Kirk formed his own mortgage company in 1987, International City Mortgage, which now operates in twelve states. In 1998 he bought an ailing real estate company and converted it to a Coldwell Banker franchise. Within two years, Coldwell Banker Alliance Realty in Whittier, California, received the honour of being designated a “Chairman’s Circle” company a designation reserved for the top 100 Coldwell Banker offices in the world. He first visited Nicaragua in 1991 and was convinced at that time, one day, Nicaragua would blossom as a both a place to visit and a place to call home. That day has arrived.