"Owners can be more conservative because the office market is sotight," David B. Voell, a senior director in Cushman &Wakefield's local office, tells GlobeSt.com. They became especiallycautious after tech stocks hit the skids last spring.

Prospective renters may now be asked to sign longer-term leases,as well as put down bigger security deposits and even letters ofcredit as proof they can fulfill their lease obligations. Buildingmanagements are especially picky if they have to spend $25-$30 psfto get space ready for occupancy, says Voell. Tenants have a betterchance of making a deal if they can use existing officelayouts.

It's not only the techies that are finding space-shopping morechallenging, notes David J. Pawlowski, director of brokerageoperations at Colliers International in Fort Lauderdale. "Anystartup will have problems in the current market," Pawlowski says,"but that doesn't mean they can't find perfectly fine footage."