COPPELL, TX-Masterguard becomes the first tenant at 802 Hammond in Koll Center Coppell, signing a five-year lease with a Feb. 4 move-in. The firm's Valwood building is in the path of the soon-to-break ground fourth phase of the George Bush Tollway.

PLANO, TX-Symon Communications re-ups 8,688 sf and adds 4,367 sf in a six-year agreement for the Atrium at Collin Ridge. In a Dallas expansion, a CPA firm relocates to a St. Paul Properties office building along Hillcrest.

DALLAS-With housing starts at record highs, the retail market had a good 2002. Absorption rang up at 3.4 million sf while occupancy came in at 89.8%, down just a shade but still high enough that Wal-Mart likes the investment return from the region.

DALLAS-EastGroup Properties buys the 26,152-sf building at 11282 Indian Trails and immediately signs a five-year tenant looking for a new corporate headquarters. Audio Video Distributing gets the keys in February.

PLANO, TX-The 40-employee bank and title company practically double office space with a 20-year lease for the Shops at Legacy. Unlike its East Texas network that sold eight months ago, Benchmark now wants a one-stop shop without branches.

DALLAS-Occupancy is 90.5% in comparison to the national average of 93%. The median rent is $231 below the national rate of $925 per month. And, the backslide will continue for the first half of the year, then gain momentum to end where it began.

GARLAND, TX-Triple Net Properties of Santa Ana is the seller. The buyer is a private investor from Dallas who satisfied a 1031 Exchange with the acquisition, with a 12.1% cap rate. The 67,560-sf center is 88% leased.

DALLAS-It took about six months of talking, but CB Richard Ellis has snatched the top industrial investment sales team in Dallas-Fort Worth. Jack Fraker, Randy Baird and the rest of the seven-member team start today.