If you haven’t already been on this Spring’s Parade of Homes(sm) and you need a reason to get out this weekend to see it, here are the top 5 reasons to tour the Parade of Homes this spring:

It’s Free!!

All the homes are free to tour with the exception of four Artisan Dream Homes. Visitors pay a $5.00 donation to the BATC Foundation to enter those homes but all other 458 homes are free to tour.

Get Inspired

Even if you aren’t planning on building a new home this year, the Parade of Homes is great place to start in the home building journey. Not only will you see some truly inspiring homes, but you’ll also get to meet and talk to the builders and even some of the homeowners.

Go Green!

The Parade of Homes will once again feature the Green Path Energy Tour, sponsored by Xcel Energy. This spring, 70 percent (322) of the Parade Homes were tested by an independent energy rater, and have been assigned a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) rating. These homes can share a Green Path Home Performance Report (HPR) that graphically explains the home’s energy test results and allow homebuyers to compare expected energy use between homes.

The Weather will be Fantastic

The Twin Cities, and most of Minnesota, is having unseasonably warm weather right now. This weekend it is forecast to be in the mid 50s with only a slight chance of rain on Saturday. Of course, this is Minnesota and it’s tournament time so we could get a foot of snow next week. Get out and enjoy this wonderfully warm weather we’re having.

Get Awestruck

There are some truly magnificent homes on the Parade of Homes Spring Tour this year. Home prices on the tour range from $179,900 to $2,300,000. There are a total of 40 homes priced over $1,000,000 and 39 priced under $300,000. The total value of all homes on the tour is $270,730,516. Of course, there are the Artisan Dream Homes too.

Artisan Dream Homes include:

  • #249 • Kroiss Development, Inc.; 1909 Humboldt Avenue S., Edina; $1,625,000
  •  #253 • Sustainable Nine Design+Build, 3800 W. 57th Street, Edina; $1,975,000
  • #257 • TC Homebuilders, Inc.; 4220 Alden Drive, Edina; $2,300,000
  • #347 • NIH Homes, LLC; 2735 Deer Run Trail E., Orono; $1,695,000

So come on out and see the beautiful homes on the Spring 2016 Parade of Homes. Be sure to check the Pratt Homes on the Parade of Homes, too!