Meet Rob Moroney: New Local Realty’s VP of Dispositions

In our Meet the Team series, we’re covering a different New Local Realty team member each week, giving you a deep dive into the people who drive our company and community forward. This week: Rob Moroney, New Local Realty’s VP of Dispositions!

A warm and friendly real estate professional, Rob Moroney is a key piece of the New Local Realty team. Although his background includes everything from industrial automation to life insurance, Rob has always focused on putting people first. This Pitcairn native is passionate about helping people become homeowners and pursue the American Dream.

We sat down with Rob to get a better idea of who he is as a person and as a committed professional. 

Rob Moroney: Personal Bio

Where were you born?

Pitcairn, PA.

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

All my life.

Which part of Pittsburgh do you call home today?

Ligonier. 

What is your favorite hidden gem in Pittsburgh? 

Johnny’s Fine Italian Dining in Wilmerding. It’s a historic restaurant that serves the best Italian food in Pittsburgh. They cook everything from scratch, so bring good friends for some great conversation before your meal arrives.

Where did you go to high school?

Gateway High School. Our football team was ranked #3 in the state when I was there!

Favorite Pittsburgh neighborhood? 

I’m biased because of my childhood in Pitcairn. It’s a beautiful old railroad town full of row homes. We’d run the streets until the lights turned on every night. I still have the same friends I grew up with! 

Regardless of whether he’s in or out of the New Local Realty office, Rob is a fun-loving guy!

Rob Moroney: Professional Bio

How did you get involved in real estate? 

I worked full-time as a sales manager for more than 20 years. And then my wife, Nik, started working in real estate about four years ago. When I saw her getting overwhelmed with some of the paperwork, I wanted to help out. But I had to be licensed first. 

Once I earned my license, I started helping out every way I could, whether that meant helping people on tours or managing the paperwork. Now I work in real estate and insurance full-time, and the flexibility allows me to focus on what’s really important: Family. 

What are your strengths as a real estate professional? How have your skills been showcased in past business ventures?

Real estate really allows me to combine my love of architecture with my love of people. I really get the best of both worlds. 

As a real estate agent, I think my laid-back approach helps everyone involved. I’m not here to put on a big show while wearing a three-piece suit. Instead, I always say that people will sell the house to themselves. If they really like the house, they’ll know. They don’t need me to talk them into it. 

That’s great for the buyers because it allows them to come to a decision they’re genuinely happy about. And it’s great for me because it allows me to sleep well at night. 

I’m here to help people achieve the American Dream, and that’s what New Local Realty is all about. 

What drew you to New Local Realty?

Theresa. Her vision for New Local Realty was all about rebuilding communities, and I loved it because I’d love to rebuild Pitcairn and communities like it. 

What do you like about working with New Local Realty?

The atmosphere. This is truly a family-first company. In fact, one of the things I’ve helped implement is a monthly Family Day. Once a month, the company gets together for a day of family fun. No work. No cell phones. For the first Family Day, which is coming up, we’re going to Idlewild Park, and then we’re having a cookout at my house. 

I love that family atmosphere. It really goes back to the big picture: We’re building something we can leave to the next generation.

What are your responsibilities within New Local Realty?

My title is VP of Dispositions, but I’m really a jack of all trades. So, while I do lead the way in selling our properties, you’ll also find me paying invoices and helping out with back office functions. I touch a lot of different things.

What do you like about the team at New Local Realty?

We all have different skill sets that we bring to the table, but we all also believe in open communication and helping each other out. I think we do a great job of keeping an open forum where everyone can contribute ideas and ask questions.

How do you think New Local Realty will impact the real estate industry in Pittsburgh and beyond?

We have a unique process for finding those properties that seem like nuisances, those homes that are abandoned or vacant. We can pinpoint which homes those are, then take strides to purchase and rehab them, and then turn them into affordable homes for other people.

We’re perfecting that process in Pittsburgh, and we’ll eventually spread it nationwide, sharing our insights with others along the way. Ultimately, our process truly benefits everyone—families, homeowners, and the surrounding communities.

Rob Moroney: Underdog Story

At New Local Realty, we celebrate underdog stories. As a company focused on helping individuals build wealth and go from renting to homeownership, we believe in the power of overcoming obstacles, and we’ve built our company culture on the idea that when we work together, we can do anything. 

What’s your underdog story?

I grew up in a poor neighborhood and I don’t have a college degree, but I make much more than a comfortable living. I did go to a trade school for a little while because I love architecture, but I’ve always forged my own path in life.

Rob Moroney: His Vision for Pittsburgh

How has Pittsburgh changed in your lifetime?

Tech has definitely been the biggest change. I mean, just a few years ago, I was working in Industrial Automation, and I was basically working with software that allowed you to run an entire factory from your phone. Can you imagine having something like that in the steel mills in the early 1900s?

Pittsburgh’s tech scene has come a long way. When I was still in high school, Microsoft was just coming into prominence, and Bill Gates would come to schools like CMU to cherry-pick the best and the brightest students to help power his company. 

Our tech industry is big. We employ nearly 61,000 people in tech and generate $12.2 billion in economic impact.

How do you think Pittsburgh will continue to evolve in the next 10 years?

Well, we’re currently big in health care with UPMC, and tech is really big. But we’re also seeing more and more manufacturing come back. And trade schools are doing well and helping young people earn more than they could ever dream of by developing a skill set that was lost in the ‘80s. Pittsburgh is evolving, and that’s good to see. 

What opportunities do you see in Pittsburgh for individuals interested in the real estate industry? 

I think the biggest thing is education. It’s not easy to move into certain neighborhoods now with the way prices are. 

Everything goes back to how the market is shifting, especially when it comes to lenders and mortgage rates. Someone who could afford a $500,000 house six months ago now might only be able to afford a $350,000 home at 6%.

Things are shifting, and new trends are emerging every day. Six months ago, we were seeing offers come in $50,000 over asking just to have a shot at buying. Now those offers are dropping lower and lower. 

Like I said, the biggest thing is education. If someone wants a really good deal today, they need to understand the market and the tools available to them. And if they can’t do that, they should work with a company like New Local Realty to help find the best opportunities.