By Kris Hudon |The Wall Street Journal
Home builders have boosted cash incentives and upgrades to lure buyers, as sales flag in some markets due to rising prices and higher mortgage rates.
The incentives, which can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, are intended to soften the sticker shock that has put the cost of buying a newly built home out of reach for some families.
Upgrades can include free appliances, blinds, premium flooring or garage-door openers. Also growing in popularity are financial carrots such as paying buyers’ closing costs, covering some of their down payment or paying to reduce their mortgage’s interest rate for a year or two.
