GLENDALE, CA-The principals of Burbank-based San Francis Imports buy the property on Thompson Avenue from Minarik Corp. for $5.753 million. San Francis is an importer of religious and gift items.

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA-Managing partners Stefan Swanepoel of RealSure Inc. gains a controlling interest in the real estate education network, saying he plans to expand the company to 100 schools by 2004.

TOKYO-Oakwood Worldwide, a Los Angeles-based provider of corporate housing, expands its presence in Japan with the opening of an extended-stay apartment in Tokyo.

FULLERTON, CA-Advent Capital Partners has begun renovations on more than 40,000 sf of office and shopping space in the area at Harbor Boulevard and Wilshire Avenue, where the company acquired property earlier this year in a redevelopment zone.

BURBANK, CA-The Construction Industry Research Board sees an uptick next year in overall construction in California. That includes an increase in the commercial sector, albeit it is still expected to be 25% below its year-2000 peak.

SUN VALLEY, CA-MTS products signs a five-year lease for 120,000 sf feet of industrial space at 10671 Lanark St., where the company is expanding and relocating from Northridge, Calif. MTS has leased the entire building at its new facility, which is a freestanding structure close to the Burbank Airport.

CHINO, CA-The Collins Co., which makes windscreens and netting for tennis and other sports, signs a five-year deal for a 39,757-sf building owned by Panattoni Development. Collins is scheduled to occupy the facility, which will be used for manufacturing, in January.

GLENDALE, CA-Gregg Development settles its suit with the city through an agreement in which the city and a conservancy organization will pay the development firm $25.3 million for Gregg property.