In its 17th year, the Parade of Homes is truly the best way for you to select a new home, choose a builder or get ideas for your own home. As 2009 President of the Helena Building Industry Association I want to invite you to tour the work of nine HBIA Builder Members showcasing eleven new homes located throughout the Helena area.  There is a wide variety of home sizes and price ranges to see at this year’s Parade of Homes.   As a tour participant you should be able to find a home style and a builder to fit your needs.  Furthermore, you will find great examples of the quality work our builder members and associate members provide.
 
     As a long-term investment, homeownership is still one of the best investments for individual households. “Why” you may ask? After all, the headlines say the housing market is down and out, with defaults rising at an alarming rate, and mortgage markets so frozen that buyers can’t get a home loan at any price. What buyers need to realize is that housing markets, like all markets, inevitably have their ups and downs and homeownership has a track record that is virtually unmatched by any other purchase in terms of its real benefits.  Despite the turmoil in mortgage lending, if you have good credit, a job and steady income, you will find there is still plenty of mortgage credit to be had at good rates. For well-qualified buyers, rates are running at near historical lows.  While much of the nation is showing a slow comeback in the housing market the City of Helena is up 69.2% in Single Family Housing starts from last year at this time and Lewis and Clark County is up 22%.      

     First time home buyers and those who have not owned a home they live in for the past three years may be eligible for up to an $8,000 tax credit if they close on a home by Nov. 30, 2009. The tax credit does not have to be repaid and can be obtained almost immediately with an amended tax return. The three most important sources of tax savings for home owners are the deductions for mortgage interest, deductions for real estate taxes, and capital gain exclusion for the sale of a principal residence. 

     Enjoy this years Parade and  the quality built homes. When looking for a builder for your new home please use an HBIA Member.

Rob Martin
Great Divide Home Builders
2009 HBIA President