He says owners still see auctions as a niche market, but that every year it seems to get used more. “What people like, including these buyers, is a guaranteed sell date and the speed to close. Buyers like it because there’s a motivated seller,” Johnson says.

LAKEVIEW, IL-Newcastle Limited has acquired 426 W. Belmont, a 13-story, 98-unit apartment building here. The $10.6 million, all-cash purchase was made on behalf of the firm’s $500 million Chicago real estate investment platform. Bill Baumann with the Kiser Group represented the seller in the transaction. The property is in the Lakeview neighborhood, and offers a mix of studio and one-bedroom apartments.

BURBANK, IL-Manhattan Beach, CA-based Skechers USA Inc. recently signed a lease for 8,690 square feet at Burbank Station in Chicago's west suburbs, according to Oakbrook Terrace, IL-based Mid-America Asset Management Inc., the leasing representative for the shopping center. The publicly held manufacturer and retailer of Skechers footwear and other shoe brands plans to open here this fall. Three other company-owned Skechers retail stores are listed in the Chicago area, according to the company's website. Jaime Platt represented the landlord in the transaction, while Steve Baer with Metro Commercial Real Estate represented the tenant. The property is a 303,566-square-foot suburban retail center on the northwest corner of 78th Street and Cicero Avenue, across from Ford City Regional Mall. Anchors include Food 4 Less, Sports Authority, Babies R Us, Office Max, PetSmart and HomeGoods.

WUAKEGAN, IL-Quantum Real Estate Advisors Inc. brokered the sale of a single-tenant net leased PNC Bank property here. The property was sold to a foreign investor from Brazil. The property was built approximately three years ago as a build-to-suit for National City. Upon PNC acquiring National City, PNC decided to keep this branch for banking operations. The seller was local developer based in Chicagoland area. Chad M. Firsel, president of Quantum, represented the Seller in the transaction.

OAK BROOK, IL-Wounded Warrior Project, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to assisting injured US servicemen and women, has leased a 4,500-square-foot office space at 1111 W. 22nd Street here, where the group recently opened a Midwest regional office. Jones Lang LaSalle VP Bruce Renwick completed the transaction on behalf of the building’s owner, Arden Realty Inc. Jon Azulay with Studley Inc. represented Wounded Warrior Project. The eight-story, 233,000-square-foot building is located off of Interstate 88 and Route 83.

CHICAGO-Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services has arranged the sale of 5747-49 S Michigan Ave., an eight-unit apartment property here. The asset sold for $420,000. Alex Blagojevich, David N. Gaines and Anthony Hardy, investment specialists in Marcus & Millichap’s Chicago Downtown office, had the listing to market the property on behalf of the seller, a private partnership.

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL-CB Richard Ellis’ Keith Puritz, Brett Kroner, Ryan Bain and Zach Graham represented Dreams Inc in its 124,661-square-foot new lease at 2881 Busse Rd. The 251,076-square-foot building offers 30-foot clear and abundant docks and trailer storage. Dreams Inc. is a sports memorabilia and licensed products firm. John Suerth and Kevin Segerson with CBRE represented the landlord, ML Realty Partners LLC, in the transaction.

ELGIN, IL-Venture One Real Estate LLC, through its acquisition fund, VK Industrial I LP, has closed on two industrial buildings here totaling 216,717 square feet. The buildings, which were purchased in separate transactions, are at 1875 Holmes Road and 1355 Holmes Road. The 1875 Holmes building is a 134,415-square-foot manufacturing and distribution building that is 100% leased to Amtec Precision Products Inc., a subsidiary of UCAL Fuel Systems Ltd. The company has occupied the building since 1989. The other building is an 82,302-square-foot vacant manufacturing and distribution facility. Venture One will improve the property with the addition of energy efficient T-5 lights, a new roof, sealed warehouse floors, new HVAC systems, and office renovations. The property will be marketed for lease or sale and is divisible to 39,900 square feet. Venture One has hired Bruce Granger with Grubb & Ellis as the exclusive agent to market the building. These purchases mark the seventh and eight acquisitions of Venture One’s VK Industrial fund. The fund has acquired 500,000 square feet of industrial property in the Chicago market since opening in September of 2010.

FLORENCE, KY-A 6,800-square-foot Lumber Liquidators recently opened at Florence Plaza, located half a mile west of Interstate 75 and Interstate 71 on Connector Drive at Plaza Boulevard, across the street from Florence Mall. Michael Cohen with the Hewlett-based Greenberg Group Inc. represented Lumber Liquidators. Centro Properties Group is the owner of Florence Plaza and was represented by Tony Michalak with Centro.

OWENSBORO, KY-Stonemar Properties LLC recently arranged a 10-year lease of 13,500 square feet to Ulta Salon, Cosmetics and Fragrances Inc. at Owensboro Towne Centre, a 275,000-square-foot retail center here. The lease, valued at $2.4 million, brings the center’s occupancy rate to 100%. The lease was brokered by the Shopping Center Group, which represents Stonemar at its locations in Kentucky, Arkansas and Tennessee. Owensboro Town Centre is located on Frederica Street, across from the Towne Square Mall. The company purchased Owensboro Towne Centre in late 2006 for $19 million in a joint venture with Kimco Realty Corp., a real estate investment trust. Ulta operates 389 stores in 40 states as of January 29. With this lease, Ulta will now have stores in the three largest retail markets in Kentucky

KENOSHA, WI-Mark Myers and Ray Giannini with Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services have brokered the sale of Golden Living Centers of Kenosha, a large 97-bed senior living facility. The property sold for $4 million. “The interest in the facility was tremendous, with three or four offers made within 24 hours of listing the property the day before Thanksgiving in 2010,” Myers said in a statement. The facility is located near the historic downtown area in Kenosha, where it is also within close proximity to the Kenosha Medical Center Campus.

CINCINNATI-Irvine, CA-based Premier Business Centers has added its newest location in Chiquita Center at 250 E. Fifth St., 15th floor. The executive office suite at the corner of Sycamore Street has 19,775 rentable square feet on the 15th floor, consisting of 77 offices, 3 conference rooms, a kitchen and a reception area. This is Premier's 19th new location in just over two years, but its first location in Ohio.

NORTH CANTON, OH-Hendricks & Partners arranged the sale of Willow Creek, at 8050 Cleveland Avenue NW. The 36-unit apartment community sold for $1.2 million. The REO asset sale was consummated on an all-cash basis within 30 days of entering a purchase agreement.

Built in 1998, Willow Creek is a garden-style property with 12 one-bedroom and 24 two-bedroom units. The asset was 95% occupied at the time of closing. The seller was Property One Management Ltd., based in Willoughby, OH, as court-appointed receiver on behalf of Huntington National Bank. The buyer was LFG Properties LLC, based in Lancaster, OH. The transaction was negotiated by Eric Taylor with Hendricks & Partners on behalf of both parties.

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI-Grubb & Ellis Co. has been selected by Regis Property Management LLC as the exclusive leasing agent for 3499 W. Hamlin Rd. The property is a 120,693-square-foot, class A office and R&D/flex building. The property was formerly the headquarters of Volkswagen of America. Daniel Canvasser and Geoff Hill are the team responsible for marketing the property. Built in 2001, the three-story building can be leased by a single user or divided for multiple tenants.

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI-L. Mason Capitani-CORFAC International arranged the lease of a 49,553-square-foot building at 2956 Waterview here. The tenant, BOS, is expanding their North American operations due to the increase in their business and market share. The company develops, manufactures and distributes interior components with locations in Europe, North America and Asia. Tom Jablonski represented BOS in this transaction.

KANSAS CITY, MO-David Farrell with Minneapolis-based NorthMarq Capital arranged first mortgage financing of $16.5 million for Wild Oak Apartments, a 348-unit multifamily property at 7987 NE Flintlock Rd. here. Financing was based on a 10-year term and a 30-year amortization schedule and was arranged for the borrower by NorthMarq through its seller-servicer relationship with Freddie Mac through its Capital Markets Execution Program.