ORLANDO-The Central Florida chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association also gave annual TOBY and BOCA awards to six office buildings picked as the best-managed properties in metro Orlando.

TAMPA, FL-Net absorption for 2002 was a negative 106,716 sf but improved in the fourth quarter to a positive 34,453 sf. Still, property owners face another difficult year as vacancies continue to rise and competition increases, according to a new Grubb & Ellis analysis.

MIAMI-Westfield America Trust, an Australian property trust, purchased the class A, 425,841-sf, upscale shopping mall, which underwent improvements and an expansion in recent years, from Lend Lease Real Estate Investments.

ORLANDO-Larry Furlong, newly promoted Florida/Caribbean Agency sales manager for New York-based Fidelity National Title Insurance Co., tells GlobeSt.com he sees little activity in new office construction in Tampa and Orlando.