LOS ANGELES-The locally-based brokerage giant says office market here already appears to be stabilizing and should get better as the economy gathers steam in the final half of this year. Asking rents in just-concluded quarter rose despite modest increase in countywide vacancy factor.

VALENCIA, CA-Crocker Investors LLC acquires 90,000-sf office structure here from Earle Properties. Buying group includes Ralph Jackson, a prominent marketing and advertising pro, who represents several Southland real estate companies.

LOS ANGELES-CIM Group, which paid about $40 million for nearly three blocks in the CBD earlier this month, says construction could start by the end of the year. Plans include lofts and the area's first supermarket.

LOS ANGELES-Federal and local agencies agree to provide $890,000 toward building the $15-million project, which would include a multiplex theater and film-training facility. This will be the first area-theatre built in three decades.

ORANGE COUNTY, CA-Forecast by Grubb & Ellis says local market will remain weak in first half, but strengthen toward end of the year as the economy picks up steam. However, glut of flex-tech space may stick around until 2003.

ANAHEIM, CA-The San Diego-based REIT acquires 181,000-sf Brookhurst Center from privately held Brookhurst LLC.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA-Dave Garofalo voluntarily steps down amid allegations that he improperly voted dozens of times on real estate-related issues and other matters that affected his publishing business. He denies any wrongdoing.

ORANGE COUNTY, CA-Forecast by Grubb & Ellis says the local market will remain weak in first half, but strengthen toward end of the year as the economy picks up steam. However, a glut of flex-tech space may stick around until 2003.