Every year Commercial Property Executive (CPE) publishes an annual ranking of the top 20 most powerful commercial real estate firms, worldwide. The ranking is based on self-reported data by the real estate companies, which is then weighted according to investment sales, leasing activity, and market share.
For most of these firms, commercial real estate activity during 2021 staged a strong comeback, after the setbacks suffered during the 2020 pandemic. Although interest rates are expected to rise in 2022, the outlook for commercial real estate investment activity remains optimistic.
Read on to learn more about the top CRE firms to watch over the next year.
1. CBRE
Company Description
Based in Dallas, Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis (CBRE) is one of the largest global commercial real estate services and investment companies, with 500 offices in more than 100 countries.
CBRE’s clients include over 90% of Fortune 100 companies and are as diverse as the long list of integrated services on offer. These services cover all aspects of commercial real estate such property and asset management, investment, leasing, development, sales, and more.
In 2021, CBRE was named a ‘World’s Most Ethical Company’ for the eighth consecutive year by Ethisphere. It was also ranked the top real estate brand for the 21st year in a row by The Lipsey Company in 2022.
Company Performance Between 2020 and 2021
Between 2020 and 2021, CBRE experienced 114% growth in investment sales (up by $207,055 million) across their whole asset portfolio, but with the greatest volume happening in the multifamily and industrial sectors. CBRE also saw a substantial 25% increase in leasing volume from 2020, leading to an increase of 300 billion square feet of commercial space leased in 2021.
2. Cushman & Wakefield
Company Description
Cushman & Wakefield is a global commercial real estate services firm, based in Chicago, Illinois. The company has offices in 60 countries and is among the world's largest commercial real estate services firms.
Cushman & Wakefield offers services to both occupiers (such as facilities management and tenant representation services) and investors (such as strategic agency leasing, and project and development).
The firm has been named by Euromoney’s 2022 Real Estate Survey as the world’s best commercial real estate adviser and consultant overall.
Company Performance Between 2020 and 2021
Cushman & Wakefield grew their investment sales volume by a substantial 82%, (up by $72 billion) between 2020 and 2021. Their leasing volume increased by 114 billion square feet of commercial space – a 15% increase from 2020.
3. Newmark
Company Description
Established in 1929, Newmark is a well-known global name in the commercial real estate industry. With generated revenues of nearly $3,2 billion for the twelve months ending June 30, 2022, the company ranked number one on LinkedIn’s 2022 ‘Top Companies in Real Estate’ list.
Over 6,500 property experts operate from approximately 170 company-owned offices around the world, and Newmark prides itself on its strong ESG (environmental, social, governance) policies.
Newmark’s main service offerings include capital markets (including investment sales), industrial and logistics services, landlord and tenant representation, as well as property management. They serve clients from almost every sector of the property industry.
Company Performance Between 2020 and 2021
Between 2020 and 2021, Newmark experienced 81% growth in investment sales (up by $59,026 million) across its portfolio. Newmark also experienced a significant 34% increase in leased space from 2020, adding an extra 67,097 million square feet of commercial space to its 2021 total.
4. Marcus & Millichap
Company Description
Marcus & Millichap, based in California, is a large commercial real estate brokerage offering client services spanning investment sales, financing, market research, and consulting. Approximately 2,000 specialized property agents, in more than 80 offices across the United States and Canada, work together to close a transaction every seven minutes of every business day.
Marcus & Millichap also hosts a webcast series in which industry experts give real-time insights on the trends and impacts that affect commercial real estate investments.
Company Performance Between 2020 and 2021
Marcus & Millichap grew their investment sales by 94% between 2020 and 2021, amounting to an additional $40,993 million in revenue. Despite not leasing commercial space, this huge increase earned them a well-deserved spot number four in the 2021 ranking, up by three places since 2020.
5. NAI Global
Company Description
NAI Global is a New York-based company that offers customized real estate services for property owners, tenants, and developers. They ranked as one of the top five commercial real estate brands in the 2022 Annual Lipsey Survey.
NAI Global boasts more than 300 offices employing more than 5,100 market professionals. They have 1.1 billion square feet of property and facilities in their management portfolio, and close over $20 billion world-wide commercial real estate transactions annually.
The company recently launched a podcast called ‘How’s Biz’ in which everything related to commercial real estate is discussed.
Company Performance Between 2020 and 2021
NAI Global experienced similar annual investment sales revenue figures between 2020 and 2021, still achieving a healthy $17 billion. Across their leased commercial space, they experienced a marginal 8% increase in volume – still a not-to-be-sniffed-at 14 billion square feet of additional commercial space leased since 2020.
6. Avison Young
Company Description
Advison Young is a global commercial real estate services firm founded in 1978, and headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Their range of occupier and investor real estate services is extensive.
More than 5,000 employees in 100 offices, spread across 15 countries, earned Avison & Young a spot in the top 500 of ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ presented by Forbes. They were also named one of ‘Canada’s Best Managed Companies’ (for the 11th consecutive year), in 2022.
Avison Young considers sustainability and the environment a top priority. They have committed to reduce the carbon impact of their workplaces globally by 50% by 2030. And achieve net zero carbon by 2040.
They have their own podcast called ‘Changing Places’ which focuses on how the built environment is evolving.
Company Performance Between 2020 and 2021
Avison Young grew their investment sales volume by a substantial 106% (up by $10.5 billion) between 2020 and 2021. Their leasing volume increased by 34% - an additional 27.3 billion square feet of commercial space as compared to 2020.
7. Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services
Company Description
Lee & Associates is the largest broker-owned commercial real estate firm in North America. Originally based in Orange County, California, they now have over 1,300 property experts spread across 65 locations in the United States and Canada. Their reach even extends throughout Europe through strategic alliance partner Gerald Eve.
Lee & Associates offices are independently owned and offer commercial real estate brokerage, integrated services, and construction services to a variety of local and international clients. These include small businesses, local and institutional investors, as well as major corporates.
Company Performance Between 2020 and 2021
Lee & Associates experienced a 66% increase in investment sales from 2020 to 2021 – up by $6,648 million. Interestingly, the company had a 30% decrease in commercial space leased as compared to 2020. However, they still leased a substantial 198,768 million square feet of space, which ranked them number five for leasing in 2021.
8. TCN Worldwide
Company Description
TCN Worldwide prides itself on connecting both sides of the property equation – in all commercial property types and service groups. This consortium of independent commercial real estate firms, consisting of over 1,500 professionals in more than 60 offices worldwide, is overseen from the TCN Worldwide Headquarters in Texas.
TCN Worldwide was ranked in the top 25 commercial real estate brands in the 2022 Annual Lipsey Survey.
Company Performance Between 2020 and 2021
TCN Worldwide’s investment sales grew by 23% between 2020 and 2021 (an additional $5,025 million). They experienced a 55% uptick in commercial space leased, which amounted to an extra 35,7 billion square feet.
9. SVN
Company Description
SVN is a full-service commercial real estate advisory firm based in Boston, Massachusetts. The SVN brand was founded in 1987 and now has over 200 offices worldwide – and more offices in the United States than any other commercial real estate firm. Over 2,000 commercial real estate professionals work in eight countries to deliver services to both investors and occupiers.
Aside from SVN’s podcast, which features inside views, tips, training, and updates on industry trends and resources, they also host a weekly commercial real estate property broadcast in which SVN advisors share new and featured properties.
Company Performance Between 2020 and 2021
From 2020 to 2021, SVN’s investment sales volume increased by 63%, adding $7,9 billion sales to their total. Their volume of commercial space leased also grew by 30% (an additional 8.8 billion square feet of space).
10. Berkadia
New York-based commercial real estate firm, Berkadia, offers a substantial suite of commercial real estate services, including investment sales, mortgage banking and loan servicing, to their multifamily and commercial property clients.
Over 2,600 employees are spread across more than 60 locations in the United States.
Company Performance Between 2020 and 2021
A rising star in commercial real estate, Berkadia jumped from rank 18 in 2020 to rank 10 in 2021 by increasing their investment sales volume by a huge 234%. This amounted to an additional $18, 698 million commercial real estate sales over the course of the year. Despite not leasing commercial space, this growth set them firmly in the territory of the big global commercial real estate players.
