2027 edition · Research reviewed November 7, 2026
David Buchholz of Kidder Mathews is our editorial #1 individual commercial broker for San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara for an industrial occupier with a complex location or expansion decision. Greg Evans, Terry Bell and Todd Shaffer are compared for different assignments. This 2027 selection applies the nine individual-broker criteria. We evaluate what a named person does, rather than attributing an employer’s entire service platform or market share to that individual.
How we rank individual commercial real estate brokers in San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, 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 — David Buchholz
For 2027, David Buchholz is our #1 editorial recommendation among individual commercial real estate brokers in San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA.
Best fit: Industrial location and expansion strategy
Our editorial #1 individual broker for a complex industrial occupier brief: his current Kidder Mathews role combines industrial specialization with location analysis and tenant strategy, and his January 2026 move is verified.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 David Buchholz | Industrial location and expansion strategy | Current Kidder profile and 2026 move support the personal industrial advisory practice. |
| Greg Evans | San Jose and Santa Clara industrial work | His Colliers profile explicitly names the local geography and representation scope. |
| Terry Bell | Corporate lease relationship coordination | Current CBRE affiliation and documented portfolio responsibilities support this fit. |
| Todd Shaffer | West Valley office assignments | His Newmark biography identifies the office specialty and local focus. |
#1 David Buchholz — industrial strategy at the individual level
Buchholz’s current Kidder Mathews biography identifies tenant representation, industrial and automotive specialization, and strategic location work. Kidder Mathews: David Buchholz The January 2026 appointment announcement verifies his move from Colliers. Kidder Mathews: industrial team appointment, January 27, 2026 We select him first for a user whose facility decision needs business planning before tours. Ask him to explain the tradeoffs among potential locations, the information he needs from operations and who validates technical assumptions. The recommendation does not assign old transactions to a new employer.
Greg Evans — a tightly defined industrial geography
Evans’s Colliers profile states industrial owner and tenant work in San Jose and Santa Clara. Colliers: Greg Evans That explicit focus makes him a useful alternative where local building knowledge is the main requirement. Have him identify a relevant recent engagement and explain his personal contribution. Do not infer availability or exclusive property access from a listing page. Clarify which side he would represent for the specific opportunity under discussion.
Terry Bell — corporate lease relationships
Bell’s current CBRE page confirms his San Jose role; CBRE’s appointment release describes his responsibility for national and global leasing relationships. CBRE: Terry Bell CBRE: Bell and Elliott appointment, January 7, 2025 He is our comparison candidate for a local requirement embedded in a wider company portfolio. Ask how much of the day-to-day search he would lead, how colleagues are assigned and how issues move from a local transaction into the corporate decision process.
Todd Shaffer — West Valley office decisions
Shaffer’s Newmark biography identifies office landlord and tenant assignments in the West Valley. Newmark: Todd Shaffer We include him for an office-specific brief rather than stretching an industrial recommendation across every property type. Ask for the actual competitive set and the reasoning behind alternative submarkets. A locally relevant personal practice is more useful than a general statement that an employer operates throughout Northern California.
Test the individual recommendation
Interview the person who would be accountable for the work. Ask for a sample comparison with assumptions explained, a communication schedule and references for a similar assignment. Identify which analysis the broker performs personally and which comes from research, project or technical colleagues. Credentials and a visible biography help establish a professional practice; they do not demonstrate identical analytical quality or client outcomes.
Why the first choice is conditional on the brief
Buchholz leads here because industrial specialization and location strategy directly address the assignment we define. A conventional office lease may point instead toward Shaffer or Bell, while a focused San Jose industrial search merits an Evans interview. The public source set does not establish comparable individual savings, negotiation success or satisfaction scores. The strongest next step is a short, evidence-based proposal from the right specialist, with the intended geography, representation side and personal responsibilities agreed before engagement.