As you begin your home search in Asheville, the benefits of using a buyer’s agent cannot be understated. A buyer's agent works exclusively for you to protect your interests and ensure you have all the information you need to make the best possible decisions when buying a home. The key is finding an agent thoroughly versed in every aspect of [...]

With ever-advancing technology, smart homes are only getting smarter. From security cameras that send motion notifications to your smartphone, to doorbells that let you see who’s at the door before you even answer it, the latest additions to the smart-home roster promise easier, less stressful, streamlined living. How can you make your home [...]

As you begin your real estate search in the Asheville area, it’s important to learn the zoning rules and regulations specific to the neighborhoods you’re interested in. The laws can be complicated and circuitous depending on the type of home or business you plan to establish; extremely helpful to the process is securing a [...]

Shopping for a home can be a complicated, confusing undertaking. As rewarding as the end result is, the process of attaining your dream requires time, patience and, most importantly, organization. Before you set out on the journey, it helps to map out your wants and needs. While you may not meet every one of your desires, detailing them at [...]

Moving is never an easy task. The to-do list in preparation for the undertaking can be long and laborious. Keeping the environment in mind when planning a move may be the last thing you want to worry about, but it’s easier than you think. Doing little things like opting for eco-friendly moving containers and supplies can cut back on excessive cardboard uses, and greatly reduce the amount of unfriendly packing materials you might use, like plastic bubble wrap and Styrofoam. Additionally, finding ways to soundly dispose of hard-to-recycle items you might not want to move – think that old television, dusty, unused books, or a dilapidated table – can help reduce moving costs AND stay kind to the environment.

Asheville GreenWorks offers an easy solution with its Hard 2 Recycle events. Founded in 2011 by Rainbow Recycling, the free events bring to the public an awareness of alternate modes of recycling in Buncombe County. Held five times throughout the year (four events around the county and one central event in downtown Asheville), Hard 2 Recycle aims to collect and divert items that would otherwise end up crowding a landfill.

Working with various community businesses to recycle or repurpose discarded items, Hard 2 Recycle will accept everything from electronics, appliances, Styrofoam and packing peanuts to furniture, hardware, plumbing, rolls of chain link, even cooking oil. Finding the next Hard 2 Recycle event is simple; just visit http://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/hard-2-recycle.html for a schedule, along with which items will be accepted at the upcoming event.

If you’re planning to move, taking advantage of the next Hard 2 Recycle event – either to avoid moving unnecessary items, or to properly dispose of any hard-to-recycle packing materials you may use in the move – is just one way of applying an eco-friendly approach to the task. Here are some other ways to do so:

·       Instead of buying a bunch of brand-new moving boxes – which usually last for a handful of uses before they need to be recycled – ask friends or local businesses if they have any you can take off their hands. You can get creative with moving containers as well. Suitcases, laundry baskets, clean garbage bins, furniture drawers and trash bags can all pull double duty when transporting possessions.

·       Substitute packing materials like plastic bubble wrap and Styrofoam packing peanuts with more eco-friendly options. You can wrap and cushion delicate items with blankets, towels, sheets or clothing.

·       Moving your belongings yourself, in piecemeal, may seem like a good idea, but the back-and-forth car trips can tax the environment. Instead, leave the job to the movers on your designated moving day, and concentrate on packing efficiently so as to minimize the number of boxes they’ll need to transport.

For more information about Asheville or about real estate in Asheville, contact Mike Figura at Mike@MyMosaicRealty.com, or call him anytime at 828-337-8190. 

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Asheville has seen a new-construction boom in recent years, thanks to an influx of buyers looking for fresh, modern, green or more centrally located homes in popular neighborhoods. While it’s easy to believe that a newly built home translates to a headache-free real estate transaction, new construction carries its own set of cautionary guidelines. Finding an agent who can navigate the ins and outs of a new-construction purchase is key to getting the best out of your experience. The agents at Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty have the knowhow to guide you through the process smoothly, eliminating the headaches that can come with venturing into unfamiliar territory. Below, a few pointers to get you started:

• If you’re purchasing a home before or during construction, make sure the building specifics are adequately defined so there is no question about finishes. A Mosaic agent can clue you in to which details you need to know – floor plans and spec sheets are but two of the specifics – and from whom to secure the information.
• If the seller or builder is perhaps just starting out and lacks some experience, you will want the due diligence period to run beyond completion of construction. That way, you have time to terminate the deal if the house is not completed to spec.
• Did you know that even if you’re building a new home, you should still be ready to perform a regular home inspection and radon test? While green-built homes already come radon-tested, other types of new-home construction may not.
• Newly constructed homes don’t generally come with things like mailboxes or bathroom hardware – think towel rods and toilet paper holders. An adept agent will know what to look for on spec sheets, and can help you determine which missing pieces you’ll need to supply yourself.
• Always make sure you have a one-year warranty as part of new construction. A Mosaic agent can help you nail down the right contract or addendum to protect your new investment.
• Did you know you can pay for blinds or window treatments but have the builder install them? A knowledgeable agent can help you think through ancillary items like these that you may want to add on during construction of your new home.

Tips like these are only a start; if you’re ready to build or buy a new-construction home in Asheville, and want a thorough plan and expert direction that thoughtfully encompasses all of your needs, contact Mike Figura at Mike@MyMosaicRealty.com or call him anytime at (828) 337-8190, or get in touch with any of Mosaic’s selling agents at info@mymosaicrealty.com.

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Within minutes of some of the country’s most popular and picturesque state and national forests sits Mills River, a town in the northwestern part of Henderson County stretching northeast to the Buncombe County border and southwest to the Transylvania County line. Sitting 17 miles to the southwest of [...]

As the movement toward alternative energy sources continues, residential solar energy incentives are gaining a growing audience. In Asheville, homeowners can take advantage of many rebates and incentives at the state and federal levels, meaning that both up-front and long-term costs can be reduced. Following, a few financial benefits to [...]

As Asheville’s appeal widens, so grows its attractiveness as a place to purchase a home, whether it be a primary residence or a vacation property. International interest in the city means more non-English-speaking buyers are exploring real estate options in Asheville – and thus the need for multilingual assistance.

Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty is at the forefront of accommodating this new population of potential clients, becoming an inclusive resource for non-English speakers searching for Asheville-area properties. One way Mosaic is doing this is through its website. Mymosaicrealty.com now offers Google Translate, which instantly translates the site from English into more than 100 other world languages.

Easy-to-Use System

The system is simple: When a user goes to Mosaic’s homepage, or any other page, he or she can click on the tab appearing in the upper left corner that says “Select Language.” From there, a drop-down menu reveals the language options available. A quick click on one of the myriad language options will translate that page, and every page to which the user navigates.

In addition, there is also a notification on most browsers that will pop up to recommend visitors translate the language of the page. The notification might read: "We have detected that this website is in English. Do you want to translate to Spanish now?"

Spanish-Speaking Agents

Beyond its website, Mosaic is specifically reaching out to Spanish-speaking clients in a more direct fashion. Three Mosaic agents – Joseph Ruiz, Hart Dalhauser and Gus Mujica – are fluent in Spanish, which means they can adeptly assist Spanish speakers, providing them with a more comfortable environment in which to buy or sell a home.

Mosaic approaches each client’s individual needs with respect, honesty and integrity. Now, that approach can be extended across a multilingual platform. Thanks to Google Translate, navigating Mosaic’s listings and its other helpful real estate and regional information has never been easier – in any language.

For more information on real estate in the Asheville area, or if you know of a non-native-English speaker seeking to buy or sell a home in Asheville, contact Mosaic owner Mike Figura at Mike@MyMosaicRealty.com or call him anytime at (828) 337-8190.

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Taking the leap into first-time home ownership can be a daunting experience – but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re looking to make the process of buying your first home in the [...]