For the past 22 years, the Home Builders Association’s annual Parade of Homes has been a pricey affair — recent listings well over $1 million and many hitting the $2 million mark. But with job growth flat and multimillion-dollar palazzos sitting on the market 20 months and more, this was a year to take a new look at the Parade…and that’s what HBA has done.

HBA Vice President of Operations Vicki Pelletier and builder Mike Welch of Castleton Construction show off a main-floor master at 6453 E. Ida Ave. in Greenwood Village.

Through Labor Day, you can tour 55 new homes scattered about the metro area, plenty of them priced not in the millions, but the $200s, $300s and $400s; designs that might not only show you some decorating ideas, but perhaps make you wonder, “Shoot, why don’t I just buy it?”

“This is a market where buyers are so focused on getting what they think their existing home is worth, they miss opportunities to upgrade their quality of life that make dollar sense,” says Cate Dobson of Distinctive Properties. She’s showing Luce at Lowry, low-maintenance Parade condos from the mid-$3s, with a walkable lifestyle near dining and shopping, at 1st and Rampart behind Lowry’s Town Center.

The Parade’s web site at ParadeOfHomesDenver.com has a search index that lets you sort what you want to see…say, “Under $250,000.” That’ll turn up three, including Wildgrass Townhomes at 4823 Raven Run in Broomfield, a 3-bedroom home with just under 1,600 feet plus basement and oversized 2-car garage. Builder Standard Pacific offers a second master suite as an option.

Or, search ‘Master Planned Community’ to focus on two dozen homes wrapped in amenities…including a “Torino,” a Tuscan styled design at 4219 Opportunity Drive in Morningview at the Meadows, Castle Rock. At $693,000 (others from the high $4s) it features big indoor luxury and lots of outdoor living ideas, including an outdoor kitchen, along with 1,100 acres of nearby open space. “It has a ton of upgrades; it would price out over $800,000,” says Kristen White, Oakwood Homes’ Director of Sales.”

You’ll also find seven ‘Dream Homes’ on the tour, all priced $1 million or over…such as a “Bierstadt” at 7355 S. Jackson Gap Way in Vistas at Tallyn’s Reach, right at $1 million. It won a BAR Award for its exquisite kitchen, magnificent family room, finished basement and other features. You can tour the Dream Homes in return for a $5 contribution to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (all lower priced homes in the Parade are free this year).

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If you go…

WHERE: Parade of Homes 2010 by Home Builders Association of Metro Denver, 55 new homes dispersed around metro area; including affordables, golf homes, in-town living, and more.

PRICE: Free (7 Dream Homes have $5 contribution to MDA)
WHEN: 11-6 p.m. daily thru Labor Day
WEB: www.ParadeOfHomesDenver.com

This entry was posted on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 8:39 pm and is filed under Real Estate. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.