smartmoney.com — Stocks aren't the only investments returning to pre-downturn levels. In some cities, home prices have recovered and in some cases even surpassed 2008 levels. Existing home sales rose 4.3% in January from a month earlier to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.57 million -- the highest level since May 2010 -- according to data released this morning by the National Association of Realtors.