Haciendas a Standout Homes Event 2005
Santa Fe is fortunate to have one of the best “Parade of Homes” events in the country and it is the largest real-estate event in northern New Mexico. It featuresa wide variety of homes in many styles, price ranges, and locations in the Cityand surrounding areas. Unlike many home tours across the United States, ours is made up mostly of custom homes.
Our first Haciendas – A Parade of Homes event coincided with the 1993 SantaFe Indian Market and featured just a few homes. Twelve years later, it has grown to be an exciting event anticipated by many locals and visitors. People come from all over the world to see our unique style of building. As many as 5,000 people visit the homes during each August event, which has seen the participation of most of the best builders in Santa Fe at one time or another. These are the designers and builders who continue to define the architecture and design tag “Santa Fe Style.”
This self-guided tour is a great opportunity to meet the local builders, designers, architects, lenders, Realtors, suppliers, and other service providers. It’s also a great way to get advice, for example on frame, adobe, and other wall materials if you are considering buying or building a home or just getting ideas for remodeling.
The builders often include one-of-a-kind extras because the homes are judged in a competition. The categories arebest floor plan, kitchen, exterior elevation, master suite, outdoor living space, and craftsmanship, plus a Judges’ Choice award. A Grand Hacienda Award is presented to one of the 30 homes by a panel of judges made up of past winners. The awards will be announced at a gala dinner at La Fonda beginning at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16.
There is also a Peoples’ Choice Award that citizens will choose by voting online at santafehometours.com after the parade begins.
This year there will be a Haciendas kickoff at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 12 at the Museum of International Folk Art. There will be live music, food and refreshments, and the Team Spirit Award will be given to the builder using the most local member suppliers and sponsors. You can get a preview of the homes and meet participants at this event.
The 2005 tour will be held Aug. 13-21. Hours on Saturdays and Sundays are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday the homes are open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., then there is a new evening Twilight Tour on Thursday with hours extended to 9 p.m.
Official Haciendas tickets are $10 each and entitle you to admission to all homes during the entire event. Part ofthe proceeds will benefit local youth organizations. Tickets can be purchased at the Lensic Performing Arts Center(988-1234) or at any of the Hacienda homes or any sponsor location.
The home tour has most of its traffic on Saturdays and Sundays. So, if you want to talk to the builders or take more time in some of the homes you may want to visit during the week.
Call the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association at 982-1774 for ticket or event information.
Contact Kurt Faust:Cell: 505.780.1157