2027 edition · Research reviewed November 7, 2026
This 2027 Washington-area broker guide matches five people to distinct assignments: office occupier advice, industrial search, industrial owner representation, District office leasing and regional retail. We applied the nine individual criteria to named biographies rather than transferring a firm’s general capabilities to every employee. These selections are editorial interview recommendations by specialty. They are not an ordinal league table based on privately held deal results.
How we rank individual commercial real estate brokers in Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV
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:
- Individual experience and professional credibility
- Market knowledge and asset specialization
- Personal network and deal access
- Personal technology and analytical capability
- Data transparency and market accuracy
- Personal brand and digital presence
- Local execution with regional and national perspective
- Service scope at agent level
- Innovation and client-centered strategy
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 — Gary Stein
For 2027, Gary Stein is our #1 editorial recommendation among individual commercial real estate brokers in Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV.
Best fit: Professional and nonprofit office occupiers
Our #1 editorial recommendation is based on current Savills biography establishes the sector focus.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Gary Stein | Professional and nonprofit office occupiers | Current Savills biography establishes the sector focus. |
| Josh Katz | Industrial/office occupier projects | Current KLNB profile links tenant and project work. |
| Daniela Patino | Washington metro industrial requirements | Current CBRE biography identifies both representation sides. |
| Scott Fetterolf | District office owner leasing | Current Transwestern profile establishes agency specialization. |
| Ray Schupp | Multi-state retail representation | Current H&R biography explicitly includes DC, MD, VA and WV. |
Gary Stein — Savills
Stein’s current Savills biography identifies him as a Washington vice chairman with work for nonprofits, law firms, associations and corporations. Savills: Gary Stein We include him for an office occupier seeking sector-informed advice. Ask how the proposed engagement team will translate governance, meeting and client-service requirements into a space brief. His experience is documented by his employer; the best fit for a particular client depends on the people who would actually run the assignment.
Josh Katz — KLNB
Katz’s current profile combines industrial and office tenant representation with project management and Washington-area occupier examples. KLNB: Josh Katz We select him for a business whose facility decision needs project coordination. Ask him to explain the handoff from property screening to technical due diligence and delivery. Clarify the responsibilities he personally retains and those assigned to project specialists.
Daniela Patino — CBRE
Patino is identified as a senior vice president serving industrial tenants and landlords in the Washington metro, with a Northern Virginia industrial team. CBRE: Daniela Patino We include her for an industrial owner or occupier seeking an asset specialist. Request relevant recent examples for the intended side of the transaction, and discuss potential conflicts before circulating a brief or commercially sensitive property information.
Scott Fetterolf — Transwestern
Fetterolf’s current profile focuses on Washington office owners and District agency leasing across several submarkets. Transwestern: Scott Fetterolf Our editorial fit is an owner seeking a building-specific leasing strategy. Ask him to describe the likely tenant pool, the property’s competitive weaknesses and the first decisions ownership must make. Evidence of a District practice should not be interpreted as identical execution strength in every suburban market.
Ray Schupp — H&R Retail
Schupp’s H&R biography identifies retail tenant and landlord representation in DC, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. H&R Retail: Ray Schupp We select him for retail assignments where the wider territory matters. Ask for a concrete coverage plan and relevant local examples for the target locations. His explicit multi-state description helps resolve a geographic question that many general Washington biographies leave open.
Evaluate the person behind the proposal
Ask each candidate to demonstrate a relevant analysis, show how they report progress and identify current capacity. Client names, professional affiliations and employer-reported career history support an interview but do not establish personal responsiveness or a future result. Choose the specialist whose documented work and proposed process match the assignment; use the separate firm and management guides when selecting those broader services.