HOUSTON – Barry Reynolds' home has been for sale for more than six months. Priced at almost a million dollars, the 5,500-square-foot home has sat with hardly any notice, despite its travertine floors and ornate iron balconies. 

"We could either choose to stay and have a city home and a country home, or we could try to do something different," said Reynolds.

Having already bought a second home, Reynolds decided to try to sell his own house in an unusual way.  He decided to give potential buyers an incentive: a new car from Northside Lexus.

“I think it’s awesome. I think it’s the sizzle for the steak," said Pam Harris, Broker Associate Banker.

Harris heard from Northside Lexus about Reynolds’ ploy and had to see it for herself.

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Buy a house, get a Lexus!

"He told me what Barry was doing and I was fascinated,” said Harris.

Throwing the expensive car into the sale is a tactic that could work.  Right now, people like him who are trying to sell their homes in the suburbs are competing against foreclosed homes that are selling at lower prices.  Plus, there are also a large number of new homes available that come with buyer incentives. But none of them include a new car.

Since the signs went up, Reynolds said people have been stopping and looking. But do all homeowners have to resort to tactics like this? The answer is “no.”

According to Houston and the National Association of Realtors, homes like Reynolds’ will start selling because of lower interest rates.  They are now under 5 percent. Experts predict home sales will rise again in 2009.