When the real estate market crashed 7 years ago, many home builders were forced to stop building, leaving spaces of vacant land throughout the Valley.  Now, according to housing analysts RL Brown Housing Reports, new home building permits are up and new home prices are down, which could be great news for both builders and those seeking to buy a new home.

It happens all too often -- an individual intends to update his or her estate plan, but procrastinates and then passes away, leaving assets to be distributed according to outdated wishes.  Guest writer and attorney Louis Silverman shares with the Arizona Republic some insight on why it's not sufficient to state your wishes verbally.  The lesson here is to update your estate plan - in writing - as soon as your wishes change.

Three real estate investors and developers who have historically focused on the East Valley are now moving to the West Valley hoping to have similar success building and renting townhomes.  Darryl Berger, Matt Blank and Samuel Blank of BB Living have purchased over 100 lots in each of Verrado in Buckeye and Vistanica in Peoria, as told by the Phoenix Business Journal.

By the end of March of this year, two companies - Pekham Inc. and HealthPort Technologies - are expected to hire a combined total of 850 employees.  The companies both leased offices at Metro North Corporate Park near the I-17 and Thunderbird.   

HSBC has reached a $470 million settlement as a result of its mishandling of loans and foreclosures.  A portion of the funds will be available to Arizona borrowers to obtain payments and funds toward loan modifications.  

This past Tuesday, the Arizona House Committee on Rural and Economic Development agreed to remove the requirement that liquor stores must maintain a 300-foot buffer zone from schools and churches.  The decision was objected to by neighborhood activists but considered a positive for retailers, including Circle K Corp.