The Tampa market is improving slowly but steadily, says Patricia Nooney, senior managing director for institutional services for Florida for CBRE, who oversees brokerage in the Tampa Bay market. With occupancy rates rising, rents should begin to rise in 2013, she says.

Early this year, Parkway Properties paid $46.9 million for The Pointe, a 252,000-sq-ft.

Westshore office building, bringing it to more than 1 million square feet owned or managed in Westshore. “Of all of Tampa’s absorption in 2011, Westshore had the lion’s share,” says Parkway COO Jayson Lipsey.

In retail, vacancies remain high. New leadership in civic and governmental posts — including Mayor Bob Buckhorn — has real estate players encouraged.

Sector	Vacancy	Rent (per sq. ft.)
Office	21.7%	$21.10
Industrial	9.4	5.02
Retail	8.2	15.09
» 1-Year Employment Change +23,300 jobs (+2.1%)