2027 edition · Research reviewed November 7, 2026
An owner selecting a retail leasing broker should distinguish the individual’s landlord work from the employer’s general reputation. Our 2027 Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach shortlist includes Daniel Cardenas, Lyle Stern, Katie Fernandez-Espinosa, Drew Schaul and Paco Diaz. Each has current primary evidence relevant to owner-side retail work. The nine agent criteria help compare their fit for urban storefronts, shopping centers and destination assets without assuming that one person is the best choice for every format.
How we rank individual commercial real estate brokers in Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FL
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 retail leasing for landlords. 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 — Daniel Cardenas
For 2027, Daniel Cardenas is our #1 editorial recommendation among individual commercial real estate brokers for retail leasing for landlords in Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FL.
Best fit: Urban retail positioning
Our #1 editorial recommendation is based on his current Vertical profile includes leasing and development work.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Daniel Cardenas | Urban retail positioning | His current Vertical profile includes leasing and development work. |
| Lyle Stern | Retail developer and landlord strategy | His current biography documents developer representation and retail leasing. |
| Katie Fernandez-Espinosa | Shopping-center and mixed-use lease-up | Her TSCG profile specifically describes owner-side repositioning. |
| Drew Schaul | High-street and destination retail | Current CBRE biography establishes landlord work in these formats. |
| Paco Diaz | Leasing connected to retail development | Current CBRE profile includes landlord and development services. |
Daniel Cardenas — urban retail positioning
Vertical identifies Cardenas as a principal whose work includes retail leasing, development and property positioning. Vertical: Daniel Cardenas We would interview him for an owner wanting to connect the leasing story to the surrounding urban setting. Ask him to identify plausible concepts and the physical changes those concepts might require. The proposal should distinguish what he will personally lead from work handled by other advisers or the owner’s project team.
Lyle Stern — retail developer and landlord briefs
Stern’s current Vertical biography describes developer representation and South Florida retail leasing. Vertical: Lyle Stern We include him when an owner wants to test the intended character of a project against tenant requirements. Ask for a leasing thesis that addresses the actual premises and delivery plan, plus examples of how he has handled a comparable assignment. Confirm which activities he will continue to oversee after the initial positioning discussion.
Katie Fernandez-Espinosa — lease-up and repositioning
TSCG’s current Miami profile identifies Fernandez-Espinosa’s South Florida landlord work across suburban, mixed-use and lifestyle properties. TSCG: Katie Fernandez-Espinosa We select her for a leasing brief that requires active consideration of the tenant mix. Ask how prospects will be screened for the space and how feedback will be translated into recommendations. A proposed marketing adjustment should be supported by what the team is learning from relevant prospects.
Drew Schaul — destination and high-street retail
Schaul’s current CBRE profile documents retail landlord representation in high-street and lifestyle settings, with South Florida assignment examples. CBRE: Drew Schaul Our editorial fit is an owner seeking a broker experienced in those formats. Ask for a precise explanation of the target occupiers, anticipated objections and resources committed to the campaign. The broker’s wider national relationships do not by themselves establish demand for the particular property.
Paco Diaz — retail leasing with development considerations
CBRE’s current biography identifies Diaz as a senior vice president providing retail landlord and development services. CBRE: Paco Diaz We would compare him when the owner’s leasing choices interact with development or corporate tenant requirements. Ask which project assumptions need to be resolved before outreach begins and how any tenant-driven changes will be evaluated. Clarify the representation side because his practice also includes tenant work.
Test the personal execution plan
Request recent owner references, a sample prospect report and a proposed schedule of decisions from relevant finalists. Our sources establish roles and specialties; they do not independently measure personal marketing effectiveness, achieved rents or future absorption. Confirm availability, conflicts and the authority of supporting staff. A useful appointment makes the broker’s responsibilities, the owner’s approvals and the evidence needed for strategy changes explicit from the outset.