The first time the Tidewater Builders Association brought Homearama to The Estates of Pitchkettle Farms, the timing could hardly have been worse. It was 2006, and the housing bubble was as large as it would get. When the bubble burst, over-leveraged homeowners found banks all too eager to foreclose on their mortgages, and the high-end housing market that Homearama normally spotlights took a beating.

Amid mounting evidence that the resulting Great Recession is now but a painful memory, this year’s edition of the fall home show is back at Pitchkettle Farms once again, and TBA officials are hoping the robust economy of 2017 heralds another successful visit to Suffolk.

The event began last weekend and will continue Friday through Sunday this coming weekend and the one after it. Show hours are noon to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $10, with children 12 and under admitted free.

Six custom-built homes in the $450,000 to $600,000 range are being showcased, and visitors will get a look at some of the latest trends in home construction, along with some great ideas for interior design.

Not only the homes but also everything in them are for sale. Everything from furniture to wall décor to kitchen accoutrements such as plate sets can be purchased throughout the show and picked up on the last day.

TBA has set themes for the next two weekends, hoping to attract even larger crowds than the homes themselves might be expected to entice. This weekend’s theme is “Bluegrass and Brews” and will feature a variety of bluegrass entertainment, along with samples of craft beer and cider from 1 to 4:30 p.m. both days. Next weekend features “Family Fun Days,” with cartoon characters, face painting and other children’s activities.

Suffolk has hosted a handful of these events in recent years, representing at least a partial recognition of the city’s growing place in Hampton Roads as a desirable place to live, free of much of the traffic congestion in other parts of the area and boasting a rural-yet-urban vibe that is hard to find east of Bower’s Hill.

Welcome back, Homearama, and welcome to those who will be visiting our city and discovering what a great place it is to call home.