27 area neighborhoods on display at inaugural event

More than two dozen new neighborhood developments throughout the area were on display Tuesday during the inaugural "New Home-A-Palooza" at Savannah Rapids Pavilion.

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The Sales and Marketing Council of the Builders Association of Metro Augusta held the luncheon as part of their general membership meeting.

About 125 people within the real estate industry attended the event, which allowed exhibitors to showcase their communities, said Rhonda Banks, Sales and Marketing Council chairman.

Banks said the event was designed in part to help those within the industry network in a relaxed environment.

"We want to give Realtors in the community an opportunity to meet some of the site agents at these new home neighborhoods in a very non-stressful environment, kind of a one-stop shop event versus having to drive all over town to preview some of these communities," she said. "They can get all this information in one place, not spending their gas and not having to walk in 100-degree heat."

Those in attendance included real estate agents, site managers, mortgage agents and builders.

Among the tables on display, Keystone neighborhood associate Judy Martin chose a horse-racing theme to promote the Steeplechase subdivision, located near the intersection of Evans-to-Locks and Furry Ferry roads.

"There's new neighborhoods going up all over the place," said Martin, who was dressed as Julia Roberts in the polo scene from Pretty Woman , donning a brown and white sundress and a large straw hat. "It's a win-win situation."

Martin, who has been in the real estate industry for 30 years, also represented the Riverstone subdivision, which includes sections in both Columbia and Richmond counties. She said she talked to 25 to 30 people throughout the event.

Kathy Rawls, a site manager for Riverwood Planation, took a practical approach to decorating her table, which featured the Evans development's Amberley section. Her table incorporated awards won by the master-planned development, in addition to Riverwood Planation pamphlets, flyers and price lists.

"It gets us talking to the people who are selling our houses and gives them information they might have missed," she said.

The event was not open to the public this year, but Banks said that might change in the future.