The Parade of Homes has been pushed back to next month because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Home Builders Association of Owensboro, which normally holds the event in June, rescheduled it to July 11-12 and 18-19 to accommodate more visitors.
Richard Stallings, executive officer for the association, said there are 17 new homes to see throughout the community this year.
“It’s a few less than what we had last year but that’s what happens when you delay the start of the event by pushing it back a few weeks. Some of the homes will be finished and the new homeowners will be moving into them,” Stallings said.
The homes are for sale, remodeled, or already have homeowners. Parade of Homes is a showcase of the latest homes with both current design and product trends while capturing the best that local builders have to offer.
“The purpose is primarily to get to know the builder and the building company and see what kind of product or home they’re building,” Stallings said. “We’ve been doing this for over 60 years annually, and it’s a way our builder members meet our future customers.”
New home construction in Daviess County is up 13 percent compared to last year, Stallings said. The construction industry is an essential business and has been operating full force without interruption, he said.
“Our industry is extremely busy, and there’s a large demand, and we are fortunate that we’ve been able to continue working because of the nature of building a home,” Stallings said. “So our industry is very healthy, and we have been able to enjoy strong business, stronger than most.”
Stallings said a tour guide will be available to download, or it can be picked up at the HBAO office at 3515 Wathen’s Crossing and at all the parade homes.
“Homebuilding always is a barometer and an indicator of a healthy economy, and the homebuilding industry is healthy,” Stallings said. “Other than the virus itself and how it has affected what we’ve had to do as public to keep it from spreading more aggressively, our industry has continued to do well and we will lead the economy out of it as we always do.”
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