AUSTIN, TX-The Real Estate Finance Challenge put on by the University of Texas' McComb's School of Business is won by the University of California at Berkeley's Haas School of Business.

MESA, AZ-Although the complex, Pebble Creek Apartments, suffered from a high vacancy rate, the property's per-unit cost was about $7,000 less than comparable units, making the sale "one of the best deals of 2003" in the multi-family sector.

HOUSTON-Dallas-based investment firm Crow Holdings acquired the four-building, 289,081-sf McCarty Business Park in the northeast section. The sales price was not revealed, but Crow paid close to the asking price of $7.2 million.

NEW YORK CITY-A yet-to be approved plan for high-rise office buildings will require those over 75 feet to have written evacuation plans in place. One official hopes such plans will be put in effect in all city buildings.