Parade of homes

While the Albuquerque metro market suffers from an inventory dearth of resale homes, builders are breaking out their best new houses, showcasing them in the upcoming Parade of Homes.

The 17 builders will be showing off 21 homes in Rio Rancho, Corrales, Bernalillo, East Mountains, Valley and Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights, Southeast Heights Westside Friday through Sunday and April 30-May 2.

Homes range from $317,285 for a house by Amreston to a $2.1 million project by John Mark Custom Homes, although there is one $285,000, from-theground-up remodel, as well.

All but one of the homes can be visited in person for free from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., but all of the homes can be seen virtually in a system the Home Builders Association of Central New Mexico developed for its fall 2020 tour, said Lana Smiddle, Association Vice President of Operations/Membership Director.

“There’s lots of great upscale details in the homes,” Smiddle said. “Many have great indoor/outdoor living spaces. Everyone is taking advantage of the great views of the city, mountains, balloons, etc. Homes have always been important but now that everyone has spent more time at home being comfortable, having a beautiful home has become even more important.”

Not as many homes as in prior Parades “It is lower, but some people with the pandemic still want to make sure they’re keeping everyone safe as possible,” she said. “I see a lot more of our custom guys coming back in the fall. Sometimes it was just timing or the home they want to use was occupied. We’re looking forward to getting all of them back.”

With fewer homes and a more compact area than usual, the Parade is more accessible than ever.

“With 21 for everyone that is going on the Parade means everybody will be able to see most of the homes,” Smiddle said.

Among the entrants, Quality Builders Inc. is one of the newcomers.

“He’s a first timer with a great custom home off Unser,” Smiddle said. “He can show off every little bell and whistle and specialty. We’re hoping we can get him to come back.”

Him would be Quality Builders Inc. owner Mike Martinez, whose 3558 square feet home is listed at $889,500, although it is not for sale.

It has three bedrooms plus an office that can be converted into another bedroom, plus three baths.

The extra office space, Smiddle said, is something that is quite popular these days as so many people were introduced to working from home over the past year.

“Almost every home has a flex space for an office space, mother-inlaw quarters, or extra bedrooms all as home offices,” she said. “Because of the pandemic, they are very much in right now. So many people are staying home and working from home.”

The home also includes significant outdoor living capabilities, which is another trend that the virus helped expand.

“Many have great indoor/outdoor living,” Smiddle said. “People want to get away from their home office workspace, but to do so while at home.”

Two, 16-foot glass door panels slide open to make the indoor/outdoor a seamless venture, said Martinez, who also is a full-time fire fighter.

“It’s got a really cool outdoor living set up” he said. “It’s got a pool, fire pits, putting greens, an outdoor kitchen. It’ really set up for entertaining.”

It also has fashionable, smart-home capabilities with LED lighting and accent lighting indoors and out that can all be controlled remotely, along the different elevations across the single-story house.

“It’s a real modern, contemporary look that is unique from what most builders are putting up,” Martinez said. “It’s on a unique lot so we designed it to fit the lot with views of the city.”

Stone accents both inside and outside and texture and flavor, while the bar countertop is covered ¾-inch glass floating bar top.

And the master bath should not be missed, Martinez said.

“The master shower is pretty awesome,” he said. “The water falls out of the skylight. It has four ringed heads set on a 4X4 wood piece across the skylight and showers rain. It even has shower speakers and steamer.”

Martinez has been in the construction business since 1996 as a framing contractor but has been doing custom homes for some time now in addition to the framing business.

“I’d see ideas, pictures of things that would look cool in the house,” he said. “I wanted to showcase some of my work. I wanted to showcase to people in New Mexico what we’re doing.”

17 builders will be showing off 21 homes