Home prices rise for 4th month in a row (8:14 a.m. 11/24/09)

By ALAN ZIBEL

AP Real Estate Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Home prices rose slightly in September, the fourth straight monthly increase and a clear sign that the housing market’s recovery is continuing.

The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller home price index of 20 major cities released Tuesday rose 0.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted reading of 144.96 in September. Prices rose month-over-month in 11 metro areas.

Industry experts, however, still worry that rising unemployment and foreclosures could stifle the rebound in prices.