The New York realtors report on September sales. "Sales of existing single-family homes in New York state in September dropped to pre-boom levels for the month, posting a more than 20 percent decrease in sales compared to the same time last year, according to preliminary single-family sales data accumulated by the New York State Association of REALTORS. The statewide median sales price dropped 6.9 percent compared to September 2006."

"'The New York state housing market had been experiencing a soft landing from the boom market, and continues to do so despite this September drop in sales,” said Charles M. Staro, NYSAR CEO."

The Staten Island Advance from New York. "The number of single-family homes sold in the borough dropped 22 percent last month and almost 40 percent from September 2005, according to state figures."

"A total of 166 single-family homes sold on Staten Island last month, down from 213 in September 2006 and 295 in September 2005."

The Times Union from New York. "Foreclosure filings in the Capital Region continue to skyrocket. Through the first nine months of 2007, 1,125 filings were made in the region's four core counties, according to newly reported numbers from RealtyTrac. That's more than double the 470 filings reported between January and September 2006."

"Stephanie Galvin, a Cohoes-based counselor at the Albany County Rural Housing Alliance, said the nonprofit's foreclosure-related workload has tripled in a year. 'As of late, it's the main topic I'm handling,' she said."

"'Anybody could get a mortgage a year ago,' Galvin said Wednesday. 'If you were breathing, you could get a mortgage.'"

"'We've been seeing it growing and growing over the last eight months,' said Ellie Peppers, the Better Neighborhoods Inc.'s assistant director in Schenectady. 'And we've been anticipating a rush of people in November, because that's when a lot of the rates adjust.'"

"In each of the Capital Region's four core counties, the number of foreclosure filings through Sept. 30 this year far surpasses the number reported during the same period in the prior two years."

"The counselors concede homeowners are often partly to blame for their troubles. Some ignored advice or warning signs as they rushed to sign complicated paperwork."

"'People are very embarrassed,' said Galvin. 'They feel foolish, like they made bad decisions. And that may very well be the case, but they're not alone.'"

The New Haven Register from Connecticut. "The median price for a home sold in Milford this year has dropped by about $5,000 to $335,000 from $340,000 last year, said Peter Spalthoff and owner of Shoreline Mortgage in Milford."

"Statewide, prices for single family homes were down about 2.5 to 3 percent during the first quarter of this year. In most towns in the New Haven, Bridgeport, Norwich and Stamford metropolitan areas, prices declined 5 percent to 15 percent, according to a report by University of Connecticut professor John Clapp. During the second quarter, prices fell by another 1 percent before stagnating in the third quarter."

"'There has been a reduction in prices,' said Ken D’Ademo, a realtor in Milford. 'It has certainly turned toward a buyers market and we’re seeing the houses stay on the market for longer.'"

"'It is probably wise to prepare for the possibility of two to three years where general inflation outpaces house prices, with declines more likely in the Fairfield County area,' Clapp said."

The Christian Science Monitor on Connecticut. "Even in some well-to-do communities, immune to the price drop until recently, prices are under pressure. That's the case in Madison, Conn., where the average sale price is down 11.2 percent from last year."

"'There is downward pressure on prices, inventories have risen,' says Brendan Grady, a regional VP for Caldwell Banker."

The Wall Street Journal on Pennsylvania. "In Philadelphia, some condo developers are trying to attract buyers by offering to cover their monthly fees for the first year, says Virginia Jarden, a VP at Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors. She says developers also sometimes throw in a parking space or cover all or part of the real-estate transfer tax usually paid by the buyer."

"'By trumpeting discounts and other incentives, home builders are 'educating the buying public to ask for concessions,' Ms. Jarden says."

The Times from New Jersey. "With bad news continuing to rattle the housing scene nationally, Mercer County's real estate market appears hobbled but not crippled by the crisis."

"The number of houses sold dropped by 12.2 percent in the same time period, the report said. New Jersey has had a decline of 13.4 percent in the number of home sales compared with last year."

"The municipality with the largest drop in sales was Trenton, which fell from 874 properties sold in the first nine months of last year to 574 this year, a 34.3 percent decline."

"Prudential Fox & Roach Senior VP Steve Storti said Trenton is joined by other urban areas that have seen record sales increases in recent years and are seeing drops this year."

"Real estate appraiser Jeffrey Otteau, whose firm is based in East Brunswick, said the current downturn in real estate is affecting communities differently. 'Over the past 25 years, all ships in the harbor rose equally with the tide change,' Otteau said. 'The current credit crunch in the mortgage market is mostly affecting those who are on the fringe of affordability.'"

"Mercer County Association of Realtors President John Terebey Jr. described the market as 'fragile.' He said that with continuing low interest rates, there are prime opportunities for those looking to buy 'entry-level' houses."

"Most towns in the northern portion of the county saw price declines, led by Bordentown Township, which dropped from a price of $339,000 in the first nine months of 2006 to $278,450 in same period this year, a 17.9-percent fall."

"Burlington County had a 16.5 percent drop in the number of homes through September of this year compared with 2006."

"When the market began to slow in late 2005 and dropped in 2006, many real estate agents thought the market had reached a bottom, Storti said. However, problems with subprime mortgages this year continued to batter the market, he said."

"'I'm hopeful that you'll see some stabilization going into next spring,' Storti said."