Looking again at the photo I took this morning of an Asheville dawn (see below) reminded me how quickly the scene changed. You had to be ready with your camera to capture the vermillions and pinks and hints of blue. That got me philosophizing about change in general: CHANGE that is also Opportunity-
CHANGE is right here today- in our routines- in where we live-and possibly even in the way we live.
Change is one life-process with which we must deal and which we all share. Change -by the very fact that it is universally understood, is a common thread we share in the tapestry of sustainable living. It's just a fact of being in the world. And because of all this, it actually brings with it a strong sense of belonging.
A few thoughts on the SEASONS OF CHANGE in the practice of real estate
Whether that change involves moving from a family farm into the city, or relocating from another state to the Appalachians and the Greater Asheville area, our clients voluntarily are initiating four all-important "seasons"- the sweet spring of optimism, the summer of informed skepticism, the brilliant autumn of realistic expectations, and finally the clear winter of wise choices. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
janeAnne Narrin, M.A., C.S.W., poet, NAR GREEN®, ECO Certified, e-PRO, nature-lover is the founder of the ECO -Steward Real Estate Firm in Asheville, North Carolina. She loves a spirit of stewardship, and she is
Are you interested in Eco-Friendly Development ? One Asheville area eco-community may have some answers for you. Creating an eco-friendly development starts with planning how the site on acreage comes together and will unfold.
There are questions that come up before one home is built that beg to be answered:
How will this development work with natural resources by preserving topsoil and trees and reducing storm water runoff?
How energy efficient building and an increased use of alternative energy sources lead to sustainable development?
What is the plan for using green building materials?
And is there a plan for educating homeowners and building professionals on the features and benefits of deep-green construction?
When just yesterday I visited Hickory Nut Forest Eco-Community near Asheville where 225+ AC surrounded by 800+ acres of conservation partners' land and how to carve out a net zero energy community on a small portion possibly these were questions under consideration by this group of thoughtful land owners. __________________________________________________________________________________________
__~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 Eco-Friendly-Home, Relocation LAND Clients..
It's HALLOWEEN...and so a Haunting tale is appropriate. JOAN WHITEBOOK, one of our faves at Active Rain shares this one..."...I guess that I should tell you that this house may have a ghost....." she recounts. And you will be surprised at this trick or treat....
The Stambovskys found a nice Victorian home in the Village of Nyack, New York in 1991 and they made an offer. The purchase price was $650,000. The Buyers made a down payment of $32,500.
A couple of months after the contract was signed, Mr. Stambovsky was horrified when he learned that the home was known in the community to be HAUNTED!
Apparently, the phantasmal reputation of the house was commonly known in the Village of Nyack.
Surprisingly, the Sellers had publicized the ‘hauntings" to the local media and Reader's Digest. In 1989, the house was included in a five-home walking tour of Nyack and described in a November 27th newspaper article as "a riverfront Victorian (with ghost)."The Stambovskys were not from the area and did not know about the poltergeists.
The Stambovskys brought a legal action and alleged that the Seller and the Seller's agent should have disclosed the presence of ghosts. They wanted out of the contract because the presence of ghosts was not disclosed.
The trial court said no way! However, the case went up on Appeal and the Appellate court ruled that the Stambovskys could get out of the contract because, "As a matter of law, the House is Haunted".
The Appellate Court stated:
"While I agree with the Supreme Court that the real estate broker, as agent for the seller, is under no duty to disclose to a potential buyer the phantasmal reputation of the premises and that, in his pursuit of a legal remedy for fraudulent misrepresentations against the seller, plaintiff hasn't a ghost of a chance, I am nevertheless moved by the spirit of equity to allow the buyer to seek rescission of the contract of sale and recovery of his down payment."
The court reasoned that because the Seller had promoted the hauntings to several publications, she could not now deny the existence of ghosts. Therefore, the Appellate court ruled that under the equitable principals of the law, the Stambovskys were entitled to a refund of their down payment.
This was the Amityville house ~ Stambovsky v. Ackley (169 A.D.2d 254, 572 N.Y.S.2d 72). It was decided in 1991 by the New York Appellate Court.
When I first moved to New Hampshire and began my career in real estate, I was showing an older home in Atkinson, New Hampshire. It was a charming home -- All of a sudden, we heard a loud noise --the wind was whistling and a door slammed shut.
We all were trying to act like it wasn't any big deal. Then the lights started to flicker. I didn't know what to think - and up until that time, I hadn't thought about whether I REALLY believed in ghosts. My clients were very nervous.
Then to my surprise, the Real estate agent, said "Well, I guess that I should tell you that this house may have a ghost and the seller wanted me to share this with you." He went on to explain that a young child had died from a serious illness many years before, and the child could be heard crying from time to time. Some had speculated that the child's soul was "stuck" in the house.
The clients were not familiar with "haunted houses" and they decided they would buy a new contemporary instead!
There is also a "haunted" restaurant in Nashua, New Hampshire. The Country Tavern was built in 1741. It is a lovely restored farmhouse and is the home of a friendly ghost known as ELIZABETH.
The "haunted restaurant has been featured on "Hard Copy and "unsolved mysteries". I haven't met Elizabeth, but some staff members have met her. They say she is very friendly and likes to play pranks on the staff!
Here is a list of "haunted homes" and attractions in New Hampshire!
A Haunting Question: Got Ghosts? What is the DUTY TO DISCLOSE IN YOUR STATE?
- Does the seller's agent have a duty to disclose the phantasmal reputation of the premises?
- Does the seller have a duty to disclose the presence of ghosts?
- Does the buyer's agent have a duty to disclose the presence of ghosts?
What is the duty to disclose stigmatized property in your state?
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Visit New Hampshire .... New Hampshire was chosen as the Most Livable State in America! and the Third Healthiest State in America! Whether you are relocating to New Hampshire or already live in New Hampshire and you seek buyer focused representation, contact me, I would love to show you the New Hampshire Advantage!
Not long ago, Tom Rioux came to talk with us about PAINT. No ordinary paint, mind you. This is elegant paint and no wonder. Tom is an elegant person.
I am not saying this because he dresses in Armani , which he does not. I am saying this because he is a class act. And I am saying he is a class act because Tom shows impressive and stylish excellence as he walks his talk.
I have the impression other people are a lot healthier because he has invested his time and energy for that purpose. Yes! You can have great paint without the poisons!
Beauty. Strength and Sustainability all wrapped up in his creation which is known as EARTH PAINT. According to Tom, who knows first-hand what the chemicals in everyday paint can do to the immune system,
Beauty is about
Natural Sophisticated Elegance.
Color, using standard or our No VOC (retailers) colorants
Strength is about
Old style longevity with today's Green Movement consciousness
Long Life Cycle factors
Sustainability encompasses
100% Wind Power Energy!
Biodegradable
100% Wastewater Recycling
Competitive Pricing / Fair Wages
No materials from overseas
Our colleague Mary Bigelow will be excited to know that Earthpaint is the first paint company to use 140% Wind Energy offsets! And now you have the opportunity to be impressed with Tom ,too.Here he is on video. Let me know what you think....
__~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 Eco-Friendly-Home, Relocation LAND Clients..
Q and I went for a stroll on this partly sunny October day. It is close to Halloween and we were ready for a treat, which is just what we found at the Three Dog Bakery in downtown Asheville.
As we entered the store we were greeted with a cheerful hello and the enticing aroma of dog cookies baking. From behind the counter a lovely lady came out to meet Q. She thought he was adorable, I could tell.
Lucky for us, we live in pet-friendly Asheville where dogs are recognized as "special" especially when they sparkle like Q does. (see photo)She offered him a treat which he devoured with delight. She then inquired about our needs. This was our first visit. We saw the shining oven and enjoyed the aroma of fresh-baked goodies. We followed our noses around to see the various colorful displays.
I noticed that the products are eco-friendly, recycled or recyclable and that the ingredients in the food products are all "natural" while Q dog wagged his tail all the while, especially when he "sniffed out" the Grizzly Salmon oil.
When it was time to check out, the items I chose were carefully wrapped in bakery paper and placed in a recyclable box with a logo on it. Woof! A real treat for the upcoming holiday...and no sugar in it.
I was most impressed with our visit to Asheville's Three Dog Bakery today. The quality of the items and the atmosphere and friendliness combined to make me want to come back often.
When we returned home, both our dogs reported total satisfaction with their Halloween goodies. I am sure they will tell the dogs in our neighborhood whose families will be stopping in to Asheville's Three Dog Bakery soon.
DOG TREATS for the Halloween. _________________________________________________________________________ __~o -\_<, (*)/'(*) .......... ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable world you can create today and tomorrow!. ......................... .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL &. PET FRIENDLY REAL ESTATE.Serving Asheville's Eco-Friendly-Home, Relocation LAND Clients.
I love the prospect of warm socks at first frost and the soldier-like look of them in neat rows as they line up before me next to the French-milled soaps in the second dresser drawer where they have bunkered since the daffodils bloomed.
A colorful assemblage, they in vibrant vermillion, or sumptuous grey, or azure- multi-hued, patiently waiting to be tapped for duty.
I am dancing now in the hours after donning the Carolina Blue pair, with my tweeds and outdoor duds, cashmere caressing my lucky toes, I am royalty lifted above the fray simply to stroll Doc Silver's nippy back forty as if it were a mild midsummer's day but better: no insects or tall grasses where the slithering creatures play-
just the Land and, here and there, on the north side of the ridge, slender watery threads making icicles from summer's sweet cascades.
October's fallen leaves, still wet with yesterday's storm, are slick on the trail. Still, I float along, scarf flying, hiking boots, muddy and well-worn, with feet smiling in blue-clad luxury.
We are searching for the last wild berries, you and I, and beneath these, you unearth the secret: "... cherished toes pay dividends uncounted...."
~^~ jA Narrin, Wind-in-the-Feather The Spirit Ridge Collection Asheville, 2009
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Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.