My life, family, and career had begun. I thought everything was set in place, established. An unexpected diagnosis changed everything, teaching me a valuable lesson along the way.
I am a San Diegan born and raised. Growing up here, I had a brother and two sisters. Novella, my oldest sister, was a force of nature. She was the driving force behind our family. When I got my learner’s permit, she is the one who told me to get in her car and taught me to drive a stick. She was always there, moving each of us along in her own way.
I grew up and moved out. Though staying in San Diego, I started my own life. I met my wife while attending San Diego State University and several years after graduation, we got married and started a family of our own. I had already started my career in real estate and had been working in it for over a decade. Then one day, I received a phone call. Novella was diagnosed with cancer.
Our family was very close. We saw each other often. We spent holidays at Novella’s house, enjoying huge gatherings. When I first heard about her diagnosis I thought, “but she’ll be okay.” When we first hear bad news, we always hope and believe that our loved ones will be okay, but that is not what happened. She had a rare cancer in her tongue, and it was particularly unusual because it was common in smokers. She had never smoked a day in her life.
As the weeks turned into months, it became more and more obvious that she was not getting better. There was never a point of remission, never a pause in the battle. We had been clinging to the shred of belief that there might be some treatment, some cure. But the doctors had done everything they could and when she took a sudden turn, six days later, she passed away.
She had been the glue of our family and with her gone, things were not the same. We spent the following years finding our new normal. Through all of this, I knew I had to keep moving forward, keep going. My wife and two children were counting on me and Novella would not have wanted me to stop. One of my favorite analogies about real estate is that it acts like an escalator, it goes up and down but, in the end, it is always moving upward. I realized that life itself was a lot of the same, those downs were rough, but I knew there would be more upward moments ahead.
I love being a licensed REALTOR®, I have been doing it since 1992 and it is become a part of me. I am married to the love of my life, Jamie, and we love spending time with our two daughters, Bailee and Cami. We have season tickets to the Aztecs, enjoy tailgating, and going to games as a family. We are still close with the rest of my family and see them whenever we can. Our community matters to us, attending local sporting and arts events, we are an active part of this community and love showing our support.
All those years ago, I realized that nothing is guaranteed in this life except movement. We are always moving and so is life. There is no pause button. I have embraced my momentum and know that it is given me the life I enjoy today. As your REALTOR®, I can help you gain momentum and get moving in the right direction.
Buying a home can be stressful and overwhelming. With market changes, price fluctuations, and not to mention the emotions involved, it is a lot. That is where I can help. I have been a licensed REALTOR® since 1992 and have seen what can happen. I know what to expect and plan for, and how to best prepare you for every outcome. Real estate is like an escalator, it goes up and down but in the long-term it will only go up. With my extensive experience and background in finance, I can help you get the most out of each transaction. Each one is a steppingstone to help you build more wealth and create a legacy for your family. I believe in real estate, the possibilities available, and I know how to best help you achieve your long-term success. My clients matter to me and I want to see them succeed not just in the first transaction, but in the years to come. Once you choose me as your REALTOR®, we are just getting started and will only go up from here.
With gratitude,
Jace Coleman
Broker-Associate, REALTOR®