by G. Sax, Director of Growth Management, RESO
Welcome to “Three Questions,” an interview series that introduces you to real estate industry professionals, their businesses and how they interact with real estate standards with a goal of humanizing the tech side of the industry, fun included.
This week, we sat with Greg Moore, the CTO of RMLS in Portland, Oregon, and the reigning RESO Research & Development Workgroup chair. We talked about R&D (natch’), what it takes to be good-natured and the migratory patterns of MLS executives during the late season. Enjoy!
Q1: You truly seem to enjoy being the chair of the RESO Research & Development Workgroup. It reads like a passion for tinkering with new ideas in an industry you have enjoyed working in for a long time. What is the draw to R&D for you?
Greg: There are really two draws.
One of them is selfishly my desire to give back to the industry that has treated me so well over the years. It has been really rewarding to me personally, and it has provided a great life to myself and my family.
The other draw is that I get more out of it than I give to it. I’ll be really honest here. To facilitate conversations and listen in and have the kind of experience of seeing technology evolving and being able to have a shape in it is extremely gratifying.
In R&D, you have to let it flow. You don’t want to shut down discussions as they are percolating. There can always be a nugget in there that can change the direction of the industry for the better.
Q2: You may blush to hear this, but you are beloved in RESO circles. I dare say that extends to the wider real estate industry. You are kind to the people you interact with, and you are one of the quickest to enjoy a good laugh with a good beer. Have you always been like that or does that come with wisdom from experience?
Greg: I think it does come from wisdom and life experience. You learn not to take yourself so seriously. There’s just such wonderful people I get to interact with, and that makes the work easier to do.
RESO: Were you ever an angry person?
Oh, I do have a temper, just ask my family. It’s way, way down there though. Look, nobody dies in real estate standards if nothing happens after a long discussion. It’s easy to be light-hearted if you want to be.
We’re all doing our best here. It’s important to have perspective and to keep your wits about you.
Q3: Tracking your career path in real estate, you spent six years in Santa Barbara, another seven-plus in the Bay Area and now 20-plus years in the Portland, Oregon area. I sense a northern migratory pattern here. What’s next for you, Seattle, Anchorage, the Arctic Circle?
Greg: Retirement and the beach! And that’s the honest truth! We’re going to spend a lot of time in Mexico.
Presently, I enjoy where I am and what I am doing. I can imagine another five to seven years in the middle of the MLS world and RESO, if my employer and RESO are gracious enough to keep me around. But there comes a time to let the next generation take control and do cool things.
I love this business, so there may be some consultancy in my distant future.
RESO (Post-Interview): Congratulations go out to Greg for being elected to the 2023 RESO Board of Directors!
