2027 edition · Research reviewed November 7, 2026
Office tenants across Boston–Cambridge–Nashua should begin with a decision brief rather than a building tour. This 2027 comparison selects Cresa, R.W. Holmes and Hunneman for different occupier needs. CBRE’s Q3 2026 Cambridge report shows that its submarkets moved differently, while the downtown Boston report describes a separate pattern of leasing and availability. CBRE: Cambridge office Q3 2026, October 9 CBRE: Downtown Boston office Q3 2026, October 9 Those differences argue for a search tied to the client’s location and workplace requirements.
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 tenant representation. 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 — Cresa
For 2027, Cresa is our #1 editorial recommendation among commercial real estate brokerage firms for office tenant representation in Boston–Cambridge–Nashua, MA–NH.
Best fit: Corporate or institutional occupancy alternatives
Our #1 editorial recommendation is based on subber documents acquisitions, dispositions and lease-buyout advice.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Cresa | Corporate or institutional occupancy alternatives | Subber documents acquisitions, dispositions and lease-buyout advice. |
| R.W. Holmes | Suburban office requirements | Its local tenant service explicitly covers office analysis. |
| Hunneman | Renewal, relocation and expansion planning | Collins’ current appointment describes an occupier-service mandate. |
Cresa — a complex occupier decision
Adam Subber’s current biography describes corporate and institutional advice, space acquisitions, dispositions and lease buyouts in Greater Boston. Cresa: Adam Subber We include Cresa when a business must evaluate several paths through an existing occupancy commitment. Ask how the team will separate contractual options from assumptions about future space needs. The proposal should connect the decision makers, approval dates and evidence needed to choose among the available alternatives.
R.W. Holmes — suburban office choices
The firm’s tenant practice explicitly includes office searches, lease analysis and ongoing advisory work in Greater Boston. R.W. Holmes: tenant representation We select this local comparison for companies whose preferred territory lies outside the urban core. Ask the team to explain the viable trade-offs between location, suite configuration and delivery time. Require it to show how the search would change if a business assumption changes, rather than simply producing a longer list of buildings.
Hunneman — renewal, relocation and expansion advice
Hunneman announced Dan Collins’ return as senior vice president on October 22, 2026, with an occupier-service focus covering Greater Boston renewals, relocations and expansions. Hunneman: Dan Collins returns, October 22, 2026 We include the practice as a current local alternative. Confirm which office specialist will lead the brief and what other resources will be available. An appointment announcement establishes the role; references and a proposal are still needed to assess the team’s fit for a particular company.
Use a consistent comparison model
Require the same assumptions for renewal and relocation, including timing, improvement work, expected use and potential overlap. Ask advisers to identify information that remains provisional and the decision it affects. A quoted rental figure should not conceal an unresolved delivery condition. Keep design and technical assessments with qualified specialists, while making the adviser responsible for coordinating the information needed for a real estate decision.
Make the geography and responsibilities reviewable
These sources provide their strongest personal and service evidence in Greater Boston. For a Nashua office option, require recent local examples and a named NH execution resource before appointing any finalist. Request a written conflict disclosure, fee explanation and reporting schedule. The recommendations reflect the documented advisory roles and their likely usefulness, not an independently verified promise of savings, productivity gains or a superior negotiated outcome.