Howard E. Spencer 5th
Northeast Florida's Pre-Foreclosure & Distressed Property Specialist
Licensed Florida REALTOR® Associate · eXp Realty
My Story
Built on Experience,
Driven by Purpose
Born and raised in New Jersey, Howard E. Spencer 5th spent 18 years in the construction industry building homes before making the move to real estate in 2014. That hands-on background — understanding how homes are built, what they're worth, and what can go wrong — gave him a foundation most agents simply don't have. Now serving the Northeast Florida market, he brings a career built on distressed properties, complex transactions, and getting results for clients when the stakes are highest.
Since earning his Florida license, Howard has focused his career on the most complex and high-stakes corner of real estate: distressed properties. Pre-foreclosure, short sales, REO liquidations, probate estates — these are not situations where a generalist will do. They require a specialist who understands the urgency, knows the process, and has the experience to navigate lenders, timelines, and difficult circumstances without flinching.
Over the course of his career, Howard has sold hundreds of REO (Real Estate Owned) properties on behalf of institutional clients — banks, asset management companies, and lenders who trusted him to move distressed inventory efficiently and at the right price. That experience gives him a perspective that very few agents in Northeast Florida can claim: he knows exactly how lenders think, what they need to see in a short sale package, and what it takes to get a deal approved and closed.
That institutional background translates directly into better outcomes for homeowners facing foreclosure. When Howard negotiates a short sale with a lender's loss mitigation department, he's not guessing at the process — he has been on both sides of it. He understands the language, the timelines, and the pressure points that actually move the needle.
Howard holds the SFR® designation — Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource — from the National Association of REALTORS®, reflecting his specialized training and documented experience in this field. He also works extensively in probate and traditional sales, giving him a complete picture of every option available to homeowners in distress.
"When someone is about to lose their home, they don't need a salesperson. They need someone who will be straight with them, fight for them, and get them the best outcome possible. That's what I show up to do every single day."— Howard E. Spencer 5th
At eXp Realty, Howard operates with the backing of one of the country's leading brokerages while maintaining the personal, direct service his clients depend on. When you work with Howard, you work with Howard — not a team, not an assistant, not a call center. He picks up the phone.
Whether you're a homeowner who just received a lis pendens and doesn't know where to turn, or an attorney looking for a reliable short sale specialist to refer your clients to — Howard is ready to help.