WASHINGTON (AP) – Oct. 27, 2008 – Sales of new homes recorded an unexpected increase in September as median home prices dropped to the lowest level in four years.

The Commerce Department reported Monday that sales of new single-family homes rose by 2.7% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 464,000 homes. Economists had expected sales would drop from the August level.

The median price of a new home sold in September declined by 9.1% from a year ago to $218,400, the lowest price level since September 2004, a period when home prices were rising rapidly as the country experienced a five-year housing boom.

Source:    FAR