Monday, May 31, 2004
BENEFITS OF THE 1031 LIKE-KIND EXCHANGE
Possibly the most important benefit of investigating the 1031 Like-Kind Exchange transaction and putting it to work for you is your ability to defer potentially taxable gain you may realize from a sale of the property.
This way you may be able to use all of your equity to acquire another property, instead of the amount of equity left over after paying applicable Federal and State income taxes on your gain.
Another benefit: The ability to go from one type of property to another
allows you to use... leverage, diversification, cash flow, consolidation, management relief, and possibly increased depreciation.
It is possible, under the current IRC Section 1031 rules, to continue to
exchange properties, using all of your equity, thus increasing your portfolio
Net Worth much faster than were you to sell properties, pay the taxes, and
then acquire another property with the remaining equity
This way you may be able to use all of your equity to acquire another property, instead of the amount of equity left over after paying applicable Federal and State income taxes on your gain.
Another benefit: The ability to go from one type of property to another
allows you to use... leverage, diversification, cash flow, consolidation, management relief, and possibly increased depreciation.
It is possible, under the current IRC Section 1031 rules, to continue to
exchange properties, using all of your equity, thus increasing your portfolio
Net Worth much faster than were you to sell properties, pay the taxes, and
then acquire another property with the remaining equity
Saturday, May 22, 2004
WHAT'S Here...
(UPDATED regularly...please scroll down or click on ARCHIVES to read)
INTERVIEWING A REALTOR
How to Find THE "Right" ONE for You
FROM A HILLTOP OVERLOOKING THE RIVER
A narrative on life in Western North Carolina
ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE DEVELOPMENT in the Asheville Area
Preserves and Land Conservancies
HOME ENERGY RATING
Good information for the home buyer
EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTIES
Amazing tracts of land, land trusts, land preserves and spectacular properties require "special caring"..SO when you choose a REALTOR to represent you in such transactions look for that person’s ability to…
CLUSTER HOUSING AND LARGE TRACTS OF LANDS
Interesting information on this form of development
With follow-up notes from our readers
LAND FOR INVESTMENT
Residential, farm and estates, vacant land, mountain getaways, 1031 Like-Kind Exchange
1031 LIKE-KIND EXCHANGES an Overview for You
LOOKING FOR 1031 LAND FOR INVESTMENT?
A word or two about my philosophy that YOU shall be served well ...
FYI: MADISON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
For those of you who have discovered the lands I love, (and where I am a "Green REALTOR, ) here is some info...
LAND BUYS THAT LOOK TO THE FUTURE
About the work The Nature Conservancy has done around the Greater Asheville area that YOU can participate in…
PRESERVES AND PROTECTED LANDS IN NORTH CAROLINA
About the protected beautiful sites across N.C. including one within hours of Asheville, MOUNT MITCHELL.
THE CONTINUING SAGA OF THE LITTLE HORSE FARM NEAR ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
COULD THIS BE A PLACE FOR A THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER?
Horse farms and Equine Properties For Sale Around Asheville are my specialty. Read a story about one here.
MORE ON THE FAMILY HORSE FARM
MORE on Horse Farm For Sale Near Asheville~ Possible Use for Retired Horse Lovers-A Business for Retired Horses!
HORSE FARMS FOR SALE, HORSE FARMS FOR SALE, Oat Oh! I'm thinking maybe I should buy one near Asheville! Horse Farms and Equine Properties For Sale Around Asheville Are Magnetic!
THE NATUE CONSERVANCY'S "CONSERVATION BUYER" PROGRAM
A group of folks I know who are REALTORS here in the Asheville area are also great lovers of nature. More on “Green Realtors” here.
"TO BE RATHER THAN SEEM....."
"The North Carolina state motto is Esse Quam Videre, which means "To Be, Rather Than To Seem."
INTERVIEWING A REALTOR
How to Find THE "Right" ONE for You
FROM A HILLTOP OVERLOOKING THE RIVER
A narrative on life in Western North Carolina
ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE DEVELOPMENT in the Asheville Area
Preserves and Land Conservancies
HOME ENERGY RATING
Good information for the home buyer
EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTIES
Amazing tracts of land, land trusts, land preserves and spectacular properties require "special caring"..SO when you choose a REALTOR to represent you in such transactions look for that person’s ability to…
CLUSTER HOUSING AND LARGE TRACTS OF LANDS
Interesting information on this form of development
With follow-up notes from our readers
LAND FOR INVESTMENT
Residential, farm and estates, vacant land, mountain getaways, 1031 Like-Kind Exchange
1031 LIKE-KIND EXCHANGES an Overview for You
LOOKING FOR 1031 LAND FOR INVESTMENT?
A word or two about my philosophy that YOU shall be served well ...
FYI: MADISON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
For those of you who have discovered the lands I love, (and where I am a "Green REALTOR, ) here is some info...
LAND BUYS THAT LOOK TO THE FUTURE
About the work The Nature Conservancy has done around the Greater Asheville area that YOU can participate in…
PRESERVES AND PROTECTED LANDS IN NORTH CAROLINA
About the protected beautiful sites across N.C. including one within hours of Asheville, MOUNT MITCHELL.
THE CONTINUING SAGA OF THE LITTLE HORSE FARM NEAR ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
COULD THIS BE A PLACE FOR A THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER?
Horse farms and Equine Properties For Sale Around Asheville are my specialty. Read a story about one here.
MORE ON THE FAMILY HORSE FARM
MORE on Horse Farm For Sale Near Asheville~ Possible Use for Retired Horse Lovers-A Business for Retired Horses!
HORSE FARMS FOR SALE, HORSE FARMS FOR SALE, Oat Oh! I'm thinking maybe I should buy one near Asheville! Horse Farms and Equine Properties For Sale Around Asheville Are Magnetic!
THE NATUE CONSERVANCY'S "CONSERVATION BUYER" PROGRAM
A group of folks I know who are REALTORS here in the Asheville area are also great lovers of nature. More on “Green Realtors” here.
"TO BE RATHER THAN SEEM....."
"The North Carolina state motto is Esse Quam Videre, which means "To Be, Rather Than To Seem."
FYI: MADISON COUNTY, North Carolina
This is the time of year that folks from down south of us head for the mountains and the fresh COOL air! For those of you who have discovered the lands I love, (and where I am a "green" REALTOR, )here is some information that may be of interest to you about the area around MARS HILL and MARSHALL and HOT SPRINGS, North Carolina~ MADISON COUNTY, North Carolina.
Madison County, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, is a rural county. It is only about half an hour or so from Asheville, but with approximately 3,500 small family farms, agriculture is the largest industry in the County. In fact, agriculture accounts for half of the gross income in the County. Here in Madiosn County, where streams and pastures and hollers and coves abound, you may look out your window as you drive the scenic (excellently maintained) country roads and notice tobacco crops. That's because Madison County is the largest burley tobacco producing county in North Carolina!
There are approximately 2,350 farms with burley tobacco quotas. A decade ago, burley tobacco accounted for $10 to $12 million for agriculture income annually. But recently, the demand for tobacco has been on the decline, and so our local crops are changing. Fsrmers are diversifying! If you are a nonsmoker or a smoker, you still will be able to enjoy the new crops, because with the recent decline in burley tobacco, farmers have been cultivating the most amazing ORGANIC crops. Vegetable, organic and nursery crops have increased dramatically since 1998. Stop by the family-run vegetable, fruit and flower market just as you come in to Mars Hill, and you will see whatI mean.
OH! and if you should decide to let me find you the perfect acreage to steward over the years...and keep as beautiful as it is now for your grandchildren and great-grandchildren....and if you decide to spend the winter (it is mild) here...Christmas trees are easy to find ...in fact, they account for more than $2.5 million annually.
Madison County, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, is a rural county. It is only about half an hour or so from Asheville, but with approximately 3,500 small family farms, agriculture is the largest industry in the County. In fact, agriculture accounts for half of the gross income in the County. Here in Madiosn County, where streams and pastures and hollers and coves abound, you may look out your window as you drive the scenic (excellently maintained) country roads and notice tobacco crops. That's because Madison County is the largest burley tobacco producing county in North Carolina!
There are approximately 2,350 farms with burley tobacco quotas. A decade ago, burley tobacco accounted for $10 to $12 million for agriculture income annually. But recently, the demand for tobacco has been on the decline, and so our local crops are changing. Fsrmers are diversifying! If you are a nonsmoker or a smoker, you still will be able to enjoy the new crops, because with the recent decline in burley tobacco, farmers have been cultivating the most amazing ORGANIC crops. Vegetable, organic and nursery crops have increased dramatically since 1998. Stop by the family-run vegetable, fruit and flower market just as you come in to Mars Hill, and you will see whatI mean.
OH! and if you should decide to let me find you the perfect acreage to steward over the years...and keep as beautiful as it is now for your grandchildren and great-grandchildren....and if you decide to spend the winter (it is mild) here...Christmas trees are easy to find ...in fact, they account for more than $2.5 million annually.
Saturday, May 15, 2004
LAND BUYS THAT LOOK TO THE FUTURE
In the article that follows, you will discover some of the work The Nature Conservancy has done around the Greater Asheville area. YOU can be part of a growing number of folks who are thinking to the future and want their great-grandchildren to be able to enjoy the beauty of the Appalachians.
One way you can do this is through the Nature Conservancy's "Conservation Buyer" Program.
Like you, there are many REALTORS here in the Asheville area who are also great lovers of nature. In fact, I have met quite a few who spend their weekends in the mountains hiking the Appalachian Trail, or out hunting for waterfalls. They say that REALTORS who work on the lands around here can tell where they are by the "feeling" of the land, and I believe it's true. Just let your imagination take you to a horse farm with steep pastures at 3,000 feet, and a horse farm down in the Sandy Mush valley located at the far end of Madison County, and you will see what I mean.
Around here, when you get to the point that you can "feel" the land, you are known as a "green REALTOR' and that's when you hope that some family will come along who feels about the land here the way you do. When that happens, email me right away ! I can share information about a practical ways YOU can help keep these lands gorgeous and pristine for YOUR children’s children...
Here's a start:
LOOK INTO The Nature Conservancy’s "Conservation Buyer" Program, a pragmatic approach that recognizes the interests of property buyers, sellers, realtors, conservationists, and the community. By working together, land trusts and conservation buyers are protecting thousands of acres of land across the nation that are beyond the means of conservation organizations to purchase alone. Each conservation buyer who protects a parcel of land with private dollars frees non-profit and government dollars for other projects, and helps land protection everywhere.
How does it work?
Conservation organizations are increasingly turning to conservation buyers for assistance with land protection efforts in certain areas or on certain types of projects. Conservation buyers are individuals who buy a property that is subject to a permanent and legally binding conservation restriction or who will impose a conservation restriction as part of their purchase.
A conservation restriction – also known as a CONSERVATION EASEMENT–limits certain uses of a property, such as the right to subdivide and develop.
****IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO NOTE: Because use of this land is permanently restricted, land subject to a conservation restriction is generally appraised at a lower value than comparable unrestricted parcels and donation of such a conservation restriction can constitute a charitable gift!!!!
A conservation restriction can be held by either a public or qualified private nonprofit organization.
A conservation restriction being imposed by the buyer at time of purchase can be customized to the needs of both the buyer and the land. If no home exists on the property, a restriction can usually be structured to allow some construction under strict guidelines that protect the property’s natural assets.
What are the advantages of the conservation buyer program?
The property remains in private ownership and on the local tax rolls.
The restrictions stay with the property, even if it is sold or transferred, and therefore limit the use of the property permanently. These restrictions are binding in perpetuity, and designed for a distinct conservation purpose.
Many communities reduce property tax assessments on land with a conservation restriction in place, because the site's potential to be further developed has been reduced or eliminated.
A final advantage is limited housing development and sprawl, which cost communities more than they contribute in tax revenues
READ ON...
One way you can do this is through the Nature Conservancy's "Conservation Buyer" Program.
Like you, there are many REALTORS here in the Asheville area who are also great lovers of nature. In fact, I have met quite a few who spend their weekends in the mountains hiking the Appalachian Trail, or out hunting for waterfalls. They say that REALTORS who work on the lands around here can tell where they are by the "feeling" of the land, and I believe it's true. Just let your imagination take you to a horse farm with steep pastures at 3,000 feet, and a horse farm down in the Sandy Mush valley located at the far end of Madison County, and you will see what I mean.
Around here, when you get to the point that you can "feel" the land, you are known as a "green REALTOR' and that's when you hope that some family will come along who feels about the land here the way you do. When that happens, email me right away ! I can share information about a practical ways YOU can help keep these lands gorgeous and pristine for YOUR children’s children...
Here's a start:
LOOK INTO The Nature Conservancy’s "Conservation Buyer" Program, a pragmatic approach that recognizes the interests of property buyers, sellers, realtors, conservationists, and the community. By working together, land trusts and conservation buyers are protecting thousands of acres of land across the nation that are beyond the means of conservation organizations to purchase alone. Each conservation buyer who protects a parcel of land with private dollars frees non-profit and government dollars for other projects, and helps land protection everywhere.
How does it work?
Conservation organizations are increasingly turning to conservation buyers for assistance with land protection efforts in certain areas or on certain types of projects. Conservation buyers are individuals who buy a property that is subject to a permanent and legally binding conservation restriction or who will impose a conservation restriction as part of their purchase.
A conservation restriction – also known as a CONSERVATION EASEMENT–limits certain uses of a property, such as the right to subdivide and develop.
****IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO NOTE: Because use of this land is permanently restricted, land subject to a conservation restriction is generally appraised at a lower value than comparable unrestricted parcels and donation of such a conservation restriction can constitute a charitable gift!!!!
A conservation restriction can be held by either a public or qualified private nonprofit organization.
A conservation restriction being imposed by the buyer at time of purchase can be customized to the needs of both the buyer and the land. If no home exists on the property, a restriction can usually be structured to allow some construction under strict guidelines that protect the property’s natural assets.
What are the advantages of the conservation buyer program?
The property remains in private ownership and on the local tax rolls.
The restrictions stay with the property, even if it is sold or transferred, and therefore limit the use of the property permanently. These restrictions are binding in perpetuity, and designed for a distinct conservation purpose.
Many communities reduce property tax assessments on land with a conservation restriction in place, because the site's potential to be further developed has been reduced or eliminated.
A final advantage is limited housing development and sprawl, which cost communities more than they contribute in tax revenues
READ ON...
PRESERVES AND PROTECTED LANDS IN NORTH CAROLINA
PRESERVES AND PROTECTED LANDS IN NORTH CAROLINA
The North Carolina NATURE PRESERVES ACT states that the continued population growth and land development in North Carolina have made it necessary and desirable that areas of natural significance be identified and preserved before they are destroyed.
These natural areas, the text goes on to report, are irreplaceable as laboratories for scientific research, as reservoirs of natural materials for uses that may not now be known, as habitats for plant and animal species and biotic communities, as living museums where people may observe natural biotic and environmental systems and the
interdependence of all forms of life, and as reminders of the vital dependence of the health of the human community on the health of the other natural communities.
.
In North Carolina, we have established a Natural Heritage Program to provide assistance in the selection and nomination for registration or dedication of natural areas. This program includes classification of natural heritage resources, an inventory of their locations, and a data bank for that information. There are so many amazing real properties that qualify as outstanding natural areas.
YOU can take part in funding and founding nature preserves by investing in such a property. The owner of a qualified natural area even may transfer fee simple title or other interest in land to the State. Nature preserves may be acquired by gift, grant, or purchase.
The North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 100 beautiful sites across the state. Most of the sites, while full of natural charm, also have adequate public access but are situated such that public exploration will not endanger fragile natural communities.
One of the sites within hours of Asheville is MOUNT MITCHELL. When you come to explore our area of the country, this is ONE place you will not want to miss! The State of North Carolina established its first state park at Mount Mitchell in 1915 to protect the area's virgin Fraser fir from timbering. The North Carolina Chapter purchased 84 acres of additional land for Mount Mitchell State Park in 1997.
At 6,684 feet above sea level, Mount Mitchell is the highest peak in the eastern United States and contains an extensive area of spruce-fir forest, one of the country's rarest ecosystems. Spruce-fir forest is abundant in a large region of northern North America, but south of New England the forest type is only found in a narrow band in the Appalachian Mountains. This natural community is characterized by evergreens, particularly red spruce and Fraser fir, and harbors many species that are closely related to species in the spruce-fir forests of New England.
In North Carolina, spruce-fir forest occurs at elevations above 5,500 feet where cool temperatures and high moisture are prevalent conditions. The forests are remnants from the last ice age some 18,000 years ago and have become refuges for species that cannot tolerate warmer, drier conditions. This forest type is declining due to the negative effects of air pollution, in particular, acid rain.
The North Carolina NATURE PRESERVES ACT states that the continued population growth and land development in North Carolina have made it necessary and desirable that areas of natural significance be identified and preserved before they are destroyed.
These natural areas, the text goes on to report, are irreplaceable as laboratories for scientific research, as reservoirs of natural materials for uses that may not now be known, as habitats for plant and animal species and biotic communities, as living museums where people may observe natural biotic and environmental systems and the
interdependence of all forms of life, and as reminders of the vital dependence of the health of the human community on the health of the other natural communities.
.
In North Carolina, we have established a Natural Heritage Program to provide assistance in the selection and nomination for registration or dedication of natural areas. This program includes classification of natural heritage resources, an inventory of their locations, and a data bank for that information. There are so many amazing real properties that qualify as outstanding natural areas.
YOU can take part in funding and founding nature preserves by investing in such a property. The owner of a qualified natural area even may transfer fee simple title or other interest in land to the State. Nature preserves may be acquired by gift, grant, or purchase.
The North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 100 beautiful sites across the state. Most of the sites, while full of natural charm, also have adequate public access but are situated such that public exploration will not endanger fragile natural communities.
One of the sites within hours of Asheville is MOUNT MITCHELL. When you come to explore our area of the country, this is ONE place you will not want to miss! The State of North Carolina established its first state park at Mount Mitchell in 1915 to protect the area's virgin Fraser fir from timbering. The North Carolina Chapter purchased 84 acres of additional land for Mount Mitchell State Park in 1997.
At 6,684 feet above sea level, Mount Mitchell is the highest peak in the eastern United States and contains an extensive area of spruce-fir forest, one of the country's rarest ecosystems. Spruce-fir forest is abundant in a large region of northern North America, but south of New England the forest type is only found in a narrow band in the Appalachian Mountains. This natural community is characterized by evergreens, particularly red spruce and Fraser fir, and harbors many species that are closely related to species in the spruce-fir forests of New England.
In North Carolina, spruce-fir forest occurs at elevations above 5,500 feet where cool temperatures and high moisture are prevalent conditions. The forests are remnants from the last ice age some 18,000 years ago and have become refuges for species that cannot tolerate warmer, drier conditions. This forest type is declining due to the negative effects of air pollution, in particular, acid rain.
Sunday, May 02, 2004
The Continuing SAGA of the Little Horse Farm Near Asheville, North Carolina
COULD THIS BE A PLACE FOR A THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER?
I have received numerous suggestions since I posted the article below. Some of you have contacted me to see the horse farm near Asheville. Spring is on the way to Asheville, and the Stream on the property is singing loudly as are the cardinals :-) and the fruit trees are about to leaf out, so it’s a good time to visit.
Just to re-cap…we have been looking at Horse Farms and Equine Properties For Sale Around Asheville, and I mentioned that here in the Asheville area there are many excellent properties for horses that are on the market with rolling pastures, noisy streams and sturdy old barns (with electricity and water) like one I have for sale about half an hour north of Asheville. I explained that the owners of this small horse farm live in Florida. They really didn’t want to leave Western North Carolina, but their business carried them south and now they are homesick for their farm and looking for the “right” folks to buy it. They love their farm…the eclectic farm house that they put so much effort into, the water feature that they built, the 20+ acres with PRISTINE views where they thought they would build their retirement home on one of the 3 building sites near the springs.
I mentioned that I have learned a great deal from this family’s caring for the land
and that their love of their horse farm has inspired me….so…I have been thinking about horses a lot lately.
For example: What happens to old horses? (see article below)
AND…What are the benefits of Equine Therapy for Adults and Kids with special needs?
To this second question I found THIS answer:
For individuals with disabilities, equine-assisted activities have been shown to improve muscle tone, balance, posture, coordination, motor development as well as emotional well-being.
I did some research on the history of therapeutic riding and found this: “Testimony to the therapeutic value of horseback riding spans the ages. But the origin of organized therapeutic riding is relatively recent. The achievements in the 1950's of one woman - Liz Hartel of Denmark - are generally regarded as the impetus for the formation of therapeutic riding centers in Europe. PoUo impaired Madame Hartel's mobility but not her spirit. She rehabilitated herself from wheelchair to horseback and in 1952 she won the silver medal for Grand Pris Dressage at the Helsinki Olympics. Medical and equine professionals took notice and soon centers for therapeutic riding sprang up in Europe. It didn't take long for therapeutic riding to reach the shores of the North American continent. Canadians and Americans studied what was happening in England and quickly made plans to start centers…”
So THAT'S how it all got started! I didn't know that, did you?
Folks began to recognize a need for an organization that could be a clearinghouse for information on therapeutic riding. In 1969 the groundwork for an organization named North American Riding for the Handicapped Association was laid.
WOW! Now I am imagining that someone would like to make the little horse farm a Center for therapeutic riding!..the whirlpool and lower level could be a place for folks to enjoy after therapy!
I am open to your suggestions and ideas. Let me know if you get a good one.
If you want to see a picture of the horse farm, just click on FEATURED LISTINGS to your left…
I have received numerous suggestions since I posted the article below. Some of you have contacted me to see the horse farm near Asheville. Spring is on the way to Asheville, and the Stream on the property is singing loudly as are the cardinals :-) and the fruit trees are about to leaf out, so it’s a good time to visit.
Just to re-cap…we have been looking at Horse Farms and Equine Properties For Sale Around Asheville, and I mentioned that here in the Asheville area there are many excellent properties for horses that are on the market with rolling pastures, noisy streams and sturdy old barns (with electricity and water) like one I have for sale about half an hour north of Asheville. I explained that the owners of this small horse farm live in Florida. They really didn’t want to leave Western North Carolina, but their business carried them south and now they are homesick for their farm and looking for the “right” folks to buy it. They love their farm…the eclectic farm house that they put so much effort into, the water feature that they built, the 20+ acres with PRISTINE views where they thought they would build their retirement home on one of the 3 building sites near the springs.
I mentioned that I have learned a great deal from this family’s caring for the land
and that their love of their horse farm has inspired me….so…I have been thinking about horses a lot lately.
For example: What happens to old horses? (see article below)
AND…What are the benefits of Equine Therapy for Adults and Kids with special needs?
To this second question I found THIS answer:
For individuals with disabilities, equine-assisted activities have been shown to improve muscle tone, balance, posture, coordination, motor development as well as emotional well-being.
I did some research on the history of therapeutic riding and found this: “Testimony to the therapeutic value of horseback riding spans the ages. But the origin of organized therapeutic riding is relatively recent. The achievements in the 1950's of one woman - Liz Hartel of Denmark - are generally regarded as the impetus for the formation of therapeutic riding centers in Europe. PoUo impaired Madame Hartel's mobility but not her spirit. She rehabilitated herself from wheelchair to horseback and in 1952 she won the silver medal for Grand Pris Dressage at the Helsinki Olympics. Medical and equine professionals took notice and soon centers for therapeutic riding sprang up in Europe. It didn't take long for therapeutic riding to reach the shores of the North American continent. Canadians and Americans studied what was happening in England and quickly made plans to start centers…”
So THAT'S how it all got started! I didn't know that, did you?
Folks began to recognize a need for an organization that could be a clearinghouse for information on therapeutic riding. In 1969 the groundwork for an organization named North American Riding for the Handicapped Association was laid.
WOW! Now I am imagining that someone would like to make the little horse farm a Center for therapeutic riding!..the whirlpool and lower level could be a place for folks to enjoy after therapy!
I am open to your suggestions and ideas. Let me know if you get a good one.
If you want to see a picture of the horse farm, just click on FEATURED LISTINGS to your left…
