ppNew single-family home sales rose in July but prices fell, giving mixed signals about the strength of the country's housing market recovery.pbr br pOn Tuesday, Federal Housing Finance Agency announced the new standards intended to streamline short sale qualification and processing for loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The rules are set to go into effect on Nov. 1, 2012 and allow servicers to more efficiently process a "short sale" for borrowers with hardships, including those presently current on their loans.