2027 edition · Research reviewed November 7, 2026
A New York metro firm comparison should begin with the work to be done. A Manhattan office decision and a New Jersey warehouse assignment may require different people even inside the same organization. This 2027 guide selects practices for identifiable strengths, using the nine brokerage criteria. The recommendations below are editorial interview choices, based on current company evidence rather than an independently measured ranking of client outcomes.
How we rank commercial real estate brokerage firms in New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ–PA
Our 2027 ranking uses the same nine-part methodology as our 2026 guides. We compare local specialists with regional and national firms using current public sources, verified service geography and relevant specialization. We evaluate each candidate using these nine criteria:
- Experience and reputation
- Market knowledge and specialization
- Network and connections
- Technological capabilities
- Data transparency and accuracy
- Online presence and digital marketing
- Local and global reach
- Service range
- Innovation and customer focus
Using these criteria, we identify one #1 editorial recommendation for the assignment described below and compare other qualified options. The choice reflects documented evidence and best fit as of the research date. Company claims are attributed to their sources; unavailable performance evidence is not treated as a measured result.
OUR #1 RECOMMENDATION
#1 — CBRE
For 2027, CBRE is our #1 editorial recommendation among commercial real estate brokerage firms in New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ–PA.
Best fit: Office or New Jersey industrial specialist selection
Our #1 editorial recommendation is based on separate named local practices.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 CBRE | Office or New Jersey industrial specialist selection | Separate named local practices. |
| JLL | Office agency or regional industrial requirements | Distinct New York and Northeast specialties. |
| Savills | Office occupier business planning | Tenant advisory and workplace services. |
| NAI James E. Hanson | Regional industrial comparison | Industrial owner and occupier services. |
| ABS Partners | Leasing linked to ownership operations | Office leasing and operating-service scope. |
CBRE — identifiable office and industrial practices
CBRE identifies Mary Ann Tighe with complex New York transactions and Thomas Monahan with New Jersey industrial work. CBRE: Mary Ann Tighe; CBRE: Thomas Monahan We select the firm when a client wants to compare the specialist team appropriate to its requirement. A proposal should name the lead, explain which supporting resources are included and keep responsibility clear when an assignment crosses state or asset boundaries.
JLL — Manhattan agency and regional logistics expertise
JLL publishes separate profiles for Peter Riguardi’s New York office work and Rob Kossar’s Northeast industrial practice. JLL: Peter Riguardi; JLL: Rob Kossar This is a useful comparison for owners or occupiers with several real estate questions. Ask the firm to identify the decision that requires each specialist, rather than assuming one team will provide equal depth across every property type.
Savills — office occupier advice with business planning
Savills’ New York practice describes tenant advisory, workforce analysis and workplace strategy. Savills: New York practice We include it for an organization deciding how premises support its workforce and operating plan. Ask what information the team needs from the business before it can recommend locations, configurations or a negotiation strategy.
NAI James E. Hanson — a regional industrial comparison
NAI Hanson lists industrial warehouse leasing, tenant representation and acquisition services. NAI James E. Hanson: industrial services Its regional practice offers a useful comparison with the larger platforms. Request a broker whose own assignments match the proposed location and client side; the firm’s overall service list should be the start of that discussion.
ABS Partners — office leasing connected with ownership operations
ABS describes office leasing, construction and management services for owners. ABS Partners: owner services We select it for a client examining the connection between a leasing campaign and the work required to operate or improve the property. Establish whether one engagement or separate service agreements best fits the owner’s decision-making process.
Use the metro label carefully
The New York–Newark–Jersey City collection covers several distinct assignment areas. Give finalists the actual property addresses or search boundaries. A profile documenting Manhattan office work does not establish suburban warehouse expertise, and a broad regional title does not prove routine coverage of every county. Ask for relevant examples from the proposed area, including any Pennsylvania location under consideration.
Choose the scope before comparing fees
Separate tenant advice, landlord marketing, investment transactions and ongoing management. Request the same deliverables and reference requirements from each finalist. Experience, specialization, connections, analysis, transparency, digital information, reach, service range and client focus all inform this shortlist. Comparable audited performance is unavailable; current team availability, conflicts and service commitments should be confirmed directly.