Parade of inspiration in Charlotte-area home tour

The annual Parade of Homes offers home shoppers – and those just seeking inspiration – an opportunity to see the latest furnished, decorated models from the Charlotte area’s top builders.

There are new names on this year’s free, self-guided tour, which starts Oct. 2. Nest Homes, a first-time participant, is building on Lake Norman. Orleans Homes is now Taylor Morrison.

There are 54 homes on the parade this year. That’s down from 87 last year, but reflects a healthy market, according to builders and organizers.

Sales are so brisk that the number of available models is limited. “Our members have been very successful,” said Kathryn Lewis, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Charlotte, “and our inventory is running low.”

The parade continues over three-day weekends – Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – through Oct. 18.

You’ll be able to visit models across the region, from Rock Hill to Lake Norman, from Cramerton to Harrisburg. There are lots of models in popular Fort Mill, S.C., and Union County. Homes are priced from the $300,000s to more than $2 million, Lewis said.

You’ll see different takes on your favorite new-home features: granite, hardwood, stainless steel appliances and open kitchen design. You can visit communities with different personalities, from those aimed at families to those designed for active adults.

The parade is a yearly reminder of the sweep of the Charlotte region’s new-home market, and this edition reveals how much the market is maturing.

Consider, for instance, the three entries by Saussy Burbank.

Saussy Burbank is a local builder that developed a reputation for a signature look – Craftsman, borrowed from older homes in historic Dilworth – and won national recognition. In the parade, the company features models in Riverwalk in Rock Hill, and in Myers Park and Cherry in Charlotte.

The three represent distinctly different portions of the market, said Bob Zweier, president. “Three different demographics, and three different customers.”

All three parade entries feature open kitchen and great-room design. “It’s what the market has moved toward,” Zweier said. All feature hardwood and stainless steel appliances.

Other common features include bright, multifunctional laundry rooms, and family drop zones. “You come in the back door, you’ve got a place to throw your book bag and muddy boots.”

Differences among the three, though, are striking.

Riverwalk is on the banks of the Catawba River, on a former industrial site. It’s anchored by a bicycle velodrome and bicycle BMX track. Saussy-Burbank, one of the original builders, offers homes from the $200,000s to the $500,000s.

It’s a familiar planned subdivision, Zweier said, albeit one with unique amenities.

The Myers Park entry is part of a small infill project – just five lots, on Hillside Avenue – designed to appeal to the upper end of the market. The model is more than 4,500 square feet and is priced at $999,900. It features even more exterior details, such as cornices and brackets, than a signature Saussy Burbank home.

The third model is in Cherry, near the Metropolitan complex, where the historically African-American community, and city leaders, are grappling with the impact of gentrification.

Saussy Burbank is building on 41 lots in Cherry, in addition to affordable housing that’s part of the mix. Homes will be 2,800 to 3,200 square feet. They’re priced from the mid-$500,000s to the low $600,000s, and several have been sold.

The company worked to create a look unique to Cherry, Zweier said, to complement the best of what was there. “We didn’t want it to stand out like a sore thumb,” he said.

The parade model at 1813 Baxter St. is $624,900. It features wide front steps up to a rocking chair porch, topped by a metal roof. Out back there’s a rear-loading garage.

Inside, dark hardwood floors and stair handrails contrast sharply with gray walls. The kitchen island is painted deep gray, to contrast with the white wall and base cabinets.

The master is downstairs, a nod to the empty nesters who are likely to be drawn to the urban lifestyle Cherry offers. Upstairs, four additional bedrooms share two bathrooms in Jack-and-Jill style.

This story was originally published September 25, 2015 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Parade of inspiration in Charlotte-area home tour."