2027 edition · Research reviewed November 7, 2026
A retail landlord’s broker should be able to explain the property’s tenant mix, likely prospects and delivery constraints. For this 2027 Washington-area guide, we compare five individuals with documented landlord-side retail work. The nine individual criteria keep personal experience separate from firm resources. These are editorial recommendations for different leasing assignments, not an invented numerical ranking of achieved rents or occupancy 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 in retail leasing for landlords. 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 — Matt Skalet
For 2027, Matt Skalet is our #1 editorial recommendation among individual commercial real estate brokers for retail leasing for landlords in Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV.
Best fit: Mixed-use retail landlord strategy
Our #1 editorial recommendation is based on his profile specifically identifies DC metro owner and mixed-use work.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Matt Skalet | Mixed-use retail landlord strategy | His profile specifically identifies DC metro owner and mixed-use work. |
| Lawrence Hoffman | Shopping centers and multiple retail formats | His biography documents project leasing across several formats. |
| Lisa Stoddard | Owner leasing across development and existing assets | Her current practice primarily serves retail owners. |
| Sebastian Restifo | Retail leasing involving restaurant concepts | His biography supports both landlord work and restaurant-sector involvement. |
| Kelly Atkinson | Ground-up and merchandising-oriented leasing | Her profile identifies landlord, merchandising and development work. |
Matt Skalet — KLNB
Skalet’s current KLNB biography identifies DC metro landlord representation and mixed-use development activation. KLNB: Matt Skalet We include him when a retail component needs a clear role within a larger project. Ask for an argument connecting the target tenants to the actual space, surrounding uses and delivery plan. The proposal should distinguish a desirable merchandising concept from a tenant category supported by realistic local interest.
Lawrence Hoffman — H&R Retail
Hoffman’s profile describes shopping-center leasing in Washington, Baltimore and Virginia, with experience across town centers, large-format stores and street-front shops. H&R Retail: Lawrence Hoffman We select him for an owner comparing different ways to lease a center’s available space. Ask how the campaign would differ for an anchor, smaller shop or street-facing unit, and which proposed improvements are essential to the intended uses.
Lisa Stoddard — CBRE
Stoddard’s current biography focuses primarily on owners and describes leasing strategy for several retail formats, including development, redevelopment and existing assets. CBRE: Lisa Stoddard We include her for an owner seeking a broad retail leasing comparison. Ask for the specific team and current assignments most comparable to the property. Career breadth helps define the interview; it does not establish that the same approach fits every asset.
Sebastian Restifo — H&R Retail
Restifo’s biography confirms Washington-area landlord work alongside retail and restaurant tenant representation. H&R Retail: Sebastian Restifo We select him where food and beverage or other operating concepts matter to the leasing brief. Ask how he would test a prospect’s space requirements against the property’s delivery capability and coordinate with technical advisers. A restaurant network does not establish that a particular use can operate in an available unit.
Kelly Atkinson — KLNB
Atkinson’s profile identifies landlord representation across DC, Maryland and Virginia, with merchandising strategy and ground-up development work. KLNB: Kelly Atkinson We include her for a landlord who wants to compare a development-oriented leasing plan. Ask how her proposed outreach would be staged against construction milestones and what owner decisions are required before approaching prospects. Confirm the person responsible for keeping leasing materials consistent with delivery changes.
Select for accountability and relevant evidence
Request a campaign plan, sample owner report and references for similar properties from every finalist. Review who performs outreach, who leads negotiation and who reports problems. Discuss any tenant-side relationships that could affect the assignment. We did not find a uniform independently verified dataset of personal leasing outcomes, so the guide does not score rent premiums or downtime. The documented core coverage is DC and nearby Maryland/Virginia; outer-metro assignments require additional local evidence and a named execution lead.