Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 3.5% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 629,000 units after being revised down June and July reports, according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the US. Census Bureau.  These downward revisions suggest softness in new home sales activity this summer. However, on a year-to-date basis, sales are up 6.9% from this time in 2017. The National Association of Home Builders credits the rise to the overall strength of the economy but is cautious about future sales.   ...