Southern Yankee Observer: Parade of Homes...and amazing mansions

We New Yorkers, with our resident Rockafellers, Morgans, Vanderbuilts, Roosevelts and the historic homes on the 'Gold Coast' of Long Island, think we've cornered the market on mansions, but I have found many rivals here in North Carolina. Our most famous mansion is the spectacular Biltmore Estate in Ashville, but this year's Parade of homes boasts one development just 20 minutes outdise of Raleigh that has 15 executive mansions open for viewing, many of which are listed between $1 and $2 million.

The Parade of Homes is an annual event that pits the triangle area's new home builders against each other in a friendly compitition. They open up their very best model homes to the public for three weekends in October. Some people go to buy, some to get decorating ideas and some...to see how the other half lives. To get information on all of the beautiful homes on tour folow this link: http://shopping.newsobserver.com/SS/Page.aspx?secid=108006

It is impossible to see all 200 houses that are entered in the parade (especially since Oct 14,15 & 16 are the final days) so in the interest of time I will tell you that in my opinion, this year the best of the best clearly resides in one particular new home community in Wake Forest.

From the moment you pull up to the security guard at the Hasentree golf community it's clear you've entered a world most of us can only dream of. Then you pass a curious sign engraved with an Audubon International Signuiture Santuary Gold Certification, which means that the entire development was designed with environmental sustainability at the forefront. Then... there on your left, is the stunning Welcome Center/ Model Home.

The homes are built by TOLL BROTHERS who are kind of like the Rolls Royce of home builders. Their list of awards is endless including "World's Most Admired Home Builder of 2010" in Forbes Magazine. Once you step inside any Toll Brothers Model it is easy to see why.

The grandure and attention to detail, the professional decor and clever ideas are well worth the trip, and if you happen to be fortunate enough to be able to afford one of these gems, there are some great deals I can get for you. If not, well at least you can feel like a Rockafeller for a day!!!