<h1>In Tampa Bay, home prices fall for 4th straight month</h1>
<h2>More decline expected</h2>
NEW YORK - Home prices are dropping in the  nation's largest cities and are expected to keep falling next year, as  fewer people purchase homes and millions of foreclosures come on to the  market.

The Standard &amp; Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index released Tuesday fell 1.3 percent in October from September.

All cities recorded monthly price declines. The last time that happened was in Feb. 2009.Atlanta recorded the largest decline. Prices there fell 2.9 percent  from a month earlier. Home prices in Washington dropped 0.2 percent in  October, the second monthly decline after five straight increases.

Home prices in Dallas, Portland, Ore., Charlotte, N.C., Tampa, Fla. and Denver have fallen for four straight months.Also, the number of homeowners who owe more than their house is worth is  expected to remain high. They are more likely to default if they run  into trouble, Zandi said. Homeowners who have equity can sell their  homes if they face a job loss, divorce, or illness that makes it  impossible for them to pay their mortgage.

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