MIAMI—Shopping centers are hot commodities in South Florida from a acquisition, leasing and lending perspective. Three retail complexes in the region just won $27 million in permanent financing.

Aztec Group managing directors Jason Shapiro and Jim Fried and director Sean Harrington secured the financing for the borrowers, a locally-owned retail investment group. The shopping centers include a property in Hialeah Gardens, the redevelopment of the former Hollywood Fashion Mall in Hollywood to be anchored by a Walmart Supercenter, and a Tamarac shopping center that will soon house a new Walmart Neighborhood Market.

Royal Gardens Plaza, a recently-completed 75,000-square-foot shopping center anchored by Aldi and A Ross Dress for Less store secured the largest loan at $12 million. The shopping center is located at the southeast corner of Hialeah Gardens Boulevard and West 80th Street and also includes Dollar General, Discovery Clothing, America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, and Pollo Tropical.