Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2015 - 12

G
Great Buys
in the
Mountains
Paul Clark
Off (or Nearly Off) the Grid
ENJOY INEXPENSIVE WARMTH AND DON'T SWEAT THE BILL.
THE MOUNTAIN HOME
Bakersville, N.C.
SELF SUFFICIENT AND
BEAUTIFUL TOO
Listed price:
$525,000
Agent:
Ron Armstrong
828-338-9662
AshvilleAndBeyond.com
Manchester, Ky.
PRODUCES ITS OWN GAS
Listed price:
$495,000
Agent:
Jackie Berger
859-329-1733
luxurystatesofkentucky.com
Blue Ridge, Ga.
EARTH-SHELTERED DOME
HOUSE
Listed price:
$259,888
Agent:
Dan Easton
706-835-5149
threespringsrealty.com
Burnsville, N.C.
UNDER ITS OWN POWER
Listed price:
$298,000
Agent:
Jim Ludwig
828-284-5501
plumbranchhollow.com
Washington, Va.
YURTLIKE, WARMED BY
SUN
Listed price:
$665,000
Agent:
Rick Kohler
540-675-1373
kohlerrealtors.com
12 | BlueRidgeCountry.com
Built in:
1985
Bedrooms: 4
Baths: 1
Size:
1,700 sq. ft.
Lot:
204 acres
Built in:
2008
Bedrooms: 2
Baths: 2
Size:
1,960 sq. ft.
Lot:
3 acres
Built in:
1992
Bedrooms: 3
Baths: 3.5
Size:
2,000 sq. ft.
Lot:
10 acres
Built in:
1987
Bedrooms: 3
Baths: 5
Size: 3,210 sq. ft.
Lot:
24 acres
} All but the front entrance is underground.
} The property has three working natural gas wells.
} Access to property in middle of a box canyon is limited.
}Food from plots and greenhouse augmented by small and large game.
}Front sunroom lets ample light into the home..
Agent's quote: "The spring water coming off that mountain tastes so
good."
}Underground on three sides, south-facing house is naturally sheltered.
}Passive solar with geothermal backup supplies radiant heat.
} Access to property in middle of a box canyon is limited.
}Concrete, steel, and autoclaved aerated block give house strength.
}All appliances were selected for energy efficiency.
}Guesthouse and two additional acres raise price to $379,888.
Agent's quote: "It wouldn't take much to do solar panels and be totally
off the grid."
STATS
Built in:
2009
Bedrooms: 2
Baths: 2
Size:
2,336 sq. ft.
Lot:
46 acres
WHY IT'S A GREAT BUY
}Generator with battery bank powers the entire house.
}Heat is from an outdoor wood furnace, with propane backup.
}10- and 17-foot ceilings hover over walls 15 inches thick.
}Doors, floors, ceilings and walls are made from wood taken onsite.
}Property bordering Pisgah National Forest has four springs.
Agent's quote: "You don't know how much 'hum' you're used to until
you do without it."
}A hybrid hydro/solar electric-generating system provides power.
}Tiles on lower floor are heated by wood, gas and sun.
}Spring water collected in 300-gallon reservoir delivers 60 psi to house.
}Lowest of three decks has a built-in garden area.
}Downstairs has two bedrooms and sunlit greenhouse sitting area.
Agent's quote: "This house is going to attract somebody who has
always been an independent, self-sufficient, do-it-yourself type of person."
}Slate floor heated by passive solar with boost from woodstove.
}Stable, fenced fields and machine shed ready for farmer, rancher.
}Built and lived in by respected local customer builder.
}Only one hour west of the D.C. beltway via Lee Highway.
}Located in strong arts, conservation community.
Agent's quote: "Enjoy bare feet by the fire with sun-warmed floors in
the day and water-warmed floors at night."

http://www.AshevilleAndBeyond.com http://www.luxuryestatesofkentucky.com http://www.threespringsrealty.com http://www.plumbranchhollow.com http://www.kohlerrealtors.com http://www.BlueRidgeCountry.com

Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2015