The National Association of Realtors said yesterday that sales rose 1.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.97 million from 4.9 million in September.

Economists polled by MarketWatch expected an annual rate of 4.8 million in October.

The September figure was revised marginally downward by 100,000.

The median price of homes fell 4.7 percent from year-ago levels to $162,500. Inventories declined 2.2 percent to 3.3 million.