(Photo by Al Macias - KJZZ)

A luxury home under construction in Chandler, Ariz.

Permits for new home construction in the Valley were at their highest level in December since 2008.

That’s according to a new report from Arizona State University’s Mike Orr. He also found Peoria led the way in new home closings, followed by two East Valley Cities. Orr is the director of the Center for Real Estate Theory and Practice at the W.P. Carey School of Business.