• The 66th Annual Fall Parade of Homes is presented by the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC).
• The tour runs from September 6th through the 28th, with 392 new homes open Thursdays through Sundays from noon to 6:00 pm.
• All the homes are free to tour with the exception of four Dream Homes that each request a $5.00 donation to the BATC Foundation to enter. The four homes are #240 by Sustainable 9 Design + Build, a very green contemporary home located in Minneapolis and priced at $1,349,000; #243 by Stonewood LLC in Edina and priced at $2,450,000; #366 by Lecy Bros. Homes and Remodeling in Wayzata, priced at $2,375,000; and #367 by BohLand Homes, also in Wayzata and priced at $1,544,000.
• A comprehensive Guidebook provides complete information about the tour, including maps and photos or illustrations of all the homes, and will be available, free of charge, at area Holiday Stationstores beginning on August 22.
• An Outdoor Living focus in the Guidebook includes helpful tips plus information about the KARE 11 Backyard rebuild by BATC and its members. The KARE 11 Backyard, Parade Entry #11, will be open limited hours during the tour: every Saturday (6, 13, 20 and 27) from noon to 4pm.
• For more in-depth searches and information about each builder, the website, www.ParadeofHomes.org, is both easy to use and convenient. An interconnected mobile site lets smart phone and tablet users access the same information.
• Online visitors can use the Trip Planner to map a route between selected homes, and find interactive Personal Designers to change colors and finishes on a variety of photos, and save them to their own Idea Gallery to share.
• The Parade of Homes will once again feature the Green Path Energy Tour, sponsored by Xcel Energy. Almost half (190) of the Parade Homes have been tested by an independent energy rater to earn a HERS (Home Energy Rating Score) and has its own Home Performance Report (HPR) that graphically explains the home’s HERS score. The HPR allows homebuyers to compare the expected energy use between homes.
• The lowest priced home is #117, at $153,900. The two-bedroom split entry single family home by Progressive Builders, Inc. is located in Isanti.
• The most expensive home, #243, is one of our Dream Homes. The Edina residence is by Stonewood LLC and priced at $2,450,000.
• There are a total of 43 homes priced over $1,000,000 and 45 priced under $300,000. The total value of all homes on the tour is $228,336.701.
• Homes are located throughout the region. Close-in, there are five homes located in Minneapolis, 12 in Edina, three each in Bloomington and Golden Valley. Homes are also located on the outskirts of the region including Big Lake, Chisago City, Cologne, Faribault, Jordan and Lonsdale. The third ring suburbs account for the largest number of homes and include 28 in Blaine, 24 in Lakeville, 22 in Woodbury, 17 in Plymouth, 16 in Maple Grove, 14 in Brooklyn Park, and 13 in Chaska.
The 2014 Fall Parade of Homes is sponsored by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage