Tag Archives: Parade of Homes

Lennar’s Next Gen Arrives in Minnesota – Home within a Home Concept


Posted by John Murphy

Lennar Next Gen Home within a Home Maple Grove BonaireMulti-generational housing has arrived officially in the Twin Cities with the introduction of Lennar’s Next Gen home.  Lennar’s concept of a “home within a home” is on display and part of the Parade of Homes that the public can come view.  Located is the Bonaire neighborhood in Maple Grove, this is the first of its kind in the Twin Cities.

My wife and I had the pleasure of getting a sneak peak the other day with Bill Burgess, President of Lennar Minnesota. Bill and his team worked very hard to come up with what they believe is finally the right floor plan that works with the Minnesota climate and culture.  Janet and I are big fans of the concept as we’ve seen this before having lived on the west coast for a number of years.  This kind of floor plan is much more popular in warmer climes.  It’s a more challenging task to produce this correctly here in Minnesota.  It looks like Lennar has done it right with the Minnesota version of Lennar’s Next Gen product line.

While it makes perfect sense to have this space for multi-generational living…I think owners might want to be careful about letting their post-college grad kids move in to the suite because it is very nice and it might become extraordinarily difficult to get junior out on his own :) That said the space really is terrific.  Janet and I could immediately see it working as a deluxe office suite of sorts for a home office on steroids. I will post pictures once they become available.  When Janet and I were in there will Bill, they were still doing final touches getting ready for the Parade of Homes.  The professional photos should be available in the next week or two and I will post them.

The Star Tribune did a two minute video with Bill Burgess that you can check out at Lennar’s Next Gen – Home within a Home Debut.

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Best Parade of Homes Since the Housing Bubble Burst


Posted by John Murphy

The Parade of Homes is officially over this year for the Spring Preview in the Twin Cities and judging by my conversations with many, many builders agents, this was a bang up Spring Preview.  It was no doubt the best Spring Preview since the housing bubble burst several years ago and it will be interesting to see if the momentum continues through the rest of the spring and in to the fall Parade of Homes.

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Parade of Homes March 3 – April 1, 2012


Posted by John Murphy

Parade of Homes LogoThe Parade of Homes Spring Preview is set to begin this coming Saturday, March 3, 2012.  It is free and open to the public.  You just need to show up to the various homes you’d like to see.

This year there are about 350 homes available on the Parade, and while this is a far cry from the peak when it was 1,100 – 1,200 homes, this is likely to be the first year where builders have finally moved beyond “cautiously optimistic” as it is setting up to be the best Parade of Homes since the housing market downturn.

It has been 5 or 6 years since we’ve seen this many Parade Homes available in Plymouth, Maple Grove and Medina Minnesota.  Buyers are back and there is a lot to choose from in terms of neighborhoods as well as national home builders versus smaller custom home builders.  Single family homes will range from about $425,000 up to $1.5 million on the Parade.

Check out the Parade of Homes site where they have a very good new home search tool to help you find and plan your Spring Preview tour.  Here is an additional search for all new construction in the Twin Cities area.  If you start thinking more seriously about buying a new construction home, you will want to consider what kind of representation you’d like.  Make sure to read The New Agency Laws in Real Estate – Understanding Dual Agency as a Home Buyer or Home Seller.  (Note, it’s lengthy, but it’s thorough discussion of Agency, Representation and Dual Agency…you’re considering the largest transactions of your lives, please make sure you fully understand Agency to protect your own interests.  We do offer New Construction Buyers Representation.

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Homes by Tradition Wins Two Reggie Awards for Spirit of Brandtjen Homes in Lakeville


Posted by John Murphy

The following article was originally published by Craig Kamman of Edina Realty. It is reprinted with permission.

The Fall Parade of Homes has finished a successful year.  Many areas have reported great traffic at their model homes showing positive signs that we have rounded the corner on the market.  With the close of the Parade of Homes comes the announcement of the winners of the Reggie Awards.

From the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC):

For more than 40 years, local builders have coveted the Reggie Award statue more than any other. And for 20 years Associates and Builders have entered the Trillium Awards together to showcase their successful partnerships. Winners are selected by judging teams of builders, associates and consumers who visit homes within their category and meet together to select the best example of excellence in design, construction quality and value. Reggie Awards are given to the Builder.

The Trillium Awards were established to honor our associates for their partnership with builders. As Reggie winning homes are judged the very best, so now the Trillium Awards will be given to all entered participating associates in a Reggie-winning home. The winners of this Falls Parade of Homes wereannounced.

I wanted to focus  on one builder in particular, Homes By Tradition.  The reason I want to focus on them is because they won not just one Reggie Award but they won 2 Reggie Awards in this Fall Parade of Homes.  In my opinion, they design and build some of the nicest new homes in the Twin Cities.

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The first award they won was for their model at Spirit of Brandtjen Farms in Lakeville, MN.  The model is at 18641 Draft Horse Blvd. Lakeville.
This home is a beautiful “farmhouse” style in the superb setting of their Spirit of Brandtjen Farm community.
This home won the Reggie Award is the $355,000 – $384,999 class. The Trillum Winners for this home were won by Aspen Electric Inc, Glowing Hearth & Home, and Southern Lights.
click on image to enlarge

Homes By Traditions second Reggie Award was also at Spirit of Brandtjen Farms in Lakeville for their model home at 5075 167th Street Lakeville, MN.   This home won the Reggie Award for the $575,000 – $749,999 class.

click on image to enlarge

The Trillium Winners for this home were Aspen Electric Inc., Glowing Hearth & Home, and JJ Vanderson & Co.

This home was a featured model in the Parade for being one of the first to earn the Minnesota Green Path Certification .  Another reason I believe Homes by Tradition is a market leader.

 

 

How does one win a Reggie Award?  It is quite simple, but not very easy.   To win a Trillium Award a Home Builder needs to stand out of the crowd in excellence.  This is done by superior design, attention to detail and value.  The Reggie Award winners are the home builders that are leading the trends and stand out from the rest.

What I think sets Homes By Tradition apart from the crowd is their ability to create warm feeling home designs reminiscent of the traditional homes we all know and love while incorporating all of today’s lifestyle needs and technology creating a New Traditional home.  They are able to implement this feeling effectively as they also design and create neighborhood communities with this same feeling of Home.

Spirit of Brandtjen Farms in Lakeville, MN is a perfect example of the community neighborhood they are able to create and design.  Spirit of Brandtjen Farms is in Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District #196.

 Check out Spirit of Brandtjen Farms website.

 

 

  

They offer these great neighborhoods throughout the Twin Cities ;  Hampton Hills in Plymouth, Dancing Waters in Woodbury, Heritage Landing in Prior Lake, Cobbelstone Lake in Prior Lake, Argenta Hills in Inver Grove Heights, and Territory in Credit River.

If you have not seen Homes By Tradition homes or neighborhoods, I encourage you to go check at their great designs and home at their models from 12:00 – 5:00 daily.

One of their new neighborhoods that I think is really exciting is Hampton Hills in Plymouth, MN.  They are currently under construction on a second model home, but you can still see their first model home.  I believe we might see the next Reggie Award come from this new neighborhood.   They have a great model there open daily from 12:00-5:00.

Congratulations to everyone at Homes By Tradition.  You earned these awards.

Homes By Tradition President, Dean Nelson Accepting both Reggie Awards
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View of Wood Crest Neighborhood from Taylor Creek Development – Plymouth, MN


Posted by John Murphy

I took this photo on Sunday during the Parade of Homes Tour through Taylor Creek and Hampton Hills in Northwest Plymouth.  This is a view north toward the back side of the Wood Crest development also located in Plymouth.

(Click on image to enlarge)

View from Taylor Creek

 

 


Parade of Homes Plymouth, MN – Are Baby Boomers Back? Observations After Touring Taylor Creek and Hampton Hills


Posted by John Murphy

Janet and I had a chance to tour a number of homes yesterday during the Parade of Homes.  We visited the neighborhoods of Taylor Creek and Hampton Hills.  There were a lot of baby boomers out looking at new homes!  I’m used to seeing a younger crowd but this one, at least on this particular day, tilted heavily in favor of the gray haired baby boomers!  It will be interesting to watch this develop and see if it’s a possible trend.

Gorgeous houses…if you get a chance, go take a look.  You can view probably 8-10 homes within 60-90 minutes depending upon your pace.  They are all very close to each other.  Below are my thoughts on touring yesterday.