Keyes Co. statistics show the median price paid for 69 retail centers in Miami-Dade was $97.82 per sf versus $100.72 a year earlier. The 54 properties sold in Broward County went for a median price of $92.40 per sf compared with $100.19 in the first three months of 1999. Prices in Palm Beach County nudged up fractionally, $94.23 in the first quarter versus $93.18 last year.

There were 160 first-quarter property transfers versus 163 a year ago in the same period the previous year. Overall dollar volume fell 5.2%, to $409.6 million v. $432.1 million in first quarter 1999.

Transwestern of Chicago emerged as one of the most active players, joint venturing with Asian Realty Partners and Caspian Real Estate. The partnership spent $50 million for Cocowalk in Miami's Coconut Grove district; $35 million for BeachPlace in Ft. Lauderdale; and $4.75 million on a mix of retail storefronts on Clematis Street in Downtown West Palm Beach. Local investor Michael Swerdlow paid $20 million for the Paseos Mall on Coral Way in Miami.