Move or improve?

, Star Tribune

Photo provided by Parade of Homes This Craftsman-style home at 5332 Kellogg Av. S. in Edina was built by C3 Construction Services. Priced at $1,485,000, it is No. 71 on the Parade of Homes tour.

In response to slower sales, the local home builders association is combining its fall tours and stressing fun.

By KIM PALMER, Star Tribune

Last update: September 9, 2009 - 12:21 PM

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TWO-FOR-ONE WEEKEND

What: A combination of the fall Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase. • When: Noon-6 p.m. Fri.-Sun. (Remodeled homes will be open this weekend only; the Parade of Homes will continue Thursdays and Fridays through Oct. 4.) • Where: 94 remodeled homes and 325 new homes throughout the Twin Cities. For details and a calendar of activities, visit www.paradeofhomes.org.

Tickets: Free. There is a $5 charge to visit each of two Dream Homes and two Dream Remodeling projects.

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If you can't decide whether to buy a new house or fix up the one you've got, this weekend is for you.

For the first time, the Builders Association of the Twin Cities has combined its two fall events: the four-week Parade of Homes, featuring new construction, with the three-day Remodelers Showcase, featuring revamped kitchens, room additions and owner's suites.

"We've talked about doing it for years," said Wendy Danks, the association's marketing director. "With the economy the way it is, we decided it was a good year to give it a shot."

The resale market remains weak, and many homeowners who want to move are unable to sell their houses. So combining the tours makes it easier for homeowners to compare options, she said. "We want to give consumers the information they need to make good, smart housing decisions -- and remodeling and building are both part of that."

This year's event features 94 remodeled houses and 325 new ones, a sharp drop from the 2006 peak, when there were 1,249 new houses being shown. "Builders are cutting inventory to meet demand," Danks said. "No one is putting spec homes in the ground just to get them into the parade."

Prices range from $126,900 for a townhouse in Hugo, Minn., to $3 million-plus for an estate in Orono. The largest percentage of new houses, however, are in the $200,000 to $300,000 range, she said.

Just in case new houses aren't enough of a draw, the tour includes golf clinics, an art show, interior design seminars and a family fall festival.

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