Welcome to the 2011 HBA Parade of Homes
Here's your chance to see the very latest trends, designs and products in home building! Whether your style is classic and refined, rustic and charming or sleek and contemporary, the great variety of this year's Parade is sure to please with a selection of homes to meet the needs of everyone from prospective first-time buyers to those considering their next home.
The 28th annual Parade of Homes features 50 new homes in locations throughout Lake and Porter counties, all built by 26 members of the Home Builders Association of Northwest Indiana, which sponsors the event.
The 2011 Parade of Homes is the first official event for the organization which was formed earlier this year when members of the formerly separate Lake and Porter county home-builder associations decided to consolidate.
"This year is special to us because it is the first Parade of Homes we have sponsored as a united home-builders association," Vicky Gadd, executive officer of the Home Builders Association of Northwest Indiana, said. "We are very excited to present to you, for the first time, a Parade that encompasses both Lake and Porter Counties."
Throughout this prestigious 9-day event, the public is invited to tour all of the featured newly-constructed homes, meet the builders and discover the great variety of floor plans, finishes and amenities now available in our area. The Parade of Homes is also a great opportunity to learn the many benefits of buying new.
According to the National Association of Home Builders, prospective home buyers have the choice of two types of houses on the market: resale or new. Home buyers planning to buy a brand-new home often cite energy-efficiency, an open layout, warranty and being able to select appliances, flooring, paint colors and other design elements as factors driving their choice.
For example, when it comes to entertaining, throwing a party in an older home can be a challenge because smaller, distinct rooms make it difficult to entertain guests in one large space. As a result, builders have responded to today's home buyer preferences with layouts that feature more open spaces and rooms that easily flow into one another
Consider the popular great room. While you're preparing a meal in the kitchen, you can interact with family members or guests enjoying a conversation in the family room without feeling closed off. To further emphasize the spaciousness of today's fresh floor plans, these rooms are often enhanced with taller ceilings and bigger windows that let in more light than you typically find in an older home.
Starting off with a clean slate is another benefit new construction. Being the first person to park your car in a sparkling-clean garage, cook dinner in a brand-new kitchen and walk across the floor are certainly part of the appeal. You also won't have to spend time stripping dated wallpaper or repainting anything to suit your personal style.
Another advantage of being the first owner of a home means you have the opportunity to design and plan your own outdoor spaces, without worrying about what's already there.
Plus, homes built even just a decade ago were wired much differently than they are today. All of the high-definition TVs, DVRs and computers that we enjoy today have very specific electrical requirements, and older homes generally never have enough outlets inside or out.
New homes can accommodate the latest technologies and are often tailored to meet individual needs. That means you can safely wash and dry a load of clothes while vacuuming even if your house is lit up like the Griswold's during the holidays.
"This year Parade attendees really get a chance to see all at one time what's available in new homes in our area. The fact that we have 50 homes makes it the largest Parade ever," Todd Olthof of Olthof Homes and co-chair of Home Builders Association of Northwest Indiana's 2011 Parade of Homes committee along with John Kremke of Kremke Construction, said. "It's a great opportunity for them to come out and see what we all do. We all do things a little differently, and this is a chance for them to really see that for themselves."
The Home Builders Association of Northwest Indiana's 28th Annual Parade of Homes at a glance:
- Tour 50 beautifully decorated and completely landscaped new homes by 26 prominent builders in Lake and Porter counties.
- Homes are open June 11-19, weekdays 1-6pm & weekends 12noon-5pm (please note a few exceptions in your guide book).
- Admission is free for all homes.
- The Parade is a self-guided tour - attendees may visit as many homes as they like, in any order they choose.
- Enter to win 1 of 2 fabulous prizes—a 51" Samsung Plasma TV compliments of Hometown Appliance & Electronics or a queen-size Serta HGTV Green Mattress compliments of Maruszczak Appliance Sales & Service—when you tour 10 homes and complete an entry form (no purchase necessary).
- Guide books with maps and complete details are available at Jewel, Strack & Van Til, Town & Country Food Market and Wiseway while supplies last.