Real estate fundi Alan Moore had just turned 40 when he embarked on the career that would change his life forever.

Twenty years ago the thriving sales executive at a telecoms multinational was living it up in Cape Town, but the experience of buying a home in the Mother City ignited what was to become a passion for property.

At the time, his wife Joanne was completing a law degree with the intention of specialising in conveyancing – a fundamental in real estate brokering – and the convergence of their respective fields all but mapped out the road ahead.

Although not necessary, being able to offer his clients an end-to-end service is a nice value-add, Moore said.

In a property career already spanning two decades, he can lay claim to consistently being among the top-performing Remax agents in South Africa.

However, his first awards remain among his most revered – Rookie of the Year in Gqeberha and, soon afterwards, Agent of the Year.

By his own admission, his early days were not exactly his finest. While he had qualified in 2002, he “could not have been more unprepared” when he entered the field proper.

“You see the hustle and bustle but you have no idea what it’s going to be like. It’s sink or swim,” he said.

“Luckily, I hung on the apron of Jenny Venter, who was a mentor to me and gave me a few opportunities. It’s very important you have a mentor in this business; in fact, it’s now policy to have one.”

Although never afraid of getting his hands dirty, it took six months for Moore to earn his first pay cheque. It was the injection of confidence he needed to propel him towards becoming the top rookie.

To this day, he is extremely thankful for the support network provided by his loved ones during those first, lean months.

The evergreen 60-year-old is also a multiple recipient of one of the Group’s holy grails of national accolades, the Millionaire’s Club. He is also an inductee in its International Hall of Fame.

Other silverware adorning his cabinet at home includes the likes of Broker-Manager of the Year and Most Units Sold by a team, giving some insight into his leadership qualities.

The Westering High School alumnus’s decision to return to the Friendly City in the early 2000s proved to be a masterstroke as networking with friends, family and acquaintances is easier than starting out blindly.

Moore, an associate agent at Remax Independent Properties, looks back fondly at the nervous novice that became an industry veteran enjoying the trust of generations of homeowners.

Despite Nelson Mandela Bay’s challenges, he truly believes that there are more than enough reasons to be positive – and he makes it count in his day-to-day.

The real estate game naturally has good and bad times and learning to navigate the latter is a big part of who makes it and who doesn’t.

The global financial crisis proved devastating and, with interest rates going through the roof in 2008, the industry had to adjust accordingly, Moore said.

Covid-19 had the opposite effect.

Interest rates were at major lows and people explored new ways of living and working from home, resulting in a property boom that was particularly rewarding for agents.

It also led to many people returning to the city, as a lifestyle choice, even if they enjoyed high-paying jobs in the bigger centres.

It was a trend that continued, Moore explained.

“PE is a city people want to come back to and that is a stamp of approval on its own. We have great schools, a warm ocean, good weather and magnificent beaches.

“We are still a sleepy town, but we have lots of great attributes. In Cape Town I was gridlocked in traffic, taking hours to get to work, but in PE I am 20 minutes early for every appointment.”

From a real estate perspective, homeowners could pick up a high-end home matching anything Johannesburg and Cape Town had to offer at a fraction of the price, he said.

“What is required to rid the city of its problems is for politicians to recognise that they are accountable to ratepayers and that they should facilitate, rather than hinder, development.

“There are many shoulders that are prepared to go to the wheel to improve our city as long as people know their efforts will pay off.”

And then that rhetorical question.

“Where else can you walk into an excellent beachfront restaurant without a booking?” asked Moore. “I love PE.”