Top Transactions: Builders show their best in Parade of Homes.

Byline: Anne Bretts

Editor's note:The Top Transactions feature focuses on the latest top home sales in the Twin Cities area, as well as noteworthy new listings, new residential developments and housing trends.Finance & Commerce checks certificates of real estate value filed with the Minnesota Department of Revenue as well as data from the Northstar Multiple Listing Service, Realtor.com, county records and other sources.

It's that time of year. Anglers head to the boat shows. Gardeners study seed catalogs. And people planning to buy new homes, fix up the ones they have or just dream a little start planning which models to tour in the Spring Parade of Homes, sponsored by Roseville-based BATC Housing First Minnesota.

From noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, the doors will open to 472 new homes across the Twin Cities, central Minnesota and western Wisconsin. They'll remain open from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, and Thursday through Sunday through March 31. The final weekend also will include the Remodelers Showcase,devoted to 59 remodeling projects.

What are Parade visitors going to see?

Katie Elfstrom, communications director for BATC, highlighted some of the strongest trends:

Mountain Modern, or as it's known here, Minnesota Modern, continues to grow in popularity. The trend softens the stark lines of urban contemporary design with stone, new and reclaimed wood and other natural materials and colors.

Technology has gone from novelty to necessity, with integrated systems designed to provide seamless coordination of everything from home security and energy use to entertainment.

White remains strong, but dramatic colors and patterns are popping up in backsplashes, flooring, wallpaper and cabinets.

Parade builders are responding to demands from empty nesters, with 80 ramblers, villas and townhomes featuring one-level living.

This year, Wisconsin takes the spotlight with both the most expensive and most affordable entries.

Oevering Homes LLC in New Richmond nailed down the title of most affordable entry with a two-bedroom, one-bath model at 1724 Morning Glory Drive in River Falls, priced at $210,000.

Brandon Laventure, vice president of sales and marketing for Oevering, says the key factor in meeting the target price is being in Wisconsin. Laventure was born and raised in Woodbury, but when it came time to buy a home, he planted his Minnesota Vikings flag in Packer country.

"The house I was going to build for $490,000 in Woodbury, I built in Wisconsin for $270,000...