New Oldfather Group Realtor Nick Cruz chasing his dreams

Newly licensed Delaware Realtor Nick Cruz likes to compare buying a home to running a marathon, with a huge dose of patience and a certain amount of due diligence required to find just the right property or run the best race.

And as one of only a handful of “ultra running” real estate agents in the mid-Atlantic, he certainly knows what he’s talking about. Whether it’s running marathons or finding ideal homes for his clients, it’s the hard work and the commitment to excellence that drive him on a daily basis.

“I love to feel exhausted at the end of the day because it really makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something. And when you combine that with successful achievements, it becomes an even more gratifying experience,” said Cruz, now a Realtor with the Oldfather Group of Ocean Atlantic Sotheby’s International Realty in Rehoboth Beach. “I love working harder than everyone else; that’s just fun for me.”

A native of Orange County, N.Y., with Puerto Rican heritage, Cruz now lives in Milford, having moved to southern Delaware in May. He began running track and cross country in high school as a way to stay in shape for soccer season. He tried his first ultra marathon at age 16, and running became a driving force in his life. He worked as a college running coach after graduating from Stony Brook University with a degree in psychology. 

“Running just became a passion of mine, and it became more and more ingrained into my daily life,” Cruz said.

Cruz ran the Rehoboth Beach Seashore Marathon on Delaware Day, Dec. 7, finishing first in his age group and logging a time of 2 hours, 40 minutes and 53 seconds. A bit of a running perfectionist, he was less than satisfied, saying, “I ran a lot slower than I wanted to.”

Cruz now spends most of his days in a shirt and tie, working to find clients their own piece of the American dream, focusing on residential real estate sales at the Delaware beaches. But his running shoes will certainly not be getting a break any time soon. Among his goals for the future are running a 100-mile race and participating in an Ironman Triathlon.

“I went into the real estate business because, just like in running, you get out of it what you put into it,” Cruz said. “Nobody can put in the miles for you in running, just like nobody can put in the work for you in real estate. You have to get out there and make things happen for you. The more you do that, the better you’re going to do in this business, and the better your team is going to do as well.”

"Nick is a bright light and rising star in real estate. His warmth, passion and commitment are evident in all that he does,” said Dustin Oldfather, founder and chief executive of the Oldfather Group. “We are delighted for him to be a part of our team and to grow his business with us.”

The Oldfather Group was founded in 2004 and specializes in real estate sales throughout coastal Delaware and Maryland. For more information, go to oldfatherrealestate.com. Nick Cruz can be reached at nicholas@theoldfathergroup.com or 845-857-8659.