The lowest mortgage rates on record probably helped keep sales of previously owned U.S. homes close to a two-year high in October, and underpinned construction of new residences, economists said before two reports this week.

Purchases of existing dwellings held at a 4.75 million annual rate last month, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg survey before tomorrow’s report from the National Association of Realtors. Housing starts eased in October to an 840,000 pace from a four-year high of 872,000 units in September, Commerce Department figures may show Nov. 20. See the full story www.bloomberg.com.