The commercial real estate industry lends itself to a plethora of cliches that help explain investment strategies, market fundamentals and recessions. The problem is that these cliches gain popularity and notoriety quickly, making them sound tired in no time.

Reuters - Consumer confidence rose to an eight month high in December as households grew more upbeat about job prospects, but other data showed the housing market likely remains a drag on economic growth with house prices falling 3.4 percent in the October year.

AP - Homes were built in September at the fastest pace in 17 months, a hopeful sign for the economy.

AP - The depressed housing market flashed a positive signal in July, with home prices in most major U.S. cities rising for the fourth straight month

AP - Builders broke ground on fewer homes in August, evidence that the housing market remains depressed.

AP - Super-low interest rates haven’t done what they usually do after a recession. They haven’t ignited economic growth or revived the home market or persuaded consumers to spend freely again.

AP - Sales of new homes fell for the third straight month in July, a sign that housing remains a drag on the economy. If the current pace continues, 2011 would be the worst year for new-home sales in nearly half a century.

U.S. News & World Report - Seniors will have fewer avenues to secure steady retirement income, now that the two largest lenders in the reverse-mortgage business have decided to discontinue offering the product.

AP - HOME SALES SINK: Sales of previously occupied homes fell 3.8 percent last month to an annual pace of 4.81 million homes. That’s the lowest level in six months and far below the roughly 6 million annual sales rate typical in healthy housing markets.

U.S.