Buying in the West has nearly doubled in the past 12 months WASHINGTON — U.S. sales of new homes surged in August, led by a wave of buying in the West and Northeast.The Commerce Department said Wednesday that new-home sales climbed 18 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 504,000. The report also revised up the July sales rate to 427,000 from 412,000.Newly constructed homes sold at the fastest clip since May 2008. It's a clear sign of improvement for a re