Area Parade of Homes includes wide price range
by April 10, 2009 11:44 am 76 views
New homes featuring the latest in green technology and home design are part of the 2009 Spring Parade of Homes organized by the Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders.
The parade, held April 18- April 26, has 28 homes in Alma, Barling, Fort Smith, Greenwood, Mansfield and Van Buren, and the homes will open from Noon to 6 p.m. each day of the event. The price of homes in the parade range from $117,000 to $339,000. (A site map of the homes will appear at this link the week of the parade.)
“In addition to the maps, you can look for the white and blue Parade of Homes sign in the yard of each entry. Unless the home has the Parade of Homes sign it is not entered in the Parade of Homes,” according to a statement from the association.
Most homes will have available the builder or a Realtor during showing hours, said GFSAHB executive director Dave Hughes.
“I am pleased to see the emphasis on affordable entries, with two homes under $120,000. That’s not an easy thing to do and make a profit, but that price point meets the financial needs of a good number of local families,” Hughes told The City Wire. “All builders are working toward the green building technologies and systems. Some are Energy Star rated and will have certification in the houses.”
MARKET CONDITIONS
The housing market in the Fort Smith region continues to be relatively stable compared to other U.S. metro areas. Of the 315 permits issued by the city of Fort Smith in March, 21 were for new home construction, and came with a total value of $2.02 million. In March 2008, the city issued just 13 permits with a value of $1.37 million. The city issued 199 new residential permits in all of 2008, down slightly from the 210 issued in 2007.
New residential construction in Van Buren did take a hit in 2008 after an active building cycle in 2007. The city issued 136 new home permits in 2007, but just 56 in 2008.