2027 edition · Research reviewed November 7, 2026
An office owner in this region needs a leasing plan that matches the building’s location, configuration and realistic tenant audience. Our 2027 shortlist includes CBRE, R.W. Holmes and Colliers. We used the nine brokerage criteria and kept owner representation separate from occupier-only services. CBRE’s Q3 2026 reports distinguish downtown Boston from Cambridge and describe variation within each market. CBRE: Downtown Boston office Q3 2026, October 9 CBRE: Cambridge office Q3 2026, October 9 A broad metro label is therefore only the starting point for an agency brief.
How we rank commercial real estate brokerage firms in Boston–Cambridge–Nashua, MA–NH
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 office leasing for landlords. 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 for office leasing for landlords in Boston–Cambridge–Nashua, MA–NH.
Best fit: Urban Boston office leasing
Our #1 editorial recommendation is based on joyce’s biography identifies Urban Leasing and landlord assignments.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 CBRE | Urban Boston office leasing | Joyce’s biography identifies Urban Leasing and landlord assignments. |
| R.W. Holmes | Suburban office-owner campaigns | The firm publishes explicit suburban owner-leasing evidence. |
| Colliers | Office/flex campaigns and separate NH agency coverage | Hannigan’s specialty and the NH practice support those distinct scopes. |
CBRE — urban office agency work
Michael Joyce’s current biography identifies him as a vice chairman on CBRE’s Urban Leasing team and lists downtown landlord assignments. CBRE: Michael Joyce We would compare this practice for a building requiring a clearly documented urban office-leasing capability. Ask the proposed team to explain the target occupier segments and how the campaign will change by floorplate or suite size. Past assignments establish relevant experience, but they should not be treated as evidence that every property can achieve similar terms.
R.W. Holmes — suburban ownership requirements
R.W. Holmes’ owner-service page identifies suburban leasing work and specific office-property examples. R.W. Holmes: owner services We select the local firm for an owner who wants the leasing discussion grounded in a defined suburban competitive set. Require a concise explanation of the building’s position, the costs of any proposed work and the information needed before approving it. Ask how the team will record objections from tours and turn that feedback into actionable recommendations.
Colliers — office and flex agency choices
Sean Hannigan’s current profile explicitly includes landlord representation for office and flex space. Colliers: Sean Hannigan We include this practice when the building’s layout or user audience crosses conventional office and flex categories. The proposal should identify the relevant lead and explain how the campaign would address that overlap. Confirm whether the assignment needs additional technical or marketing support and where those responsibilities sit.
Handle New Hampshire through a local agency plan
Colliers’ New Hampshire office separately identifies landlord leasing services. Colliers: New Hampshire brokerage and management A Nashua owner should ask for a local competitive analysis and named delivery team, even if a Boston contact coordinates the relationship. Do not use Cambridge or downtown Boston vacancy figures as a substitute for the evidence relevant to a New Hampshire building.
Select reporting that supports decisions
Before signing an agency appointment, agree on prospect reporting, tour follow-up, proposal tracking and owner approval deadlines. Ask each firm to disclose competing listings and explain how senior staff will participate. The selections express editorial fit from current public evidence. Comparable verified rental outcomes and conversion rates were unavailable, so the final comparison should use relevant references, a property-specific proposal and a clear account of who will do the work.