The new deal has landed in the 308,000-sf, class B Executive Plaza at 4635 Southwest Freeway. The 35-year-old building, last renovated in 2001, has a quoted rate of $16 per sf and tenant-improvement allowances ranging from $8 per sf to $10 per sf. The broker on the deal, John Hornbuckle with Cypressbrook Co. in the Woodlands, tells GlobeSt.com that Advantage Benefits' turn-key deal was close to both quoted rates.

Advantage Benefits Services, currently located at 6750 W. Loop South in Bellaire, is planning a February move-in. Hornbuckle represented both tenant and building owner, EP Office Holdings LP from Spring.

Hornbuckle says there are no local expansion plans for Advantage in the short term, but in the long term, it could happen. "One of the driving forces that caused the move was that in the building they're currently in, they're pretty tight on space," he explains, adding Advantage looked at properties in the Memorial submarket as well as close to its existing location.

"They saw the Executive Plaza deal as a good one, as there was a significant difference in the rate structure," Hornbuckle says. "Also, there were enough amenities to justify the move. Plus, they managed to save a couple of bucks a foot from their current location."

The Advantage transaction pushes the class B office building's occupancy to 82%. But, Hornbuckle says, there are two more tenants in hand. If the deals make, they will soak up an additional 8,000 sf of the vacancy.