According to new rankings released by Money magazine, Gilbert made it into the top 30 of the best small cities to live in the country. The magazine noted Gilbert's park and shopping development, schools and attempts at "retaining the charm" of downtown Gilbert.

 A few builders are starting work on new master-planned communities with thousands of homes - betting the right price and location will lure buyers.

Fulton Homes, a Tempe-based builder, opened sales over the weekend for its latest project called Ironwood Crossing. The project is a 2,100-home master-planned community near Queen Creek. Dennis Webb, Fulton's vice president of operations said, "Houses are selling if they're priced right, if they're in good shape and in a good area."

Are you or your family is affected by the current economy, inflation or housing market?

"Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and a number of nonprofit groups are encouraging the economically beleaguered to take advantage of charitable help, financial assistance and government resources.

The campaign encourages the financially and economically troubled to find help at www.az211.gov."

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Hotline helps owners who fear foreclosure, an article from The Arizona Republic, reports that the federally funded Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Hotline launched last week and Arizona homeowners are jumping at the chance to receive free borrower-counseling services.

Growth returning to Arizona economy, ASU index suggests, an article from the East Valley Tribune, reports that according to the Arizona Business Conditions Index, the Arizona economy has moved into growth territory for the first time since November.

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South Bank development breaks ground, an article from The Arizona Republic, reports that South Bank will be a 3.6 million-square-foot mix of restaurants, retail, hotels, business and residential development worth about $1 billion.

Mixed-use development plan advances at Tempe Town Lake, an article from The Arizona Republic, reports that Scottsdale-based Wolff Co. is moving forward on a mixed-use project at Tempe Town Lake that eventually could house 3.6 million square feet of residential, office, retail and hotel space.

Colliers' 2020 Vision pegs Phoenix-area growth hot spots, an article from The Business Journal of Phoenix, shares key findings from a new report published by Colliers International. According to the report, key growth areas in the near future for commercial and mixed-use real estate are downtown Phoenix, the light rail corridor, downtown Mesa and the southwest and southeast areas.

Valley urban-retirement communities on the rise, an article from The Arizona Republic, reports that British Columbia-based Avenir Group is building the Arté in Scottsdale, the Diamond in Surprise and potentially the Palms in Chandler, a project that is still pending city-staff review. Avenir's Valley projects will be about four stories high.

Phoenix housing market rebounding in some areas, report says, an article from The Business Journal of Phoenix, reports that according to The Phoenix Housing Market Letter published monthly by Phoenix-based RL Brown Housing Reports, new homes are starting to move with prices in some fringe area communities starting around $147,000 for a 1,600-square-foot home.  The report stated, "New home prices are beginni