NEW YORK CITY-The housing market slump is forcing homebuilders to demand cheaper prices for lands from land brokers, while in some cases, pulling out of contracts completely.

WASHINGTON, DC-AvalonBay Communities Inc., an Arlington-based firm, has purchased 2.64 acres of land in Tysons Corner for $13.3 million.

DALLAS-Lincoln Property Co., a Dallas-based realty firm, has bought Rackhouse Group, a real estate company concentrating on data center projects, also based in Dallas.

SARASOTA, FL-CORE Construction Services of Florida, LLC has begun construction of Villa Grande at Fruitville and Beneva Roads in Sarasota.

CORDOVA, TN-Southstar Holdings, a Charlotte, NC-based investment group, and RC Memphis LLC has bought The Shops at Rock Creek, a shopping center that measures 61,300 square feet.

NEW YORK-Stephen Ross has pounced to snatch away a 26-story office tower at 1775 Broadway near Columbus Circle from Joe Moinian in order to change the building into a Nordstrom department store.

NEW YORK CITY-One of the largest office-building landlords in New York, SL Green Realty Corp., is planning to sell a Midtown Manhattan tower at 19 West 44th St. for $123.2 million to Deka Immobilien Investment GmbH, a German investment fund.

NEW YORK-Meredith is now exploring the eastside at 205 E. 42nd St. for larger space.