Archive for April, 2009

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Whether it’s a choice to bring sustainability and healthy living indoors or the desire for energy efficiency, there are countless reasons to buy “Green.” For a home to be certified requires third party verification. ENERGY STAR homes have met the requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes have energy-saving features that typically make them 20-30% more efficient than standard homes. (more…)

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Asheville, NC was recently ranked #6 on Forbes.com’s list of the Best Places for Business and Careers.  The list studied cities throughout the U.S., and ranked areas based on such factors as Cost of Doing Business, Net Migration, and Income Growth.  Asheville ranked #2 nationally on the Cost of Doing Business list, costing businesses 20% less than the national average.  As a state, North Carolina dominated this category, taking the top 4 spots and 6 of the top 7.

Overall, North Carolina had 6 cities in the top 20 of the Forbes list, including 3 in the top 6.  Kurt Badenhausen, Associated Editor at Forbes, explains North Carolina’s business-friendly environment in a video posted on the Forbes website.  Click here to listen to his comments and watch the entire Forbes video.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law on Feb. 17, 2009, provides many buyers with a tax credit of up to $8,000 if they purchase a home between January 1 and November 31, 2009.  Most news outlets have referred to this credit as available only to first-time homebuyers, but that is not entirely accurate.

The Act does specify that this incentive is for first-time buyers, but it is important to understand how the law defines first-time buyers.  In this case, a first-time homebuyer is someone who had no interest in a principal residence in the prior 3 years.  Clearly, this opens up the tax credit to more than just true first-timers. (more…)

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If you are safely ensconced in your Asheville cabin and would prefer a screen tour of the Biltmore Estates why not rent or buy the fabulous movie starring Peter Sellers and Shirley MacLaine, Being There.  Filmed at the Biltmore and first released in movie theaters in 1979, it has come out in a deluxe edition DVD and in blue ray for the first time this month.  Sellers’ character, a gardener/avid television watcher, is mistaken for a deep thinking, well-educated man in this timeless satiric movie. Each is available at amazon.com for $14.99 and $19.99 respectively.

If you enjoy viewing movies and then the locale itself then don’t forget to order Dirty Dancing while you are at Amazon.  This movie, filmed at nearby Lake Lure, features Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. A DVD 20^th anniversary addition, released in 2007, is available for only $4.99.

When it comes to quintessential mountain living, most people think of beautiful views.  Of course, to get those views, you usually need to gain elevation, which often involves negotiating a steep driveway or gravel road.  But that’s not always the case.  Laurel Ridge, a neighborhood just north of Black Mountain, is home to some of the most incredible mountain views in Western North Carolina, and you may be surprised how easy they can be to access.

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