HOUSTON-Occupancy slipped about two points, coming in at 87%, amid a flurry of store closings, says a Weitzman Group exec in a 2001 wrap-up. Despite the backslide, the retail sector is stable. The growth rate will surely slow in light of economy changes.

PHOENIX-Dave Cheatham comes out "king of the hill" for 2001 sales volume at CB Richard Ellis' Phoenix office. The senior vice president cops his second company honor for the year with the award.

SUGAR LAND, TX-BKC Venture Partners dots the "i's" and crosses the "t's" on a 3,000-sf office building positioned on 1.4 acres in Sugar Land. The metro region's hottest trend these days is for tenants to become owners. The building will be used for a law office.

HOUSTON-Four real estate investors and nine furniture retailers scoop up 13 Heilig-Meyers locations. Principal Life Insurance of Des Moines ordered the disposition after taking the sites in exchange for a corporate debt.

HOUSTON-Another tenant grabs a spot in the 386,277-sf 363 North Belt office building. The broker says it's all about wanting proximity to the airport, but away from the high-traffic JFK Boulevard.

PASADENA, TX-Acquisition Partners Ltd. and Lerhner Pasadena Ltd. outdistance five other investors vying for a class A medical property in Pasadena. The holding was a vacant Food Lion that was converted and fully leased up in the past two years.

ANTHEM, AZ-Voit Acquisition of Scottsdale closes another buy in the master-planned community of Anthem. The developer is readying the stage for the Gateway Office Park at Anthem, a 50,000-sf project for Anthem Way and Venture Court.

MESA, AZ-Lew Cook of Carefree plunks the proceeds from a ranch sale into a fully occupied, 76,475-sf business center in East Mesa. The seller's broker says Victoria Properties is planning to redeploy some capital with the deal.