HOUSTON-KRBE stays in place and adds 3,000 sf to its leased offices at the 202,294-sf Westchase Bank Building. The radio station has been a mainstay tenant since 1981 in the office building, which is now boasting an 89% occupancy.

HOUSTON-Levcor, the developer of the 335,000-sf Centre at Bunker Hill, secures about $18.7 million in permanent financing through Atlanta-based ING Investment Management. Long-term leases with Costco and Lowe's shore up 20-year loan.

HOUSTON-A CB Richard Ellis team in Houston is marketing a big box portfolio for Wal-Mart, which is looking to cut short-term sale-leasebacks. Wal-Mart wants to unload the stores and build Supercenters in the same market, says the team leader.

HOUSTON-Macfarlan Real Estate Services of Dallas picks Moody Rambin from a field of four to lease a 562,000-sf, class A portfolio of mid-rise office buildings. The firm's "knack for finding local deals" sewed up the contract, says a Macfarlan senior VP.

SABINE PASS, TX-Horizon Vessels, a subsidiary of Horizon Offshore, acquires a 30,000-sf marine industrial facility positioned on 30 acres along the Gulf Coast. Friede Goldman Halter is the seller of the Sabine Pass property.

HOUSTON-O'Conner & Associates latest market update says the retail sector is being choked by the nation's weakened economy and uncertain times. Houston's retail is down about 1.2 million sf in absorption, a hit softened to 344,147 sf for the last four quarters.

HOUSTON-A CB Richard Ellis team in Houston is marketing a big box portfolio for Wal-Mart, which is looking to cut short-term sale-leasebacks. Wal-Mart wants to unload the stores and build Supercenters in the same market, says the team leader.

HOUSTON-Metalade of Pennsylvania and UOP of Des Plaines, IL take 28,320 sf in Houston's lead submarket for absorption. Metalade signs for the largest chunk of industrial space. It will move into 22,980 sf at a Clay Street building.