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Welcome to Unlocking Real Estate - My First Commission where we dive into real stories, big wins, and early lessons learned from highly successful rookie real estate agents and brokers. This is the podcast where we explore how real estate can transform lives one home at a time by sitting down each week with a new agent or broker who has found incredible success in their first year.
Your hosts are instructors and leaders at Colibri Real Estate school, one of the largest real estate educators in the nation where we focus on helping people like you get started or find continued success in their careers.
We’d also love to hear from you! Send your comments, key takeaways, or recommendations to UnlockingRealEstate@colibrirealestate.com
Interested in being on the podcast, or know someone who might be? Please fill out our form: https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish
55 Episodes
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What does it really take to break into real estate, find your footing, and land your first deal — even when the market is competitive and every transaction matters? In this episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission, we sit down with Conor Hix, REALTOR® with Cutler Real Estate serving Columbus & Grove City, Ohio. Conor shares how he navigated the early ups and downs of launching his real estate career, built confidence working with buyers and sellers, and leaned into his stren...
What does it look like to enter real estate during a shifting market — while balancing work, family, and the pressure of securing your very first client? Meet Lauren Morelli, whose determination, positivity, and people-first mindset helped her break into the industry and build real momentum early on. In this episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission, Lauren shares how she: Found her footing after getting licensed Stayed committed through challenges and uncertainty Leaned on me...
What do radio production and real estate have in common? According to John Hodorovych, everything. In this episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission, John shares how he left a 13-year career in radio during the Great Resignation and rebuilt his professional life from the ground up as a Realtor® with Keller Williams Metropolitan in New Jersey. John walks us through: Why leaving corporate radio pushed him toward entrepreneurship How producing radio shows prepared him to “produce” ...
What does it look like to go from a sudden corporate layoff… to becoming one of the fastest-rising agents in Washington? Meet Tanya Palacios, a former recruiter and competitive bodybuilder who entered real estate after a major career shakeup — and went on to close 13 transactions in her first year and 20 in her second. She’s already a Rising Star Award winner and serves on the Associate Leadership Council at her Keller Williams office. In this episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Comm...
Forest Lake–based agent Carson Erickson went from juggling bartending, city work, and coaching lacrosse to passing his exam on the first try and closing a wildly complex first deal. He breaks down how he built momentum fast with open houses, consistent social content (yes, “Waterfront Wednesdays” ice dips), and ruthless time-blocking—then leveled up to mentoring new agents. What you’ll learn: How Carson landed his first listing in ~3 months and handled a 3x-fallout contract Open houses as a...
What happens when a former property manager from England moves to the U.S., struggles through his early real estate days, and ultimately builds one of the top-producing global networks at eXp Realty? You get the incredible story of Barry Pulver — a journey fueled by resilience, timing, reinvention, and a whole lot of heart. In this episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission, host Liam sits down with Barry to unpack: 🔥 Why he moved to America with no plan… except chasing love ...
In this episode of *Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission*, we dive into the story of Braden Lopez-Biggs—a real estate pro who took bold steps into the Arizona market and has built his business on authenticity, community, and grit. Braden shares: * How he found his niche and became the go-to in his region * The mindset, tools, and habits that helped him land his first deals and grow from there * How he uses local insight, client-first service, and smart marketing to stand out in a comp...
How does a corporate finance professional reinvent herself to become a **multi-state Realtor®** closing over **$7 million in sales** across **Illinois, Indiana, and Georgia**? Meet **Yolanda Jeffries**, a 2025 **RISMedia Rookie of the Year finalist** whose leap from corporate life to real estate success proves it’s never too late to chase your purpose — and win big doing it. In this episode of *Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission*, host Tina Lapp sits down with Yolanda to discuss he...
Lindsay Smith went from new agent to leading a 500‑agent Keller Williams market center doing $1.45B in volume—fast. In this episode, she breaks down the exact moves that built her business (and later her leadership style): saying yes to the right coffee, authentic follow-up that isn’t “just checking in,” turning local knowledge into conversion, and building a leadership team that complements your strengths. What you’ll learn: The lender partnership that became a top referral engine Follow-u...
How does a master’s-prepared nurse become one of Arizona’s top-producing agents in just three years — while raising two young kids and balancing a firefighter husband’s 24-hour shifts? Meet Crystal Novak, a 2025 RISMedia Rookie of the Year finalist with 22 transactions and $22 million in volume under her belt — all while proving that you can build a thriving real estate business and stay present as a mom. In this inspiring episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission, host Tina Lap...
How does a martial artist and former construction worker go from *fixing drywall* to managing *$11 million in real estate sales* in less than two years? In this episode of *Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission*, host **Tina Lapp** sits down with **Bryan Coco**, a 2025 **RISMedia Rookie of the Year finalist** from Long Island, New York. Bryan’s story is anything but typical — from his early days in luxury Miami developments to flipping houses upstate during COVID, to now leading sales a...
How does a former Winnebago sales executive pivot into real estate and close nearly 40 transactions in her first year? 🚀 Meet Jennifer Mink, a small-town Nevada agent with a big entrepreneurial drive who proves it’s never too late to reinvent yourself. In this episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission, Jen shares how she: Left corporate America to chase freedom and purposeLeveraged her background in sales & entrepreneurship to dominate her marketUsed old-school methods like ha...
How does a former nurse and stay-at-home mom go from zero experience to 10 transactions in her very first year—and become a finalist for the 2025 RISMedia Rookie of the Year award? Meet Julie Peteritas, a Berkshire Hathaway Realtor® from Lancaster, PA, whose inspiring leap into real estate shows what’s possible with hard work, creativity, and perseverance. In this episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission, Julie shares how she turned her family’s investment background into a thri...
What does it take to bounce back from five failed real estate exams, reinvent your career during the pandemic, and grow into a thriving Michigan agent? In this episode of *Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission*, we meet **Amber Boone**, a social media marketing pro turned full-time Realtor® with Thrive Realty in Troy, Michigan. Amber’s story is all about resilience, authenticity, and building a business rooted in helping people—not chasing transactions. She shares: * How losing her ma...
How do you go from graduating college during COVID, working in mortgages, and feeling “too young” for real estate—to becoming one of the **Top 25 Rookies of the Year**? In this episode of *Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission*, we sit down with **Caroline Coladonato** of RE/MAX Ready in Pennsylvania. Caroline opens up about her journey from the mortgage world to real estate, how she built confidence as a young agent, and why authentic networking and staying true to herself fueled her s...
What does it take to go from running a sewing business to building a thriving career in real estate? In this episode of *Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission*, we sit down with **Tayissa Gabreski**, a former artist and business owner who completely reinvented her career in her 40s—and quickly found success as a Keller Williams agent in the Seattle-Tacoma area. Tayissa shares: * How she balanced running her own business, raising a toddler, and earning her real estate license * Why tell...
In this episode of My First Commission on the Unlocking Real Estate podcast by Colibri Real Estate, we talk to Christina Goodpaster, a Richmond-area REALTOR® and team lead at Providence Hill Real Estate. Drawing from her background in fashion and product development, Christina shares how she transformed her creative know-how and community connections into a thriving real estate career—closing deals consistently and earning her spot in the top 2% of Richmond Metro agents. She dives into...
In this episode of My First Commission on the Unlocking Real Estate podcast by Colibri Real Estate, we spotlight Heavenn Perez, a rising Realtor® with Century 21 Transcendent Realty in Medina, Ohio. Heavenn’s journey proves that discipline, mentorship, and persistence can turn a dream into a thriving career. After working full-time in manufacturing for seven years, she made the leap into real estate—balancing 120 hours of coursework, a demanding job, and long commutes. Within her first year,...
From Pro Baseball Dreams to Carolina Luxury Homes: Eric Schultz’s Rookie Real Estate Journey In this episode of *My First Commission* from the *Unlocking Real Estate* podcast by Colibri Real Estate, we feature **Eric Schultz**, a Luxury Home Specialist with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Carolinas Realty serving **North & South Carolina**. Eric shares his unique path—from pursuing a professional baseball career to becoming a trusted Realtor® in the Carolinas—and how his competitive dri...
In this episode of My First Commission on Unlocking Real Estate, we speak with Dan Merrill, a retired Air Force recruiter who retired at 43 and quickly pivoted to real estate with Coldwell Banker Premier Realty in Las Vegas. With unmatched discipline and military precision, Dan closed his very first transactions in under two months while setting a powerful foundation for his new career. Key insights you'll hear: How military discipline and structured routines became his real estate superpower...
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