Although it seems sometimes that we are not making any progress locally in coming out of the economic downturn we have been in for the past five years, here’s some good news.

In July, home sales in Newton County rose significantly, and home builders have started to show more interest in building in the county.

One key reason is that foreclosures have dropped dramatically. We are seeing more than 50 percent fewer foreclosures than were hampering the market last year at this time.

Although the values of current homeowners’ properties do not seem to be rising, as the inventory shrinks, that also should begin to happen.

This would be another sign of improved consumer confidence.

So there is indeed light at the end of the economic tunnel of despair that we have lived under for too long.