ROSEVILLE, MINN. (February 9, 2015) — The Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) is proud to present the Spring Parade of Homes. In its 67th year, the Parade of Homes features 431 new homes open to tour all across the extended metro region from February 28th through March 29th, 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 three 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 February 13th, and the interactive website, ParadeofHomes.org, will launch with Spring homes the same day.
Guidebook Features all 431 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, too, including the cover feature, which describes the home building experience of a young family who chose to build new instead of remodeling their old St. Louis Park home. There’s a pictoral spread featuring the winners of last Fall’s Parade of Homes’ Reggie Award competition, as well as photo style guide with the latest products and designs for the kitchen. Kitchens take front and center as well, with articles about countertop care, cabinetry choices, and a feature about top local chefs’ must-have at-home kitchen tool.
As usual, we’ve included a calendar of events so visitors can plan their tours to attend events like wine and cheese tastings, finance seminars, even a book signing with childrens’ author Nancy Carlson. Speaking of children, there’s a coloring contest for kids 12 and under, with winners getting to participate in a Spring egg hunt at the KARE 11 Backyard, as well as directions to download our own childrens’ story about Jane Magnolia, one of the Backyard’s new residents.
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 Spring, visitors to 236 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 home buyers easily compare expected energy use between homes. More information about the new energy testing and green certification program is included in the Guidebook, as well as tips and information about saving energy in your own home.
Dream Homes Benefit BATC Foundation
Three 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. (Read more about how the Foundation uses donated funds in the Guidebook.) Visitors will be asked to pay a $5.00 donation to tour each Dream Home. Home #116 by Hartman Homes is a rustic farmhouse on a working horse farm in Stillwater, priced at $2,277,000. Ridge Creek Custom Homes constructed Dream Home #268, a sleek contemporary home overlooking Lake Calhoun and priced at $1,849,400. Wayzata is the location for Dream Home #273 by Renaissance Builders, a storybook European-styled residence priced at $1,500,000.
Integrated Online Options
The comprehensive website, www.ParadeofHomes.org, is designed to make touring for visitors even easier. 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 Trip Planner (which can then be accessed from the mobile site). The entire Guidebook is viewable online in e-magazine form, 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. Visitors can also use our interactive Personal Designers to change colors and finishes on a many of the homes, and then save them to their personal Idea Gallery. The interconnected m.ParadeofHomes.org gives visitors mobile-friendly access to all of the main site’s features from their smart phones and tablets.
Prices range from $142,100 to $2,500,000
Parade Homes range all across the price spectrum. The lowest priced home is #65, at $142,100. The two-bedroom, two-bath one-level twin home is offered by BDM Construction, Inc., and located in Isanti. The most expensive home is #345 by M & M Home Contractors, Inc. The $2,500,000 lake-front Orono residence has six bedrooms, six baths and all the features that spell luxury. There are a total of 41 homes priced over $1,000,000, 47 priced under $300,000 and seven priced less than $200,000. The total value of all homes on the tour is $253,321,730.
Homes Located Across the Extended Metro Area
Parade Homes are located throughout the region. Close-in, there are six homes located in Minneapolis, 11 in Edina, three in Bloomington, and two each in St. Louis Park and Golden Valley. Homes are also located on the outskirts of the region including Big Lake, Cambridge, River Falls WI, Faribault, and Watertown. The third ring suburbs account for the greatest number of homes and include 31 in Blaine, 29 in Lakeville, 24 in Plymouth, 23 in Woodbury, 14 in Chaska and 11 in Brooklyn Park.
About the Builders Association of the Twin Cities
The Builders Association of the Twin Cities is the leading voice for builders and remodelers. BATC represents 1,100 builders, remodelers, developers and industry suppliers with a mission of helping its members grow their businesses through marketing, advocacy and industry connections. BATC is widely recognized as a powerful force at the state Legislature and with state regulatory agencies. It’s also known for its signature home tour events: The Parade of Homes℠ and Remodelers Showcase®, and now the Artisan Home Tour℠ opening high-end homes in June. In addition, BATC offers Minnesota’s Green Path℠, a growing new home and remodeling energy testing and certification program providing healthy, durable, energy-efficient homes to buyers and homeowners.
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The 2014 Spring Parade of Homes is sponsored by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and Minnesota Homeowners Alliance.