CANFIELD, Ohio – After a roughly 15-year hiatus, the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of the Valley’s Parade of Homes will return next year.
The HBA and five homebuilders held a ceremonial ribbon cutting and groundbreaking ceremony Thursday afternoon at Legacy Villas and Homes.
“So as a new executive officer, I thought it was really important, with my real estate background, to bring it back,” said Trisha Howe, HBA executive officer, who started in the position about two years ago.
Five builder HBA members – Custom Designed Homes by Mark Ramunno, DeLucia Builders, G. Sorice Builders Inc., Russo Builders LTD and SMS Custom Builders – are participating in the event, which will run for two weeks.
Russo opened his development on Legacy Boulevard, off Raccoon Road, for the parade of homes.
“Some of them are ranches; some of them are two stories,” Howe said. “And it’s significant because A, we need housing in Canfield and B, it gives an opportunity for the public to come out and meet and greet the builders …”
The Parade of Homes is expected to open in late spring or early summer 2026. Timing is weather and materials dependent, Howe said.
“Some of the homes are already starting to be dug, so that’s nice, but it’s about getting the materials as well,” she added.
Each of the five builders will construct a house that will be open for public viewing. The first floor, master bedroom and part of the patio will be completed in time for the event.
“So you’ll get to see and meet with different people about designing and interior designs as well,” Howe said.
Mark Ramunno Sr. of Custom Designed Homes by Mark Ramunno pointed to the length of time since the last Valley Parade of Homes. “So it’s kind of a big step forward from Mahoning Valley to build houses for sale again.”
Housing collapsed in 2008.
“And then the only people, the only things being built, are contracts that are pre-sold,” Ramunno said. “The banks don’t want to lend money on speculation.”
That situation hasn’t improved much in the years since, he said. But Ramunno hopes the parade of homes enables more people to see one of his homes.
“Hopefully, we’ll build a contract for them,” he said. “They’ll come in, like what we do, like our quality and follow up with a lot of their own and work with us in the future.”
Pictured at top: Trisha Howe, executive officer of the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of the Valley, and Mark Ramunno Sr. and Mark Ramunno Jr., both of Custom Designed Homes by Mark Ramunno.