From Classics Teacher to NYC Realtor: Victoria Mackay’s First Deals + Rookie Lessons

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 planGetting licensed from abroad + finding the right brokerage/teamBuilding credibility when you’re new to the marketWhy patience + pipeline-building are everything in year oneOpen houses by appointment (and what works in NYC)Navigating stressful deals and knowing when to ask for helpStaying intentional with follow-up without being “salesy”Advice for new agents: “be a sponge” and keep learningDrop 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.mackayBrokerage profile: Brown Harris Stevens agent page