ORANGE COUNTY, CA-Although the unemployment level here continues to slip, the county dropped two notches in May from its previous rank as number three in California. Ranked by the State of California Employment Development Department, the county had held onto its number three slot for six consecutive months.

SUGAR LAND, TX-The Texas-based owner gets a 20-year loan with 20-year amortization at 6.5% interest for the 272-unit Fairmont Apartments, a seven-year-old complex that's 97% occupied. State Farm provides the capital.

ATLANTA-In order to speed the planned conversion of the 178-unit, two-building Lenox Villa apartment complex in Buckhead to condominiums, LeCraw paid a $1-million prepayment penalty on top of the $16.1-million price, taking the tally to $96,000 per unit.

HOUSTON-Investors scouting the market will have ample selection, with thousands more units coming up for sale. The reason, says a Hendricks & Partners' Houston exec, is it's a good buying season.