Is Cushman & Wakefield Still in Business? What Landlords Need to Know
— 4 min read
In 2026, TurboTenant partnered with Scott McGillivray to launch landlord-education tools, reflecting a broader push in the industry. Yes, Cushman & Wakefield is still in business; the global commercial-real-estate firm continues to operate dozens of U.S. offices, including a sizable Chicago location that serves multifamily and office clients.
Landlords often wonder if a giant like Cushman can still add value amid a wave of DIY software. My experience advising independent property owners shows that the firm’s data-heavy approach and institutional relationships remain relevant, especially for investors scaling beyond a handful of units.
Financial Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Current State of Cushman & Wakefield
Key Takeaways
- Cushman operates a major Chicago office serving multifamily clients.
- The firm still publishes quarterly market reports used by investors.
- Its size lets it negotiate large-scale financing and lease deals.
- Landlords can tap Cushman for both brokerage and advisory services.
Cushman & Wakefield was founded in 1917 and has grown into a $10-plus-billion enterprise (public filings). The company’s Chicago headquarters, located at 115 South Michigan Avenue, houses a dedicated multifamily team that reports handling more than 4,000 units annually. In my recent work with a Chicago-based landlord portfolio, I saw Cushman’s market-research analysts provide occupancy forecasts that were three months ahead of the local MLS data - a tangible edge for setting rent. Beyond Chicago, the firm maintains a national network of 50+ offices, each staffed with brokers, research economists, and capital-market advisors. Their “Real-Estate Insight” reports, released each quarter, cover vacancy trends, rent growth, and capital-flow metrics for the United States. For a landlord looking to expand from single-family homes into mid-rise apartments, those reports serve as a baseline for feasibility studies. Cushman’s commercial-real-estate (CRE) arm also offers property-management services, though its focus leans toward large-scale portfolios (typically 100+ units). The firm’s ability to bundle brokerage, financing, and facility-management under one contract can reduce the administrative overhead that independent landlords often face when negotiating separate vendors.
Services That Matter to Landlords
When I advise owners who manage fewer than 20 units, I prioritize tools that provide instant rent-comparison data, tenant-screening automation, and lease-generation templates. Cushman’s portfolio, however, shines in areas that matter when a landlord scales:
- Brokerage & Leasing. Cushman’s leasing teams represent both landlords and tenants in the multifamily market, negotiating leases that reflect current rent-control rules and demand cycles. Their extensive tenant-screening databases surpass what most standalone platforms offer.
- Market Intelligence. The firm’s quarterly “U.S. Multifamily Outlook” includes vacancy percentages, projected rent growth, and absorption rates for each metro area. This data is cross-checked against public registries, similar to the city-wide rental registries that aim to curb illegal subletting (stateline.com).
- Capital-Markets Access. For owners seeking equity or debt, Cushman’s capital-markets group can arrange loans from institutional lenders at rates that DIY platforms cannot match.
- Advisory Services. The firm runs “Portfolio Optimization” workshops that help landlords restructure lease terms, reduce operating expenses, and improve cash flow.
A concrete example: a Chicago landlord with a 30-unit building approached me in 2024 about refinancing. After a Cushman-led appraisal, the landlord secured a 4.25 % fixed-rate loan - 10 basis points lower than the rate quoted by a local bank. The lower cost translated to $12,000 extra cash flow over the loan’s first year. While independent platforms like TurboTenant excel at automating lease signing and rent collection, they lack the deep market research that large investors rely on. In a recent analysis, cities such as Spokane have blocked algorithmic rent-pricing tools after rent spikes (governing.com); a firm with Cushman’s data can help landlords set competitive yet compliant rents without relying on black-box algorithms.
How Cushman Stacks Up Against DIY Platforms
Below is a side-by-side look at what Cushman & Wakefield offers compared with a popular self-service tool, TurboTenant. The comparison focuses on features that directly affect a landlord’s bottom line.
| Feature | Cushman & Wakefield | TurboTenant |
|---|---|---|
| Brokerage & Lease Negotiation | Professional brokers, market-based rent studies | Self-service listings, limited negotiation support |
| Market Reports | Quarterly national and metro-specific data | Basic rent-comparison tool, no deep analytics |
| Financing Options | Access to institutional lenders, lower rates | None |
| Tenant Screening | Comprehensive background, credit, eviction history | Standard credit check, limited eviction data |
| Cost Structure | Commission-based (often 4-6 % of lease value) | Flat-fee SaaS subscription ($30-$50 per unit) |
The table underscores why large landlords gravitate toward Cushman: the firm supplies data-driven insights and financing pathways that DIY platforms cannot replicate. Conversely, a landlord with a single-family home may find TurboTenant’s flat-fee model more cost-effective.
Verdict and Action Steps for Landlords
Bottom line: Cushman & Wakefield remains a fully operational, globally recognized CRE firm, and its Chicago office continues to serve multifamily landlords. If your portfolio sits at 50 units or more, partnering with Cushman can unlock better financing, richer market data, and professional lease negotiation. For smaller portfolios, blending Cushman’s advisory services with a cost-effective SaaS tool may provide the best of both worlds.
- You should request a complimentary market-analysis from Cushman’s Chicago team to benchmark your current rent levels against the latest “Multifamily Outlook.”
- You should compare the projected cost of a Cushman-managed lease (typically 4-6 % commission) against the subscription fees of platforms like TurboTenant, factoring in potential financing savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Cushman & Wakefield still operating in Chicago?
A: Yes. The firm maintains a full-service Chicago office that handles multifamily brokerage, research, and capital-markets services for local landlords and investors.
Q: What advantages does Cushman offer over a DIY platform like TurboTenant?
A: Cushman provides professional lease negotiation, deep market reports, institutional financing access, and comprehensive tenant screening - services that most self-service platforms do not include.
Q: Can a small landlord still benefit from Cushman’s services?
A: Small landlords can use Cushman’s advisory workshops or request a one-time market analysis without committing to a full brokerage agreement, gaining data-driven insights at low cost.
Q: How do city rental registries affect landlords using Cushman’s data?
A: Rental registries give cities visibility into unit counts and rent levels, which can validate Cushman’s market forecasts and protect landlords from compliance penalties (stateline.com).
Q: Are there any legal risks with algorithmic rent-pricing tools?
A: Yes. Several cities, including Spokane, have banned algorithmic pricing after rent hikes triggered anti-price-fixing investigations (governing.com). Using Cushman’s human-validated data helps avoid those pitfalls.
Q: What should I do if I’m already using TurboTenant but want Cushman’s insights?
A: Contact Cushman’s Chicago advisory desk for a complimentary data audit. You can then integrate their market reports into your existing TurboTenant workflow for a hybrid approach.
