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** sits down with **Bryan Coco**, a 2025 **RISMedia Rookie of the Year finalist** from Long Island, New York. Bryan’s story is anything but typical — from his early days in luxury Miami developments to flipping houses upstate during COVID, to now leading sales and development at **Kelly Real Estate**.

Bryan shares:
🏘️ His bold transition from martial arts to real estate analysis and construction
📊 How he turned hands-on trade work into a six-figure brokerage career
💡 Why patience, kindness, and market knowledge are his biggest sales tools
📈 His top 3 marketing strategies for generating quality leads in any market
🤝 Why “relationship over transaction” is the mindset every new agent needs

This episode is packed with *entrepreneurial lessons, creative marketing ideas,* and *real talk* about the grit it takes to make it in real estate — especially in one of the world’s most competitive markets.

01:00 Bryan Coco’s journey from martial arts to real estate
03:30 Early days in Miami’s luxury condo market
07:00 Learning international real estate & luxury sales
09:00 Earning an MBA and exploring the sports industry
10:30 Flipping homes during COVID & finding passion in construction
13:00 Getting licensed in New York and joining Kelly Real Estate
16:00 From procurement manager to sales leader
18:00 How Bryan hit $11M in transactions within two years
21:00 Overcoming challenges & learning local markets
23:00 Rookie agent advice — focus on relationships, not listings
27:00 Bryan’s top marketing tactics for 2025
32:00 Why he believes patience and curiosity win in real estate
37:00 Client challenges and lessons from the field
43:00 Book recommendation: *The Real Estate Game* by William Poorvu
46:00 What he’d do differently if starting again
53:00 Where to connect with Bryan & final advice

📸 Instagram: [@bryancocohomes](https://www.instagram.com/bryancocohomes)
🏠 Company: [Kelly Real Estate & Development](https://www.kellyrealestate.com)
📍 Location: Long Island, NY

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