WASHINGTON, DC-1 Freedom Square, an 18-story, 414,000-sf class A office tower in Reston, VA, walked away with awards from the NAOIP, Northern Virginia Chapter of the AAIA, and the Metro Washington and Virginia Chapters of ABC.

RADNOR, PA-In a deal expected to close by the end of the first quarter, Rubenstein Co. LP is contracted to purchase Wyeth-Ayersts' 17-building, 1.4-million-sf office/research portfolio here. Wyeth-Ayerst headquarters will move to Collegeville, PA.

WASHINGTON, DC-Carr Capital Corp. brokers $3.4 million re-financing at 7.27% for a 32,011-sf office building in Cascades Executive Center on South Lakes Drive for an affiliate of the Reston, VA-based Walker & Co.

HERNDON, VA-AOL recently finished renovating 20,000-sf of office space here according to information released by Bognet Construction. Renovations include conference room, office space, computer labs, reception area, elevator lobby and electrical upgrades.

WASHINGTON, DC-National Association of Realtors' chief economist, Dr. David Lereah, expects housing sales to increase 2.5% this year, for new home sales to hold steady and housing starts to increase 0.9%.

WASHINGTON, DC-Published reports quote Senate Republican Leader as stating he favors a 5% capital gains reduction. An NAR spokeswoman notes that any tax reduction would be help create more disposable income.

WASHINGTON, DC-Public comment between September and November 1999 lead to the Jan. 12, 2001 HUD withdrawal on of a proposed rule on sources of homeowner down payment.

WASHINGTON, DC-Local area rents are continuing to rise despite new apartment buildings opening throughout the area. DC apartment rentals average $1,028 with Bethesda/Chevy Chase topping at $1,400 and Prince Georges' County at the low of $792.