Home sales were up in July the first time in five months. Previously owned homes were up 1.3% many of these homes were in the Northeast part of the country. But, home sales are down from last year. The lift in home sales was helped by better mortgage rates, because they have been so high for a long period of time. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage fell to 6.6% this week. That’s the lowest rate in almost a year and a half. Some experts predict even more of a drop could be coming in the near future.