Housing grim as financial rescue debate rages

A condominium is put up for sale in San Francisco, California August 14, 2008. (Robert Galbraith/Reuters)

The pace of existing home sales decreased 2.2 percent to an annual pace of 4.91 million units while the median national home price declined a record 9.5 percent to $203,100, the National Association of Realtors said on Wednesday.