HOUSTON-EastGroup Properties increases its portfolio here to more than 2.5 million sf by acquiring the Freeport Tech Center. EastGroup had provided original construction financing and exercises an option to buy the 188,000-sf distribution facility.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ-The buyer is an entity of Flagstaff, AZ-based investors Leo Crowley and Roy Gardner. The plan is to improve rents and retrade the 48,731-sf shopping center in the next three to five years.

DENVER-The overall occupancy rate in the Denver area was 72.8% in June, according to Robert E. Benton & Associates Inc., down 3.5 percentage points from June 2001.

DALLAS-The locally based company is taking a conservative stance, keeping a close eye on tenant credit quality.