2027 edition · Research reviewed November 7, 2026
John Jarvis of Hughes Marino is our #1 editorial choice for a San Diego business needing one individual adviser to connect its property decision with planning and implementation. Michael Abernathy, Mary Kay Bier, Derek Applbaum and Steve Avoyer offer distinct industrial, mixed-use-requirement, office and retail alternatives. All nine individual-broker criteria were considered. A person’s documented practice matters more here than the full range of services advertised by their employer.
How we rank individual commercial real estate brokers in San Diego–Carlsbad, CA
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 — John Jarvis
For 2027, John Jarvis is our #1 editorial recommendation among individual commercial real estate brokers in San Diego–Carlsbad, CA.
Best fit: A business property decision requiring planning and coordination
Our #1 for a business-led real estate decision has a documented personal practice spanning needs assessment, strategic planning, transaction structuring and project-team leadership, with San Diego client examples that connect the advice to local execution.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 John Jarvis | A business property decision requiring planning and coordination | His personal scope connects needs assessment, transaction structure and project leadership. |
| Michael Abernathy | Central San Diego industrial work | His current biography defines specific industrial submarkets and representation roles. |
| Mary Kay Bier | Commercial choices with entitlement or use questions | Her personal county practice describes the relevant property and coordination scope. |
| Derek Applbaum | Central San Diego office transactions | His current profile identifies office owners and users in that territory. |
| Steve Avoyer | Retail leasing and development-related decisions | His personal retail practice includes tenants, owners and development consulting. |
John Jarvis — our #1 for a business real estate decision
Jarvis’s current Hughes Marino biography describes needs assessment, strategic planning, transaction structuring and project-team leadership, with named San Diego client examples. Hughes Marino: John Jarvis, strategic occupier advisory We select him when the business must coordinate several decisions around its premises. Ask him to set out the work sequence and identify who will handle implementation. The biography supports a relevant personal scope; it does not establish a guaranteed result or confirm availability for a new assignment.
Michael Abernathy — Central San Diego industrial property
Abernathy’s current Lee biography identifies landlord and tenant work focused on Kearny Mesa, Miramar and Sorrento Valley industrial property. Lee: Michael Abernathy, Central San Diego industrial practice We recommend him for a client whose location falls within that defined territory. Ask how his proposed analysis reflects the actual facility requirements or owner objectives. A precise local practice is useful only when the assignment is matched to it deliberately.
Mary Kay Bier — property choices with use and approval questions
Bier’s current Kidder Mathews biography combines San Diego office, industrial/flex and biotech representation with entitlement and permitting experience. Kidder Mathews: Mary Kay Bier, San Diego corporate services We include her where the intended use raises questions that affect the property choice. Clarify which matters she coordinates and which require confirmation from the relevant authorities or specialist advisers. The selection does not imply that any particular use can be approved.
Derek Applbaum — Central San Diego office assignments
Applbaum’s current Colliers profile identifies a personal focus on Central San Diego office leasing and sales for owners and users. Colliers: Derek Applbaum, Central San Diego office practice We select him when the assignment is specifically an office transaction in those markets. Ask for the proposed positioning or search logic and examples matching the client’s representation side. General office experience should not be used to blur the difference between a landlord campaign and a tenant search.
Steve Avoyer — retail property and location decisions
Avoyer’s current Flocke & Avoyer profile describes San Diego retail leasing, tenant representation and development consulting. Flocke & Avoyer: Steve Avoyer, current retail practice We recommend him for a client whose brief is shaped by a retail format or shopping-center plan. Ask what personal role he would take and how the team would execute the assignment. A senior title and broad experience are context; the actual work allocation still needs to be agreed.
Make the appointment personal
Jarvis leads for the business-planning brief because his documented scope connects the decision stages directly. The other brokers may be better fits for their stated specialties. Interview the proposed adviser, request relevant references and confirm communication responsibilities, conflicts and availability. Public biographies do not offer a uniform audited comparison of negotiation outcomes or personal responsiveness, so no numerical performance ranking is implied.