Atlanta’s commercial real estate market is among the most active in the Southeast, driven by a diversified economy that spans technology, logistics, film production, financial services, and corporate headquarters operations for major national and international companies. The metro area’s strategic position as the region’s primary transportation hub, combined with Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport’s unmatched connectivity, continues to attract corporate expansions and relocations that fuel consistent demand for office, industrial, and retail space. Commercial real estate agencies serving Atlanta range from the global full-service firms with decades of local presence to boutique specialists who have built deep expertise in specific property types or submarkets.
When evaluating commercial real estate agencies in Atlanta, the depth of their local market data, the breadth of their current listing inventory, and the experience of their specific agents in your property type and submarket are the critical selection criteria. A firm with strong industrial expertise may not be the right choice for an office tenant search in Midtown, and vice versa. Look for agencies that can present current transaction data, vacancy rates, and absorption statistics for your specific target submarket rather than metro-wide averages that obscure meaningful local variation. Georgia does not require separate commercial real estate licensing beyond the standard broker license, but the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation and SIOR fellowship are meaningful indicators of commercial specialty expertise. Verify that the agency holds current Georgia Real Estate Commission brokerage licenses before engaging.
Top Commercial Real Estate Agency Companies in Atlanta
1. CBRE Atlanta
Website: https://www.cbre.com/offices/corporate/atlanta
Service Area: Metro Atlanta, Southeast, global capability
Founded: Atlanta office operating for nearly 50 years
Services:
- Office tenant and landlord representation
- Industrial and logistics real estate
- Retail leasing and investment
- Capital markets and investment sales
- Property management
- Consulting and market research
About: CBRE Atlanta has been a leader in the city’s commercial real estate market for nearly fifty years, building a depth of local expertise matched by global resources that no purely local competitor can replicate. The firm’s Atlanta operations provide comprehensive services across office, industrial, retail, and multifamily sectors, with specialists in each asset class who maintain current transaction and vacancy data. CBRE’s capital markets division handles the investment sales and financing side of commercial transactions, making it a full-service solution for both occupiers and investors. The firm’s global platform is particularly valuable for Atlanta’s significant corporate relocation market, where companies moving to Atlanta need comparative market analysis across multiple cities conducted by agents operating within a single coordinated organization.
2. Colliers Atlanta
Address: 1230 Peachtree Street NE Suite 800, Atlanta, GA 30309
Website: https://www.colliers.com/en/united-states/cities/atlanta
Service Area: Metro Atlanta, Southeast, global capability
Founded: Atlanta operations spanning over 50 years
Services:
- Office and industrial leasing
- Retail real estate services
- Investment and capital markets
- Property and facility management
- Corporate solutions and occupier services
About: Colliers in Atlanta has exceeded the commercial real estate needs of the city for over fifty years, building institutional knowledge of Atlanta’s market cycles, major tenant movements, and development pipeline that positions the firm as a trusted advisor to both local and national clients. The Midtown Peachtree Street headquarters provides a central base for a professional team covering the full range of commercial services from brokerage through property management and corporate solutions. Colliers’ global platform and local expertise make it particularly effective in representing international companies entering the Atlanta market, where understanding the local regulatory, political, and market environment is as important as pure transaction skill. The firm’s retail services team has developed specialized expertise in Atlanta’s distinctive mixed-use and suburban retail landscape.
3. Cushman and Wakefield Atlanta
Website: https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en/united-states/offices/atlanta
Service Area: Metro Atlanta, Southeast, global capability
Founded: Atlanta office since 1977
Services:
- Office, industrial, and retail brokerage
- Capital markets and investment
- Property management
- Valuation and advisory
- Project and development services
About: Cushman and Wakefield has maintained an Atlanta office since 1977 and has grown to employ more than 700 team members in the metro area, making it one of the city’s largest commercial real estate employers and a true institutional presence in the market. The firm ranks among Atlanta’s top brokerage firms and property management organizations, serving a client base that spans local companies, national corporations, and global institutions requiring Atlanta market access. Cushman and Wakefield’s valuation and advisory practice provides independent market analysis that is particularly valuable for institutional investors who need objective assessment separate from the transaction execution function. The depth of the Atlanta team means that virtually any commercial property type, submarket, or transaction structure falls within the firm’s demonstrated competence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What services does a commercial real estate agency typically provide for tenants in Atlanta?
A: For office and industrial tenants, a commercial real estate agency provides market surveys of available space matching your requirements, property tours with comparative analysis, lease negotiation on your behalf, and transaction management through lease execution. Quality Atlanta commercial agencies also provide ongoing market intelligence, sublease assistance if needed, and renewal negotiation as lease expirations approach. For tenant representation specifically, the agency is typically compensated by the landlord through a commission split, meaning tenant representation is effectively provided at no direct cost to the tenant. However, understanding how your representative is compensated helps you evaluate whether their recommendations are genuinely in your interest.
Q: How does Atlanta’s commercial real estate market compare to other Southeast cities?
A: Atlanta consistently ranks as the premier commercial real estate market in the Southeast, with office stock, industrial capacity, and retail volume that significantly exceed those of comparable Southeast metros including Charlotte, Nashville, and Raleigh. The metro area’s combination of Hartsfield-Jackson’s unmatched air connectivity, an established Fortune 500 presence including The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, Home Depot, and UPS, and a large educated workforce creates a commercial real estate demand profile that sustains higher transaction volumes and more sophisticated deal structures than smaller metros can support. Atlanta’s market is also more economically diversified than oil-dependent Texas metros or finance-concentrated New York, providing relative stability across economic cycles.
Q: What are the most active commercial real estate submarkets in Atlanta currently?
A: The Midtown Atlanta office submarket continues to attract major corporate expansions and new-to-market companies seeking urban walkable environments near transit. The Northwest Atlanta submarket along Peachtree Road and Cumberland-Galleria remains strong for traditional corporate campus users. Industrial real estate demand in South Fulton, Southeast Atlanta, and the I-85 corridor northeast of the city remains exceptionally strong, driven by e-commerce logistics and last-mile distribution requirements. The Buckhead office submarket has faced headwinds from corporate downsizing but remains a significant office location. Mixed-use development near BeltLine access points is creating new retail and office opportunity in previously underserved intown locations. Your commercial agency should be tracking current availability and absorption data for any of these submarkets you are evaluating.
Conclusion
Atlanta’s commercial real estate market is served at the highest level by global firms with deep local roots, led by CBRE Atlanta with nearly fifty years of market presence, Colliers Atlanta with over fifty years of local expertise from their Midtown Peachtree Street headquarters, and Cushman and Wakefield Atlanta with more than 700 local team members since 1977. Each of these agencies combines global resources with Atlanta-specific knowledge to serve the full range of commercial real estate needs across property types and transaction complexity. For any commercial real estate requirement in the Atlanta metro, initial conversations with any of these three agencies will provide a clear picture of current market conditions and the right strategic approach for your situation.