Photo by JOE IMEL/Daily NewsThis home at 619 Rivergreen Lane, built by Bennie Jones Construction, is one of many custom homes in this year’s 2008 Parade of Homes, presented by the Builders Association of South Central Kentucky. The four-day event, which begins today and ends Sunday, features tours of 18 custom and spec homes.

The Builders Association of South Central Kentucky will showcase trends in homes from the inside out at the 2008 Parade of Homes.

“It’s a fun way to spend the weekend. It’s a great way to see new houses and innovations, plus it won’t cost that much on gasoline,” said Anita Napier, the builders association chief executive officer. “You can see innovations to make the outside of the home as comfortable as the inside. The parade gives you ideas about colors you never think about until you see them.”

Sponsored by South Central Bank and WBKO-TV, the 2008 Parade of Homes will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets, which are $10 for ages 6 and up and free for children under 6, are available for purchase at every home on the tour during the event and at the builders association office at 859 Lovers Lane. Tickets are good for all four days and all homes. Each ticket holder will receive a Parade Magazine that includes information on the registered builder, the home and the decorator. Warren East High School’s Lady Raiders basketball team will be taking tickets at the homes. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the team’s Booster Club.

The parade features 18 homes, some of which were custom-built for families and others that are spec homes available for sale. Two homes are in Franklin and Scottsville. All homes in the parade are built by general contractors who have earned Registered Builder designation, which is given to contractors who meet specific requirements.

Peggy Loafman, who co-owns Loafman Construction with her husband, Gerald, said the company built a custom home for the parade at 1531 Stillwater Court in Fountain Trace Estates. Features of the 6,800-square-foot home include a three-car garage, pool house, in-ground pool, old world finishes by a local decorator/artist, four bedrooms, five bathrooms, porches, outside stonework, a heated tile shower in the master bathroom and a basement with a theater room (“it’s wonderful for relaxing and entertaining,” she said), wine cellar, game room, exercise room, billiard and family room and kitchenette.

Loafman – whose company has been a part of the parade for about 15 years – was thrilled that the home has won seven of eight awards given at the Parade of Homes, including Best in Show for Homes Over 5,000 Square Feet, Best Basement, Best Outdoor Living, Best Curb Appeal, Best Bathroom Design, Best Kitchen and Best Landscaping. The company collaborated with the homeowners.

“We redesigned it to fit their house and needs,” she said.

Bennie Jones, owner of Bennie Jones Construction – which has participated in the parade since 1992 – built two homes for the event: one at 619 Rivergreen Lane in Rivergreen subdivision and 919 Cumberland Ridge Way in Cumberland Ridge subdivision.

The Cumberland Ridge home is 4,020 square feet and features 31/2 baths, four bedrooms, a great room, living room, dining room and bonus room.

“The view out back is breathtaking,” Jones said.

The Rivergreen home is 5,500 square feet, sits on a 21/2 acre lot and has five bedrooms and four bathrooms. Designed by an architect in Nashville, it was built on an angle, Jones said. Features include a swimming pool, fire pit, two-story foyer, sunken great room with a limestone mantle and large vaulted ceiling, a theater room and a secret playroom behind a bookcase.

“You have to push the bookcase to get in there,” he said.

Although this year has shown to be an interesting year in the housing market, incentives such as the $7,500 tax credit approved by Congress for first-time homebuyers may spur people to buy, Napier said.

“Interest rates hit an all-time low,” she said. “If you’ve got good credit, it’s still a good time to buy.”

— For more information, call the builders association office at 781-3375.

The following are houses on the 2008 Parade of Homes:

• Gary Counts Construction Inc., 2865 Laurelstone, Lot 132, Ashmoor Parke

• Gemini Homes Inc., 338 Roseberry Circle, Lot 158, Sutherland Farms subdivision

• Jagoe Homes, 300 Monarchos Lane, Lot 73, McCoy Place subdivision

• Hammer Homes LLC, 2972 Crossridge Court, Lot 108, Crossridge subdivision

• Vision Builders USA, 309 Lafayette Lane, Lot 32, Traditions at Lovers Lane

• Vision Builders USA, 739-F Boston Park Drive, Lot 46-F, Traditions at Lovers Lane

• Russell Brown Construction LLC, 2131 Mount Victor Lane

• Southern Kentucky Building & Remodeling Inc., 233 Pine Pointe Court, Lot 14, Pine Pointe subdivision

• Tony Henon Construction Inc., 1701 Lester Court, Lot 85, Talbott Place subdivision

• T. Davis Construction, 1126 Lakemere Ave., Lot 71, Fountain Trace Estates

• Loafman Construction Inc., 1531 Stillwater Court, Lot 128, Fountain Trace Estates

• Bennie Jones Construction, 619 Rivergreen Lane, Lot 12, Rivergreen subdivision

• Bennie Jones Construction, 919 Cumberland Ridge Way, Lot 140, Cumberland Ridge subdivision

• Doug Martens Construction, 1025 Drakes Ridge Lane, Lot 3-1, Olde Stone subdivision

• Doug Martens Construction, 356 E. Promenade, Lot 5-135, Olde Stone subdivision

• J. Trapper Construction LLC, 212 McGlocklin Way, Lot 10, McLellan Farms

• J. Jones Builders LLC, 111 Hunters Crossing, Lot 38, Fox Chase subdivision, Franklin

• M&J General Contractors, 3740 Pope Road, Scottsville