The Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) is proud to present the 67th Fall Parade of Homes with 390 new homes to tour all across the extended metro region. This fall, the tour runs from September 12th through October 4th, with all homes open Thursdays through Sundays, from noon to 6:00 pm.
The tour offers area families the opportunity to see and experience virtually the entire range of new homes and neighborhoods on the market today. All are free to tour with the exception of four Dream Homes that request a $5.00 donation, which helps the BATC Foundation build and remodel homes for area families in need. Guidebooks are available at regional Holiday Stationstores beginning August 28th. Interactive searches, a photo gallery, e-Magazine, plus a TripPlanner are all available online at ParadeofHomes.org and m.ParadeofHomes.org. See more details below.
Guidebook Features all 390 Homes and More
The magazine-style Guidebook showcases all of the Parade Homes, with graphics, descriptions, maps and prices to make shopping easy. There are a variety of interesting articles, including the infill homebuilding experience of a young artistically inclined family. We’ve included a special outdoor living section offering trends and inspiration, plus a chance to win a catered Backyard BBQ party for 20 from the Rack Shack, including a special guest appearance by local foodie and radio personality, Brian Turner (BT).
As usual, we’ve included a calendar of events so visitors can plan their tours to attend events like wine tastings, design seminars, even a street fair at four homes in Victoria. Plus our Style section showcases products and design features from the high-end homes that appeared in our June Artisan Home Tour.
Green Path Energy Tour
For the energy-conscious, the Green Path Energy Tour in partnership with Xcel Energy again identifies homes on the tour that have been tested by independent energy raters. This Fall, visitors to 246 (63 percent) Parade Homes can ask to see the MN Green Path Home Performance Report (HPR) that documents the home’s HERS (Home Energy Rating System) index. This national rating system helps homebuyers easily compare expected energy use between homes. More information about MN Green Path energy testing and green certification program is included in the Guidebook, as well as tips and information about saving energy for all homeowners.
Dream Homes Benefit BATC Foundation
Four very special homes on the tour have been selected by the BATC Foundation as Dream Homes, and will help the charitable arm of BATC build and remodel homes for area families in need. Visitors will be asked to pay a $5.00 donation to tour each Dream Home. Two Dream Homes are in Edina: #33 by Carl M. Hansen Companies, priced at $2,199,000; and #34 by John Kraemer & Sons, priced at $1,950,000. The other two Dream Homes are located in Wayzata: #87 is built by Lecy Bros. Homes & Remodeling, priced at $1,895,000; and #88 by Jyland Construction Management is priced at $3,750,000.
Integrated Online Options
The comprehensive website, www.ParadeofHomes.org, is designed to make touring for visitors even easier, and the mobile site, m.ParadeofHomes.org, gives visitors mobile-friendly access to all of the main site’s features from smart phones and tablets. There are a wide variety of search filters online, from price to square footage to school district. Additionally, online visitors can save favorites to their own personal login and then automatically plan the best tour route with the TripPlanner (which can then be accessed from the mobile site). The entire Guidebook is viewable online in e-magazine format, plus there are a number of resources (from mortgage calculators to home maintenance information), as well as the Parade of Homes Blog to help families make informed housing decisions.
Online inspiration is enhanced with our new Photo Gallery, offering more than 4,000 photos to browse. Visitors can also use our interactive Personal Designers to access many of this Fall’s Homes as well as the homes on last June’s Artisan Home Tour to change colors and finishes, and then save them to their personal Idea Gallery.
Prices range from $184,900 to $3,750,000
Parade Homes range all across the price spectrum. The lowest priced home is #261, at $184,900. The two-bedroom, one-bath rambler style single family home is in an association-maintained neighborhood in Isanti and constructed by Semler Construction. The most expensive home is one of our Dream Homes, #88, by Jyland Construction Management. The European contemporary styled home has over 10,000 square feet, five bedrooms, seven baths, and is located on two acres in Wayzata. The most expensive home that is free to tour is #28 by Elevation Homes, located in Edina with five bedrooms and five baths, priced at $2,495,000.
There are a total of 32 homes priced under $300,000; 61 homes priced in the $300,000s; 77 in the $400,000s; 75 in the $500,000s; and 43 homes priced over $1,000,000. The total value of all homes on the tour is $237,553,461
Homes Located Across the Extended Metro Area
Parade Homes are located throughout the region. Close in, there are 12 homes located in Edina, two homes in Minneapolis and New Brighton, and one each in St. Louis Park, Roseville and West St. Paul. Homes are also located on the outskirts of the region including Big Lake, Buffalo, Centerville, Cologne, Faribault, and Zimmerman. The third ring suburbs account for the greatest number of homes and include 27 in Blaine, 28 in Lakeville, 25 in Plymouth, and 21 in Woodbury. Other popular communities include Otsego (14); Brooklyn Park (13), Andover (11), Chaska (10) and Victoria (10).
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The 2015 Fall Parade of Homes is sponsored by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and Minnesota Homeowners Alliance.
