Parade of homes begins Saturday

 

Besides leaves falling from trees, a local sign of autumn’s arrival is the annual Fall Parade of Homes sponsored by the Manitoba Home Builders Association (MHBA). 
It’s the second major event of the year for the MHBA, which also holds the Spring Parade of Homes.
In total, 35 home builders will be participating in the Fall Parade of Homes. 
Besides the sheer number of homes on display, there are 29 different subdivisions that may catch your eye. This year’s Fall Parade of Homes also features new homes in Steinbach, Oakbank, Stonewall, LaSalle, Ile des Chenes, East St. Paul, Headingley, Oak Bluff, Elie and Brandon. 
WinnipegREALTORS® has learned from monitoring its MLS® sales activity that the capital region’s municipalities surrounding Winnipeg is gaining in significance. In the RMs around Winnipeg, total market share of home sales has increased and now represents more than one-in-five sales. In particular, the Steinbach area has become the leading region for MLS® sales. This comes as no surprise to home builders who are engaged throughout the region to meet the new growth resulting from strong immigration. 
The home builders are understandably proud of what they have been able to accomplish over the years in putting on two annual parade of homes events. 
“The MHBA Parade of Homes is the largest and most popular such event in Canada,” said Mike Moore, president of the MHBA. “Some cities try to operate their event by websites with no home visitation. Some run it just for one weekend. Most don’t even try to match what we have in Manitoba. 
“Ours is the largest, the best attended, the longest running and the most informative,” he added.
The 2012 Fall Parade of Homes officially opens at noon Saturday, September 15, and runs through Saturday, October 6. This year, the Manitoba Home Builders Association is proud to display 126 new homes for everyone to enjoy. This year is the largest parade of homes ever held, with a whopping 25 per cent increase over the previous high.  
Show home hours are Monday through Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
Show homes are closed on Fridays except by prior appointment.
Sales staff are avaiable in each home to answer visitors’ questions about the unique and special features of the homes. Also, ask about the various builders and suppliers. Each visitor is sure to come away with new ideas and concepts to incorporate into their new home. 
Parade note:  It’s still not too late to register as a judge for the Fall Parade of Homes. Judges generally visit five homes in a category and evaluate them against other homes in a similar price range. As a consumer, your opinion is important to the new home builders and the industry in general. Call 925-2560 or e-mail info@homebuilders.mb.ca to become part of this year’s Fall Parade of Homes.