Unlocking Real Estate: Colibri Real Estate Podcast
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
Episodes
28 episodes
From Instagram to $10M: How Paul Haley Closed His First Deal and Built a Real Estate Empire
In this episode of My First Commission, we sit down with Paul Haley, a Scottsdale-based real estate agent who transformed his career through the power of social media. Starting with a single Instagram post, Paul leveraged digital platf...
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42:00
From Daycare Director to $10.7M Rookie: Stacy Cole’s Real Estate Rise
In this episode of My First Commission, we spotlight Stacy Cole, who transitioned from a church daycare director in Saraland, Alabama, to RISMedia’s 2023 National Rookie of the Year. Achieving $10.7 million in sales across 54 transacti...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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35:45
From Twin Mom to Top Producer: Keely McNeal’s $10M Real Estate Debut
In this episode of My First Commission, we feature Keely McNeal, a Georgia-based REALTOR® who transitioned from a stay-at-home mom to a top-producing agent, closing over $10 million in sales within her first year. Keely shares her insp...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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37:35
My First Commission: From Fitness Buff to Real Estate Pro – Cain D’Amico’s Rapid Rise in Cleveland
In this episode of My First Commission from the Unlocking Real Estate podcast by Colibri Real Estate, we chat with Cain D’Amico, a dynamic Realtor at Lokal Real Estate in Cleveland, Ohio. Cain shares his journey from earning h...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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20:29
31 Transactions in Year One: How Cindy Perez Built a 6-Figure Real Estate Business
How do you sell over $13.5M in real estate in your first year?Cindy Summer Perez shares how she did just that—while building a 6-figure marketing agency and balancing life as a broker, model, and community leader. In this on-loca...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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48:21
My First Commission: From Air Force to Real Estate Force – Chaka Sellers’ Rookie Rise
In this episode of My First Commission from the Unlocking Real Estate podcast by Colibri Real Estate, we sit down with Chaka Sellers—a U.S. Air Force veteran turned top-producing agent in Sumter, South Carolina. Chaka shares h...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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28:24
Agent Doing Deals in the Delivery Room
Our guest on this episode is Sarah Lewandowski, Realtor with Compass New Jersey LLC. At the time of her RISMedia Rookie of the Year Nomination for NJ for 2023 (her 2022 performance year) she sold 39 homes for a total of $11.8 million in sales v...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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39:51
Television Ad Exec Turned Real Estate Powerhouse!
Today our guest is Mandolyn McIntyre-Crow. With a remarkable track record of nearly $14 million in sales in 2022, Mandolyn McIntyre-Crow stands as one of the foremost names in the real estate industry. Her dedication, innovation, and unwavering...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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29:22
Indiana ROY Finalist with first year sales over $6M
Today we introduce Matthew Salgado, proud member of the Carol Dobrzynski Team at Realty Executives Premier. He is a Full time Realtor that specializes in Residential Properties such as Luxury Homes, Single-Family, Investment Properties, and New...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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38:26
Former Elementary Teacher with first year sales over $5.5M
Today we talk to Lena Keith with Pivot Realty Group in Fort Wright, KY. (across the river from Cincinnati). She is going into her fourth year of real estate and has maintained being a top agent in her brokerage. Prior to real estate, she was an...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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37:24
Law Enforcement Officer that became an Agent at the age of 46!
Today our guest is Mitch Willis, who began his real estate career in July 2021, bringing with him a diverse background in retail sales and law enforcement. At 46, he made the bold decision to transition into a field that offered both financial ...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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33:02
The Agent Who Was a Pastor
Meet Alex Hollander, The Face of SCV Real Estate. He is a real estate agent with Equity Union in Santa Clarita, California—aka "Awesometown". 2023 was his first full year in real estate, and he was recognized as a Rookie of the Year candidate. ...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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35:12
Former Body Builder with $2M in first year of Real Estate
Today we talk to Doug Phillips, born and raised in Cincinnati, OH. Doug Phillips has been passionate about real estate for several years. After attending Ohio University, Doug dove into the world of real estate investing. Doug specializes in mu...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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43:24
Stay-at-Home-Mom Turned Successful Real Estate Agent!
Meet Daniele Lundin, a wife, mother of 4 adult children and a grandmother of one! Her and her husband have bought, lived in, renovated and sold homes for profit while raising their children several times. Her current broker has been their real ...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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28:16
Fresh College Grad with $2M in Volume in First Year of Real Estate
Today's episode is with Sofia Espinoza, she is 23 years old and lives in Northwest Indiana. She has been in real estate for about 4 years and has been with Century 21 Circle her entire career. She is a part of The David Taylor Team, who has bee...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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32:37
Professional Hockey Player Turned Agent with over $8M in His First Year
This week's episode is with Colton Heffley. He currently lives in Nashville, TN and works at the Ashton Real Estate Group of RE/MAX Advantage. Since beginning at the brokerage he has become a Children's Miracle Network agent. He also has taken ...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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22:25
How a Former Professional Equestrian Sold $4m in Her First Year as an Agent
Meet Melissa Douglas, an agent with Berkshire Hathaway Central IL Realtors in central IL/Bloomington/Normal Area. She is closing in on her second year in real estate, and was awarded Rookie of the year for the Midwest in her first year. She sta...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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25:51
Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission - Gold Coast student with $8.7M in first year sales!
In this episode we get to interview Sasha Valdes, CEO of Airos Homes at REAL Broker LLC. She's a mom of two young children, and right after having her second baby, she changed careers and became an agent within months! On top of that...she also...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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48:38
Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission - George Gatt Interview
In this episode, we chat with George Gatt - proud realtor with Stephen Joseph Properties based out of Long Island, NY. He says being named a regional finalist for RISMedia's Real Estate Rookie of the Year award has been an incredible experience...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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22:25
Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission - Jessica Bauer Interview
In today's episode, we get to meet Jessica Bauer, most anyone who knows her calls her Jess (but some that have known her forever call her Jessie!). She is a part of the One Roof Team of The KW Collective in Maryland. She was born and raised in ...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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38:22
Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission - Yankun Zhen Interview
Meet Yankun Zhen with TeamFast Brokered by eXp Realty, in Oakland CA. As a Rookie of the Year candidate for RISmedia, his journey has been marked by dedication, client satisfaction, and strong sales performance. In his first year, he successful...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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30:19
Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission - Emily Blake Interview
Meet Emily Blake, Realtor with The Chris Fritch Team & eXp realty in Twin Cities Metro. Emily closed 27 transactions in her first year in real estate, and has another 44 year to date in her second year. Emily was recognized as one of the to...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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27:55
Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission - Mary Cousley Interview
Meet Mary Cousley, who lives in Edwardsville, IL and is with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services/Select Properties. To Mary, her achievement as a Rookie of the Year candidate is certainly a reflection of the success she's had helping clients buy a...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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26:58
Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission - Shirley Kimmel Interview
Meet Shirley Kimmel, realtor with John L. Scott in Redmond, WA. Her career as an agent began in the middle of 2022, after studying with Rockwell Institute and passing the licensing exam. She says it has been such a pleasure to help people with ...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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38:21
Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission - Heather Stenson Interview
Meet Heather Stenson, she is a real estate professional with Connect Realty, based in The Woodlands. She is proud to have partnered with Veterans United Realty, which allows her to specialize in helping military families and veterans navigate t...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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38:11