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: My First Commission, Victoria shares how she made the leap to NYC, earned her license while still teaching overseas, and built credibility fast by joining the right team. We talk through what her first year really looked like (including the long wait from contract to closing), how she approaches first-time buyers with a “teacher mindset,” and why patience matters more than people think in the early days.

You’ll also hear some real-world deal stories—including bidding-war heartbreak, landmarked window surprises, and a closing-day situation that turned into total chaos (no keys… and the seller hadn’t moved out).

If you’re newly licensed (or thinking about getting licensed), this one is packed with practical perspective and rookie-tested lessons you can apply immediately.

In this episode, we cover:

• Making a career pivot and moving to NYC with a plan
• Getting licensed from abroad + finding the right brokerage/team
• Building credibility when you’re new to the market
• Why patience + pipeline-building are everything in year one
• Open houses by appointment (and what works in NYC)
• Navigating stressful deals and knowing when to ask for help
• Staying intentional with follow-up without being “salesy”
• Advice for new agents: “be a sponge” and keep learning

Drop a comment: What’s your biggest takeaway—or your biggest question as a new agent?

Social media profiles:

• LinkedIn: Victoria Mackay (Brown Harris Stevens)
• Instagram (listed on her LinkedIn profile): @victoria.a.mackay
• Brokerage profile: Brown Harris Stevens agent page

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 estate.

Dawsen shares how she transitioned from a decade in healthcare account management after major life changes—and why real estate became the path forward. She breaks down how she earned her license fast, landed her first closing within a couple months, and built momentum through networking, open houses, consistent follow-up, and getting visible in her community.

You’ll also hear Dawsen’s rookie-year lessons on:

Picking the right brokerage (and doing your due diligence)
Why savings + a support system matter in year one
How she markets herself as a new agent (and stands out)
Real-life stories from investment property walks that prove “anything can happen”
The habits and mindset shifts that helped her keep going when things got tough
If you’re newly licensed (or thinking about becoming an agent), this one is packed with practical advice and motivation to keep moving—even on the hard days.

Subscribe for more real conversations with new agents who are building real careers from the ground up.

Links & resources mentioned:
Website: Dawsen Harbison | dawsen.realtor
TikTok: Dawsen Harbison (@dawsen.rae)
Books: Atomic Habits, Ninja Selling, and “Let Them” theory (as referenced in the episode)
Contact / referrals
Have a great guest recommendation? Email: UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com or fill out this form to apply: https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish

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 down with Conor Hix, REALTOR® with Cutler Real Estate serving Columbus & Grove City, Ohio. Conor shares how he navigated the early ups and downs of launching his real estate career, built confidence working with buyers and sellers, and leaned into his strengths to grow his business.

You’ll learn:
✔️ How Conor prepared for, and ultimately closed, his first commission
✔️ Why perseverance and refining your process matters in the early months
✔️ How client communication and follow-through become major differentiators
✔️ Tips for new agents on gaining traction in local markets

This episode is packed with honest insight, real-world lessons, and actionable takeaways for rookie agents and anyone stepping into real estate for the first time.

Chapters:
00:00 — Welcome to Unlocking Real Estate
00:40 — Meet Conor Hix — Cutler Real Estate
02:00 — Real estate beginnings & motivation
04:30 — Getting licensed & learning the tools
07:00 — Landing the first client
09:30 — Client communication strategies
11:45 — Challenges in the early pipeline
14:00 — Momentum & building confidence
16:30 — Advice for new agents
18:00 — Where to connect with Conor

Connect with Conor Hix:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conor-hix-760206295/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conor.hix21/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/conor.hix | https://www.facebook.com/taylorteamSOLD

✨ 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.