Help us direct you to the right place to sign up
SKIP AHEAD TO
In commercial real estate (CRE), accurate lease and sale data is the foundation for informed decisions. Many professionals start with free data sources to get basic market insight, while others rely on premium tools like CompStak for verified, in-depth comps.
But how much can you truly rely on free platforms and where do they fall short?
This guide explores some of the most popular free or limited-access sources for CRE data, their strengths, and their limitations.
1. CompStak (Free & Premium Options)
What It Offers:
- A leading crowdsourced database of verified commercial real estate lease and sale comps contributed by a nationwide network of brokers, appraisers, and researchers.
- Detailed transaction terms including starting rent, concessions, tenant improvements (TI), lease type, cap rates, and renewal details — data points rarely available from free listing platforms.
- National coverage with standardized formats, making it easy to compare markets, property types, and deal structures side-by-side.
- Robust search, filtering, and analytics tools designed for brokers, investors, lenders, appraisers, and researchers.
Free Access:
- Users can sign up to exchange comps and earn access to relevant deals through CompStak Exchange without paying a subscription fee.
- Even the free tier gives verified lease and sale comp data relevant to your market, which is something competitors typically gate or can’t provide.
Limitations:
- The number of comps you can view is based on a give-to-get model. The more comps you submit, the more credits you earn to unlock comps.
- Advanced tools, bulk export, portfolio analysis, and API integrations are available only in premium plans.
- Additional Tools: Premium versions unlock advanced analytics, customizable market intelligence, deeper historical data, and workflow integrations — offering comprehensive market insights for professionals who require deeper data and integration capabilities.
Learn more about CompStak Exchange and sign up for a free account here.
2. LoopNet
What It Offers:
- One of the largest online marketplaces for commercial property listings.
- Free browsing of active properties for sale or lease, with filters for asset type, location, and asking criteria.
- Some historical sale information via archived listings.
Limitations:
- Not a true “comps” database, as most listings show asking prices or rents, not final deal terms.
- Data accuracy depends on brokers/agents submitting information.
- Limited verified sale history; smaller or niche markets may have patchy coverage.
3. CREXi
What It Offers:
- Nationwide commercial property marketplace with active lease and sale listings.
- Basic property details, asking prices/rates, and location info available for free.
- Paid “Intelligence” or “Pro” subscriptions offer access to sale comps, analytics, and expanded historical data.
Limitations:
- Free tier focuses on listing, not closed transaction details.
- Historical depth, advanced filters, and verified comps require a subscription.
- Free data may lag behind actual market activity.
4. CIMLS (Commercial Investment Multiple Listing Service)
What It Offers:
- Free database of searchable commercial property listings for sale or lease across various asset types.
- Basic property details such as asking price, property specifications, and broker contacts.
- Paid memberships available for enhanced marketing reach.
Limitations:
- User-submitted data is not verified.
- Does not provide complete transaction details or standardized data formats.
- Stronger coverage in major metros; smaller markets can be underrepresented.
5. City & County Public Records
What It Offers:
- Official closed transaction records for property sales, often including deed transfers, sale prices, and tax info.
- Some municipalities offer partial lease recording data (rare but possible).
Limitations:
- Primarily sales data; lease data is exceptional, not the norm.
- Highly fragmented across jurisdictions and no single national database.
- Often time-consuming to piece together, with no built-in analytics or aggregation.
Why Free CRE Data Has Limits
- Not Standardized: Listings come from multiple sources without uniform reporting formats.
- Incomplete: Asking terms are common, but actual achieved rent, cap rate, or concessions are rarely disclosed.
- Time-Consuming: Even the most accurate free data (e.g., public deeds) still requires manual sorting, verification, and cross-referencing.
How CompStak Changes the Game
CompStak sources verified CRE lease and sale comps directly from industry professionals, ensuring data is accurate, standardized, and up-to-date. Plus, CompStak gathers information that is hard to find, difficult to compile, or otherwise unavailable, such as starting and free rent, TI, concessions, cap rate, and more.
What you get with CompStak:
- Verified comps with starting rent, TI, concessions, cap rates, and more.
- Nationwide coverage with consistent data standards.
- Analytics dashboards and API integrations for seamless workflows.
- Reliable insights to compare, model, and forecast, without the manual work.
Get Reliable Data with CompStak
If you’re looking for a free source that doesn’t compromise on quality, CompStak Exchange is the solution. With verified, standardized lease and sale data, it’s a step above other free options. Plus, premium plans unlock even more tools for those needing advanced insights.
Start using trusted CRE data – Join CompStak Exchange for free today.
Related Posts
How Commercial Real Estate Proptech is Transforming the Industry
