Parade of Homes | Fall 2025

45 YEARS PARADE OF HOMES ❖ EVOLUTION

Evolution

“People saw that they had more value in their homes,” Yan says. “They were spending more time in their home, less time at restaurants, less time vacationing because of all the restrictions surrounding COVID- 19. So a very popular trend was that people started building home offices, as well as lofts or playrooms in their houses where they could work from home or spend leisure time with their families and kids.” COVID-19 also forced builders to get more engaged in the technology side of the business, Yan says, using social media, online marketing campaigns and 3D tours of houses. “It really changed the way we marketed houses,” Yan says. In reflecting on the Parade of Homes

reaching the 45-year milestone, Balaz says it’s a time to celebrate. “Having spent my whole career in this industry, you feel a lot of gratitude to be able to do what we do in this community. It’s a real group effort to make this a success — not just because of builders but all the people who work within the building organizations, all the people who work in the supply and the professional trade organizations, and the developers who put a lot of effort in,” Balaz says. “It’s also about everyone behind the scenes that needs to be congratulated on their efforts for 45 years of being a part of making this happen. The builders can’t take all the credit — it goes to everyone involved.” 

COVID-19 also drastically shifted the market in many ways, says Matthew Yan, vice-president of A&S Homes. “It was a very volatile time in the homebuilding industry — there were positives and negatives,” Yan says. “At peak COVID-19, interest rates dropped severely, which spiked sales and the demand for houses. The housing industry was booming. The negative aspect was that while it was booming, there were supply chain shortages, so it was a tough time for production. It was a challenge that we worked really well to successfully manage.” What people were looking for in a home also shifted, Yan adds, and builders shifted with them. Some of these trends are still popular in new homes today.

At peak COVID-19, interest rates dropped severely, which spiked sales and the demand for houses. The housing industry was booming. The negative aspect was that while it was booming, there were supply chain shortages, so it was a tough time for production. It was a challenge that we worked really well to successfully manage.” “

–MATTHEW YAN, VICE-PRESIDENT, A&S HOMES

18 PARADE of HOMES FALL 2025