Parade of Homes to feature 15 houses
The 66th annual Parade of Homes that begins July 20 will feature 15 newly-built homes by 11 homebuilders.
It’s the most homes to be featured on the tour in five years.
“A lot of it has to just do with the houses are ready,” said Adam Hicks, executive officer of the Green River Building Industry Association, formerly the Homebuilders Association of Owensboro. “Before they can be in the parade, the houses have to be completely finished, so a lot of it is just timing. A lot of the builders this year wanted to participate, so they timed their homes accordingly to be ready.”
Hicks is excited about the variety of homes available to tour, including the parade’s first venture into Indiana, with a house in Tell City included.
“I think that this year, above most years I’ve seen in the past, there is a broad spectrum of homes,” he said. “I think everybody that’s looking for a home in Owensboro can actually find something in their price range. We have townhouses to condominiums, and there are two homes in The Preserve, which are big-time houses. And they’re all new builds.”
The Parade of Homes not only offers prospective homebuyers with a look at options available, but gives the builders an opportunity to show what sets them apart in a highly-competitive industry.
“I think that they’re able to differentiate themselves from other builders because we have a lot of really good builders in town that build solid homes, and they build houses for every level of income in Owensboro,” Hicks said. “So it’s just being able to show what they can do compared to what the others can do, so for the (potential) homeowners, they get an idea that they have a lot of different ways that they can go.”
Hicks was quick to note that the Parade isn’t just for those thinking about a new home.
“My mom for example, she’s not looking to build a brand new home, but she might look to update her current home,” he said. “And someone might just be nosy and want to go look at a really nice house in Owensboro, and that’s OK, too. There’s a little bit for everybody. Whatever reason they want to come out, the more traffic the better.”
Hicks said it’s a testament to the strength of the region’s homebuilders that the Parade of Homes has been a constant for so long.
“It’s incredible that the homebuilders association has been putting something like this on so long, and it’s still withstanding everything the building industry has gone through; it’s still here, and it’s still strong, stronger than it has been for a while,” he said. “I think we’re on the way up and up.”
The Parade of Homes will be July 20-21 and July 27-28. Houses will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is free, and there will be giveaways.
“We’re a strong association, and the builders take care of the associates and the associates take care of the builders, and we have sponsorships when it comes to the things that actually allow us to put a show like this together, because it’s not free for us,” Hicks said. “We need our sponsors and our homes, so our membership comes together.”