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
62 episodes
From Rookie to Real Estate Momentum in Arizona | Dane Miller
What does it actually take to get your first real estate commission in Arizona?In this episode of My First Commission, host Tina Lapp sits down with Arizona agent Dane Miller to break down his journey from getting licensed to generating...
Stop Sounding Scripted: The Rookie Realtor Mindset That Built Evan Russell’s Business
From nearly two decades in construction to closing 15 transactions in his first year, Evan Russell shares what it really takes to break into real estate and build momentum fast—without the “salesy” stuff.In this episode of Unl...
From Hospital Security to 23 Closings: Mike Paolucci’s First-Year Breakthrough
What does it really take to win in your first year in real estate?In this episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission, host Tina Lapp sits down with Mike Paolucci (Columbus, Ohio)—a former hospital securi...
Grief, Divorce, and a New Career: Angela Vega’s Story
What does it look like to start real estate in the middle of major life change—and still have a breakout first year?In this episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission, host Tina Lapp sits down with Angela Vega, a Realtor serv...
From Healthcare to Real Estate (and a New Baby): Michelle Cheng’s First-Year Success
What does it really take to break into real estate when you’re new to the area, switching careers, and navigating big life changes at the same time?In this episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission, host Tina Labbe sits down...
From Classics Teacher to NYC Realtor: Victoria Mackay’s First Deals + Rookie Lessons
Victoria Mackay went from teaching Latin and Ancient Greek in London to launching a real estate career in New York City—and she did it with intention, strategy, and a whole lot of resilience.In this episode of Unlocking Real Estate: ...
The Real Estate Hustle That Pays Off: Dawsen Harbison’s First Wins + Lessons
In this episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission, host Tina Lapp sits down with Dawsen Harbison, an Oklahoma REALTOR® with Capital Real Estate and Asset Management Group, to talk about what it really takes to win early in real esta...
From Start-Up Struggles to Real Estate Momentum | Conor Hix’s First Commission Journey
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 do...
How Lauren Morelli Turned Perseverance Into a Real Estate Career
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 h...
From Radio to Real Estate: How John Hodorovych Saved His First Deal and Found His Niche
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 Resignat...
From Layoff to 33 Deals in 2 Years: How Tanya Palacios Built a Fast-Growing Real Estate Career
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 sha...
From Bartender to Rookie Mentor: Carson Erickson’s Minnesota Real Estate Playbook
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, co...
From England to EXP Leader: How Barry Pulver Built a #1 Global Network in Real Estate
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 P...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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** ...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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...