Whitestone REIT acquires 31,832-square-foot retail center in Austin

Whitestone REIT acquired the 31,832-sqaure-foot, restaurant-anchored San Clemente at Davenport retail center in Austin, Texas, which is just minutes from the Apple and Tesla campuses and situated amidst the bustling hub of the area’s several technology companies.

The San Clemente acquisition complements Whitestone’s existing Davenport Village retail center at the same intersection along Loop 360, one of Austin’s most traveled corridors, and marks the fifth neighborhood shopping center in Whitestone’s portfolio that is located in Texas’s capital city.

Whitestone plans to leverage its institutional knowledge of and strong position in the market to strengthen the performance of the asset and unlock its significant upside potential. Whitestone expects to capitalize on the center’s very strong dynamics and its own retailer relationships to position the property for long-term growth and relevance within the upscale neighborhoods it serves: Davenport Ranch, Westlake, Rob Roy and Barton Creek.

The center tenant mix includes Fresa’s, a local Mexican favorite with a welcoming atmosphere and outdoor patio that anchors the property, Iron Fitness, a state-of-the-art training and fitness facility and Greenlake Energy, an emerging energy technology company.

Walton Global closes sale of more than 1,500 acres for data center development in Austin market

Walton Global, a real estate investment and land asset management company, announced the sale of 1,515.9 acres in Caldwell County, Texas, to Tract Management Company. The site will become home to a future data center development.

This strategically located site is well positioned to anchor a growing digital ecosystem in the fast-growing Austin-San Antonio corridor.

Caldwell Valley is divided into two adjacent parcels. The first parcel, sprawling 1,088.37 acres, offers direct frontage along Highway 235 and Highway 230. The second parcel, consisting of 426.85 acres, contains frontage along Highway 270. These parcels provide exceptional access and proximity to critical infrastructure, further enhancing their appeal for future development.

Marcus & Millichap closes sale of 14,907-square-foot retail center in Magnolia

Marcus & Millichap negotiated the sale of Windcrest Village Square, a 14,907-square-foot multi-tenant retail center at 9533 FM 1488 in Magnolia, Texas. 

Allie Munday and Philip Levy, investment specialists in Marcus & Millichap’s Dallas office, represented the seller in the transaction. 

Built in 2023, the 1.56-acre property is fully leased to a complementary mix of national, regional, and local retailers, including The Toasted Yolk, Sugar Llamas, Anytime Fitness, Kitchen & Bath Shop, and Ally Anne’s Kolache Kitchen. The center is near major national retailers and is supported by an average household income of more than $180,000 within a one-mile radius. 

Cushman & Wakefield brokers sale of 282-unit multifamily community in Lewisville

Cushman & Wakefield represented locally based Huffines Communities in its sale of Heritage Towers in Lewisville, Texas.

Cushman & Wakefield’s Asher Hall and Grant Raymond represented Huffines in its sale to an undisclosed buyer.

Located at 1600 N Summit Ave., Heritage Towers is a 282-unit luxury multifamily community that was built in 2022.

Lewisville, Texas, continues to establish itself as a dynamic submarket within the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, offering strong connectivity to major employment hubs in both Dallas and Fort Worth. The area has experienced sustained population and job growth, underpinned by high-quality schools, a skilled labor pool, and significant nearby commercial developments like Grandscape and the revitalization of Old Town Lewisville. Its proximity to lifestyle amenities such as Lake Lewisville and expansive outdoor recreation further enhances its appeal to residents and investors alike.

Despite uncertainties, student housing market remains a resilient one

Demand for student housing continues to grow, which resulted in an active transaction market for this sector, according to the latest research from Yardi Matrix.

In its May 2025 National Student Housing Report, Yardi Matrix said that 27 student housing properties had sold this year through the end of April, a similar number as during the same period in 2023 and 2024.

The sales price per bed came in strong at $74,207 as of the end of April. Yardi Matrix also recorded two large portfolio sales that came in at more than $100,000 per bed.

It’s not surprising that investors are interested in student housing. The demand from students for units remains high. Yardi Matrix said that preleasing for its Yardi 200 schools averaged 73.2% in April, 140 basis points higher than in the same month a year ago.

Rental rates did fall from March to April, but increased on a year-over-year basis. Yardi Matrix said that advertised monthly rental rates for its Yardi 200 schools stood at an average of $917 per bed in April. This represents rent growth of 2% on a year-over-year basis. That pace of growth is down from a year-over-year increase of 6.4% during the last two leasing seasons, Yardi Matrix said.

The enrollment growth for 189 schools in the Yardi 200 averaged 1.8% in the fall of 2024. That’s up from enrollment growth of 1.1% for the fall of 2023 and a dip of 0.6% in the fall of 2022. Yardi Matrix did report that schools are concerned that changes to immigration policy and school funding could impact enrollment growth in the coming years.

Mark Odom Studio designs new North Austin space for FVF Law

Personal injury law firm FVF Law moved its headquarters to North Austin, Texas, as award-winning architecture and interiors firmMark Odom Studio designs a new office space that will enhance the long-standing commercial building at 4902 Burnet Road.

The adaptive reuse project will re-imagine the former Top Drawer building – built in 1948, creating a user-friendly courtyard and inviting streetscape. The design plan provides a warm and welcoming experience for the firm’s clients.

FVF Law is deeply rooted in the Rosedale neighborhood, where many employees and the founders reside and actively engage in community activities. The Firm is dedicated to investing in and supporting the places that make Austin special.

Being mindful of the FVF Law’s 10-year legacy, company ethos, and respecting the neighborhood landscape were all top priorities for Mark Odom Studio. FVF Law’s new HQ is designed to fold into the established neighborhood’s mid-century roots while adding a refreshed perspective to the street.

Highly regarded, locally owned commercial contractor, Franklin Alan, will handle construction and is set to begin this spring with expected completion in the fall of 2025.