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
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Unlocking Real Estate: Colibri Real Estate Podcast
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 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 success.
She shares:
* How her entrepreneurial family inspired her to bet on herself
* The challenges of starting in real estate without buying a home of her own yet
* Why it took over a year to close her first deal—and how she stayed motivated
* How she turned rentals and referrals into a six-figure client pipeline
* Her million-dollar client success story that started with a simple apartment search
* Tips for staying confident, building relationships, and avoiding rookie burnout
Caroline proves that being young in real estate isn’t a disadvantage—it’s an opportunity to bring fresh energy, authenticity, and resilience to the business.
Video Chapters:
00:00 – Meet Caroline Coladonato (RE/MAX Ready)
00:40 – From Villanova grad to mortgage desk job
02:00 – Inspiration to switch into real estate
03:30 – Getting licensed while working full time
06:00 – Classroom lessons vs. real-life real estate
07:30 – Expectations for her first year
09:50 – How athletics shaped her work ethic
10:30 – Why her first transaction took over a year
11:30 – Staying motivated through the grind
12:30 – Hitting her stride in 2023
13:20 – Networking, referrals & renters who became buyers
14:40 – Social media & staying authentic
15:30 – Coaching field hockey & community involvement
16:50 – Challenges of being a young agent
18:30 – Staying connected with clients (handwritten notes & personal touches)
19:30 – Advice for new agents: realistic expectations & confidence
20:40 – Why she loves real estate: people & variety
22:10 – The million-dollar client story that started with no commission
24:00 – What’s next: growing with RE/MAX Ready
25:00 – Caroline’s biggest success tips
26:30 – Lightning round: books, advice & mentors
31:10 – Where to follow Caroline online
Connect with Caroline Coladonato:
📸 Instagram: [@closingwithcola](https://instagram.com/closingwithcola)
Want to Be Featured?
Are you a rookie real estate agent with an incredible first commission story? Apply to be featured on *Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission* by reaching out to **[UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com](mailto:UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com)** https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish