For years, the Home Builders Association of Northwest Indiana (HBANWI) has strived to advocate for local homeowners, educate people on things happening within the housing industry, and create opportunities for builders and suppliers. That’s exactly why in the upcoming weeks it will hold a one-of-a-kind Parade of Homes.
Over the course of two incredible weekends, community members will have a chance to tour 17 model homes across Lake and Porter County from eight different builders without having to worry about setting up countless appointments.
“With the lack of inventory that there is for existing homes right now it's good to see that we have plenty of builders within the organization that are building homes and have inventory available for people that are looking to buy homes,” Christine Neal, executive officer of HBANWI, said.
The parade will have stops in several neighborhoods throughout Chesterton, Valparaiso, Hebron, Winfield, St. John, and Lowell, many of which are brand-new subdivisions.
“There are so many new subdivisions here in Northwest Indiana and this is a way to be able to go through quite a few of them and decide which community is best for you,” said Neal.
At each home, participants will get to walk around and get a feel for their favorite floorplans. They’ll also get to see firsthand all the different products currently being used throughout homes such as certain types of quality flooring, cabinets and light fixtures.
Many of the houses will be furnished too, so people can get an even better idea of what the space will look like.
To provide people with an even better understanding of what’s going on in the housing industry, builders will be on-site at each home to answer any questions participants might have. People can ask questions as simple as why a builder chose a certain layout or color scheme. Or, they can ask more complex questions such as why a builder chose to build in a specific community and why moving into The Region might be beneficial for their family.
“It's a great way to meet a lot of different builders in one day and interact in a more relaxed setting than having a one-on-one appointment with them. This is a way to meet each builder and see which community and what builder you click with,” said Neal.
Lastly, not only will the Parade of Homes be a great opportunity for the community to learn more about all things housing, but it will also be a wonderful chance to show some appreciation to our local builders and suppliers. During the Parade of Homes, HBANWI will hold a Best of Show competition in which participants will get to vote for all their favorite things whether it’s their favorite neighborhood, favorite house, or even their favorite kitchen. Awards will be given out to all of the winning builders and suppliers during HBANWI’s annual gala on November 3.
“This is a great way for our organization to showcase all the wonderful things that our builders are doing and all the suppliers that have put their time and energy into building these homes,” said Neal.
Ultimately, HBANWI couldn’t have chosen a better event to help people find their dream house while also spreading important information and creating awareness for our local builders. The Parade of Homes will begin the weekend of September 23 and 24 and run from noon to 4 p.m. The parade will continue the following weekend on September 30 and October 1 and run from noon to 4 p.m. as well.
So, for everyone looking to find a new home or even just interested in learning more about the current housing market, get ready to have some fun. This year’s Parade of Homes is sure to be a show-stopper.
“It’s the best opportunity to get an idea of what new construction looks like here in Northwest Indiana,” said Neal.
To learn more about the Home Builders Association of Northwest Indiana, visit hbanwi.com.