2027 edition · Research reviewed November 8, 2026
NAI Ohio Equities is our 2027 editorial #1 commercial brokerage firm for a Columbus business making an office occupancy decision with local execution and research support. A documented Worthington search and a recent investment in market research make that choice specific. Equity, CBRE and The Gilbert Group offer different strengths. The nine brokerage criteria frame this comparison; the recommendation concerns the stated assignment rather than a numerical claim that one firm wins across every asset class.
How we rank commercial real estate brokerage firms in Columbus, OH
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:
- 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 — NAI Ohio Equities
For 2027, NAI Ohio Equities is our #1 editorial recommendation among commercial real estate brokerage firms in Columbus, OH.
Best fit: Office occupancy decisions requiring local research and execution
Our editorial #1 commercial firm for an office occupancy decision because its documented Worthington tenant search connects client requirements to local execution, reinforced by a current investment in dedicated market research.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 NAI Ohio Equities | Office occupancy decisions requiring local research and execution | A documented Worthington search and current research investment support the fit. |
| Equity | Transactions connected to delivery and operating work | Its Hilliard platform identifies brokerage alongside development, construction and management. |
| CBRE | Portfolio requirements or specialized industrial work | Current Columbus services and a named industrial practitioner establish those capabilities. |
| The Gilbert Group | Retail location and shopping-center needs | Its current Columbus practice and roster are expressly retail focused. |
#1 — NAI Ohio Equities: office decisions grounded in a local brief
NAI’s current brokerage offering includes office renewals, relocation, subleasing and owner-user transactions. Its Cleverley + Associates case describes a search shaped by hybrid working needs and a desire to remain in Worthington, leading to a move in August 2024. NAI Ohio Equities: current brokerage services NAI Ohio Equities: historical Cleverley + Associates office search That historical example supports our choice for an office client whose requirements need to be translated into a location and space plan. It does not establish current availability or independently measured savings.
A research investment with a clear limit
The firm’s September 2026 announcement names Brian Irwin as Director of Market Research and describes building a centralized local property database. NAI Ohio Equities: research director appointment, September 7, 2026 We consider that a relevant organizational commitment under the technology and data criteria. Some proposed capabilities are described as future development, so they should not be assumed fully available today. Ask the proposed team to demonstrate the information it can currently deliver and explain how it checks sources and dates.
Equity: when brokerage intersects with a building project
Equity’s Columbus page places its headquarters in Hilliard and describes brokerage, development, construction, management and project coordination. Equity: Hilliard headquarters and Columbus services It is a useful comparison when the property decision includes delivery or operating responsibilities. Request a proposal that separates the broker’s work from design, construction and management appointments. Integrated services can simplify coordination, but the client still needs defined personnel, fees, approvals and accountability for each part of the engagement.
CBRE: wider portfolio requirements and specialist teams
CBRE’s Columbus practice identifies owner and occupier brokerage, portfolio management and investment services. Matthew Lehman’s current profile separately identifies industrial landlord and tenant work in the Columbus team. CBRE: current Columbus service platform CBRE: Matthew Lehman industrial practice We include the firm for portfolio decisions or industrial requirements that need a specialist. The local proposal should identify resources assigned to the client, rather than treating the whole corporate platform as an automatic feature of every engagement.
The Gilbert Group: a focused retail comparison
Gilbert’s current firm page identifies its Columbus-based retail practice and named brokerage and management staff. The Gilbert Group: retail practice and current staff It is the more focused interview where the primary issue is a store location or shopping-center leasing. Ask for the relevant representation side and a nearby example for the actual format. A retail service platform is a distinct reason to consider the firm, not evidence that it should lead an unrelated industrial or office assignment.
How to use this ranking
NAI leads the office occupancy brief because the reviewed case shows how business requirements and a specific submarket shaped a search, with current research resources adding a practical question to the interview. Equity, CBRE and Gilbert should be compared against the work they actually offer. Give finalists the same decision deadline and property requirements. Ask for current conflicts, named staff and a written explanation of unresolved assumptions. Firm size, historical awards and self-reported production totals are not substitutes for that comparison.