HousingWire reports that rents rose in 21 out of 44 markets analyzed from a year earlier, indicating that investors are being dawn to commercial real estate.  Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) amounted to nine billion dollars the first four months of the year, and expected to hit $40 billion by year’s end, according to Jones Lang LaSalle.  Analysts say the improving economy has increased confidence in this market, as well as the expected rise in employment and higher corporate profits.  Jay Koster, president of Jones Lang LaSalle, Americas Capital Markets, said, “”Given the improvements underway, we’re revising our 2011 global transaction volume forecast upward from an initial expectation of $380 billion to $440 billion this year.”