Top commercial real estate brokers in California, ranked by ChatGPT answers

The best commercial real estate brokers in California depend on what you're looking to accomplish: buying, selling, leasing, investing, or selling an investment property.

If you're looking for established, high-performing commercial real estate brokerage firms, I'd start with the major national firms that have strong California operations, then compare them against specialized regional brokerages.

Top commercial real estate brokerage firms in California

1\. CBRE

Best overall starting point

• Excellent for investment sales, industrial, office, retail, multifamily, and institutional transactions.
• Particularly strong in major California markets.
• Led San Francisco's 2025 brokerage transaction rankings with approximately $35.2 billion in sales and leasing activity.

Website: [cbre.com](https://www.cbre.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

2\. JLL

• Strong institutional investment sales, office, industrial, leasing, and capital markets.
• Particularly worth considering in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, and Silicon Valley.

Website: [jll.com](https://www.jll.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

3\. Cushman & Wakefield

• Strong in office, industrial, retail, investment sales, and tenant representation.
• Established presence throughout California.

Website: [cushmanwakefield.com](https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

4\. Colliers

• Strong in investment sales, industrial, multifamily, office, and advisory.
• Worth considering for both private investors and institutional clients.

Website: [colliers.com](https://www.colliers.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

5\. Newmark

• Particularly strong in investment sales, capital markets, office, and industrial.
• A major competitor in Southern California.

Website: [nmrk.com](https://www.nmrk.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

6\. Kidder Mathews

• One of the strongest independent West Coast commercial real estate firms.
• Good option for regional expertise, investment properties, industrial, office, and retail.

Website: [kidder.com](https://kidder.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

7\. Marcus & Millichap

• Particularly good for private investors buying and selling income-producing properties.
• Strong in multifamily, retail, industrial, and net-leased investment properties.

Website: [marcusmillichap.com](https://www.marcusmillichap.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

8\. Hughes Marino

• Particularly notable for tenant representation.
• Good for companies negotiating office leases, relocations, and corporate real estate requirements.

Website: [hughesmarino.com](https://hughesmarino.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

These are a practical shortlist, not a definitive ranking of individual agents. Industry transaction rankings support the strength of the larger firms: CBRE led Southern California's 2025 brokerage volume and San Francisco's 2025 transaction activity.

Strong regional firms worth considering

• NAI Capital – Southern California.
• T3 Advisors – San Francisco and technology-sector real estate.
• The Muller Company – Irvine and Orange County.
• Capital Rivers Commercial – Sacramento and Northern California.
• Commercial Realty Specialists – Orange County, especially tenant and buyer representation.
• Jacks Commercial Real Estate – Sacramento, including investment sales and leasing.

Which brokers are best for your particular transaction?

My recommendations would change depending on what you're trying to accomplish:

Your objective	Firms I'd prioritize
Selling a large commercial building	CBRE, JLL, Newmark
Buying investment properties	Marcus & Millichap, CBRE, Colliers
Selling apartment complexes	Marcus & Millichap, CBRE, Kidder Mathews
Industrial and warehouse properties	CBRE, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield
Retail centers and shopping centers	CBRE, Colliers, Newmark
Office leasing and tenant representation	Hughes Marino, JLL, CBRE
Finding off-market investment opportunities	Marcus & Millichap, Kidder Mathews

Let me narrow this down.

I have one important question:

What type of commercial real estate are you primarily interested in?

• Buying commercial investment properties
• Selling commercial investment properties
• Multifamily / apartment buildings
• Industrial / warehouses
• Retail centers / shopping centers
• Office buildings
• Land / development opportunities
• All types of commercial real estate

I can narrow this down to the 10 best actual commercial real estate brokers and individual agents in California, including their names, specialties, transaction track records, and contact information.

The best commercial real estate brokers in California for companies leasing office or industrial space are generally those with strong tenant representation (occupier advisory) practices—not simply firms with the largest property listings.

I would divide the market into two groups:

1. Tenant-focused brokerage firms: Work primarily or exclusively for businesses leasing space. These are often the best starting point if your goal is to minimize rent, negotiate favorable lease terms, and protect your company's interests.
2. Large institutional brokerages: Have extensive market coverage, property databases, research capabilities, and teams for complex or multi-location requirements.

Here is the shortlist I would investigate.

1\. Best tenant-representation firms

These are particularly interesting because of their focus on representing companies rather than property owners.

1\. Hughes Marino

Top overall tenant-representation candidate

• Headquarters: San Diego
• Markets: Southern California and other major U.S. markets
• Focus: Office, industrial, life science, and corporate real estate.
• Strength: Tenant advocacy, lease negotiation, workplace strategy, and project management.
• Particularly attractive for companies wanting an advisor focused on the occupier's interests.

Website: [hughesmarino.com](https://hughesmarino.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

2\. Shelton & Associates

Strong statewide tenant-only option

• Headquarters: San Diego
• Markets: San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Inland Empire, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Sacramento.
• Focus: Office, industrial, medical office, and R&D.
• Strength: Exclusively represents tenants, including lease renewals, relocations, and expansions.

Website: [sheltonassociates.com](https://sheltonassociates.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

3\. Peninsula Commercial Real Estate Group

• Headquarters: El Segundo
• Markets: Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and Inland Empire.
• Focus: Office, industrial, warehouse, and medical space.
• Strength: Tenant and owner-user representation, lease negotiation, and occupancy-cost analysis.

Website: [peninsulacregroup.com](https://peninsulacregroup.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

4\. Gallaway Commercial

• Headquarters: Sacramento
• Markets: Sacramento and Northern California.
• Focus: Office, industrial, logistics, and other commercial properties.
• Strength: Tenant advocacy combined with project management and relocation support.

Website: [gallawaycommercial.com](https://www.gallawaycommercial.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

5\. DUPAV Commercial

• Headquarters: Greater Sacramento
• Focus: Office, flex, and commercial property.
• Strength: Tenant-focused representation, lease renewals, relocation, site selection, and lease-versus-buy analysis.

Website: [dupav.com](https://www.dupav.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

2\. Best large commercial real estate brokerage firms

These firms are worth considering when your company needs a large property search, significant industrial square footage, multiple California locations, or national representation.

6\. CBRE

Best for large corporate requirements

• Extensive California and national coverage.
• Office, industrial, warehouse, R&D, and logistics.
• Strong research, market intelligence, and corporate occupier services.
• Particularly useful for large companies and multi-market assignments.

Website: [cbre.com](https://www.cbre.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

7\. JLL

• Strong corporate occupier advisory capabilities.
• Office, industrial, logistics, and life science.
• Workplace strategy, site selection, and project management.
• Particularly good candidate for complex corporate leasing requirements.

Website: [jll.com](https://www.jll.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

8\. Newmark

• Significant California brokerage presence.
• Office, industrial, and corporate real estate.
• Strong transaction, research, and capital markets capabilities.
• A particularly important firm to interview for larger Los Angeles assignments.

Website: [nmrk.com](https://www.nmrk.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

9\. Lee & Associates

• Strong regional brokerage network.
• Particularly worth considering for industrial and warehouse leasing.
• Local market knowledge and specialized industrial brokerage teams.
• Good candidate for companies looking outside major central business districts.

Website: [lee-associates.com](https://www.lee-associates.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

10\. Cushman & Wakefield

• Extensive California market coverage.
• Office, industrial, logistics, and corporate occupier services.
• Strong capabilities in large industrial requirements, site selection, and build-to-suit projects.

Website: [cushmanwakefield.com](https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

3\. How I would evaluate these firms

I would not select a broker based solely on company size or transaction volume. The individual broker and team handling your assignment matter considerably.

Evaluation criterion	What to look for
Tenant representation	Exclusively represents tenants or has a clearly separated tenant advisory team
Relevant experience	Completed leases for similar companies and property types
Market knowledge	Deep knowledge of the specific California submarkets
Negotiating ability	Demonstrable success negotiating rent, free rent, TI allowances, and concessions
Industrial expertise	Experience with loading docks, clear heights, power, truck access, and zoning
Office expertise	Experience with buildouts, operating expenses, parking, and lease flexibility
Financial analysis	Can compare total occupancy costs, not just asking rents

One important consideration: Some major brokerage firms represent both landlords and tenants. That is not necessarily a reason to exclude them, but ask about conflicts involving specific buildings and landlords.

For a company leasing substantial space, I would interview at least three firms and request examples of comparable transactions they have completed.

4\. My recommended starting shortlist

If I were putting together an initial RFP (request for proposal) for a company seeking commercial space in California, I would start with:

Company requirement	Firms I'd interview first
Office leasing	Hughes Marino, Shelton & Associates, CBRE
Industrial/warehouse leasing	CBRE, JLL, Lee & Associates
Large corporate or multi-location leases	CBRE, JLL, Newmark
Southern California tenant advocacy	Hughes Marino, Peninsula CRE Group
Sacramento/Northern California	Shelton & Associates, Gallaway Commercial, DUPAV
Industrial build-to-suit	CBRE, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield

5\. A few questions that would help narrow this down

The best broker depends heavily on where you need space and how large the requirement is.

Which California markets are you considering?

With those details, I can identify the best individual commercial real estate brokers and teams in California, rather than simply ranking brokerage company names. That's usually where the most meaningful difference in leasing results comes from.

The best commercial real estate tenant-representation brokers in California depend on the type of property, market, and size of your lease. However, I would start with firms that have a strong tenant-side practice, proven lease-negotiation experience, and minimal conflicts of interest with landlords.

One important distinction: Some of the biggest commercial real estate firms represent both landlords and tenants. Others specialize exclusively in representing tenants. If your goal is to negotiate the lowest possible occupancy cost and the most favorable lease terms, the latter deserve particular consideration.

My shortlist of California tenant-representation firms

These are the firms I would put on an initial interview list, based on specialization, market presence, and publicly available information.

1\. Hughes Marino

Top overall shortlist candidate

[greatplacetowork.com](https://www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/1391857?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

• Headquarters: San Diego, California.
• Markets: San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other markets.
• Specialty: Tenant-only commercial real estate representation.
• Best for: Corporate office leases, relocations, renewals, expansions and complex lease negotiations.

Hughes Marino is one of the first firms I would interview. Its tenant-focused business model, corporate real estate advisory services, and established California presence make it a strong candidate.

It also has positive third-party client reviews, including a 5.0 rating on Clutch's October 2026 rankings.

Website: [hughesmarino.com](https://hughesmarino.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

2\. Savills

[bisnow.com](https://www.bisnow.com/national/news/retail/savills-hires-cbre-execs-to-launch-us-retail-advisory-platform-131680?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

• California presence: Los Angeles, San Francisco and other major markets.
• Specialty: Corporate occupier advisory and tenant representation.
• Best for: Large corporate occupiers, sophisticated office requirements, portfolio strategy and complex transactions.

Savills has a particularly established tenant-representation practice in Los Angeles. Its advisory approach incorporates workplace strategy, financial analysis and lease negotiation.

The firm reports that it has specialized in Los Angeles tenant representation since 1971.

Website: [savills.us](https://www.savills.us/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

3\. Shelton & Associates

[sheltonreed.com](https://www.sheltonreed.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

• Headquarters: San Diego.
• Markets: Statewide California.
• Specialty: Office, industrial and medical office.
• Best for: Businesses seeking an independent, tenant-only representative across multiple California markets.

One of the more interesting firms to consider because it explicitly operates on a tenant-only basis.

Its services include:

• Lease renewals and renegotiations.
• Relocations and expansions.
• Occupancy cost analysis.
• Comparing competing properties and lease structures.

Website: [sheltonassociates.com](https://sheltonassociates.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

4\. Peninsula Commercial Real Estate Group

[showcase.com](https://www.showcase.com/760-764-polhemus-rd-san-mateo-ca-94402/37430955/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

• Location: Southern California.
• Markets: Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and Inland Empire.
• Specialty: Exclusive tenant and owner-user representation.
• Best for: Businesses wanting principal-level attention and hands-on lease negotiation.

Founder Corina Irvin reports more than 15 years of institutional experience and over $750 million in negotiated commercial leases and purchases.

A particularly interesting boutique firm for clients who value direct access to the principal handling their transaction.

Website: [peninsulacregroup.com](https://peninsulacregroup.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

5\. Avesta Real Estate

[loopnet.com](https://www.loopnet.com/property/8875-research-dr-irvine-ca-92618/06059-58817613/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

• Headquarters: Irvine.
• Markets: Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego and Inland Empire.
• Specialty: Office, industrial, retail and flex space.
• Best for: Companies seeking tenant-only representation in Southern California.

Avesta states that it has never represented landlords, developers or property owners. It also reports more than 20 years of experience.

Website: [avestarealestate.com](https://avestarealestate.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

6\. Mazirow Commercial

[loopnet.com](https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/2629-Townsgate-Rd-Westlake-Village-CA/36097031/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

• Location: Westlake Village.
• Markets: San Fernando Valley, Conejo Valley, Ventura County and Santa Barbara County.
• Specialty: Office, medical and flex/industrial space.
• Best for: Businesses wanting a boutique, tenant-focused advisor.

Founder Sheryl Mazirow has more than 30 years of tenant-representation and lease-review experience, according to the firm.

Website: [tenantadvisory.com](https://tenantadvisory.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

7\. Major national brokerage firms worth interviewing

If you have a large requirement, multiple locations, or a significant industrial or corporate real estate portfolio, I would also consider:

Firm	Particular strength
CBRE	National and international corporate occupier services
JLL	Corporate tenant representation and workplace strategy
Cushman & Wakefield	Large corporate occupiers and complex transactions
Newmark	Office, industrial and multi-market transactions
Colliers	Corporate occupier advisory and regional representation

These firms have substantial brokerage platforms, but I would evaluate the individual team rather than the company's overall reputation. Their businesses also include landlord representation, so conflict checks are important.

How I would evaluate and select a broker

I would ask every prospective broker these seven questions:

1. Do you represent tenants exclusively, or do you also represent landlords?
2. How many transactions have you completed for tenants in my property category?
3. Can you provide examples of lease negotiations where you achieved significant savings?
4. How do you analyze effective rent, free rent, tenant improvement allowances and operating expenses?
5. Do you represent landlords of any properties you might recommend?
6. Will the principal broker personally handle negotiations?
7. How do you get compensated, and will I have any out-of-pocket costs?

The most important issue is whether the broker can demonstrate measurable improvements in the tenant's overall lease economics, not simply find available space.

A few questions to narrow down my recommendation

I can make a much more useful shortlist if I know what kind of commercial real estate you're looking for.

With those details, I can narrow this to the five strongest brokerage teams, including specific brokers, relevant transaction experience, geographic coverage and contact information—not just a list of large brokerage companies.

For industrial and warehouse commercial real estate in California, I would start with the major national industrial brokerage firms that have strong California operations, particularly in Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, and Sacramento.

The best firms depend on whether you're buying, selling, leasing, or investing in industrial property. However, several firms stand out for their industrial specialization, market coverage, transaction experience, and access to institutional buyers and tenants.

Top commercial real estate brokerages for industrial properties in California

1\. CBRE

Top overall choice

• Excellent industrial and logistics brokerage coverage throughout California.
• Strong institutional buyer, seller, landlord, and tenant relationships.
• Particularly attractive for large warehouses, distribution centers, and industrial investment sales.

Website: [cbre.com](https://www.cbre.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

2\. Cushman & Wakefield

• Particularly strong industrial brokerage and investment sales teams.
• Extensive Southern California and Inland Empire coverage.
• Experienced with large-scale distribution, logistics, and manufacturing properties.

Website: [cushmanwakefield.com](https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

3\. Newmark

• Strong industrial investment sales and leasing capabilities.
• Good access to institutional investors and private capital.
• Particularly worth interviewing for larger industrial portfolios and investment properties.

Website: [nmrk.com](https://www.nmrk.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

4\. Lee & Associates

• Excellent firm to consider for industrial-specific brokerage.
• Local offices and specialized industrial teams.
• Particularly interesting for owner-users, smaller industrial buildings, warehouse leasing, and private investors.

Website: [lee-associates.com](https://www.lee-associates.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

5\. Colliers

• Strong West Coast market presence.
• Industrial leasing, investment sales, and property advisory.
• Good option for comparing pricing, marketing, and buyer demand.

Website: [colliers.com](https://www.colliers.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

6\. Marcus & Millichap

• Especially worth considering for investment property sales.
• Good reach among private investors and 1031 exchange buyers.
• A useful choice for smaller and mid-sized industrial investment properties.

Website: [marcusmillichap.com](https://www.marcusmillichap.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Individual industrial brokers worth interviewing

If you're looking for actual producing brokers rather than just brokerage company names, California industrial sales rankings provide a useful starting point.

Traded's California industrial broker directory lists these notable producers:

Broker	Brokerage	Reported sales volume
Jeff Chiate	Cushman & Wakefield	$3.08B
Michael Longo	CBRE	$1.93B
Rick Ellison	Cushman & Wakefield	$1.61B
Jeffrey Cole	Cushman & Wakefield	$1.98B
Barbara Perrier	CBRE	$1.81B

These are reported directory transaction figures, not independently audited rankings or guarantees of individual performance on your type of property.

My recommendation

I would interview three firms before selecting a broker:

1. CBRE – for institutional reach and broad market exposure.
2. Cushman & Wakefield – for industrial transaction expertise.
3. Lee & Associates – for a more locally focused industrial brokerage approach.

For smaller, privately owned warehouses, I would give Lee & Associates and Marcus & Millichap particular consideration rather than automatically choosing the largest firm.

A few questions that would help me narrow this down

California is a large industrial market, and the best brokers can vary significantly by region.

Which California market interests you most?

• Los Angeles / City of Industry
• Orange County
• Inland Empire (Ontario, Fontana, Riverside, San Bernardino)
• San Diego
• San Francisco Bay Area
• Sacramento
• Central Valley (Fresno, Bakersfield, Stockton)
• All of California

Are you looking to:

• Buy industrial or warehouse properties
• Sell industrial or warehouse properties
• Lease warehouse space
• Find investment properties with strong rental income
• Sell or acquire an industrial property portfolio

With those two details, I can narrow this down to the 10–15 strongest individual industrial brokers, including their names, brokerage firms, specialties, contact information, and relevant transaction experience.

The most reliable commercial real estate brokerage firms in Southern California depend on the type of property you're buying, selling, leasing, or investing in. However, there are several established firms with strong regional presence, institutional experience, and track records across Southern California.

I would start with the following firms, particularly if you're looking for experienced brokers who can handle significant transactions rather than simply generate leads.

1\. Best-established commercial real estate firms

The following are my strongest starting recommendations.

1\. CBRE

Strongest overall starting point

• Best for: Institutional properties, industrial, office, retail, multifamily and investment sales.
• Why: Extensive Southern California coverage, significant transaction volume and broad specialist teams.
• Website: [CBRE](https://www.cbre.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

2\. Lee & Associates

• Best for: Industrial buildings, warehouses, owner-user properties, office and investment sales.
• Why: Strong regional roots, local market expertise and independently operated offices.
• Website: [Lee & Associates](https://www.lee-associates.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

3\. Marcus & Millichap

• Best for: Buying and selling investment properties, multifamily, retail, single-tenant net-lease properties.
• Why: Particularly established investment-sales platform and extensive investor network.
• Website: [Marcus & Millichap](https://www.marcusmillichap.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

4\. JLL

• Best for: Corporate office leasing, institutional investments, property management and complex transactions.
• Why: Strong research, analytics, capital markets and advisory capabilities.
• Website: [JLL](https://www.jll.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

5\. Cushman & Wakefield

• Best for: Office, industrial, retail, investment sales and landlord representation.
• Why: Established institutional brokerage and advisory platform.
• Website: [Cushman & Wakefield](https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

6\. Newmark

• Best for: Investment sales, office, industrial, capital markets and institutional transactions.
• Why: Particularly strong transaction presence in the Los Angeles market.
• Website: [Newmark](https://www.nmrk.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

7\. Kidder Mathews

• Best for: Industrial, office, retail, investment sales and property management.
• Why: A strong independent West Coast firm with regional market expertise.
• Website: [Kidder Mathews](https://kidder.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

A note on reliability: These are not seven independently verified rankings of broker integrity. They are established firms worth interviewing. The Los Angeles Times' 2025 Southern California brokerage ranking, updated in September 2026, ranks firms by transaction volume across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. CBRE led the ranking, and the firms collectively handled more than $167 billion in transactions.

2\. Strong regional and specialized firms

I would also consider these firms, depending on the transaction:

• Commercial Asset Group – Particularly worth interviewing for Los Angeles investment properties. Its founder reports more than $5 billion in completed transactions. [Website](https://www.cag-re.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) .
• Lyon Stahl Investment Real Estate – Worth considering for apartment buildings and multifamily investment sales. [Website](https://lyonstahl.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) .
• NAI Capital – Established Southern California presence across industrial, office, retail and investment properties. [Website](https://www.naicapital.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) .
• The Saywitz Company – Worth considering if you are a business looking for tenant representation rather than a landlord seeking leasing services. [Website](https://www.saywitz.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) .

3\. How I would evaluate a broker before hiring

The brokerage brand matters, but the individual broker matters more. I would ask each candidate for:

1. Closed transactions: At least 5–10 comparable transactions completed in the last 24 months.
2. References: Three recent clients who can speak to their performance.
3. Local expertise: Specific experience in the neighborhood and property category you're targeting.
4. Negotiation ability: Examples of how they improved the purchase price, sale price, lease terms or deal structure.
5. Transparency: Clear commission structure, potential conflicts of interest and representation responsibilities.
6. Responsiveness: Who will actually handle your transaction day to day?

I would interview at least three brokers before signing an exclusive agreement.

4\. Let me narrow this down to the best individual brokers

I can give you a much more useful shortlist if I know what you're trying to accomplish.

What type of commercial real estate are you interested in?

My goal would be to identify specific, proven individual brokers—not just brokerage companies—with verifiable transaction histories, strong reputations and experience in your target market.

The best commercial real estate brokers in Northern California depend heavily on the asset type, location, and transaction size. The strongest firms generally operate across the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Silicon Valley, Wine Country, and surrounding markets.

If you're looking for established, high-performing commercial real estate brokerage firms, I would start with these:

Leading commercial real estate brokerage firms

1\. CBRE

One of the strongest choices for large institutional transactions, office, industrial, retail, investment sales, and corporate real estate. Particularly strong in San Francisco and the broader Bay Area.

2025 San Francisco office ranking: #1, with approximately $35.2 billion in reported sales and leasing volume.

[CBRE website](https://www.cbre.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)  ·

2\. Cushman & Wakefield

Excellent for investment sales, office leasing, industrial properties, landlord representation, and institutional clients. Particularly strong in San Francisco, Oakland, and Sacramento.

Ranked #1 among East Bay brokerages by 2025 transaction value.

[Cushman & Wakefield website](https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)  ·

3\. JLL

Strong for corporate office leasing, industrial, life sciences, investment sales, and large-scale real estate advisory.

[JLL website](https://www.jll.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)  ·

4\. Colliers

Particularly worth considering for industrial, office, investment sales, land, and regional commercial property transactions.

Strong East Bay and San Francisco presence.

[Colliers website](https://www.colliers.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)  ·

5\. Newmark

A major Northern California player with a particularly substantial regional network. Good for office, industrial, investment sales, and capital markets.

More than 280 agents across its Northern California operations, according to the firm's regional office information.

[Newmark website](https://www.nmrk.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)  ·

6\. Kidder Mathews

A strong regional brokerage with local market expertise. Worth considering for retail, industrial, office, investment property, and landlord/tenant representation.

[Kidder Mathews website](https://kidder.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

7\. Marcus & Millichap

Particularly strong for investment property sales, multifamily, retail, net-lease properties, and private investors.

[Marcus & Millichap website](https://www.marcusmillichap.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Notable individual brokers

A few individual professionals worth investigating:

• David Taxin – Meacham/Oppenheimer. More than 39 years of experience and reported career sales exceeding $3 billion, with substantial Silicon Valley expertise.
• Kevin Partington – Cushman & Wakefield. Particularly notable in Sacramento office leasing and tenant representation.
• Will Cliff – Colliers. Specializes in Bay Area investment sales, including office, industrial flex, and development land.

These are starting points rather than a definitive statewide ranking of individual brokers. The best broker is usually the one with the strongest recent closed transactions in your particular property category and market.

My recommendation

If I were assembling a shortlist, I would prioritize:

• Institutional and large transactions: CBRE, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield.
• Regional Northern California expertise: Newmark, Kidder Mathews, Colliers.
• Private investment property sales: Marcus & Millichap.

Let me narrow this down

The right shortlist changes significantly depending on what you're trying to accomplish.

What type of commercial real estate are you interested in?

• Industrial / warehouses / distribution
• Multifamily / apartment buildings
• Retail / shopping centers
• Office buildings
• Land / development opportunities
• Commercial investment sales across all property types

And which market?

• San Francisco / Bay Area
• Sacramento / Central Valley
• Silicon Valley
• Northern California statewide

I can put together a more targeted list of the top individual brokers, their firms, specialties, track records, and contact information, rather than simply listing the largest brokerage companies.

The commercial real estate brokers who know California's local markets best are usually those with deep relationships in a particular city, submarket, and property type, rather than simply the largest national brokerage firms.

California is a collection of very different commercial real estate markets. The strongest broker in Los Angeles industrial real estate may not be the best choice for San Francisco office buildings, Orange County retail, or San Diego multifamily.

I'd start by evaluating these firms:

California commercial brokerage shortlist

Brokerage	Strongest reason to consider
CBRE	Large-scale transactions, institutional investment, office, industrial and retail
Kidder Mathews	Strong Western U.S. regional expertise and local-market relationships
Lee & Associates	Entrepreneurial, locally operated offices and specialized industrial expertise
DAUM Commercial	Long California history, particularly industrial and business-owner representation
Cushman & Wakefield	Institutional leasing, investment sales and major commercial properties
JLL	Office, industrial, capital markets and corporate occupier representation
Colliers	Regional brokerage, investment sales and property-specific expertise
Marcus & Millichap	Investment property sales, multifamily, retail and net-lease assets
Newmark	Capital markets, office, industrial and institutional transactions
Hughes Marino	Tenant representation and corporate real estate advisory

A few reasons these firms stand out:

• CBRE: Its San Francisco office led the 2025 local brokerage transaction-volume rankings, with approximately $35.2 billion in reported activity.
• Kidder Mathews: Has a substantial Western regional platform and local San Diego expertise across industrial, office, life sciences, retail and multifamily.
• DAUM: Particularly worth considering for California industrial property and owner-user transactions.
• Hughes Marino: Worth considering if you are a tenant seeking independent representation rather than a landlord's listing broker.

Notable local-market specialists

Some smaller or more specialized brokers deserve consideration alongside the national firms:

• Sacramento: Kevin Partington at Cushman & Wakefield, particularly for office leasing. He has more than 30 years of Sacramento market experience.
• Orange County industrial: Mitchell Industrial Group for industrial leasing and investment sales.
• Los Angeles and Inland Empire industrial: Jamie Scott and the SoCal Industrial Team at Lee & Associates.
• Sacramento: Jacks Commercial Real Estate for locally focused brokerage across several property types.
• San Diego: Kidder Mathews for broad commercial property expertise.

These are starting points, not a definitive ranking of individual brokers. The individual agent's recent comparable transactions matter more than the firm's brand.

How I'd identify the best broker

Before hiring anyone, I'd ask for:

1. Three to five comparable transactions completed in the same submarket within the past 12–24 months.
2. Actual sale prices, lease rates, cap rates and days on market.
3. Knowledge of off-market opportunities and local property owners.
4. References from buyers, sellers, landlords or tenants with similar transactions.
5. Whether they represent both sides of the market or specialize in representing your interests.

Let me narrow this down to the best people in California

Which California market are you interested in?

I can narrow this down to specific individual brokers—not just brokerage company names—and prioritize those with the strongest local relationships, transaction histories and knowledge of off-market opportunities.

If you're looking for a commercial real estate broker in California who is genuinely invested in the success of local business owners—not just a large national brokerage—I would focus on independently owned, family-owned, and California-based commercial real estate firms.

The strongest candidates should have:

• A long-standing reputation in their local business community.
• Principals who are personally involved in transactions.
• Experience representing small and midsize business owners, not just institutional investors.
• Knowledge of local lease rates, property values, zoning, and negotiations.
• Repeat clients and referrals from business owners, landlords, and local investors.

One important distinction: a locally owned brokerage isn't necessarily family-owned, and a company's marketing claims aren't proof that business owners trust it.

California firms worth putting on your shortlist

I found several firms that stand out because of their ownership structure, local roots, business-owner focus, or publicly visible client feedback.

1\. Family-owned and family-operated firms

1\. Hughes Marino

100% family-owned

San Diego headquarters · Multiple California markets

Particularly interesting for business owners leasing or buying office space. The firm specializes in tenant and buyer representation, rather than representing landlords. Its family ownership is explicitly stated on its website.

Website: [Hughes Marino](https://hughesmarino.com/inland-empire/about-us/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

2\. Lara CRE Group

Family-owned

Greater Los Angeles · Orange County · Inland Empire

A particularly interesting choice for industrial property owners, manufacturers, warehouse operators, and distribution businesses. Reports more than 40 years of family stewardship and significant industrial transaction experience.

Website: [Lara CRE Group](https://laracre.com/about?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

3\. Stumpf & Company Real Estate

Family-run

Fresno · Central Valley

A family-run commercial real estate and business brokerage. Worth investigating for local business owners seeking commercial property, leasing, investment, or business brokerage services.

559-222-3058 · Fresno, CA

4\. MacLaughlin & Co. Commercial Real Estate

Family-run

West Sacramento · Northern California · Central Valley

A second-generation family business offering commercial brokerage, leasing, property management, development, and financing services. An interesting option if you want a firm with a longer-term ownership and management perspective.

916-371-9021 · West Sacramento, CA

5\. Wiese & Associates

Family-run

El Cajon · San Diego County

A locally focused commercial and industrial brokerage and property management firm. Worth considering for owner-users, industrial property buyers, and business owners in East County San Diego.

619-593-3600 · El Cajon, CA

2\. Independent and locally owned commercial brokerages

These are not all confirmed family-owned, but they are worth considering if personalized service and local market knowledge are priorities.

6\. Jacks Commercial Real Estate

Sacramento · Local independent brokerage

Over 30 years serving the Sacramento market. Its website specifically discusses helping local businesses buy, sell, lease, and manage commercial property. It also publishes client testimonials, including one from a nonprofit CEO who praises the principal broker's responsiveness and integrity.

4.9(37)

37 reviews

916-837-3456

Website: [Jacks Commercial](https://jackscommercial.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

7\. Vars Real Estate

Culver City · Greater Los Angeles

Founded from a family-owned property portfolio. Boutique brokerage with personal principal involvement and a focus on local business owners, landlords, investors, and tenants.

Website: [Vars Real Estate](https://www.varsrealty.com/about-commercial-real-estate-brokers/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

8\. Paley Commercial Real Estate

Woodland Hills · San Fernando Valley

Independently owned boutique brokerage with decades of local experience. Offers commercial sales, leasing, tenant representation, and property management.

4.8(33)

33 reviews

818-225-1300

Website: [Paley Commercial](https://www.paleycommercialrealestate.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

9\. Stetson Earhart

Palo Alto · Northern California

A locally experienced commercial brokerage with more than four decades of market experience, representing owners, tenants, and investors.

Website: [Stetson Earhart](https://www.stetsonearhart.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

My strongest recommendations by business need

If you're a business owner looking to…	Firms I'd contact first
Lease office space	Hughes Marino, Jacks Commercial
Lease retail or restaurant space	Vars Real Estate, Paley Commercial
Buy a building for your business	Jacks Commercial, Lara CRE Group
Buy or lease industrial/warehouse space	Lara CRE Group, Wiese & Associates
Sell commercial property	MacLaughlin & Co., Stumpf & Company
Get personalized local brokerage service	Jacks Commercial, Vars Real Estate

What I would investigate before hiring

I wouldn't equate a high Google rating with a proven reputation among business owners. I'd ask each brokerage:

1. How many local business owners have you represented in the last 24 months?
2. Can you provide three references from business owners you've represented?
3. Will the broker representing me work directly with me throughout the transaction?
4. Do you represent landlords, tenants, buyers, and sellers? How do you handle conflicts of interest?
5. What experience do you have negotiating favorable lease terms, tenant improvements, renewal options, and personal guarantees?

Also verify the broker's California Department of Real Estate license and disciplinary history.

Let me narrow this down to the best California firms

California is a big market, and I would rather identify the firms that have genuine local credibility than give you a list of big-name brokerages.

Which part of California are you most interested in?

I'd particularly like to identify firms that have earned the confidence of independent business owners over many years, rather than firms whose primary business is serving large institutional investors.