April 2014
2014 Spring Parade of Homes Features 377 New Homes Welcome New Members Page 3 Parade of Homes Entries Pages 8-14 State Legislature Updates Page 15
Kansas City has many traditions – Plaza lights at Christmas, Greater Kansas City Day for the Royals Home Opener, tailgating at Chiefs games and the Greater Kansas City Home Show at Bartle Hall. One of the longest-running traditions, the Spring Parade of Homes, begins for the 52nd year on April 26th. Continuing through May 11th, the Spring Parade will showcase 377 new homes throughout all eight counties of the metropolitan area. The Parade of Homes offers home builders an exceptional way to reach the new-home buying public as people in the metro area look forward to this event each year. By presenting homes in a focused event, consumers can easily access properties that fit their lifestyles and connect with the builder of their choice. With the most current trends in energy saving features, green building techniques, design and decorating, these new homes offer the buying public a range of housing choices. The 108 builders represented in this year’s parade are offering homes priced from the $150,000 range to well over one million dollars. The homes are located in thirty different school districts in Kansas and Missouri and in communities with appealing amenities such as parks, walking trails, and swimming pools.
HBA Members Traveled to Jefferson City for Missouri Legislative Day See more on page 2
The American Dream Awards Celebration, an integral part of the Spring Parade, will recognize winning homes based on criteria such as exterior and interior construction quality, curb appeal and landscaping, interior finish work and overall flow and functionality of the home plan. Home Continued on page 2 professionals from
HBA Members Advocate for Housing in Jefferson City
HBA Missouri North members met with State Senator Ryan Silvey.
On March 5, HBA members conducted 18 face-to-face meetings with Missouri State Senators and Representatives during the 2014 Missouri Legislative Day in Jefferson City. HBA members spoke with lawmakers about the state of the home Continued on page 2