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All Roads Lead to Real Estate

A Maryland podcast hosted by Matt Rhine

Full Interview · August 28, 2025 · Ep. 55

Craig Kirkner: From Seafood Markets to $24M in Real Estate

From managing seafood markets to serving Maryland homebuyers: a conversation about setbacks, mentorship and the relationships behind the work.

Still from Matt Rhine’s interview with Craig Kirkner
Choose the full interview or a clip below.

Realtor® & Buyer Specialist · Towson, Maryland

Craig KirknerRealtor® & Buyer Specialist, The Matt Rhine Group

Inside the Interview

  • The habits and mentorship behind a $24 million breakout year.
  • How seafood markets taught Craig responsibility and customer service.
  • The deals that fell through, the setback that followed and his second start.
  • Why Craig says he works in sales but does not lead with a sales pitch.
  • The relationships and details behind a competitive home offer.

Video clip

Matt and Craig move beyond the production number to talk about the time and commitment behind it.

Meet the Guest

Craig Kirkner

Craig Kirkner is a Realtor® and Buyer Specialist with The Matt Rhine Group in the Towson area. He spent his teens and early working years running seafood markets, where he learned to manage people, serve customers and show up through long shifts.

More about Craig Kirkner

When early real-estate deals fell apart, Craig returned to restaurant work for a time before calling Matt Rhine for a second start. In their August 2025 conversation, Matt highlights Craig’s $24 million in combined production during the preceding 12 months. Craig brings that persistence, practical mentorship and a service-first approach to helping Maryland buyers make confident decisions, prepare strong offers and navigate the path to closing. For him, the relationship matters long after the transaction.

Meet Craig at The Matt Rhine Group ↗
  • $24M combinedProduction in the 12 months before the August 2025 interview
  • Towson, MDMaryland real estate agent
  • Buyer SpecialistRealtor® with The Matt Rhine Group

Sources: Full interview ↗MRG profile ↗

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Interview highlights

Three conversations worth your time.

Choose a highlight to watch it in the full interview player above.

Still from Matt Rhine’s interview with Craig Kirkner

The Work Behind a $24 Million Year

Matt and Craig move beyond the production number to talk about the time and commitment behind it.

Still from Matt Rhine’s interview with Craig Kirkner

Two Deals Fell Through. Then Came the Hard Decision.

Craig and Matt revisit a difficult start, failed deals and the decision about returning to real estate.

Still from Matt Rhine’s interview with Craig Kirkner

The Small Details That Make an Offer Stronger

Craig explains how understanding the seller and making a clean offer can matter when the price is close.

From the interview

Questions and answers.

Use each timestamp to watch the answer in context.

How much real estate did Craig help sell?

At the August 2025 interview, Matt says Craig had combined $24 million in production over the preceding 12 months.

Watch from 00:04:09 →

Why did Craig return to restaurant work?

Early on, two of three deals under contract fell apart. Craig says he ran out of room financially and stepped away from real estate for a time.

Watch from 00:22:19 →

What makes a competitive buyer offer?

They discuss how financing, communication with the listing side and a carefully prepared offer add up when several buyers want the same home.

Watch from 00:39:40 →

More questions

What did Craig do before real estate?

He ran seafood markets during high school and for years afterward, gaining experience with customers and managing a team.

Watch from 00:11:31 →
How does Craig structure his workday?

He treats self-employment like a job: show up consistently, do the work and do not wait for the phone to ring.

Watch from 00:14:28 →
Why does Craig say he is not a salesperson?

He starts by learning how he can help a client. He separates that service from the negotiation required once a deal is underway.

Watch from 00:16:13 →
Why did Craig try real estate again?

Even after returning to restaurant work, he kept thinking about showing homes and working with clients. He called Matt to ask for another opportunity.

Watch from 00:23:43 →
What did Craig change to keep going?

He traded his pickup for a less costly car to lower the expenses he was carrying while rebuilding his career.

Watch from 00:26:07 →
Why did a client referral matter to Craig?

A past buyer trusted him to help someone they cared about. Craig saw that as proof that he had earned a lasting relationship.

Watch from 00:36:29 →
How does mentorship help a new agent?

Craig and Matt say guidance and practice help an agent do more than open doors: they need to carry a client through the whole transaction.

Watch from 00:41:27 →

Work with Matt

Make your next move with a plan.

Your next move deserves more than a search result. Matt and his Maryland team help you weigh the options, build a plan, and navigate the details from the first conversation through closing.

For buyers

Narrow your search to Maryland neighborhoods that fit your goals, then get help evaluating homes, shaping offers, and negotiating.

Plan my home purchaseBuyer guidance
750+Families served
$350M+Team sales
18+Years serving clients

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Read the full conversation.

Search the timestamped source transcript and return to the interview at the moment that caught your attention.

Read the full transcript →

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