from The Tampa Tribune
TBBA home tour to be largest ever
Hannah Bartoletta Homes' Bay Breeze model features three stories with 4,596 square feet of living space. It will be the Showcase Home in the Tampa Bay Builders Association Spring Parade of Homes 2007.
Hannah Bartoletta Homes
Published: Mar 21, 2007
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Home shoppers will sample a vast array of home styles and modern trends during the largest ever Tampa Bay Builders Association's Spring Parade of Homes through April 1.
Featuring 176 new model homes spanning Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Hernando counties, this year's 37th annual Parade of Homes is one of the nation's largest and will show off 20 more homes than last year's event.
"The parade has grown over the years because the builders have found it to be an effective marketing tool and home buyers have found it an excellent way to visit model homes. It creates a wonderful home-buying environment," said parade co-chair Pam Parisi, Newland Communities' regional marketing director, Tampa.
Besides the interesting new home structures, the new homes' interiors will attract just as much interest, as many of the 50 builders involved will unveil new product lines and new color schemes, Parisi said.
One area that has been expanding dramatically is "green building," Parisi said. "Green building has been growing in popularity as customers demand greater energy conservation in their homes," said Parisi, explaining that technology has been in place for years and now customers realize the benefits.
One of the big attractions is energy efficiency. Green building can be implemented in areas such as mechanical systems, insulation and overhangs, Parisi said. "Those can save money on your electric bill. There are cost savings right away by going with a high-efficiency energy package," she said.
"Green building is really coming on strong. There are more and more builders who are signing up on green building and home buyers who are understanding the benefits of green building," Parisi said. Even some older features, such as cisterns and rain barrels, are making a comeback, she said.
The Showcase Home in this year's Parade of Homes is a green home in the Angler's Cove at MiraBay in southern Hillsborough County north of Ruskin and is built by Hannah Bartoletta Homes with its developer partner, Newland Communities. "It's a custom-designed home for the parade that is a strong example of all the new technology and colors and decorating schemes that can be seen throughout the parade," said parade co-chair Trisha Randall, publisher of Tampa Bay Homebuyer magazine.
A member of the Florida Green Building Coalition, Hannah Bartoletta Homes has included many green home features in its Showcase Home, such as a super-saver energy HVAC system that works in concert with a central dehumidification system to balance the home's interior climate.
In addition, the Showcase Home features tinted vinyl windows with a low-E class rating; salt chlorinator for the swimming pool; energy-efficient appliances; compact florescent light bulbs; tankless water heaters for instant hot water; drought tolerant landscaping and all hard floor surfaces that reduce dust and allergy problems.
Of particular interest, Randall said, is that the garages are completely sealed from the interior of the home to eliminate seepage of harmful gases and fumes into the home.
The parade's timing could not be more perfect, said TBBA President Jeffry Ewing, president of Ladera Construction Group. "Now is an excellent time to buy. The timing of the parade is fantastic because the environment for purchasing is terrific," he said, citing low interest rates, low inflation and high employment as motivating factors for home purchasing.
Prices are likely to go up so home buyers should shop now, Ewing said. The market "remains strong in the Tampa Bay region compared to other areas of the country," he added.
Major sponsors of this free event include M&I Bank, The Tampa Tribune, St. Petersburg Times, A La Carte Event Pavilion and Bright House Networks.
For information on the Parade of Homes, call 813-873-1000, visit www.tbba.net, or see the Parade's official site at www.tampaparadeofhomes.com.
