In this episode of *My First Commission* on *Unlocking Real Estate* by Colibri Real Estate, we sit down with Carol Koutsourais, a lifelong Mahoning Valley resident and marketing-savvy Realtor® with **CENTURY 21 Lakeside Realty** in Youngstown, Ohio. With a background in interior design and marketing, Carol successfully transitioned into real estate, leveraging her creative strengths to stage homes, showcase listings effectively, and build deep-rooted client relationships.

Carol shares:

* How her marketing and design experience helped her navigate the industry and guide sellers to stand out in a competitive market
* The ways she uses staging insights and visual storytelling to create emotional connections that lead to faster sales and happier clients
* How local knowledge and a commitment to long-term relationships became her client retention edge in the Mahoning Valley

Whether you’re an agent—or an aspiring one—looking to elevate your launch with thoughtful presentation and personal connections, Carol’s journey offers a beautiful example of using professional background to amplify real estate results.

🎧 Episode Chapters

* **00:00 – Meet Carol Koutsourais**
* **02:45 – From Marketing & Design to Real Estate**
* **06:10 – How Staging Sets Listings Apart**
* **09:35 – Building Trust Through Visual Storytelling**
* **13:20 – Navigating the Youngstown Market**
* **16:45 – Connecting Clients Beyond the Sale**
* **20:00 – Advice for Agents with Creative Backgrounds**

🔗 Connect with Carol Koutsourais

* **LinkedIn** – Realtor at Century 21 Lakeside Realty in Youngstown, OH (500+ connections) https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-koutsourais-515b0881
* **Century 21 Profile** – Marketing‑minded agent providing staging advice and long-term client care in the Mahoning Valley https://www.century21.com/real-estate-agent/profile/carol-koutsourais-P80184052
* **Facebook (“Homes by Carol”)** – Local updates, listings, and community-focused real estate content https://www.facebook.com/p/Homes-by-Carol-at-Century-21-Lakeside-61560129238708/

🚀 Want to Share Your Story?

Do you have a first-deal journey worth sharing on *My First Commission*? Apply now to share your experience, inspire others, and be featured in the next episode! https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish

\#MyFirstCommission #CarolKoutsourais #MahoningValleyRealEstate #Century21Lakeside #StagingStrategy #YoungstownRealtor #CreativeAgentLaunch #UnlockingRealEstate

In this episode of My First Commission on Unlocking Real Estate, meet Kyle Russell, a former factory worker turned real estate powerhouse with RE/MAX Preferred in Toledo, Ohio. Tired of feeling stuck, Kyle made the bold leap into real estate—and quickly discovered that success in this industry starts with relationships, resilience, and relentless follow-up.

Kyle walks us through his first year, where he:

• Left his factory job to pursue real estate full-time
• Built credibility in a brand-new industry by attending trainings, shadowing mentors, and staying humble
• Used open houses and face-to-face networking to generate his first serious leads
• Learned the importance of financial planning, work-life balance, and staying proactive
• Harnessed social media as a tool for education and visibility—not just self-promotion

Whether you’re thinking about making a career shift or you're a brand-new agent looking for traction, Kyle’s story will inspire you to go all-in—and stay focused on the long game.

• 00:00 – Meet Kyle Russell: From Factory Work to Real Estate
• 03:03 – Making the Leap: Why Kyle Left His Job
• 05:44 – Real Estate Licensing & Early Learning Curves
• 08:42 – Building Confidence and Credibility
• 11:40 – Leveraging Open Houses for Early Success
• 14:30 – Using Social Media Intentionally
• 20:36 – Navigating Mindset Shifts and Weekend Hustle
• 42:11 – Mentorship, Networking, and Client Loyalty
• 49:52 – Balancing Family and Business in Year One

🔗 Connect with Kyle Russell

• Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kdaddy19
• TikTok– https://www.tiktok.com/@kyleremax

🚀 Want to Share Your Story?

Are you a new agent with a powerful first-deal journey? We’d love to feature you on My First Commission. Apply now to inspire the next generation of real estate professionals! https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish

#MyFirstCommission #KyleRussell #ToledoRealEstate #REMAXPreferred #CareerChangeSuccess #RealEstatePodcast #OpenHouseStrategy #UnlockingRealEstate #ColibriRealEstate

In this episode of My First Commission, we sit down with Paul Haley, a Scottsdale-based agent with eXp Realty, who skipped college and launched his real estate career straight out of high school. At just 20 years old, Paul has already closed $8.8 million in sales in his first year—all by focusing on open houses instead of social media.

Paul shares how he challenged himself to do 100 open houses in 100 days in North Scottsdale, mastering market knowledge and building client relationships from the ground up. That consistency paid off—his first commission came from a visitor at an open house who trusted him enough to list a $3.5M property that had sat unsold for six months. Paul rebranded the listing, repositioned it with a unique marketing approach, and sold it in just three days.

Tune in to hear:

- How Paul built trust with luxury buyers at age 20
- His approach to learning one new thing every day
- Why open houses beat cold calls for his business model
- How he structures conversations to build value without pressure
- His long-term plan to pair open houses with content creation
- Paul’s story is a masterclass in hustle, humility, and how to build a business when all you have is grit and a good attitude.

🎧 Chapters
00:00 – Introduction: Meet Paul Haley
02:30 – From High School to Real Estate Full-Time
06:00 – The 100 Open Houses in 100 Days Challenge
10:00 – His First Deal: A $3.5M Listing Win
15:00 – Lessons from Early Failures and Persistence
20:00 – Mentorship and Scaling Into Luxury
25:00 – Advice for New Agents Focused on Learning
30:00 – The Future: Branding, Video & Staying Consistent

🔗 Find Paul Haley Online
Instagram – @paul.haley (Real estate specialist in Scottsdale; faith, family, health–focused posts)

LinkedIn – Paul Haley, Real Estate Specialist at The Tackett Team / eXp Realty (5,700+ followers; sharing market updates & team achievements)

Facebook – Paul Haley, Real Estate Broker (Toronto page, but his Zillow & Tackett Team listings highlight his Scottsdale work)

Zillow Profile – Showcases 6 completed sales (transactions ranged from $436K–$2.85M) and specialty in Scottsdale & Paradise Valley

🚀 Want to Share Your Story?
Are you a motivated rookie agent with a unique tale of success? We want to feature your first commission journey on My First Commission! Apply now and inspire others.

#MyFirstCommission #PaulHaley #ScottsdaleRealEstate #RookieRealtor #eXpRealty #SocialMediaLeadGen #UnlockingRealEstate