Sunday, August 12, 2007
I Feel Blessed
Picture yourself on a typical "work"day …
Rolling pastures, and Appalachian “countryscapes” dotted with red barns,, white steeples, and greening crops that mean a supply of locally-grown food, border singing streams that bring a smile to your face, and the “wake up” calls of roosters actually may surprise you at any time of day. Surprises are fun.
It is wonderful. . Country breezes bring aromas of newly mown hay. A rigorous walk through the pasture might be at hand. Good exercise. (see photo ) .
There’s a sense of history in the air, too. According to Wikipedia, “prior to the 20th century, the people of Appalachia were geographically isolated from the rest of the country. As a result, they preserved the culture of their ancestors (most of them Scottish, Scots-Irish, Irish, German, and English) who settled the region in the 18th century. The region's culture includes a strong oral tradition (including music and song), self-sufficiency…” .
"Self sufficiency.” Yep, that’s you. You’re in your hiking gear and so are your clients who are practically bubbling with enthusiasm, just like the cascade you point out as you drive on.. . They love the land (and so do you.) They love the all the animals, especially the horses (and so do you.) . They love riding in your car with the top down.
Maybe you’ll have to step over rocks to cross a stream, climb some granite outcropping, sit for a story or two with the farmer on a screened in porch by her perennial garden. . And at the end of the day, the gem having been found, offer on the way or not, you feel that certain sense of satisfaction that arrives when you are at home with what inspires you.
Talk about "right livelihood"! As a REALTOR® who specializes in acreages with improvements such as stables and farm homes the short list of 10 above just begins to describe my day. I feel lucky and blessed to have such experiences. ...gifts I happily will share with you.
Labels: acreage, asheville real estate, energy efficient homes asheville, green real estate, green-o-lina, horse farms, stewardship, sustainable
Friday, August 10, 2007
A Few Green Concepts, Raw Land & ECO-friendly Asheville
***This is NOT news: Green building concepts have changed the way we design, construct, operate and generally think about land planning and development, our homes, our communities. Eco-friendly, value-added features attract people, so demand is on the rise. In 2006, builders gave Asheville, N.C. about 30 energy efficient and/or NC HealthyBuilt® homes. In 2007, however, over 400 such homes are in progress, a market trend also apparent in the Atlanta area.
***
This IS something to think about: With the explosion of interest, new questions arise. How, for example, does one go about green-building without building over the green?
That’s the question that started an eye-opening conversation with the talented botanist consultant, Kevin Caldwell.
Kevin knows how to incorporate green-planning based on ecology into your current living spaces, and/or he can advise you on how to build a green home on raw land. He knows what to look for in terms of a land plan. You can tell right away that this 6’6” pillar of information loves his work. There’s a twinkle in his eye when he describes it—the botanical, wildlife, and natural community inventories, the Section 404 Wetland Delineations and Section 7 Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species assessments he performs. If you want to hear first-hand stories about
Old Growth forest delineation, ecosystem management and restoration, re-vegetation, and invasive species removal, Kevin’s your man. So when I got to go along with him while he was doing a landscape-level assessment of intrusive and native species, I was delighted. Our conversation took place on a knoll overlooking a valley one sunny morning not long ago.
read more about my conversation with Kevin in my monthly column in the New Life Journal
That’s the question that started an eye-opening conversation with the talented botanist consultant, Kevin Caldwell.
Kevin knows how to incorporate green-planning based on ecology into your current living spaces, and/or he can advise you on how to build a green home on raw land. He knows what to look for in terms of a land plan. You can tell right away that this 6’6” pillar of information loves his work. There’s a twinkle in his eye when he describes it—the botanical, wildlife, and natural community inventories, the Section 404 Wetland Delineations and Section 7 Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species assessments he performs. If you want to hear first-hand stories about
Old Growth forest delineation, ecosystem management and restoration, re-vegetation, and invasive species removal, Kevin’s your man. So when I got to go along with him while he was doing a landscape-level assessment of intrusive and native species, I was delighted. Our conversation took place on a knoll overlooking a valley one sunny morning not long ago.
read more about my conversation with Kevin in my monthly column in the New Life Journal
A Conversation with Kevin Caldwell
Labels: asheville green real estate, green building, green-o-lina, land planning
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Just a Few "Earthy" Investment Thoughts
What if you just landed here on Earth and were
looking for opportunity in investment property?
What "kind" of land would attract you?
a) agricultural land
b) rural land
c) urban land
Let's say you could leave your footprint upon Terra Firma.
How would you plan to establish it and watch it turn into something special?
Maybe you would be like this little "green" guy who grew up on a farm on a faraway galaxy. You are interested in agricultural land. You head out with a vision to create a working farm, maybe your brother will develop co-housing facilities, and you will live in a sustainable eco-village. You love good food. So you decide to grow and supply organic crops and dairy products.
On the other hand, having come all this way in life in a crowded space craft, you now yearn for a private estate where you can set aside 1,900 of 2,000 acres of rural land. You want to hang out in nature, ride around on a horse,create a trail system for equestrian pursuits.- You will probably restrict use on 100 acres of such a parcel for a nature-education center so that other cosmic-environmentalists can get the Earthlings up-to-speed on how to take care of their planet.
- OR... Maybe too much nature kind of scares you. You don't really like all those noisy winds. You are an urban land kind of person. You want to design techonolgically-advanced systems in a LEED certified "green" office building.
THIS is another in the series of Featured Articles at Active Rain.
continue reading my BLOG at Active Rain here
Labels: acreage, active rain BLOG, green investment, green-o-lina, horse farms, j LEED, N.C. LAND, real estate, stewardship, sustainable trends
Classic Asheville Neighborhood, Montford
Over the past year, a number of my posts have been Featured at Active Rain. Here, and in the upcoming posts, are a few of my favorites....starting with this one
Montford a Neighborhood, Asheville, NC Real Estate Information-North Carolina
The Montford Neighborhood ~ Asheville, N.C. ~A Community Embracing a Sustainable Future.
MONTFORD: Where one picture tells the story.
The MONTFORD NEIGBORHOOD in Asheville, North Carolina: Historic and Happening!
Here is a neighborhood of about 300 acres that expresses a rich diversity of architectural styles, most constructed between 1890 and 1920.
Montford, like its residents, is a place of complex overall character.. .Romance and history are in the air, so expect to " feel" the artistic influences. Even residents of other neighborhoods in and around Asheville find themselves drawn to Montford.
Maybe you will see them strolling down a tree-lined boulevard. Maybe you will notice how often they stop to gaze at the majestic homes that grace the streets There are wondrous architectural details including those from such trendsetters as Bruce Price, Bernard Maybeck, the prominent Arts and Crafts architect, and Frank Lloyd Wright. The Arts and Crafts style made popular in Asheville by noted society architect, Richard Sharp Smith, supervising Architect to Biltmore House is well-represented here in Montford.
According to the National Park Service, "Smith's preference for pebbledash, shingles, high-pitched roofs and heavy stone foundations contributed to an overall form for the neighborhood.
to continue reading please follow this link
Labels: asheville real estate, green, green-o-lina, montford, restoration grenn-o-lina, stewardship, sustainable
Friday, May 11, 2007
CONTINUATION OF THIS BLOG LINK
CONTINUE reading the about eco-wise real estate in the Asheville, N.C. area mountains here:
http://activerain.com/blogs/janeanne
Labels: active rain BLOG, asheville real estate, green-o-lina, janeAnne
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Asheville Real Estate Journal: Skepticism & The Real Estate Person
Asheville Real Estate JournalRight from the Start
Have you ever noticed that more people than not go into real estate transactions with skepticism?
Buyers and sellers alike seem to wonder about motives and intentions ...first, the REALTOR® who is (they hope) representing their interests, then secondly, they express concern about“the other side”. It's a tricky-time between the Offer and the Closing Event. And transactions can flounder when the parties involved assume adversarial roles.
Possibly the secret to success lies in communicating intentions. Possibly if we let it be known that we intend to use the “win-win” approach right from the start, and then dedicate ourselves as co-facilitators to keeping the lines of positive communication open throughout the process, all parties involved will get excited about participating in and orchestrating a smooth closing event.
"Ducks in a Row!"
On this theory, at ECO-STEWARD REALTY we developed a Plan of Action. We ended up with what appears to be a tried and true checklist. We have found that is can and does support effective dialogue. It can help prepare all parties in terms of what’s expected from each of us from the beginning. And whether our clients are looking for a horse farm, acreage, or an energy efficient, green-built home, we feel confident we can offer a transparent transaction process right through the due diligence period, and on to settlement. Our Action Plant provides a very clear picture of How to get ALL our "Ducks" while Riding with the Stream”
###
www.janeAnne.com
Labels: asheville green real estate, client relations, energy efficient homes asheville, green-o-lina
Friday, March 19, 2004
Eco-Sensitive in Asheville
Just ten minutes from downtown Asheville, the growing community of Fairview, North Carolina and Eastwood Village, brainchild of Harry Pilos of Delphi Development of Asheville can be found. Eastwood is working to create a walking community "mountain style". There are single-family homes, apartments, and the retail spaces all within easy access to each other. Instead on stacking multi-storied apartments near busy highways, Eastwood "blends in" with the surrounding mountains.
This development is in the arts-and-crafts style ...one and two-story retail ,single family homes featuring real stonework, real cedar, jacuzzi tubs, and then multi-storied apartments. The villgae appears to amble up the mountainside in a natural progression. There are outdoor grills, gazeboes, and playgrounds. .
.Fairview, North Carolina is indeed prospering and Eastwood Village's eco-friendly approach is a major part of it. One other plus in Fairview's and Eastwood's favor in keeping it ecologically healthy is its designation as a "Scenic Byway" by the State of North Carolina. This was the first five-lane road to receive this distinction. The designation should help keep U.S. Hwy. 74-A an "uncluttered" approach to Asheville for years to come.
I will update this post in the future to let you know if Fairview stays the course.
This development is in the arts-and-crafts style ...one and two-story retail ,single family homes featuring real stonework, real cedar, jacuzzi tubs, and then multi-storied apartments. The villgae appears to amble up the mountainside in a natural progression. There are outdoor grills, gazeboes, and playgrounds. .
.Fairview, North Carolina is indeed prospering and Eastwood Village's eco-friendly approach is a major part of it. One other plus in Fairview's and Eastwood's favor in keeping it ecologically healthy is its designation as a "Scenic Byway" by the State of North Carolina. This was the first five-lane road to receive this distinction. The designation should help keep U.S. Hwy. 74-A an "uncluttered" approach to Asheville for years to come.
I will update this post in the future to let you know if Fairview stays the course.
Labels: asheville green real estate, eco-freindly, eco-village, Fairview, green investment, green-o-lina, N.C. LAND
Saturday, March 13, 2004
Green Real Estate & Investment Topics
(UPDATED regularly...please scroll down this page to read)
INTERVIEWING A REAL ESTATE PRO
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
MARKETING EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTIES
Amazing tracts of land, land trusts, land preserves and spectacular properties require more time and marketing effort in order to attract just the “right” investor/buyer. When choosing a REALTOR to represent you in such transactions look for that person’s ability to:
CLUSTER HOUSING and large tracts of land
Interesting information on this form of development
LAND FOR INVESTMENT
Residential, horse farms and estates, vacant land, mountain getaways, 1031 Like-Kind Exchange
1031 LIKE-KIND EXCHANGES an Overview
INTERVIEWING A REAL ESTATE PRO
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
MARKETING EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTIES
Amazing tracts of land, land trusts, land preserves and spectacular properties require more time and marketing effort in order to attract just the “right” investor/buyer. When choosing a REALTOR to represent you in such transactions look for that person’s ability to:
CLUSTER HOUSING and large tracts of land
Interesting information on this form of development
LAND FOR INVESTMENT
Residential, horse farms and estates, vacant land, mountain getaways, 1031 Like-Kind Exchange
1031 LIKE-KIND EXCHANGES an Overview
Labels: 1031, active rain BLOG, asheville green real estate, green investment, green real estate, green-o-lina
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
From a Hilltop Overlooking the River!
Ever felt as if you were zooming, full-tilt, down life’s highway while leaving behind your natural, “earthly” pace? Ever wish you had a place where you could just hang out and “set a spell’?
I know where you can find a slower pace, homemade peach cobbler, and the noble truth of just being! That place is Western North Carolina where small towns nestle comfortably in the Appalachians, some of the oldest mountains on Earth.
Take the small college town of Mars Hill, in Madison County North Carolina, for example.
Mars Hill is is just twenty minutes or so north of Asheville. There you will find the old-time white wood gazebo on Main Street. And "good old-fashioned" things are always happening in Mars Hill. Last Holiday Season, as I chatted with a couple from Michigan who are investing in a Land Trusts for their family, a parade with horse-drawn floats and a 20-piece marching band distracted us. I could see my clients’ eyes light up. “How often do you get to enjoy the homespun pleasure of simple elegance?” they asked.
Yes, you may come to know what Albert Camus meant when he said, “A man's work is nothing but this slow trek to rediscover, through the detours of art, those two or three great and simple images in whose presence his heart first opened.”
Great and simple images. That’s what we have here! When you come to visit, you’ll find rotating exhibits paintings, photographs, sculpture, and other media from local and visiting artists in rotating displays at the College. And there is music in the air. Madison County has been home to some of the finest fiddlers of the Western North Carolina Appalachians. As the Madison County Chamber of Commerce says, “The mountains have nourished and sustained a musical heritage derived from the Celtic forbearers of present-day inhabitants.”
Traditional folk art is widely practiced here and in the many small towns of Madison County. Art. Music and let’s not forget Theater and Dance! The Folk Dance Company of Mars Hill College hosts the Southern Clogging Championships, and Mars Hill is well known throughout these parts for the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theater (SART).
What a great environment for a REALTOR to call home. I love finding unique properties for my clients around here, the great hiking on the nearby Appalachian Trail ;whitewater rafting and canoeing; mountain biking; horseback riding; fishing and more... It is a sweet place to call HOME.
Labels: active rain BLOG, asheville real estate, green real estate, green-o-lina, stewardship, sustainable
