"Black Friday" home deals

"Black Friday" deals weren't just at the shopping malls the day after Thanksgiving. Beazer Homes USA , Inc. is offering a list of weekend incentives to potential home buyers.

When we visited a model home in Legacy, a Beazer development south of downtown Orlando off Holden Ave., New Home Information Specialist Renee Neiland was telling two potential customers, "We're going to pay for almost all your closing costs."

But when Amit Trivedi and Vyoma Patel showed, they just wanted to see some homes. The couple did not expect to be shown a list of Black Friday incentives to buy now. In fact, Trivedi replied, "Today? No...no...we are not ready."

They may not be ready, but Beazer Homes USA is, ready and wanting to sell.

"Everybody needs it for sure. We have to get this housing market back up and running," said Neiland.

It's no secret the economy has wreaked havoc on the housing market, which is one reason why Neiland called the incentives "uniquely hefty."

She says, "Pretty much people can come in and get all their appliances for free, and we will pay extra incentives on their closing costs. That's going to be huge when they go to close on their homes."

When asked what percentage of the closing costs were included in the incentive package, Neiland responded, "It's going to be more than a few thousand, pretty much it is all going to be covered."

Though Renee didn't have any numbers to share with us regarding how well Beazer has, or has not, fared, we know the company has homes available around the country.

In Central Florida alone, there are five different developments in Orlando, Lake Nona, Winter Garden and DeLand -- inventory that needs to be moved.

"It's been pretty busy today," said Neiland. "We've had several people come in and look, and then, I took two checks for deposits."

But but buying a home is a much bigger decision than buying a TV on Black Friday, so incentives or not, this couple isn't buying. "They do have some good deals even without Black Friday,so we'll see when the right time comes," said Trivedi.

Recent numbers show a slight improvement in Orlando's market. Realtors cite the home buyer tax credit extension, which now runs through April 2010, as one reason.

But beware, experts warn, adding that Florida could still be hit with a second round of foreclosures before the housing market bounces back.

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