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October 11, 2008 11:06:51 PM CDT

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Home Sales Hit Record Low Despite Dropping Prices

Posted Nov 28, 07 12:41 PM CST in Business 

(Newser) – Existing-home sales fell for the eighth consecutive month in October, hitting record lows in a survey of realtors. Resales dropped to an annual rate of 4.97 million, down 1.2% from September, despite a huge 5.1% drop in median price. “Price declines are part of the healing process,” an economist told CNN, “but we have a lot of healing to do.”

Realtors estimate 4.5 million homes are currently for sale—a supply that would take nearly 11 months to exhaust and is the largest in 22 years. “We expect inventory problems in the existing home market to take a few years to work through,” one economist said. October’s numbers reflect sales negotiated in August, when mortgage problems were peaking.

Sources CNN, Wall Street Journal

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A realty signs, one noting "new price," are seen Tuesday. Nov. 27, 2007, in Marysville, Pa. U.S. home prices fell 4.5 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier, the sharpest drop since Standard...   (Associated Press)
A home for sale in Lockport, N.Y. is seen Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007. U.S. home prices fell 4.5 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier, the sharpest drop since Standard & Poor's began its nationwide...   (Associated Press)
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