Remember a couple weeks ago how I said that markets are driven by consumer confidence and that after a couple weeks of better news people will start spending part of that pent-up savings?

Perhaps this is one of those indicators. A stock market news and commentary website is suggesting that Phoenix real estate is a good investment, citing that our economy always bounces back.

Other news sources are reporting initial upswings in new home construction.

I reject all of the double-dip recession talk. In fact, the recent increase in the stock market seems to have thrown that in to serious doubt. I certainly rejected the talk of a wave of new foreclosed properties flooding the market.

Maybe going in to the holidays we will start having some good news. That would be a nice synergy: holiday spending mixed with higher consumer confidence and really, really low home prices.