WASHTENAW COUNTY The Parade of Homes, an opportunity to tour a diverse range of newly built houses throughout Washtenaw County, will be held from Friday to Sunday.

The event is conducted by the Builders & Remodelers Association of Greater Ann Arbor (BRAG).

Among the locations in the tour are a house in Chelsea, three in Dexter, one in Saline, and one in Ypsilanti, with the majority in Ann Arbor. Several houses are also in Livingston County. A list of the houses, their locations and details about each are available on BRAG's website.

Pete Nowakowski, marketing and communications director for BRAG, said the Parade of Homes is not only for those looking to have their own custom or model house built.

Anyone is welcome to participate, he said, including residents who want to see the different features of the new houses or see the decorations, as well as home improvement experts and architecture aficionados.

Among the featured houses are a 7,500 square-foot luxury house, a modern artistic custom retreat, and the latest house built by the Ann Arbor student builders, he said.

It's a chance to see a range of different styled houses with some of the latest new technology and features, Nowakowski said, such as a motorized porch screen. He said by looking around, residents may also find something they would like to have done in their current home.

"It's just really cool to see some of that stuff," he said.

Click here for a link to interactive interactive map of Parade of Homes' locations. An interactive map for directions to Parade of Homes houses in Washtenaw County is also available.

The parade also helps familiarize area residents with some of the local neighborhoods and gives the house builders some of the recognition they deserve, Nowakowski said. Continued...

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Tour 15 new houses in Parade of Homes starting Friday

BAR HARBOR The Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Mount Desert Island Hospital and Healthy Acadia are hosting an educational program on human trafficking on Monday, June 23.

The session will present information to business owners and community members who wish to learn about the issue of human trafficking close to home. This event will be offered twice at the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel and Conference Center. The first session will run from 10 a.m.-noon, and the second will run that evening from 5-7 p.m. The program is free to attend and open to the public.

Every day, local businesses and other people encounter human trafficking victims without realizing their situation, organizers note.

Vicki Eaton, an emergency department nurse and sexual forensic examiner from MDI Hospital, has been a passionate force behind this event from the beginning.

Eaton helped initiate the program in the hopes of spreading awareness. My goal for this class is to give the public a greater understanding of what human trafficking is, where it's occurring, the signs to watch for and who it affects, she said.

Our business owners and employees may encounter victims without recognizing the situation, said Jennifer Wright of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

In recent years, calls to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline from Maine have increased more than fifty percent.

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Human trafficking forum set

Custom home builder WoodCraft Building, Inc., was recently honored for Home of the Year by Northwest ENERGY STAR Homes. The awards recognize homebuilders and home energy raters for outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the Northwest ENERGY STAR Homes program, and an overall commitment to improving energy efficiency in new residential construction. The Bend-based builder has been selected for its net zero project at 2163 NW Lemhi Pass in the NorthWest Crossing area

of Bend.

We appreciate builders like WoodCraft who meet and exceed Northwest ENERGY STAR Homes requirements and are true leaders in the building industry, said Neil Grigsby, initiative manager, Northwest ENERGY STAR Homes. Their partnership with ENERGY STAR indicates their commitment to building longer lasting, more comfortable homes that cost less to own. This commitment extends beyond quality construction to educating the community about the widespread benefits of energy efficiency, including lower utility bills and improved indoor air quality.

During the design and construction phase, WoodCraft focused on maximizing energy efficiency, craftsmanship and livability to create a truly integrated, cutting-edge home. The firm worked with the designer, real estate agent and energy specialist to maximize efficiency, functional design and style. Additionally, we applied our own innovations to increase the compatibility between mechanical components and energy-efficient construction techniques to create a whole-energy footprint for the home, said President Michael Scannell. We were able to demonstrate how green construction can go hand-in-hand with a truly beautiful home.

Homes earning the nationally recognized Northwest ENERGY STAR label are at least 15 percent more energy-efficient than homes built to current state codes in the Northwest. Based on blower door tests which check for air leakage, Woodcrafts home had the fifth highest energy-efficiency rating in Central Oregon and ranked 21 of nearly 14,000 certified Earth Advantage Homes. The home also earned WoodCraft the Earth Advantage 2013 Green Home Builder of the Year Award and the 2013 COBA Green Building Award.

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Builder recognized for innovative energy-efficient design for home in NorthWest Crossing.

Winner of "Best Home Technology Product" at the 2014 NAHB International Builders Show, trutankless is quickly becoming a household name in the homebuilding industry

PHOENIX As popularity grows among homebuilders and homeowners alike, Bollente Companies, Inc. (OTCQB: BOLC), will showcase its smart trutankless electric tankless water heater line at the PCBC Homebuilding Show June 25 through 26, 2014 in San Francisco (booth #N-6634).

Featuring patent-pending Velix heating technology, the powerfully compact trutankless unit delivers endless hot water to an entire home year after year, without the scale and mineral buildup that plagues most tank and tankless heaters. Designed with long-term reliability in mind, trutankless is built to last 20 years or more and operates at nearly 100% energy efficiency. It's also packed with tech innovations, including its own smart-home compatible app (iOS/AOS) that sends notifications to homeowners and service professionals if a warranty or service appointment is needed.

Since its launch this February, trutankless has taken the homebuilding industry by storm, winning the 2014 NAHB International Builders Show's "Best Home Technology Product" and becoming the standard water heater in a number of new communities, including developments from Bela Flor Communities, luxury home builder Cullum Homes, and custom home builder AB Contracting.

"We've been extremely impressed with the quality engineering and innovation in the trutankless product line," said Rod Cullum, founder of Scottsdale-based Cullum Homes. "We've always felt tankless water heaters are where the industry is headed, but we'd been waiting for a truly reliable whole-home electric tankless product to hit the market. When we discovered trutankless, we knew this was the water heater we wanted for our communities. It's easy to install, and unlike gas units, it can go just about anywhere. We now have a unit on display in our showroom, and our homebuyers love the tech-forward features."

"trutankless is the perfect solution for our multifamily projects," said Allen Bell, president of AB Contracting, a regional leader in the development of single and multifamily communities based in West Virginia. "The small footprint of this product saves a significant amount space, and that's a huge selling point in our multifamily communities where storage is always at a premium. Our customers love the idea of having a water heater that never runs out of hot water -- that's a new concept for a lot of families. Another big selling point is the efficiency of trutankless, which saves the homeowner thousands of dollars in energy bills over the years. Our company has always placed a heavy emphasis on green initiatives and energy efficiency, so to me, trutankless is the way to go. We've made it the standard water heater in the newest phase of Eagle View, our 500-unit community, and we plan to make it standard in our future projects, too."

Bollente Companies will exhibit the trutankless residential line to builders, designers and architects at the PCBC Homebuilders Show, a high caliber conference that has been attracting prominent industry professionals since 1959.

"We're excited to bring trutankless to PCBC this year and demonstrate just how powerful and hassle-free the product is-- for the builder, the service professional, and the homeowner," said Michael Stebbins, president of trutankless. "No other water heater on the market has the ability to shut itself down if there's a leak, notify the homeowner and service professional in the event of a service disruption, or proactively schedule a service call."

About trutankless: Packed with patent-pending proprietary technology, trutankless is engineered to outperform and outlast both its tank and tankless predecessors in energy efficiency, output, and durability. Not only does it provide endless hot water on demand for a whole household, it also integrates with home automation systems and has its own app (iOS/AOS), which allows homeowners to control water temperature to within one degree, obtain service notifications, and monitor usage from their mobile devices. Because hot water is such an intimate and essential part of daily life, this is a highly meaningful new "Internet of Things" player in the arena of smart home tech.

About the Company: Founded in 2010, trutankless, a division of Bollente Companies, Inc. (OTCQB: BOLC), was brought to life through the combined insight, ingenuity, and drive of industry professionals, engineers, and entrepreneurs. The objective was to create a line of electric tankless water heaters that far surpasses traditional tank water heaters in energy efficiency, output, dependability and environmental sustainability while overcoming the frustrating drawbacks of other tankless units on the market today.

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Bollente Companies Plans to Heat Things up with trutankless at the PCBC Homebuilding ...

NJ Premier Custom Home Builder
http://johnpaulbuilders.net/nj-premier-custom-home-builder/ We are your NJ Premier Custom Home Builders, offering turn-key modular homes and traditional stick-built homes throughout NJ and...

By: Paul Rueda

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NJ Premier Custom Home Builder - Video

Submitted Priced at $1,595,000, Harbourside Custom Homes fully-furnished Aviano model in Fairgrove at Talis Park will showcase an interior by Clive Daniel Home. The great room floor plan, outdoor living area, and three-car garage offer 4,101 total square feet.

Talis Park announced that Harbourside Custom Homes has joined Sunwest Homes and Fox Custom Builders as a Participating Builder in the North Naples communitys Brightling neighborhood. Brightling is a single-loaded, In the Park neighborhood with south-facing homes on one side of the street overlooking the Sea Dwarf paspalum fairways of Talis Parks Greg Norman-Pete Dye designed golf course. Unobstructed views to the north include a Talis Park preserve and a golf course in an adjacent community.

Brightlings 2,600- to 3,400-square-foot residences feature Caribbean Colonial and Spanish Eclectic designs base-priced from $1.25 million that include three or four bedrooms, a study, formal dining rooms, island kitchens, master suites and outdoor living areas with swimming pools.

Harboursides entry into Brightling is the result of the homebuilders success in Talis Parks Fairgrove neighborhood and its participation as one of four builders in the communitys recently released Seneca neighborhood. To date, Harbourside has sold three furnished models and eight end-user new-build homes in Fairgrove. Harbourside currently has its Aviano furnished model residence under construction in Fairgrove and has started construction of its 3,658-square-foot Villa San Remo and 3,935-square-foot Casa Arianna models in Seneca.

Harbourside is slated to begin construction of its unfurnished Villa Adriana residence in Brightling in July. The 2,622-square-foot under air floor plan includes a wide gallery entry hallway leading to a great room with pocketing sliders that open to an outdoor living area with a pool, optional fireplace, and optional outdoor kitchen. The plan also features three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a study, and a three-car garage. A gourmet kitchen showcases a large island and pantry and is situated adjacent to an open dining area with sliders leading to the lanai. The Villa Adriana is priced at $1,240,000, with options and upgrades. The floor plan is base priced at $704,000.

Like Brightling, Fairgroves In the Park lifestyle offers golf course, water and preserve views. The neighborhood presents 24 south facing homes on just one side of the street. Italian Renaissance designs honor the more traditional view of Naples architecture and are joined by a Spanish Eclectic style that offers a perfect complement. Homes in Fairgrove by Harbourside and Iron Star Luxury Homes range from 3,100 to 4,000 square feet and are priced from $1.35 million. Just four buildable homesites remain available.

Priced at $1,595,000, Harboursides fully-furnished Aviano model in Fairgrove will showcase an interior by Clive Daniel Home. The great room floor plan, outdoor living area, and three-car garage offer 4,101 total square feet. The plan features three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a study, a formal dining room, and an island kitchen and breakfast nook. The outdoor living area includes a pool and spa with a screened colonnade surround and pavered deck, a fireplace, and a summer kitchen with a sink, under-counter refrigerator, granite countertops, a granite backsplash, and a gas grill.

Harbourside also has two furnished model residences under construction in Seneca, a recently released Talis Park neighborhood that will showcase 43 luxury residences offering the North Naples communitys hallmark In the Park living experience. Both models will feature interior designs by Bonita Springs-based Vogue Interiors.

Harboursides 3,935-square-foot Casa Arianna great room floor plan includes a wide gallery entry hallway, a formal dining room, a wet bar, a gourmet kitchen with a large island and a breakfast nook overlooking the outdoors, a study, a craft room, four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, an outdoor living area with an optional summer kitchen, an optional fireplace, pool and spa, a two-car garage, and a one-car garage. The great room and master bedroom open to a lanai overlooking Senecas spectacular views.

The 3,658-square-foot under air Villa San Remo Seneca model by Harbourside will feature a 29-by-20-foot great room, a formal dining room, a wet bar, a double-island gourmet kitchen and breakfast nook, a study, three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, an outdoor living area with a large covered terrace, gas fireplace, outdoor kitchen, pool and spa, and a three-car garage. The homes covered entry opens to a foyer and wide gallery hallway that provide a see-though view of the great room, outdoor living area and pool, and Senecas views. The great room, study, and master bedroom all open to the outdoor living area. Like the Casa Arianna, custom ceiling details will be found throughout the home.

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Harbourside to build in Brightling at Talis Park

Michael Schaefer starting building homes when he was 18, a passion that turned from hobby to side-job to the fastest growing business in the Brazos Valley.

Schaefer Custom Homes took home the top spot at the Bryan Rotary Club and Newman 10 Business Performance Awards Wednesday for the fastest-growing company. The home building business, founded in 2005, has four employees and experienced a three-year sales growth of more than 447 percent.

"I still view my job as more of a hobby," Schaefer said, saying the award still hasn't sunk in yet. "I love what I'm doing so it's not really working, and I'm really excited to win an award like this."

Schaefer Custom Homes was one of a dozen small businesses honored by the Bryan Rotary Club for innovation, growth and lifetime achievement.

Schaefer spent more than 20 years teaching accounting and serving as a department head at Blinn College before leaving to dedicate more of his time to his home building. He serves as president of the local Home Builders Association, which he says is his way of giving back to the community now that he is no longer teaching. He likened teaching accounting to building a home.

"You start with basically nothing, no skills, and then you get to the point where students can read financial statements by the end of the semester," he said.

He was thankful to his parents for supporting his aspirations for home building from an early age.

The Bryan Rotary Club honored Startup Aggieland with the Research Valley Partnership's Commercialization Rising Star Award. Startup Aggieland is a small business incubator for enterprising Texas A&M students, and has launched more than 100 student ventures.

Stylecraft Builders, Inc. received the Anco Insurance Award for Lifetime Business Achievement. Stylecraft Builders builds about 500 homes every year in the area after starting in the state's worst recession.

Other Newman 10 Business Performance Award winners were:

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Local businesses honored at Bryan Rotary Club and Newman 10 Business Awards

Providing valuable information to homeowners and prospective homebuyers so they can make informed decisions is a top priority of the Home Builders Association of Northwest Indiana (HBA) and theres no better way to find out whats new than meeting the members themselves.

Thats precisely what youll have the opportunity to do starting next Saturday during the Parade of Homes. From June 21-29, you can tour a great variety of homes throughout Lake and Porter counties during Northwest Indianas premier new construction open house event.

We are proud to present the highest quality builders offering you a wide variety of housing options with many exciting innovations and designs, HBA Executive Officer Vicky Gadd said. Parade visitors will also have an opportunity to win a Toshiba 50-inch 1080p LED HDTV by playing Parade Bingo.

Simply pick up a bingo card at any Parade home and have the card stamped as you visit 8 of the 37 locations. When you receive the final stamp, drop your card in the box for a chance to win. The drawing will be held on June 30th, and the winner will be notified by email.

This years Parade is brought to you by the efforts of a dedicated HBA committee that includes Jeff Brant, Julie Deal, Vicky Gadd, Steve Huff, Dean Jones, Kathy Keene, Ed Kelly, Hal Kemmerer, Palmer Myers, Paul Shinn, Jamie Sulcer, and Todd Olthof, as well as the generous support of platinum sponsor ENG Lending, gold sponsors NIPSCO, Meridian Title and Carter Lumber, and silver sponsor Fidelity National Title.

The HBA serves as an advocate for affordable housing and partners with local and state government to ensure high standards of construction and development are met while incorporating sensitivity to the natural surroundings that reflect our commitment to enhancing our communitys quality of life, according to Gadd.

In addition, consumers can feel confident in dealing with HBA members who must adhere to the association's strict standards of practice and principles of business integrity. When you work with a member of the HBA on any project - from building a new home or remodeling an existing home to updating or replacing fixtures and installing flooring or cabinetry, you can expect professional service and high-quality workmanship.

The 2014 Parade of Homes kicks off Saturday, June 21 and continues through Sunday, June 29. Homes will be open weekdays 4 - 7 p.m. and weekends 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. (except where noted). Admission is FREE. Look for the Parade of Homes guide featuring a detailed map plus descriptions of the following 37 homes presented by HBA members in The Times, at your local Strack and Van Til Food Market and online at nwi-paradeofhomes.com:

Lake County

Maintenance Free Homes

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Your First Step to Finding a New Home: The 31st Annual HBA Parade of Homes Starts June 21

Builder and developer Minto Communities is pledging to support Builders Care through each home sale.

Builders Care is the nonprofit arm of the Lee Building Industry Association (BIA). The program provides emergency repairs and construction services to elderly, disabled and poor people who are unable to obtain home repairs through traditional means.

Minto Communities is donating $100 from each home sale through its Bonita Isles community to Builders Care, providing money to assist the organization in helping local homeowners in need of renovations. In addition, Minto Communities said it is donating its services and resources to complete a large residential renovation project for a qualifying homeowner in Lee County in 2014.

We believe in helping our community and we believe in the mission of Builders Care. We are looking forward to helping out through our industry, said William Bullock, vice president of Minto Communities-Florida, in a statement.

Minto Communities support speaks volumes to the commitment they have to our community, said Wendi Carroll, president of Lee BIA Builders Care. We are fortunate to have them to help local homeowners in Lee County.

Donations can be made online at http://www.LeeBuildersCare.org.

More information is available by calling 239-938-0056.

Estero golf club adding retreat cottages

Old Corkscrew Golf Club held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new golf cottages on Monday.

There will be 25 golf cottages, each containing common areas, indoor and outdoor kitchens, and four private master suites. The cottages essentially will provide individual owners a second home without the duties of home ownership.

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It's Your Business: Developer Minto supporting Lee Builders Care

Custom Home Builders | Remodelers
Stoneridge Builders is a luxury custom home builder and remodeler in Northern Illinois, Chicago land and Southern Wisconsin including Lake Geneva.

By: stoneridge builders

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Custom Home Builders | Remodelers - Video