liberate words from the steadfast possession of definition." -Eli Khamarov  .......  We are in a sustainable  world, so grab hold of your Muse... dream that world... and make it happen!. .........................    .............

Real Estate Market Housing Predictors 2009 Buyers' Market. Part 11. The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

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Real estate  2009 Buyers' Market housing trends and predictors are front and center. Whether you  live, as I do, in beautiful Asheville, N.C. or Anywhere, USA,difficult days in the housing market can affect your mood  in an unpleasant way. So I've been  looking for a  bright spot in the woods? (see photo from my own back yard). 

Questions are:

1): Can appreciation happen in the housing market, when  some economists expect a further drop of 10% to 20% in housing prices nationally over the next year?

 2) How much is the  Economic Recovery Package  going to cost the average taxpayer/buyer/seller of property.

At this level, the vitality of the real estate market gets personal.

Let's say the housing market recovers in the next 12 to 18 months, then the value of mortgage-backed securities could rise, and the tab the  Economic Recovery Package for those  on "Main Street " could be reduced.

For what it's worth, Wellesley economics professor Karl Case  who  for  the last 25 years, has focused his research on real estate markets and prices, points out that   " Home prices have to do with the scarcity of land and perception of that scarcity." There is only so much land, so maybe that's a "good sign"?

Real Estate Market Predictors and Remedies :  What We DO Know

Possibly the best remedy is to keep a good-eye on what we do know...and, in particular,  what we know about  Buyers in the 2009 Buyers' Market.

•1)      80+% of Buyers begin their search online
•2)      They seek information about property buying and investment issues, mortgages and listings
•3)      They are very interested in Trends and "Green" Innovation
•4)      More and more, they want to have neighborhood details

As real estate professionals, most of us have attended to #1 and #2. Recently, while myself investigating real estate market trends, (as per #3 above)  I found an interesting site called Housing Predictor http://www.housingpredictor.com/  that provides independent real estate market forecasts.

To find out the details of that  discovery for yourself, check out that link.... Let me know what YOU think! And stay tuned for Part II tomorrow. 
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Read  GREENOLINA'S  news  about mountain and valley  neighborhoods, real estate,  local  day trips, picnics, and  ecotourist attractions you'll just love.   Curious aboutgreen building, remodeling and eco-communities ?  ...Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG.   

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............and always remember that " poets are soldiers that liberate words from the steadfast possession of definition." -Eli Khamarov  .......  We are in a sustainable  world, so grab hold of your Muse... dream that world... and make it happen!. .........................    .............

Real Estate Market Housing Predictors 2009 Buyers' Market. Part I. The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

 Is it time to start buying real estate in the much sought-after Greater Asheville, N.C. area ? Are you looking at 1031 Plan and thinking that a slow-down in the real estate market means watch out? Wrong! For our eco-savvy clients, seems to me there's a river of pure potential just beyond the brambles (see photo) and an exciting ride to "green" investing with lots of GREEN in sight.

 It's all about sailing with your 1031 Toolbox in tow.   Those tools: 1) Intuition-You have to be able to intuit where the basement is in a local market, 2) Timing- you have to buy at the "right" time, 3) A  "Good-Eye" when it comes to buying/selling/holding in terms of real estate market trends, and 4) A Gift for Asking Spot-On Questions

True, the handy real estate investor needs to be able to accurately calculate the value of a property in a given neighborhood and maximize a property's appreciation, now and into the future (say 1 to 7 years). ( We can help!) But it is just as important to be able to intuit/predict where to unearth financing when lenders are dealing with icy to nearly frozen credit waters so as to enjoy a maximum ROI. (Again, we can help.)

I've been following real estate trends for many years.  And I still believe that, over the long term, investing in real estate is a sound and valid undertaking if you are conscientious. The S&P/Case-Shiller® Home Price Indices paints a pretty grim picture, on the other hand.  However, if you take into account the Baby Boomer Marketand the hunger for retirement mountain homes and land legacies in the incredibly beautiful Asheville, N.C, and combine that with a history of appreciation, and the HUGE demand for green-built homes in the Greater Asheville area, you may agree with me.

Investors, I see pure possibility for you. After all, in this real estate market, with the  current slowing trend, you hold the reins. Here,   for example, is something you would not have expected to find just a few months ago, a unique mountain home close to shopping, restaurants, downtown and not too far from the river you see in the photo, or the airport.  This home started out at over $1,000,000. and the sellers are now asking less than $700K.  The path that leads from this home takes you to ten acres of green space. Tell me-  is this an amazing "bargain" for the discriminating 1031 or Baby Boomer Buyer-

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Read  GREENOLINA'S  newsabout mountain and valley  neighborhoods, real estate,  local  day trips, picnics, and  ecotourist attractions you'll just love.   Curious aboutgreen building, remodeling and eco-communities ?  ...Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG.   

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............and always remember that " poets are soldiers that liberate words from the steadfast possession of definition." -Eli Khamarov  .......  We are in a sustainable  world, so grab hold of your Muse... dream that world... and make it happen!. .........................    .............

Buy Green Real Estate in Asheville? What's in Your Eco-Savvy   1031 Tool Box? The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

Living "Green" seems to be about the positive momentum for Baby Boomers with 1031s . 

 I asked one of my 1031 Baby Boomer clients, who is a Big Fan of sustainable develpoment,  what "living green" given the current  economic climate meant to him. 

He smiled.

A 1031 investor  who drives a car powered by biodiesel, (see photo) he has been into low-impact living for some time. In fact, over the years, he has built up his 1031 investment nest egg in conservation real estate.

Still smiling, he confided that it means many things. Given the economic situation as of October, 2008, his 1031 timetable may be bumped up a year!  He explains:

"Seems to me this is a time to advance (as opposed to retreat) due to 'bargains' I may be able to acquire in acreage. " 

"Well," I have to tell him, " As a LAND Specialist,  I've been watching LAND prices in Western North Carolina over the past many years. There may be a few bargains, but I have not seen a substantial drop in the price of large acreages. After all, LAND is a finite commodity, and LAND in Western North Carolina, one of the most beautiful places on Earth, is a treasure. "

My 1031 Baby Boomer client may do better to look at the 1031 possibilities in terms of eco-development on smaller. close-in acreages. He might be able to acquire a 10 AC parcel, for example,  where he could drop in a good number of wee green homes with tiny footprints while leaving  8 acres as green space for community gardens, edible landscaping and perhaps a greenhouse.  

For the 1031 Baby Boomer investor who wants to make something "Green" happen from his 1031 Exchange venture, here's a list

1)    Take eco-friendly and considered action.
2)    Include compassion for all living things.
3)    Reducie impact ..low impact living.
4)    Engage in a sustainable lifestyle.
5)    Make eco-wise 1031 choices.

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Read  GREENOLINA'S  newsabout mountain and valley  neighborhoods, real estate,  local  day trips, picnics, and  ecotourist attractions you'll just love.   Curious aboutgreen building, remodeling and eco-communities ?  ...Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG.   

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............and always remember that " poets are soldiers that liberate words from the steadfast possession of definition." -Eli Khamarov  .......  We are in a sustainable  world, so grab hold of your Muse... dream that world... and make it happen!. .........................    .............

1031s, Baby Boomers, and Living Green.The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

An EcoBroker and member of the Eco-All-Stars Group at Active Rain shares this good information on a FREE energy audit tool.