New-home construction took a bigger-than-expected tumble in September, putting the nation on track to build the fewest homes this year in more than six decades.

Scottsdale-based Standard Pacific Homes recently sold the last houses available within two of its premier Valley communities, the Villages at Laveen Meadows in Phoenix and the Villages at Sonoran Mountain Ranch in Peoria.

The developer of the Eastmark master-planned community in east Mesa has named seven homebuilders who will construct about 700 new houses next year in response to growing demand for housing in the Valley. Scottsdale-based DMB Associates anticipates the first homes will be available in mid-2013 as the first residential development takes shape on 3,200 acres it owns at the former General Motors Proving Grounds.

Gilbert eclipsed every municipality in the Valley in single family home construction last month.

East Valley homebuilders are charging forward with developments and new construction as customers continue to flow through the doors.

The first residential phase of the long-awaited 3,200 acre Eastmark community in East Mesa will make its public debut Saturday.

Growing interest from buyers, reduced inventory and a slight uptick in construction has homebuilders with communities across the south East Valley cautiously optimistic about 2009.

Inside a Bell 407 helicopter, Doug Fulton and Norm Nichols are strapped in their seats, getting information from the control tower through their headsets.

Inside a Bell 407 helicopter, Doug Fulton and Norm Nichols are strapped in their seats, getting information from the control tower through their headsets.

The first residential phase of the long-awaited 3,200 acre Eastmark community in East Mesa will make its public debut Saturday.

Home prices are expected to continue their rise — in the East Valley in particular — as a shortage of available homes creates an imbalance in the market, according to a report released last week by the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

One hundred south Chandler residents tired of noise from a nearby jet-engine testing facility have filed two lawsuits against developers, claiming fraudulent misrepresentation, consumer fraud and other violations.

Do you live in Gilbert or do you live in Chandler? It’s a question that residents of one East Valley housing development will answer differently.

Stuck in the middle of a housing downturn, builders are refocusing on learning sales techniques, making good first impressions and forging relationships with buyers.

A large industrial park is coming to Casa Grande. GSS Cos. Inc., a Scottsdale-based development company, this week broke ground on Central Arizona Commerce Park.

Vestar Development Co. is moving forward on a 900,000-square-foot retail development at Farrell Road and Route 347 in Maricopa.

Chandler City Council meeting