About Us
Owner, Chip Spencer
Chip has lived in the state of Florida for over 25 years. Before moving to Florida, he received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo (Ohio) in secondary education. He decided to move to Florida to start his career and experience the “Florida lifestyle”.
Chip’s real estate career began in 1996 when he decided that he needed some extra money to supplement a teaching income. With the help of a lifelong friend and top notch real estate agent, he was able to purchase foreclosure homes, fix them up, and sell them at a decent profit. Eventually, as he became more competent and successful, he began to invest in rental properties. Within 2 years, Chip was earning twice his teaching income. By 2002, he had taken on nearly 50 rental properties, while continuing to buy and sell property.
Around this same time, Chip had several people approach him and ask for advice on how to become a successful real estate investor. His advice led directly to the success of these individuals, who have become close friends.
After doing some soul searching, Chip realized that his true talent in real estate was dealing with investors, and potential homeowners who see real estate as one of the best investment opportunities available. Once he came to this realization, Chip decided to obtain a real estate license so he could pursue property management, real estate counseling, and provide a service different from the mainstream. Shortly after obtaining his license in 2004, he approached Bob Matthews, and together they came up with a flat-fee listing idea that will save both homeowners and investors thousands in real estate commissions. It is Chip and Bob’s philosophy not to just list properties for a fee and forget about them, but to provide advice and counseling to the customer until their house is sold.
Within the first month of obtaining his license, Chip closed on 17 houses and listed 6. His extensive background as an investor, along with contacts with other agents and investors, give both Chip and Bob the opportunity to close deals quickly with the highest possible yield to the seller. Please feel free to call regarding any type of real estate question.
We look forward to serving you!
George “Chip” Spencer
Owner, Bob Matthews
Bob began his career in 1996 working as a licensed Certified Public Accountant for Deloitte & Touche, and moved on to work as a Senior Financial Analyst for a Fortune 500® company, and later with a large wireless tower company, where he evaluated multi-million dollar portfolios of real estate and towers to determine offer prices for acquisition. While still working as a Senior Financial Analyst in 2001, Bob began his real estate career by becoming an investor in residential real estate to supplement his income. Motivated by the substantial cash flow and appreciation Bob saw on his initial real estate investments, he decided to pursue his real estate sales associate’s license to aid in finding additional properties for himself and other investors. Since becoming a licensed real estate sales associate in 2002, Bob went on to become a Florida real estate broker and opened his own brokerage in 2004.
In order to expand and cover the entire Tampa Bay market, Bob and Chip formed a partnership to start Investors Choice Realty 12 years ago to help other investors find and evaluate real estate investment opportunities, as well as to provide property management services. The company now manages over 500 residential and commercial properties in the Tampa Bay area and has become one of the largest property management companies in the market. During this time, we have helped hundreds of clients buy, sell, and manage their properties. Additionally, we provide financial services to help our clients effectively and accurately project cash flows and better manage their properties.
Bob is currently working on numerous multi-million dollar commercial and single family portfolio deals throughout the United States with several clients/investors.
Property Manager, Joe Ionata
Joe Ionata was born in Tampa, Florida and has been a resident in the Tampa Bay area for over 50 years. As the youngest of 6 children, his family moved to the great city of Dunedin in 1971, where the family home still remains. The family has grown, but has kept close and local.
Joe attended Florida State University, where he played football for the Seminoles!. He was a 3 year starter and a 22 game Captain. He graduated in 1989 with a Major in Economics and a Minor in Business. He pursued a college coaching career at several colleges including East Carolina University, Clemson, and the University of Georgia, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Sports Management.
Following relocation, Joe ended his coaching career at Countryside High School. This is where he met, fellow teacher, Chip Spencer. Since then, Joe and Chip have been business partners and have owned many dozens of properties together, which they parlayed into rentals and flips. Following this real estate success, they became licensed Real Estate Agents and continued their passion to help others Invest in Rental properties.
Joe’s vast experience and network placed him in the forefront to land a deal with the nation’s largest, single home owner corporation. As the point man and manager of the project, Joe lead his team to rent 800 homes in a 18 month period, all while helping the main company acquire a dozen properties for their portfolio.
Although Joe specializes in high end rentals, his vast experience helps him take on and manage all rental types and investment properties of all levels and sizes.
Today, Joe helps investors evaluate and find prosperous cash-flow properties with desired cap rates. His current map reaches from St. Petersburg to Hudson.
Joe Ionata
I buy houses in any condition: http://sites.myhousedeals.com/joeionata
Please See My listings http://josephionata.mfr.mlsmatrix.com
Join me on Linkedin http://www.linkedin.com/pub/joe-ionata/36/488/8a8
joeionata@tampabay.rr.com
(727) 251-9013
Sales, Leasing and Property Management Specialist
PO Box 2752
Tarpon Springs FL 34688
Property Manager, Ryan Johansen
Ryan has been one of the top property managers at Investors Choice Realty since the beginning. Contact Ryan at (727) 743-6954 for all your property management needs!
Property Manager, Bill Cocker.
Bill Cocker is a Property manager with Investors Choice Realty. Contact Bill at (727) 678-9308.