The Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) is proud to present the 2016 Fall Parade of Homes. For 68 consecutive years, the Twin Cities has hosted a Parade of Homes to present new homes to area families. This Fall, there are 423 homes to tour all across the extended metro region. Homes are open from noon to 6:00 pm Thursdays through Sundays for four weeks: September 10 through October 2, 2016.
Area families get to see and experience new homes and neighborhoods across the spectrum of price, style and locations. All are free to tour with the exception of four Artisan Dream Homes that request a $5.00 donation at the door, which helps the BATC Foundation build and remodel homes for area families in need. Guidebooks are available at regional Holiday Stationstores beginning August 26th and there’s plenty more online at ParadeofHomes.org (see details below).
Guidebook Features all 423 Homes and More
The magazine-style Guidebook showcases all of the Parade Homes℠, with images, descriptions, maps and prices to make shopping easy. Also, a variety of interesting articles are designed to whet readers’ appetites about new homes.
Our cover story shares one family’s adventure building their dream home on Chaska’s Lake Bavaria. For those looking for inspiration, we include a photo gallery of the most interesting décor/design trends from the homes on our June Artisan Home Tour. And we provide insights into the benefits of new construction. There’s a calendar of events so visitors can plan their tours to attend special events like wine tastings, design seminars and cinnamon roll Sundays. Plus our Green Pages present the Green Path Energy Tour participants and helpful information about energy efficiency.
Green Path Energy Tour
This tour-within-a-tour, sponsored by Xcel Energy, has been a part of the Parade of Homes for the past five years. Our goal is to help educate people about the value of energy efficiency and how Green Path Energy Tested homes provide independent evaluations to help them easily compare expected energy use between homes. This spring, 293 (70 percent) of the Parade Homes have been independently energy-tested by a certified RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network) rater and show testing results on a MN Green Path Home Performance Report (HPR).
Artisan Dream Homes Benefit BATC Foundation
Four high-end homes on the tour have been selected by the BATC Foundation as Artisan Dream Homes to 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 Artisan Dream Home. This Fall they are: #176 by Hagstrom Builder, priced at $1,500,000 and located in Grant; #350 by Highmark Builders, priced at $2,400,000 and located in Edina; #351 by Carl M. Hansen Companies priced at $2,600,000 and located in Edina; and #372 by Copper Creek, LLC, priced at $1,635,000 and located in Prior Lake.
Integrated Online Options
The comprehensive website, www.ParadeofHomes.org, is designed to make touring even easier, and the mobile site, m.ParadeofHomes.org, gives visitors mobile-friendly access to most of the main site’s features from their smart phone or tablet. 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).
Another online tool is the Personal Designer Idea Gallery where online visitors can change colors and finishes on many of the Parade Homes, then save and share them in their own gallery. 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. There’s even a photo gallery with almost 7,000 photos from member builders and remodelers to gain inspiration and ideas.
Prices range from $189,950 to $2,600,000
Parade Homes range all across the price spectrum. The lowest priced home is #161, at $189,950. The two-bedroom, two-bath rambler-style detached townhome is located in Isanti, and constructed by Semler Construction, Inc. The most expensive on the tour at $2,600,000 is Artisan Dream Home, #351, by Carl M. Hansen Companies. At 5,380 square foot, the six-bedroom, six-bath home is located in Edina. The highest priced home that is free to tour is #30 by Chamberlain Fine Custom Homes, located in Orono and priced at $2,495,000.
There are a total of 21 homes priced under $300,000; 73 homes priced in the $300,000s; 279 in the $400,000s; 80 in the $500,000s; 103 homes priced from $600,000 to $999,999; and 41 homes priced over $1,000,000. The total value of all homes on the tour is $262,008,280.
Homes Located Across the Extended Metro Area
Parade Homes are located in 90 cities throughout the region. Close in, there are seven homes located in Edina, two homes each in both Minneapolis and St. Paul, and one in Golden Valley, New Brighton, New Hope and Roseville. Homes are also located on the outskirts of the region including in Cologne, North Branch, Northfield, Watertown and Zimmerman. The growing suburbs account for the greatest number of homes and include 35 in Lakeville, 29 in Woodbury, 28 each in Blaine and Plymouth, 19 in Lake Elmo, 11 in Otsego and Savage, and 10 in Victoria.
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The 2016 Fall Parade of Homes is sponsored by the Tile Shop and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.
