Sales Down for New US Homes, but Up for Existing Ones　(1/2) ( 本次听写约207词 )
This week, the National Association of Realtors reported that sales of existing homes in the United States increased almost three percent in February. It was the first increase since last July.
这个星期，国家房产经纪人联合会报道说二月美国的现房销售增加了近百分之三。这是自去年七月来第一次有所增加。

But fueling that increase was a drop in prices. The Acent P Case * Index S&P/Case-Shiller index of twenty major markets showed that home prices fell almost two and a halp half percent in January. Prices were down almost eleven percent from a year before.
但是加速这一增长的是价格的下跌。S&P/Case-Shiller对二十个主要市场的索引显示一月房价跌了几乎两个半百分点。价格从一年前开始跌了近十一个百分点。

And still another report this week showed that sales of new single-family houses fell in February. Sales were down almost two percent from January, to a thirteen-year loan low. The Commerce Department estimated there was a ten-month supply of newly built houses waiting to be sold.
而且这周的另一个报道显示了二月单独家庭新房销售有所下跌。从一月起销售下跌了近百分之二，到了十三年来的低谷。商业部门估计有十个月的新建房子等待出售。

Experts say prices in many markets will have to fall further before more people are willing or able to buy. Prices went up and up in recent years, before the housing bubble burst. Many buyers now struggling to make payments took out loans that was too big. They thought prices will would keep rising and make sale they could sell their home a nice profit.
专家说在许多市场的价格会进一步下跌，直到更多人有购买意愿与能力。近几年价格不停的上升，直到房价泡沫破裂。许多买家现在为还清大笔贷款而斗争。他们认为价格会继续上升因而他们可以卖了他们的房子赚一笔。

Rising values ment meant that people could also take out home equity loans and lines of credit. They use their home as a cash machine by borrowing against its value.
升高的价值意味着人们可以支付房屋贷款作为信用贷款。他们通过房价把他们的房子作为现金取款机。
 

本周, 全美房地产经纪人协会报道说,美国二月份成屋销售量增长了约百分之三。这是自七月以来的首次增长。

但是此次增长的刺激因素是价格的下跌。标普和Case-Shiller二十个主要市场的住房指数表明一月份房价下跌了约为2.5%。与上年同期相比下降约11%。

本周的另一则报道表示二月份新的单亲家庭的房子的销售有所下降。与一月份相比下降了2%，创13年以来的最低销售点。商务部预计新建筑的房子的量可供十个月的销售。

专家说很多市场上的房价在更多人愿意或能够买下前会有所下降。最近几年价格陆续上涨，直到房价泡沫戳破。过去购房的人们如今正为偿还巨额贷款而痛苦挣扎。他们认为价格会持续增长，可以卖出房子来获得一笔可观的收入。

价格增长曾意味着房主可以从房屋净值贷款和信用贷款中取钱。人们一度把自己的房子当作是取款机，超过房子的价格来贷款。