A gauge of upcoming home sales dropped in September to the lowest level in nine months, a sign that higher prices and rates are slowing down the housing market's rebound, according to data released Monday by the National Association of Realtors. Pending-home sales fell 5.6% in September -- a fourth month of declines -- to hit the lowest level since December. Pending sales of homes were down across the country in September, with a monthly decline of 9.6% in the Northeast, 9% in the West, 8.3% in the Midwest and 0.4% in the South. September is the first period in more than two years that pending sales weren't higher ... (full story)