1st Choice Realty Joins eXp, Forms 1st Choice Collective
Tampa Bay brokerage founded by Rene and Dana Carpena now operates under eXp Realty as 1st Choice Collective.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Residential
Florida's 1st Choice Realty, an independent brokerage founded by Rene and Dana Carpena in Greater Tampa Bay, joined eXp Realty in September 2026 and now operates as 1st Choice Collective. The move brought more than 70 agents and support staff into eXp's brokerage infrastructure.
Why it matters
The Carpenas sought scale for expansion rather than another company to teach them how to operate, and eXp's infrastructure lets them grow in additional states without launching a separate independent brokerage in each market. The affiliation signals a broader push to build a multistate real estate organization from a Florida base.
The brokerage recorded more than 325 transactions and $60 million in sales volume in 2025, and more than 2,000 transactions and $470 million in documented sales volume since 2021. Figures are company-reported, and the source does not detail how many of the 70-plus agents and staff are active producers.
The players
eXp Realty
eXp Realty is a publicly traded cloud-based real estate brokerage that operates with agents across multiple states and countries.
Rene Carpena
Rene Carpena is a co-founder of Florida's 1st Choice Realty who is leading the brokerage's expansion into additional states.
Dana Carpena
Dana Carpena is a co-founder of Florida's 1st Choice Realty, which she established with her husband in Greater Tampa Bay.
The details
Rene and Dana Carpena declined franchise, partnership, and acquisition approaches before choosing eXp, and since joining they have sponsored agents in Georgia and Illinois. Rene Carpena also obtained a North Carolina broker's license and opened a small office there, while a New Jersey team of about four agents is in development.
Timeline
2021: Start of the period covered by the brokerage's $470 million in documented sales volume.
2025: The brokerage recorded more than 325 transactions and $60 million in sales volume.
September 2026: The Carpenas joined eXp Realty with more than 70 agents and support staff.
November 4, 2026: eXp announced the brokerage's joining.
Residential Outlook
The affiliation follows a pattern of independent residential brokerages moving onto cloud-based platforms such as eXp Realty to expand across state lines without launching separate brokerages. For Florida homebuyers and sellers, the shift may broaden the reach of local agents into neighboring markets.
Florida clients working with 1st Choice Collective agents may now have access to agents licensed in additional states as the brokerage expands. Homebuyers and sellers in Greater Tampa Bay may see little immediate change in how their transactions are handled.
The takeaway
Florida residents considering a move or sale should confirm which brokerage and agents they will work with after an affiliation, since company names and reporting structures can change. Asking an agent directly about licensing and local market experience remains the most practical step.
Further reading
Explore more Florida residential real estate coverage for context on local market activity.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Brockville Recorder & Times.
