As anyone in the business can tell you, there are no certainties in the residential real estate game. Hot housing markets, economic downturns, bubbles, and full-on crashes can present unprecedented challenges and agents must know how to adjust to all of these circumstances. This agent spotlight, sponsored by Inwood National Bank, introduces us to RE/MAX DFW Associates real estate veteran Jenny Capritta, whose 36 years in the business have given her an expert edge.
During her tenure as a Dallas Realtor, Capritta has weathered some of the market’s most memorable moments. She was there in 2008 when the subprime mortgage crisis rocked the real estate world. She witnessed the record-high prices and housing inventory declines of the post-pandemic era. All of these, Capritta survived in a cinch because she came into the profession during one of its most precarious moments.
Roots in a Rocky Market
“The financial world was rocked on October 19, 1987 by what is now known as Black Monday,” said Capritta.
At the time, she was working at a quaint local firm nestled on Greenville Ave.
“It was a day of devastation and disbelief as the stock market plummeted without warning,” she said. “The crash was swift, severe, and unprecedented. It left investors and analysts scrambling to understand what had happened and how to recover. While the memories of Black Monday may have faded over time, the lessons learned from that day continue to shape the way we approach investing and risk management today.”
Capritta was in a down market for about the first four years of her career. She not only survived but thrived by being able to adapt. In 1988, she got 40 foreclosure listings from mortgage lender Empire of America. They took her all over the Metroplex, selling unfinished homes, putting thousands of miles on her car, and working 80 hours a week.
“From about 1987 – 1991, I did mostly foreclosures,” said Capritta. “I would also work with prime mortgage insurers to help them subsidize their losses.”
Creating Community and Connections with RE/MAX DFW Associates
Things eventually turned around in the early 1990s. But it was a slow and steady race.
“Homes appreciated two to three percent a year,” said Capritta. “The foreclosures eventually fell off the market and things got better. By the mid-‘90s, I was selling a lot of houses because my area in White Rock Lake didn’t have a lot of foreclosures and featured long-time owners with lots of equity.”
Capritta has lived in Northeast Dallas for over 40 years. It’s where she got her start and still services her clients.
“I’m a people person,” said Capritta. “And the people in this area make this job so great. I know people everywhere I go. There’s such a sense of community here and we all look out for one another. Here, you’re not selling, you’re servicing your clients.”
As for advice for others coming up in the real estate game, Capritta had this to say:
“You have to go out and be a go-getter every day,” Capritta said. “You have to go out, do marketing and advertising, and stay close to your clients. This way, when the markets go south, you still have your base to support you.”
This feature is sponsored by Inwood National Bank. Get started on your home loan by reaching out to them today.
