2022 Top Commercial Property Owners (2024)

Find out which firms made CPE’s annual list of industry leaders.

2022 Top Commercial Property Owners (1)

You can also read our other Top CRE Owners rankings.

RankCompanyTotal Owned (MSF)Total Portfolio Value ($MM)Average OccupancyPortfolio Diversity
1CBRE Investment Management339.23$ 146,900O, I, R, Ho, X
2Clarion Partners285.65$ 65,69195%O, I, R, Ho, X
3Nuveen169.09$ 75,97190.00%O, I, R, Ho, H, X
4Hines185.03$ 80,567O, I, R, Ho, X
5Tishman Speyer60.10$ 46,800O
6Lincoln Property Co.71.30$ 2,57592.00%O, I, R, H, X
7Majestic Realty Co.83$ 1598.00%O, I, R, Ho
8Transwestern Investment Group15.75$ 3,78192%O, I, R
9Industrial Logistics Properties Trust59.74$ 6,20099%I
10The Inland Real Estate Group of Cos.31.50$ 7,30091.90%O, I, R, Ho, H, X
11GID7.70$ 1,33097.20%O, I, R
12Diversified Healthcare Trust$ 6,900H
13Hunt Cos.$ –90.40%O, I, R, Ho, H, X
14ElmTree Funds35$ –98%O, I, H
15The Related Cos.19.9$ –99.00%O, R, Ho
16Service Properties Trust$ 11,300R, Ho
17Ashley Capital LLC28.85$ –98%O, I
18Harbor Group International5.05$ 3,07396.00%O, I, R
19Office Properties Income Trust22.49$ 4,60089.40%O
20FPA Multifamily5.50$ 80091%O, I, R, Ho
21KBS Realty Advisors19.11$ 6,735O, I
22Freeman Webb Co.0.35$ 8096%O, R
23HSA Commercial Real Estate13.67$ 1,30094.00%O, I, R, H
24Foundry Commercial6.20$ 1,50078%O, I, R
25Greystar2.55$ 33878.00%O, R, H

Key: O=Office, I=Industrial, R=Retail, H=Health Care, Ho=Hospitality, X=Other

Though we make every effort to include all major commercial owners, several notable firms (among them Prologis, First Industrial Realty Trust and Vornado Realty Trust) did not participate this year.

To be included in upcoming surveys, email Agota Felhazi at [emailprotected].

Diversification Remains a Key Strategy

Following several difficult years caused by pandemic-driven uncertainty, commercial real estate owners are facing new challenges. While more employees have returned to the office, the increasingly popular hybrid work model continues to shape the future of the office property sector as some office tenants have chosen to reduce or sublease their space to accommodate new work concepts.

Fortunately, the majority of firms in CPE’s Top Commercial Owners of 2022 ranking have diversified their assets across property types to balance risk. All but four of the top 25 owners had portfolios containing at least two different property types. Industrial real estate remains a hot sector, with 18 companies on our list owning this asset type. Most owners also have real estate in several regions across the U.S., and 11 own properties in other countries.

CBRE leads our list of top commercial property owners, boasting a considerable 339 million square feet diversified across several asset types—office, industrial, retail, hospitality and numerous others. Its portfolio was valued at nearly $147 million as of the third quarter of 2022, more than double the total of any other of the top owners. Clarion Partners came in second with an ownership portfolio of more than 285 million square feet. While more than half of Clarion’s portfolio is industrial, it also owns office, retail, hospitality, land and parking assets. Nuveen ranked third with 169 million square feet across numerous asset types.

Methodology

The 2022Commercial Property ExecutiveTop Owners ranking utilized self-reported data for all firms. The ranking results from a weighted formula based on a variety of factors (only a few of which are specified here), including total square footage owned, owned portfolio value, historic performance and a focused or diversified participation in property sectors. The ranking represents what we feel is a logical balance between firm growth and market share, as well as property diversity.

—Claire Spodoni, Yardi Senior Research Analyst

Read the November 2022 issue of CPE.

2022 Top Commercial Property Owners (2024)

FAQs

2022 Top Commercial Property Owners? ›

CBRE leads our list of top commercial property owners, boasting a considerable 339 million square feet diversified across several asset types—office, industrial, retail, hospitality and numerous others.

Who owns the most commercial property? ›

America's Biggest Commercial Landlords
  • No. 8: AMB Property. ...
  • No. 7: GE Capital Real Estate. ...
  • No. 6: ING Clarion Partners. ...
  • No. 5: General Growth Properties. ...
  • No. 4: LaSalle Investment Management. ...
  • No. 3: RREEF. ...
  • No. 2: Simon Property Group. Global total: 264 million sq. ...
  • No. 1: Prologis. Global total: 479.7 million sq.
Nov 4, 2010

Who owns the most commercial buildings? ›

CBRE leads our list of top commercial property owners, boasting a considerable 339 million square feet diversified across several asset types—office, industrial, retail, hospitality and numerous others.

Who owns the most commercial property in the US? ›

Blackstone owns 153 million square feet of office space globally, and is the largest owner of office property in the U.S.

Which commercial property is most profitable? ›

Properties with the highest number of tenants are the ones that are capable of bringing in the highest ROI. These properties include apartment complexes, office buildings, student housing, RV parks, storage facilities, etc.

Who is the largest commercial real estate brokerage in the US? ›

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.

Who is the richest commercial real estate investor? ›

Donald Bren, chair of Southern California-based Irvine Company, is the wealthiest American real estate titan, just cracking the top 100 (#97) with a $17.4 billion fortune, an increase of $1.2 billion from last year.

Can you become a billionaire in commercial real estate? ›

It is no surprise that real estate moguls are among the richest billionaires in the world who own hundreds of commercial & residential properties. The big benefits of real estate investing are passive income, stable cash flow, tax advantages, diversification, and leverage.

What is the largest privately owned building in the United States? ›

Nestled in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, Biltmore House is the largest privately owned home in the United States, and was the Gilded-Age vision of George Washington Vanderbilt.

Who are the largest mall owners? ›

Simon Property Group, Inc. is an American real estate investment trust that invests in shopping malls, outlet centers, and community/lifestyle centers. It is the largest owner of shopping malls in the United States and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Who owns the most rentals in America? ›

Of the approximately 50 million rental housing units in the United States, around 41% of the rental units are owned by mom and pop landlords, also known as individual investor landlords.

Who owns the most office space in USA? ›

Boston Properties Inc. is planning to develop 2,000 residential units up and down the East Coast. The firm, which owns more U.S. office space than any other publicly traded company, also is developing millions of square feet of lab and life-science space.

Who owns the most expensive property in the US? ›

In 2019, hedge fund owner Ken Griffin logged the highest amount paid for a residence on record in the US, when he bought a penthouse for $238 million in the lauded limestone tower.

What commercial property has the most risk? ›

Large Offices in Major US Cities are the Most at Risk in Commercial Real Estate.

What is the best commercial property ROI? ›

A good return on investment for commercial properties falls between 5% and 12%. While this is an average figure, it should be noted that a 'good' return is based on conditions such as property type and the local market.

What are the best commercial property returns? ›

What is a good rental yield on a commercial property? For commercial property investors, yields are typically much higher than residential property. Yields from commercial property can be anywhere from 5% to 10%. Meanwhile, residential property is known for yields between about 1% and 3%.

What is the fastest-growing commercial real estate firm? ›

Avison Young is the world's fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm.

Who is the richest broker of USA? ›

Vanguard is the largest brokerage firm by AUM, managing $8.1 trillion in assets as of March 31, 2022, up one trillion from 2021. Vanguard not only manages the most assets of any major brokerage, the company is the only major stock brokerage firm to grow its AUM from 2021 to 2022.

How much do top commercial real estate brokers get paid? ›

Commercial Real Estate Broker Salary in California
Annual SalaryWeekly Pay
Top Earners$195,845$3,766
75th Percentile$102,819$1,977
Average$85,468$1,643
25th Percentile$48,961$941

How do people get rich in commercial real estate? ›

Commercial real estate investments can earn money through income or appreciation. Income is produced through the operation of the building, often through tenants making rental payments, while appreciation is earned through an increase in the property's value over time.

How to get rich in commercial real estate? ›

5 Ways to Make Money in Commercial Real Estate
  1. 5 Ways to Make Money in Commercial Real Estate. All about CRE. ...
  2. Buy REITs. ...
  3. Become a landlord. ...
  4. Become a limited partner. ...
  5. Invest in a private equity fund. ...
  6. Real estate crowdfunding. ...
  7. The benefits of commercial real estate.
Jul 26, 2022

Who are the most successful property investors? ›

Donald Bren is one of the greatest real estate investors in American history. He is currently the wealthiest real estate investor in the country and has a net worth of $15.3 billion. Donald got his start in the real estate world early in life. This is because his father was a real estate investor.

Does owning a million dollar property make you a millionaire? ›

A millionaire is somebody with a net worth of one million dollars. It's a simple math formula based on your net worth. When what you own (your assets) minus what you owe (your liabilities) equals more than a million dollars, you're a millionaire.

What percentage of millionaires become millionaires through real estate? ›

90% of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.” This famous quote from Andrew Carnegie, one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs of all time, is just as relevant today as it was more than a century ago.

How profitable is commercial real estate? ›

Commercial properties typically have an annual return off the purchase price between 6% and 12%, depending on the area, current economy, and external factors (such as a pandemic). That's a much higher range than ordinarily exists for single family home properties (1% to 4% at best).

What is the oldest privately owned home in America? ›

Fairbanks House (Dedham, Massachusetts)
Location511 East Street, Dedham, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°14′36″N 71°10′04″W
Builtca. 1641
NRHP reference No.66000367
Significant dates
10 more rows

Who owns the largest private residence in the world? ›

Who is the owner of the biggest house in the world ? Istana Nurul Iman Palace, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is the largest house in the world, spread over 2.15 million square feet.

Who owns most the building in Manhattan? ›

To the surprise of nobody, the City of New York is the biggest property owner in the five boroughs — with a massive 362.1 million square feet to its name, according to TRD's analysis. Think 1 Police Plaza, Stuyvesant High School and the New York Public Library building on Fifth Avenue.

What is the 3 largest mall in America? ›

3. King of Prussia Mall. Simon-owned King of Prussia mall is the nation's third-largest mall at 2.9 million square feet. Opened in 1963, the mall serves the greater Philadelphia region.

Who owns square One? ›

What is the busiest mall in America? ›

Mall of America is currently the most popular and visited mall in the United States. The mall has a retail space of 5.6 million square feet.

What is the average profit on rental property? ›

The amount will depend on your specific situation, but a good rule of thumb is to aim for at least 10% profit after all expenses and taxes. While 10% is a good target, you may be able to make more depending on the property and the rental market.

Who has the highest rent to income ratio? ›

Renters in these seven U.S. cities pay, on average, more than 30% of their income in rent:
  • New York City, New York: 68.5% rent-to-income ratio.
  • Miami, Florida: 41.6%
  • Fort Lauderdale, Florida: 36.7%
  • Los Angeles, California: 35.6%
  • Palm Beach, Florida: 33.6%
  • Northern New Jersey: 33.3%
  • Boston, Massachusetts: 32.9%
Feb 1, 2023

Who owns the most multi family properties? ›

The top multifamily property owner for 2022 was Greystar for the third consecutive year. In August, the company's 157,500 units were valued at $39.7 billion.

Who is the largest landowner in Manhattan? ›

Columbia University is the largest owner in New York City by the number of locations and manages over 5000 apartments across 150 residential buildings.

Who is the largest commercial landlord in NYC? ›

In the latest snapshot of the nation's most significant office market, New York City's largest office landlord, SL Green Realty Corporation, revealed that more of its properties lost tenants during the first months of 2023.

What is the most populated office building in the world? ›

The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defence and is located in Arlington, Virginia. It is the largest office building in the world, with a total floor area of about 6.5 million square feet. It is home to over 23,000 military and civilian employees.

Who owns the nicest house in the US? ›

Famous and Famously Expensive

The Chartwell Estate, located in Beverly Hills, California, is owned by the late head of Univision, Jerry Perenchi. Built in 1933, the French neoclassical home encompasses 25,000 square feet of land. It is situated on a 10-acre expanse of manicured lawns and gardens.

What is the most valuable property in the US? ›

1. The One, Los Angeles, California | Most Expensive Houses. The One, which took eight years to create, has surpassed all other pricey mansions in the US to claim the top rank. Nile Niami's modern masterpiece, this private mansion is situated on a five-acre site in Bel Air, Los Angeles, California.

What celebrity owns the most real estate? ›

Jeff Bezos: 30K-acre ranch, one museum, too many homes to count. Former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos remains the richest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of $140 billion. He has spent millions of dollars amassing a massive real-estate portfolio across the US, from his home state of Washington to New York City.

What value is most commonly used for commercial property? ›

The income capitalization approach is one of the most popular valuation methods in commercial real estate transactions, since it determines a commercial property's fair market value in relation to the income it can generate under the market conditions that exist at the moment of valuation.

Which type of property is the riskiest investment? ›

Equities are generally considered the riskiest class of assets.

What are the pros and cons of owning a commercial property? ›

Pros and Cons of Buying Commercial Real Estate
Pros of buying commercial propertyCons of buying commercial property
Equity in the property builds over timeUpfront down payment required
Asset value appreciates over timeDifficulty qualifying for financing
Potential for rental incomePrepayment penalties on loans
2 more rows
Jan 5, 2023

What type of commercial property is most profitable? ›

Properties that are capable of bringing in the highest return on investments are typically those with the highest number of tenants. These commercial real estate properties can include multifamily projects, student housing, office space, self storage facilities, and mixed use buildings.

What type of property is most profitable? ›

What Types of Commercial Properties Are the Most Profitable? High-Tenant Properties – Typically, properties with a high number of tenants will give the best return on investment. These properties include RVs, self-storage, apartment complexes, and office spaces.

What is the average return on a commercial property? ›

Higher rental return: net income returns for commercial property are typically in the range of 4-6%pa compared with 1½-3%pa for residential property.

What makes a commercial property a good investment? ›

Commercial property is a tangible asset that yields a robust and steady cash flow and represents diversification in any investment portfolio. CRE investors receive favorable tax treatment and the benefit of an inflation buffer.

What is the largest expense category for most commercial properties? ›

The largest expenses a small business office building owner incurs are real estate taxes and fixed expenses like building insurance. Those expenses make up more than half of the total operating costs for most commercial office building owners.

Is McDonald's one of the largest real estate owner? ›

McDonald's is one of the biggest real estate companies in the world. It owns or leases more than 38,000 restaurants in over 100 countries and has a portfolio worth an estimated $30 billion.

Who owns most rental properties in the US? ›

Of the approximately 50 million rental housing units in the United States, around 41% of the rental units are owned by mom and pop landlords, also known as individual investor landlords. That means approximately 20.5 million units are overseen by mom and pop landlords.

Does McDonald's own the most property? ›

These statistics are astonishing accomplishments, but did you know that McDonald's makes more money in real estate than from hamburgers? In fact, McDonald's has nearly $30 billion in real estate holdings, making it one of the largest commercial real estate owners in the world.

Who is the largest landowner in the United States? ›

1. EMMERSON FAMILY. The nation's largest private landowners, California's Emmerson family, are a prime example of this trend. Through their Sierra Pacific Industries, the Emmersons increased their landholdings by more than 100 square miles to over 2.4 million acres.

Does McDonald's own more land than the Catholic Church? ›

After gaining permission from the Vatican, Burhans underwent a comprehensive of bringing the Church into the 21st century. A live database provides a visual of all its land holdings. Conclusion: The Catholic Church owns the most land, far more than McDonald's and billionaire Bill Gates.

Who owns the most money in real estate? ›

Top 5 Richest Real Estate Investors In The World (2023)
  • Donald Bren – Estimated Net Worth $15.5 Billion. ...
  • Sun Hongbin – Estimated Net Worth $9.2 Billion. ...
  • Stephen Ross – Estimated Net Worth $7.6 Billion. ...
  • Sam Zell – Estimated Net Worth $4.8 Billion. ...
  • Leonard Stern – Estimated Net Worth $4.5 Billion.

What company owns the most rentals? ›

Leading apartment owners in the U.S. 2022, by units owned

Starwood Capital Group, which was the largest owner in 2022 with 115,000 units, is a private investment firm headquartered in Miami, Florida.

What is a good profit margin on rental property? ›

The amount will depend on your specific situation, but a good rule of thumb is to aim for at least 10% profit after all expenses and taxes. While 10% is a good target, you may be able to make more depending on the property and the rental market.

Who is the largest landlord in the world? ›

1. The Family Of Queen Elizabeth II Of Great Britain. Although recently deceased, the Queen's royal family will inherit the leadership, which makes them the technical owners of the country. The total size of the British Commonwealth is an astounding 6.75 Billion acres.

How much property does The Catholic Church own? ›

The Catholic Church's property across the globe spans nearly 277,000 square miles, which is just about the size of Texas, said Gerald Posner, author of “God's Bankers: A History of Money and Power at the Vatican.” “That includes embassies, churches, cathedrals, monastery schools and convents,” Posner said.

What percentage of the world does the Queen own? ›

She is Queen of 32 countries, head of a Commonwealth of 54 countries in which a quarter of the world's population lives, and legal owner of about 6.6 billion acres of land, one-sixth of the earth's land surface.

Who is the richest realtor? ›

1. Donald Bren. Donald Bren began his career as a typical real estate agent, making his first investment in a real estate company that purchased over 90,000 acres of land.

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