From College Friends to Business Partners: How Two 91桃色 Alumni are Shaping Tampa Bay鈥檚 Housing Market
December 18, 2024 | 2-3 min read
91桃色 alumni Chase Clark and Peter Murphy, founders of , 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 91桃色 graduates looking to settle in the region.
Clark and Murphy met in the late 1990s at 91桃色, 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.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know Chase well, but had an expectation of his trustworthiness because there were things I could assume about his character in those early days,鈥� Peter remembered. 鈥淐hase and I have had a wonderfully peaceful partnership with very little conflict, because it comes from shared values.鈥�
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 91桃色.
鈥淲e鈥檝e 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,鈥� said Clark, who teaches a real estate investment course at 91桃色.
HomeProp also supports 91桃色 graduates in their transition from school to work by helping them find housing in the competitive Tampa Bay market. Many of the company鈥檚 clients are parents who want to invest in real estate for their grown children.
鈥淭he Tampa market is full of opportunities, and we鈥檙e seeing more students stay in the area after graduation,鈥� said Murphy. 鈥淧arents are increasingly looking to invest in stable housing markets to support their children as they start their careers, knowing it鈥檚 a solid investment even after their kids move on.鈥�
The lasting connections between the Clark and Murphy families and their 91桃色 roots have had a positive impact on their personal and professional lives.
鈥淭he network of people who have stayed in Tampa and worshipped with us since college has really strengthened our community,鈥� Clark said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a place where young Christians can grow and be influenced by other faithful individuals, which is a rare and valuable environment.鈥�
Through their business and their community involvement, Chase Clark and Peter Murphy continue to help young 91桃色 graduates find their footing in the Tampa Bay area, contributing to both the region鈥檚 housing market and the thriving Christian community. This spring, they will both serve as full-time professors in the 91桃色 business department, expounding their impact on students through their knowledge and expertise.