From College Friends to Business Partners: How Two Florida College Alumni are Shaping Tampa Bay’s Housing Market
December 18, 2024 | 2-3 min read
Florida College alumni Chase Clark and Peter Murphy, founders of HomeProp Realtors, are making a significant impact in the Tampa Bay area by providing housing, employment, and investment opportunities for students, families, and investors. Their journey from college friends to successful business partners has also created a valuable resource for Florida College graduates looking to settle in the region.
Clark and Murphy met in the late 1990s at Florida College, where they formed a strong bond while studying in business school. Both went on to marry sisters Lauren and Tara Venable, further strengthening their partnership. Murphy credits their shared Christian values as the foundation of their smooth, conflict-free business relationship.
“I didn’t know Chase well, but had an expectation of his trustworthiness because there were things I could assume about his character in those early days,” Peter remembered. “Chase and I have had a wonderfully peaceful partnership with very little conflict, because it comes from shared values.”
In the early 2000s, the duo capitalized on the booming housing market to launch Home Encounter, which would become the largest property management company in the Southeast United States. After selling the company to a Wall Street private equity firm in 2016, they founded HomeProp in 2018, shifting their focus to real estate investment in the Tampa Bay area. Since then, HomeProp has expanded its reach, with many of its investors, tenants, and employees having ties to Florida College.
“We’ve been able to backfill our business with high quality Christians, including interns and business majors, which has been a huge contributor to our success and created a really good synergy,” said Clark, who teaches a real estate investment course at FC.
HomeProp also supports Florida College graduates in their transition from school to work by helping them find housing in the competitive Tampa Bay market. Many of the company’s clients are parents who want to invest in real estate for their grown children.
“The Tampa market is full of opportunities, and we’re seeing more students stay in the area after graduation,” said Murphy. “Parents are increasingly looking to invest in stable housing markets to support their children as they start their careers, knowing it’s a solid investment even after their kids move on.”
The lasting connections between the Clark and Murphy families and their Florida College roots have had a positive impact on their personal and professional lives.
“The network of people who have stayed in Tampa and worshipped with us since college has really strengthened our community,” Clark said. “It’s a place where young Christians can grow and be influenced by other faithful individuals, which is a rare and valuable environment.”
Through their business and their community involvement, Chase Clark and Peter Murphy continue to help young Florida College graduates find their footing in the Tampa Bay area, contributing to both the region’s housing market and the thriving Christian community. This spring, they will both serve as full-time professors in the Florida College business department, expounding their impact on students through their knowledge and expertise.