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
Unlocking Real Estate: Colibri Real Estate Podcast
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 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 Lapp sits down with Crystal to unpack how she:
✨ Transitioned from nursing and entrepreneurship to full-time real estate
🏘️ Built her business from scratch through relationships and authenticity
💬 Used voice messages, social media, and education-first marketing to stand out
👩👧👦 Balanced motherhood, marriage, and 3-4 deals a month
🔥 Created a referral-based business by simply being herself
Crystal’s story is proof that you don’t need to follow a cookie-cutter path — just passion, persistence, and purpose.
⏱️ Chapters:
00:55 Meet Crystal Novak — nurse, mom, and Arizona Realtor
02:00 Life before real estate: 13 years in nursing & launching a boutique
04:00 Discovering entrepreneurship and real estate investing
05:00 Overcoming fear of leaving a “secure” career
08:00 COVID pivot: taking the leap into real estate
09:30 Balancing kids, studies, and business during licensing
11:00 Getting her first deal — her own home!
12:30 How teaching prepared her for educating clients
13:30 Building credibility and finding her first clients
14:00 The “list of 50” strategy that launched her business
16:00 Authentic marketing: voice messages & social media
17:30 How Crystal used new-build promotions to help buyers
18:00 Finding mentorship & the power of a great team
19:45 Balancing motherhood and business growth
20:40 Hiring a coach and finding work-life harmony
22:50 22 transactions & $11M in volume — how she did it
24:15 Setting boundaries and protecting family time
27:00 Evolving from buyers to listings & investing in video
29:00 The power of personal touches: handwritten cards & small gifts
31:00 How her boutique background built her social media brand
33:30 Why authenticity drives referrals
35:00 Helping clients build wealth through real estate
36:30 Partnering with her husband to grow their business
37:25 Crystal’s tips for new agents: be authentic & add value
39:05 Lightning Round: book recs, lessons learned, and more
44:54 Where to connect with Crystal
🔗 Connect with Crystal Novak:
📸 Instagram: @CrystalNovak_PhoenixRealtor
📘 Facebook: Crystal Novak Realtor
🏡 Brokerage: Real Broker AZ
✨ Want to be featured on My First Commission?
We’re always looking for inspiring rookie agents!
📧 Email us at UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com or fill out this form (https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish) to apply.