Posted 2:04 am Sunday, May 27, 2012
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Tyler Parade Of Homes Starts Saturday
By CASEY MURPHY
Business Editor
Business Editor
Green building features will be showcased in the Tyler Area Builders Association's 59th annual Parade of Homes, which starts Saturday.
Several homes on the 36-home tour will include green features such as tankless water heaters, Energy Star-rated appliances, natural lighting, low VOC paint, LED lighting, high-efficiency windows and spray foam insulation. Many of the green ideas on display in the homes also are eligible for various tax credits.
"Going green is more than just a trend for our builders," Tyler Area Builders Association Executive Vice President Libby Simmons said in a statement. "As energy prices continue to rise, using energy efficient techniques and materials is a way to build in money savings for East Texas homeowners."
Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 3.3 percent in April, to a seasonally adjusted rate of 343,000 units nationally, according to recently released figures from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Local officials believe the national numbers seem to be in line with what Tyler is seeing.
"Historically low mortgage rates mean a lot of families are now able to make that leap into the housing market and purchase a new home or work with one of our builders to construct their dream home," Ms. Simmons said. "Our members have been busy."
National Home Builders Chief Economist David Crowe said the latest national home sales report is representative of the kind of modest but consistent gains he expects to see in new home sales through the remainder of the year.
"As indicated by our most recent builder surveys, more consumers are taking advantage of historically low mortgage rates amid firming economic and job market conditions in certain areas," he said in a prepared statement.
The number of homes in the 59th annual Parade of Homes has increased to 36 homes, compared to 27 last year, signaling strength in the Tyler area, she said. More than 4,000 visitors toured the Parade of Homes last year.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger and 30 percent of each adult ticket sold this year will be donated to the Azleway Boys' Home, Children's Village and Children's Miracle Network Hospital.
The parade will run Saturday through June 10 and hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 3 to 9 p.m. Friday. The location of the 36 participating homes will remain secret until Tuesday, when tickets go on sale. Remote ticket sales locations, builder profiles, properties list and a map of the tour will be available Tuesday at www.tylerareabuilders.com.
The Tyler Area Builders Association serves Anderson, Cherokee, Freestone, Henderson, Navarro, Smith, Wood and Van Zandt counties and has the mission of "Building Better Builders" by promoting quality, accountability and professionalism in the industry.
