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
49 episodes
How Braden Lopez-Biggs Built a Market-Edge in Arizona Real Estate
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....
•
Season 1
•
Episode 55
•
46:32
Corporate Finance to Multi-State Realtor | How Yolanda Jeffries Built a $7M Real Estate Business
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 Y...
•
54:30
From Rookie to CEO: How Lindsay Smith Led 500 Agents to $1.45B at Keller Williams
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 rig...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 50
•
1:00:29
From Nurse to $22M Realtor: How Crystal Novak Built Her Dream Career (and Life) in Just 3 Years
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 Ye...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 46
•
46:09
From Jiu-Jitsu to $11M in Sales: How Bryan Coco Built a Real Estate Empire in New York | Rookie of the Year Finalist
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** ...
•
55:30
From RV Sales to 40 Deals in Year One | How Jennifer Mink Became a Top Nevada Rookie Realtor
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...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 44
•
51:19
From Nurse to Rookie of the Year Finalist | How Julie Peteritas Closed 10 Deals in Year One
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...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 43
•
45:35
From 5 Exam Failures to Thriving Realtor | How Amber Boone Built a Business with Social Media
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 Boon...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 42
•
41:18
From Mortgage Desk to Rookie of the Year | Caroline Coladonato’s First Real Estate Wins
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 ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 41
•
34:00
From Seamstress to Six-Figure Realtor | How Tayissa Gabreski Closed Her First Deal in 3 Months
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 ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 40
•
34:20
From Fashion to Front Door: How Christina Goodpaster Found Real Estate Success with Consistency
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 a...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 39
•
43:16
From Manufacturing to 10 Deals in Year One: How Heavenn Perez Built Her Real Estate Career
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 discipli...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 38
•
32:16
From Pro Baseball Dreams to Carolina Luxury Homes: Eric Schultz’s Rookie Real Estate Journey
From Pro Baseball Dreams to Carolina Luxury Homes: Eric Schultz’s Rookie Real Estate JourneyIn this episode of *My First Commission* from the *Unlocking Real Estate* podcast by Colibri Real Estate, we feature **Eric Schultz**, a Luxury ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 37
•
54:57
From Air Force Discipline to Real Estate Drive: Dan Merrill’s Las Vegas Rookie Year
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 i...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 36
•
36:47
From Bellhop to Breakout Agent: Marc Cannella’s $4.1M First-Year Leap into Las Vegas Real Estate
In this episode of My First Commission from the Unlocking Real Estate podcast by Colibri Real Estate, we talk with Marc Cannella, a former Las Vegas doorman who reinvented his life at 60—jumping full-time into real esta...
•
Season 1
•
1:03:59
Designing Success: Carol Koutsourais’ First Year from Staging Expert to Trusted Youngstown Agent
In this episode of *My First Commission* on *Unlocking Real Estate* by Colibri Real Estate, we sit down with Carol Koutsourais, a lifelong Mahoning Valley resident and marketing-savvy Realtor® with **CENTURY 21 Lakeside Realty** in Youngstown, ...
•
34:07
From Factory Floor to Top Floor: How Kyle Russell Reinvented His Career in Real Estate
In this episode of My First Commission on Unlocking Real Estate, meet Kyle Russell, a former factory worker turned real estate powerhouse with RE/MAX Preferred in Toledo, Ohio. Tired of feeling stuck, Kyle made the...
•
1:08:07
Mastering the Open House: How Paul Haley Landed His First $3M Listing at 20 Years Old
In this episode of My First Commission, we sit down with Paul Haley, a Scottsdale-based agent with eXp Realty, who skipped college and launched his real estate career straight out of high school. At just 20 years old, Paul has already closed $8...
•
38:10
From Finance to Phoenix Focus: Courtney Bullock’s Rookie Real Estate Success
📝 DescriptionIn this episode of My First Commission from Unlocking Real Estate by Colibri Real Estate, we speak with Courtney Bullock, a Arizona native with a 25‑year finance career turned RE/MAX Cornerstone agent in Cave Creek/Phoenix. Aft...
•
25:21
From Midwest Roots to Mesa Market: Angela Trible’s First Commission Story
In this episode of My First Commission from Unlocking Real Estate by Colibri Real Estate, we chat with Angela Trible, a Midwest transplant turned Realtor® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Mesa/Gilbert, Arizona. Angela shares her career p...
•
26:33
From Phoenix Newbie to Half-Million in Commissions: Derek Tschilar’s Two-Year Triumph
🎧 Description:In this week's My First Commission episode of Unlocking Real Estate, we sit down with Derek Tschilar, a rising star at Realty ONE Group in Scottsdale/Phoenix, Arizona. In just two years, Derek has already closed over $500,...
•
42:27
Young Agent to $10M: How Paul Haley Closed His First Deal and Built a Real Estate Empire
In this episode of My First Commission, we highlight Paul Haley, a Scottsdale-based agent with eXp Realty who built a thriving luxury real estate business—without relying on social media to start. Paul shares how he leveraged open houses to bre...
•
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...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 28
•
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...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 27
•
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...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 26
•
20:29