MIAMI-The South Florida market is continuing a three-year trend of rising rental rates and decreasing vacancy rates as the fundamentals of the commercial real estate market continue to be strong. As it moves forward, experts says the market will continue to be strong through the rest of 2006.

MIAMI-The South Florida market is continuing a three-year trend of rising rental rates and decreasing vacancy rates as the fundamentals of the commercial real estate market continue to be strong. As it moves forward, experts says the market will continue to be strong through the rest of 2006.

NORTH MIAMI BEACH-The locally based REIT purchases community shopping plazas in Orlando, Ruskin and Pembroke Pines for $23.4 million. The acquisitions are part of Equity's strategy of acquiring properties adjacent to the company's existing properties or ones that are ripe for redevelopment.

NORTH MIAMI BEACH-The locally based REIT purchases community shopping plazas in Orlando, Ruskin and Pembroke Pines for $23.4 million. The acquisitions are part of Equity's strategy of acquiring properties adjacent to the company's existing properties or ones that are ripe for redevelopment.

ATLANTA-In a shift in investment strategy, Jamestown has created a new opportunity fund that will focus on opportunistic acquisitions rather than buying core assets. The company has named industry veteran Clay Adams as director of acquisitions and chief investment officer of the fund.

ATLANTA-Cresa Partners expands its tenant representative services with the hiring of John Flack, an office tenant representative with seven years experience. In his previous position, Flack completed transactions worth $50 million.

ORLANDO-Affirmative Equities Co. buys a multifamily portfolio with 1,011 units from Needham, MA-based Sawyer Realty Holdings. With the purchase, the buyer adds to its portfolio of properties in the area.

BOCA RATON, FL-Locally based Compson Holding Corp. offers its "best and final" offer of $38.75 per share to acquire Farmington Hills, MI-based REIT Agree Realty Corp. or its assets. Two other previous offers to buy the company have been rejected with little explanation.