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Homebuyers are tightening their belts, but not loosening their expectations.

“Regardless of the price point, the builders are very conscious of what their customers are after,” said Larry Jones, president of both the High Point Area Builders Association and Capstone Home Builders.

So what do they want?
• Gourmet kitchens and luxury bathrooms.
• Elaborately appointed outdoor spaces that could double as kitchens and family rooms.
• Open floor plans that hail a transition to less formal lifestyles.
• Details like granite, hardwood, crown molding, tile work and stainless steel appliances.
• Energy-efficient building techniques and products that cut down on expenses and maintenance.

Home shoppers will get the chance to see examples of these features this month with the High Point association’s 19th Parade of Homes, which will feature a mix of 10 single-family homes and townhomes ranging in price from the low $100,000s to $650,000. “We have entry-level homes as well as step-up homes,” Jones said.

Potential buyers looking for home information from the source will have access to builders or builder representatives, as well as Realtors and financing professionals who will have information on loan options, Jones said.

Builders want to not only make connections with potential customers, but also get feedback. Economic conditions and buyer education have changed the buying climate.

“We’re dealing with a segment of the population that is very discerning, that is dissecting and looking at things more closely than they’ve done before,” Jones said. Builders recognize that no matter what price point they can afford, buyers want a home that reflects their individual style and doesn’t look like every other home on the block. Styling and details are more important than ever, he said, and the result is value and pricing “as competitive as we’ve seen it in 20 years or better.”

Market challenges have prompted builders to sharpen their skills to ensure they meet buyers’ demands.

Energy efficiency, and the lower utility and home operation costs that come with it, are a motivating factor for more and more buyers who are asking specific questions about building products and techniques used on homes, from insulation material to closed crawlspaces. While third-party certifications like the Energy Star and the National Association of Home Builders’ green building programs are gaining more attention, builders say what many buyers are looking for can be summed up in lower utility bills and a desire to be more eco-conscious.

“We’re heading more and more into energy conservation,” Jones said. “To say that’s it’s not Energy Star doesn’t mean it doesn’t have energy-saving systems already,” such as appliances and energy-efficient windows. “There are a lot of features in all these homes that may not have the rating but certainly have the energy savings.”

The one Energy Star-certified home on the tour this year was built by Duke Brothers, a company that also has experience building green. The company’s 5,445-square-foot transitional brick home has four bedrooms and 3 ½ bathrooms. According to Realtor Lisa Duke, energy-saving features incorporated into the $429,965 home include a tight building envelope, which improves air quality and reduces energy consumption; a tankless hot water heater; hybrid heating system; and Energy Star appliances.

A builder that earlier this year made energy-efficiency and green building practices its standard actually stands out on the tour this fall for its diversity. Of the 10 homes on the Parade, six were built by Shugart Enterprises. The Winston-Salem-based company has nearly 30 active communities in the Triad.

The builder has townhomes and single-family homes, with prices ranging from $114,000 to $310,000. Though they were built before the company made energy efficiency its official strategy, marketing coordinator Marina Scholten thinks the variety faithfully represents the company’s standard. “We carefully chose our plans this year. We wanted to have a good mix.”

Jones hopes this variety will drive potential buyers to this year’s Parade and tempt them to make purchases. “We’ve got a wide range of products out there this year.”

WANT TO GO?
■ What: High Point Area Builders Association 19th Parade of Homes
■ When: 1 to 5 p.m. Sept. 19-20 and 26-27
■ Where: Throughout High Point
■ Find out more: Call 885-5687
■ Online guide: See the official Parade magazine online at www.highpointbuilders.com