Last month, the Hernando Builders Association concluded its annual Parade of Homes exhibition. The local event, which lasted from February 21 to March 9, allowed prospective homebuyers to tour properties physically or virtually in the hopes of locating their dream home.
The Parade showcased a total of 26 homes built by 14 different developers, and the response from the public was sizable. Parade Chairwoman and Probuilt US co-owner Halie Eaton noted that they had “a couple hundred people come in throughout the parade.” Andy Carr, VP of Growth and Development at Sunrise Propane, called the turnout “fantastic.”
Not every person or family was a serious buyer, though. Eaton added that some just like to peruse and tour the homes out of curiosity. “They want to see everything that Hernando County has to offer,” she said. “Some are going to be hopefully some good leads that we’ll be able to sell a home to later on.”
While people were not looking for any one specific design, Eaton did identify a common theme that resonated with house browsers: entertainment. Not in a media room or man cave type of way, but rather for entertaining guests. There were several design aspects that favor this philosophy:
Larger kitchens with islands
Outdoors areas
Large back porches
Pools
These are what “customers are really looking for in a home right now […] I am just very excited about the record number of builder entries that we had this year,” Eaton stated. “It was bigger and better than the years prior, and we are hoping that next year we can have the exact same thing or even better.”
The Hernando Builders Association will be hosting multiple more events throughout the year, including a Cash Bash on October 4. It is a reverse drawing with a grand prize of $10,000. It will be open to the public and tickets will be on sale soon. They will also be holding a golf tournament within the next few months.
With the hurricane season around the corner yet again, it will be crucial to be prepared and to know where to find reputable contractors in case of repairs and maintenance. The HBA has a website with a directory where homeowners can find roofers, remodelers, plumbers, and more.
Below are two of the proud sponsors that helped this year’s Parade of Homes get off the ground.
Brannen Bank: Bronze Sponsor
“As a Business Development Officer/Residential Mortgage Lender for over 10 years with Brannen Bank, it is an honor for me to serve on this committee that puts the Parade of Homes together every year, said Christine Quigley, Brannen Bank VP and Business Development Officer.
Sunrise Propane: Presenting Platinum Sponsor
“Sunrise Propane is proud once again to be the presenting platinum sponsor of the 2025 Hernando Builders Association Parade of Homes,” said Carr. “Hailey Eaton of ProbuiltUS once again did an amazing job orchestrating the event. This was the best parade yet with the many new builders that participated this year. […] We enjoy working with all of the builders on the Nature Coast and have not only made excellent business relationships, but many long-lasting friendships along the way. We are anxiously looking forward to next year’s Parade of Homes.”
