HOUSTON-Houston's office market is the fairest of the Texas metros, but it's still strapped, say Grubb & Ellis after reviewing Q3 statistics. Vacancy stands at 13.4% and negative absorption, 235,000 sf.

BIRMINGHAM-United Bank of Kuwait has agreed to forward-fund an office 24,000-sf building on Development Securities' Birmingham International Park just as a serviced office provider agrees to lease it.

BETHESDA, MD-The furniture store has acquired four properties with a total of 45 acres to construct a 340,000-sf facility. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2002, with the store opening in 2003.

DENVER-The story's the same in Denver as elsewhere when it comes to the office market. Vacancy overall jumped 3.6% to 18%, but the northwest submarket gets hit the hardest, spiking from 4% to 34.7%.