An office lease affects employee access, operating cost and the ability to change the business over time. Our Dallas–Fort Worth selections emphasize the advisory team that will represent the occupier, with different choices for a northern suburban search, a headquarters move or a portfolio assignment.
We applied the nine brokerage criteria to current firm pages and named professionals. These are editorial best-fit selections, presented by assignment type. A firm's inclusion is not a guarantee of lower rents or better concessions.
How we rank commercial real estate brokerage firms in Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TX
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 Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TX.
Best fit: Plano and Frisco office occupiers
Our #1 editorial recommendation is based on named local specialist and occupier-focused practice.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Cresa | Plano and Frisco office occupiers | Named local specialist and occupier-focused practice. |
| Savills | Workplace and portfolio strategy | Dallas services and named portfolio professional. |
| CBRE | Downtown and Uptown office searches | Puckett practice specifies those submarkets. |
| Stream Realty Partners | Headquarters and complex relocations | Cooper biography identifies relevant transaction types. |
Cresa — best fit for Plano and Frisco office occupiers
Tyler Clutts remains listed as a Dallas principal based in Frisco. His linked biography identifies Plano/Frisco office tenant representation and experience with leasing, acquisitions and financial analysis. We select Cresa for occupiers who want to interview a specialist in that particular northern corridor. Its occupier-only business model is also relevant when choosing the representation structure. Cresa: Tyler Clutts, current Dallas principal profile; Cresa: Tyler Clutts, published biography and assignment specialties
Savills — best fit for connecting workplace and portfolio decisions
Savills' Dallas office lists workplace planning, portfolio optimization, labor analysis and project management alongside tenant representation. Ben Onderdonk's local profile separately describes office and industrial portfolio strategy. That combination makes Savills a strong interview choice when a move is part of a broader operating plan. Confirm which of those services are included in the proposed engagement and which carry separate fees. Savills: Dallas office services and local leadership; Savills: Ben Onderdonk, Global Occupier Services
CBRE — best fit for Downtown and Uptown office requirements
Phil Puckett's practice focuses on office occupiers in Downtown and Uptown Dallas. That specificity is the reason for selecting CBRE here: a company evaluating those locations needs someone who can compare competing buildings, lease structures and the practical details of occupying the space. Ask who will run the search and negotiations day to day. CBRE: Phil Puckett, office occupier advisory
Stream Realty Partners — best fit for headquarters and complex relocations
Randy Cooper's current role covers Dallas office tenant representation. His published experience includes headquarters, build-to-suit transactions, relocations and portfolio responsibilities. We favor interviewing this practice when a transaction has several connected workstreams, including premises selection, delivery timing and the treatment of an existing lease. The profile supports relevant experience, not a measured prediction of savings. Stream: Randy Cooper, Dallas office tenant representation
What decides the final appointment
A tenant should require the same written brief from each finalist: business requirements, location options, schedule, occupancy-cost comparison and conflict disclosures. Ask for comparable recent assignments and identify the people who handled the financial analysis and negotiations. A polished firm presentation is insufficient if the proposed team cannot explain the alternatives for your own space requirement.
Evaluate the full cost of occupancy over the proposed term, including improvements, moving, parking and likely operating expenses. Test renewal and relocation options against realistic headcount scenarios. Keep a decision record so that the selected location can be traced to business needs rather than to the first attractive property tour.
Evidence and the nine criteria
Local specialization, service scope and professional histories are documented in the sources. Network, technology, accuracy, digital presence, geographic reach and client focus also formed part of the review. Public material does not provide comparable audited savings or satisfaction data, so those outcomes are not assigned numerical scores. Cresa, Savills, CBRE and Stream offer different reasons to make the interview list; appointment should follow the proposed team's response to a common brief.