Home contract signings rose more than expected in August, a sign that lower mortgage rates may be pushing some buyers and sellers back into the market. Contract signings are up 3.8% from a year ago. Month over month, signings rose in the Midwest, South, and Western US, while they declined in the Northeast. Learn more: When will mortgage rates go down to 4%“Lower mortgage rates are enabling more homebuyers to go under contract,” NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said in a statement. Contract activity is rising fastest in the Midwest, with signings up 8.7% since July and 6.7% in the last year.