Friday, May 1, 2009

One Benefit to the Slow Housing Market


I'm not a fan of our slow housing market or the big declines in market values.  In fact, I hate the whole mess.  But I have managed to find one benefit.  Since I was a teenager I have loved to go to the Parade of Homes.  I loved to go so much that I would go by myself.  It was free and it was fun.  I remember when they started charging admission and requiring tickets.  I was mad.  Every year I would complain about it and often couldn't afford to go or didn't have time to bother getting a ticket.  But this year the Parade of Homes is FREE.  No tickets are required.  Finally.  Something good out of all this.

It's going on now through May 10th.  Weekday hours are 5PM to 8PM, Fridays are 3PM to 8PM, and Saturday and Sunday hours are Noon to 8PM.  Reflecting the slower housing market, there are just 17 new homes on the Parade this year, but they are homes presented by many of the Valley’s best builders including Tradewinds, Tahoe Homes, The Marrs Company, Capitol Building, Brighton Homes, Crocker homes, Borup Construction (they built my home, btw), James Clyde Custom Homes, Boise Hunter Homes, Berkeley Building Company, Roth Homes, Flynner Homes, and Eric Evans Construction.
The best overall home this year was built by Tradewinds.  Check it out in Bella Terra.

There is an excellent clickable tour map online at the BCA website.  You can also click through to previews of each home.


8 comments:

Tricia said...

I felt the same way when they started charging a few years back! It was a favorite past time growing up. I'm so glad you posted about this - otherwise i wouldn't have known. It brings back happy memories for me! Thanks!

Kymber said...

Thanks for reminding everyone about the chance to see these great homes. You missed a builder...Tradewinds...the home in Bella Terra...best overall home. Sorry...I had to call this one out...my husband designed it.

Amanda said...

Thank you Kymber for bringing that to my attention. I am so glad you mentioned that. I put it in the post. Sorry for the accidental ommission.

Emi said...

seeing those homes would make me sick and throw up for what my $750,000 home could have gotten. instead of this dump here

Amanda said...

But we don't have Jamba Juice Oatmeal here. So it's kind of a toss up.

Emi said...

yes, but you also have drive thru windows at Starbucks, so, its tough.

Amanda said...

It's true that drive thru windows are convenient. But you have beaches and claim to Obama. Still a toss up.

Emi said...

This is true...so very, very true