Asheville ECO-GREEN Real Estate

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Asheville "Scene " Around Town Photo Series: Pet-Friendly

Now and then, often when least you expect it, a photo arrives in your life that makes you just have to smile. Kids, and kittens and kites flying high in the sky can all have that effect. This sunny Asheville morning I had to put my coffee cup down to capture a conversation that got me grinning ear-to-ear . 

I'm just not quite sure what they were saying...but could this be proof--positive that pet-friendly conversations do take place high in the mountains? And does anyone have a clue what they were saying"

pet-friendly talk in asheville, nc

PET-FRIENDS in ASHEVILLE

Wishing YOU a smile this Sunday morning. . .

$8,000 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit - Approved by FHA/HUD 5-29-09 - But buyer BEWARE !!!

The straight skinny on the $8,000 1st Time Home Buyers' tax Credit is here courtesy of JEFF BELONGER who says,

" Essentially, this means that the entities mentioned above, are purchasing this tax credit on your behalf and giving it back to you. The short version of this is that you can use some of the money from the $8,000 Tax Credit as your down payment, but after you put down the first 3.5% of that down payment. Meaning, you have to come up with 3.5% of your own money still. With FHA loans, it can still be a gift from a relative/family member.  It also can come from non-profit or government agencies to be used as your initial down payment, but not used through the tax credit. Overall, the tax credit that is advanced, can be used for all closing costs. But you can't receive monies back at closing. "

 

Read his advice...then look at the next post and a scan of an Actual Tax Credit Check.

 

Via Jeff Belonger -- The FHA Expert.com -- FHA Loans -- FHA mortgages - USDA loans (Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc):

Tax credit for first time homebuyers

 

 

BUYER BEWARE of Tax Credit

 

The first time homebuyers tax credit of $8,000 has been approved by HUD for all FHA loans. But don't get too excited too quickly. If you get a chance to read the mortgagee letter, ML 2009-15, it states that you can't use this tax credit for the required down payment of 3.5%.

HUD originally put out mortgagee letter 2009-15 on May 12th, but was rescinded the next day. Please read about that here : $8,000 tax credit rescinded by HUD. For some reason, it was prematurely placed on HUD's web site, but apparently wasn't finalized. Now we have a new version and if not read correctly, you could be putting misinformation out there. So what does the new mortgagee letter state?

 

 

 

Here is the positive part about the tax credit. You can receive the first time homebuyers tax credit upfront, but not through the IRS.  This would be illegal. Please read : It's illegal to receive your tax credit before you close on your homeBuyers - BEWARE, please read that, because too many people are saying that you can get the money directly from the IRS prior to closing. The IRS & HUD both say no!!!

So how can you receive this upfront?  It can be given to you as a second or a silent second from any Federal, State, or local agencies, and any FHA mortgagee or any FHA approved non-profit organization.  People, in layman's terms, this is already acceptable by HUD's standards, except for the lender that is now able to give the monies upfront in a form of a 2nd mortgage. Another terminology is that this can be an advance loan from any of the entities mentioned above.

 

 

 

Summary :  Essentially, this means that the entities mentioned above, are purchasing this tax credit on your behalf and giving it back to you. The short version of this is that you can use some of the money from the $8,000 Tax Credit as your down payment, but after you put down the first 3.5% of that down payment. Meaning, you have to come up with 3.5% of your own money still. With FHA loans, it can still be a gift from a relative/family member.  It also can come from non-profit or government agencies to be used as your initial down payment, but not used through the tax credit. Overall, the tax credit that is advanced, can be used for all closing costs. But you can't receive monies back at closing. 

And again, keeping in mind, it's illegal to receive this tax credit upfront directly from the IRS. There is more verbiage in the mortgagee letter 2009-15 , but the main point is that you have to have 3.5% of the downpayment yourself, before you can use the tax credit that would be 'loaned' to you.

 

 

THOUGHTS??? - Well, in all honesty, how does this truly help? What is the gov't thinking here? As a buyer, I would still need the initial 3.5% of my monies for the down payment. Again, needing money to buy. I know some of you are for this fact, that buyers should have skin in the game. But keep in mind, this was not the true demise to our foreclosure mess. We need to sell houses to keep this economy going.  Just my opinions and food for thought.  thanks

 

 

My Series on the First time homebuyers $8,000 tax credit - Everything you need to now, from start to finish - What's allowed and what's not allowed :

 

 

 

follow Jeff Belonger on Twitter

 

 

- FHA Loans - USDA Loans - VA Loans -

- Energy Efficient Mortgages - 

- Conventional Loans - 203 k loans -

- Mortgages -

 

Experience & Knowledge at its BEST !!!

 

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For more information on FHA loans, please go to this link. The FHA Expert

For more information about the 2009 Tax Credit for First Time Homebuyers : 2009 Tax Credit

For important mortgage insight to watch for, please read : Consumers need to be aware of these Red Flags !!!!

Copyright © 2009 by Jeff Belonger

$8,000 FIRST TIME BUYER TAX CREDIT - CHECK RECEIVED !!!!

OK folks...here it is...take a good look..it is real! Thank you SHELDON for sharing the scan of the check received. And may all 1st Time Home Buyers act with all good speed.

Via Sheldon Neal -- That British Agent -- (Bergen County, NJ - RE/MAX Real Estate Limited):

 

 

 

This is an actual check from one of my First Time Buyers who bought a home last month, and immediately filed his 2008 tax return - which he had already filed an extension for - and this week received the above check !

 

... before his home purchase, his return was going to give him a refund of approximately $4,000 !!!! ... as you can see, he qualified for the tax credit, and received $8,000 additional dollars from the government for buying his home.

 

@@@ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION - BE SURE TO CONSULT YOUR ACCOUNTANT TO SEE IF YOU CAN RECEIVE THIS YOURSELF @@@

 

Per the IRS.gov website, you may qualify to receive this credit if you meet the following qualifications:

"... qualifying taxpayers who buy a home before Dec. 1, 2009, can claim the credit on either their 2008 or 2009 tax returns. They do not have to repay the credit, provided the home remains their main home for 36 months after the purchase date. They can claim 10 percent of the purchase price up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately.

The amount of the credit begins to phase out for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is more than $75,000, or $150,000 for joint filers.

For purposes of the credit, you are considered to be a first-time homebuyer if you, and your spouse if you are married, did not own any other main home during the three-year period ending on the date of purchase."

 The credit itself:

  • Applies to purchases that close after April 8, 2008, and before Dec. 1, 2009.
  • Applies only to homes used as a taxpayer's principal residence.
  • Reduces a taxpayer's tax bill or increases his or her refund, dollar for dollar.
  • Is fully refundable, meaning the credit will be paid out to eligible taxpayers, even if they owe no tax or the credit is more than the tax owed.

 

So if you were considering buying a home this year - be sure to talk to your accountant as you may also qualify to get $8,000 extra dollars for buying your first home !

 

ALSO: Be sure to check out a post  from respected Loan Officer Jeff Belonger explaining how you may be able to receive an 'up front loan' for this credit to use towards closing costs or additional downpayment over your mandatory 3.5% payment on your FHA loan !

@@@PLEASE NOTE: ALL INFORMATION ABOVE DEEMED RELIABLE PER THE IRS.GOV WEBSITE, HOWEVER IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY POINT ON ANY DAY ! - CONSULT YOUR TAX ACCOUNTANT BEFORE EXPECTING ANY PORTION OF THIS CREDIT.

@@@@ UPDATED: BELOW IS THE FORM NEEDED TO FILE FOR THIS CREDIT IF YOU QUALIFY - YOUR ACCOUNTANT SHOULD HAVE IT AND WALK YOU THOUGH IT ! GOOD LUCK !

Asheville Dream Farm

Dateline Asheville, North Carolina, May, 2009
News and Views from Asheville's Greenolina, Real Estate Eco-Steward

Early morning is a splendid time to view property . There is the fresh mountain air of Asheville. There are the songs of cardinals. There is the sense of adventure as you head out from Asheville. Today we aimed north and west to a property one of our favorite colleagues requested we review.  Rolling down the highway we enjoyed the pale-blue mountains almost feathered into the still-pink skies. We anticipated something very special as the description hinland sale near ashevillel ncted: .


- 9.31 Rolling and usable acres, recently surveyed
- 3 acres of cleared, ready to till pasture with Southern Exposures!
- 2-3 acres of former pasture currently wooded, but could easily be cleared
- Pasture areas are set back away from the road! No car exhaust or tire remnants in your growing area
- Incredible water resources (two wonderful springs, one of which feeds the pond, and almost 400 feet of trout stream frontage)
- Great state road access, with nice dirt roads already in place on the property
- Multiple building sites that do not encroach on the pastured areas with views, both short and long range views. 

That intrigued me. And so did the asking price: $150,000.

 

 

 I considered how this opportunity could play out :

• It might be a place for envisioning... .(see photo) an investment for the future 
• It could be the dream farm for a First Time Home Buyer
• It could be someone's prized find on which to build a sustainable GREEN home.
• It could be the perfect family compound, a mountain retreat with distant  mountain views, two homes, two guest cottages. . .or a small organic family farm ...or, with the gently rolling terrain, a small horse farm!

I know, I know - I'm dreaming. Early morning anticipation is a wonderful thing....Certainly we looked forward to seeing a most versatile opportunity and not more than half an hour or so from Asheville!

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__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL.

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS. Serving Asheville's First Time  and Relocation LAND and Home Buyers.

Asheville Dream Farm. Asheville First Time Home Buyers - "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

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You Engaging Others - Concentrate On The Verb, Not The Adjective

JEFF TURNER has a lot to say. And it makes sense.Those who know him and his wife, ROCKY, will tell you that he follows through on what he says. I asked JEFF if I could reBLOG the post that follows. JEFF'S message here rings true:

"The path to engagement is through awareness and interaction..."

Via Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows):

When I talk about the concept of YEO, You Engaging Others, the word "engaging" is used as a verb. This is not an accident.

Reading through the comment stream of my post last week, I occured to me that some were responding to the word "engaging" as an adjective. In it's adjective form, engaging means, "Interesting; charming; attractive, especially of a manner or behaviour." And while I think that's all well and good, that's not what I mean when I use the word "engaging."

I mean the verb:

  • To gain over; to win and attach; to attract and hold; to draw.
  • To gain for service; as, to engage friends to aid in a cause.
  • To employ the attention and efforts of
  • To embark in a business; to take a part; to employ or involve one's self; to devote attention and effort; to enlist; 

For our purposes, whether or not you are "engaging" is judged by other peoples actions, not by yours. It is not judged by how charming you are, but by whether or not your followers take action on your behalf.

The path to engagement is through awareness and interaction.

Awareness To Interaction To Engagement

Focusing on "engaging" as an adjective may get you to awareness and interaction, but only focusing on the the actions required to make it a verb will lead you to engagement, to someone taking action on your behalf.

One additional thought.

Often, engagement must look like this first. If you want others to engage on your behalf, engage on their behalf.

you engage first

Mountain Green Sustainability Conference 2009

Dateline Asheville, North Carolina, May, 2009

News and Views from Asheville's Greenolina, Real Estate Eco-Steward  

Here in the welcoming Asheville area mountainsit is time again for the annual one-day Mountain Green Sustainability Conference held on the campus of Warren Wilson College. It may be for  only one day, but it is packed with green possibilities.  The program itself is on-going and lasts throughout the year. (see the FREE L:lunch and Learn Series below.)

Some of our favorite local experts (see photo)are on the conference steering committee including Equinox Environmental, Warren Wilson College where the conference will be held (we love their GREEN Dorm) the WNC Green Building Council, and our own Asheville Board of REALTORS®.

WNC Mountain Green Conference Asheville

  

FREE LUNCH & LEARN SERIES: All are invited to enjoy free, monthly Mountain Green "lunch and learn" presentations on sustainable community issues. And conference attendees  are in for an educational adventure when they choose from a huge number of learning opportunities.
Interested? Here is the Schedule:   

Says Phil Gibson  of the Environmental Leadership Center at the college (far right in photo above),  "Mountain Green is a program that embodies both informational luncheons and an annual conference.  The Green Walkabout© is an informative and inspiring walking tour of Warren Wilson College's sustainability initiatives that have earned the College recognition as a national sustainability leader.   Participants of both will experience principles and best practices of green building, energy use, waste management, native landscaping, sustainable agriculture and forestry, and more." 

images at warren wilson college asheville nc

(images at Warren Wilson)

Registration for one person is $100.  I know what I'm doing on June 24th. How about you? 

P.S. 6 p.m. - Skinny Legs and All Blues Band performs at Warren Wilson College (open to public - donations requested)

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__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL.

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.
Serving Asheville's First Time  and Relocation LAND and Home Buyers.

Asheville Mountain Green Sustainability- "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

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What Are the Various REALTORS' Green Designations?"

News and Views from Asheville's  Eco-Steward, May, 2009  

" What are your various GREEN designations?"  our client, a First Time Home Buyer seeking a Eco Certified Real Estate Consultant Advises on Asheville LAND*HealthyBuilt Home®  here in Asheville asked as she looked at the conference room wall. I had to smile. That wall is colorfully occupied with numerous licenses, designations and certifications. I guess she couldn't help but notice the not quite superfluity of framed documentation of the advanced training we have completed. 

We hold the Eco Certified® Real Estate Consultant, ( see our group at LinkedIn) NAR's GREEN Designation®   as well as the EcoBroker® Certification.  

Each of these provides advanced training in sustainable innovation that is important to real estate professionals and our clients who, more and more, demand healthy built homes. Since this is our area of specialization, that display on the wall really isn't a plethora, but more a confirmation of our commitment to be a resource for real estate opportunities and energy and environmental information. I explained the various certifications and designations and then pointed her in the direction of  our blog at Active Rain.

eco broker green consultant asheville


"If  you are looking for research on the features and benefits of green-built homes," I added, "  the Eco-All-Stars Group http://activerain.com/groups/GREEN  at Active Rain is a great place to look."

 

HomeFinder.com also offers this: "In today's environmentally conscious world, more and more homeowners are turning to ... REALTORS® designated as EcoBrokers to find their next green-certified home,"   reads the text which points out that..." it's important to arm yourself with some helpful tips before plunking down a large deposit and signing off on a contract."

With that in mind, here are a few more excellent links to consider: Going Green on a Budget Using an Eco-friendly REALTOR® Green Home Resources . . .  and...*by the way, currently there are 300 certified HealthyBuilt Homes and 683 "in progress" in the Western North Carolina area.Another reason to work with green designates. Pretty nifty, eh? _________________________________________________________________________________

 __~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL.

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.
Serving Asheville's First Time  and Relocation LAND and Home Buyers.

email us today....Asheville First Time Home Buyers - "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

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Handy Q&A Page for First Time Home Buyers

Asheville, NC  

This morning I dropped by the  National Association of Home Builders page looking for current home building statistics of interest to Asheville, NC  real estate professionals and our home buyers. I noticed something that might be of particular interest to First Time Home Buyers, a thorough and concise Q&A Page for First Time Home Buyers.

 I'm going to remember this for our Asheville First Time Home Buyers (especially in terms of the 2009 $8,000 Tax Credit) possibly this could be a valuable Page for you , too. . .. so here is the link: http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/2009/faq.php 

There are twenty-one (21) questions and answers there.
A few stand out as possibly atypical such as:

 Is there any way for a home buyer to access the money allocable to the credit sooner than waiting to file their 2009 tax return? 

For a home purchase in 2009, can I choose whether to treat the purchase as occurring in 2008 or 2009, depending on in which year my credit amount is the largest? 

Can I claim the tax credit if I finance the purchase of my home under a mortgage revenue bond (MRB) program?

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__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL.

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.
Serving Asheville's First Time  and Relocation LAND and Home Buyers.

Asheville First Time Home Buyers - "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

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Wordless Wednesday: The Grove Park Inn, Asheville NC

I don't think I have seen more attractive photos of Asheville's amazing
Grove Park Inn than DIANE AURIT shares in the post below.

Via Lake Norman Real Estate ~ Diane Aurit (RE/MAX at the Lake):

 

View of the Smoky Mountains  from the Grove Park Inn

View of the golf course and the Great Smokey Mountains

The Grove Park Inn, Ashville NC

View of the Grove Park Inn in the Spring

The Grove Park Inn, Ashville NC

The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa

 

 Just about a month ago my husband and I took a quick trip to Ashville and stayed at my absolute favorite Grove Park Inn.  The reason I love it so much is the historic Craftsman architecture, furniture, light fixtures and total ambiance.  It really is an incredible place in the beautiful Great Smokey Mountains. I even had time to have a wonderful visit with one of my favorite friends on AR janeAnne...our Eco Steward!

MEMORIAL DAY where stillness flows...

flag on memorial day in asheville

MEMORIAL DAY

 

 I remember today
the young people who,
 for a thousand years,
have gone off to war,
 surrendered their lives.

 And I think about the human drama
 -where we fit in-
 wonder what would happen
if we could find the place
  -in all of this-
 where stillness flows like it does in the songs we sing at the altar;

 that very stillness
 that comes from an open heart, 
 and dissolves a righteous rage and its clatter,
 and so keeps the lives of sons and daughters safe.

 If only stillness could flow through the human war chant,
 in that moment,
 we, all of us, might feel our hearts open,
be at one with the earth,
 feel our life-blood
in the waters beyond any beach,
 as they dance
while the moon stands guard.

 If we could turn then
to the great trees, 
 so full of life before the coming winter days,
 ask them to reveal their secret,
 let their whisper
run powerful
through the pounding threats and voices,
 so that within war's angry chant,
 stillness appeared
 like an infant,
and breathed,
and loved...

  we might come to hear,
and know,
and remember
 that the blood we shed

belongs to all of us. 

 ~^~

Wind-in-the-Feather

Asheville "Scene " Around Town Photo Series : Into the Mountains

TAKING FLIGHT

 

asheville north carolina mountain scene

 

How we edit perceptions every day can leave the false impression, filtered through the screen of subjective assumption, that the world does not derive its existence beyond us. This photo reminds me to take flight with the resonating thrust of nature that  fuels the world. Looking at it I am reminded, too that we share in every aspect of being-and so we are , we must be, within and without, part of the magic.

North Asheville. Spring ,2009

First Time Home Buyers Demand Green in Asheville

First Time Home Buyers:Demand Green in Asheville  

Asheville, NC- May, 2009- The First Time Home Buyer has a good advantage these days. There has always been a place for this special group of buyers, but the $8,000 Tax Creditadds impetus to the mix. As a real estate professional here in Asheville, I have always thought that finding a niche that "calls" to  you is one of the most important aspects of success in this business.

Whether a property is commercial, residential or LAND/ acreage it is special in one way or another, and so are the clients who seek their first home, those buyers who depend on you for objective fiduciary counsel.

And there are points beyond special. Looking at various market niches... the 1st Time Home Buyer, the Over 55...the Second and Vacation...the Hospitality...all have a certain "zest" that's like the mountain air here in Asheville....

But here is another  interesting perspective:

 


That of the 1st time home buyer in terms of their demand for healthy-built (GREEN) homes.
That demand drives the market and is evident in the resources available to First Time Home Buyers and the number of green-built homes in the affordable price range.

Resources:.

1.  Right here in Asheville, 1st Time Home Buyers can turn to the Green Building Council.

2. Ist Time Home Buyers can also turn to Eco Certified® Real Estate Consultants  at our Firm,  seasoned brokers  who have completed a 36-hour course about environmentally-sensitive properties here in Asheville.

3. Researching for First Time Home Buyers, I  checked out green-built homes in the $180,000 to $350,000 range the other day.  In that range (residential) there are 23 WNC HealthyBuilt Homes  on the market this month...

I  talked with a young couple earlier this week. They told me, "janeAnne we just have to have a healthier, safer, more comfortable, sustainable, energy efficient, and environmentally-responsible home....
" Here's one we should look at, " I replied. (see photo) "AND there are at least 22 more available!"

Should we chalk that up to the "wisdom of the  First Time Home Buyer Generation"?...or is GREEN just red hot?

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__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL.

ECO STEWARDS' 1st Time Home Buyers LEARNING TOURS. Curious about sustainable GREEN real estate possibilities ?  Register for the Eco Stewards' Learning Tours.  Design your dream. Give us your checklist .

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and LAND for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

First Time Home Buyers Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
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The Short Sale & Buyers' Brokers (Part 2-Training)

Asheville, May 2009

 The short sale  process could (and often does) turn out to be not only  a daunting task but a lengthy one. Many complications can entangle the short sale, sales  in which the proceeds will be less than the balance owed on the mortgage loan. Like Medusa's Snake Locks  there is the potential for some pretty nasty snarls.  How to smooth out the tangles?  

envisioning in ashevilleAdvanced Training: Some suggest that advanced training and skill in navigating the short sale process is NOT necessary.  Other real estate professionals, who daily undertake servicing the parties involved in a complex and complicated process, contend that advanced training which focuses on client advocacy is invaluable. 

So, both looking ahead down the road and also back where we came from (see photo) I asked a team of short sale experts to consult with me to consider offering training for our staff.  We created a checklist that could outline basic training in the short sale process.  We then asked our staff to review that checklist and provide their  opinions about the wisdom of short sale training. 

Conclusion: Brokers who must not only be aware of, but must honor the fiduciary dutyto make their clients aware of potential problems /obstacles/unpleasant situations/ difficult days and emotional turmoil around short sale of real property, they agreed, advanced training was desirable. 

Take a look at our checklist coming up in Part 3 and let us know what YOU think.

  

 20 OBSTACLES CHECKLIST
 The Short Sale & the Laudable Buyers' Broker

(see Part 3)

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__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL.

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.
Curious about sustainable GREEN real estate possibilities ?  Register for the Eco Stewards' Learning Tours.  Design your dream. Give us your checklist .

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and LAND for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: Distressed Short Sale Laudable Buyers' Brokers The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
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Distressed Short Sale Laudable Buyers' Brokers (Part 1)

Asheville, North Carolina May 2009 

I attended a seminar on short sales ( sales  in which the proceeds will be less than the balance owed on the mortgage loan) here in Asheville given by two real estate attorneys and a CPA. They have, it seems, the necessary experience to possess a good handle on their perspective on the short sale process and convey it to a group of interested real estate professionals. 

Certainly I gained a deeper appreciation of the distressed property marketnot only here in Asheville, but cat on narrow railing in ashevillein the larger view.  It is complicated on both the buy and the sell side. Navigating it with skill reminds me of Frank-the-Cat, two-stories high on a narrow railing, but confident as he makes his way along it. (see photo) 

Part 1 applauds  the laudable Buyers' Brokers who serve and  represent the buyers  of distressed properties - the Buyers' Brokers who  have invested in advanced training and have the experience and expertise to specialize in short sales, 

the Buyers' Brokers who must not only be aware of, but must honor their fiduciary dutyto make their clients aware  of potential problems /obstacles/unpleasant situations/ difficult days and emotional turmoil around the  short sale,

the Buyers' Brokers who know how to ask the right questions of their Listing colleagues like :

 
1)  Has a notice of default been filed on the property?
2) Has a "proof of hardship package" been turned in to the lender(s)? 
3) Who is/are the lender(s)?
4) Has the lender assigned someone specifically to the short sale of the home that can be spoken with?
5) How close to foreclosure is this property?

Here in the Greater Asheville short sale disclosure is required to be shown on  the MLS.  Is this the case in your area? 

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__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL.

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.
Curious about sustainable GREEN real estate possibilities ?  Register for the Eco Stewards' Learning Tours. Design your dream. Give us your checklist .

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and LAND for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: Distressed Short Sale Laudable Buyers' Brokers The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
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Going the Green Mile

JOANNE O'DONNELL emphasizes the positive.  In this post she points out how you and I can (individually and together) help to "put the breaks on pollution" and think about doing it NOW.

JOANNE'S impetus toward what is possible makes sense to me...how about you?

Via Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors, LGLS CP Trainer (510-STAGING)):

If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.  Well, we are the problem.  According to CO2 Moleculestatistics published by the Nature Conservancy, the average family of 4, in a detached home, in North America will generate 110 tons of CO2 annually.  The average family outside of North America will generate 22 tons of CO2 annually. 

Finally, some progress in reversing the metaphorical snowball rolling downhill that has been the US contribution to greenhouse gasses...  The Obama administration just announced new "get tough" rules on auto pollution and fuel economy.  The rules are designed to put breaks on pollution and give a boost to fuel efficiency.  The new federal standards on greenhouse gas emissions require autos emissions to be 30% cleaner than current standards by 2016.  Concurrently they require a 40% increase in miles per gallon to a new standard of 35 ½ miles per gallon.  The effect is the equivalent of taking 177 million cars off the highway.  As reported in National Geographic, for each gallon of gas your car burns, it releases about 19 pounds of CO2.   Hopefully we won't negate the effect of the new standards by increasing our miles driven as our effect per mile lessens...

Some are critical of these new standards because it will add about $1300 to the cost of new cars, and will take approximately 5 years to recoup that from the fuel savings.  Isn't it time we began to think about more than just how it affects us immediately?  Has anyone heard of the old sociological concept "deferred gratification"?  The concept refers to the willingness to put off current rewards for future and far greater rewards.  It is what got most of us through college, insure a comfortable retirement and generally be responsible human beings. We need to apply this concept to our effect on the globe for our children and our children's children.

 Green Hummer Limo!

Ok, I will now get off my soapbox and return it to its' place in the back of my hummer... 

Instead of "Green," Let's Build Homes That Make Sense

JOHN has a way of looking at the world in a positive light. I celebrate that impetus. Here for example, JOHN talks about how home buyers are rethinking their options. This is especially true in Asheville, NC!

JOHN says, " "The homes of the future that I envision will be attractive, practical, simple and economical to maintain, and will be designed to minimize wasted space and to maximize the enjoyment of the owners. As construction methods advance, "eco-sensible" homes will utilize the latest eco-friendly construction methods, yet will cost no more than comparable construction. The growing interest in downsizing is an example of how home buyers are re-thinking their options."

 

Via John Mulkey, Housing Guru (TheHousingGuru.com):

With so much emphasis being placed upon the building of “green” homes, the term has lost some of its meaning. Much of the confusion surrounding the term stems from its very casual use by many in construction, manufacturing, and real estate; and in some cases, the person or entity using the term is just as confused as the consumer.

 

While there are various green certifications available for new construction, remodeling, and home products—Leed, Energy Star, Earth Craft—it’s sometimes difficult for consumers to differentiate between the options offered. What home buyers need is a home that makes sense for them, a home that is “eco-sensible,” that meets their needs, but is not excessive; a home that takes less from the environment and gives more to its owners.

 

I predict the coming of a new trend in housing. Aging “Baby Boomers” as well as their offspring have begun to see the folly of homes built only as trophies, excessive and impractical symbols of the achievement of wealth. Many home owners are ready to give up stress that comes with their jumbo mortgages and want to rediscover what is meaningful in their lives.  The current recession has demonstrated that true wealth is far more than money. As the housing market and Wall Street have shown, money can vanish overnight.

 

The homes of the future that I envision will be attractive, practical, simple and economical to maintain, and will be designed to minimize wasted space and to maximize the enjoyment of the owners. As construction methods advance, “eco-sensible” homes will utilize the latest eco-friendly construction methods, yet will cost no more than comparable construction. The growing interest in downsizing is an example of how home buyers are re-thinking their options.

 

While I don’t expect a dramatic and immediate reversal of past trends, I do think that the demand for practical and sensible homes will increase as the mindset of buyers is molded by a rapidly changing society. Homes of the future will protect the environment while providing a less stressful environment for their owners.

 

For the latest news in housing, visit: The Housing Guru

Composting 101: What is Composting and Why Should Everyone Do it?

CHRISTINE has a good idea about composting. ...as CHRISTINE say,s "...In the composting process you are attempting to keep all of the nutrients you have and reuse them for the benefit of your landscaping...."

that sounds like a Plan to me!..how about you?

Via Christine McInerney & Jennifer Halinkowski, Knoxville Real Estate (Southland GMAC Real Estate):

Many people have negative connotations and thoughts associated with composting- some of these green landscaping in knoxville tninclude: "it smells really bad", "composting is just throwing your trash in the yard", "composting is trashy and not suitable for neighborhood living".

In reality, if done correctly and there is a science to it, composting is not only good for the earth, but it can greatly benefit you, the homeowner, and your yard.  After all, backyard composting is basically accelerating the natural decomposition process.  To fully understand the composting process here is a brief lesson in decomposition.

Anything that was once living will eventually decompose or break down and the individual nutrients will be recycled back into the environment via their respective nutrient cycles.   The law of Conservation of Mass (based on the 1st Law of Thermodynamics) states that matter can not be created nor destroyed, it simply changes form. 

composting green landscaping practicesIn the composting process you are attempting to keep all of the nutrients you have and reuse them for the benefit of your landscaping.  Composting can save you a lot of money since these valuable nutrients that people would pay high dollar for in nurseries and garden supply stores can be supplied to you with very little time investment and items many people just thoughtlessly throw away.

Composting is important because it ensures that there are enough nutrients available to allow for new organism to grow or for the cycle to continue.  Problems can exist in an area if all the nutrients are removed (bagging up lawn waste, etc...) as this could prevent the re growth of new organisms.

 

 

Keep reading more on this series to learn more about the how's what's where's, when's, and why's of composting.

Instantly search for more homes for sale in the Knoxville TN and surrounding areas now!
www.HomesForSaleKnoxville.com

Visit Christine McInerney and Jennifer Halinkowski with Southland GMAC Real Estate on-line at:
www.HomesForSaleKnoxville.com and www.KnoxvilleReal-Estate.com

Office: (865) 237-5289
Christine (865) 237-5289 and Jennifer (865) 621-3658
Mail to: McIn-Kowski@HomesForSaleKnoxville.com

Instantly Search For All Knoxville, TN Homes For Sale!!

 Knoxville TN Realtor

 

Asheville "Scene " Around Town Photo Series: Horses and Hellos

HORSES . FRIENDS. COMMUNICATION

Here is the sense of delight--that which can transport you
all the way back to your childhood.

How worthwhile to see the whole world open up again as you and I view it through the eyes of this child. If we choose, we are taken to  the magical times of " first meeting" - seeing each character  dressed in the mystique of the moment. 

Ah-to recover our sense of wonder! Ah to venture out into the unknown, the unknowable. . . to question the nature of those unspoken communications that exist between us...between all living creatures....to give it a character, a personal history. HORSES and Friends

Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

Asheville "Scene " Around Town Photo Series: Mountainscape-Frees the Muse

As I looked at this photo  I shot at a very, very special location, a sense of possibility crept over me  (here in Asheville, NC, that is not too hard to do as we are blessed with incredible viewscapes at almost every turn--

yet--there is something extraordinary in the spaces I see here. . . and so I  call this photo FREE THE MUSE!and created the MuseQuest (just below).... so you can enjoy that sense of possibility, too!
WELCOME HOME!

 

 

MUSE QUEST..fill in the blanks (poetically) 

•1.       The shine on a mountainside is like- ___________________________________

•2.       The leaves on the old oak waved as if_____________________________________________ 

•3.       Everything had changed now that it was ____________________________________

 

Pure possibility awaits you when you come Home to Asheville. . .Tell me when you'll be arriving. . .
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Don't Top Trees if You Think Trees are Tops!

Another in my series of VERY INFORMATIVE posts. This one, from JAMIE is about tree topping...and how that is a practice that will cost you and the tree dearly...read on!

Via Jamie Carroll ~ Vancouver, WA Realtor (Keller Williams Premier Partners):

You wouldn't chop your head off when all you needed was a haircut, would you?

Tree topping involves the removal of large amounts of leaves and branches from a tree's crown. Did you know this common practice actually hurts trees, creates unsafe conditions and shortens the life of the tree? Before doing any pruning consider the location of electric lines and, for safety's sake, hire a certified arborist. While prudent pruning can enhance the life and beauty of trees "topping" should be avoided for the following reasons:

  • It doesn't work! A topped tree grows back quickly as it attempts to replace missing leaves.
  • It's dangerous! Topping can cause columns of rotten, weakened wood in the core of the tree. A sickly tree can drop heavy branches on people and property.
  • It's expensive! Once you top a tree you must do it again and again every few years.
  • It starves the tree! Remember third-grade science? Leaves manufacture the food trees need for survival. Removing its food source will literally starve the tree over time.
  • It's ugly! Trees naturally grow in beautiful, majestic forms. Their natural beauty can be destroyed forever by topping and improper pruning.

The S&B Real Estate Team assists people in buying and selling real estate throughout Southwest Washington. We are proud members of Keller Williams Realty - Premier Partners in downtown Vancouver. Our local expertise covers: Vancouver, Battle Ground, Camas, Washougal, Brush Prairie, Hockinson, Ridgefield, Woodland and La Center. If you or someone you know is considering living or investing in Clark County, please contact us. Jamie Carroll can be reached at 360-609-6775 or via the "Contact Us" page at www.MyRealtorIsJamie.com. Steve Borwieck can be reached at 360-241-7305 or via the "Contact Us" page at www.SteveBSellsHomes.net. We are here to help!