Editor’s note: This story is published in the Daily Reporter’s Spring Home and Garden special section on Tuesday, April 20.
HANCOCK COUNTY — The housing market is booming, which means plenty of people are in search of new homes.
A home show is coming to Hancock County in mid-May that will give buyers a first-hand glimpse at houses that have been crafted by a variety of local builders.
The annual Hancock County Home Tour by BAGI takes place May 15-16, when guests can visit all the featured homes at their own pace, between 12 and 5 p.m. each day.
The free event gives buyers a chance to connect with builders and see their homes in person, rather than simple drive-bys or online views. Many of the homes are also furnished, which can give browsers the chance to check out the latest in design and interior decor.
Four of the eight featured builders — Bridgenorth Homes, Gateway Communities, Joyner Homes and P & W Builders — are based in Hancock County, while the rest are from surrounding areas.
Sara Joyner, who owns Greenfield-based Joyner Homes along with her husband, Tom, said the home show is a great opportunity for people to get to know the different builders who create homes in Hancock County.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for consumers because they can get ideas for fixing up their own homes, or pick up on remodeling and decorating ideas. It’s a good, low-pressure way to get out and see what building a new home is all about,” she said.
Barbara Zoderer, director of membership and events for the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis, or BAGI, said the home show provides a robust glimpse into the various types of homes and builders available in the county.
“You’re going to see anywhere from large volume builders who do the ranch homes up to $300,000 along with the custom builders,” she said.
“The purpose of the show is to give the general public a taste of what kinds of products are out there.”
While it’s hard to quantify, Zoderer said a number of new homes are purchased as a result of the home show each year.
“We have tried over the years to kind of track how many people we have coming through, but it’s really hard for them to give me numbers of what turns into a solid lead or sale,” she said.
“I can say that after each show the builders are all happy with the attendance that they get, and they feel like they get solid leads.”
Builders and Realtors agree that today’s housing marking is booming, with a drastically low inventory of homes driving a seller’s market, and causing a number of buyers to look toward building new homes.
“The demand is very high. We’re just trying to keep up with it,” said Zoderer. “It seems like demand has just really ramped up over the last 12 months.
“I’m sure part of this is due to COVID and people spending so much time in their houses, that they either want to do big remodeling jobs or they’re wanting to find a new house they really want to live in,” she said.
Mike Leslie, managing partner for Bridgenorth Homes and Gateway Communities, said all that time spent at home, combined with plummeting interest rates, have prompted many people to start searching for new homes.
“Everybody has been locked up in their houses and realized how much they hate their current living situations, so they’re looking for something new,” he said.
Leslie said the home show is a great time for builders to show the community what they have to offer.
“We like to show the product. It’s an opportunity to attract more buyers and show them what we do,” he said.
Between Gateway Communities, which offers maintenance-free living, and Bridgenorth Homes, the two companies are currently building about 30 homes in Hancock County.
Joyner Homes is also working on about the same number.
The wide variety of options at the home show makes it a great one-stop-shop for home buyers to check out what the various builders have to offer, said Joyner.
“There’s something for everybody,” she said.
“The home show is a great time to go around and get a feel for the different home builders, different materials, and different personalities of the people you might be working with. We’re not for everyone, just like other builders aren’t for everyone,” said Joyner, who has taken part in the BAGI home show every year it’s taken place in Hancock County.
Zoderer said the show had been hosted annually for at least 20 years, until last year’s event was canceled due to COVID.
This year individual builders will monitor attendance and social distancing at each home at their discretion, she said.
This year’s show is a free, ticketless event. Those who wish to attend can check the home show’s website for the list of homes featured, and visit as few or as many as they like between 12 and 5 p.m. that weekend.
“Just look up the map that’s online and view the houses at your leisure,” said Zoderer.
For more information on the tour, visit hancockhometour.com or call BAGI at 317-236-6330.
