TAMPA, FL-Dwight R. Blader, a former VP with Signature Bank of Florida in Pinellas County, is the new regional loan officer responsible for originating and closing commercial real estate loans in the Tampa and Orlando markets.

ATLANTA-Sol Margollas of locally based Margollas Realty Group, pays TAF Real Estate $5 million for the 12-year-old, 162,651-sf office and warehouse complex in suburban Kennesaw.

JACKSONVILLE, FL-In a 7.4-million-sf class A office market where the overall vacancy is 21.4%, the 10-year, 11,459-sf renewal by Taylor, Day & Currie at Bank of America Tower was one of the largest transactions completed this year. The lease brings the building to 84% occupancy.

ATLANTA-The 60-year-old Sweden-based home-furnishings retailer is entering the Southeast market with its estimated $50-million store and 300-seat restaurant. The box is scheduled to open in summer 2005 at the western end of Atlantic Station.

JACKSONVILLE, FL-The locally based REIT, which calls itself the leading owner-operator-developer of grocery anchored, neighborhood shopping centers in the United States, is using the proceeds to repay part of the $200 million of 7.1% notes that matured April 1.

EUSTIS, FL-Florida Land Partners pays Orlando-based Herman J. Heidrich and Sons $4.7 million for the site where Duke Energy of Charlotte, NC once planned to build a $180-million power plant.

ATLANTA-RD Management Co. of New York has taken the 91-year-old, 200-room property off the market and plans to redevelop the Peachtree Street building itself into a 130-room boutique hotel, bar, restaurant and mini conference center at one of Downtown's key commercial sites.

MAITLAND, FL-The Dallas-based office suites company is moving into new 29,745-sf quarters on the third floor at Pembrook Commons Center in the Maitland Center submarket. The 10-year lease has an estimated aggregate gross value of $6 million, area brokers tell GlobeSt.com.