The big question as we approach the end of 2006 is whether the housing slump is over. Sales of new single-family homes rose 5.3 percent in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.075 million units, according to figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department. The increase followed downward revisions to the sales rate for the previous three months, and the sales pace was down 14.2 percent from a year ago.