Greg Hastings looks at the Maine real estate market as if it were a puzzle that just needs to be put together, and it is a puzzle he’s solved many times since 1987.
After all these years at the Dunham Group, Hastings says he’s still just as excited to get up and go to work in the morning as he ever was.
Initially, a career in real estate wasn’t on Hastings’ radar. In 1987, he’d just graduated from the University of Maine School of Law and was planning to return to his hometown of Fryeburg to join a family law firm.
But another opportunity knocked.
Help Maine Icons Grow!
Engaging profiles of Maine business leaders.
Portland was in the midst of a real estate development boom at the time and one of the city’s most successful brokerage firms was hiring. A classmate encouraged Hastings to stick around the big city and apply for a job at what was then called the MacBride Dunham Group. He didn’t have any sales experience, but he sold himself well in a series of interviews and was hired to pair up with Tom Dunham on industrial sales.
He made a point to memorize the industrial parks and commercial real estate inventory in southern Maine, while also networking with the area’s major decision makers. The effort paid off.
Within four years, Hastings was a partner.
Becoming a partner spurred Hastings to work even harder, and in the ensuing years his success has continued to grow because of his guiding principle — provide the best customer service to every single client.
“Whatever their real estate needs call for,” is how Hastings approaches the puzzles his clients present him.
Hastings judges his success by the number of repeat clients he has. He’s certainly been successful – one company has been trusting him to handle their real estate needs since 1988. He’s guided them through three expansions.
Throughout his career, Hastings has cultivated long-term relationships and credits a large part of his success to making an effort to get to know business owners and decision makers.
“Maine may be large geographically, but we’re actually a small state where it is possible to get to know most business owners,” says Hastings. “The flipside to that, though, is that your name and reputation are everything. People must know they can trust you, and you must deal with everyone fairly and honestly if you want to succeed.”
In 2016, an expanded Dunham Group now consists of Hastings, 4 partners, and six other talented brokers. While Hastings is still working hard, focusing on providing excellent service to his clients, mentoring younger brokers is now one of his top priorities.
“I would like to work with some younger brokers who have the dedication, drive and integrity that is necessary for success, and be a mentor to them like Tom Dunham has been for me,” says Hastings. “I still have a desire to work hard and make money, but I am ready to help someone else become successful who has the same passion for people and real estate that I do.”
Helping young brokers succeed, Hastings believes, will help the Dunham Group maintain its stellar reputation long after he has retired.
“It would be most rewarding to watch someone become successful because of their love of the business,” added Hastings.
Hastings and his wife Debbie live in Falmouth and have just celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary. They are the parents of two children — one in college and another in high school. Hastings notes that spending time with family and enjoying Maine through a variety of outdoor activities top his favorite pastimes when he’s not helping his clients.
Thirty years ago, Greg Hastings didn’t realize that arranging real estate deals would bring him such a successful, fulfilling career. But his decision to stay in Portland has made a powerful impact on the area’s real estate market.