Gilbert home construction outpaces other cities in Valley

Home construction in Gilbert continues to outpace every other Valley municipality, and the town is on track for its most robust year in new-home permits since 2006. Several new and existing subdivisions around Gilbert are experiencing a flurry of activity as homebuilders look to capitalize on a rebound in the housing market. Nearly every Valley community has seen a significant jump in permit activity during the first few months of the year, but nowhere is the spike more pronounced than in Gilbert, according to data produced by the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona. The town has issued 981 single-family home permits this year, compared with 437 permits during the same four-month period in 2011. Gilbert is on pace to issue almost 3,000 permits this year, which would nearly triple its total from two years ago. A lack of inventory for resale houses is driving more real-estate agents to point prospective buyers toward new homes instead, Pulte Homes spokeswoman Jacque Petroulakis said. "Overall, the Southeast Valley is seeing a lot of activity and buyer confidence in terms of real estate," Petroulakis said.

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