The major markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic showed slow, steady growth in 2011, but the dual impacts of the upcoming election and uncertainty on Wall Street remain unknown, despite improving labor market fundamentals. Although the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 8.3%, the economy added 227,000 positions to US payrolls in February, making it the third consecutive month in which more than 200,000 jobs have been added—a sign of growing health for the economy.

Joe Dykstra, executive vice president of Los Angeles-based Westwood Financial Corp., has about $60 million worth of financing before conduits at the moment. For the most part, these properties are not, as he puts it, "life insurance quality." Yet he is fairly certain he will get most, if not all, of the funding.

When it is all said and done, 2012 will likely be recorded in industry annals as the year deals finally closed—unlike in 2010 and '11, when buyers and sellers would find one reason or another to hit the brakes on transactions. "We are in a unique period right now when both parties are inspired to get deals done," says Kevin White, director of business development for Virtus Real Estate Capital. And financing? That is a nobrainer, he says, and indeed the Austin, TX-based real estate private equity sponsor is moving forward with its own transactions with an eye to locking in as much debt as possible. "That way, if we hit the wrong end of the cycle, we have enough term left on the loan to ride it through," he says.

WASHINGTON, DC-The good news is that pricing has held up fairly well, Jones Lang LaSalle says.

WASHINGTON, DC-Even if it is, the commercial real estate industry is rushing to close deals in 2012, Larry Selevan, CEO of Chesterfield Faring Ltd. tells GlobeSt.com.

ARLINGTON, VA-The office building is completely vacant and offers beautiful views. In this market that translates into multifamily.

VIENNA, VA-TechCore, a real estate fund managed by GI Partners on behalf of CalPERS, is the buyer.

RESTON, VA-The property has the potential to be zoned for up to 50 units per acre, ARA's Drew White tells GlobeSt.com's Erika Morphy.