(RECAP: More Americans bought homes in September despite a persistent shortage of properties for sale. The National Association of Realtors says sales of existing homes rose 3.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.47 million, highest since June. Sales rose across the country. The supply of available was 2.04 million, down 6.8 percent from a year ago. Tight inventories drove the median price of existing homes up 5.6 percent from a year ago to $234,200.)