Buy this House, Get this Car Free

Photo: Malte Roger/Istock

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As the nation teeters on the brink of recession, and the housing market continues it's steady, painful decline, home sellers and real estate agents are feeling a little more desperate.

There are lots of things you can do to try to make your home more attractive in this tough market, and many of those are green, earning you improved energy efficiency, indoor air quality and more. Learn all about this in our special package.

Even so, one broker in the Atlanta area is trying a, shall we say, slightly different tactic... by offering up a free SUV with a home sale. "This Car Comes With Home," declares a sign in front of a $550,000 Georgia home, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A new Toyota Highlander to be exact, worth roughly $30,000.

Reminds me of those Lexus Christmas commercials, with the SUV in front of the house, draped in a giant bow. Perhaps some enterprising greens will someday try to offer a hybrid with their green home... something to think about.

At any rate, it's true incentives are nothing new when it comes to selling homes, but a car certainly hasn't been a traditional offering. More common have been cash back plans or other creative financing maneuvers, or even gift cards to home improvement stores like the Home Depot. Incentives may not be included on final sales records, something that buyers may appreciate when it comes to resale time later.

Although many people turn their noses up at such incentives, considering them tacky and gimmicky, some agents swear that they can work, especially when it comes to jogging the memory of harried buyers. These days, more and more people are willing to try anything.

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