Deal galore in real estate

Faced with a vanishing customer base, it's no wonder developers and real estate agents are thinking up new ways to encourage potential home buyers to take the leap. Often their offers aim to assuage people's understandable fears about what the future holds, whether it relates to home values or job security.

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"Let's face it, granite counter tops are not going to sell condos in this market," says Atlanta developer Cousins Properties, which is guaranteeing that if you buy one of its condos today, it will appraise at the same value or above three years from now. Many companies are trying to coax buyers with a form of mortgage unemployment insurance. Builders offering job loss mortgage payment plans include Lennar, Pulte Homes, The Ryland Group and Toll Bros. The companies are paying anywhere from $450 to $900 per customer in order to be able to offer the coverage. More...

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