Agent Story: Making the Leap Into New Hampshire Real Estate

 What is it like to transition into real estate from a completely different career?

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Michelle McNeil, one of our amazing agents at Hvizda Realty Group in Concord, New Hampshire, to talk about her career journey. Michelle shared how she went from an executive role in student loan debt collection to helping families navigate one of the biggest purchases of their lives: buying a home in Concord and the surrounding areas.

From leading large teams to guiding clients through homeownership, here’s a look at how Michelle made the leap and what she’s learned along the way.

From Sales And Collections To Real Estate

Michelle started her professional life in sales and later spent 17 years in student loan debt collection, eventually reaching the vice president level. She managed a contract with 750 people, overseeing fast-paced operations where every decision had to balance production with strict compliance requirements. She described it as “everything’s changing all the time” and highlighted the responsibility of managing a large team.

When the industry shifted dramatically during COVID, Michelle realized she needed a new path. She explained that if she could build a contract and manage a large operation, she could apply those same skills to building a business in real estate.

Why Working in Concord Real Estate Appealed To Her

Real estate was attractive because it offered flexibility and autonomy while still allowing her to make a meaningful difference for clients. While it’s not exactly “making your own schedule,” you can decide how you want to work, who you work with, and how to best accommodate clients’ schedules. This work-life balance in real estate gives her control over her energy and focus, which she finds rewarding.

There’s also the excitement of helping families make life-changing decisions. Whether clients are downsizing, buying their first home, upgrading, or purchasing a vacation property, she loves being part of their journey.

While the process can be stressful, it’s overwhelmingly positive compared to her past career. She even joked that “the worst calls are still better than the best calls in collection,” illustrating the huge shift in energy and satisfaction she’s experienced.

How Michelle Made The Transition To Real Estate

For Michelle, the transition wasn’t as difficult as it might seem. She thrives on problem-solving and tackling new challenges, so learning a whole new industry felt exciting rather than intimidating. She compared her new role to being a mom: in collections, she cared about her team’s success, and now she applies that same care to her clients. She wants them to have a positive experience, enjoy their new New Hampshire home, and feel confident in their choices.

Michelle also described the learning curve in real estate as “drinking from a fire hose,” with new information around contracts, negotiations, and unique situations coming at her constantly. This constant learning is very relatable to her past career, where she always tackled new projects, built teams, and created training programs.

Being Part of Hvizda Realty Group in Concord, NH

Michelle has built and led teams throughout her career, so joining a team was a natural fit. She values collaboration, mentorship, and growth, and being part of a team allows her to share experiences while learning from others. Hvizda Realty Group focuses not just on sales but on personal development. Leadership genuinely cares about agents’ growth, providing resources, guidance, and honest feedback.

The Hvizda Realty Group supports each other when challenges arise, whether it’s helping navigate a deal that’s fallen through, offering resources, or reading materials to better understand a situation. This support creates deeper relationships over time, which is why she’s still part of the team three years later. Unlike some people who prefer to just go to work and go home, Michelle thrives on being part of something bigger—where collaboration, growth, and shared success are central.

Advice For New Agents in Concord, NH

For anyone considering a career in real estate, Michelle’s advice is simple but powerful: getting good at anything takes time on task. You can’t learn everything in a classroom; real experience is key. Walking through homes, reviewing contracts, negotiating, and encountering unique or rare situations builds the skills you need.

If you don’t have any experience, joining a real estate team accelerates learning because you’re not limited to your own deals. For example, if you personally handle 25 transactions in a year but the team completes 150, you gain insight and experience far more quickly.

Michelle encourages new agents to seek a team that offers both support and opportunities to learn from every transaction. The faster you gain experience, the better and more confident you become.

Why Her Story Matters For Concord Homebuyers And Agents

Talking with Michelle was inspiring. From leading large teams in collections to guiding clients through major life decisions, her story demonstrates how transferable skills, dedication, and a genuine care for people can make a huge difference.

Support, collaboration, and real-world experience come together to create success. Her experience proves that with the right mindset and environment, transitioning into real estate in Concord, New Hampshire can be both rewarding and empowering.

If you’re interested in joining a team or starting a career in real estate in Concord, NH, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at (603) 557-6661 or send an email to training@hvizdateam.com. We’ll be more than happy to help you with your real estate journey.