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.

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 her break into the industry and build real momentum early on.

In this episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission, Lauren shares how she:

Found her footing after getting licensed

Stayed committed through challenges and uncertainty

Leaned on mentorship, training, and relationships to build confidence

Landed her first client and learned the lessons that shaped her career

Approaches business today with authenticity and long-term vision

Her transparency, work ethic, and commitment to growth make this a must-listen for any aspiring or early-career agent.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Unlocking Real Estate
00:40 Meet Lauren Morelli
02:00 Life before real estate
03:30 Why she chose real estate as a career
05:00 Getting licensed & entering a shifting market
07:00 Finding her first client
09:30 Challenges, lessons & early wins
12:00 Building confidence through mentorship
14:00 Developing her business approach
16:00 Advice for new agents
18:00 Where to connect with Lauren

🔗 Connect with Lauren Morelli:
https://www.laurenmorelli.com
https://www.bhhs.com/california-properties-ca301/santa-monica/lauren-morelli
https://www.tiktok.com/ ⁨@laurenmorelli9186⁩ https://www.instagram.com/laurenmorelli
https://www.facebook.com/LaurenMorelliRE/

✨ 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.

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 Resignation and rebuilt his professional life from the ground up as a Realtor® with Keller Williams Metropolitan in New Jersey.

John walks us through:
Why leaving corporate radio pushed him toward entrepreneurship
How producing radio shows prepared him to “produce” real estate transactions
Completing his real estate education in just 10 days
Choosing the right brokerage based on culture, training, and support
Spending six months in learning mode before landing his first closing
Saving a complicated multifamily investment deal as a brand-new agent
Standing up for his client when a lender nearly derailed the transaction
Why his superpower has become saving deals others might lose

This episode is packed with real-world lessons on patience, preparation, client advocacy, and why surrounding yourself with the right people early in your career can make all the difference.

If you’re a new agent wondering whether you’re “behind,” or someone considering a career pivot into real estate, John’s story will hit home.

Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome to Unlocking Real Estate
00:45 – Meet John Hodorovych
02:00 – 13 years in radio & the Great Resignation
04:00 – Why real estate felt familiar
05:05 – Getting licensed online in 10 days
06:30 – Choosing Keller Williams Metropolitan
08:00 – Culture, training & mentorship
10:45 – Six months with no deals: learning mode vs panic
12:30 – Joining a team & getting support
14:00 – Hosting open houses & finding his first buyer
16:00 – The multifamily deal that nearly fell apart
18:30 – Standing up to a bad lender
20:30 – Saving the transaction & closing the deal
22:30 – Lessons from his first year in real estate
25:00 – A million-dollar deal & growing confidence
27:30 – Advice for new agents
29:30 – Where to connect with John

Connect with John Hodorovych:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnh_newjerseyrealtor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoHoatKWMET
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-hodorovych-51488930/
Keller Williams Profile: https://kw.com/agent/john-hodorovych/2000006140

Want to be featured on My First Commission?

We’re always looking for rookie agents with real stories and real lessons.
📧 Email UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com or fill out this form https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish to apply.

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 shakeup — and went on to close 13 transactions in her first year and 20 in her second. She’s already a Rising Star Award winner and serves on the Associate Leadership Council at her Keller Williams office.

In this episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission, Tanya shares the full behind-the-scenes journey:
🏋️‍♀️ How bodybuilding discipline helped her thrive in real estate
💼 Losing her recruiting job and finding her next calling
📚 Completing her real estate courses in 12 weeks while working full-time
🏡 Landing her first mutual deal within 90 days
🚀 Growing almost entirely through referrals and real relationships
📈 Why mentorship, coaching, and accountability changed everything
🎁 Santa Paws events, porch-dropped pumpkin pies, and building a memorable brand
💬 Her philosophy: “Open your mouth, communicate, and be proud of what you do.”

If you’re a new or aspiring real estate agent looking for a roadmap, motivation, or honest insight into the hustle required — Tanya’s episode is a must-watch.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 – Meet Tanya Palacios
00:40 – Tanya’s background: 24 years in recruiting
02:00 – Tech layoffs & the turning point
03:00 – Bodybuilding discipline & considering real estate
04:30 – No money, three books, and a leap of faith
06:00 – Completing school in 12 weeks & juggling full-time work
07:30 – Passing the exam (after missing by one point!)
09:00 – Joining a boutique brokerage & early learning curves
10:30 – First mutual within 90 days
12:00 – Moving to Keller Williams & hiring a coach
14:00 – Hitting 13 transactions year 1, 20 in year 2
16:00 – Building business through sphere & natural conversations
18:00 – Branding, signs, and marketing on a budget
19:00 – How she structures her days & uses time-blocking
21:00 – Events, pies, and community connection
23:00 – Surprising challenges & unique transactions
25:00 – Emotional client story that changed her
28:00 – The power of mentorship
30:00 – Tanya’s advice for new agents
32:00 – Where to connect with Tanya

🔗 Connect with Tanya Palacios:

https://www.instagram.com/tanyaselzhomes/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-palacios

https://www.tanya-homegroup.com/

✨ Want to be featured on My First Commission?

We’re always looking for rising agents with powerful first-deal stories.
Email us to apply: UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com or fill out this form: https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish

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, consistent social content (yes, “Waterfront Wednesdays” ice dips), and ruthless time-blocking—then leveled up to mentoring new agents.

What you’ll learn:

How Carson landed his first listing in ~3 months and handled a 3x-fallout contract
Open houses as a rookie growth engine (how to pick the right ones + what to prep)
Building credibility when you’re young/new: short-form education and weekly posting
Time blocking, non-negotiables, and the calendar habit that changed everything
Finding clients without a past book: sphere, lender partners, door-knocking, circle dialing
First-time buyers focus: educating, setting expectations, and keeping stress low
Mentorship, accountability buddies, and planning a path to leading a team
Chapters:

00:00 Carson’s origin story (multi-job hustle to real estate)
01:16 Market and brokerage: Forest Lake/Twin Cities North; Call It Closed; Class & Home Group
03:45 Licensing path (Kaplan online, weekly mentor coffees, passed first try)
06:56 First listing in ~3 months—and the most complex deal of his career
10:45 Marketing when you’re new: beat imposter syndrome, show your knowledge
12:15 Social strategy: weekly education + “Waterfront Wednesdays” ice dips
13:45 First client via Facebook Marketplace; early wins from open houses
15:10 Open house playbook: selecting winners, knowing the house, simple scripts
16:56 Team growth, brokerage switch, and stepping into mentorship
19:55 Biggest rookie challenges: running a business + finding clients
22:06 Prospecting mix: sphere, lenders, door-knocking, circle dialing, social
24:45 Training cadence, continuing ed, and never stopping the learning loop
26:30 Memorable save: a delayed close turns into a better home at a better price
28:50 Client relationships: be yourself, reduce stress, enjoy the process
30:05 5-year vision: start a team, shift toward coaching agents
31:10 Lightning round: book recs, day-in-the-life, advice to rookies
35:07 Where to follow Carson
Connect with Carson:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carson.is.closing/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580399647131
Email: Carson@clawsonhomegroup.com
Market: Forest Lake and North Twin Cities, MN
Brokerage/Team: https://carsonerickson.callitclosed.com/

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 Pulver — a journey fueled by resilience, timing, reinvention, and a whole lot of heart.

In this episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission, host Liam sits down with Barry to unpack:
🔥 Why he moved to America with no plan… except chasing love
🏡 How buying a home (and a rocky experience) pushed him into real estate
📚 His early struggles balancing full-time work, night classes & thin-skinned sales fears
🥇 Closing his first deal within weeks — and why everything stalled afterwards
💼 The hard lessons from joining the wrong brokerage, the wrong team, and relying on “luck”
💡 What he discovered about mentorship, mindset, and personal responsibility
🎯 How he found success in luxury real estate, auction properties & niche branding
🚀 And ultimately: how he built the #1 network organization at eXp Realty worldwide

Barry’s story is candid, honest, and packed with lessons for any new or aspiring real estate agent. Whether you're struggling to get your first deal or debating your next brokerage move — this episode will give you the clarity, motivation, and perspective you need.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Unlocking Real Estate
00:40 Meet Barry Pulver — England to North Carolina
02:00 Why he moved to the U.S. (and what went wrong fast)
03:00 Discovering faith, family & purpose
04:30 How a bad home-buying experience pushed him toward real estate
06:00 Balancing a full-time job & night school at Superior School of Real Estate
08:30 Personality traits that signaled he’d succeed as an agent
10:00 Leaving his comfort zone & learning entrepreneurship
12:00 Getting his first client (his ex-girlfriend’s mom!)
14:00 Why his first success didn’t repeat — and tough lessons learned
16:00 The need for mentorship & accountability
18:30 Open houses, early branding & learning the hard way
20:00 Considering luxury vs. commercial real estate
22:00 Joining a boutique luxury firm & reinventing his brand
24:00 The pendulum swing — and what he learned from both brokerages
26:00 Discovering the eXp model & what finally clicked
28:00 Growing a global network & shaping his leadership style
30:00 Advice for new agents: consistency, niche, value & confidence
32:00 Final reflections & where to connect

🔗 Connect with Barry Pulver:

⭐ Global Team Leader, eXp Realty
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrypulver
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarryPulverRealEstate/
Website / eXp Profile: https://barrypulver.exprealty.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrypulver

✨ Want to be featured on My First Commission?

We’re always looking for rising rookie agents with amazing first-deal stories. Email us at UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com or fill out this form (https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish) to apply!

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.

Braden shares:

* How he found his niche and became the go-to in his region
* The mindset, tools, and habits that helped him land his first deals and grow from there
* How he uses local insight, client-first service, and smart marketing to stand out in a competitive market
* His advice to rookie agents: how to get traction, keep momentum, and build a business that lasts

Whether you’re a new agent or looking for fresh perspectives on growth in real estate, Braden’s journey is packed with actionable insight and motivational fuel.

**Connect with Braden Lopez-Biggs:**
• Instagram: [@state48braden](https://www.instagram.com/state48braden/)
• Facebook: [Braden Lopez-Biggs – Realtor](https://www.facebook.com/p/Braden-Lopez-Biggs-Realtor-61560585390667/)
• LinkedIn: [Braden Lopez-Biggs](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradenbiggs)

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 Year finalist** whose leap from corporate life to real estate success proves it’s never too late to chase your purpose — and win big doing it.

In this episode of *Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission*, host Tina Lapp sits down with Yolanda to discuss her powerful career pivot, how she built a thriving business in multiple states, and the mindset shifts that helped her go from employee to entrepreneur.

You’ll hear:
💡 How Yolanda’s corporate finance background gave her an edge with clients
🏘️ The strategic steps she took to get licensed in three states
📈 What it took to reach $7M in sales in her first full year
🤝 How she builds long-term trust through financial education and authenticity
💬 The client success story that reminded her *why* she started
🔥 Her advice for anyone considering a career change into real estate

Yolanda’s story is proof that discipline, faith, and a business mindset can turn bold career transitions into lasting success.

00:00 Welcome to *Unlocking Real Estate*
01:00 Meet Yolanda Jeffries — from finance to real estate
02:00 Life before real estate: 20 years in corporate finance
04:30 What inspired her to pivot into real estate
06:00 Getting licensed in Illinois, Indiana & Georgia
08:30 Finding her first client and closing her first deal
10:00 Using her financial background to guide first-time buyers
12:00 The systems and habits that helped her scale fast
14:30 How she hit $7M in volume in her first full year
17:00 Balancing multiple markets and maintaining client relationships
19:00 Building a referral-based business
21:30 Mentorship, mindset, and staying consistent
23:30 The importance of serving with integrity
25:30 Advice for corporate professionals looking to make the leap
27:00 Lightning round: books, mentors, and business tips
30:00 Where to connect with Yolanda

Connect with Yolanda Jeffries:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yolandajeffries/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theyolandajeffriesteam/?hl=en
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yolanda.m.jeffries

Want to be featured on *My First Commission*?

We’re always looking for inspiring rookie agents!
📧 Email us at **[UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com](mailto:UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com)** or fill out this form (https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish) to apply.