BUILDERS TOUR GOES OVER THE TOP

Classic Pueblo style architecture blends the warmth of traditional New Mexico with contemporary universal design in this spacious open floor plan. Exposed beams in the great room and a kiva fireplace add a pleasant, comfortable atmosphere, and the elegant granite kitchen provides a relaxing room for your family or for entertaining your guests. This home also has a fabulous master bath. WALLEN BUILDERS 4 bedrooms • 2 1/2 baths 2,464 sq. ft. • $247,900 Sunday, October 9, 2005 Parade Breaks the $2 Million Price Barrier Journal Staff Report The annual Homes of Enchantment Parade has never included a house priced at $2 million or more. This year, there are three of them. Seventeen others are listed for at least $1 million. "Cost of homes this year is higher than we've ever had," said Kaycee Coffman, director of communications for the Homebuilders Association of Central New Mexico. "(That's) pretty big for Albuquerque." Part of the reason, she said, is that the residential real estate market is still thriving. But the skyrocketing cost of building materials may be the greatest factor. There's a concrete shortage, steel has gone up, lumber costs have doubled, and "we're running out of land," Coffman explained. It all makes for a very expensive 15th annual parade, though there's no cost associated with viewing the houses. There are 93 on the tour, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Oct. 8-23. List prices range from $146,800 to $2.9 million. Participating houses are located across central New Mexico, including the East Mountains, Corrales, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Placitas and Albuquerque, and were built by members of the HBA of Central New Mexico. Awards were presented Friday at the Marriott Pyramid North. Categories were for gold, silver, bronze, best kitchen, best bath, best remodel, universal design and urban revitalization. Below are the Gold Award recipients. Judges selected one house from each price category. The list prices provided here include land costs. To help readers locate the homes, numbers are listed in parentheses to coincide with a map number in a special section, "Parade of Homes," in today's Sunday Journal. Sunset West Homes (50), 1,635 square feet, $160,900 Bear Homes (18), 2,008 square feet, $275,900. Silverton Custom Homes (56), 1,963 square feet, $391,000. Elite Construction (55), 3,008 square feet, $590,000. Bealhen Construction (67), 2,924 square feet, $620,000. Harwell Custom Homes (87), 3,178 square feet, $535,000. Lee Taylor Luxury Homes (47), 2,989 square feet, $717,500. Sun Mountain Construction (35), 3,600 square feet, $700,000. High Mountain Homes (94), 3,000 square feet, $777,479. New Haven Homes (36), 3,774 square feet, $789,500. Bentley Custom Homes (80), 4,121 square feet, $1.1 million. Supple Homes (65), 4,817 square feet, $1.05 million. Sonoma Construction (61), 4,292 square feet, $1.25 million. Koinonia Architects & Builders (79), 7,000 square feet, $2.9 million. Cannaday Construction's house (60) won for both urban revitalization and best remodel. The 1950s ranch-style house lists at $254,000 and is open for viewing Oct. 14-16 only. Wallen Builders won among the 12 competing for the universal design award. It is given for building practices and design that make the home usable and navigable for people of all ages, sizes, abilities and physical limitations. Some common UD features are no-step entries, wider doors and lever door handles. The winning house (31) lists for $247,900 and has 2,464 square feet.