The Tampa Tribune takes us back to Florida. "My, what a difference a year makes. Builders who overestimated this summer's new home demand face contract cancellations and slowing sales as a backlog of nearly finished houses piles up. The builders' problem could mean big breaks for buyers."

"Just glance through newspaper classified advertising sections to see how serious builders are to make a deal. Price cuts of as much as $75,000 off the bottom line. Deal sweeteners such as upgraded counter tops or having property taxes or closing costs paid for you. Drawings for a free, two-year lease on a new car."

"'Obviously we want to stay in business, but we have to sell homes to stay in business,' said Ralph Sevelius, president of Inland Homes Suncoast. Inland is offering allowances of up to $56,000 on some homes. The money can be used to lower sale prices or pay closing costs. Some home prices have been reduced as much as $60,000."

"Investors who bought months ago now are competing with builders to unload their homes. Analysts say some investors and consumers are leaving their contract deposits behind and walking away from homes under construction. 'The cancellation rates builders are seeing are comparable to those builders were seeing after 9/11,' said analyst Rick Murray. 'Investors are bailing, and so are legitimate buyers. They fear it's not the best time to buy.'"

"Some people wait to buy, expecting builders to offer a better deal later, said Beth Day, (in) marketing for Bruce Williams Homes, based in Bradenton. 'We want to help the consumer who's really ready to buy but fear they'll miss out' by not waiting, Day said. So Bruce Williams Homes is experimenting with guaranteed pricing. If the price goes down on the same house in the same neighborhood after you sign the contract and before you close on the home, the builder will give you the same discount."

"They're not the only ones trying to beat the incentive game with guaranteed pricing. Mike Southward, Tampa Division President for Lennar Homes, said his company is offering it, too. 'We feel we're already offering buyers the lowest price we can,' Southward said. 'So we're giving buyers this insurance.'"

"Since January, Lennar has lowered prices on some homes by as much as $65,000 on a $315,000 home, but Southward said Lennar can't afford to lower prices further. Instead, it's sticking with guaranteed pricing. 'When you're negotiating, one guy gets a better deal, and that's not fair.' Southward said."

"Kevin Robles, division VP for McCar Homes, based in Atlanta, said he has seen some builders discount homes as much as $100,000, 'but they probably had the home overpriced by $50,000.'"

"There are just under 30,000 homes on the market, according to the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors. That's nearly four times the amount in spring 2005." "All the builders' incentives could make the existing home market worse since most sellers aren't in a position to offer the kinds of incentives builders do. They're trying unique approaches. In Westchase, Daniel and Cynthia Lobb are frustrated by the lack of buyer interest. They lowered the price to $414,900, but still got no takers. Now they're telling prospective buyers that 1 percent of their profit will go to charity."

"'There are so many houses in supply in our area,' Daniel Lobb said. 'We thought, 'What can we do differently to set us apart?'"