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.