“Builders are alive and are building really cool stuff [and people are buying].”
This is the message being sent by the 34th annual Parade of Homes, according to Ryan Zygar, president of Tamarack Homes, and Nathan Cano, owner/broker for Cano Real Estate.
With seven houses and six builders, this year’s Parade of Homes – sponsored by NW Natural Gas – is the largest in several years. Tamarack is building one of the seven houses, and owns the Moongate subdivision in Felida, site of the event. Cano said his firm represents four of the seven featured houses, and three out of those four were pre-sold.
“Typically, national real estate companies are chosen to represent Parade of Homes houses,” said Cano. “Our presence at the Parade proves that boutique real estate companies can survive.”
Running from July 22 through August 7, the Parade of Homes offers three concurrent tours: the seven Parade homes, 22 additional “Open House” homes and two remodeled homes. Cano said the Parade, which is a collaborative effort between builders, sponsors and the Builders Industry Association of Southwest Washington, is expected to draw 30,000 viewers.
Ron Wagner, sales manager for Cascade West Development, which is building two Parade homes, said the goal is to “attract people for different reasons.” For example, there are two half-price days, a “family day” with snow-cones, face-painting and balloon-making, a “realtor day” and a special “color and design” tour. A combo-ticket is also available, which provides a cost-efficient way to see all thirty-plus homes.
Wagner said the six participating builders (Tamarack Homes, Bella Villa Homes, Cascade West Development, NW Classic Homes, Axiom Luxury Homes and Manor Custom Homes) as well as the two featured remodeling companies (DK LeSieur, Inc. and T Square Remodeling, Inc.) are each doing something different. For example, he said Tamarack’s home features a two-story foyer with a catwalk; a barrel vault (as opposed to the typical V-shape) graces Manor Homes’ project. Axiom is building a rustic home with exposed wooden beams and cultured stone.
Perhaps the most interesting technological feature of the Parade is the $30,000 “freewatt system” that is the centerpiece of one of the Cascade West homes. Donated by NW Natural, this innovative system provides both heat and power to the home, and is the only one of its kind in Southwest Washington. Powered by natural gas, the system has a generator which produces enough power to supply heat to the home, and the owner can sell excess power back to the grid.
Zygar is excited about this year’s Parade, saying that not only does it give builders a chance to try new ideas and celebrate a trade that he loves, but it also “put a lot of people to work doing that.”
“Building and buying real estate is still one of the best things you can do to support the American dream, said Zygar. “It keeps people working.”
For specific Parade prices, dates, and sponsors, visit www.ClarkCountyParadeOfHomes.com.
