Total existing-home sales ?EUR??,,????'??+ including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops ?EUR??,,????'??+ were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 7.09 million units in October, down 2.7 percent from September?EUR??,,????'???s pace of 7.29 million. Sales were 3.7 percent above the 6.84 million-unit level in October 2004.

?EUR??,,????'??We are returning to more balanced markets between home buyers and sellers, one that places buyers on a more even footing,?EUR??,,????'?? David Lereah, NAR?EUR??,,????'???s chief economist said. ?EUR??,,????'??Housing activity has peaked and is coming down a bit, and we expect further cooling in the coming months.?EUR??,,????'??

The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $218,000 in October, rising 16.6 percent from October 2004 when the median price was $187,000. The median is a typical market price where half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less.

Total housing inventory levels rose 3.5 percent at the end of October to 2.87 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 4.9-month supply at the current sales pace.

?EUR??,,????'??The rise in inventory means that buyers will have a wider choice available to them, and the significant price appreciation over October last year shows that demand is still there, as markets continues to balance themselves,?EUR??,,????'?? said NAR President Thomas M. Stevens.

Single-family home sales dropped 2.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.23 million in October from 6.39 million in September, but were 3.3 percent above the 6.03 million-unit level in October 2004. The median single-family home price was $216,200 in October, up 16.6 percent from a year ago.

Existing condominium and cooperative housing sales fell 4.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 862,000 units from a pace of 902,000 in September. Last month?EUR??,,????'???s sales activity was 6.7 percent above the 808,000-unit level in October 2004. The median condo price3 was $229,800, up 15.3 percent from a year ago.

Regionally, existing-home sales fell 1.2 percent in the West in October to a pace of 1.64 million, and were 3.8 percent higher than October 2004. The median price in the West was 316,000, up 16.2 percent from October 2004.

Total existing-home sales in the South declined 1.8 percent to an annual sales rate of 2.76 million units in October, and were 7 percent above October 2004. The median price in the South was $196,000, up 18.1 percent from a year ago.

Existing-home sales in the Midwest fell 1.9 percent to annual pace of 1.58 million units in October, and were 1.3 percent higher than a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $170,000, which was 10.4 percent higher than October 2004.