12.)
How can I be sure this property and its value will remain intact and
perhaps even grow?
A.)
There are no other strictly-vegetarian communities that we know of.
This alone should help guarantee its value. And The
Woodlands at DeerHaven Hills is covenant-protected
-- this land may only be resold or subdivided if each remaining original
unit owner and each founding family member still living at the original
DeerHaven Hills Farm agrees. This allows for unforeseen future circumstances
but means that consensus must rule. Further, each new resident, whether
Purchaser or renter, must be screened and approved by this eco-community's
Board of Governors based on that applicant's vegetarian commitment
and agreement to follow the eco-community's covenants.
Other Community
Vision and Mission Statement provisions will also encourage environmentally-friendly
practices to be followed whenever possible. These include, but are
not limited to: Pollinator plants being used for landscaping ... choosing
recycled over new paper products ... cleaning with simple and natural
household products ... lighting with compact fluorescent bulbs ...
filtering tap water instead of buying it bottled ...
Already
the western Carolinas are rated as one of the most desirable areas
to live, in the U.S.A. This trend will surely continue. This area
is also one of America's most eco-friendly, and we want to help keep
it that way.
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13.)
Is this property fairly priced?
A.)
Yes. It is actually priced below the market. As a comparison, less
desirable acreage adjoining DeerHaven Hills Farm has just sold for
nearly three times more per acre -- at least four such acre-plus sized
parcel sales were recorded in the final weeks of 2006, alone. And
other acreage nearby sells regularly at similar prices to those properties.
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14.)
Why can the eco-community buy most of DeerHaven Hills Farm at a below-market
price?
A.)
Like you, the founding family members who presently own the land are
also vegetarians and deeply committed to the environment. They feel
it's worth it for them to sell most of their land at a lower yet still
reasonable price so they can remain in their present home, enjoying
this magnificent property for the rest of their lives. Not having
to go through all the hassle and heartbreak of moving is worth a great
deal to them.
Anyway,
move to where? They're already in the only place they really want
to be. For them, this is the best there is! And these family members
would rather be around the sort of people who will be moving here
than with anyone else. If they didn't already live here, they'd be
among the first to sign up. Even after the sale, they will continue
living on the property and be part of the eco-community, too.
Otherwise,
the handwriting is on the wall for them. Rising taxes plus market
forces will compel them to sell out to developers sooner or later.
In short, by selling most of their land to the eco-community now,
the family prevails. Meanwhile they insure that the land's natural
beauty will remain intact for everyone -- new residents, existing
family members and the property's wildlife, as well. There are few
things anyone can guarantee in life. But because of this unique eco-community's
covenant protections and environmental commitment, this spectacular,
panoramic domain of nature will indeed endure beyond the foreseeable
future.
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15.)
Do the Developers "walk the talk"?
A.)
The Developers, who are also members of the founding family which
presently owns DeerHaven Hills Farm, are long-time vegetarians and
behind-the-scenes social activists. For example, in the early 1980's
they began and nurtured a non-profit social group called The Vegetarian
Gourmet Society. It soon grew to become what Vegetarian Times
Magazine called "the largest vegetarian organization in the world."
The Developers are deeply committed to earth-kindly programs, wildlife
preservation, saving local green-space and more. Developing The
Woodlands at DeerHaven Hills is one more expression
of their environmental concern and vegetarian commitment.
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16.)
What about financing?
A.)
After the required deposit, which will become the down payment for
your purchase upon ground-breaking, additional financing is possible.
It may be arranged either conventionally or through the founding family
at current rates and for normal lengths of time.
For example,
if the selling price of each unit comes in at $260,000 and your down
payment is $60,000 and current fixed mortgage rates were seven percent
(7%) interest, then the remaining $200,000 due could be privately
financed through the founding family for 30 years at less than $1350
monthly. Taxes, insurance, community maintenance costs and such would
also need to be budgeted in. These figures, of course, are hypothetical
since the only time that final costs can be known is at the time of
groundbreaking.
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17.)
What if I need extra storage space?
A.)
Purchase of the 95 acres includes a large (40'x 60') fully secure
SteelMaster, a Quonset-style building which we consider to be the
farm's barn. In this barn, each townhome unit will gain approximately
10'x 20' of additional storage space. You may put shelves or similar
storage furniture in your assigned section if needed. The storage
unit is always kept locked but will be accessible weekly or upon special
request.
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18.)
When will groundbreaking take place?
A.)
No later than 1 January, 2010, but earlier if possible. The Developer,
at his sole discretion, may break ground at any time he feels is appropriate.
You, the Purchaser, will be notified of the Developer's intentions
to break ground no less than two weeks in advance of groundbreaking.
Time of groundbreaking will all depend on the reception this project
receives from the public.
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19.)
Can I resell my townhome at DeerHaven Hills?
A.)
Yes. Each townhome here may be owned and held in the Purchaser's name
-- the normal way of holding real estate. However, every resident,
whether renter or Purchaser, must comply with the eco-community's
rule of keeping a vegetarian diet (no slaughtered food) on the property.
All prospective residents will be carefully interviewed and otherwise
screened to confirm their vegetarian commitment and beliefs.
A prospective
resident may be rejected if the Board of Governors is not satisfied
regarding that issue. The Board of Governors will expect to have evidence
or direct knowledge of each resident's commitment to a vegetarian
"diet-style."
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20.)
May I just purchase my townhome as an investment or for rental income?
A.)
Yes. However, as above, every resident, whether renter or Purchaser,
must agree to uphold the eco-community's rule of maintaining a vegetarian
diet (no slaughtered food) on the property. Each prospective renter
will be carefully interviewed to confirm their vegetarian commitment
and beliefs. A prospective renter may be rejected if the Board of
Governors, in its sole discretion, is not satisfied regarding that
issue.
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21.)
What size will each townhome unit be?
A.)
Until the architect draws the final plans, exact figures will not
be known. However, it is expected that interior space will be approximately
1400 to 1500 square feet, and laid out in a configuration that is
about 20' wide by 35' deep. Each dwelling unit will be two stories
and will be identical except that stairwells will be placed so that
one is along the right hand wall while its neighbor's "adjoins" it
along the left-hand wall. There will be one stairway per unit and
each one will be chair-lift compatible.
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22.)
What do you mean by a townhome "shell"?
A.)
Each townhome unit is intended to be approximately 1400 to 1500 square
feet, identical in all ways to its neighbors (except that the stairwell
will be either against the right or left wall vs. your neighbor's).
Each unit will be finished only to the minimum required by local law
to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy.
The building
shell for all residents will include HVAC, rough plumbing, drop-ceiling
framework, rough electric, modern computer wiring, sewerage and potable
water as required by law. Once the Certificate of Occupancy has been
issued to each unit, the Developer's job is considered to be finished.
Partitions,
drywall, finished electrical, finished plumbing, bathrooms, kitchen,
flooring, etc., will then be the homeowner's responsibility. The Developer
will have a list of local contractors and resources available for
a Purchaser to access and will help a Purchaser to arrange for completion
of the dwelling unit, if needed.
The exterior
of the building will be completely finished and modestly landscaped
to include indigenous, xeriscaping pollinator plants. Since the Developer
will receive a ten percent (10%) above all funds spent, as his profit
-- including any landscaping the Developer installs -- the Developer
will provide only as much landscaping as the Board of Governors requests.
Additional
landscaping could be added to the extent the Board of Governors determines.
The current building site would allow the building to remain surrounded
on three sides by the woods, while capturing the vast, spectacular,
"backyard" view of the mountains to the west.