SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 25, 2001

                           HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
                           --------------------------
               (Exact name of registrant specified in its charter)




         Maryland                 1-13100                    56-1871668
         --------                 -------                    ----------
                                                          
(State of Incorporation)  (Commission File Number)  (IRS Employer Identification No.)



         3100 Smoketree Court, Suite 600, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
               (Address of principal executive offices, zip code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (919) 872-4924



         We refer to (1) Highwoods Properties, Inc. as the "Company," (2)
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership as the "Operating Partnership," (3) the
Company's common stock as "Common Stock" and (4) the Operating Partnership's
common partnership interests as "Common Units."

Item 5.  Other Events

         During 2000, the Company repurchased 4.2 million shares of Common Stock
and Common Units at a weighted average price of $23.69 per share/unit, for a
total purchase price of $100.2 million. From January 1, 2001 to January 25,
2001, the Company repurchased 1.1 million shares of Common Stock and Common
Units at a weighted average price of $25.05 per share/unit, for a total purchase
price of $28.2 million.


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                      HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.


                                      By: /s/ Carman J. Liuzzo
                                         --------------------------------------
                                         Carman J. Liuzzo
                                         Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
                                         and Treasurer

Dated:  January 25, 2001