Greg Hales was born and grew up in San Jose, California. In 1984 he left to attend Eastern Washington University on a track scholarship.  Running was his first passion.  It was in college that he discovered his second passion, real estate.  Greg bought his first investment home in Cheney, Washington his junior year of college.  He fixed it up, sold it, and made a small profit.  He repeated this process three more times before graduating from EWU with degrees in finance and economics.  On graduation in 1989, Greg got his real estate license and became a full-time realtor in Los Gatos, California. Over the next few years, he grew a highly successful business, producing excellent results for both sellers and buyers. Greg recognized early in building his business that there were two factors that would lead to success.

In 1989, the use of computers in the real estate business was in its infancy, at best. The Multiple Listing Service of available homes and recent sales was published in book form every two weeks. The key to staying on top of the market was to network with other realtors and to take advantage of referrals given and received. For this strategy to work required honesty, credibility, and ingenuity. Greg also discovered that many realtors in Santa Clara County did not like to work in Santa Cruz County, and Santa Cruz realtors had little interest in working in Santa Clara County. Getting referrals from Santa Clara County agents and helping their clients purchase and sell homes in Santa Cruz County, along with referrals from Santa Cruz agents helping their clients buy and sell homes in Santa Clara County represented an effective way to grow his business while providing a useful service to his existing clients.  Working both sides of "The Hill" enabled Greg to grow a large and successful business of happy and satisfied clients.

The second and equally part of Greg's winning strategy was recognition that a successful realtor had to be a "Full-Service Realtor". Providing a professional service to clients meant more than just showing homes or listing a home with a sign in front.  Professional service meant being there 24/7 for his clients.  It meant listening to their wants and needs and providing a personalized service to fulfill their real estate requirements. In short, it meant being there for his clients.

 In 1993 Greg married his High School sweetheart, and in 1994, they had their daughter, Natalie.  Tragically, less than a year later, Greg's wife passed away leaving Greg to raise Natalie on his own.  Greg decided to move to Santa Cruz.  By that time, most of his business activity was centered in Santa Cruz. However, with the recommendations now coming in for Greg from both past, satisfied clients, and active agents, Greg continued to also work in Santa Clara County. In 2003 Greg met the second love of his life, and they were married in 2004.

Beginning 2020, Greg and his wife are happily married and going strong.  His daughter Natalie has graduated from UC Santa Cruz and is currently working in Spain.  Greg and Natalie have a special relationship and have talked almost every day of Natalie's life.  Greg has now spent over 30 years as a successful realtor; it is the only job he has ever had or ever wanted. Greg still gives his "personal attention" to all clients, but also uses today's technology to help streamline the real estate process.  Greg still enjoys his passion for running, and in 2018 was ranked #9 in the country for master runners over the age of 40 based on his time in running a mile. His family, running, and real estate have always been, and continue to be his passions. Greg has won many awards as a top Realtor in Santa Cruz County, but his true satisfaction is the joy he sees on the faces of his clients at the successful close of a real estate deal.

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