After a half-dozen years of record growth and torrid levels of [tag]construction[/tag], [tag]builders[/tag] are finding their orders dropping sharply. And as the business plummets, buyers, aware that they are in the driver’s seat, are demanding–and getting–price breaks or special financing. Many local and regional builders have joined the major players to offer incentives right through the industry’s key spring sales months, into the beginning of summer.

“This is probably the first time we’ve seen them through the peak selling season. It’s unusual that the incentives have continued all year,” said housing consultant Tracy Cross, president of Schaumburg-based Tracy Cross & Associates. In Washington, D.C., Dallas-based Centex Corp. offered $100,000 off the sales price to those who bought a house within a 12-hour period. And [tag]Miami[/tag]-based [tag]Lennar Corp[/tag]. is giving [tag]Tampa[/tag] buyers a lowest-price guarantee.

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