FORT LAUDERDALE, FL-Net income increased 15% for the fourth quarter and 37% for the year, compared with the same periods in 2002. Revenue also was up for both periods in 2003.

HIALEAH, FL-Developer Florida Etoile Inc. sold the Casa Bella Apartments here to a Florida-based investment partnership for $70,700 per unit. The property contains 180 units and 184,760 rentable sf.

CORAL GABLES, FL-The contract, awarded jointly to Odebrecht Construction Inc., based here, and the Austin Co. of Cleveland, is for designing, building and rebuilding commercial and industrial properties in the Middle East.

PALM BEACH, FL-The 8% Series C cumulative preferred shares resulted in approximately $140 million in net proceeds, most of which will go toward redeeming of the company's outstanding 8.625% Series A cumulative convertible preferred shares.

SUNRISE, FL-A joint-venture partnership is developing the 26-acre project, which will include 500,000 sf of office space, 363 multifamily residences and a restaurant village. All phases of the project combined will total 65 acres.

DEERFIELD BEACH, FL-Relocating from Pompano Beach, FL, the cosmetics distributor is using the space for its headquarters. The value of the seven-year lease, within Enterprise Center Building #9 here, is $847,207.

MIAMI-This phase, which will total 74,471 sf, has a planned completion date of July. Together, the two phases total 142,420 sf and are located within the 72-acre Deerwood Business Park.

BROWARD COUNTY, FL-The market had strong sales and leasing activity last year, states a new report by Cushman & Wakefield. But the market's overall vacancy rate was up at the end of 2003, compared with the year before, due in part to more than 727,000 sf of vacant new construction.