AUSTIN-This morning, Austin's leading economist takes to the dais as he goes against the norm to update his January forecast, one more time. Usually, one forecast suffices. The Commercial Real Estate Brokers of Central Texas gather to hear the latest.

AUSTIN-Travis County is gearing up to open a command center in a recently acquired office building in the Lake Travis area. A software company exited its leased site, bought from Lakeview Holdings, in anticipation of the takeover.

SAN ANTONIO-A patio furniture retailer in San Antonio acquires two buildings, with an assessed value of $239,000, in the central submarket. The Backyard Store will relocate its showroom to the larger structure. The buildings have a combined 6,000 sf of office space.

AUSTIN-A coalition of Austin groups submits its proposal to be the host city for the World Congress on Information Technology 2006. It's just one of several top-draw bookings being sought and scheduled to position Austin for the big-ticket trade.

SAN ANTONIO-A 147,325-sf user in the Interchange East Industrial Park in San Antonio's northeast submarket boosts its lease by 18,675 sf. Another NE industrial tenant signs a renewal for a 13,093-sf spot in the Macro Industrial Park.

AUSTIN-A high-tech firm, subleasing 3,000 sf, moves next door into 16,642 sf at Lantana II. It's another sublease deal for Bandspeed Inc. in a pact signed with @Outcome. The tenant specializes in enhancing broadband performance.

AUSTIN-Century Rain Aid practically quadruples its industrial and manufacturing space in Austin's north submarket. The irrigation equipment supplier relocates within the same submarket and takes half of a Metric Boulevard facility.

SAN ANTONIO-Blue Cross-Blue Shield's parent company, Health Care Service, renews a 15,639-sf lease for its sales and administration team. The firm is part of the tenant roster at the 174,108-sf Fountainhead One in San Antonio's northwest corridor.