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Local Home Builders Earns Top Honors in Construction Awards
American Dream Awards recognize area’s residential building leaders

Area home builders took center stage Wednesday night as the housing industry honored outstanding achievements in local new-home construction with the presentation of the 2008 American Dream Awards. The home-building competition was held in conjunction with the annual Spring Homes Tour that opened Sunday and continues through May 18.

More than 650 housing industry professionals were on hand for the awards presentation during the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City (HBA) Spring Awards Ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center. The HBA produces both the American Dream Awards and the Spring Homes Tour. The American Dream Awards honor the best in new-home construction featuring housing choices throughout the metropolitan area including single-family, multi-family and maintenance-provided homes as well as condominiums and lofts. Contest entries are evaluated based on criteria such as craftsmanship, standard of materials and architectural design. Grand Award and First Runner-Up honors were presented in 32 categories based on the home’s sales price and housing style.

The standards and criteria used by the contest judges were established by the HBA Tour Committee, consisting of home builders and other local industry professionals. A panel of 32 judges comprised of home-building industry professionals from across the nation toured Kansas City May 2-3 to evaluate the entries. Judges awarded points for interior and exterior construction to determine the winners.

“Without a doubt the American Dream Awards exemplify the great value, outstanding design and superior new-home performance home builders strive to provide their homebuyers throughout metropolitan Kansas City,” said Randy Sallee of Sallee Homes Inc., chairperson of the HBA Tour Committee. “Winning an American Dream Award is cherished by local home builders because it means they have been deemed the best among their peers by a distinguished jury of housing experts from across the nation.”

The Spring Homes Tour has been a local tradition since 1962, allowing prospective new-home buyers the opportunity to visit a wide range of housing choices. This year’s event ranks as the nation’s second largest housing tour.

Tour homes range in price from under $100,000 to $2.6 million. Homes on the 2008 Spring Homes Tour are open daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through May 18. Tour listings and maps are available in local newspapers and at metro area participating Circle K stores. Official Spring Homes Tour Guide books are available at each community on the tour and at the HBA office at 600 E. 103rd Street at Interstate 435 and Holmes Road. For more information, visit the tour’s official Web site at www.kcspringhomestour.com.

View 2008 American Dream Award Winners
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