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It Took Me Over 11 Years to Make the Call!!

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty of California, Inc. CA DRE #01490977

It Took Me Over 11 Years to Make the Call!!

 

I can’t believe it’s been over 11 years since George Souto  and I joined AR, and started following each other.

 

George SoutoI finally made the call this morning to talk with him in person…and caught him right after lunch and during a short break he had from a convention he is attending for his company. The stars and planets must have been aligned when I finally picked up that phone!

 

It was such a treat to actually talk with him after all these years, and no doubt hundreds and hundreds of comments on each other’s posts.

 

I was so disappointed when I was in New Haven CT back in 2014 and was able to attend a small meetup, but unfortunately George was tied up with clients so a face to face never happened.

 

Here’s hoping for meeting him IRL at NAR in Boston in November, and whoever else can make it – stay tuned for details on the time and place for that meetup with our New England friends and others from around the country. It should be a blast. And I am sure hoping for good weather for everyone’s travel and none of that white or icy stuff.

 

One of the things I have always appreciated about George is his kindness, which always shines through in his posts and in his comments…even when he has kidded me about our housing prices here in Cali. And that was certainly true in our conversation today – the kindness, not the kidding!

 

We talked a bit about the new company he is with, the mortgage arm of William Raveis Real Estate. It’s been a big change for him in terms of some travel, and needing to cultivate new relationships by visiting multiple offices and attending open houses on Sunday (something George has always seemed to excel at, certainly he does here on AR).

 

And being busy means it interferes SOME with his blogging. But we still get to enjoy all that he shares about local life in his area as well as all the important mortgage information and updates he passes along.

 

Those of you who follow George will no doubt remember all the wonderful posts about his vacation last year to the Azores (a collection of 9 volcanic islands and part of Portugal), a return after many years to his boyhood home, Santa Maria.

 

Santa Maria in the Azores 

 

The beautiful photos and the stories about family he hasn’t seen in many years were such fun to read, and today I enjoyed hearing him talk more about his visit with them and to 2 of the islands there – Santa Maria and Sao Miguel. And of course he hopes to return although there are no immediate plans to do so.

 

Of course I had to ask him about the weather, former New Englander that I am. It sounds like things have not been too bad, with some “warmer” weather recently, but then March can be such a funny month in New England, and April can bring its own surprises as I recall.

 

While they did experience 3 Nor’easters in George’s area, the most recent one (I don’t dare say the last one) veered further west. George seems to take the cold weather and snow in stride, as New Englanders tend to do. I’m glad I don’t have to try and pretend I like it any longer.

 

We had a wonderful conversation and probably could have talked much longer, but George had to get back to the convention, and I had a brief appointment to take care of. I’m looking forward to seeing him in November!!

Posted by

Jeff Dowler, CRS
Certified Residential Specialist / Realtor®


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Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

I'm seeing some of these phone call posts... must be a contest on!  This was fun to read and learn about George Souto.

Mar 28, 2018 09:13 PM
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

Good job, Jeff Dowler, glad to see you are still participating in contests.

Mar 28, 2018 09:53 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Jeff, George Souto  is an old friend we have spoken often over the years, and he and Lisa Von Domek  are twisting my arm to go to Boston, MA in of all times in November.... not too thrilled about the weather... so now Diane is also nagging me too...Endre

Mar 28, 2018 11:08 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Thank you for sharing your conversation with George. I have read many of his posts and reblogged some

Mar 29, 2018 01:42 AM
Dario Ferreira
Attleboro, MA
Internet Marketing & SEO

Got say, I was really surprised to see a picture of the beautiful São Lourenço Bay (Santa Maria) in your post. As George, I was also born in Santa Maria, so I recognized it immediately. Thanks for pointing out that George is from Santa Maria, Jeff Dowler 

Mar 29, 2018 02:24 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Feorge and I have talked a number of times....he is a delight and we all appreciate the insights and information  he shares with us.

Mar 29, 2018 02:54 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I cannot believe I was not already following George. We comment back and forth all the time. I am following him now, thank you!

 

Mar 29, 2018 06:18 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning again Jeff. I too enjoy and follow George. He is the real deal.

Mar 29, 2018 06:21 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

William Feela Hope you will be able to find the time.

Thanks Sheri Sperry - MCNE® We had a great time. Too bad it couldn't be longer!

Jeff

Mar 29, 2018 07:37 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Gloria Todor  Thanks for stopping in. It was great fun after all these years. I see you are in Media! I grew up on the Main Line and lived in Paoli in the early years and later in Malvern. I left when I was 18 and went off to college but my parents lived in West Chester for years.

Jeff

Mar 29, 2018 07:39 AM
Gloria Todor

Jeff, Nice that you ended up on the west coast. Much better weather than back here.  I lived in Southern Cal for 4 years and could never get used to the Christmas season without cold, but there is always a trade off. Thanks for letting me know.

Mar 29, 2018 11:24 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Kathy Streib  :) :)  George is definitely all of those things!

Hi Debbie Reynolds I'm so glad I caught him and that he had time in his busy schedule to talk!

Jeff

Mar 29, 2018 07:53 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089  Yes there is a contest going on this month for people to call up to 3 Rainers and write about them - here's the link.

Jeff

Mar 29, 2018 08:01 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Thanks Michelle Carr-Crowe-Top 1% Diamond Certified Real Estate Team Sells Cupertino San Jose Homes-Just Call 408-252-8900  I try to participate each month but it doesn't always work that way.

Jeff

Mar 29, 2018 08:02 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Endre Barath, Jr. 

Well now that would be great fun! I am not keen on the idea of being in Boston in November either, but I survived Chicago in November last year so it might not be too bad. We are thinking of extending the time and visiting some good friends on the Cape after NAR/CRS is over!

Jeff

Mar 29, 2018 08:04 AM
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Jeff,

Very interesting. I never knew that about George. Glad you made contact.

Mar 29, 2018 09:24 AM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

Thanks for sharing your experience in calling George.

He sounds like a great call I should make.

Thanks

Mar 29, 2018 04:58 PM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

What a great post!  Good for you for making that call and "meeting" George for the second time.  It's so cool that you guys comment and follow each other, with the common New Englander thread.  You were right not to say the "last" storm!  

Apr 03, 2018 10:41 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi John Wiley  - he shares some pretty good mortgage information with us on a regular basis and worth following if you are not.

Thanks Jan Green  We have been friends for a long time!! I hope to actually meet him in Boston in November!

Jeff

Apr 04, 2018 09:14 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Jeff Dowler, CRS - This is a perfect endorsement for George Souto -Wouldn't it be something if you could organize a Summit in Boston to have all your favorite friends up there for an AR Meet-Up? 

May all of your dreams and George's come true. 

Jun 10, 2018 07:09 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Patricia Feager 

A meet-up IS planned for November 2 in Boston and we are hoping for a big turnout with lots of New England Rainers along with otheres from around the country.

Jeff

Jun 10, 2018 07:48 AM