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Wednesday, September 28, 2005

ECO Real Estate Consultant 

N.C.: New Designation for the Environmentally Conscious(September 1, 2005) --

The Asheville Board of REALTORS® in North Carolina has created a first-of-its kind program for environmentally conscious members.

After completing 36 hours of coursework on how to advise clients on environmental issues and topics, REALTORS® earn the Environmental Consultant Certificatation, known as ECO. The Asheville Board of Realtors and out ECO Task Force worked with North Carolina State University, the city of Asheville, the Clean Air Community Trust, http://www.airtrust.org/and several other organizations to develop the program. The 4TERRA TEAM is represented on that Task Force by janeAnne Narrin, Principal Broker. www.janeAnne.com


The ECO program includes a 4-hour continuing education course approved by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission, a 2-day seminar with 16 hours of core courses, and 16 hours of electives.The courses cover a range of environmental topics, such as green building,(NC HealthyBuilt Homeshttp://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=147& ) indoor air quality issues such as Radon and Mold...alternative energy sources, Energy Star rating and environmentally savvy perspectives for land stewardship and investment.

REALTORS® in the Greater Asheville area are excited about this opportunity to serve clients. 200 members attended the first four-hour course offered in May. In early October, those members will complete their two-day, 16-hour core course. And clients will reap the benefits!

Saturday, September 24, 2005

THE BLUE RIDGE GREENWAYS CONFERENCE
at Grove Park Inn November 12-13, 2005


If YOU are interested in learning more about the effect of GREENWAYS in the Greater Asheville area...or in your area of the country, come on over to the Grove Park Inn this November!

Urban planners and interested citizens can meet here about planning, developing, and increasing the number of GREENWAYS in North Carolina...or in your town. And you will enjoy any number of impressive speakers, informative sessions, workshops, and exhibits.

Sig Hutchinson, http://www.sighutchinson.com/the KeyNote speaker is a " passionate and committed public speaker, business trainer and community advocate, Sig works with business leaders, corporate clients and community advocates to empower their thinking and realizing their dreams, hopes and goals through shared visions and realized knowledge making happier and more productive individuals, companies and communities." Sig will talk about his experiences, successes, and observations and inspire attendees with new ideas and enthusiasm.

Featured speaker Bill Ross is Secretary of the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources( DENR) http://www.enr.state.nc.us/ is the lead stewardship agency for the preservation and protection of North Carolina's outstanding natural resources.

The organization, which has offices from the mountains to the coast, administers regulatory programs designed to protect air quality, water quality, and the public's health. DENR also offers technical assistance to businesses, farmers, local governments, and the public and encourages responsible behavior with respect to the environment through education programs provided at DENR facilities and through the state's school system. Through its natural resource divisions, DENR works to protect fish, wildlife and wilderness areas. The agency's activities range from helping to make sure drinking water is safe to managing state parks and forests for safe and enjoyable outdoor recreation experiences.

Secretary Ross is leading the One NC Naturally initiative. He has been a leader for over 20 years in developing and implementing a comprehensive statewide conservation plan that involves the public, governmental agencies, private organizations, and landowners, maintaining functional ecosystems, biological diversity and working landscapes through the stewardship of land and water resources, iimplementing a plan that will conserve and restore the State's natural heritage and sustain a healthy life for all North Carolinians and visitors.

The One NC NaturallyPrinciples:

To protect the state's land and water effectively, One North Carolina Naturally will be guided by the following principles:We must be proactive to protect healthy ecosystems now before they are threatened and we must restore less healthy systems before they decline further.

We must be coordinated in joining partners to integrate our strategies.
We must be efficient in recognizing existing achievements to focus resources.
We must be innovative, looking for ways to blend public and private strategies, public conservation and private hopes, incentives and funding.
We must be holistic in recognizing that growth patterns, development needs, and financial factors affect essential land and water conservation; and they are critical in advancing the State towards a healthy and sustainable future.


The conference will provide a good introduction to newcomers and help experienced professionals and advocated become more effective and efficient. Further, it will help to deepen understandings of the important roles greenways can play in the transportation network, protection of water quality, and improvement in the quality of life.


Registration fee is just $45 and includes lunch, breaks, and reception. Mobile workshop fee is $10. Single and double rooms are available at the Grove Park Inn at $136 (NCRPA rate).

For more information about the conference, please contact Linda Giltz, AICP, Regional Planner at the Land-of-Sky Regional Council, at 828-251-6622 or email her at indag@landofsky.org. Interested parties may also visit their web site, www.landofsky.org.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT


EPA and Federal Partners Warn of Potential Environmental Health Hazards When Returning to Homes and Businesses after Hurricane Katrina

Contact: Eryn Witcher, EPA, 202-564-4355 / witcher.eryn@epa.gov; Bill Wright, DOL/OSHA, 202-693-1896; Bill Hall, HHS, 202-690-6344; FEMA Newsdesk, 202-646-4600(Washington, D.C.-September 14, 2005)

Cleanup activities related to returning to homes and businesses after Hurricane Katrina can pose significant health and environmental challenges. People may be exposed to potentially life-threatening hazards posed by leaking natural gas lines, and carbon monoxide poisoning from using un-vented fuel-burning equipment indoors.

During a flood cleanup, failure to remove contaminated materials and to reduce moisture and humidity may present serious long-term health risks from micro-organisms, such as bacteria and mold. When citizens are authorized by local authorities to return to their homes and businesses, federal authorities urge people to take the following precautions:

Be Aware of Possible Combustible or Explosive Gases - Many natural gas and other fuel lines were broken during Hurricane Katrina and highly explosive gas vapors may still be present in many buildings.

In addition, methane and other explosive gases may accumulate from decaying materials.Open all windows when entering a building. If you smell gas or hear the sound of escaping gas:· Don't smoke, light matches, operate electrical switches, use either cell or conventional telephones, or create any other source of ignition. · Leave the building immediately; leaving the door open and any windows that may already be open. · Notify emergency authorities. Don't return to the building until you are told by authorities that it is safe to do so.

Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced when any fuel is burned and that can kill you at high levels. · Do not use fuel-burning devices such as gasoline-powered generators, gasoline-powered pressure washers, camp stoves and lanterns, or charcoal grills in homes, garages, or any other confined space such as attics or crawl spaces, or within 10 ft. of windows, doors or other air intakes. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO buildup in the home. Have vents and chimneys checked to assure that debris does not block or impede the exhaust from water heaters and gas furnaces.· If you start to feel sick, dizzy or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air right away. The CO from generators can readily lead to full incapacitation and death.

Avoid Problems from Mold, Bacteria and Insects - Standing water is a breeding ground for a wide range of micro-organisms and insects, such as mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can spread diseases like West Nile Virus. Micro-organisms, including bacteria and mold, can become airborne and be inhaled. Where floodwater is highly contaminated, as it is in many areas of the Gulf Coast, infectious disease is of concern. · Remove standing water as quickly as possible. · Remove wet materials and discard those that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried, ideally within 48 hours. While smooth, hard surface materials such as metal and plastics can often be cleaned effectively, virtually all building contents made of paper, cloth, wood and other absorbent materials that have been wet for longer than 48 hours may need to be discarded as they will likely remain a source of mold growth. · Dry out the building. The heavily contaminated flood waters resulting from Hurricane Katrina contain micro-organisms and other contaminants that can penetrate deep into soaked, porous materials and later be released into air or water. Completely drying out a building that has been immersed in contaminated flood waters will take time and may require the extensive removal of ceiling, wall, insulation, flooring and other materials as well as, in some cases, extensive disinfection. The growth of micro-organisms will continue as long as materials remain wet and humidity is high. If a house or building is not dried out properly, a musty odor, signifying growth of micro-organisms, can remain long after the flood. When fumes are not a concern and if electricity is available and safe, closing windows and running a dehumidifier or window air conditioner can be an effective way to remove moisture if the damage is moderate.· Reduce your exposure to air and water contaminants. Every effort should be made to limit contact with flood water. This includes the breathing of water vapors or mists formed from the contaminated water; this may occur when water is pumped or sprayed. If removing materials or furnishings already contaminated with mold or when cleaning significant areas of mold contamination or generally disinfecting areas soiled by flood waters, federal authorities recommend limiting your exposure to airborne mold spores by wearing gloves, goggles, and wearing an N-95 respirator, if available, or a dust mask.

Avoid Problems from the Use of Cleaners, Disinfectants, and Pesticides - Disinfectants, sanitizers, and other pesticides can contain toxic and potentially hazardous substances.· Mixing certain types of household cleaners and disinfectants can produce toxic fumes and result in injury and even death. Do not mix them or use them in combination. · Read and follow all label instructions carefully. · Provide fresh air by opening windows and doors. Remain in a room no longer than necessary. Allow adequate time for the area to air out.· If there is no standing water in the building and it is safe to use electricity, use fans both during and after the use of disinfecting, cleaning, and sanitizing products. Be sure that before using any electrical appliances, that they are properly grounded, and where possible, connected to a ground break equipped electrical source.· Keep all household products locked, out of sight and out of reach of children. Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container securely after each use. Keep items in original containers. Call 1-800-222-1222 immediately in case of poisoning.

Avoid Airborne Asbestos and Lead Dust - Elevated concentrations of airborne asbestos can occur if asbestos-containing materials present in many older homes are disturbed. Pipe or other insulation, ceiling tiles, exterior siding, roof shingles and sprayed on-soundproofing are just some of the materials found in older buildings that may contain asbestos. Buildings constructed before 1970 are more likely to contain asbestos. Airborne asbestos can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer of the chest and abdominal linings. Lead is a highly toxic metal which produces a range of adverse health effects, particularly in young children. Many homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint. Disturbance or removal of materials containing lead-based paint may result in elevated concentrations of lead dust in the air.

· If you know or suspect that your home contains asbestos or lead-based paint and any of these materials have been damaged or will otherwise be disturbed during cleanup, seek the assistance of public health authorities and try to obtain help from specially trained contractors, if available. · If possible, removed materials should be handled while still wet or damp, double bagged and properly labeled as to contents.·

In handling materials that are believed to be contaminated with asbestos or lead, EPA recommends that, at a minimum, you wear gloves, goggles, and most importantly, OSHA-approved respiratory protection, if available. · While still wearing a mask, wash hands and clothing after handling such materials.· If at all possible, avoid activities that will generate dust, such as sweeping or vacuuming debris that may contain asbestos or lead.· Take precautions before your contractor or you begin remodeling or renovations that disturb surfaces that may contain lead-based paint (such as scraping off paint or tearing out walls): · Have the area tested for lead-based paint. · Do not use a belt-sander, propane torch, heat gun, dry scraper, or dry sandpaper to remove lead-based paint. These actions create large amounts of lead dust and potentially harmful fumes.· Temporarily move your family (especially children and pregnant women) out of the apartment or house until the work is done and the area is properly cleaned. If you can't move your family, at least completely seal off the work area.

Properly Dispose of Waste - Caution must be exercised to assure that all waste materials are removed and disposed of properly. Open burning of materials by individuals should be avoided. Improperly controlled burning of materials not only represents significant fire hazards but can also produce additional hazards from the vapors, smoke, and residue that are produced from the burning.

Here are links to additional information:
o For more detailed information and guidance on mold prevention and cleanup, visit:
http://www.epa.gov/mold or call IAQINFO at 800-438-4318.
o EPA recommends that those dealing with extensive flood damage obtain and follow the detailed guidance in the American Red Cross/FEMA publications Repairing Your Flooded Home:
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_570_,00.html
o For more information on safe management of asbestos, visit:
http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/ashome.html
o For more information on safe management of lead-based paint, visit:
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/lead/o Federal Emergency Management Agency's Flood website - http://www.fema.gov/hazards/floods/
o CDC Hurricanes Health and Safety:
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/
o National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health -- Storm and Flood Cleanup
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/flood/
o U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Emergency Preparedness and Response web page, "Protect Yourself from Mold" -
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/mold/protect.aspRelease date:09/14/2005
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Tuesday, September 20, 2005

I saw this article and sent it on over to be shared.
janeAnne
www.janeAnne.com


Community Supported Agriculture
September 20, 2005 —
By Lois Caliri, The Roanoke Times

Polly Hieser lives off the land with the help of an unusual business concept -- attracting advance buyers to her unplanted crops. They agree to purchase in bulk and to volunteer in helping with the harvest. It may not be a concept familiar to young Future Farmers of America types, but it works for her.Hieser is no stranger to a landscape that's unfamiliar to most women. She runs a farm. That alone sets her apart among the career ladders more common to her gender; only 11 percent of American farm owners are women. And that number is up 12 percent since 1977.

Once primarily focused on beef cattle, female farmers have diversified in the past 20 years to specialize in horses, aquaculture, fur-bearing animals, and other kinds of livestock. On average, women operate smaller farms than men, and are far more likely to inherit their farms. Farming is, after all, a tough business in which failure is all too common. Virginia lists 47,600 farms, down 4 percent from 1997.

Nationally, the number of farms has remained stagnant at about 2.1 million.Still, Hieser persists as a survivor in a niche that she and increasing numbers of others are carving out around the nation: community supported agriculture.

CSA is a unique model of local agriculture whose roots reach back 30 years to Japan, where a group of women initiated a direct growing and purchasing relationship between their group and local farms. This concept traveled to Europe and was adapted to the U.S. and given the name "Community Supported Agriculture" in Massachusetts in 1985. The number of CSAs, nationally, has increased to more than 1,000, up from about 50 in 1990. Virginia lists 21 CSAs.

"I like the community aspect," Hieser said. "I didn't want to go to the farmers market. I don't have the loud voice like a hawker. I like the idea of growing food and having people come to pick it up."

She relishes the idea that groups of people support the farm and share in the bounty.Hieser draws up a budget reflecting the production costs for the year, and prices her shares accordingly.She charges $690 for a full share, and $410 for a half share. The prices are higher for those who do not want to volunteer during harvest.But she's also known for her generous heart."She enjoys the CSA concept because there's not a lot of sales involved," said Kim Schwenk, an employee. She added that Hieser isn't bossy. "She treats me as an equal. She gives me the run of the barn."

Hieser's unconventional approach to farming is yet another wrinkle in the special tactics that many farmers have resorted to in recent years to thrive, expand and sometimes just to stay afloat during dicey economic times. Individual owners have tried everything from turning part of their homes into bucolic bed-and-breakfasts to pick-your-own retailing.But anyone who seeks to emulate Hieser's strategy should be aware that her annual income of about $12,000 is below poverty line. Yet her true bottom line, the way she sees it, is boosted by bartered goods and the fruit and vegetables she grows for herself. She takes in a couple of extra thousand dollars from the sale of seed and plants.

Hieser chose her business model largely as a way to get close to her market of choice -- about 90 families who demand organically grown products. They are kindred spirits to her and being part of their lifestyle provides Hieser a certain camaraderie with which she's comfortable.....

At first blush, her combination barn and office is reminiscent of "Little House on the Prairie."There's a makeshift clothesline to dry bags, antiquated scales, a chalkboard with all the pertinent information, lots of hand-written notes, sinks and boxes of herbs and vegetables. A black cat with a white chest and paws strolls through at its leisure. But the fax and copy machines, computer and printer in one corner quickly remind you of modern times.Hieser's home, which she built, also reflects her Bohemian lifestyle.

She does not spend any of her earnings on cable or satellite.
She does not watch television.
She does not pay a gas bill.
She does not get an electric bill.
She built her modest home using solar panels.
She heats her home with propane.
She does pay for car insurance and her monthly premiums to her health insurer.
Her grocery bill is next to nothing.

"Farming in this country is in real trouble because of long-distance shipping and the cost of farming unfarmable land."

She's disturbed that many people continually hurt the soil with chemicals and heavy machinery.It was the heavy use of chemicals that drove Hieser and her business partner, Ron Juftes, out of a Philadelphia suburb, where the two had a landscaping and tree surgery business. That was in 1990."We started to get sick from the lawn spray. We couldn't work in neighborhoods where the lawns were sprayed. It was nasty stuff."

To see more of The Roanoke Times, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.roanoke.com. Source: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
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Here in the Greater Asheville area we at ECO-STEWARD Realty, a community-based service with a heart, we support local growers and work with farmers to preserve and protect the Appalachian Farmlands.

Please let us know if we can be of service to YOU.

janeAnne, Principal Broker
www.janeAnne.com

Monday, September 19, 2005

YOUR REALTOR® AND THE FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP TO YOU

Loyalty
One of the most fundamental fiduciary duties an agent owes to the principal. The duty obligates a real estate broker to act at all times, solely in the best interests of the principal, excluding all other interests, including that of the broker.


An example of breach of loyalty is when a broker purchases a property listed with his/her firm, and immediately resells it at a profit. Such conduct is usually considered appropriate and lawful by persons who act at arms length, but a fiduciary would be considered to have stolen an opportunity for profit that rightfully belongs to the principal.

Sellers' Broker/Exclusive Buyers' Broker
Must do everything possible to gain an advantage for the Seller.
Must do everything possible to gain an advantage for the Buyer.



Obedience
A REALTOR® is obligated to promptly and efficiently obey all lawful instructions of his/her principal that conform to the purpose of the agency relationship. However, the duty does not include an obligation to obey unlawful instructions, such as instructions to not market a property to minorities or to misrepresent the condition of a property.

Sellers' Broker/Exclusive Buyers' Broker
Must obey all lawful instruction of the Seller, AND is not obligated to obey instructions from the Buyer.
Must obey all lawful instruction of the Buyer, AND is not obligated to obey instructions from the Seller.



Disclosure
A REALTOR® must disclose to the principal all known relevant and material information that pertains to the scope of the agency. The duty includes any facts affecting the value or desirability of the property, as well as any other relevant information pertaining to the transaction, such as the other party's bargaining position, the identity of all potential purchasers, information concerning the ability or willingness of the buyer to offer a higher price, any intent to subdivide or resell the property for a profit.

A REALTOR's® duty of disclosure to his/her principal must not be confused with a real estate broker's duty to disclose any know material facts about the property value to non-principals. The duty to disclose known material facts is based on a real estate broker's duty to treat all persons honestly. The duty of honesty does not depend on the existence of an agency relationship.

Sellers' Broker
Must reveal any known material defects in the property. May NOT reveal information about traffic problems, poor school system, declining property values, etc. since these items might make the property less desirable to Buyers.


Buyers' Broker
Must tell Buyer everything they can find out about the Seller including the motivation for selling and any reasons the Seller may have for wanting a quick sale. Must tell Buyer everything s/he can find out about the property, including traffic problems, poor school system, high crime rates, etc.


Confidentiality
A REALTOR® is obligated to safeguard his/her principal's lawful confidences and secrets. Therefore, a real estate broker must keep confidential any information that may weaken a principal's bargaining position. The duty of confidentiality precludes a broker who represents a seller from disclosing to a buyer that the seller can, or must, sell a property below the listed price.

Conversely, a broker who represents a buyer is prohibited from disclosing to a seller that the buyer can, or will, pay more than what has been offered for a property.

The duty of confidentiality does not include an obligation by a broker who represents a seller to withhold know material facts about the condition of the seller's property from the buyer, or to misrepresent the property's condition. To do so constitutes misrepresentation and impose liability on both the broker and the seller.

Sellers' Broker
Must tell the Seller everything they can find out about the Buyer, including all financial details they can obtain. Must conceal anything about the Seller that would help the Buyer gain an advantage, such as impending foreclosure, need to move in a hurry, need to sell to settle divorce, etc.

Buyers' Broker
Must keep all information about the Buyer confidential, including the Buyer's ability or willingness to pay more for the property than they are offering as well as the Buyers motivation for buying.


Reasonable Care and Diligence
A REALTOR® is obligated to use reasonable care and diligence when pursuing the principal's affairs. The standard of care expected of a buyer's or seller's real estate broker is that of a competent real estate professional. By reason of his/her license, a broker is considered to have skill and expertise in real estate matters superior to that of the average person.

As brokerwho represents others in real estate dealings, a broker or salesperson is under a duty to use superior skill and knowledge while pursuing the principal's affairs. However, no broker is expected to perform tasks or know information outside the scope of his/her real estate license.

Real estate licensees may not and are not expected to perform services normally provided by engineers, lawyers, accountants, or other professionals. If concerns arise outside the scope of a broker's responsibility, the broker should acknowledge that and suggest that the principal seek assistance from a reliable outside source.

Sellers' Agent/ Buyers' Broker
Must prepare themselves through education and study to competently represent the Seller in all matters.
Must prepare themselves through education and study to competently represent the Buyer in all matters.


Accounting
A REALTOR® is obligated to account for all money or property that belongs to his/her principal entrusted to that agent. The duty compels a real estate broker to safeguard any money, deeds, or other documents entrusted to them relative to their client's transactions of affairs.

Sellers Agent/Exclusive Buyer's Agent
Must account to Seller for any money or documents entrusted to them.
Must account to Buyer for any money or documents entrusted to them.


For more information, please contact us at Mountain Homes and Land Legacies:
principalBroker@Asheville1031Realty.com

Friday, September 16, 2005


1031, Professional Advice, and Real Estate Flip Deals

Real estate investors who quickly buy and resell properties, while declaring the transactions under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Service Code, could find themselves being audited.

In a 1031 Like-Kind Exchange, investors can defer capital-gains taxes when they sell a business or investment property by sinking the profits into a comparable property right away. However, they cannot use the proceeds to purchase a primary residence or vacation home. The profits must be put into an escrow account, not taken as cash.

Investors "flipping ' properties in less than a year risk being taxed at a rate of 35 percent, as those 1031 Like-Kind investors looking to qualify for the capital-gains tax rate of 15 percent must hold onto their properties for at least one year.

As you know, we urge our 1031 clients to speak with1) a Qualified Intermediary 2) a CPA or tax attorney to ensure that they understand the rules prior to making a real estate investment.

INTERESTING: A recent study by First American Real Estate Solutions, meanwhile, shows why flipping has become so popular. Those who flipped properties in Las Vegas, Miami, and Orange County, Calif., within three to six months of purchase between 1999 and June 2005 achieved a rate of return that exceeded the market appreciation rate by 20 percent to 40 percent.

Source: Wall Street Journal (09/14/05); DeBaise, Colleen

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

eco Bit

Want to help protect Western North Carolina's National Forest, the Appalachian Trail and the French Broad River from invasive exotic plants that are threatening the biodiversity of our special natural resources?

Learn the impacts of invasive exotic plants, how to control them in your own yards, plant identification as well as have some FUN with a diverse group of volunteers. We will be removing invasive exotics along the French Broad River by pulling, cutting or chain sawing (for those who are certified) in the Hot Springs area.

When:
September 23, 24, and 25,
September 29, 30 and October 1,

Join us 8 hours or more and receive a T-shirt! Come for PRIZES & GIVEAWAYS! We will have coffee and donuts ready for you at 7:45am! Training begins at 8am. Volunteers are asked to donate 8 hours of time. If you prefer, half-day options are available.

What we will provide:

Training and identification on the TOP 12 UNWANTED plants · Methods of control · Safety training · Training on all tools · An opportunity to practice removal techniques · Snacks, coffee, donuts and lots of water!

For Further Questions and Registration, Contact: Julie Judkins jjudkins@appalachiantrail.org Julie Judkins, Program Assistant & Office Manager for the Southern Regional Office, 160A Zillicoa Street, P.O. Box 2750, Asheville, NC 28802, 828-254-3708, 828-254-3754 FAX jjudkins@appalachiantrail.org

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

“In the current worldview, our values are dominated by the need for development, improvement, progress, evolution and the 'linear unfoldment of time.' “~ F.David Peat


If you look at “development, improvement, progress " in the Greater Asheville area from the perspective suggested in the above quote, you might think that (even) if left alone, things will get better and better here in our area.

I wonder about that. I don’t know if things will get better.

When I think in terms of good, better, best, forcing myself to categorize, compare, and measure, I do not make allowance for that “gut feeling” that has been a friend of mine for a long time Have you ever “just known” a property is perfect for you or for your investment portfolio? If so, you recognize that intuition is a big part of your real estate decision-making process. Asking: "Which alternative is better?" might not get you where you want to go.

As a client-centered REALTOR® I am attracted to transactions in real estate that turn around possibility—in other words transactions that take the perspective of both, all, and side-by-side

That may sound pretty complicated. First of all, you have to reorient an outlook that is so ingrained in your decision-making process (good, better, best) that it’s almost second nature. And then you have to catch yourself when “measuring” turns into your yardstick for decision-making. But I have a remedy for that. Just use my 10-point system.


The 10-point system in real estate transactions decision-making.

Here’s how it works:

If you are investing in a second/vacation home, for example, to get to the 10-point framework first walk me through your day. Tell me what you do. Do you sit with your mate for coffee and a scone and watch the birds come to the feeder just outside your breakfast window? How does your bathroom work for you? Will you choose to work from this home? Is it your private sanctuary? Will your family and extended family be around? And how much of the time? (Take the DESIGN YOUR DREAM SURVEY at:
http://www.janeanne.com/survey.asp


Now we are ready to focus eight (8) selections that are priority items to you. That leaves two (2) points for your intuitive instincts and pure possibility. How excellent, we have created a genuine property treasure hunt!

I’ll ask you to provide both pros and cons feedback (side-by-side when we are touring…and how you would rate a property on a scale of 1-8…leaving the other 2 points as the intuitive edge.)


1031@janeAnne.com





Sunday, September 11, 2005

SEPTEMBER 11th 2005

Today I am holding a place for change with compassion as Father Mychal Judge asked when he gave the memorial sermon for the first World Trade Center bombing in 1995. “…May wisdom come to you and all in your discernment" he prayed, “and the light of dreams unfolding in the mirror of divinity!"

How could any of us know that there would be a massive challenge to his prayer only a few years later? Some say we have come a long way since the second attack on September 11th. …. have established a Department of Peace http://www.thepeacealliance.org/events/sept_conf_05.htm . .. have
learned something along the way. Open hearts and minds opening when human pain touches all of us seems also to open a way for the limitless potential for universal peace. The outpouring of our finest emotions seems to salve wounds. Healing takes place when we come together as individuals and groups offering what we can..

Like we did for the broken levee, we can attend to the hole in the human psyche. I wish it were simple. I wish we could just put our fingers into the hole, like the little Dutch Boy did, and comfort and console. I wish we could stem the tide of disillusionment, alienation, and all communal illness for during times of disaster, it is obvious just how connected we are as a human family. Intertwined like the silken threads the spider spins, each of us is linked in the fabric of the web.

Here in Asheville, we are gathering for the September Eleventh Candlelight Vigil for Change with Compassion. And we are including this year those who are suffering all over the world….and being especially being mindful of the children…of the tsunami.. . of Katrina.


4TERRA@janeAnne.com



September 11th and Katrina Memorials and Links
http://www.sept11thmemorial.com/
http://www.crle.org/events.asp
http://www.thepeacealliance.org/events/sept_conf_05.htm

Saturday, September 03, 2005

~1031 Exchange: A Rapid Overview

As many of you who visit my BLOG might already know, Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code provides that no gain or loss shall be recognized on the exchange of property held for productive use in a trade or business, or for investment.So, a tax-deferred exchange is a method by which a property owner trades one or more relinquished properties for one or more replacement properties of "like-kind", while deferring the payment of federal income taxes and some state taxes on the transaction.

What's the Theory Behind This?

The theory behind Section 1031 is that when a property owner has reinvested the sale proceeds into another property, the economic gain has not been realized in a way that generates funds to pay any tax. In other words, the taxpayer's investment is still the same, only the form has changed (e.g. vacant land exchanged for apartment building). Therefore, it would be unfair to force the taxpayer to pay tax on a "paper" gain.

Remember:The like-kind exchange under Section 1031 is tax-deferred, not tax-free.

When the replacement property is ultimately sold (not as part of another exchange), the original deferred gain, plus any additional gain realized since the purchase of the replacement property, is subject to tax.If you want to find amazing 1031 Exchange properties in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area...contact me at this address:1031@janeAnne.com

Check out my resources page for lots of more in-depth materials on the 1031 like-kind exchange:www.janeAnne.com

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