When Jay Caputo decided in 2018 that he was going to retire from the only career and passion he had ever known, he was a bit scared. As a professional chef from the age of 19, he immersed himself in his career and achieved amazing success. He owned, and operated, several successful restaurants, and had the honor of receiving the prestigious James Beard Award Semi-Finalist nomination on 5 occasions. In his mind, Jay’s culinary journey was complete. It was time to embark on a new journey, one that put his family above all else. And it is within this second act that Jay has found his true calling.
As a licensed Realtor, Jay has found that, surprisingly, many of the skills that are inherent in the restaurant business, translate quite well to Real Estate. His attention to detail, intense work ethic, and commitment to customer service are the common themes that have driven his success, and the rise has been swift. Since officially transitioning in late 2019 into real estate, he has helped hundreds of clients with their homes and received awards such as Rookie of the Year, Rising Star, and Top Producer from numerous publications. Jay attributes his success to little more than hard work, attentiveness to his client’s needs, and a new passion to learn and become the best at his craft.
In 2021, when The Caputo Group was created, Jay vowed to keep the focus simple---how can we help buyers, sellers, and investors get what they want?! The team has rallied around this plan, and the results have been tremendous. TCG has quickly gained respect within the industry and has since aligned with the leading brokerage in the DMV, Compass.
Here, Jay talks with Haute Residence about his windy real estate journey and his biggest success.
11721 Plantaion Dr. Great Falls, VA 22066 - Offered at $4,250,000
Why did you choose Real Estate?
I chose real estate after I retired from a successful career as a fine dining chef. Real estate gives me the opportunity to help people in a way that is not dissimilar to being a chef, albeit in a very different avenue!
What was your journey to where you are today?
My journey was a windy one that went from being a homeless line cook in San Francisco to owning some restaurants then losing one to bankruptcy, to operating my own successful real estate brokerage. I have learned a ton along the way, and am grateful for my close family, friends, and clients who have supported my journey.
What is one of your favorite client stories?
One of my favorite stories is sticking with some clients for over 3 years through some big changes in their lives. I showed them their first home on the day my dad passed away, and helped them close on a beautiful home, at the right time for them, over 3 years later! What a journey it has been!
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
What is your biggest success story to date?
My biggest success story is that I took a challenging listing that 3 other agents tried to sell, that had been on and off the market for over 3 years, and sold it for over $200k over the last listing price for the owners. It was an amazing feeling.
What makes your market unique?
Our market (Washington D.C.) is very transient as we are the home of the nation's Capital. We have 6 major sports teams, a ton of tech, and industry leaders so we have to be very malleable and amenable to a lot of special requests and demands. This is what we do best, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
For more information, please contact Jay Caputo at 703-340-7996 or jaytherelentless@gmail.com
Jay Caputo is one of the exclusive agents representing the Washington D.C. real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of his listings here.
