Giving Back ~ Danielle Caropepe

TIME AND LOVE

Danielle Caropepe

By Brandon Jerrell

In a business defined by its transactions, mundane numbers on paper will quickly become unbearably boring. That is why these transactions need to be treated as much more than just papers and numbers.

Danielle Caropepe with Hover Girl Properties tackles this by making sure that it rarely feels like a business transaction. She makes certain that all of her clients see her as a friend, and as a friend, they will be a priority.

Danielle’s care for those around her goes far beyond the world of real estate. She is a puppy raiser/ trainer for K9s for Warriors. “K9s for Warriors is the nation’s largest nonprofit service provider for trained service dogs to military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma,” she explains.

West Coast Origins

Danielle was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area. She is of the second generation born in the United States to Italian immigrants. “We are a large, tight-knit family,” she shares. She went to a Catholic school from kindergarten through 12th grade before going on to pursue a career in dental. From there, she earned an AA as well as a certificate from a private trade school.

“I grew up watching my dad start at the bottom and eventually make his way to the top and own his own very successful business. It taught me grit and perseverance. That if you want something, you need to work for it.”

Danielle met her now-husband when she was only 9 and he was 11. They got married in their early 20s. “We worked hard and bought our first house when I was 24 in San Francisco, a total fixer-upper!” Danielle describes. “We completely gutted it and lived there for three years, then

went on to buy our second house! Another fixer-upper that we completely gutted too. I think that’s where the first seed of loving real estate was planted.”

Before real estate, Danielle was a lead surgical assistant for an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and plastic surgeon in San Francisco for eight years. She absolutely loved her job and the patients that she would see, but that changed when she had her first child and became a stay-at-home mom.

Coming to Florida

“A pivotal moment in my life was moving from California to Florida,” Danielle recalls. “It was completely unexpected and felt very fast. My husband was offered a job in October, we flew out to see the area in November, and then we were closing on our home in Nocatee and officially in Florida the first week of February.”

“Leaving the place I was born and raised with all my family was hard, but I’m thankful for it. Moving to Florida gave me an independence and a realization of who I really am,” she shares. “We have met some of the most amazing friends here that have truly become our family. While the move seemed so overwhelming at first, it was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. My parents, sister and her family will be moving here this year.”

She currently lives in Nocatee with her husband, Jimmy; their 10-year-old son, Rowen; their 7-year-old daughter, Anna; as well as their four dogs. “A Weimaraner named Blue, a beagle/ dachshund mix named Willa, and our two K9 Lab pups, Weber, and my first female I’ll be raising, Storm.”

Danielle enjoys spending time with her husband, Jimmy; their 10-year-old son, Rowen; and their 7-year-old daughter, Anna.

Finding Fun in Real Estate

Though Danielle got her first exposure to the world of real estate when she bought her first and second homes in California, this seed really began to sprout only a few years ago in 2020.

“I have always loved homes, from a lot of different aspects. Build process, design, floor plans — there are so many different pieces to a home, and I’ve always been intrigued.” Danielle goes on to mention that she once believed that she wanted to be an interior designer, but after purchasing a new home with her now-boss, Lara Yehl, she absolutely fell in love with the process.

With nothing to do during the majority of 2020 due to COVID-19, she decided to take the required classes to get her license. She got her license in October of 2020 and started working with Hover Girl Properties in January of 2021.

“I really enjoy the “hunt” part of it, getting to know my customers and helping them find the perfect house.”

K9s for Warriors

For as long as she can remember, Danielle has been volunteering. Volunteer hours were required as part of her Catholic school, and from there, she fell in love with it.

Danielle enjoys donating a lot of her time to K9s for Warriors. “K9s mission is to end veteran suicide and to give these men and women their life back. K9s continues to raise awareness for the invisible disabilities and to advocate/create policy-level reform.

“My role in this organization is a volunteer puppy raiser, which means I receive a dog at 8 weeks, and I will raise and train this puppy until they are 12-16 months of age. We go to classes, train at home, and they are usually with me wherever I go! Once they have completed training, they will be paired with their warrior and go through a three-week training and, upon completion, will graduate. I am currently training two puppies right now,” she smiles.

Danielle’s last two dogs both became station dogs — “Buster” at Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and “Gunner” at Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department. “In order for these dogs to be successful, you must create a strong bond with them. While it is very hard to “give them back,” seeing our dog with their warrior/first responder is worth it. What makes it all OK is we simply do not need them. We raise and train them for the men and women who do need them, and we need to keep raising and training for them,” she says.

We appreciate Danielle Caropepe for the dedication and time she gives to those around her. And the love she puts into each and every dog that she raises is certainly felt in full by those who need it most.

Website: daniellecaropeperealtor.com