Memorial Day...

Is a day set aside to remember with gratitude and pride all those who served and died for our country and our freedom. A day to Thank those who still serve to protect us. May your day be filled with Memories, Honor, Blessings and Peace.

https://www.facebook.com/ReginaSooeyTheRunningRealEstateAgent/videos/1108815969260204/

Check out my listing in Solano Grove

Real Estate is People, not houses.

Real Estate is People, not Houses…….I bought my very first house on Ponce de Leon Ave. in 2005. I was a fairly new Realtor, & new at taking care of a home. I had also never lived alone before, so I was very nervous about many aspects of that. Well, my neighbors welcomed me with open arms right away, & my first warm greeting came from Mary Milam across the street.

Miss Mary had lived there for nearly 50 years, raised her kids in that house, & she knew everybody in our neighborhood. I immediately felt safe & sound, & like I had family around me. I soon after met many of the other neighbors, & we were a mix of new, young homeowners like me, & families who had been there for generations.

I soon created a few regular running routes, & I loved seeing all the familiar friendly faces every day as I ran a beautiful 4 miles down around San Jose Forest to Nathan Krestul Park & back home. Everyone said hello, some would stop me & ask me where I lived & how far I was running. Soon after I got Maggie, my first rescue dog, & we would run & walk all over the neighborhood every day. Now we got to know all the dog people & would see the same dogs every day.

Miss Mary had Casey, next door Samantha had Buck, & Mrs. Coffman had three little Min Pins, one who she’d walk in a stroller. Sometimes Miss Mary’s daughter Kim would come over with little Maggie & we’d all just have a ball visiting & enjoying the beautiful day.

Miss Mary always looked out for me, calling or stop by to give me neighborhood news, or if a suspicious person had been seen. She collected my mail when I went out of town, brought my trash cans up to the house when I got home late, gave me advice on my yard & a million other things.

In 2010 I moved to Springfield, but I missed my San Jose community dearly. When my home turned in to a rental, Miss Mary still looked out for my house and its occupants. One day, I got the horrible news that Mary had passed away suddenly, & I was so saddened, but relieved to know that she had not suffered from a long term illness.

With a proud, but heavy heart I was happy to help Mary’s son & daughter prepare her home for sale, & quickly get a solid offer from a wonderful new family who will move into this home around the end of April. When I told people about this home, tears would fill my eyes remembering my first house, first dog, & Miss Mary, my first real neighbor in my adult life.

Our neighborhood may be old, & to some people it is a collection of houses that could use a little updating………..but to me San Jose is a community full of families, neighbors, friends & memories. I am always excited to introduce new buyers to San Jose, a hidden gem, full of solid homes, trees, parks, mom & pop retail. 

Most of all I am proud to introduce people to a community full of fantastic people.

I will always be proud to be your neighborhood real estate expert.  Thank you for trusting me to work with your family, friends and neighbors.

3830 Ponce De Leon Ave. 3 bed, 1 bath Under Contract in 4 days Listed for $175,000

Regina Sooey's new listing coming soon.

New Listing Timuquana

4358 Timuquana Road # 172

$110,000

http://www.tourfactory.com/idxr1961979

Wonderful townhome style Ortega condo convenient to everything, yet quiet. Enter into large dining area with tongue & groove ceiling. Kitchen is tiled with newer range, microwave, refrigerator & disposal. Walk-in pantry with laundry hookups. Kitchen opens to living area with peaceful view. Relaxing patio has view of courtyard with wonderful trees and flowers. Close to community pool & clubhouse. Powder room downstairs. Two large bedrooms upstairs with generous closets. Updated bathroom with tile, tub, extra cabinets. New HVAC, and very well-maintained unit. Wonderful value for size and location. Walking distance to shops, parks, Timuquana Country Club. Condo fees include water & sewer.

Marathon High

Long Post about Marathon High......
Four years ago my work and home life had reached a good, stable place, but I still did not feel complete. I needed a bigger reason to jump out of bed every day and be the best I could be. I wanted to help others, but I was not sure how.

I saw something about Marathon High, and training teenagers to run a half marathon from scratch, and I was intrigued. I asked if they would accept a small sponsorship from me, and they were so grateful and excited for me to partner with them.

I got my first Marathon High shirt, and I attended an All School Run at Lee HS, which was simply AMAZING. All these every day teens running together with their coaches encouraging each other and giving high fives. These were not decorated track stars, but they were superstars, every single one of them.

They were brave, strong, dedicated, tenacious teens. Nothing like the stereotypes we see of teens in the media today. This group had so much diversity, but they had running and supporting each other in common. This was exactly the welcoming community I myself had experienced when I became a runner about ten years before.........and we all know running changed my life.

I begged to be a coach the following season and was so excited to coach at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. I absolutely loved mentoring, training, and pushing these amazing teens. Over the last three years my other amazing DA coaches and I have shaped a fun, challenging and fantastic MH Program for our students. I know that we have all grown as runners and people, and our students have grown in ways we never knew was possible. We have also had a group of parents who have started to walk or run from time to time, as they watch their teens become more active.

For the past three years, Marathon High has changed my life for the better. These are the runs I most look forward to every week, and friends I know I will have for life. I am crazy, goofy, nerdy and strange, but Marathon High accepts me with all my jagged edges. My teens teach me new things about life and myself every week.

Marathon High makes me always try to do the right thing in business and my personal life. I make a ton of mistakes, but I try to give praise and thanks when it is due, apologize when i am wrong, reach out to encourage someone who is struggling, and always give more when I can, because there is always someone who has less than I do.

We just finished this season with the run 13.1 around Springfield and Evergreen, and it was just as great as expected. It felt like the whole race was Marathon High students and supporters. We started with a really fun group and stuck to our 3 and 30 plan. The two guys were feeling great, so they went on ahead with my dear friend and fellow coach Tara Vanderperren Showalter.

Jordan wanted to drop back, but no way was I going to leave her..........we ran every step together and she never gave up. We got to run with students and coaches from other schools. We high fived every single person we saw to encourage them. There was a guy who was giving a high five even to every volunteer as he ran along. We picked up various groups of students as we ran. We talked, laughed and pushed hard until the very end.

As we saw the finish line, we sprinted and my sweet Jordan tried to outkick me, but we crossed together, greeted by parents and other students from our group. We all celebratad with hugs and high fives. You know Carrie Ann Whitsell I sure love you and your sweet young adult!!

We waited and cheered for each group as they came in. We saw a prom proposal, lots of high fives, lots of tears and smiles, and a few people limping.

Our last girl Erin, never gave up, and I ran her in. She loves running, but she doubts herself, and struggles with asthma. But she has finished the last two 13.1 races, and she will always have running, as she graduates this year and moves on to college!

Life is hard and full of challenges, ups and downs, but if you can run 13.1 in the heat, the cold, the rain, and amidst all the other obstacles life puts in your way.............really you can do ANYTHING! Thank you Deborah Dunhamfor having the vision of Marathon High, and for these last three amazing years!!!

Now it's time to think about Season 8 Jackie Horner Culver!!!

But first...............I have to run across Tennessee.................for Marathon High, in July! Stay tuned for my upcoming fundraiser...........Regina Runs Tennesee for Teens!