Right now, convincing someone to buy a home is difficult work. Potential homebuyers are worried about the headlines they see, and they are concerned that once they get a home mortgage loan, declining home values could force them upside down. Builders have slowed the pace of homebuilding, and existing homes remain hard to sell.

Enter the carrot.

As a result, many real estate agents and others are working on offering incentives to help sell homes in the faltering housing market. Trips, free gas (increasingly popular), cars and other items are becoming popular lures. (My mortgage lender sent me a $25 restaurant certificate as a "thank you," but I don’t think that’s the same thing.) Southern Beale reports that in Tennessee, one real estate agent is offering to pay for homebuyers college tuition if they buy a $2.2 million home.

But the real incentive should be the great home prices and relatively low interest rates. If you are looking to buy — and more importantly keep for 5-10 years — a home, now is the time to do it. Even without all of the incentives.