Daytona Beach News Journal - May 8, 2010 12:05 AM

"I think the parade was a lot better than we had initially expected," said Charles Rinek, a local homebuilder and president of the local home builders association. "We didn't really know what was going to happen as far as participation was concerned and what type of traffic we would have."

Rinek said there are two types of traffic at events like the Parade of Homes, people who are just there to sight see and "quality traffic," meaning people who are seriously looking into buying a new home.

"We were hoping for a little bit of both, if not more toward the interested kind," he said.

Rinek said the result was a pleasant surprise.

"There were a lot of people with a smile on their faces and they were generally happy and hopeful, and asking questions with the potential to become valued clients," he said.

Rinek said everyone he spoke with during the event was optimistic and excited.

"They feel at least at this point in time there is reason for hope and there are things we can do to advance the economy a little bit," he said.

Still, Rinek said it is a "somewhat restrictive" housing market.

"However, we are stepping in the correct direction and that is something we haven't been able to say for at least three years," he said."

From an article in By Aaron London