BAMP puts Festival of Homes on schedule for September 2009

Dion McMullen and Michael Kamon share a lot in common. Both are builders, both are members of the Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh (BAMP), and both serve as co-chairs of the annual Festival of Homes. Easily the most exciting show of its kind in Pennsylvania, the 2009 Festival of Homes kicks off this coming September, presenting the very best in new housing communities, locations and developments in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Westmoreland and Washington counties. Running on two consecutive weekends, the Festival offers the public a firsthand look at what’s for sale and under way in residential construction.

But McMullen, president of Londonbury Homes, and Kamon, president of Nomak Custom Homes and Signature Homes, also share the conviction that buyers shouldn’t delay looking for that new home. At this moment the Pittsburgh housing market is one of the most resilient in the nation, with home values having increased.

But wait too long to buy or build, and interest rates may inch upward, eroding buying power. What’s more, residential material and labor costs are certain to increase as the new-home market gains momentum. New building codes under consideration in Pennsylvania may add to those costs. And right now the inventory of pre-built homes, as well as available lots, is plentiful. As a result, builders and developers are offering savings in order to re duce their inventories.

But the reasons to buy or build now don’t stop there. “There are a number of government incentives available to buyers,” McMullen said. One of these is a tax credit of up to $8,000 to qualified first-time homebuyers who purchase a principal residence before December 1, 2009. Other incentives relate to the “greening” and energy-efficiency of new or newly built homes. The recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 contained a number of either new or expanded tax benefits or expenditures to reduce energy use or create new energy sources.

The Pittsburgh housing market makes the search for the right home easier, because the current inventory represents a wide variety of styles and designs. “You’ll find all different size homes, at different prices,” said Kamon. “There’s something for everyone, from the first-time buyer to the empty-nester about to retire.”

Yet another advantage of existing new homes is that they are often move-in ready, or 90 days or less from completion.

To help you find the home you’re looking for today, BAMP’s web site, at www.pghhomebuilders.com, is the resource center for consumers looking to purchase a new home or select a professional to build the home of their dreams.

BAMP is the region’s association of professional homebuilders, contractors and suppliers. Whether you are looking for a new home that’s recently been built, or one you want to build, BAMP is THE organization for locating a professional homebuilder and a resource for obtaining valuable tips and information on the selection and homebuilding process.

If, however, you don’t find the home you’re looking for today, there’s always the upcoming 2009 Festival of Homes, scheduled for September 12 and 13, and September 19 and 20. Check BAMP’s web site in the weeks ahead for further information about the Festival of Homes’ hours, locations and builders.