Home Sales Up, Prices Down

Sales of existing homes rose in September, but prices continued to drop, according to the latest reading on the battered housing market by the National Association of Realtors. The report shows sales by homeowners jumped in September to an annual pace of 5.18 million, up 1.4% from a year ago. It was the first time that sales rose compared to a year earlier since November 2005.

Sales got a boost last month because prices continued to fall. The median price of a single-family home fell 8.6% from a year ago to $190,600. The median price of all homes sold during the month - including single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops - fell to $191,600, down 8.8% from $210,500 a year ago. Before the start of the current housing slump, it had been 11 years since prices fell compared to a year earlier. Experts say foreclosed properties are driving this sales jump.

The report offered some encouraging news, with the excess supply of homes on the market falling in September. Realtors estimated that there are now 4.3 million homes available for sale, which represents a 9.9 month supply. That is down from the 10.6-month supply in August. But that number could rise back above 11 months if sales begin to sink again and foreclosures continue to escalate.

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