Secluded, but not isolated, home in small residential community. This private 2 bed 1 bath home sits on 44 acres of common land and includes a guest house, spacious workshop, and storage shed! Enjoy this tranquil setting from the partially screened wrap-around deck! Take a stroll down to the waterfall or over to meet the neighbors! The guest house is perfect for hosting out of town friends and family! Prop aka 325 Stone Mountain Farm Road.   For More Details: http://www.ashevillehomelistings.com/listing/mlsid/553/propertyid/543586/ Call Asheville Holistic Realty at Keller Williams for a Showing Today! 828.210.1592 08/21/2013

  Asheville new home buyers are heading out to Black Mountain to celebrate their  auspicious find with music. This week, the  Acoustic Corner (www.acoustic-corner.com) will present its auspicious teaching staff in a once-a-year concert. Get there early. No reserved seats.  See below for details.   About the Strings Master Players in Concert   Laurie Fisher on fiddle. Laurie offers playshops for the aspiring player-a great way for beginners who have wondered about fiddling to start off with a good boost. They are also great for re-invigorating the lapsed fiddlers. Laurie plays music from the contra, old time, Irish, and Scottish repertoire and is a 2nd violinist in the Blue Ridge Civic Orchestra and Jubilee Summer Orchestra.lauriefisher.com Matt Kinne on guitar. Matt studied jazz and cla... 11/06/2012

Asheville Area & Eco-Friendly: VIDEO- THE SETTINGS NeighborhoodAsheville Real Estate Journal There is a good-deal to be said about The Settings in terms of Green real estate- Location? Just 20 minutes from downtown Asheviille and only a mile or so from Black Mountain NC...puts this eco-friendly development in the “desirable” category. Active Lifestyle? Being an avid putter, I love the idea that there is easy access to a variety of golf courses, including two championship Golf courses...and for my walking buddies...there is a Trail System that was created by the internationally recognized trail design firm Trail DynamicsPROPERTY DETAILSAcres: 364Lot sizes from: .25 acres up to 16 acres The developer of The Settings Neighborhoods and Development has this to say, “Nestled in the Blue Ridge... 06/27/2012

  Creston Community & A Sweet Building Site Black Mountain, ( minutes form Asheville) NC.   HIKING and Nature trails will be right at your door when you build your dream home at this beautiful site at Creston Preserve. ( Creston Community is about half an hour or so easy drive from Asheville, and just 15 minutes from Black Mountain, NC.)  Think of my hand-drawn blue lines on the "Trail Map" below as treasure map. If you are a nature-lover, this Creston Community building site is the center piece.   You can hear the distant Allison Falls from the “Nestled In”  building site. Imagine walking the Allison Falls Trail along the border of the Pisgah Range adjacent to this building site. The sound of Allison Falls may beckon you. But here are a few tips to keep in mind:   1. For part of the tr... 01/05/2012

    O 'tis true bards and ballad hunterstravel the mountains of North Carolina seeking inspiration for their songs….   Ah! but are they unaware that such treasures could be found if they simply sat still with me upon the ridge ?   O to listen to the sounds of Asheville’s mountains …. Especially in December! when the mists awake, while the bears sleep, and mountains tell their stories   ***** 12/22/2011

  Here's an Asheville NC Land Buyer Wish List- for an Emerald Green Building Site   1) privacy and a nestled in feeling with the sound of waterfalls in the distance 2) adjacent to preserved thousands of acres of preserved/conservation easement land and trails 3) in an eco-friendly community 4) within 15 minutes of Asheville area town(s)   CAN DO! There really exists and "emerald green building site"... (see videos - right side bar and photo of flagged trail to building site) ...   This Nestled In gem is adjacent to  the Triple Falls Sanctuary at Creston Community’s  (Black Mountain NC) secret garden; a 350 acre preserve of forest, streams, and waterfalls that is literally the soul of this mountain community.   AND...A trail  right from the building site allows access to these wonders.  ... 12/01/2011

Creston Preserve could be a dream come true. Some say Creston Community is  the “perfect” place to “ nest with the eagles” in NC mountains. Nest or nestle in (featured in December 2011  videos -Right Sidebar! ) you can do it within 11minutes of Black Mountain NC. ( Creston Community is just 42 or 43 minutes from Asheville, NC too.) Creston Community keeps a promise to nature, conserved.  Creston Community's eco-friendly development design emphasizes a "close-to-nature" setting as opposed to more urban developments . You can feel a wonderful  connection with nature -the sites situated to maximize privacy and views, trails leading into huge conservation areas with the sound of waterfalls beckoning,  sunny lots with southern exposure for organic gardens,  and atop the mountain the communit... 12/01/2011

Building your dream home in the mountains near AshevilleNC ? I have to recommend walking the Land with  a "natural-healthy-built" general contractor. You are sure to “unearth” some very interesting things, as I did recently while exploring building sites at Creston Community. (SEE VIDEO BELOW)  Creston Community, by the way is an eco-friendly development in the Black Mountain Range near Asheville. Here are a couple links for details 1. Creston Community (Asheville Area) Cabin and Nature2. Creston Community (Black Mountain, NC) and Your Second Home? Features and Benefits  Choosing a sustainable, low-maintenance approach in landscape design has benefits— for example, selectively removing small poplars so that the larger ones can grow, (see video below,) can not only open up the views, but... 11/10/2011

"The Creston Community believes that quality of life and natural splendor go hand-in-hand. " Our vision for Creston Community was inspired by shared ideals of conservation, responsibility, and environmental sensitivity. For this reason, Creston Community has partnered with the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina. ...." Conservation easements  ensure the natural heritage residents can  cherish and enjoy in forever protected beauty. NOVEMBER FEATURED VIDEOS (to your right) : Creston Preserve- Black Mountain, NC (Asheville) 1.        The video to your right shows a view of Allison Ridge. From Creston Preserve, you look across the   Black Mountain Range to Allison Ridge (also can be seen from a “Nestled In” building site!) 2.        The “Nestled In” building site with views of Allison R... 11/01/2011

Asheville Real Estate-  Land Journal   Not long ago, a 1031 Like-Kind Exchange client traded her beachfront resort condo with its cumbersome property management responsibilities, for the relative freedom of a land purchase. This was a sixty-plus (60+) acre tract. It was endowed with amazing and very obvious natural features. She found it attractive not just for the beauty, but for the freedom. Here she can hike, camp or simply sit quietly observing the star-studded night sky. She is free to go, unencumbered by HOA dues and property management expectations, with a simple picnic basket to enjoy the  waterfall. (see photo) To watch over the Beauty for generations to come, this client could create a private land trust with protective covenants which might provide additional tax advantages. ... 07/01/2011

Asheville Real Estate JournalInvest in What is Important to You via 1031  1031 investors not only have latitude, but an intriguing menu from which to choose not only here in Asheville, but across the USA via the 1031 Exchange Plan. So the question becomes: What really matters to you? Convenience? Room for growing? A place to save for your grandchildren- a land legacy? An outstanding natural area?  ConvenienceSeveral years ago, an eco-minded 1031 investortraded her beachfront resort condo with its cumbersome property management woes, for the relative freedom of a land purchase. It may be half an hour in to downtown Asheville, but the "convenience factor" of  low maintenance is important to her. A fifty-plus (50+) acre tract with incredible natural features, this mountain beauty demands o... 06/24/2011

The Leaf Festival in Black Mountain May 12-15, 2001 The Lake Eden Arts Festival, also known as The Leaf, is back in Black Mountain this weekend. They have another great lineup of performers this year. Check the performers schedule to see what day you want to attend. There will be Arts, Dancing, Events for Kids, and more.   05/13/2011

The Settings of Black Mountain - Black Mountain, NC - Buncombe County The Settings of Black Mountain Info- Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains and only 15 minutes east of Asheville, The Settings of Black Mountain reflects the relaxed charm and artistic spirit that has made this part of North Carolina so treasured by those who make their home here. Spanning 364 acres, The Settings of Black Mountain overlooks the historic town of Black Mountain and gazes out toward the Blue Ridge. A select number of homesites at the top of the mountain adjoin a 100-acre conservation area, which will never be built on. Located just 15 minutes from Asheville, The Settings of Black Mountain features select North Carolina mountain real estate in a gated Blue Ridge community. Known for its breathtaking views a... 05/03/2010

Today we headed out to visit our friend who has a building site at Creston Preserve near Black Mountain, NC.  We hiked down the gentle slope,  past the twin mountain laurels toward the sound of the waterfall. The sun was just rising. It was about 65 degrees- perfect day for a hike through the woods.  It has been reported that natural areas like the one we took on our hike and seen in the photo here 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 ... 04/18/2010

Looking for a place to build your mountain cabin? Creston, an eco-friendly community thoughtfully developed  and carefully tucked  in the peaceful Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina  is set amidst hardwood forests and an abundant diversity of native flora and fauna. This could be just the place for you. An environmentally-sensitive community, it features Western NC mountain homesites situated to maximize privacy and a connection to a wonderful system of hiking trails, mountain views, waterfalls, and nature-loving neighbors.  Creston's  Significant Features: Beautifully landscaped  with native plants, and rockery here you will find Earth-friendly chip and seal paved roads, miles of  walking and hiking trails that lead to 1,000+ acres of gorgeous land. You can take a picnic to... 04/10/2010

Continuing on our tour of 7 Asheville Second-Vacation Home Locales you will enjoy considering, we arrive at Creston Eco-Friendly Community.  Points to keep in mind as we head out on this sunny day to look at Creston within the context of suitability for Second and/or Vacation homes are, a) proximity to Asheville, b) the exterior and/or interior allure for a second or vacation home,  and c) zoning/deed restrictions.  (photo shows new construction 2010 at CrestonEco-Community) The  foundation of a conservation-oriented community such as Creston Preserve rests on maintaining a healthy and diverse ecosystem-   a place where people can choose to live among caring neighbors, sharing their inspiration and enthusiasm. This is true at Creston where there is a particular benefit in being a part o... 03/29/2010

Rain chains according to Wikipedia are "alternatives to a downspout...[whose] purpose is largely decorative...." And certainly, they are. They offer melodic interpretations of water heading to the ground. Sometimes, there is a the potential for a three dimensional moment.   However, here in the Asheville NC area, the hub of sustainable innovation, rain chains offer more than attractive decorative features. Rain chains can be  a simple addition to a chosen rainwater harvesting (RWH) system.(see photo) Here in the mountains, where permaculture and organic gardening are part and parcel of neighborhoods, many of our clients are exctied about RWH. Rain water harvesting (RWH)  requires less treatment than greywater recycling, if being used for non-potable demand such as watering your garden. ... 02/22/2010

Asheville NC. The Land. The Lots. The February Sky. And a Fabulous FSBO.   Sunday in the Asheville area mountains. Winter.  The trees are bare. The sun is shining. This is the perfect time to scout parcels of land . These are the days LOTS and LAND reveal what they are "made of."  Take for example: __ a  For Sale By Owner (FSBO)  parcel that a client and I went out to investigate today.          My client is particular. She wants privacy, but she also wants to have a sense of community.On her list of top priorities is that she be able to enjoy wildlife and be close to the National Forest. She wonders, as we drive, if she will be attracted to the parcel.  I answer in the affirmative, and smile knowing that this FSBO  parcel just happens to be within a conservation-oriented community . It... 02/21/2010

Asheville NC -Investors' LOTS and Land For Sale I wrote a post not long ago about the Top 5 Eco-Friendly Trends for Investors to Watch in 2010 that gave investors lots to think about: Innovation - developing alternatives to technologies that have been demonstrated to damage your health and your environment."Cradle to Cradle" Design - fully reclaiming or re-using products end "cradle to grave" cycle of manufactured products. Sustainability - meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.Source reduction - reducing waste and pollution by changing outmoded patterns of production and consumption. This decreases reliance on landfills and incinerators.Viability - creating economic growth around "green" technologies and products.But all th... 02/09/2010

Asheville, NC  January , 2010  Exploring LAND in the Asheville area mountains is always exciting. It is particularly so in the winter after a snowstorm. But, when land is for sale by owner, my curiosity propels me.  Add in an element of anticipation and you have a very alluring adventure.  Yesterday I ventured out to see if I could get a few winter shots of such a property.Traveling east from Asheville, I turned the volume up on Kathy Mattea's Definitive Collection  CD  .  She was singing, "...I'll be halfway to Asheville...." It's been awhile since I've seen Carolina, it always was pretty this time of year...." and I was singing along... at the top of my voice...the way you can when you are speeding along the Interstate ...solo...  Before I knew it, I was turning off I-40 and on to the... 01/10/2010