The recent stories about property tax levies in DeKalb and Sycamore areas are another reminder of how falling property values are hurting homeowners and their local governments.

Essentially, this has been another year where houses became more expensive to own and worth less to sell.

If there is good news to be found, it’s that there appear to be glimmers of hope for a turnaround in the housing market and the reemergence of new construction – both of which are needed locally.