Real estate acquisitions and sales are on the fast-track, even in this pandemic environment. After a bit of uncertainty at the very beginning of the pandemic last year, deal volume not only resumed, but increased substantially. More than that, the speed at which clients want to sign and close deals has increased, with the time to draft, negotiate and finalize contracts becoming shorter as 2021 progressed. Contrast acquisitions and sales with commercial lease transactions, which have not only taken longer to rebound in terms of volume—but are also taking longer to negotiate and finalize. Let's explore the factors influencing these vastly differing tempos.