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Surround yourself in luxury

An upcoming home tour features 15 $1-million-plus homes around the bay area.

By JUDY STARK
Published September 23, 2006

If you are a fan of Bravo's Million Dollar Listing - or just on the lookout for ways to update your home - then an upcoming home tour might be just what you need.

The 2006 Greater Tampa Bay Luxury Home Tour features 15 models at six communities, each priced at a minimum of $1-million, with some listed at three or four times that.

They will be on view for nine days, starting Friday.

And you can look at them without guilt that you're glorifying conspicuous consumption. Your admission fee benefits American Public Media, the public radio producer responsible for the shows A Prairie Home Companion and Marketplace.

The organizers have been producing a similar event in Naples the past two years, "and we saw an opportunity" in the Tampa Bay area, said Tom Gavaras, director of marketing for the event producer, Greenspring Media Group of Minneapolis, which is the profitmaking arm of American Public Media. The group produces similar events in the Twin Cities and Chicago.

What the Tampa Bay market offered, Gavaras said, was what he called "quality luxury home builders," residential communities with lavish amenities, and homes "that you'll walk in and say, 'Wow.' "

Since this is the first year for the luxury tour, Gavaras was reluctant to predict what kind of crowds it will draw, but he said 300 to 800 visitors a day is typical in other markets.

Two kinds of people will be attracted by this event, he said: Those who are seriously interested in buying a luxury home and "those who can't afford a $1-million home but they can afford the Jenn-Air appliances or other aspects of the interior design."

All the homes are fully furnished, decorated and landscaped. Some of them have been open for months or years as models. Others are new to the market. Manufacturers' representatives may be present at a few of the homes to talk about their products, and there should be plenty of product literature for the serious shopper.

The builders may be grateful, in this slowing market, for an event that drums up some interest. (Among the qualifications for participation: Builders must have been in business a minimum of five years and must have a good reputation locally.) And of course many of them build less expensive houses, or will be glad to wait until today's lookers find themselves financially able to buy a luxury home.

Gavaras said he intends to make the luxury tour an annual event and is already talking to additional builders who didn't have a home ready in time for this year's tour.

"Without question, we look forward to being back in 2007."

Tour details

WHAT: 2006 Greater Tampa Bay Luxury Home Tour, self-guided tour of 15 homes priced at a minimum of $1-million.

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Oct. 1, Oct. 6-8 and Oct. 13-15.

WHERE: At six residential communities in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. Tour programs with maps and directions are available at CVS stores and in the September/October issue of Tampa Bay Homebuyer magazine.

TICKETS: Available now at CVS pharmacies or online at www.luxuryhometour.net. Advance purchase: $15. At the homes: $20. Tickets for admission to the homes at a single site are $5.

INFORMATION: www.luxuryhometour.net.

HOMES ON THE TOUR

Miramar by Alvarez Homes at MiraBay, 5,867 square feet, $3-million.

Mienna II by John Cannon Homes at MiraBay, 4,178 square feet, $2.2-million.

Manatee by David Weekley Homes at MiraBay, 3,394 square feet, $1-million.

Boca Grande by Nohl Crest Homes at MiraBay, 3,800 square feet, $1-million.

Tradewinds by Sabal Homes at MiraBay, 4,000 square feet, $1.8-million.

Sanderling by Hannah-Bartoletta Homes at MiraBay, 3,960 square feet, $2.1-million.

Bordeaux by David Weekley Homes at FishHawk Ranch, 3,412 square feet, $1-million.

Talon by Hannah-Bartoletta Homes at FishHawk Ranch, 5,055 square feet, $1.8-million.

Renaissance Homes by John C. Fowke at FishHawk Ranch, 5,070 square feet, $1.5-million.

Windermere by Nohl Crest Homes at FishHawk Ranch, 3,885 square feet, $1.3-million. (This is the "green" home from last spring's Parade of Homes.)

Blackstone by Mark Maconi Homes at Blackstone Estates on Lake Tarpon, Palm Harbor, 6,017 square feet, $3.4-million.

Bellemead 32 by Costanza Homes at Connerton, Pasco County, 3,439 square feet, $1-million.

Belize by Arthur Ruten-berg Homes at Grand Cypress on Lake Tarpon, Palm Harbor, 3,866 square feet, $1.9-million. (See story, Page 1F.)

Valencia Grand by Southern Image Homes at Grand Cypress on Lake Tarpon, Palm Harbor, 3,921 square feet, $1.3-million.

Summerfield by Costanza Homes at Mirasol in the Champions Club at Trinity, 4,322 square feet, $1.1-million.

[Last modified September 22, 2006, 09:38:52]