The Spokane Home Builders Association will hold its 13th annual Fall Festival of Homes over the next two extended weekends.

This year’s show will feature 28 homes constructed in Spokane County by 20 builders, making it again the largest new-home construction showcase in the Inland Northwest, asserts Kathy Gustafson, an SHBA spokeswoman.

Hours for the festival will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 29-Oct. 1 and Oct. 6-8.

The festival will have four host sites with show information. They will be at Eagle Ridge, in south Spokane; River Ranch, in north Spokane County; Rivercrest at Coyote Rock, in Spokane Valley; and Villages at Stonehill, in Liberty Lake.

Show magazines and maps will be available at all host sites, Gustafson says. Maps and site information are available on the association’s SpokaneFestivalofHomes.com website. Virtual tours of the homes will be available beginning the opening day of the show.

The homes were all on the market as of earlier this month, although it’s possible that some could sell before the show, Gustafson says.

With existing-home stock currently low, Gustafson advises prospective homebuyers to consider having a new home built. Current mortgage rates still are considered low by historic standards, helping to keep mortgage payments affordable, while new homes offer amenities that older homes might not have, she says.

“New homes are significantly more resource-efficient and environmentally friendly,” she says.

Many of the homes feature open floorplans, flexible spaces, improved safety features, and low-maintenance materials.

There are also innovative ideas to inspire do-it-yourselfers, she says.

“We want the community to know that you don’t have to be looking to buy a home,” Gustafson says, adding, “The Fall Festival of Homes offers the latest building techniques, designs, and home-interior trends.”

Some homes in the festival have the latest technologies, such as phone-operated thermostats and motion-sensor lighting. “One even has solar panels,” she says.