Pulte is offering buyers' incentive

Pulte Homes is doubling up on the government's effort to jump-start the housing market with an offer to match the $7,500 maximum tax credit that's being offered to first-time buyers in the federal housing stimulus package.

Pulte, however, isn't limiting its offer to first-time buyers. Its "Jump Start" offer is available to any buyer who signs a purchase agreement on a new home between Aug. 5 and Sept. 15. The offer includes at least $7,500 in incentives in addition to the government's $7,500 tax credit.

That discount can be applied to the price of the house, closing costs or options such as upgraded cabinets and finished basements at any of the 250 or so houses that are being built in the company's 10 Minnesota subdivisions, said John van Beynen, Pulte's Minnesota vice president of sales.

"It's a very aggressive incentive for us," Van Beynen said. "This will be as good an incentive as I've offered, if not better in most cases."

Pulte is based in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.