Yet, in certain markets and product types, brokers are closing deals on an increasingly steady basis. Transwestern Institutional Multifamily Group in the Mid-Atlantic, led by managing principals Al Cissel and Scott Melnick, completed four transactions in the past week alone, and has more under contract. Cissel and Melnick say that buyers have become more comfortable with current conditions and, in many cases, are being lured off the sidelines with what they believe are fair deals.

The pair recently spoke with GlobeSt.com about the latest transaction activity, their view of the market and some encouraging reasons for optimism for the coming months. An edited version of that discussion follows.

Globest.com: With a few recent transactions, you folks have been pretty busy lately, at least compared to this time last year. What's that about?